Gillian McAllister has delivered yet another addictive, mind-bending thriller with Famous Last Words. Known for her knack for blending domestic suspense with complex emotional dilemmas, McAllister doesn’t disappoint in this gripping tale of trust, betrayal, and the haunting realization that we may never fully know the people we love.

The novel hooks you immediately with its chilling premise: a new mother, Camilla, wakes up to find her husband, Luke, gone—and soon discovers he is the gunman in a high-stakes hostage situation. The stakes are sky-high, and the pacing matches, making it impossible to put the book down. McAllister masterfully teases out the suspense as Camilla pieces together her husband’s secrets while grappling with her own doubts and guilt. The dual timeline, weaving between the tense present and snapshots of their seemingly perfect past, adds layers of intrigue.

Camilla is a complex and deeply relatable protagonist. Her struggle as a new mother balancing her career, identity, and now, a terrifying crisis, makes her journey feel personal and raw. Luke, on the other hand, is an enigma—a man readers will simultaneously pity and despise as his motives unravel. The cryptic note he leaves behind is a brilliant narrative device, keeping readers guessing until the final reveal.

What sets Famous Last Words apart from a standard thriller is McAllister’s exploration of moral gray areas. Camilla is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her marriage, her role as a mother, and the lies we tell ourselves to maintain the illusion of stability. The story challenges readers to consider how far they would go to protect their family—and whether love is enough when trust is shattered.

While the novel delivers on twists and emotional depth, the ending, though satisfying, felt slightly rushed. Some plot threads were left a bit too open-ended, leaving me wanting more closure. Additionally, the sheer intensity of the story might overwhelm readers looking for lighter fare.

Overall, Famous Last Words is a thrilling, thought-provoking read that keeps you on edge until the very last page. Gillian McAllister proves once again why she’s a standout voice in the thriller genre. Fans of her previous work—or anyone craving a high-stakes domestic drama—will devour this book.

This book didn’t vibe with me in the way I thought it would. I’m a huge thriller, mystery gal and I’m a fan of Gillian McAllister but this was hard for me to get into. I almost didn’t find parts of the story believable.

Gillian McAllister delivers yet another compelling and thought-provoking novel with Famous Last Words. This book is an emotional rollercoaster, blending suspense, drama, and moral complexity into a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Famous Last Words had me grinning the edge of my seat. At no point did I see what was coming next. Absolutely unputdownable.

I have read one previous book by this author, which I liked, so I thought I would give this one a try. It was enjoyable, but not riveting. Sometimes I found myself drifting a bit. The mystery was good and the resolution was satisfying. 3 1/2 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Famous Last Words
3.5-4 Stars
A book with many hidden twists and turns that came together nicely, even if some were predictable. An enjoyable read that I will recommend to many.

The power of good writing and a well-structured plot. It stands as a testament to the author's talent and dedication to their craft, providing readers with an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience. Whether you're a casual reader or a literature enthusiast, this book is sure to leave you with a sense of fulfillment and a desire to explore more of the author's works. So, for anyone looking to delve into a captivating story, I wholeheartedly recommend picking up this gem—it may just become one of your favorites, too.

"It's been so lovely with you both. Lx"

A compelling race of a story. Once you start, clear out your afternoon - a plot that won't let you go until the final page!

Cam is a literary agent, going back to work for her first day back after having a baby. She has what she thinks of as the perfect life. A wonderful husband, a lovely nine-month old baby, a lovely upside down house with a garden, a job she loves. But her perfect life is rocked when, after dropping off her baby for day one of daycare, the police arrive and tell her something horrible.

There is hostage situation - and they think her husband is the one with the gun, not a victim.

And wow, the story is a race. You get a few POV: the hostage negotiation Niall and Cam, the wife, and a mysterious watcher. Each POV really rounded out the story, gave light to the parts that we needed and added really great layer of humanity and perspective. And Cam was so easy to love. A reader, an agent, a mother, a sister, a wife - she was a strong, amazing character who just wanted to understand what happened.

I can't recommend this enough! A tense plot that leaves you guessing and wondering until the very end. This one was So good!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I very much enjoyed this very clever, twisty book, with its complex and mostly unexpected plot points and likeable, well drawn characters. There's a line early on: "That feeling you get as a reader, 10 percent in, where you just kind of sink into the novel and its world." At that point, I thought, yes, that's exactly how I feel about this book, and although I didn't quite sustain that feeling throughout, the book and its original plot did hold my attention and was very satisfying. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an e-ARC of this book. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

The beginning is packed, and then the story slows down. I did guess most of the twists, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story. This is my favorite of McAllister's books!

