This book is first class and a first rate thriller. It has twists and turns galore which is all you can ask of any great thriller. When Cam takes her daughter to nursery for the first time, little does she knows that her whole world is about to be turned upside down. She returns home to find her husband gone, a note addressed to her professing his love and a call from the police. Her husband Luke is holed up in a building, having taken 3 people hostage. An armed siege is ongoing and she is required to help the hostage negotiator. You'd think that would be enough excitement for a book but that's just the start of the rollercoaster ride. Highly recommend this book.

It is June 21st and Camila’s first day back at work as a literary agent after giving birth to baby Polly. She drops her off at Nursery before she goes to work and wonders where her husband Luke is as when she got up. He already got up and left for work leaving her a cryptic note in the form of some text messages.
Then her world suddenly turns upside down when she finds out that Luke has been involved in a hostage situation and has killed two people in a warehouse in Bermondsey. She can’t believe Luke her loving husband would do such a thing. But the negotiator from the Police makes a mistake. Luke manages to escape never to be seen again.
I Have read most of the authors work and she never disappoints. I found this to be quite different from her other books. This is not only a tense thriller, but also about grief and living again. How one person loses someone, but you don’t know if they are dead or alive is a lot to take in. I did enjoy this, but I found that there was something missing. There was not much written about her daughter Polly until the last few chapters of the story. If this was true to life, there would be more hurdles to cross for a child to lose their father in such a way and how to tell a child that their dad is not coming home but can’t tell them why. It will be so devasting. 4 stars from me.

O.M.G!! WOW!! My head is spinning … I was just blown away … So captivating and addictive… Had me on the edge of my seat … Just incredible!!

WOW WOW WOW- What a page turner

Outstanding writing from Gillian, totally gripping, engaging and a joy to read, I was totally gripped by the hostage situation.

Please please give this one a read you will not be left disappointed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me and my book of the year.

Huge thank you to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this fantastic ARC.

This story started off with a bang! I absolutely loved the initial concept—a family man seemingly taking people hostage. It felt refreshingly different from many other thrillers I’ve read, and I really enjoyed the character of the hostage negotiator, Niall. However, as the story progressed, the pacing slowed down a bit. While this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, I had expected it to maintain the same momentum as the beginning. The ending was particularly intriguing; a couple of my predictions turned out to be right, but the way everything unfolded was still thrilling and kept me engaged.

Wow, what a story that was! Gripping, engaging, and twists that you don't see coming.

I absolutely loved reading this ARC. It's been one of my most anticipated reads since I first heard about it. I love Gillians other works and new this one would be just as amazing. It did not disappoint!

I loved how this book was thrilling, creepy and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire plot. The characters were believable and well written. It is a story of the lengths you will go to for your family, and I loved that. It also had so many other themes in the story aswell and I liked how they all went together so well.

I received this proof at @TheBookParty Halloween Ball and met Gillian herself, who is so lovely and friendly!

Highly recommend 👌

Wow, what a story that was! Gripping, engaging, and twists that you don't see coming.

I absolutely loved reading this ARC. It's been one of my most anticipated reads since I first heard about it. I love Gillians other works and new this one would be just as amazing. It did not disappoint!

I loved how this book was thrilling, creepy and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire plot. The characters were believable and well written. It is a story of the lengths you will go to for your family, and I loved that. It also had so many other themes in the story aswell and I liked how they all went together so well.

I received this proof at @TheBookParty Halloween Ball and met Gillian herself, who is so lovely and friendly!

Highly recommend 👌

‘Famous Last Words’ by Gillian McAllister is a slow-burn, high-tension thriller that starts with new mother Cam begins contemplating her return to work (in publishing) following maternity leave. By the end of the first part of the book, that anxiously anticipated first day back has turned into a day full of dread, bewilderment and loss… Cam’s entire world is turned upside down when she is told that her loving husband Luke, ghostwriter and wonderful father, has taken three people hostage in a Bermondsey warehouse, and the remainder of the book examines the events, emotions and hard-fought explanations that follow.

I was really gripped by this book, barely able to put my kindle down and wishing my commute (main reading time) was longer! The inclusion of hostage negotiatior Niall as a second narrator, alongside Cam, was intriguing and added depth to the story. I don’t want to say much more about the plot for fear of spoilers, you just HAVE to read it!!

