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Title & Author: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Genre: Thriller
My rating: 5/5
Publisher: Penguin Michael Joseph
Publication date: 30th January 2025
Blurb:
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...
Review:
Gillian McAllister is that author that I will autobuy without even knowing the plot of the book because I know it will be fantastic. Famous Last Words is no different.
Cam, a literary agent, is due to go back to work after maternity leave but that first day is thrown into turmoil when she discovers that her husband Luke, a ghostwriter, is caught up in a hostage situation. But he is the one controlling the siege.
Cam, Luke and baby Polly lived a normal life. How can their lives have upturned like this?
The novel is told in dual POV from Cam and also Niall, the hostage negotiator (hooray for a Northern Irish character) and over a few timelines too. The present when the siege is taking place, seven years following the siege then another which I won't talk about too much as you just need to read to find out what happens.
The characterisation is fantastic and I really enjoyed Niall's background too as it gave us a chance to understand him and why he was the way that he was.
What I loved about this is that I could not guess where it was going. All McAllister's novels are intricately plotted so I expected that, but when the realisation of what was happening hit me, my jaw literally dropped and my husband asked if I was okay.
This is an absolutely fantastic new book from Gillian McAllister, joining her already incredible backlist. Wonderful and thrilling.
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