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Famous Last Words

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Famous Last Words

By: Gillian McAllister
Narrated by: Emilia Fox
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.


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 . . .

'Famous Last Words blindsided me with twists and surprises that had me gasping... A brilliant, brilliant book' Jodi Picoult

'What an incredible, gripping, thrilling read' Lisa Jewell

'Only a Gillian McAllister thriller can make your heart race and then your heart melt from one page to the next! I’m a devoted fan!' LIANE MORIARTY

'Utterly effing magnificent. I could NOT put it down!' MARIAN KEYES

© Gillian McAllister 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Crime Thrillers Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Voices Exciting Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

As a fiction writer myself it’s really, really hard to fool me - I always guess the ending of books - but FAMOUS LAST WORDS 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)
What an incredible, gripping, thrilling read (LISA JEWELL)
Only a Gillian McAllister thriller can make your heart race and then your heart melt from one page to the next! I’m a devoted fan! (Liane Moriarty)
Utterly effing magnificent. I could NOT put it down! (Marian Keyes)
Few things make me happier than a new Gillian McAllister book, and Famous Last Words did not let me down. Complex, surprising and utterly gripping. (JANE FALLON)
An incredibly page-turning mystery wrapped up in a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of a most unusual kind of grief. Absolutely outstanding, one of my books of the year. (ANDREA MARA)
Completely addictive. I was as desperate to find out the truth as any of the characters in the book — if not more so! (Sophie Hannah)
A totally fresh read that left me guessing until the very end! (Ashley Flowers)
McAllister is an expert in taut, twisty thrillers (ANNA BONET)
A thriller full of unexpected twists and turns, packing a real emotional punch
All stars
Most relevant
This was an engaging story that kept me tuned in wanting to know more! It was exciting and gripping. I have no idea how Ms McAllister came up with such a clever plot but she’s amazing! I’m now a big fan. Excellent narration too by Emilia Fox

Fabulous

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Well written and quite engaging until the story reached its (anti) climax,

The foreshadowing was about as subtle as drawing eyebrows on a dog with a permanent marker.
All the effort that went into developing the main characters was overpowered by the clunky, far-fetched ending.
Over explaining doesn’t make nonsense more believable.

The rather rapid conclusion featured a plot line shot full of more holes than a Swiss cheese.
In this case the “last words” were the undoing of an interesting story.
A shame really.

Almost a clever story …

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Intriguing and very well written.
Great narration, couldn’t stop listening to find out the outcome.

Famous Last Words

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first chapter. The narrator was easy to listen to and it was well written and kept you glued to the book. Highly recommend.

Lots of twists and turns.

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OMG. This was simply amazing. So much so that I didn’t want it to end. This author is so good at her craft of weaving such interesting stories. The characters were really well developed. The storyline…. Amazing.
Loved Emilia Fox as the Narrator too.

Didn’t want it to end

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