A fun, unexpected, have to finish it in one day type of thriller! Famous Last Words is a rollercoaster of a ride in the best kind of way. It didn’t immediately grip me (it took a few chapters), but once I got into it, I was hooked. I loved the short chapters, multiple narrators, and layered story approach. Fans of investigative books and shows will love this one; you feel like you are a member of the police right in the thick of things throughout many of the scenes.

For Camilla, a seemingly normal day becomes the worst one imaginable when police show up at her work and inform her that her gentle, loving, never-committed-a-crime-a-day-in-his-life husband is suspected of holding several people hostage at gunpoint in a downtown warehouse. Before she knows it, her life turns upside down and she’s left with far more questions than answers, but is determined to stand by her husband and uncover the larger story.

Thank you to Gillian McAllister, William Morrow, HarperAudio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This was my first novel by Gillian McAllister, and I thought it was a good read. I enjoyed the double perspectives from the main character and the detective, which helped flush out the story and make you feel like you were reaching a conclusion from both ends.

While I did find the story to be somewhat predictable, I was still engaged and wanted to know the "whys" to the ending, and that kept me involved until the very end. It was an emotional journey with the female main character that I think readers looking for a women's fiction-type mystery thriller will enjoy this. You think you know your life partner...but do you really?

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this title!

This wasn’t my favorite title by this author, but I did thoroughly enjoy the mystery and the lead up to the twists and ending. The narrator was fantastic and made the slower parts enjoyable.

I thought this was a fun mystery, although it was a little bit predictable and I was sort of waiting to be a bit more surprised as the plot wrapped up.

I loved this audiobook! Emilia Fox always does such an incredible job, and her narration for Famous Last Words was perfect! And Gillian McAllister never misses…I became instantly hooked by the hostage negotiations and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I absolutely loved this story!

Enjoyed this book a great deal! The narrative twists were well grounded - each one felt earned and well set up. That said, I wish we would have spent a little more time in the resolution. I've already recommended this book

Excellent - engaging, entertaining and well-narrated. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

When your husband goes missing, only to resurface as the gunman in a hostage situation making breaking news, how do you even begin to make sense of it all? As the days unfold, you replay the events of the past few weeks, only to realize that he had already begun changing in subtle ways. You start to question his innocence, especially when his last note to you simply reads, “It’s been so lovely.”

In this gripping thriller, the author takes us on a seven-year journey with Cam, a woman wrestling with loss, guilt, and the relentless search for answers. Her struggle to move on is raw and heart-wrenching. From the very first page, the story pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

The narrator’s performance is exceptional, striking the perfect pace as she goes from panic, fear, everyone's desperations, and the arcs that make you deeply for Cam, Nial, and Libby. It’s a journey you won’t soon forget.

Cam and Luke are happily married and have a young daughter.
On the morning Cam is to go back to work from her maternity leave, her husband is no where to be found. Not answering texts, calls, nothing. She did find a weird note but it still isn't cause for concern.

Police show up at her work later that morning and her very sweet, calm husband is on the news for holding people hostage by gun! How is this her husband? She does not understand!

Famous Last Words was a terrific unputdownable thriller. I did not want to stop listening to this one so I requested the book so I could read it when I wasn't listening!

This is told from two perspectives, Cam the wife of Luke a man who changes from doting father to hostage taker and Niall the hostage negotiator.
I enjoyed this one and cant wait to hear what you all think when it comes out soon!

I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator did an amazing job with this one. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this book. The author did an excellent job with the characters and the story line. I thought this was a fast paced thriller that I couldn't put down. I loved the way it was written and the twist. I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book to the thriller lovers out there.

Thank you Net Galley, William Morrow, and Gillian McAllister

I started listening to this and was enjoying it very much until I realized that the storyline sounded very familiar and it dawned on me that I had read the print version in mid November. I read a lot of books in a short period of time after the election and for me it was a way to escape from real life for a while. Since I read so much over the course of 2-3 weeks it was easy to lose track of all the different storylines and book titles.
Just from the little I listened to, Emilia Fox is great narrator and it's a great edge of your seat thriller. Whether in print or audio, the story will keep the reader interested in what is going to happen next. Lots of twists and turns.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this title.

On the day that Cam , an editor for a publishing company is going back to work after maternaty leave she can't get a hold of her husband Luke. Luke never leaves without a kiss goodbye and Cam can't remember if he did that or not. The only thing that he leaves is a short cryptic message on a piece of paper that doesn't make sense to her. Later that day at her office Cam has a strange feeling that something is wrong and her nightmare begins when the sirens that are echoing in the street come to a stop in front of her office. Luke is holding 3 people hostage in a warehouse and the police want to know why. Cam has no clue why Luke would do this. Did Cam really know who Luke was and is he capable of what the police is telling her. When the hostage negation doesn't go to plan, the police now have 2 dead bodies and Luke got away. Seven years later Cam is trying to move on and wanting to sell the house her and Luke had lived in. In order to do this she must declare him dead. Now she has a feeling that Luke is somehow leaving her messages and when Cam recieves a manuscript in the mail she can't put it down. Cam feels like this book is leading her to Luke and notices clues that only she would know to look. This is a fast paced book that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I would like to thank both NetGalley and HarperAudio for letting me listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister starts off with a simmer, lulling you into a false sense of security as you meet Camilla and Luke, a seemingly ordinary couple. But don’t be fooled! That quiet beginning is just the calm before the storm. From the moment Luke, the seemingly normal husband, becomes a hostage taker, you’re thrown into a whirlwind of suspense. I was right there with Cam, Luke’s wife, desperately trying to decipher the meaning of his cryptic note and understand how the man I loved could do something so shocking.

