Perfectly paced, interesting characters with great depth, and a great twist! What more could you want.
I really loved this.

Thank you for my copy!

An interesting story but I felt it was quite a long book and could have moved along more quickly. I enjoyed all the twists coming together.

Simply brilliant and one I could not put down. Once I started reading it, I stayed up all night to finish it.

**Book Review: A Gripping and Emotional Thriller**

Camilla’s first day back at work after maternity leave should have been a step toward normalcy, but it turns into a nightmare she could never have imagined. With her daughter starting nursery and her husband, Luke, supposedly heading off to his usual routine, life seems to be settling into place. That is, until Luke disappears, leaving behind only an unfinished note.

As Camilla struggles to make sense of his absence, she is drawn into a whirlwind of confusion and fear when breaking news hits: a hostage situation is unfolding in London. But the truth is even more shocking—Luke is not among the hostages. He is the gunman.

This gripping thriller masterfully unravels the layers of Luke's seemingly perfect life—devoted father, successful writer, and cheerful optimist—forcing Camilla to confront questions about who her husband truly is. The stakes rise as Camilla realizes she holds a critical piece of the puzzle: the incomplete note he left behind, which might contain clues to his motives.

The novel deftly balances psychological tension with emotional depth, exploring themes of trust, family, and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. The pace is relentless, with each twist leaving readers desperate to uncover the truth. Camilla’s journey is both harrowing and heart-wrenching, as she battles to protect her family and uncover Luke’s secrets.

For fans of suspenseful, character-driven stories, this book is an unmissable read. It’s a story that will linger long after the final page, leaving readers questioning how well we can ever truly know those closest to us.

This is a great thriller with plenty of twists and turns.
Camilla’s life changes on the day she drops her daughter off for her first day at nursery.
She is surprised that her husband Luke is not there when she gets up but eventually finds a strange note from him, so presumes something came up.
She’s not prepared for the Police to contact her and tell her that her husband is holding three people hostage at gun point.
Niall is the negotiator at the siege and the day affects his life as well as Camillas.
The next part of the book is set seven years after the siege and we find out how both Camilla and Niall have tried to move on from that day.
This is a great read that will definitely keep you guessing.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for the opportunity to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

what would you do if after hearing about a hostage situation and then the police turn up at your workplace saying your husband is the hostage taker....

this was camillas nightmare....

her first day back at work after maternity leave ...leaving her daughter at a nursery and then being escorted out by the police to be questioned about her husband holding 3 hostages....

what a book ..... could not put this one down at all... it riveting and compelling at the same time

cant wait for the next book from this author

This book was a wild ride. It starts with the main character Cam discovering that her loving husband is holding people up at gunpoint. Completely out of character for him and Cam is utterly shocked and devastated. Seven years later - the mystery of why starts to unfold.
This had me HOOKED. Lots of twists and turns. Some were maybe slightly predictable but nonetheless a great read that I was so excited to pick up.
Thank you for this ARC NetGalley and Michael Joseph / Penguin 🫶

Another great read from Gillian McAllister.
The book was told from a couple of point of views and was very cleverly written, i thought I had it worked out only to discover I hadn't.
Camilla always believed her husband could not be guilty of murder but where was he and how could she prove his innocence.
If you haven't read any books by Gillian McAllister before then definitely give this a try.
Sit down and enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Gillian McAllister for an ARC in return for an honest review

Each Gillian McAllister book I read brings something new to the crime thriller genre. Famous Last Words felt like the biggest side step of her most recent novels but I still loved it just as much.
Even with more of a police procedural feel (without it being a police procedural) and less jaw dropping twists, I was still held captive by the narrative and characters.
This is a solid book for fans of McAllister, and the crime thriller genre in general.

This morning he was your husband, by nightfall he’s a criminal.

Camilla’s first day back at work after maternity leave ends up being more eventful than anyone could imagine. Despite trying several times she’s unable to contact her husband Luke and it is soon clear why when news breaks of a hostage situation which Luke just happens to be in the middle of.

I knew I would be in safe hands with this author and I wasn’t wrong. For me it lost its pace slightly just after half way but it soon picked back up. Great read which felt fresh and original. Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and good luck to the author on its release.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date - 30/01/2025

#FamousLastWords
#GillianMcAllister

This author knows what they’re doing!

