3.5

This book had the pacing and promise of her other book I loved, with a bit less satisfaction as the story came to a close. I think that Gillian is my kind of thriller writer despite my overall feelings about this book, and I can’t wait to see what else she writes!

What a riveting novel! Although I don't usually read thrillers, I was gripped by Gillian McAllister's novel Famous Last Words, which is the tale of a mother of a young child who finds herself in a situation we can't imagine: her husband has allegedly created a hostage situation. The twists and turns of the plot along with the excellent descriptions of Camilla's inner turmoil make this a book I think most readers won't want to miss.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister presents a compelling premise: Camilla, a new mother, discovers that her husband Luke is involved in a hostage situation, not as a victim but as the perpetrator. The novel delves into themes of trust, identity, and the secrets that can lurk beneath the surface of even the closest relationships.

The story is emotionally charged, capturing the turmoil and disbelief Camilla experiences as she grapples with the revelation of her husband's actions. The pacing is generally strong, with twists that keep the reader engaged. However, some secondary characters could have been more fully developed to add depth to the narrative.

While the book offers a thought-provoking exploration of personal and relational complexities, it occasionally requires the reader to suspend disbelief, particularly in certain plot developments. Despite these minor drawbacks, McAllister's writing is sharp, and the emotional core of the story resonates.

In summary, Famous Last Words is a solid psychological thriller that combines suspense with emotional insight. It's a worthwhile read for those interested in character-driven narratives with unexpected twists.

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Gillian McAllister is well known for her psychological thrillers. I've read her books a few times and have always loved them. I was very intrigued to read this one because it seemed more domestic than her other books.

This story follows Camilla as she is a new mom and ready to return to work, only for her entire world to crumble. Her husband is holding a hostage and then disappears, and she just doesn't understand what is happening.

I really liked the twists of this book. It was kind of nice for it to stretch over time. We got the current issue and then Camilla, a long while later as you see what her life looks like now. I really wasn't expecting that and really thought it would be just the hostage situation. This gave it a unique twist that I hadn't seen in other books. What I didn't love was the pace of the book. I really felt it could have moved faster and just flowed a bit quicker. I felt like it had lulls that were boring at times.

With that being said, overall this book was good. I really like Camilla and how she handled things and her strength. I really liked the progress of the story and the uniqueness was definitely a winning point. I will continue to read Gillian McAllister going forward because she is very good at what she does and I'm always entertained by her stories.

Another really captivating read from Gillian McAllister! I thought the hostage storyline would be a bit predictable but I found it to be enjoyable as the story unfolded. It’s also important to me that all of my questions are answered by the end and that there are no plot holes, so I was content with the ending.

2 stars.

I wanted to like this so much but it unfortunately fell flat after the first part of the story. I thought for a hostage story this would keep me on my toes but it was very bored. The ending for everything that caused this was very lackluster.

3.5⭐️ - this book is such an interesting concept and was an enjoyable listen. It dragged a little in the middle and some of the answers were meh, but it was overall a fun reading experience.

Camilla is a new mom returning to her job for the first time after maternity leave. However, when she wakes up her husband is not at home and has only left a vague note behind. When a hostage situation breaks in London, Camilla's world is turned upside down. The police are saying her husband is involved in the hostage situation, but not as a hostage. Camilla must come to terms with how well she really knows her husband. What secrets does he have that would lead him into this situation? What do you do when the one you love and have built your life with has done something terrible?

This book was thrilling and suspenseful. There were twists and turns around every corner and it kept me guessing until the end.

Camilla Deschamps is spending what should be a banner day in her small family’s life feeling deeply annoyed instead. Her infant daughter Polly is about to attend nursery school for the very first time, freeing Camilla herself to go back to work at her literary agency. Her husband Luke, however, has suddenly gone missing. He’s always been the carefree foil to her more fretful nature, but surely even he wouldn’t forget to accompany her on their only child’s first school drop-off?

