Famous Last Words

Author: Gillian McAllister
Genre: Psychological Thriller
336 pages
Publisher: William Morrow, expected publication February 2025

Synopsis
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.

What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says…

Famous Last Words is the story of a crime, a marriage, and more secrets than Camilla ever could have imagined. This novel cements Gillian McAllister’s reputation as “the best at putting her characters in impossible situations and making her readers not only contemplate but feel what it would be like to find themselves in those situations.” (Emily Henry)

My review
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is an intriguing and engaging psychological thriller. Though it may not be the best I’ve read, it’s certainly entertaining and earns a solid four-star rating. This novel blends elements of a domestic thriller with touches of police procedural, and the storyline delivers the expected tension, fear, twists, and emotional depth that McAllister consistently evokes!

The story unfolds through two main perspectives. Camilla Deschamps, a new mother navigating an unexpected nightmare, serves as a relatable protagonist. She faces a difficult day—it’s her daughter’s first day at daycare, and Deschamps is returning to work after maternity leave. To make matters worse, her husband Luke is unreachable, leaving her to handle everything alone. A sense of dread creeps in, and her fears are confirmed when the police show up at her door.

The second perspective comes from Niall, a hostage negotiator whose life was upended on June 21st due to a critical mistake that cost him his career, his marriage, and his peace of mind. After a deadly siege leaves unidentified victims behind, Niall becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, unable to rest until justice is served.

I’ll admit the final third of the book felt a bit weaker than the earlier sections. That said, the puzzle pieces do come together, and after plenty of twists, we get answers—though some may stretch believability. McAllister’s writing remains captivating throughout, and while I began to piece things together about two-thirds in, a few surprises still caught me off guard at the end.

Overall, Famous Last Words is an entertaining, fast-paced thriller that I highly recommend for anyone seeking an engaging afternoon read. I believe this novel will resonate with many thriller fans. McAllister proves herself to be a creative and imaginative writer, and I look forward to diving into more of her work soon!

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Gillian McAllister for an advance copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

My recommendation: read it!