Gillian McAllister’s Famous Last Words is an exciting thriller that had me hooked from the very start. New mother Camilla is ready to return to her career as a literary agent, leaving her infant daughter at day care for the first time. It’s June 21, the longest day of the year, a date meant for fresh starts and promises. But her husband Luke’s absence and a cryptic note change everything.

When news breaks of a hostage situation in London, Camilla’s life is sent in a tailspin. The police inform Camilla that her loving husband Luke is the one holding the gun. The story is full of suspense as Camilla comes to terms with her terror and disbelief to what is happening. What has turned her supportive husband into a criminal.

This is a very enjoyable read that I struggled to put down reading most of it in one sitting.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

New mother Camilla’s world is turned upside down on her first day back to work after maternity leave. She gets up to a mysterious note from her husband Luke who is nowhere to be seen. This is the beginning of the day from hell when she finds out her husband has taken 3 hostages and has a gun. From this moment her who world spirals and what follows changes her life forever.

This book was fantastic and I was addicted from the first page. It was written from the perceptive of Camilla and also Niall the hostage negotiator who I had a soft spot for.

It was fast paced , full of twists and turns and every time I thought I knew what was going to happen it took the reader in a different direction. I recommend this brilliant book 100 percent it was fantastic

Thank to NetGalley, Gillian McAllister and Michael Joseph , Penguin Random House for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Gillian McAllister does it again with this incredible thriller! As usual with this author, nothing is as it seems and you better stay on your toes when flying through this book!

Very well written book. Some interesting twists and turns. I enjoyed this but not as much as the last one I read by this author ‘Wrong Place, Wrong Time’ which was excellent.
Still a really good story with good characters and a clever conclusion. Recommended.

I really should know better than to pick up a Gillian McAllister book in the evening. I couldn’t put this one down and was up until the wee hours feverishly turning the pages.

Such a clever book with smart twists that have become Gillian’s trademark. I also really liked the character of Cam and loved the snippets of the publishing world we see through her job as a literary agent.

Famous Last Words is tightly plotted and well paced. Another cracker from a master

Huge thanks to Michael Joseph & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

What an absolutely brilliant read .Full of twists and turns a real roller coaster of a ride .Cam's first day back at work after maternity leave and Luke disappears ,then the Police come knocking to tell her Luke is holding 3 people hostage in an old warehouse ,Cam can hardly believe it ,from then on everything spirals and is never the same as Luke kills two hostages and goes on the run for 7 years .I was trying to guess what Luke's involvement was ,the story was so clever but finally everything fell into place with an excellent ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

WOW WOW I know Gillian Mcallister always delivers but this one is exceptional.
The storyline is unique to anything I’ve read in along time.The tension begins from the very first pages and leads us into a maze of WHO,WHAT and IFS leaving you thinking what would you do in Cams situation.
Each chapter is suspenseful and gives you just what you want from a thriller and makes it a next chapter must read. The reveal was unique which I’ve come to expect from the author.
Leaves you thinking well after the last page.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph,Penguin Random House for the Arc

Famous Last Words is hands down my favourite book of 2024 so far. The storyline is ridiculously gripping. I found myself emotionally invested in the characters and even days after I've finished reading, I'm still thinking about them and questioning what I would have done in their shoes.

For me, what makes Gillian not just a good author, but an outstanding one, is her ability to not only produce an addictive thriller, but an addictive thriller that always has a relatable love story or lesson in human nature at the heart.

A must-read, you'll struggle to find better.

NetGalley Review!
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Famous Last Words
@gillianmauthor
@michaeljbooks
Out: January 2025
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It's times like this, I feel privileged to get my hands on a book before lots of other people see them. Especially when the author is a favourite.
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Famous Last Words is the latest novel from Gillian McAllister and unsurprisingly, I adored it. Now quick disclaimer - I would read McAllister's shopping list so I went in COMPLETELY blind not having the faintest idea what it was about. To the point that I thought I was really clever guessing an early 'twist' which is actually the premise of the book 🙈
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It's Cam's first day back at work following 9 months maternity leave. Her husband, Luke leaves a bit of an odd note that morning before he heads to work, but Cam tries to put it to the back of her mind. That is until later that morning she catches the news and a hostage situation is unfolding. Quickly followed by the police turning up to her place of work to let her know that Luke is involved. And yes, he's fine, because NOT A SPOILER OR A TWIST: Luke's the gunman.
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But why? Luke is perhaps the last person on the planet that you'd expect to end up behind the gun in that situation. Is everything really all it seems? Much of the novel is told 7 years later as Cam makes the heartbreaking decision to declare Luke legally dead and close that chapter of her life. But instead of burying the past, it rears it's ugly (?) head and lots of unanswered questions start to unravel.
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In case you hadn't guessed it yet, I loved it. I will be recommending it to anyone that will listen. And those who won't. I really liked the cast, or at the least the ones that weren't a bad guy. I especially liked Niall, the hostage negotiator. Couldn't tell you why. Just did. Something else that I can't put my finger on - something felt different about how this one was written. Maybe a change in pace? A maturity in McAllister's writing (not to call it immature before...perhaps, growth/development is better....). Maybe not either of those things but it felt like something has changed for the better.
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Loved it. Get it pre-ordered now!