It does worry her somewhat that Luke hasn’t looked at, much less responded, to any of her messages. He doesn’t pick up when she calls either. He’s usually a terrific communicator: it’s part of what makes him such a wonderful husband and, professionally, writer. And then there was that weird little note she found earlier in the morning, with its one ambivalent sentence that only mystified her further. Even so, she’s unprepared when the police show up at her workplace, asking to speak to her in relation to her husband.

After DS Steven Lambert informs her that there’s a hostage situation in Bermondsey, where Luke’s workspace is, Cam assumes for a horrifying moment that he’s being held captive. The truth, however, is far worse, as Lambert hands her a phone with video. Cam can barely believe what she’s seeing:

QUOTE
A shivery, fluey feeling comes over her. She holds on to the video and presses Play again, ignoring Lambert. Soon, on this video, she’ll notice something different. She knows Luke’s face so well. It’ll be easy to spot that it isn’t actually him. She can screenshot it and send it to him. They’ll laugh about it later. [...]

He comes back into view, pacing, and she thinks it again: It’s Luke. That’s what her brain supplies once more, the second she sees him. Unmistakably him, the man she’s loved for four years. His hair, his walk–are those his trainers? They are: the ones with the yellow soles. Distinctive. At this, Cam truly begins to panic.
END QUOTE

How could the loving, funny, considerate man Cam has known and adored for four years possibly be holding three people at gunpoint in a warehouse? If she didn’t have the video evidence right in front of her, she would outright refuse to believe it.

Meanwhile, DCI Niall Thompson has been called in to start negotiations with Luke. He thinks that if he can loop Cam in, they’ll be able to talk Luke down and free the hostages. Luke doesn’t fit the profile of the usual hostage-taker, after all, and Niall is hopeful of a peaceful resolution. But things go horribly awry, and Cam and Niall are thrown together under nightmare circumstances that feel so much worse for being so bewilderingly unexpected.

Niall’s professional instincts tell him that something is deeply wrong with this picture of a mild-mannered writer suddenly taking three others hostage. Cam is in agreement. She knows Luke, knows that he’s good and kind and moral, even if the evidence against him is overwhelming. And so she makes the only choice she believes she has when another police officer questions her about an address saved to Luke’s phone:

QUOTE
“Ring any bells?” Smith says, and Cam stands at a crossroads once more. At the fork in the road. Here it is: the opportunity. The truth is, Cam doesn’t recognize that property, has no idea why Luke has saved it, and on that app.

But she doesn’t want the police to go there, to check it out. What if… what if he’s hiding something there? What if it’s significant, somehow, in ways she doesn’t yet know? What if this location is just for her?

Cam stares at the decision, but the truth is that there isn’t one, not for her. She is his wife. And, here and now, she tumbles across an invisible line, drawn somewhere between her and Smith, made of loyalty and love for her husband.
END QUOTE

Cam’s fierce devotion to her husband and fervent belief in his innocence despite all odds were both weird and refreshing to a cynical mystery reader like myself. Gillian McAllister plays with time and format to slowly unravel the puzzle at the heart of this novel, using multiple viewpoints to reveal the awful truth behind why a seemingly average man would suddenly turn into a violent criminal. Between Cam’s fidelity and Niall’s inability to let things go, they uncover a truth far stranger than either had ever imagined, in this twisty thriller about impossible situations and how surprisingly far blind faith can take you.

<i> It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she 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. </i>

Famous Last Words was a wildly entertaining and suspense-filled read. It kept me on the edge of the seat and guessing right up until the end, through twist after unexpected twist. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

Thank you Gillian McAllister, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I found this book to be really enjoyable overall, but a few times in the middle I did find myself getting distracted because some of it felt too laborious to read. Like, I just felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere with it. However, I pushed through those moments and now on the other side, I can appreciate them more.

Camilla (Cam) Deschamps—wife of Luke, mother of Polly, sister of Libby—is a literary agent. One morning, Cam wakes up alone and, come to find out, it’s because her husband is in an empty warehouse holding three individuals hostage at gunpoint. Needless to say, Camilla is shocked and confused.

