It’s Cam’s first day back at work after maternity leave but where is Luke when she needs him?
Turns out Luke is all over the news a couple of hours later dubbed as a hostage taker of three people.
Two people die in the hostage and Luke is on the run! Cam can’t get her head around what’s happened.
Fast forward seven years and Cam is trying to forge a life for herself and young daughter. The hostage negotiator from before is also trying to put his life back together.
All is never as simple though is it because what if Luke is still out there and what really happened that day seven years ago? Cam is desperate to find out even though she should be moving on.
This is a great read from Gillian McAllister with lots of good little twists and turns throughout.

I don't normally read that many thrillers but the author's name is synonymous with great stories, so I gave this one a try - wow, it blew me a way. In particular I loved Part 1, the siege. It is the very essence of a what a page turner is. I couldn't stop reading, I had to know what happened. I found part 2 - the seven years later section, slightly less gripping, but it was still a great novel and I'm very grateful to have read it. Sure to be a huge hit.

Another cracking read from Gillian McAllister. Camilla is a mother of a young baby, married to Luke - who suddenly disappears one night leaving her only a note. The next thing she knows he is being named as a hostage taker in East London and responsible for the murder of two of the hostages. He manages to escape arrest - and from that point on is not heard from again.
Everything that Camilla has known is turned upside down overnight. How can this young man that she thought she knew be a killer?
Told from Camillas POV as well as the police hostage negotiator that witnessed the event - we then pick up the story 7 years later.

A really tense page turner.

Did I guess some of the twists - yes. Did it matter - no, not really - I was still swept along in the story.
Sure to be a big hit with all of this authors existing fans.

A gripping mystery thriller told through multiple perspectives and structured in three acts, each with its own rhythm and emotional weight.

The first act rapidly immerses readers in the chaos of a siege alongside Cam, the wife. Her emotions—from shock to bewilderment—create an intense experience.

In the second act, the story slows, focusing on introspection as Cam and Niall, the negotiator turned detective, grapple with the fallout from life-altering events. While this section drags a bit, it provides important insights into their struggles.

Momentum returns in the third act, where clever plot intricacies lead to a stunning revelation about that day. Some suspension of disbelief is needed, but McAllister's well-crafted characters lend plausibility to the twists.

The main characters are authentically drawn, making their experiences relatable. Cam's escalating fears and the implosion of her life are palpable, though some supporting characters feel underdeveloped.

The narrative is woven with puzzling misdirections that kept me guessing, leading to surprising truths. The novel explores how lives can change in an instant, the long-lasting impact of trauma, and the weight of obsession—all wrapped in a heartbreaking love story. Cam’s child serves as a beacon of hope in her tumultuous world.

In summary, Famous Last Words is a thrilling, absorbing read that deserves four stars, perfect for anyone seeking suspense and emotional depth.

I was so happy to receive approval for the arc of Famous Last words and it absolutely lived up to expectations.

Gillian McAllister is the BEST at unraveling a crime, mystery thriller!

As always the story hooked me in from page one and snowballed from there, I did not want to stop reading. The story moves at pace and keeps you guessing, I wanted to figure out what was going on but at the same time didn’t want the book to end!

The book was focused on a major crime which takes place early on in the book and the aftermath for all those involved. Tied up throughout the book is also a lot of deep emotion which connects you to the characters and has you holding your breath, and searching for the answers with every page!

The book is excellent and possibly the best Gillian McAllister!!

Thank you so so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book in advance and for the author for another amazing Best Seller

Camilla, a literary agent, is going back to work after being on maternity leave. It's a tough and emotional day for her, just getting back to normal and not being in a baby bubble all day. However, this is just the start of a very long and stressful day. Because, soon Camilla finds out her husband Luke has taken three people hostage in a warehouse. And at gunpoint. But, she knows Luke. She knows this isn't something he would do.

We are told the story through Camilla's POV and also from Niall. Who is a hostage negotiator. Even though the hostage situation isn't the main focus of the story, you'll find out when you read the book. Nialls character is a great addition to bounce of Camilla. They work together well to get results.

It's hard to fully review this book purely because a large chunk of the story revolves around something that isn't the hostage situation. But, I can't reveal that, can I?

I did find the pacing a bit slower than what I enjoy in thriller/mystery books. There was a lot of repetition of facts and what was going on at stages, too, and I did feel like I just wanted the story to get going.

Once something gets found out, then the pacing ramps up, and I was fully invested again. Gillian McAllister is very clever in her plotting. She has a way of making you second guess your thoughts on what is going on. I am pleased with myself that I did figure out a key aspect in the storyline. Just call me Detective Tracy.

Famous Last Words is a cleverly plotted out story. It keeps you guessing and wondering.

Brilliant! It's not quite what I was expecting, I thought the whole book would be focused on the siege but it was much more about the aftermath (and what led to it happening). It was a plot that kept me guessing and also kept me gripped! Really good book, I enjoyed it.

Absolute belter of a thriller!

A woman starts her first day back at work after maternity leave to find that her, seemingly normal, husband is holding three hostages at gunpoint. Gillian - you had me there! As you can imagine things are not straightforward and the plots ducks, dives and weaves through a number of years, clues and blind alleys. A perfect book to sit on the sofa and refuse to move until you have turned all of those exciting pages.