The way Cam’s job as a book agent was woven in to the story was interesting and there were some enjoyable references to other authors and their works. The novel also dealt with the sensitive topic of infertility (so take this as a content warning), with Cam’s sister’s everyday tragedy juxtaposed against the reactions to Luke’s shocking actions.

This gets five stars from me and is probably my second-favourite Gillian McAllister novel (‘Wrong Place, Wrong Time’ is very hard to beat!)

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Michael Joseph, Penguin via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I will be publishing this review on Goodreads/storygraph/instagram closer to the 30 Jan 2025 release date according to the publisher’s preferences.

Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster ride! I have loved this book so much, it's a tense emotionally charged journey through a marriage unraveling, when Camilla's husband, a gregarious friendly writer is involved in a hostage taking seige.
Th8s book provoked a lot of introspection and I think.it was because the characters were so real and authentic. I loved Camilla and Luke and was totally baffled by the seige. The way the mystery unfolds and keeps revealing puzzle pieces is ingenious and when I came to the twist..! I had to have a moment!
Fantastic book, a must for any psychological thriller fan. Put a pre order on your Christmas list now!

When I first read Gillian McAllister’s debut, I was captivated by its eloquence and the precision with which it portrayed the journey of two culpable souls. It was proof that a compelling narrative doesn’t need twists for the sake of twists; it needs emotional depth, rich character arcs, and a story that feels profoundly human. I was left thinking, “If this is her debut, what brilliance awaits in her future work?”

Now, having read her latest novel, Famous Last Words, I can confidently say McAllister has not only met those expectations but surpassed them. Once again, she demonstrates her exceptional ability to delve into the raw, emotional, and tangible experiences of her characters. Camilla’s journey is heart-wrenching yet beautifully rendered, and Luke’s tragic complexity is both gripping and devastating.

While the plot—a hostage situation with personal stakes—delivers the kind of clever intrigue McAllister is known for, the heart of this novel lies in its emotional core. The pain, joy, and love explored throughout the book feel so visceral that you can’t help but be immersed in the story. It’s not just about the twists (although those are expertly done); it’s about what those twists mean for the characters and the reader’s empathy for their struggles.

McAllister’s writing remains superb, her pacing deliberate and unrelenting. What’s remarkable is how she retains her knack for portraying characters with precision and humanity, a skill evident from her debut but now honed to perfection.

This is a novel that asks, “What would you do?” in the most gut-wrenching way, and it leaves you questioning your own choices long after the final page. It’s further proof that Gillian McAllister is at the top of her game—a must-read for fans old and new.

Thank You NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a Review Copy

the start of this stressed me out so much i almost stopped reading but im glad i continued! really interesting premise, the writing and the tone of it had me so stressed and kept putting myself in my position. it kind of unravelled/lost momentum about halfway in but i enjoyed the twists and turns

This book was good, although it just didn’t hit the same spot as the previous books that I have read by the author. The firm favourite is “the evidence against you”. Whilst it was an overall great read, I feel like the book lacked a “breathtaking” twist that the author usually delivers. I was intrigued what the story behind Luke doing what he has done was. I like the way it all pieced together. I do think that this book will be an absolute bestseller and for many will be the book of their month. For me, I just needed a little more “wow” factor.

The negotiator and armed police are in place, a siege underway. In a Bermondsey warehouse the gunman has three hostages and his weapon moves from one to the other. Brought to the scene his wife Camilla has no idea what's going on, why her husband Luke is there and what he's doing with a gun in his hand.

The armed police are keen to enter, the negotiator, DCI Niall Thompson is holding them back, he's got it under control, then suddenly he hasn't, two dead hostages and the gunman escaped out of a hidden service door.

Seven years later Camilla still sees husband Luke everywhere, she yearns for answers and closure, a phone call, a message, anything to tell her that he's still out there somewhere and he misses her and daughter Polly. She's not the only person who can't move on, police negotiator Niall can't believe he got it so wrong. Case unsolved he's still keeping tabs on it hoping for a breakthrough.

A clever and engaging thriller. The explosive start, dual narrative and complex storyline with several twists made this a compelling read. Definitely recommended

A fast paced, whirlwind of a thriller. Cam wakes up on her last day of maternity leave, to take Polly to daycare and finds that her husband Luke is missing. But not for long when she gets the shock of her life when the Police come knocking...

