A love story wrapped around a mystery and a mystery in the middle of a love story. For Cam and Luke, life seems pretty good, both love their careers and they have a new baby. On the day Cam returns to work from maternity leave, Luke is involved in a hostage situation with him at the perpetrator / gunman. After the murder of the hostages, Luke disappears and Cam's must face whether Luke is the man she thought he was. Very readable and enjoyable.

This book was...exhausting. It was also OK. I think my main concern was the time jump. Nobody cared for 7 whole years and then everyone cares and takes action individually in the seventh year..it was just so coincidental and the ending sorta pissed me off because it was so abrupt.
I did enjoy the complex relationships between the characters especially Camilla and her sister Libby.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.

Imagine answering your phone on an ordinary day… only to find out your husband is holding someone hostage. That’s exactly where Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister begins—and from there, it doesn’t let go.

Camilla has just returned to work after maternity leave when everything unravels. Her husband, Luke, is inside a building with a gun. As the hours unfold, so do years of questions—about who he really is, what secrets he’s been keeping, and whether the life she thought she knew was built on something far more fragile than she imagined.

This isn’t just a domestic thriller—it’s a layered, emotional exploration of marriage, motherhood, and trust. McAllister is so good at capturing that tightrope between love and doubt, especially when the stakes are sky-high. And the pacing? Pitch perfect. Every chapter peels back another layer, and you’re never quite sure who to believe or what the truth really is.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Read If You Like:
- Domestic thrillers
- Psychological Thrillers
- Where is He
- The Why?!
- Twists and Turns
- Unraveling Secrets & Clues

Camilla is a new mother, ready to return to her career as a literary agent, when her life is thrown into chaos on her first day back to work. Her husband, Luke, leaves a cryptic and seemingly half finished note and then takes hostages at a warehouse.

The man she thought she knew has become a stranger, and as the police try to unravel the hostage situation with him, Camilla is left questioning everything—about their marriage, their past, and what could have led him to this moment.

With the story being told primarily through Camilla’s perspective it keeps the story grounded in raw emotion and the underlying love for someone you share your life with, despite what you are being told about them. The story truly challenges assumptions about love, loyalty, and betrayal as Camilla is left to pick up the pieces in the years following her husband’s hostage situation where he left two dead and then fled.

The pacing was so well done, keeping me on the edge of my seat needing to know what would happen next and what the truth was and why he left the famous last words for Camilla.

If you like twists and turns with multiple perspectives I’d definitely recommend this one!

Thanks to William Morrow for my gifted ARC and finished copy!

Camilla Deschamps is ending her maternity leave and returning to work. Her young daughter Polly will begin a nursery program. But where Luke , husband and father, on this auspicious morning? Then Camilla finds an incomprehensible note which says, “ It’s been lovely with you both.” She is too busy getting Polly and herself ready to leave and doesn’t overthink the message. Why would Luke write such an odd note? It all makes no sense. And Luke’s not answering his phone.

Later in the day at her job as a book editor , Camilla becomes aware of a hostage takeover in London and within a short time is informed by police who come to her workplace that Luke is the person holding a gun to the heads of the hostages. There is no way to know the whys or hows of this horrifying event. The pulse escalates; the tension mounts as McAllister creates a nail biter that will keep you on the edge of your seat reading reading and reading.

Enter Niall, a trained hostage negotiator, whose recent mistake in judgment has left him at the lowest points in both his career and personal life. He is somewhat of a pariah annd needs to prove himself worthy in this case or likely lose it all. What’s more, unidentified dead bodies have mysteriously turned up, even after all of the captured hostages have been noted as alive. Who are the dead? Has Luke killed them? Niall must root out the truth of this mystery not only for the sake of justice but also to redeem his good name.

As the tension mounts and a complex plot unfolds little by little, the twists and turns that drive the story are unexpected and ingenious. Ms McAllister is a thriller writer extraordinaire. I couldn’t put this book down, turning pages and never guessing the truth behind what seems to be a senseless criminal act by a man no one would ever suspect of being violent. Famous Last Words is a five star read from the first to last page. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing me with a prepublication digital book in exchange for my honest review. It became available on Feb 25, 2025. Guaranteed not to disappoint !

Camilla's life is about to change on the longest day of the year but it's not because of anything she is expecting. Her maternity leave is up and she is ready to head back to work as a literary agent. Upon waking up she realizes her husband is gone and in his spot is a note that doesn't make any sense. Soon the news shows a hostage situation going on and the police show up telling her Luke is involved. Follow along and see just how Camilla handles the situation, does she tell the police about the note, does she keep the note to herself? This was an intriguing read that kept me guessing the whole way trhough.

Unfortunately I really struggled to get in to this one. It was a DNF 25% in. I have read of others who enjoyed this so maybe it just was not the book for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Gillian McAllister’s Famous Last Words is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The novel follows Camilla "Cam" Deschamps, whose world unravels when her husband, Luke, mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a cryptic note. As Cam delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding his vanishing, she uncovers secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about her marriage and herself.

McAllister expertly blends suspense with emotional depth, creating a story that’s as poignant as it is gripping. The twists and turns throughout the novel are nothing short of brilliant, with each revelation adding layers to the story and characters. The exploration of love, trust, and the hidden complexities within relationships adds an enriching emotional weight to the thriller elements, making it a truly satisfying read.