I'm not sure how to review this. I didn't love it or hate it. I didn't get excited to pick it up neither did I give up on it. It was just a bit boring to be honest. I was happy when it ended and probably won't read another of the author's books. Sorry not a helpful review but I really don't have anything to say.

Wow!!! I have no words !!
I absolutely loved it
The twists just keep hitting me full force!
I adored Cam she was such a strong independent woman who never gave up !
the mystery she lived with for 7 years
I also adored Niall and was so happy with his last chapter
I like how it was written from cam and niall’s point of view you got to really see how it all unfolded
I was so surprised during this was an amazing thriller
Which kept me guessing kept me so I grossed I didn’t want to put it down!

Camilla thinks her life with her husband and family is just like everyone else's , so when one morning she finds an odd note from her husband she is left pondering.

Later that day she hears of an hostage situation and worries for Luke, her husband... she then discovers he is not a hostage ...he is the gunman..

What an brilliant read this is. It is pacy intense and filled with drama. The plot is definitely not for the faint hearted and the writing as usual from this author is superb.

I was intrigued and excited to read this novel and boy! did it deliver....

Wow! What an amazing story. I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before, it’s unique. Possibly one of my favourite books this year.
How can a genuinely good man become a bad person overnight. That’s what Cam is trying to work out. How did her loving husband and her child’s father turn into a bad man? This book is so gripping and thrilling I had to read it whenever I had the chance. Gillian McAlliisters books are always good and I would highly recommend them.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

For me, Wrong Place Wrong Time is book perfection and it’s going to be hard to top that but Famous Last Words comes close. As a fellow bookworm, I could really relate to Cam, I thought she was a beautifully written character. A cracking read, I’m already looking forward to the next work from Gillian!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work, her daughter’s first day at nursery. Instead of being waved off by her husband, she only sees a strange note he's left behind. Once in work, she hears the news of a hostage situation. When the police come to see her, they break the news that Luke isn't a hostage: he's the gunman.
I was thrilled to get an ARC of this book from Netgalley, as I've been a big fan of Gillian McAllister since reading Wrong Place Wrong Time. This book is once again a fantastic read. Told from the perspective of Camilla and the hostage negotiator, we find out the story of why calm, optimistic Lucke has taken hostages. Gillian Mcallister's use of timing in this novel is incredible: there are so many mysteries throughout the book, and each mystery is revealed at just the right time in the story to keep you hooked.
Another great read from a great author, definitely go buy it!
#FamousLastWords #NetGalley

Wow Wow Wow, Gillian McAllister is back with a bang!!

I raced through this book eager to know what turns a family man into a killer who goes on the run for seven years while the wife is left behind trying to solve the mystery while raising their young daughter.

A fantastic read which kept me gripped.

5 stars

Another cracker from the brilliant Gillian McAllister. I loved the character Cam & really emphasised with her. She's very likeable & he situation was awful. It's impossible to know how any would act when your husband takes & hostages & then disappears. It's a book not to be missed.

Gillian McAllister has yet to disappoint and this book is no exception.

Cam’s first day back after maternity leave has arrived. Luckily she loves her job as a publisher and loves reading. Surprised to wake to realise Luke has already left, she drops their baby, Polly, to nursery; only to be contacted soon after by the police. Cam is stunned to be informed Luke is caught up in a siege…as the perpetrator holding 3 hostages. The book then skips ahead 7 years beyond the aftermath where more than one life is lost…

I really enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. The fast forward to 7 years later was a really great technique. The mystery pov kept the mystery alive and I loved Cam. Cam reflects the readers position - certain of Luke’s innocence at times and then others convinced of his guilt. The big reveal was surprising and how it was revealed was ingenious and unique. The action continues up to the very last page.

Famous Last Words is brilliant. Combining high-octane action, an intriguing mystery, and a heart-wrenching love story into a gripping page turner is quite a feat, and Gillian McAllister pulls it off every time. Highly recommended.

This book kept me gripped to the end. I read it in 5 hours! Really original content and full of twists and turns. A very clever and well crafted book from the author.