Gillian McAllister ingenuity continues to shine through in her nineth remarkable novel. From the very first page, she effortlessly captivates her readers, drawing them into a world meticulously crafted with rich detail and originality. This author's talent for weaving compelling narratives ensures that every book is a unique journey, and this latest one is no exception. pulling you into characters that are familiar, but then twisting the narrative so you don't know which way is up!

In this book, new parents Luke and Camilla, they have the typical family life, until the day it isn't. Camilla is left questioning everything she knows on the day she takes her daughter to nursery, and then it is revealed that Luke is far from the man she thought he was. This is a complex tale, and sure there were times when I had to suspend belief but for the most part, I rolled with the book, trying desperately to work out what was going on.. There is nothing else I can say about the plot, as the less you know, the more there is to enjoy..

To take your thriller reading up a notch, you should read Famous Last Words, a hugely creative thriller beautifully executed.

A brilliant twisty thriller which will flip you on your head - just excellent! Kept me reading far too late into the night, highly recommend the page turner.

I always enjoy Gillian McAllister's books, and this is no exception. The story is good, and twisty, and I found it difficult to guess what would happen next. This is a well-written, and compelling book, and I will definitely be recommending it.

Gillian McAllister is quickly becoming one of my favourite thriller writers and Famous Last Words kept me gripped throughout. I've knocked a star off as it was slower than I personally would have liked but it has a great set of characters and a seriously intriguing plot with many twists and turns. I enjoyed the insight into the worlds of hostage negotiations and the publishing industry. The mysterious Camilla surveillance chapters were a nice touch but I think it also would have been interesting to have Luke's POV at points, although I appreciate this might have been tricky to do without giving too much away.

wow!
a deftly woven tale with a great premise- slows down somewhat in the middle section but plays an absolute blinder in the concluding pages!

I enjoyed the pacing and suspense this book provided. I honestly didn't see things turning out the way they did which is always good in a thriller! However, I felt the actual outcome was just a bit of a let down? Like, it was clever how it was done but it just felt very unbelievable.
I did have a good time reading this book though.

Two things are always and inevitably true of a Gillian McAllister novel: the plot will be utterly gripping and page-turning (I devoured this in one evening), and it will also be somewhat ridiculous when you really consider the details. But honestly, I don't mind at all because with writing this good and twists and turns galore, Famous Last Words is up there with her best. Highly recommended for all crime/thriller fans.

This was my first thriller in a while and I absolutely ate it up!
Gillian’s writing is so clever and slick but also has lots of heart & empathy.

The story itself was really engaging and such an enjoyable read. I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen until about 80% which I love.

The way the clues are pieced together is so satisfying, allowing you to try and figure everything out alongside our protagonist, rather than an info dump at the end.

I thought the characters were real and complex and loveable (some, not all).

I can’t wait for her next book!

I loved this book, it hooks you in immediately.
Cam wakes up and her husband has already left the house, which is unusual. It's her first day back at work after maternity leave and so she is busy but messages him often, with no reply. Until she sees a news flash of a hostage situation in London, and suddenly the police walk in....
This book was intriguing in that the crime has happened right at the start but no-one knows why. the story is told from Cam's point of view, but also the hostage negotiator, Niall. He was sure that the siege could end peacefully, and ends up with PTSD and a sense of unfinished business.
The story continues seven years later.

Such a good idea, McAllister's best book yet.

I was really intrigued by the blurb for this however I don’t think it fully representative of the book. Cam’s first day back at work after maternity leave shatters when the police visit her as they need her assistance as her husband Luke is holding three people hostage - a fact that makes no sense to Cam as she cannot correlate this with the man she knows. The hostage situation really had me gripped however it was only the start of the book as the main action takes place 7 years later. I found act 2 was good for details but it was a lot slower in terms of action and I wasn’t especially gripped however act 3 had some amazing revelations that altered the whole context of what had happened and really turned the story on its head which is something Gillian McAllister excels at. I loved how so many unrelated things pulled together and there were plenty of surprises near the end which made the whole slow burn parts worth bearing with and in retrospect they give a lot more away than you realise and it’s quite fascinating looking at how it all fits together.

Absolutely brilliant!! I loved this book from the first page to the last. It felt effortless to turn the pages and I didn’t want to do anything other than read once I’d started it. I have read and loved all of Gillian McAllister’s thrillers - this one is her best yet! The twists and turns had me gasping. I kept thinking I knew where it was heading but was wrong every time which made Famous Last Words a very satisfying read.

Cam’s husband Luke acts out of character the day their daughter Polly starts nursery and we discover that he’s involved in a hostage situation. Cam’s previously happy life spirals. I love the way the author makes Cam an introvert (like me!), someone who would rather read a book than go to a party. She is forced out of her comfort zone and has to act to save her family, with the help of hostage negotiator Niall who has his own demons. I felt invested in both of their lives and am sitting here feeling a bit lost now that the book has ended but with a warm glow that it was so, so good!

Gillian McAllister is the queen of thrillers, pulling you into characters that could be your neighbours and then giving them an anything but normal.

As is the case for new parents Luke and Camilla, they have the typical family life, until Luke is involved in holding people hostage and Camilla is left questioning everything she knows!

Loved this story, the twists were fab but the part I enjoyed the most was solving the clues along with Camilla (or before Camilla as I realised before she did the relevance of a certain part of the plot - no spoilers!)

Sucked me in as per usual. Already looking forward to the next book!

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.