📖 Book Review ~ Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Penguin
30 January 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work, her daughter’s first day at nursery.

But husband Luke is nowhere to be seen. The only trace of him is an unfinished note. Camilla tries to put it out of her mind; there must be a rational explanation.

At work, there are welcomes back, and too many distractions.

Then it starts.

Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.

But he isn't a hostage. Luke - doting father, successful writer, enthusiastic runner and eternal optimist - is the gunman.

What Camilla does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind says, and the clues it might hold…

📖My Review..

Literary agent, Camilla’s first day back to work after her maternity leave is not the peaceful transition she wanted as she is horrified to discover that her husband has been caught up in a hostage situation. When Camilla discovers that her normally peaceable husband is not the victim but the perpetrator her whole world falls apart.

What then follows is a tense and cleverly plotted thriller in which we follow this complex story as it unfolds. We get to know Camilla, her life after the event and her overwhelming need to discover just what made her loving husband act in the way he did and what drove him to such a desperate situation. With a strong cast of supporting characters including, Niall, the police negotiator, who played such a pivotal role in the hostage crisis, a picture of a complex crime starts to emerge. 

This is one of those intriguing stories in which it would be all too easy to give away something important so I won’t reveal any spoilers only to say that this kept me engrossed trying to understand why a seemingly mild mannered family man would act so out of character. There are enough twists and turns to keep the momentum going and some dark moments which fit in well with the plot.  I enjoyed the reveal, parts of which I didn’t see coming, and felt a great deal of satisfaction at the conclusion of the story and the hidden meaning in the book’s title. 

Famous Last Words is a well written mystery/thriller by a talented writer who brings such a sense of reality to her stories. 

About the Author

Gillian McAllister is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of eight stand-alone novels. Her books have been selected for the Radio 2 Book Club, Reese's Book Club, the Richard & Judy Book Club, and is published in thirty-six languages.

Twitter @gillianmauthor #FamousLastWords

@MichaelJBooks