McAllister’s writing is phenomenal. Each chapter peels back another layer of the mystery, leaving you constantly questioning everything you thought you knew. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, BAM! Another twist throws you for a loop.

The dual perspectives, between Camilla’s frantic search for answers and Niall, the negotiator’s, race against time, crank up the tension to almost unbearable levels. This book isn’t just a read; it’s an experience. If you love a story that keeps you guessing until the very last page, Famous Last Words is an absolute must-read. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat!

Thank you #netgalley

the book as interesting. there were some twists that i guessed and some that i was surprised by. The characters were fun and exciting and I overall liked how the story was going. Not a favorite read from this author. I did lose interest about half way through. I may try picking this up again at another time. It may be a me issue

This was a solid read! Not my favorite of Gillian's (I think Wrong Place Wrong Time is my fave) but still a really good read. I was immediately drawn in with the strong start. I felt like it dragged a wee bit in the middle. Overall, a solid 4 stars!

On her first day back from maternity leave, literary agent Cam is adjusting to work when the worst case scenario comes right to her office. Officers break the news that the hostage situation nearby involves her husband…..as the suspect and gunman. She racks her brain to figure out the impossible and how her beloved and mild husband Luke could’ve found himself in this situation. Seven years after he escapes, Cam is unable to move past that fateful day and the years since - is Luke alive, is he innocent, and who else is involved? She’s in more danger than she can imagine but winds up with an unlikely ally, the crisis negotiator who tried to get her husband to surrender.
While it had its slow moments, this ended up being a great thriller that I couldn’t stop reading, anxious to know the truth — and wow the ending did not disappoint! The narration was the perfect touch to this slow-burn thriller and perfectly portrayed the heightened emotions throughout.
Thank you to Harper Audio Adult and William Morrow for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Gillian McAllister sure knows how to craft an intriguing premise. Though the main middle section isn’t quite as gripping as the beginning and the end, you want to keep reading to find out what really happened on the day Camilla’s husband seemingly killed two hostages and then disappeared.

Many will likely enjoy this solid domestic thriller that leans into character introspection. However, as someone prone to nitpicking, I found some of the most obvious clues largely ignored, while obscure ones led to big aha moments. And without giving too much away…never open your door for a guy in a balaclava.

The story is told from two perspectives: Camilla’s and Niall’s, a hostage negotiator. Emilia Fox is a fine narrator, but her reading didn’t create much distinction between the two characters. I would have preferred dual narrators, with a male voice for Niall to better separate their perspectives.

Thank you to HarperAudio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

This book is part domestic suspense, crime thriller, and romance. This was my first time reading a book from this author! I’ve heard lots of great things about her writing style, so I was excited to pick this one up. The story starts out strong with a hostage situation and a husband that disappears without a trace, but hits a bit of a lull in the middle third. The story is complex with lots of layers, but it takes a while for everything to start making sense. I don’t want to say to much about the plot as it would be to easy to spoil something. Definitely a book where the lees you know going in, the better.

The story is told from the POV of Camilla, the hostage taker’s wife and Niall, the hostage negotiator. I found the dual POV interesting, but I’m not sure Niall’s POV is necessary. Especially when it comes to his romantic relationship. I’m not sure that really added anything to the book. I did think the exploration of Camilla and her love for her husband was a nice inclusion in the book. I feel like crime thrillers don’t typically explore love and family the way this one did.

Overall, a fun and engaging thriller! I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook! The narration is very well done! Just know the middle third hits a lull, but picks up if you stick with the book!

**Review of *Famous Last Words* by Gillian McAllister (4/5 stars)**

In *Famous Last Words*, Gillian McAllister crafts a tense, multi-layered thriller that explores the aftermath of a traumatic event. When Cam's husband becomes involved in a horrific hostage situation, killing two people before disappearing, Cam’s life is turned upside down. The story is told from the perspectives of various characters, including Niall, the hostage negotiator, Cam, and others connected to the situation, each offering their own insights and adding depth to the mystery.

What stands out in this novel is not just the gripping plot but the focus on character development, relationships, and motives. The twists and turns keep the reader on edge, but it’s the psychological complexity of the characters that truly drives the story. While the mystery itself is captivating, the emotional undercurrent—how people react to trauma, guilt, and the unknown—gives the novel heart.

Ultimately, this is a thriller with a somewhat optimistic conclusion, which might be surprising given the dark premise. It’s a compelling read that makes you reflect on human nature and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars. Having read this author's previous books and really liking them, I was excited to read this one. Right from the beginning I was hooked, but that didn't last for long. Once we had the time jump, the book slowed down. The excitement and suspense were gone and the story became dull. I was still interested in the outcome and did like the ending, but it took too long to get there. The narration for this one was done really well.