*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: February 25, 2025

This was a true page turner that hooked me early on. While I found some of the mystery reveals a bit predictable, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment and the short chapters had me saying “just one more” over and over. Will be a great vacation read for a lot of people!

Cam wakes up on the morning she’s to return to work from maternity leave. Instead of their usual morning routine, she finds her husband is gone and only a cryptic note from him is left behind. Hours later she’s notified by the police that her sweet husband is now holding hostages nearby. Um, what? The story unfolds via the wife and the hostage negotiator. They provide such interesting perspectives.

The twists are twisting in this one. I binged it in a day.

Book Review: Famous Last Words
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 stars)

Famous Last Words is a thrilling ride that kept me guessing until the end. I’ll admit, I didn’t quite see the puzzle pieces coming together the way they did, and that twist was brilliantly executed. The author masterfully weaves a fast-paced narrative that keeps you on your toes, making it hard to put down.

The story’s suspenseful atmosphere and clever plotting make it a standout in the thriller genre. If you’re looking for a captivating read with unexpected turns, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Gillian McAllister delivers another gripping thriller with Famous Last Words, a novel that is action-packed from start to finish. The story follows Camilla, a woman whose life is shattered when her husband unexpectedly becomes the perpetrator of a hostage situation. When he subsequently vanishes—leaving everyone uncertain whether he is dead or on the run—Camilla is left grappling with unanswered questions and the daunting task of piecing together the truth.

As she delves into the mystery, determined to uncover what really happened, Camilla finds herself ensnared in a web of secrets and deception. The tension is palpable, and McAllister expertly crafts a narrative that keeps readers on edge. With its fast-paced plot, intricate twists, and emotional depth, this novel is both highly addictive and cinematic in scope.

McAllister’s ability to blend psychological suspense with emotional complexity makes Famous Last Words a standout thriller. The well-developed characters, razor-sharp writing, and relentless sense of urgency ensure that readers will be hooked until the final revelation. This is a novel that would translate seamlessly to the screen, thanks to its compelling storytelling and high-stakes drama.

A must-read for fans of domestic thrillers, Famous Last Words is an unputdownable page-turner that will leave you breathless.

I’ve read Gillian’s last 2 books and was a big fan, so I was so excited to get this ARC!
It hurts me to say this was my least favorite, BUT the first half of the book was so strong and action-packed. The second half made it hard to want to pick back up. It really lost momentum and slow until about the last 15%.
I look forward to reading more of Gillian’s work!

This thriller was so gripping from the start! I found it to be perfectly paced, with that constant feeling of something being off that makes you want to turn each page faster. I really enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister! The story was so suspenseful and captured my interest immediately. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and was surprised and shocked by some of the twists! Would highly recommend.

Holy smokes, I enjoyed this book so much! I binged this eARC in 24 hours…I stayed up way too late and then got up way too early so I could continue reading. I had the hardest time putting it down, I needed to know what happened next. So many tension building, heart pounding, heartbreaking moments. I loved the writing style and how it felt like I was part of the story the whole time…from the hostage situation, a negotiator, the entire investigation process, to a grieving wife trying to put all the pieces together to solve the mystery. My feelings were all over the place with this story.

I also loved how the main character is a literary agent who is a bookish introvert and reads fiction stories to escape the real world…I am sure many of us can relate!

Written in multiple POVs and multiple genres that blended perfectly together…police procedural, crime investigation, mystery, suspense, romance. The author crafted complex timelines using intricate details with multiple twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. This is the second book that I have read by this author and both have been 5 star reads…I highly suggest this book!

Thank you @williammorrowbooks, @gillianmauthor, and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gillian McAllister is quickly becoming an all-time favorite thriller author for me. I love the writing style and each chapter keeps you on your toes, wanting to know more. I like the short chapters, and the overarching feeling like you have to know what is going to happen. I like going into my thriller/mysteries with as little knowledge as possible, so that I can get the most enjoyment our of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc.

After a break - a new book from Gillian McAllister - Famous Last Words.

"Camilla is headed back to work after being on maternity leave. Oddly her husband, Luke, is not there to see her off, leaving behind an odd note. Everyone at work is glad to see her again. Then the news hits. A hostage situation is brewing nearby and her husband is involved...as the hostage taker."

Mcallister throws you right into the tension, never giving a hint about what's really going on. You feel for Cam and her daughter and the hostage negotiator, Niall, after the situation takes a violent turn. McAllister makes a couple of time jumps and the middle drags just a bit until she gives the first clue about what really happened. Not what I was expecting at all. More and more is revealed until the final explosive ending. There is a nice epilogue so you can see what happens to your favorite character.

This will surprise you. Good story from McAllister.

I read this gem of a book with my bookclub and really loved hearing everyone's perspectives on it - while some found this enthralling and quickly paced, others thought it bogged down at times and had excess POVs. Overall I enjoyed my time with this as much as I enjoyed her release Wrong Place, Wrong Time that I read a few years back. While I did find some of Niall's more police-procedural focused chapters to be a little slow, I think this is more a personal thing as I have burnt myself out on police stories in general. If you enjoyed this authors previous books I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

The first half of this book was such a page-turner! It was filled with so much tension and mystery! It slowed a bit in the middle, but then everything ramped back up again! I enjoyed all the twists and turns as I tried to figure out what really happened during the hostage situation. I felt so bad for Cam and all she went through. Niall was my favorite character because he was so sympathetic and wanted the best outcome he could get.

Thank you, @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks, for the #gifted e-arc!

