Novel Kicks Book Club: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Welcome September. 

I don’t quite know how it happened but we are now in what I call the first of the ‘ber’ months.

For this month’s book, I wanted to pick a novel that sounds like a real rollercoaster of a story. I have only heard good things about this book and I look forward to reading it.

This month’s pick is Famous Last Words by Gillian Mcallister. 

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join the Novel Kicks Book Club whether you’ve read the novel and want to talk about it or will be reading it along with me.

I’ve posted a question in the comments below to kick off the conversation.

I am looking forward to seeing you there.

About Famous Last Words – 

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work. And her daughter’s first day at nursery. But where is her husband Luke? The only trace of him is an unfinished note.

Then she sees the breaking news: a hostage situation just streets away. Next the police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.

But he isn’t a hostage. Luke – doting father, successful writer, eternal optimist – is the gunman.

What Camilla does next will be crucial. Because only she can figure out what clue lies in the note he left behind . . .

Famous Last Words was released by Penguin in January 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Waterstones, Amazon US and Barnes & Noble.

About Gillian Mcallister –

Gillian Mcallister is the author of Everything But The Truth (2017), Anything You Do Say (2018) called The Choice in America, No Further Questions (2018) called The Good Sister in America, The Evidence Against You (2019), How To Disappear (2020), That Night (2021), Wrong Place Wrong Time (2022) and Just Another Missing Person (2023). Her latest novel, Famous Last Words was released in 2025. 

When not writing (which is basically never), Gillian can be found walking her dog Wendy and parenting her small toddler. The best moments of her day always are the first sip of her coffee, the moment she steps into the bath at night, and her son telling her he loves her. And that rare thing that happens only once a year – a novel idea.

Connect with Gillian via her website and Instagram. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.