I am a huge fan of GillIian McAllister and have loved all her books, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Famous Last Words, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise was intriguing but the execution didn't quite work for me. I'm clearly in the minority here as all other reviews rave about it, It just didn't grip me the way her other books did.

A Captivating and Immersive Read

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were so well-developed that I found myself deeply empathizing with them. It's rare to come across a story that delves into the lives of those left to deal with the aftermath of a hostage situation, and this book did it brilliantly. The pacing was perfect, keeping me engaged from start to finish. The twists were masterfully executed, each one more surprising than the last. The writing style was incredibly vivid and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the story.

The plot centres around Camilla, a new mother whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Luke, becomes involved in a hostage situation—not as a victim, but as the gunman. This unexpected twist adds layers of complexity and emotional depth to the narrative, making it a truly unforgettable read. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an arc of this book.
#FamousLastWords #NetGalley.

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work after maternity leave when the police arrive to tell her that her husband Luke is involved in a hostage crisis, and that he is the one holding the gun!

The story is told from the point of view of Camilla, who is torn between helping the police and trying to protect Luke, and Naill the hostage negotiator who tries to bring the situation to peaceful resolution

I thought this was really clever and unexpected read which had me hooked right from the start, my only criticism would be that the ending seemed a bit rushed

I am a fairly recent convert to Gillian McAllister’s books and I was thrilled to be approved for this eArc. I’ve not read all her books yet but this is definitely the best I’ve read so far.

At the start of the book and from reading the synopsis I kind of thought I knew where this was going to go but I was very wrong! As the book went on I did figure out some of the twists but I never underestimate McAllister’s ability to surprise her readers!

The story is told from two view points, Camilla, or Cam as she’s known, and Niall, the Hostage Negotiator. This device works really well as we get to see what each doesn’t want the other to know. I love when we, as the reader, have more information than the characters.

I loved Cam; she works in publishing, which would be my absolute dream job, and was so well written. She has her flaws and I really related to some of the decisions she made. McAllister’s characterisation was great in this. The supporting characters felt nicely fleshed out with their own stories going on as well.

As with a lot of McAllister’s books it’s very difficult to write a review because I really don’t want to spoil any of the twists. Her writing is so well suited to this style of book and I was gripped from beginning to end.

If you love a twisty crime thriller then this one will be for you.

WOW WOW WOW. I absolutely adore this book. It’s cleverly plotted with believable characters that you engage with from the outset. Gillian McAllister is a master craftsman who deserves all the accolades she receives. A genuine 5 star book!

A great initial premise - Cam is returning to work after maternity leave, but her husband Luke has already left when she wakes. She goes to work, only for the police to come for her as her husband is involved in a hostage situation, but he is not the victim, he is the perpetrator. But he is just not that sort of guy. Cam begins to question how well she knew Luke as she realises he has been acting strangely for some time, and then finds he has left her a very cryptic note.

Niall is the hostage negotiator sent to deal with this situation, but he is left feeling he misread everything when Luke escapes and disappears.

The repercussions of this day continue into the future, and we rejoin the story 7 years later, as Cam finally tries to have Luke declared dead and to pick up her life with her new love interest, Charlie. Niall is no longer a negotiator, but he can't let this case rest.

The plot is exciting and intricate and although it doesn't always hang well together, it does make for a good read. The ending didn't really work for me, and I felt occasionally the author lost her way a little, but overall its a gripping story. Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph and Penguin Random House for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a twisty thriller! New mum Camilla has come to the end of her maternity leave, and on the first morning back to work, her husband is nowhere in sight. He appears to have left already, which is selfish and maddening. A few hours into her work day, the news ammounces a seige in a local warehouse and before long police are descending on Canilla with the horrific revelation that her husband is involved. This is such a multilayered novel with the truth being so far from my conscious. Such a great read. #famouslastwords #gillianmcallister #netgalley

My thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Famous Last Words’ written by Gillian McAllister in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work after nine months’ maternity leave and baby Polly’s first day at nursery but her husband Luke has already left for work and as she leaves their home she finds a note from him saying ‘It’s been so lovely with you both Lx’. Shortly after the police arrive at Camilla’s workplace telling her that there’s a hostage situation unfolding in a warehouse in Bermondsey and that Luke’s involved.

