This author is who got me into thrillers in the first place (wrong place wrong time) so I was so excited to get this arc.
I loved it. I think this is more of an ode to love than a thriller itself but I still really enjoyed it.

A true can't put down mystery! The story telling makes you feel connected to the characters and I was invested in figuring out everyone's true motives

A love story woven into a hostage situation and eventual investigation.

This book tugged on my heart strings for Cam, the mother of a newborn who finds herself in the impossible situation of her husband holding people hostage… and it being live streamed.

We follow Cam in the aftermath of the siege, her conflicted feelings, her new relationship, trying to move on with her life but she isn’t quite ready just yet.

And Niall who was the hostage negotiator that fateful day. He also had a huge life change in the aftermath of the siege and is still on the hunt for Luke. He refuses to give up.

Wow. This book really hooked me from the start and I just HAD to know what happened; twists and turns and surprises along the way. I didn’t figure it out which is my favorite.

Highly recommend!

This was a great thriller. I completely loved the storyline and felt myself picking it up so often because I had to know the ending !

Synopsis: Cam (Camilla) is a wife, a new mother and has her dream job. Life could not be better until she learns her husband Luke is missing and is in a building that has hostages. Plot twist, he is the one holding hostages!

Thoughts: This book sucked me in. I could not wait to find out why Luke was holding hostages, who the hostages were and what was going to happen with him and Cam! The twists and turns were perfection!

Thank you to Gillian McAllister, William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is an electrifying thriller that grips readers from the first page. Camilla Deschamps’ seemingly ordinary day turns into a nightmare when her husband, Luke, vanishes, leaving behind a cryptic note. As Cam juggles her first day back at work and her daughter’s first day at nursery, a breaking news story shatters her world: Luke is involved in a London hostage situation—not as a victim, but as the gunman.

McAllister masterfully weaves tension and emotional depth, exploring the unraveling of Cam's life and the complexity of her relationships. Told from the perspectives of Camilla and hostage negotiator Niall, the dual narrative enhances the suspense, making every twist even more compelling. While the second act slows to reflect on the aftermath, the final revelations are both shocking and satisfying.

This pulse-pounding, character-driven novel is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Famous Last Words: A Novel by Gillian McAllister is a gripping tale that delves into the complexities of truth, memory, and the blurred lines between guilt and innocence. McAllister has crafted a psychological thriller that intellectually engaging and emotionally intense, making it a standout in the genre.

The novel follows the protagonist, Jennifer, as she navigates the aftermath of a tragic event that leaves her life in disarray. When her husband, Oliver, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Jennifer becomes embroiled in a web of lies, secrets, and long-buried resentments.

McAllister's portrayal of Jennifer's unraveling psyche is masterful, capturing the nuances of grief, confusion, and a desperate search for answers.

One of the most compelling aspects of Famous Last Words is McAllister's exploration of memory and perception. As Jennifer pieces together the events leading up to Oliver's death, the reader is drawn into a maze of fragmented recollections and unreliable narratives. McAllister skillfully maintains an air of suspense, making it difficult to discern truth from deception until the very end.

The characters in the novel are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets that add depth to the story. Jennifer's journey is particularly poignant, as she grapples with her own doubts and judgments of those around her. The secondary characters, from supportive friends to skeptical detectives, are all integral to the unfolding drama, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

McAllister's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps the reader on edge. The pacing is expertly managed, with each chapter revealing just enough to keep the suspense building without overwhelming the reader. The dialogue is natural and realistic, enhancing the authenticity of the characters' interactions and the gravity of the situation.

Famous Last Words is a thought-provoking thriller that challenges readers to question the nature of truth and the reliability of memory.

Gillian McAllister has delivered a novel as compelling in its psychological depth as it is in its narrative intrigue.

This book is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense, offering a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

A huge thanks to William Morrow Books for an advanced copy of Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. This book doesn't come out until February 25th but it was what I read today on this gross and wintery mix day.

This domestic thriller looks at the what if -- when you find out your husband is involved in a hostage situation and he is the gunman...

This was intriguing and I liked the first part of the book as everything unfolds in the hostage situation and Cam finds out. The second part of the book is seven years later and while the middle dragged a little the ending was fun and different than I expected! If you like domestic thrillers put this on your 2025 list!

Famous Last Words
by Gillian McAllister
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time comes an addictive thriller about a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime. How well does she truly know the man she loves? And what danger does she face if her entire life has been built on a lie?
This book delivered on all aspects! If you read one thriller this year this should be the one!
Another great book by McAllister!

Gillian has done it again. I am obsessed with this author's backlist and this book was no different. I loved how this book captured my attention till the last page. very twisty very "is he or isnt he" style writing

I wanted to love this one SO BAD! I did thoroughly enjoy it the entire way through but I never got that WOW factor. I loved Camilla's character and I was always intrigued to read from her POV. i understand that Niall's POV was imperative to the story but his character as very stoic and I could not connect with him as hard as I tried. The story was enjoyable enough that I was able to read it fairly quickly but as I continued, I felt like nothing was really happening. There were minor twists here and there but this read more like a mystery than a thriller for me. I did like the huge twist but it wasn't one of those WTF conclusions that I was expecting. I would give this one a solid 3.5 stars.

