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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

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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
Gripped from the start, couldn’t put it down, but the ending was a real anticlimax. Emilia Fox is a good narrator apart from the terrible Irish accent.

Loved it - shame about the ending

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I was enjoying this all the way through but then found the end a bit weak. Shame as I have loved all the authors other books.

Great story & narration disappointing ending

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Wow! From the moment I heard Gillian read the opening of this novel at an event for her last book I've been eagerly anticipating getting stuck into this!

And I have been, well, whatever the opposite of disappointed is! I've listened to it at every opportunity I've had such is the hold that it's had over me. It more than delivers on its early premise and takes off into areas that I would never have predicted from that early introduction.

The writing is just fantastic: this is an author at the top of her game. A twisting plot that keeps you guessing, as do the vivid characters, and it's ultimately a brilliant story of love and identity wrapped in a psychological crime thriller.

A special word for the narration by Emilia Fox which is just so engaging. She defines the different characters really well and totally brings it to life.

My last words on this are that this is a must-read or a must-listen.

Another standout thriller from one of the current Queens of crime

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Someone can hide in England for seven years whilst still revisiting old haunts!
Emilia, please don’t try an Irish accent again.

Slow burning story

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Usually like this author but this book really dragged for me. I found myself forcing myself to listen, didn’t really care about any of the characters. Wouldn’t recommend tbh.

A bit of a drag

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