The characters are well-developed, particularly Cam, whose emotional journey is both relatable and compelling. The plot, full of unexpected twists, will keep readers guessing until the very last page. Famous Last Words is a page-turner that will appeal to fans of domestic thrillers like those by Lisa Jewell and Megan Miranda, offering not just a thrilling mystery, but a deep dive into the human psyche.

With its clever twists, sharp writing, and emotional resonance, Famous Last Words is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts. Gillian McAllister has once again proven herself to be a master of suspense and storytelling. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

I could not put this one down! Very suspenseful. I really enjoyed the premise of the book, ​​even though I guessed at two of the major twists early on, I really liked this novel.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

Well, this book certainly caused a lot of late nights. It’s difficult to leave a review without giving any spoilers and that saying something. How can an author make me root for the bad guy? in true McAllister form characters are written to perfection and she’s going to have to start making her books longer so that I don’t finish them so quickly.

After loving Gillian McAllister's previous work, I was so excited for Famous Last Words, and it definitely did not disappoint! The dual POV was such an effective choice—giving us insight not only into Cam, the main character, but also into the police negotiator. I loved how the story explored how the events impacted both of them long-term. The themes of love and hope driving their motives added such a beautiful depth to the narrative.

I was completely hooked, desperate to know what happened during the incident. The ending was satisfying, though I did manage to figure out a couple of twists before they were revealed. Still, a fantastic read!

Read Completed 3/4/25 | 3.75 stars | Book #26 of 2025

No major spoilers but if you want to go in blind, proceed with caution.
Gillian McAllister’s books are so readable and this was a very enjoyable novel! She has a great way of weaving a plot together and the amount of intrigue to kick this book off really had me hooked!

Admittedly, the pacing lost me just a touch having flashed forward seven years after the events that kick off the book. I understand the reason why buuuut I could have also easily see it continue without such a big break. There’s a major point to the story that does need some time to develop, so if you take some time off, why not seven years, I guess? But it did slow that exciting pace down for me a little too much.

I really enjoyed the twists and how everything really went around and around as things started to unfold. The ending was just a *tad* confusing for me due to what it all actually was. [I didn’t really know enough about the crime families to really feel attached to them as a huge part of the events and the reveal. The names also really kind of weren’t used enough — especially as an audiobook listener — to really get a grip on who everyone was. Some of them I had no idea who they were and I didn’t really care. They were barely a part of the plot but played such a big role. (hide spoiler)]

I ended up giving this 3.75 stars because I was very interested and it was such an easy book to fly through! I really wish the ending would have stuck with me more to give it a little extra bump, but I’d still recommend it!

This book was not for me I wanted to be scared by it but to just kept dragging on that I just kept looking my spot in the book. I do want to give this author another try with the next book. But this one didn’t make my year

Love the twists and turns this book takes, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending on a somewhat positive note.

In Gillian McAllister's "Famous Last Words," Camilla Deschamps and her husband, Luke, are the doting parents of an adorable baby girl. Luke is a ghostwriter, and Camilla is a literary agent who is about to return to work after a nine-month maternity leave. Their comfortable life is suddenly upended when Cam receives devastating news. Her husband, who has a gun, is holding three hostages in a London warehouse. Luke has always been a laid-back and kind person who would never do anything to hurt another human being. What has transformed this formerly sweet man into a violent criminal?

DCI Niall Thompson, a hostage negotiator, is called to the scene to convince Luke to turn himself in. Unfortunately, the situation in the warehouse spirals out of control and Luke disappears. In the years following this disaster, Cam reverts to her maiden name and raises her child as a single parent, while Niall, who is brooding over his failed marriage, tries to salvage his career.

The author drags out this repetitive, far-fetched, and slow-moving tale for far too long. Cam looks back with sorrow at her once idyllic marriage, and Niall, who is technically off the case, is obsessed with trying to figure out why Luke behaved in a way that was so uncharacteristic of him. "Famous Last Words" has little action, limited character development, a contrived plot, and an unconvincingly neat conclusion.

I didn’t love this book. This was a slow read for me and I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters. I am sure for the right reader that this is a fantastic read! Thank you for the advanced copy!

Gillian McAllister does it again. The queen of thrillers is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

Gillian McAllister has a gift for coming up with plots that are different from the usual mystery/suspense. I find her writing genuinely interesting and always find myself engrossed in her stories.

First off, I loved the twisty turniness of this book. It grabbed me from page one. I had to know what happened. Camilla wakes up on her first day of returning to work after maternity leave to find her husband gone. He has left a note so she's not super worried until she hears of a hostage situation nearby. She is soon meeting with hostage negotiator, Niall, and her world turns upside down. This is a suspense thriller with a love story at his core. It's about marriage and relationships. It is fast paced and interesting. As the book switched from Camilla's POV to Niall's and back, I loved seeing how McAllister twisted these two sides of the same story together and wound up with an unexpected and satisfying ending. Camilla is a literary agent and I loved the tie in with the publish world found in this story. I had heard a ton about this author before reading, but this is my first of hers I've read. It certainly will not be my last.

I love a thriller I cannot put down, and this did just that for me! This was very well thought out, and I really enjoyed all the characters and their depth. I am never really sure of thriller endings, this was no exception, I was surprised! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this story!