Famous Last Words

A Novel

De: Gillian McAllister

Narrado por: Emilia Fox

“This novel blindsided me with twists and surprises that had me gasping…and with a poignancy about relationships and love that one rarely finds in the genre. A brilliant, brilliant book.” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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?

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)

©2025 Gillian McAllister (P)2025 HarperAudio

Another great book!

Gillian McAllister, I love your writing style. Great book as usual. Can't wait for the next one! 🧡

Twists

This book was extremely well written and edited its an easy five stars. The narrator was superb as well. I actually just thought the story was so amazing it had everything in it like a movie that has you worrying crying laughing and upset it was a great book.

Good book

I enjoyed the story and the narrator. It kept my attention the whole time and I would recommend it.

Best yet

This is McAllisters best novel yet. While I figured out all of the twists it did not take away from the story at all. I had to keep going to see that I was right. I rooted for the couples to end up just like they did. This was such a good book. Narration was spot on also.

Not my favorite

Story was ok. Got a little long, and didn’t love the narration. Pulled it together but a lot of story was boring and could have been left out

Great book

It was very captivating from almost the beginning. Once it caught me, I couldn’t stop until it was finished

WOW! Could not stop listening!

Took a chance on this and it is so well written!! Great descriptions, you feel like you are right there... Lots of twists.

This story was very suspenseful and hard to put down!

I enjoyed this book. I was guessing until the end! Recommend this one. Narration is great. All around, a nice read.

Kept my interest!

This is my first book by this author and it didn’t disappoint! I could not stop listening and wanting to know what was going to happen. Loved it!

Another win!

I went into this with high expectations. I wasn't let down! Great story, great narration! I highly recommend this to fans of thrillers!

LONGER REVIEW:

TWs: abduction, hostage situations, homicide

POV: dual perspective (Camilla & Niall, the hostage negotiator) told between the Day of and 7 years later

“It’s been so lovely with you both.”

It strikes me as an American how out of the ordinary it is for a random London citizen to have a pistol, even most officers are armed with a baton and pepper spray. Meanwhile, over here in America, every officer and often, security guards carry firearms. The last time I got a pedi, the man doing it was open-carrying a 9-millimeter.

Mass shootings rarely happen in London. I count three school shootings. The last one in Scotland in 1996, known as the Dunblane massacre, sparked SERIOUS changes in gun-ownership. Most handguns and semi-automatic weapons were banned. They also made shotgun registration mandatory of all owners.

When a mass shooting was being planned in North Yorkshire in 2018,“SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING” was an action, not a slogan.

Allow me to dismount from my soapbox:

Gillian, you are the sh1t! This book grabbed me – hook, line, sinker – from the opening chapter.
Camilla (Cam) is a new mom who is getting ready to return to work after having her first child (Polly). She works for a publishing company in the area and is excited to return to the world of grown-up conversations and getting paid to read books – her dearest hobby/form of escape from the mundanity of everyday life. However, she has the guilt many moms experience when returning to the workforce and leaving their baby in the care of ’ strangers.’

Cam is a little bothered by her husband’s absence from the morning plans but not overly so. He is a loving and devoted husband and father and she’s certain there’s a plausible reason he’s not present on this important day.

After dropping Polly off at daycare, Cam goes into work and settles cozily back into reading for pleasure… work. She is disturbed by a news report that a siege was underway at a nearby(ish) warehouse.

She is further disturbed by police who come to her office to inform her that her husband (Luke) is caught up in the siege. She is distraught, as anyone would be. Then she inquires about who is holding him hostage?! She can’t think of anyone or any reason this would happen to him; he’s just… Luke.

Then comes the first in a series of twists: He is not a hostage. He is the gunman.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys twisty thrillers full of nail-biting suspense! She also manages to deftly weave into this gripping novel a love story that transcends … all. It’s all emotional as well so be prepared!