The basic idea of “Famous Last Words” had me hooked from the beginning. It’s one of those plots that works amazingly well as an elevator pitch; something that you can describe to a publisher in the time it takes to ride an elevator to their floor.
Imagine you’re a new mother. You wake up on the morning of your first day back to work after maternity leave. Strangely, your husband isn’t at home. There’s a note on the table, but it’s an awkward phrasing and unlike him. You make it to work, and things are going well until a news bulletin comes on the television.