The depth of this story is incredible, the detail in order to keep the book suspenceful to a big blow of an ending, kept my mind ticking. A THRILLING story about love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC!

4.5 Stars

Another heart-pounding thriller that I raced through, eager to know the truth about the husband who's wanted for murder.

The writing is brilliant and I was swept up in the characters and storyline. My only gripe is that I didn't feel Niall brought much to the story and the ending reveal fell slightly flat after so much build up.

But all in all, thoroughly enjoyed those book!

4.5 ☆

『 plot 』
camilia is starting back at work properly, after maternity leave, her daughter is 9 months old and is starting nursery, she’s nervous about it all, but normal nerves. however, her husband is nowhere to be seen, his not his phone and she’s getting worried. she gets her daughter off to nursery and takes herself to work, she can’t shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong, and then there’s breaking news on the tv, a man has held 3 hostages up in a warehouse, police come to visit her at work and start asking questions about her husband, her husband who is now the man that has taken 3 hostages, he’s the gunman.


『 my thoughts 』
as far as thrillers go, this was an excellent one for me, i absolutely loved it and devoured it in one sitting. the story is told through the POV of camillia, the hostage negotiator niall and snippets of an anonymous person/s and it was done so so well. the writing style, the unanswered questions, the how, the why, the twists, the different POV, everything, just kept me so engaged throughout the whole book. camilla’s POV had you rooting for her husband, it had you wanting to believe he was a good person. niall’s POV was similar in the beginning, and then later, he’s so unsure of himself and second guessing his gut instinct. loved every page of this book!

I have been a big fan of Gillian McAllister books for years, so this was one of my most anticipated reads this year. Reading this one, I couldn't help but think that her writing style is just a cut above most thriller authors, and her world-building is second to none in my opinion.

Sieges and gunmen are not usually something I would find interesting to read about, but I love the 'ordinary person in an extraordinary situation' trope, so I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did. Was it my favourite of Gillian's plots? No, but the excellent writing and multi-faceted characters kept me invested. I particularly liked hostage negotiator Niall, and found myself really caring how things ended up for him.

In terms of negatives, I did find the plot a bit slow-going in the middle section, and whilst there were lots of little twists throughout, I felt that I was waiting for a shocking, heart-stopping twist which never quite came.

Overall this was a really well-written book, and whilst I will continue to recommend some of Gillian's other titles over this one, I would absolutely still suggest that fans of her work read this one.

Cam, Polly and Luke. A perfect little nuclear family, a toddler about to start the crèche as Camilla goes back to work after nine months on maternity leave. Luke was up and had gone out before she even woke, it seemed like an ordinary day, but it’ certainly wasn’t.
A devastating hostage situation, a shooting and Luke has disappeared, leaving no explanation of his involvement with the hostages, with the shooting, with whatever is going on.

This is one of the most compelling books I have read in a long time and I would like to thank the publishers for sending me this book as an arc prior to publication and exchange for an honest review #NetGalley

An absolutely brilliant page turner

I have read and enjoyed all of Gillian McAllister's books, so was excited to read this new one. It certainly didn't disappoint! Camilla is happily married to Luke and they have a baby daughter. Camilla has recently been concerned that Luke has not been himself, but, as she is just returning to work after maternity leave, she has more important things on her mind. So when the police arrive at her office and tell her that Luke is caught up in a hostage situation she is horrified to be told that he is the gunman. What follows is a real roller coaster of a read. What possessed Luke and where did he go after he escaped the scene? 7 years on the story continues.....
Thanks to Netgalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

There is not one of Gillian’s books that I have not read, and I have loved every single one of them. I don’t even care what they are about, I just buy them and know that I will absolutely adore them. It feels like each book just gets better and better, which is pretty crazy, but very true. Each one you read you think it can't possibly be topped, and then she goes and does it again.

I was absolutely thrilled to be given the chance to get my hands on an advanced copy of this, and I was not disappointed in the slightest.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, except to say this story is based around a hostage situation. It is very very exciting, unbelievably clever, and I was immediately sucked in from the very first page. I struggled to put it down and found myself getting annoyed when I had to. I read this in two nights and now have a massive book hangover. No matter what I read next, it just won’t be as good, even remotely. Unless I go back and re-read one of her previous books.

If I could give this book ten stars I would, and I will be buying a physical copy for my bookshelf. I cannot wait to read whatever comes next.

Huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.