‘Famous Last Words’ is a brilliant thriller, gripping and addictive, where a wife never stops believing in her husband regardless of what the police say he’s done. The further I got into the story the more involved I became until it was near impossible to stop reading. It was exciting, chilling, disturbing, shocking at times, and the tension increased considerably towards the final chapters which were powerful and heart-stopping. The characters were realistically described and had me totally connected with what was happening. This is an excellently written thriller than I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading and can recommend with no hesitation.

Mae mynd yn ôl i’r gwaith ar ôl cyfnod mamolaeth yn ddigon o her, ond gyda dim sôn o’i gŵr ar y bore cynta hwnnw mae pethau’n gwaethygu’n gyflym ar gyfer Cam a’i merch Polly. Mae hwn yn dechrau’n llythrennol bron gyda bang, y cyffro yn cyrraedd o’r tudalennau cyntaf wrth i ni ddeall bod ei gŵr, Luke, yn dal gwystlon mewn warws. Mae’r stori’n datblygu’n gyflym ac mae’r awdur yn wych am gadw momentwm ac mae’r troeon annisgwyl yn ddi-ddiwedd! Cawn y stori o’r hyn a ddaw wedyn gan Cam wrth iddi ddygymod a’r digwyddiad ac wrth iddi gwestiynu popeth yr oedd yn ei wybod am ei gŵr a’u bywyd gyda’i gilydd. Cawn hefyd safbwynt Niall, swyddog yr heddlu a oedd yn gyfrifol am geisio trafod gyda Luke i geisio rhyddhau’r gwystlon, wrth iddo yntau geisio dygymod â’r diwrnod a’i rôl yntau yn y cyfan. Am gyffro, stori anhygoel sy’n hawdd ei dychmygu fel cyfres deledu lwyddiannus. Mae hon yn sicr yn un o’r goreuon i mi!

Going back to work after maternity leave is not easy, throw in a husband that’s disappeared on that fateful morning and things are about to go from bad to worse for Cam and her daughter Polly. This one starts quite literally with a bang, full of action from the first few pages as we discover her husband, Luke, has taken three people hostage in a warehouse. The story is fast-paced, and the author is fantastic at keeping momentum and the unexpected twists are never ending! We hear the story from Cam’s perspective as she comes to terms with the events and questions everything she knew about her husband and their life together. We also get Niall’s perspective, the hostage negotiator on that day as he also tries to come to terms with how it all unfolded and his role in the result. What excitement, an incredible story that could easily be made into a successful tv series too. This is certainly one of the best for me!

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that starts with an ordinary day and quickly spirals into an unthinkable nightmare. Camilla, returning to work after maternity leave, discovers her husband Luke missing, leaving behind only a cryptic note. Soon, a hostage situation in London dominates the news, and shockingly, Luke is identified as the gunman.
The story masterfully alternates between Camilla’s struggle to understand Luke’s actions and the intense perspective of the hostage negotiator. The twists and turns kept me hooked, as Camilla unravels secrets about the man she thought she knew. McAllister's writing is sharp, and the tension never falters.
I appreciated the balance of emotional depth and suspense, with Camilla’s journey of love, doubt, and resilience taking center stage. While some twists were predictable, others genuinely surprised me. This gripping, well-researched thriller is a must-read for fans of psychological mysteries!

Famous Last Words is a gripping novel that kept me guessing. It's dramatic, intriguing, and a lot of fun!

It's a big day for our protagonist Camilla: she's dropping off her daughter for her first day of nursery. And her husband Luke seems to be missing. As the day goes on and Cam gets more fraught, she becomes aware of a hostage situation unfolding on television. When the police turn up at her door and tell her that Luke is the gunman, she can't believe it.