There are 4 acts in this book. The first is set in 2017, when the hostage situation occurs. The second and third are seven years after, and the last is essentially an epilogue. Acts I & III flew by for me, Act II had some moments that dragged, but it was by no means tedious to read. This was a fun thriller and I’m incredibly happy to have chosen it as my February BOTM pick! I was also given an eARC on NetGalley from the publisher. 😊

DNF - coming to the conclusion that maybe this author just isn't for me and that's okay. Not sure that I'll be trying another book from them again, something about the writing style just doesn't work for me personally, but I know a lot of readers out there love it!

This was a really exciting book! I was immediately drawn into it, and I found that I cared about the characters pretty quickly. The hostage situation was something I hadn't read of more, and I was on the edge of my seat. I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns, and I definitely will be recommending this book to patrons and friends alike. Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book had the right amount of mystery and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. The characters were developed well.

I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an ARC.

It’s June 21st—summer solstice, longest day of the year, and Camilla’s first day back at work after maternity leave. She’s a new mom, a literary agent, and totally ready to rejoin adult society with a cup of coffee in one hand and daycare drop-off in the other.

But instead of a morning filled with tears over baby’s first day away, Camilla wakes up to… silence. Her husband Luke is gone. In his place? A cryptic note. And then the news breaks: there's a hostage situation unfolding in London.

And guess who's not the hostage?

Luke—the sweet, funny ghostwriter, doting dad, golden-retriever of a husband—is the gunman. Cue the emotional whiplash.

From this point on, the story spins into a tightly wound thriller. With negotiators on the line, flashbacks revealing hidden truths, and Camilla caught in the middle of love, lies, and legacy, the tension is real. What could’ve driven Luke to this breaking point? And can Camilla, with her knowledge of the mysterious note, help untangle the truth before it’s too late?

The mystery unfolds slowly and skillfully, blending emotional depth with psychological suspense. It’s not your typical domestic thriller—it’s smarter than that. A few plot points feel a tad convenient, but the payoff is solid, and the ending is surprisingly satisfying.

Perfect for fans of “what-would-you-do?” thrillers, morally complex characters, and books that make you question how well you really know the ones you love. It starts with a note and ends with a bang—literally and emotionally.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this gripping ARC!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery/ thriller 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This one hooked me in from the start! I loved the hostage negotiator aspect

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Psychological thrillers
Dual timelines
Unreliable narrators
Hostage situations
Slow burn domestic suspense
Morally grey characters
Family drama
Books that start off with a bang then unravel backwards
Unique storylines and perspectives

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Great character development
The high emotional stakes kept me interested

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Some of the emotional moments felt a little repetitive
Some side character motivations were a little unclear

I loved this book—it had so many twists and turns, and I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys McAllister's other books! Highly recommend, SO GOOD!

Thank you to the author, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing a copy to review!

This was an amazing, one day read that captivated me from the very first page. The plot and characters are incredibly well crafted, drawing you in and keeping you hooked throughout. The character of Camilla goes through a wide range of emotions, and you can truly feel them coming through the pages. The dual perspective of Camilla and Niall adds depth to the story and brings it all together beautifully.


Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5/5 ⭐️

I absolutely adored the dynamic of this book! There was a lot of angles/opinions I was considering as I was reading the story. A new mom, a missing husband, and a alarming note grabbed my attention from the start. This story felt so fresh, highly recommend!

Really good book! It was hard for me to figure it all out, though. The story begins slowly, although there’s plenty of action at the start. The premise is that Camilla and Luke Deschamps are married with their first baby daughter. Cam is an editor/agent who’s just going back to work after the baby’s birth. Luke is a ghostwriter, freelancing, and the opening scenes are full of tension, because Cam is notified by the police that Luke has taken three people hostage at gunpoint in a London warehouse. The police have called in their hostage negotiator. Shots are fired.

The book begins to move faster after about the first third, and Cam just wants to know what happened, and if her husband is alive after his escape. It’s a mystery that gets more twisted as it unfolds, piece by piece.

There was a suspicious character that I identified, and others that took awhile longer. It’s a tale with many layers. By the last third, I could hardly wait to pick it up again.

Five stars! I recommend this one!

I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.