If I had rated this book after the first few chapters, it would have surely been five stars! It starts with a bang and was absolutely gripping! Camilla wakes one morning to find her husband Luke gone, a one line note left for her, only to find out later that morning that he’s involved in an unfolding hostage situation—as the gunman! The seige, the confusion, the police drama, the hostage negotiations, the “what in the world is happening” of it all had me fully invested and sure I was in for a treat!
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Unfortunately, after we made the seven year jump, things began to drag. The action was nonexistent and we were just stuck in Camilla and (the failed hostage negotiator) Niall’s heads as they grappled with what went wrong seven years ago. The book lost all its urgency, its compelling-ness (made up a word there I think 😆), its drama. I found Niall to be unlikable and thought his side drama with his wife was unnecessary. The twists weren’t very surprising and the whole thing just fell flat.
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While this one wasn’t for me, I do think it will find its audience! Give it a try! Thanks so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for the arc; I never take the opportunity to read and review early for granted. ♥️

Famous Last Words hooked me from the start with a crazy hostage negotiation. It was so much more than a thriller. The layers of detail, mystery and crime made it very hard to put down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.

What would you do if your sqeer living husband ine day he'd up a group of hosages? How wiymd uou navigate this new normal? A twisty well plotted and paced novel from a masterful storyteller. NOT to be missed.

New mom Camilla is returning to work after being off for maternity leave. Her first morning back goes according to plan, other than a strange note left by her husband before he left for work. Then her day suddenly goes wrong after the police show up and inform her that her husband is involved in a hostage situation... and he's not the one being held by the gunman...
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Even though this book wasn't terribly fast-paced, it kept me engaged and I was excited each time I picked it up. The story is told via dual perspective of wife Cam and hostage negotiator Niall. I enjoyed how the mystery played out this way, without a perspective of the perpetrator/husband. While I thought some twists were predictable, overall I enjoyed it and thought the mystery was solid.
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📖 I thought this one had strong 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙈𝙚 vibes, with a wife trying to uncover things about her husband's past - so definitely add this one to your TBR if you loved that book!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts ✨

This book was phenomenal! The twists and the way it was written! Gillian McAllister has hit her stride. I have read a couple of other books from her and while they were good, this was on another level. Cam and her husband, Luke, seem to have the perfect life. Good jobs, strong marriage and a new baby. Other than the lack of sleep, they are getting along pretty well until the day Cam goes back to work from maternity leave. She’s upset to leave Polly at daycare but what’s more upsetting is finding out her husband is holding 3 people hostage at gunpoint and she has no idea why.

I love Gillian McAllister's novels and this one did not disappoint. I always have to make sure I have time to read before I start one of her novels becuause they are addicting! I really enjoyed the mystery and intrigue around this story plot. Another great read!

I loved the start of this book. It sucks you in right away. On Cam's first day back to work after maternity leave, she is informed that her husband is holding people hostage. How did she not know things were going on with her husband that put him in this situation? He's a ghostwriter, he's not violent. They have a 9-month-old baby daughter, Polly. Why would Luke do this?

The story is told from the POV's of Cam, the hostage negotiator Niall, as well as someone "watching" Cam. There are so many unexpected twists to this story. It keeps you guessing (in a good way) and is hard to put down. It's one of those books that pulls you in and keep you thinking about it long after you've finished it. A clever, suspenseful, twisty read!

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is a masterclass in storytelling that hooked me from the very first page—the beginning was an absolute bang! The plot was unlike anything I’ve read before, with twists and turns that kept me glued to the story until the very end.

What truly sets this book apart is its dual POV narrative, alternating between the female main character (FMC) and the detective investigating the case. This structure provides a brilliantly unique perspective, allowing readers to experience the unfolding mystery from both sides—full of raw emotion, moral dilemmas, and shocking revelations.

McAllister’s writing is gripping, her characters are richly layered, and the story dives deep into both the personal and professional stakes of the characters. The dual POV adds depth and complexity, making the tension almost unbearable at times.

If you’re looking for a fresh, unforgettable thriller that will keep you guessing and tugging at your heartstrings, Famous Last Words is an absolute must-read! Highly recommend! A huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book!
#FamousLastWords #NetGalley

This was a fun thriller! The action started off right away. I was hooked from the very beginning on what caused the hostage situation. This book was full of tons of twists that leave you guessing on what will happen next. The connection at the end left me completely shocked.

My first 5 star read of 2025! I flew through this amazing thriller (and love story) that begins with the most unusual hostage situation. The day that Cam is set to return to work after her maternity leave she can’t seem to figure out where her husband is. She drops her baby off at daycare and goes to work, attempting to go about her day… when she is contacted by the police who tell her that her husband is holding three people hostage at gunpoint! It’s all just so insanely good that I couldn’t put it down. I also loved that Cam loves her career as a literary agent and there’s tons of talk about books.