The book takes us on Cam's journey as she follows the day unfolding and then jumps forward in time as we see the after-effects of that fateful day. I don't want to give too much away but the story takes us on plenty of twists and turns, with mystery and tension running throughout. I didn't want to put it down - a feeling I find has become very familiar with Gillian McAllister's books! - and although there's obviously plenty of drama, it never felt ridiculous which I think is amazing considering the subject of this book. The book felt really well researched (I'm saying that with zero knowledge of how hostage situations or the following investigations would be carried out, but I just feel in very good hands with Gillian McAllister's books, including this one).

I'd highly recommend this novel. I knew it would be hard to follow the utterly addictive 'Wrong Place Wrong Time' but this is a very worthy follow-up that will keep you compulsively turning the pages.

Cam is happily married with a baby daughter, and is just starting back at the literary agent job she loves after completing her materniry leave. She is puzzled when her husband Luke is not around when she wakes up on her first day back, with only an unfinished note saying how lovely the time with her and their daughter Polly has been. As her working day unfolds, news starts breaking about a hostage situation in a warehouse in Bermondsey, and the police get in contact with Cam- but inexplicably, it is Luke who is holding three people at gunpoint. As the years pass, Cam struggles to make sense of the events of that day, and to rebuild her life, but she still loves and misses Luke and when she receives a mysterious text, cannot damp down the hope that she will finally get some answers. Gillian McAllister is an excellent writer who somehow manages to come up with original ideas in the rather crowded market of psychological thrillers. She builds up such a convincing portrait of Luke and the person he was before the siege that we care about him and want there to be a reasonable explanation for his actions, which racks up the tension. Cam is also very relatable in her struggles with this total nightmare and the seesawing of her emotions. I also loved the portrayal of her supportive sister. Clues are pieced together slowly, and I was most of the way through before I started to guess what had happened-and I was wrong about some things! A total treat to read.

It's June 21st, the longest day of the year, and a day that would turn out to be the longest day of Cam's life. It is Cam's first day back at work and her daughter's first day at daycare, but unexpectedly, her husband, Luke, is absent to see them off. She then discovers an unusually cryptic note from him, which is quite out of character, especially considering his profession as a copywriter. It is even more perplexing that he has been offline since shortly after 5:00 AM. She has made numerous attempts to contact him by phone and message, but without success.

Then, at work, she hears a commotion outside and a breaking news story is on the television. A siege is underway in central London where a man has taken three hostages in a warehouse. Before she can fully comprehend this, two police officers enter the office, and she knows they are looking for her.
For the first time, she is questioning her husband. Did she truly know him? The more she learns, the more upset she becomes. Luke has erased his laptop's contents, he was dishonest about reporting a home invasion, and he has taken three people hostage.

June 21st was also a pivotal day in the life of DCI Niall Thompson, the hostage negotiator called in to assist; his decisions would significantly impact the situation and potentially shape his career.

WOW!! This is one of my favourite books that I have read so far this year! I realize the year is still young, but it was so captivating that I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

The first properly good thriller I've read in ages!

Famous Last Words starts on a relatively ordinary day: Camilla's going back to work after maternity leave. But when she wakes up, her husband has already headed out without saying goodbye. It's a little odd, but she tries not to worry until the police arrive at her workplace. A hostage situation is unfolding in a warehouse - and it looks like husband Luke is the one who's taken prisoners, with zero hint that he might ever do such a thing. There's a hostage negotiator on the ground (another main character), and while his gut tells him there's something off about the situation, the other cops are not in the mood to listen. Soon, it all goes wrong.

I found this a refreshing read after so many thrillers that involve horrible people or follow the same predictable format with 'shocking' twists. (There are some twists here, but they made narrative sense to me).

I really felt for Camilla's situation - trying to hide who she is, having to explain to her daughter where her daddy is, being tactful around her sister who is desperate for her child. She's also under pressure to move on from her life with Luke, and I thought this was nicely and realistically handled. She knows the evidence looks bad, but she loves him. She doesn't think he can be a bad person, but she's got no other explanation for what has happened.

