I was quickly engaged in this book and was page turning quite happily till about a third of the way in, then if I’m honest I got a bit bored and felt the middle third was somewhat ‘padded out’ and I got to the stage when I was longing to get to the end. Then the final third of the book picked up and I enjoyed it again. It’s a good storyline and I didn’t guess the twist at the end. I did have to go back and read a couple of bits at the end as it seemed like it was all very quickly and neatly tied up and I missed a few bits. All in all, it was a three star read for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was full of twists and turns and. I couldn’t put it down. I would thoroughly recommend.

It’s the summer solstice, and it also happens to be Camilla’s Deschamps first day back at work after maternity leave, and also daughter Polly’s first day at nursery.
Camilla would have expected some help from her husband Luke, but she arrives downstairs to discover that he’s nowhere to be seen. What she does find is an unfinished note from Luke - “ It’s been lovely with you both “, really weird, what on earth does he mean? However, she has to put it to the back of her mind for now and fully concentrate on her job as a book editor.

Later that day there’s a breaking news story about a hostage situation in London, and Camilla is still worrying about Luke’s whereabouts seeing as he hasn’t answered any of her texts. She doesn’t have to wait long, as the police arrive to inform her that Luke is caught up in the siege, but he’s not a hostage - no, that doting father, excellent writer, the man with a sunny outlook on life is actually the gunman!

This is a great storyline as Camilla’s mundane life descends into a complete nightmare - with the accompanying tension, fear, twists and turns and the raw emotion that Ms McAllister always manages to elicit! Would definitely recommend.

A book full of twists and turns with an explosive start. Had me enthralled from the very start and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished.
Those who love Gillian's other books will enjoy this just as much, and if you've never read any of her books before....you'll want to after this!

Really enjoyed this story, it was so entrancing as the approach was a way I hadn't seen before so it made a whole difference from a standard mystery.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my advanced copy in exchange for a review. I really enjoyed reading other Gillian McAllister books and was looking forward to this one! We begin by meeting Cam and Luke who are married and have just had a baby, 9 months later Cam is due to go back to work after maternity when she gets there the news shows a hostage situation and before she knows it she is caught up in something that is about to change her life forever. The story takes us through this and the years later when her husband is missing, with lots of twists and turns. Information trickles through to us the reader from 2 points of views, Cams and also Nialls the hostage negotiator at the time. Both keep their cards close to their chest but with sharing information with each other could they finally discover what really happened that day. I enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending to others.

‘Famous Last Words’ is Gillian McAllister’s best thriller yet. This is an engrossing read capturing the nightmarish situation that a new mother finds herself in after her pretty perfect husband, Luke, holds three people hostage and shoots two of them.

Camilla is a literary agent. She meets her ghost writer husband through work, and they have a very good life. As her husband says, ‘She sits in a chair [reading] every night and just has the time of her life.’ However, once he escapes from the police managing the hostage situation, she has anything but. Seven years later, as a single mother, urged by her sister to forget her husband who is most likely dead by now, she is trying to move on but it’s not easy.

As ever, McAllister presents us with very relatable characters. She has clearly researched hostage situations thoroughly. Niall, the hostage negotiator, also suffers. His failure to talk down Luke affects him badly; his marriage crumbles and he cannot move on. Together with Camilla, yearning for her husband and Camilla’s sister, longing for a child of her own, McAllister builds an often moving picture of lonely, lost people.

Those who enjoy McAllister’s novels will no doubt rush to read this and they won’t be disappointed.

My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

A very engrossing and intriguing read with an interesting premise. Some books you savour and read slowly, others you race though, and Famous Last Words is one of those. It's well paced and atmospheric.

A great synopsis that leads into a thriller of a book that I found hard to put down. After an explosive start, I felt part two really came into its own and had me hooked. Cam’s life is turned upside down when her husband commits a serious crime. How well does she really know the man she loves? Her life is about to change forever. This is a tale of crime, secrets and family and it certainly makes you wonder how you would react. Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House and the author for the chance to review.

Absolutely classic McAllister here. A twisty, gripping read. It’s a thriller, but really more an examination of life and relationships. How well do you truly know your partner? What would you do if you found they had done something bad, something illegal - something horrific? What could you believe in?

All the evidence points towards Luke being a bad man. A very bad man. But Cam is not convinced. 7 years after he holds three people hostage - and shoots two of them dead - she is trying to persuade herself that she is ready to move on. But when a text comes out of the blue, she’s sure it’s her husband reaching out.

Meanwhile, Niall - the hostage negotiator in the original case - is struggling with his own demons. Dumped by his wife for always putting work first, he is haunted by dreams of gunshots and violence.

Bit by bit, McAllister feeds us clues from the two independent investigations - and piece by delicious piece the mystery is solved. Highly recommended!

Famous Last Words by author Gillian McAllister was a real adventure of a ride.

I have read a couple of Gillian McAllister's novels before but will be catching up on the ones that I have missed.

We meet Cam, married to Luke and new mum to Polly. Cam is works in the world of literary agents and she is starting back at work after time off to become a mum.

The police show up on her first day, and she is told her husband is holding three hostages in a unit. The reader is taken on the journey of Cam and police negotiator Niall who is trying to rescue the situation..

