A review by justreaditalreadypod
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I read Gillian McAllister's "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, but then I read "Just Another Missing Person" and was really underwhelmed by it. This latest novel landed somewhere in between - it was engaging and easy to read, but it didn't completely blow me away.
 
The novel opens with a young literary agent named Camilla preparing to return to work after months of maternity leave. What should have been a normal day of dropping Poppy off at daycare for the first time and returning to work is upended when she wakes to find her husband, Luke, is not at home. It's not like him to miss an important event in Poppy's life, but Camilla shrugs it off as Luke being busy - but what's with that cryptic note she found before leaving the house? Things get even more strange when she arrives at work and learns that a hostage situation is unfolding in London. It's then that the police show up at her office to inform her that Luke is involved, and he isn't a victim - he's the one holding three other people hostage.
 
It's an explosive start, and from the outset, the tension is palpable. Camilla's perspective is particularly compelling because she's just as in the dark as the reader. She knows Luke as a loving father and a man that everyone loves - so why is he now holding people at gunpoint? We get to see the drama unfold outside on the street through both Camilla's and Niall's (a hostage negotiator) eyes, but things don't go as well as they hope, and the story takes an unexpected turn.
 
This is when McAllister jumps forward seven years. While I understand this allows the story to explore the long-term consequences of that fateful day, and it was necessary for another plot point, I struggled with it a bit. It was hard to believe that certain things could go undetected for seven years. I realize that this is likely a me thing, but I feel like a couple of years would have been a little more believable. I realize I am being very cryptic here, but I don't want to spoil anything.
 
As far as characters go, Camilla is a strong protagonist, and I really felt for her. She's grappling with the exhaustion of new motherhood, the challenges of returning to work, and now, this unimaginable crisis. The sense of betrayal and helplessness she experiences as she tries to reconcile the man she loves with the violent figure on the news is one of the novel's strongest elements.
 
Another standout character is Niall, the negotiator brought in to de-escalate the situation. He's calm, methodical, and deeply human, which makes him an interesting counterpoint to the emotional chaos unfolding around him. He quickly became one of my favorite characters, and I found myself invested in his approach to handling the case.
 
Despite being at the center of the story, Luke remains something of an enigma. Because so much of the book is spent trying to piece together his motives, we don't get to know him in the same way we do Camilla or Niall. That's not necessarily a flaw, but it did make it difficult to feel a strong connection to him beyond Camilla's memories of their relationship.
 
While there were some plot points/reveals that I really liked, there was one in particular that bothered me a bit. There is a specific twist involving someone close to Camilla that I picked up as a possibility early on - only because it has been done to death. I was really hoping the author wouldn't use it, and I was so disappointed when she did. Without giving too much away, I found it to be predictable and a bit of a letdown.
 
Despite my issues with the time jump and the predictability of a third-act twist, this was still an entertaining read. I'm finding that I am super critical of thrillers these days, and I'm a bit difficult to please, so that was likely also part of my problem. That said, the premise is undeniably gripping, and the character work is strong. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with emotional depth and an intriguing central mystery, this is worth a read.