Where there's love, there's hope, and she starts imagining she's seeing Luke again, years after the hostage event. Could it be true...?

An intriguing page-turner with great writing and a lot of heart.

From the very first page, I was absolutely hooked. The pacing is insane and the twists? They just keep coming. Gillian McAllister knows exactly how to keep you on the edge of your seat!

The suspense is relentless, and I couldn’t stop reading, always needing to know what happens next. It’s gripping, emotional, and packed with surprises.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and heart-pounding mysteries, you won’t want to miss this one!

Famous last words is a gripping thriller. It follows the lives of Cam and Luke, new parents whose lives are about to be turned upside down.

A brilliant plot that has twists and turns a plenty. There is one detail that I think doesn’t quite stack up but it is minor and doesn’t detract from the story.

The book deals with the question of who is good and who is bad; we always tell ourselves it is easy to work it out, but is it? When you are forced to question whether you got it right or not what do you do?

Can never gives up on her search for Luke and her belief that he is good. Is she right to do so?

We also follow Niall the hostage negotiator and how the events the upturned Cam’s life also upturn his.

A book of good and bad, life and love, family and loss.

I loved it.

Gillian McAllister’s Famous Last Words is an intricately crafted, emotionally charged thriller that kept me glued to the pages. With her trademark ability to weave tension and humanity into every chapter, McAllister delivers a story about secrets, regret, and the complexities of relationships. The twists are sharp, the stakes high, and the ending hits hard. A gripping read that’s perfect for fans of smart, character-driven suspense!

I was hooked from the start of this book with its gripping opening scenes! But then it skips forward in time and loses some momentum for me.

I found some of it predictable, and other parts implausible as a lot of the story relies on mistakes happening and some silly decisions.

But I still enjoyed it overall. I didn't want to put it down and I was fully invested, I just had some niggles with the plot.

I'm a huge fan of Gillian McAllister's work and have read every book she has written (I can say this about only a few authors).
I have waited with bated breath to read this book after reading her last novel within days of its release.
I instantly loved Cam and felt for her, after her life changing beyond recognition only 9 months earlier (the birth of her baby), it then changes again in such a dramatic way (the siege).
I loved the relationship between Cam and her sister, it was such a strong bond, even if they didn't always appreciate that.
I also loved the very tense emotion expressed from Niall to Jess.
I don't want to give anything away so will not say anything more except if you only read one book this year, make it this one.

I have read most of Gillian McAllister’s books and was intrigued by the premise of her latest novel, Famous Last Words, publishing on 30th January 2025. Her last few books haven’t really been for me so I was hoping to like this one.

Camilla is a Literary Agent, about to go back to work after maternity leave. When she finds a note from her husband, Luke, she assumes he’s gone to work early and expects to see him later that day. When she can’t contact him she becomes concerned, and the concern is even greater when the police show up at her work and tell her that there’s a hostage situation, and her husband is involved. Expecting him to be a hostage, she’s shocked to find out he’s the one holding three innocent people at gunpoint in a warehouse.

The story follows Camilla seven years on, trying to move on with her life, and the hostage negotiator, Niall, who believes Luke didn’t set out to kidnap anyone. Neither Camilla or Niall are convinced that Luke is a hardened criminal, and despite the Met dismissing the case, Niall continues his investigation, and Camilla never gives up hope.

I didn’t really connect with any of the characters in the story, but I still wanted to find out what was going on. I felt a couple of parts of the story were a bit predictable, one part I had worked out early on and the reveal was quite underwhelming. However I hadn’t worked out everything and there were still twists to keep me guessing. Just when I had decided to stop at the end of a chapter, I had to keep reading and it resulted in a couple of late nights! It’s the kind of book you want to read in one sitting, and if I’d had the time that’s what I would have done.

The story is certainly readable and will keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed it overall and feel it’s a return to form for the author. If you like a read that will keep you gripped and on the edge of your seat, then I recommend this book. If you’re a fan of Gillian McAllister’s books you’ll likely enjoy this one too.