Famous Last Words | 
so-soThis book wasn‘t terrible, but I felt like it dragged on way too long. I skimmed parts as I felt like it was unnecessary filler or repetitive. Cam wakes up to hear her sweet, innocent husband has taken hostages in a warehouse. A behavior totally unlike him. All he has left behind is a note that doesn‘t explain a thing. Years of investigation finally find a truth but I truly felt the years as I read this. It just dragged 😕
“thing about grief is that, when it happens to you, you go through the looking glass. Suddenly, everyone else lives one kind of life, with one set of problems, and you another. You‘re in a different world now, one you can never return from. And you only realize too late how good the first world was.”
pickReally enjoyed this domestic thriller…it got pretty twisty near the end! This was my first book by this author but it won‘t be my last.
#bookspinbingo
#pop25 - book that features a married couple who don‘t live together
#read2025
pickThis was a good book to spend a lazy Sunday yesterday reading. It wasn't perfect but it held my interest and I wanted to see how it concluded. I liked that when the main character put together the clues in the end, she didn't act confused or doubt herself and she took decisive action.
pickA fun twisty domestic thriller, that is just a touch too long. 4⭐️
pickThe beginning was gripping. The middle dragged a lot for me, and the MCs felt too slow on the uptake. But the last 2 hours were gripping again and I was on the edge of my seat. I thought I had it figured out but was totally surprised! This was my first by McAllister so I‘d totally read more in the future.
Also, LOVED the narrator. Thanks @LiteraryinPA for the rec!!
pickThis is my first time reading Gillian McAllister. I had a strong feeling that I had read at least one of her books before, but my Goodreads account says otherwise. Regardless, Famous Last Words was an excellent starting point for me. A suspenseful hostage situation, marital secrets, and a puzzle to solve all made this a great book!
Full review abookandadog.com/blog/famous-last-words
so-soGood pacing, interesting twists but I was able to see some of them coming. Good, fun and quick read.
pickI‘ve really enjoyed all the books I‘ve read by Gillian McAllister bc she always does something a little different. This one was enjoyable, with an opening mystery that kept me guessing. It‘s more of a relationship drama than a thriller, especially after the first section. I think it‘s more enjoyable if you go in with that expectation.
pickI really enjoyed this one. The story has mystery and thriller vibes, with a couple of love stories thrown in as well. It is told from two points of view, Camilla (whose husband took people hostage) and Niall (the hostage negotiator). The lives of both changed that day. There were a couple of slow bits and a few weak plot moments, but it was fun and kept me entertained. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.25/5
pickThis is the 1st book I‘ve read of the author & I enjoyed it, although it seemed to lag in the middle. Reading the book description you think it‘s going to be more thriller, but it‘s paced more like a mystery. I appreciated the character development. The story takes an unexpected turn part way through which adds layers to it. I have physical copies of her books Wrong Place Wrong Time & Just Another Missing Person so I‘m eager to read those.
LOVE LOVE LOVE! ❤️ I am 77% done with this book and sad that it will end soon. Gillian McAllister is one of my favorite authors. 100/10 would recommend checking her out! 💜💕
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.
Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/03/famous-last-words-by-gillian-mcallister.h...
@gillianmauthor
@williammorrowbooks
It‘s Bath and a Book time! 📕 🛀
Taking a fantasy break to read this Walmart find. Ashley Flowers (Crime Junkie & “All Good People Here”) gave it a back of the book review so here‘s hoping I love it!
Has anyone else read this?
#famouslastwords #gillianmcallister #mystery
panMaybe Pan is too strong but if you love solid mysteries/thrillers, this ain‘t it, henny.
This was a deflated soufflé. Solid twisty premise, then 200 pages of an obvious ending and a mopey hostage negotiator which added little to the plot, then a neat wrapped up ending. This is not my drag. ??♀️???
I get why this author is popular -super quick page turner. But is it good? Not for me.
pickI purchased this book based on the author and decided not to read about the story. I had a blast reading this and was almost to the end before realizing I hadn‘t spent any effort guessing that ending. It‘s always a good sign for me with a thriller when I‘m so engrossed in the current page that I don‘t consider what the next chapter might bring.
pickWhat a gripping #BOTM for this month! Though not my favorite of McAllister‘s, this still makes for a fun read! I may have guessed the main twist early on, but there are still some surprises! The book opens with introverted, book loving Cam and her first day back to work as a literary agent when she‘s called away by the police. Hostage negotiator Niall provides the other perspective here with the storyline spanning years with secrets & betrayals!
My daughter had a birthday party invite today, which conveniently left Mommy with a few hours of me time. Started and finished this one, and as it's the first one I've read from this author, I don't have anything of hers to compare. However, it was a steady page turner from the start, and, coming from the viewpoint of a wife and mother, also spoke to my emotional heart strings. 5 🌟 read and now on to find more of her books.
I had plans to read today, but Miss Priss has other ideas! 🐾 🖤
Happy Caturday!!
#CatsofLitsy
🤍😽
It is one hour before Camilla‘s life changes, though she doesn‘t know it.
#FirstLineFriday
Starting this one today!
pickThis is a must-read. If I could have I read it in one sitting. It is a rollercoaster ride that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
pickI didn‘t know what to expect from this book, but I really, really liked it. It reads quickly and is very engaging. Family, love, loyalty, murder, intrigue, shadowy figures, obfuscation. Part way toward the end, I started figuring some things out, but that just added to my reading enjoyment. And there‘s a happy ending. I loved that. This is a terrific book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My #BOTM box arrived today! I don‘t know when I‘ll get to these, but I like that they‘re here waiting for me 😂
My Feb #BOTM picks. I‘m excited about all three of them and it‘s gonna be hard to pick what to read first…
Rejoining #BOTM might be trouble for me. 🤣🤷🏻♀️
Two of the picks were already on my TBR and ‘The First Ladies‘ sounded so interesting.
pickI've been wanting to try this author, and this book was a great introduction. The premise was interesting and executed nicely although a bit slow in the middle. The MC was an introverted book nerd whose husband very unexpectedly took 3 people hostage. POV bounced between MC and the hostage negotiator. This was a fun, easily recommendable book.
Thank you to William Morrow & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I‘m very excited for my #Auldlangspine list from @LiteraryinPA !!! ♥️🎊 The Dutch House is one of my fave books ever! I also adored red white royal blue and lady tan‘s circle of women! I‘ve read a psalm for the well built and first lie wins also. I‘m excited about the tagged book! I read another by this author and loved it! Also excited for Run by Anne Patchett and Winterhouse by Ben Guterson. Great match @monalyisha We have such similar tastes!♥️
pickI am officially hooked on Gillian McAllister‘s writing. As my second book by her, this kept me glued to the pages and trying (and failing) to guess all of the twists and figure out exactly what the truth was. I think the synopsis gives just enough to whet your appetite, but it is just a nibble of what the story fleshes out to be.
pickMy app hasn't been working for the last week and I'm not sure why, but I don't want to wait longer to review this ARC. It was SO good! Anyone who liked Wrong Place, Wrong Time should DEFINITELY stack this for when it releases in February. It's a very clever thriller with an unusual premise, about a nice husband/father who, out of the blue, holds people hostage and then disappears. Why?? You'll see!
