The best thriller I have read this year!
Raced through this book in one sitting, was hooked from page one.
A must read.

An intense, twisty thriller that kept me hooked right from the start. The story follows Cam, a new mother, whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Luke, is revealed to be at the center of a hostage situation. As Cam tries to understand why, we’re taken through multiple perspectives and timelines.

This is both a suspenseful thriller and an emotional story, with unexpected twists that had me guessing right until the end.

This one is the perfect choice for lovers of psychological thrillers.

I’ve been wracking my brain over how to avoid spoilers in this review, and II found the perfect line on Goodreads: “I wrote this book. I hope you enjoy it, a love story set in a hostage situation.” Leave it to Gillian McAllister to sum it up so perfectly!

This book truly is a love story within a thriller - a suspenseful narrative with plenty of action and mystery, yet deeply rooted in complex, fractured relationships. And for someone who isn’t typically drawn to romance, rest assured: this is a touching story, executed beautifully and still packed full of thrilling elements and suspense.

The story unfolds across four acts and is told from three perspectives - Cam, Niall, and a mysterious third narrator. We meet Camilla, or “Cam” for short, who is happily married, recently welcomed her first child, and is eager to return to her job as a literary agent after maternity leave. Her husband, Luke, is a ghostwriter: charming, loving, and a devoted father. So, when Luke vanishes one morning, it feels all the more out of character. Cam finds a note, with “If anything” struck out on one side, and on the other: “It’s been so lovely with you both. Lx.” He isn’t answering his phone and his WhatsApp shows his last seen online time as 05:10.

Unable to reach him, Cam drops her daughter at nursery and heads to work - where a breaking news broadcast reveals three people are being held hostage. And Luke is the one holding them.

From here, the twists and turns come thick and fast. Why has Luke taken hostages and who are they? I loved how everything in the book is meaningful, with details that circle back. So you really can guess along as you read. Crime fiction fans will appreciate the clever nods to the genre woven through Cam’s profession as a literary agent, too!

Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the ARC.

Gripping from beginning to end A real page turner. Gillian McAllister has the ability to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Enough twists to be entertaining but not so many that it became implausible Loved it.

‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ was one of my favourite books that I read last year so when I was accepted for an ARC on NetGalley I was very happy.

We start the book with Camilla who is returning to work after her maternity leave. She is nervous to leave her daughter at nursery for the day and is surprised her husband Luke is not there for the occasion. All she finds is a scribbled note that he left for her.

Once arriving at work, breaking news is released on a hostage situation that is happening in London and much to Camilla’s surprise she finds out her husband Luke is involved.

Camilla has to work out if the note he left gives any clues and try to understand what has happened to the husband she thought she knew so well.

This was a great book! It was told through 4 Acts and spanned across multiple years. There were 3 POVs Camilla, Niall (the hostage negotiator) and an Anonymous character. There were many twists in the book and it really kept you guessing right until the end.

I raced through this book and definitely recommend it to thriller fans when it is released on 30 January 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy.

This is a really great and well written story as I have come to expect from this author. This story weaves a very clever tale as you are not sure what to believe from beginning to end but believe it you will! The main characters are all really well written and relatable, especially Cam the introvert bookworm! This is a psychological thriller but it is also a very compelling and heartwarming story. Definitely a recommended read.

I am really sorry to say I just didn't enjoy this book. The characters didn't resonate with me and I didn't feel very connected .Hopefully other readers will enjoy it more.

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!