Gillian McAllister’s Famous Last Words doesn’t start with a murder, a car chase, or an anonymous text—it starts with a husband who simply isn’t where he’s supposed to be. That’s all it takes for McAllister to unravel a marriage, a career, and a life in real time. This isn’t a thriller that relies on cheap tricks or high body counts to keep you hooked. Instead, it thrives on an insidious kind of tension—the kind that makes you second-guess everything, including your own instincts. At its core, it’s about trust, betrayal, and—somewhat surprisingly—love.

The novel opens with Camilla (Cam), a literary agent and new mother, returning to work after maternity leave. It should be an ordinary milestone, one her husband, Luke, should be there to support. Instead, she finds a note—just ambiguous enough to be troubling but not clear enough to explain anything. Minutes later, the police arrive. Luke isn’t missing. He’s the gunman in a hostage crisis unfolding across London. And just like that, Cam’s life detonates.

McAllister structures the novel in three acts, each with its own rhythm and weight. The first is pure adrenaline, a masterclass in controlled chaos. Cam’s world unravels at breakneck speed, and McAllister doesn’t give either her or the reader room to breathe. The unanswered texts, the eerie normalcy of her morning before the news broke, the creeping horror that she might not have truly known Luke at all—every moment pulses with dread.

Then comes the second act, where the novel shifts from external catastrophe to internal reckoning. The siege is over, but Cam is still trapped—this time, in the aftermath. She pieces together what happened alongside hostage negotiator Niall, a man undone by that same day. A single misstep cost him his career, his marriage, and any semblance of peace. McAllister lets ambiguity fester. Was Luke completely not who Cam thought he was? Is Niall the solution to Cam’s questions or is he something far darker? The reader doesn’t know—every action revealed could have any number of explanations.

The final act is where McAllister’s skill truly shines. Every breadcrumb laid in the early pages leads to a conclusion that is as shocking as it is inevitable. There’s no final-hour gimmick, no twist for the sake of a twist. It all makes sense—sometimes, painfully so.

The characters in Famous Last Words are riveting not because they’re likable, but because they're real. Cam isn’t a plucky heroine or a tragic victim—she’s messy, stubborn, and fully human. Her love of books—her tendency to escape into fiction as a way to process the world—will make readers of genre fiction happy. And yet, her desire to constantly escape into fun fiction makes her, at times, unable to do what the reader sees she needs to. It’s an astute character choice, making her both relatable and, at moments, frustrating in the best way.

McAllister writes with precision and care. Every moment in this novel matters, every choice is deliberate. And, wow, is it a page-turner. I clocked the central reveal about halfway through, but it didn’t dull the impact—instead, it deepened it. The novel’s emotional truth never wavers, even when some of its more dramatic turns stretch plausibility.

If you’re going to read it—and you absolutely should—clear your schedule. McAllister doesn’t just tell a story. She tightens the screws until there’s nowhere left to turn.

Thank you to the publisher for a free Netgalley. 3.5 rounded up.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But the pace was a tad off. Cam's character and perspective was my favorite. I liked Niall, but felt his chapters could have been shorter. I am happy we did not get a fourth perspective. The third was needed-- nice and short, but I thought it was easy to figure out who it was. And I am happy we did not get a fourth as it would have not fit right.

The overall plot was solid, but felt the time jumps were a tad too long. I genuinely cannot say why without spoiling a major plot point.

I do recommend, but do not think this will be for everyone.

Rounding up a 3.5 for Goodreads. The first half of this book was binge worthy but second half slowed down for me. I couldn’t wait to see how it ended tho

On her first day back to work after her maternity leave, Camilla tearfully leaves her baby at day care and goes to her office. She did find it odd that her husband wasn't there to help or see her off - just an oddly worded note on the counter, and her texts to him have gone unanswered all day. While at work the police come to get her, there is a hostage situation and her husband is not the hostage, but the gunman. How does a loving and caring husband and father change so dramatically into a gunman, did she miss signs? Camilla is determined to find out.

I really enjoyed the dual POV of Camilla and the hostage negotiator, the insight was informative, dramatic and the perspective added additional elements to the story. I was thoroughly engrossed in this book and really did not want to put it down. While I did predict a lot of the events, it did not diminish the read at all. This is my first read from the author and I am absolutely putting her other books on my TBR.

4.25 stars

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC to review

I did a 'buddy read' of this with a friend, and we were doing 5 chapters a day. It was SO hard to stop at only 5 chapters!!! I know she said she read ahead a time or two also. It may be a good thing that we read it this way though because otherwise I would have devoured it so quickly that I wouldn't have had as much time to enjoy the storyline. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers!!

Cam's first day back to work since maternity leave. Her husband, Luke, left a cryptic note. Cam hears the breaking news about a hostage situation with a gunman and her husband does not respond to her text.

Later, the police arrive at her door. She finds out that her husband is in the hostage situation and he is the gunman. She can't believe it since he was such a kind husband.

This final twist of this book is crazy and nothing you can imagine! Pretty much secret after secret, dark evidence, and a thrilling ride! The story builds as the puzzle pieces fall into place.

Mystery, Addictive Thriller, and Twisted! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 2/25/25.

Famous Last Words had me engrossed from the very first words to the final! Tore through it in a snowy 24 hours. Such a suspenseful mystery/thriller, but I loved that the characters and relationships were so integral to the overall plot so it added depth to the story. Can definitely see this one adapted into a movie. Can someone make that happen?
Thank you #NetGalley and #WilliamMorrow for the ARC.

Despite being jet lagged and exhausted, I devoured Famous Last Words in 24 hours, publishing this Monday Feb 25th. Cam’s life is flipped upside down when her calm and funny husband suddenly goes missing on her first day back at work from maternity leave, and learns that he has apparently taken active hostages. Only the first quarter of the book is focused on the hostage situation with the remainder detailing what comes after everything you thought doesn’t turn out that way. Can you accept that your intuition and what you believed was wrong? Told from multiple perspectives, this one was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!