When the outcome of the situation, leaves Luke having disappeared it changes the lives of all involved.

The book is then thrust to 7 years later and we see where Cam and Niall are in their lives. Both are still wondering on what happened to Luke and neither want to leave it. For me, this is when the novel really kicks up a gear and I could not put it down.

A very well written novel, again, by author Gillian McAllister that is an adventure of a read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars from me.

I absolutely love Gillian McAllister’s novels and she really does seem to be getting better and better if that is possible !
I read this over the course of 24 hours, ignoring everything else I had to do as I just could not put it down.

It’s a beautifully written, stunning thriller , so twisty and intricately plotted that it left me breathless and desperate for one more chapter. Although I did guess a couple of the twists I still had no idea where the plot was going.

The best thriller I’ve read this year by far and highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This compelling story draws you in from the first page. Camilla is returning to work following maternity leave. She leaves Polly, her baby at the nursery, wondering where Luke, her husband has gone. He has left a cryptic note, and his behaviour has seemed strange recently. She is welcomed back to work then hears of hostages being taken in another part of London. And Luke is the suspect.

Camilla’s whole world disintegrates as she is drawn into a world she has no experience of. With several dark, shady characters, the pace increases as this complex, gripping plot unfolds with its many twists and turns. Gillian McAllister skilfully draws the characters - Camilla. puzzling where Luke could have disappeared; her sister going through difficult IVF treatments, and Niall, the police negotiator. All are relatable and believable characters, making a more rounded picture as this pacy thriller unfolds.

Having enjoyed reading previous books by this author, I found this to be one of her best. Skilfully researched with its intriguing plot, I couldn’t put down this book until the mystery had been resolved. Recommended.

Another wonderful read!
This book gripped me from the very first chapter and it kept getting better and better. Gillian is superbly masterful at keeping you guessing when you think you know the direction the book is going and then whips that idea away from you just as quickly.
Skilful, suspenseful , superbly crafted and a book like no other.
Thank you so much for my copy to read and review. Being part of the early readers is an absolute privilege and it’s a book I adored.

I adored this book. I'd give it 6 stars out of 5 if I could. It's a genre bending book... thriller, crime, murder, love story, police procedures, family ...you name it, you can find a story within a story here about it. There's no extra words, every word has a meaning, the devil's in the detail. Just snuggle down, read and enjoy it. I did.

Really cool concept, found the beginning slow which nearly made me give up but the premise was good enough to make me carry on. Glad I did, was a good thriller.

Superbly Plotted..
Seemingly humdrum lives are upturned in this superbly plotted and ingeniously devised novel of suspense where an apparent siege/hostage situation is not at all what it seems. Perfectly executed plot populated with a host of credible and well drawn characters, a pacy narrative littered with hair bend twists and turns and an edge of seat denouement. An all round fabulous read.

What a fantastic read!

This had me completely gripped from the first page and I could not put it down! You are pulled into the plot and the characters instantly grab your attention.

Something felt very real about the plot of the story and how it plays out, as the characters are so well developed and relatable. Gillian McAllister has done brilliantly to make you question the husband and who his wife thinks he is as a person in their marriage.

Famous Last Words is filled with unexpected twists and turns but the major twist was exceptional, personal and fitted the characters in the most perfect way. My jaw dropped!

A totally immersive story that kept me hooked and involved from early on. This is my kind of thriller- characters that I can connect to and a plot that keeps me guessing and gasping. I enjoyed having a different point of view from the hostage negotiator and the seven year time taps worked well in the author’s skilled hands. Another great read, bring on the next McAllister!

4.5 stars rounded up.

Cam is already anxious to head back to work and leave her baby girl, as the day has come where her maternity leave has ended...so when she wakes up to find her husband has left for the day.....it does nothing to soothe her anxiety. She then finds a cryptic note.....but tries to brush it off and go on with her day. A few hours later, the police show up and inform her that her husband is involved in a hostage situation....and SHOCKER.....he is the hostage taker....the gunman! What would drive Luke to do this? Does Cam even know the man she married?

As a mother, this book grabs me from the outset, because I know that stressful first day back to work.....added to that a missing husband and a cryptic note, I felt for Cam! The story just goes from there.....every page is a page turner and because it moves so fast, you're wondering....what is coming??? Gillian does this so well....gets you to imagine what you'd do in that situation. Would you abandon your own morals and values to help somebody you love? Wrong Place, Wrong time was a classic example of that...and she does it again here.

I don't want to say too much, because unfortunately I'd have to give some good plotlines away. I was so surprised by the turn the book takes as the blurb doesn't give it away. Another reviewer actually spoilt that for me.....but it didn't spoil the story for me....though I really wish I didn't know. Anyways....that may make no sense....lol....but I don't want to do that to any of you.

I'm docking half a star, just because I just loved Wrong Place, Wrong Time a bit more...a smidgen more. With this book, there were some things that I guessed and I thought perhaps some characters were a bit too unhinged for me in the end, but really that's just me nit picking.

If you love a well plotted story with great plot twists, you'll love this one! Page turner, thriller, hold your breath, whodunnit....Famous Last Words has it all!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Michael Joseph for this advanced review e-copy :)