Hooked me right in and I read it in 2 days-it’s unputdownable.

Brilliant thriller

This one started off great and I had high hopes for it the middle was just ok then picked up towards the end not my fave by her but would still recommend 3.5 stars

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is a mystery thriller that will make you guess and question everything.
The book starts with massive intrigue, with a completely different storyline from anything before.
I must say that the middle of the book a bit lost me but then things started to make sense and the story was pulling back together and that ending, oh wow, that ending took me by surprise!

It was interesting to follow Camilla's point of view and see things from a different angle when following Niall’s point of view.

When Camilla is escorted from the office on her first day back after maternity leave she could not imagine where her day will lead! No one could! Now she needs to pull herself together and accept that her husband is a criminal who took the hostages... but why?
Camilla didn't realize that one day can change all her life and she will need to face challenges like never before!

Thank you, Netgalley for this copy!

This is my first book by Gillian McAllister, but certainly won’t be my last. An engaging, interesting, unusual crime thriller, intelligently written, I really enjoyed this story. I loved the character development, it was good to get to know the main players, and understand them.
Having said that, I feel that the narrative dipped in the middle section. Niall and his introspection about his professional and personal life, added nothing to the story for me, it was filler that the book would have been great without.
Unusually, I did not have any idea as to the twists and turns the story would take, though belatedly, I did have doubts about one character’s motives. The plot was refreshingly different. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
My thanks to the editor and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. Highly recommended.

I devoured this in less than 24 hours… absolutely phenomenal. Now I need to go and buy every Gillian McAllister that I’ve not yet read.

I’ve read quite a few of Gillian McAllister’s books and she has a fantastic ability to completely blindside you when you think you know exactly what is going on. The amount of times I’ve smugly thought “aha I’ve sussed it!” only to be proved totally wrong is ridiculous. Famous Last Words is another clever blend of love story and thriller. I enjoyed Camilla’s pov more than Niall’s but they worked together to set up a very clever mystery with an excellent twist at the end. One to keep you reading long into the night.

I became addicted to this book after the first couple of chapters! It's flicks between different character perspectives which works perfectly with how the plot unfolds. Full of twists and really tense, I had to stay up late a few times to read 'just one more chapter'. The plot is refreshing for the genre and as it unravelled I found myself gasping in shock. Incredibly difficult to put down and one I would absolutely read again. This book is brilliant!

Honestly, a strong contender to be my favourite book of 2025.

This is a smart thriller, as McAllister usually does, and I was invested in Camilla’s urge to investigate for herself the criminal activity and then disappearance of her husband. I did roll my eyes a bit at the easiness of some discoveries, and I didn’t love the second of the dual POVs, but overall a solid read.

Thank you first of all to Netgalley and UK Publishers for an Advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved the two other books I've read from this author, particularly Wrong Place Wrong Time. This one was right up there with it.

The action starts immediately and pretty much doesn't let up for the entire book. The plot is intricate, very well thought out, and has plenty twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.

The characterisation is strong as well. I particularly enjoyed Niall the negotiator!

I'd thoroughly recommend this book. 4.5 🌟. Half star deducted only because I wished I had got even more from the villain.

Yet another fascinating pot boiler by the Queen of psychological thrillers, Gillian McAllister.

This book engaged from the first page with an original premised and story line and provides the reader with thrills and spills plus - naturally - an unexpected twist.

It is well up to standard and I really enjoyed it.

Told from the perspectives of Camilla, Niall, and an anonymous character, this book explores how one drive, one night, one phone call forever alters the lives of many.

The opening and closing chapters are action-packed, with the story kicking off with a tense siege and its aftermath, which reshapes everything for the characters.

In the middle, we dive into the emotional chaos Cam and Niall experience in the wake of the siege. Their thoughts and feelings are fragmented and overwhelming, creating a sense of internal conflict. While I struggled to connect with this part of the narrative initially, I realised later that the disjointed style mirrored the characters' own cyclical sorrow, which added to their storylines and character development.

The conclusion brings everything together as Cam and Niall inch closer to uncovering the truth, leading to the big reveal, revealed through a story in a story. The final pieces of the puzzle fall into place seamlessly, offering an intense conclusion to the story that leaves the reader feeling satisfied.