Somewhere between 3.5/4 for me. I thought the premise was really interesting and captured me! Pacing was a bit off, some parts very slow and detailed in what felt like unnecessary ways but other parts that had me flipping pages sooo fast. The time I did spend reading this was enjoyable for me but I think other readers may find it a bit slow. I did enjoy the big twists and thought they were done well but some of the additional details that tied it all together in the end had some plot holes that had me scratching my head.

After months of maternity leave, Camilla will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But, when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note.

Then it starts. Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive, and tell her Luke is involved. But he isn't a hostage. Her husband—doting father, eternal optimist—is the gunman.

What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says...

This book hooked me in from the very start. There were enough twists in the story that it kept me wondering about what was coming next. While I was able to guess how it was coming together at the end, it definitely kept me wondering. And I was really invested in both Camilla and Niall's storylines and enjoyed seeing them through. Great book!

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

Get ready for a beautiful and suspenseful title that grips and never lets go!

New mother Cam’s life is upended when she drops her daughter off at daycare for her first day back at work, only to learn from the police that her loving, gentle husband is the gunman in a hostage situation, his last words to her a cryptic message. Cam must decide what to do, and what truth to uncover, when her world is shattered by the man she knows, trusts, and loves.

This book is excellently written with beautiful imagery. Author Gillian McAllister weaves in realistic, heartfelt descriptions of love — both for her husband and her daughter — and loss, betrayal, and the lingering question of whether or not her good man is still good. I would call this book suspense rather than thriller, but the twists are excellent and I highly recommend.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Premise
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pacing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Impact

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was a good book!!! Did seem to drag a little in places, but it was needed to pull the story together! Did not see the twist.

Gillian McCallister's books always have a twist that keeps me wanting to read. This book is right on par with me as Wrong Place, Wrong Time. The characters were likable and the main character was especially relatable as I would also rather be home reading than in social situations many times. She was able to put into words my feelings about books. The book was well paced with no parts that dragged for me with a very fitting ending. This author has become an automatic read for me.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I really liked how the author did not jump back and forth with multiple characters and instead focused on the main two. The storyline was intriguing and easy to follow. The twists and turns were not outlandish and very plausible. I also really appreciated how the story wrapped up but did not feel rushed.

Gillian does it again! Full of twists and a story to keep you up all night reading. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The novel follows a woman who is confronted with a chilling and mysterious dilemma after witnessing a crime. McAllister masterfully builds tension, blending suspense with emotional depth as she explores themes of guilt, trust, and the consequences of our actions. With its sharp writing and unexpected twists, Famous Last Words is a compelling page-turner that will captivate fans of thrillers and psychological dramas. A must-read for anyone who loves a good, twisting mystery!

I personally was hesitant with this book because right before it I read ‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ by this author. I personally was not a fan of the previous book. I know a lot of people were, but it just wasn’t for me with that being said I was nervous to start this book, but the author proved me wrong. The twist and turns in the story were captivating. I couldn’t put it down. Usually I don’t like when books have multiple perspectives, but it was easy to understand and made perfect sense in this book. I loved it. It made me a fan. Thank you NetGalley, Gillian McAllister, and William Morrow for the ARC!

This was an overall good, well written story with very likable characters. It is original with good plot twists.

What would you do if you found out your husband was not only in a hostage situation but the gunman? The story is mainly told by Camilla (the gunman’s wife) and Niall (the hostage negotiator). It covers moral dilemmas and the effects of how being passionate about your job can affect your personal home life. It was a quick read but got a bit slow during the middle with the action scenes being a little farfetched. Nonetheless it was a creative entertaining read.

Thank you Gillian McAllister, William Morrow and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.

This was a fun read with all the twists and turns and unexpected discoveries. This was my first Gillian McAllister book to date and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I do think the middle dragged on a little more than needed.

The character builds were great and the storyline definitely kept me on my toes. If you’re looking for a love story set in a hostage situation, this one is for you.

While this wasn't my favorite Gillian McAllister book, I still enjoyed it. The pacing felt a bit off, and it took me longer than usual to get through. I also saw a couple of the twists coming earlier than expected, which threw me off a little. Despite that, the story was still engaging, and McAllister's writing kept me hooked overall.

Excellent book with a likeable main character. I enjoyed how the characters were introduced and how you could picture them. Great twists and surprises. I will be looking forward to reading more from Gillian.

Camilla is a new mom. She drops her daughter off at daycare and while at work finds out her husband has taken 3 people hostage.

I was a little skeptical for the first 1/4 of this book. Then things really came together. I really liked the twists. This book actually felt really unique. Pick it up if you love thrillers!

I had no idea the roller coaster this book would take me on and I loved it! I’ve had a very rough week. This was exactly the type of book I needed to read to keep my mind off what was happening in my life. (I had to make the devastating decision to send my dog, Bella, over the rainbow bridge.)

I could sympathize with Cam’s feelings throughout the whole book after what happened with her husband. She never lost hope that he would be able to come back to her and their daughter. I loved Naill as well. He could not rest until he knew the truth about what happened in the warehouse. She wrote such great characters in this book.

I chose this book for our March Book Club pick at @freckledpoppyboutique. I knew Gillian wouldn’t let us down. 🩷 One other person has finished it so far and she loved it. It always makes me feel so good that I can recommend a book that someone else or many others enjoy.

If you’re looking for a book that will give you twists and turns but will be wrapped up nicely at the end then this is a book you want to check out.

Thank you to @williammorrowbooks, @gillianmauthor & @Netgalley for a gifted copy of the ebook. I loved it so much I needed a physical copy for my shelves. 🩷

Solid 5 star read! Camilla loves her life with her husband Luke, her daughter, her job..until one day it all falls apart. On her first day back at work after having her daughter, police come in to tell her that her husband is involved in a hostage situation. But he's not the hostage, he's the taker. After a negotiation goes wrong, her husband is on the run and Camilla has to start her life over.

7 years later, she still has not moved on. She feels she can still see Luke in the shadows. What if it's not just a feeling? Is he watching her? Why did he do what he did? Is he really a bad guy?

Told from the POV of both Camilla and the hostage negotiator, Niall, this book is a thrill ride with many surprising drops.

You won't regret reading this twisty book from superstar, Gillian McAlister. Camilla has been through a few life changes lately but nothing can prepare her for hearing that her husband has taken hostages at gunpoint.

Excellent - engaging and entertaining. A recommended first purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

Wow! I went into this book blind and was immediately sucked in. This twisty/thriller love story sets up a plot that both is so far from every day life but feels so completely possible. Many twists - even if you catch some of them coming it really takes until the end to see the full picture. Excellent read that I couldn’t put down until I finished.

Gillian McAllister has been on my radar for some time, but I haven't gotten around to reading any of her books until now. I was engaged at the beginning wondering how the story was going to play out. I enjoyed both perspectives of the story and how the hostage situation changed the trajectory of their lives once this big event takes place. The story did start to drag a little towards the middle of the book, but I was still invested in the story and wanted to know what was going to happen. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I'm glad I was given the opportunity. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.