What would you do if one day the police come into your work to question you over a live hostage situation that your spouse is involved in; not as a victim, but as the perpetrator?

So beings Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. A slow-burn mix of thriller and crime drama that never fizzles out. Told most by alternating views between the FMC Camilla, wife of the hostage-taker, and the hostage negotiator, this book asks us how well do we know the ones we love? Can we trust ourselves to choose the right people to surround ourselves? Can we forgive those closest to us when they abandon out perceptions of them?

I really enjoyed this one. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on. I usually do not like reading from a police officer's POV in thrillers, but Niall had so much introspection and growth that I enjoyed him just as much as Cam's chapters.

I was pleasantly surprised by most of the twists in this story, and to say more would be spoiler territory. I definitely recommend picking this one up when it releases February 25th, 2025.

Thank you to the publisher William Morrow for an e-arc!

This book had me hooked from beginning to end. I immediately felt this book made me want to know the ending and kept me interested and immersed throughout. It was a fun and enthralling read. Definitely my favorite Gillian McAllister book to date. If you like mysteries, this is a good one. Got me out of my thriller slump! East 4.5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Famous Last words. This book centers on the Deschamps family: Luke, Camilla, and their daughter Polly. In part one, Polly is just nine months old and the day she starts daycare ends up being a life changing one for all of them as Luke is at the center of a criminal siege. We are introduced to some of the police force as well as the hostage negotiator, who becomes the other main character.
Part two focuses on Cam’s life seven years after that fateful day. In addition to trying to make sense of the events, we see her grapple with moving on, and are pulled into the dynamics of her being a single mother. There’s a sub-story about her sister’s infertility so trigger warning if that’s a touchy subject to you. However, it was nicely handled and I actually highlighted a couple passages for how well they conveyed the feelings related to infertility. The bulk of the story lives in part two and solving the many layers of mystery.
Part three is a brief conclusion seven years after it two to show how all the key players are in light of what they came to know and experience.
I think Gillian Macallister is underrated in the thriller genre. Perhaps it is because her books have tended to be less focused on a murder mystery and more on the psychological components that surround the characters involved in the crimes. Her character development is above average for a thriller and the stories are always very detailed. This book is no exception to that trend.

When Camilla's husband Luke disappears one day only to be found holding 3 people hostage in a nearby warehouse, Cam is heartbroken. The last thing she heard from her husband before he disappeared was a cryptic note left for her. As the hostage negotiators try to get him to release the hostages and surrender, Luke escapes. There is no sign of him for 7 years.

7 years later, Cam is trying to move on with her life, but feels like she will never be able to do so until she finds out what happened to Luke. She feels like she sees him at every turn, on the Tube, in an alleyway, in the store...could it be him? Would he risk his own safety to return to her? Is he really guilty?

This was a fantastic thriller! Slow burn, twisty and so good!

Famous Last Words
Gillian McAllister
Pub: 2/25
4-4.5☆

Gillian McAllister always delivers fast-paced, jaw dropping twisty thrillers and this was another gleaming example.

It is June 21, the longest day of the year, and the life of new mother Camilla is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop off her infant daughter 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: A hostage situation is developing in London. The police tell her Luke is involved—but he isn't a hostage. Her husband—doting father, eternal optimist—is the gunman.

This one sucked me in right away and kept me fully engaged and entertained throughout. The story is unique, so well written, and perfectly paced that I didn’t want to put it down. I just wanted to keep flipping pages so I could see how everything unfolded. Spoiler alert… it was not at all how I thought.

What I enjoyed;
✨ Psychological Thriller
✨ Twists & Turns
✨ Hostage Situation
✨ Dual POV

Absolutely would recommend and if you can... GO IN BLIND. This one is perfect for a buddy read.

Thank you to Scene of the Crime Early Read Program, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free copy of, Famous Last Words, by Gillian McAllister, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Every persons worst nightmare is that somebody they love could be a killer. Camilla drops her baby at daycare, and goes back to work after maternity leave. Then breaking news a man has a gun, and it holding people hostage, but its not any man, its her husband. What a thrilling read.

This book was so good! I read over half of it in one sitting and picked it up every chance I got. My favorite kind of book!

This one will be a crime thriller of 2025. It starts out with a bang: Cam wakes up one morning and her husband is missing. They have a 9 month old, it’s Cam’s first day back to work, and she can’t figure out why her husband Luke isn’t responding to her. Then she finds out there is a hostage situation going on and her husband may not be innocent. She finds a note he left on his way out the door, his last words to her..

This book has dual POV between Cam and the hostage negotiator, Niall. It’s packed full of twists and suspense and i absolutely loved it! Highly recommend!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for my ARC! Pub date 02.25.25

Famous Last Words was divided into three distinct sections for me. The beginning was a captivating, thrilling, high intensity start of the story as the beloved husband surprisingly takes three hostages and then disappears. The middle is a seven year, exhaustingly slow discovery of seemingly unrelated crimes while the abandoned wife also exhaustingly repeats and replays her love for her husband. The ending is a surprising reveal of the actual situation with the bad actions of involved characters coming fully to light. The book has an intriguing concept but soars, drags, then simmers.

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

For readers who enjoy intelligent, character-driven thrillers that don't sacrifice depth for suspense, "Famous Last Words" is a must-read that will leave you questioning just how far you'd go to protect the ones you love.