This was the perfect setting for a locked-room mystery! The atmosphere created by the train, with its claustrophobic layout and the sense of urgency as the characters move through the cars, really enhanced the story. I appreciated how the reader knows the plot from the very beginning, giving a unique twist to the typical mystery format. The backstory of Anna seeking justice for her family added emotional depth to her motivations, making her a compelling protagonist.

However, the story did feel a bit repetitive after a while. Once the motive was revealed, there wasn’t much more to uncover, and the tension started to fizzle out. I wasn’t particularly surprised by any of the twists, and even when there was a reveal, it felt fairly predictable. While it followed the traditional locked-room mystery structure, it lacked the thrilling intensity and psychological twists that Sager’s books are often known for.

The pacing was quick, and while I enjoyed the setting and premise, I found myself hoping for a stronger, more impactful ending. It was a solid read, but I felt like it didn’t quite reach its full potential.

Thank you, NetGalley & Penguin Group Dutton, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

With a Vengeance by Riley Sager had an intriguing premise—revenge on a luxury train with a deadly twist—but unfortunately, it didn’t fully live up to its potential. The setup was promising, and the suspense built well early on, but the pacing quickly became uneven. The characters, especially Anna, felt underdeveloped, and the constant twists became more predictable than shocking. The reveal was somewhat lackluster and lacked the depth I hoped for.

While the tension on the train kept me engaged for parts of the story, the book ultimately didn’t deliver the level of suspense or emotional payoff I was expecting. Overall, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me.

An homage to the great Agatha Christie, this book by Riley Sager is very different from any of the others and is completely my favorite. Great character development. I never knew what was going to happen next.

I’m an OG Riley Sager fan. This was my least favorite of his - tried several times and could t finish it. Was not for me.

It’s a murder on a train / locked room / revenge book. I could t bring myself to care and it was realllllly slow.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Cokes out July 10, 2025.

3.t stars - I've read Sager before and adore "locked room" mysteries, so "With a Vengeance" sounded right up my alley - a 1950's woman getting long overdue revenge while on a non-stop train? Love the concept. Sadly, I thought the execution left a bit to be desired- too long, but thankfully fast-paced, too many plot holes, and a time setting that felt a bit off. But it was readable for me, and I did like the twists - so a mixed review. My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my advance reader's copy - always appreciate the opportunity to review.

Riley Sager hits it out of the park with a thrilling murder mystery for fans of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, Clue, or Glass Onion.

My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 moderate
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 Vague open door (past)
- Content 🤔 death, violence, murder, same sex relationship

Adding this into my top 3 favorite Sager novels. I loved the forced proximity, all the POVs, and how it seemingly bridged the gap between cozy murder mystery and thriller. Having the plot set in the 50’s gave it an edge of nostalgia that I enjoyed as well. Additionally, it had flashbacks to the ‘40’s and WW2, making it a great option for historical fiction readers that may want to expand their reading horizons.

In true Sager form, the twists and turns keep coming. Everyone is a suspect and Sager continually lured the reader into a false sense of security. I’m 0 for 9 on being able to figure out the ending of Sager’s novels and that’s just the way I like it.

Riley Sager's latest thriller, "With a Vengeance," is a gripping tale of revenge set aboard a luxury train in 1954. This claustrophobic thriller follows Anna Matheson, who has gathered six people responsible for destroying her family twelve years earlier on an overnight journey from Philadelphia to Chicago.

Sager expertly crafts a tense atmosphere within the confined space of the train, creating a sense of urgency and impending doom. The premise is intriguing: Anna plans to confront her enemies, extract confessions, and deliver them to authorities. However, her carefully orchestrated plan derails when one of the passengers is murdered, setting off a deadly game of cat and mouse.

The author's strength lies in his ability to build suspense and create vivid, atmospheric settings. Each train compartment and corridor becomes a potential hiding place for secrets and danger, contributing significantly to the escalating tension. Sager's adept handling of the setting as an instrument for building suspense is a testament to his skill as a thriller writer.

While the plot is razor-sharp and filled with twists and turns, some readers may find the story somewhat predictable or reminiscent of classic locked-room mysteries. The character development, particularly of the supporting cast, feels somewhat lacking, making it challenging for readers to fully invest in their fates.

"With a Vengeance" is a quick, engaging read that will appeal to fans of fast-paced thrillers and those who enjoy stories set in confined spaces. However, readers expecting the psychological depth and shocking twists of Sager's earlier works may find this offering slightly less satisfying.

Despite its shortcomings, the novel's ticking-clock scenario and the protagonist's moral dilemma of having to protect those she despises create an intriguing narrative that keeps readers engaged until the final page. "With a Vengeance" may not be Sager's strongest work, but it still offers an entertaining journey for thriller enthusiasts.

A readalike for fans of Agatha Christie, With a Vengeance is a murder mystery set in 1954. Anna has set up a plan to exact justice on an unsavory group of characters who she feels is responsible for the deaths of her family. Murders abound in a Clue-like romp as the cast is trapped on a train in a snowstorm, and Anna's plan begins to unravel as she struggles to figure out who is murdering the passengers.

Anna Matheson’s life is turned completely upside down when her brother, father, and mother are all taken away from her. Gone forever. After years of mourning, the only thing that Anna can focus on in vengeance.
Anna plots and schemes for an entire year, perfecting her plan. The 6 people who are responsible for the deaths of her family will be brought to justice. She has rented out the train that started it all: the Philadelphia Phoenix. It will be her and those who destroyed her family on a non-stop trip to Chicago. Once they arrive, the feds will take care of the rest.
However, when murder occurs (something Anna had no intention of doing), she has to work with the very people she hates in order to try and keep everyone, including herself, alive.

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I thought this book was MUCH better than Sager’s previous one. It wasn’t as slow of a buildup, which was nice. However, I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of ALL of the plot twists that get thrown out toward the end. It is similar to “The Only One Left” where it felt like it you were satisfied, but another twist was thrown in just for funsies. I like it, but it feels like it’s just a little too much. At no point was I able to figure out where the story was going, whodunnit, or how it was going to end. I always try, but I was kept on my toes the entire time. I will definitely recommend this to my fellow readers.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

It’s 1954, and Anna Matheson is seeking vengeance. Twelve years ago, she lost several members of her family were killed, and now, Anna has lured the people responsible into the very train where so many people met their demise. If all goes as planned, after an all-night journey from Philadelphia to Chicago, authorities will be waiting to serve justice. But the plan quickly goes off the rails (no pun intended) when it becomes clear that one of the passengers is not going down without a fight—and won’t stop until everyone else is dead. With time running out, Anna has to hunt the killer, even if it means risking her own life.

Imagine Murder on the Orient Express with a dash of the 80s movie Clue, and you have With A Vengeance. This is such a fun fast-paced thriller and the action doesn’t stop.

I didn’t like this *quite* as much as Sager’s other books, and I think it’s because there are so many characters to keep track of. Having 8 different narrators gets a little confusing at times, and I had to double check who was speaking. But Anna herself is totally fleshed out and sympathetic, and I LOVE her backstory.

In true Riley Sager fashion, the twists start coming and don’t stop. Some are more believable than others, but it’s a wild, thrilling ride.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and other classic locked door mysteries, this book is not to be missed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for an advanced copy! With A Vengeance publishes on June 10, 2025.

Sager does it again! Using 40’s/50’s noir tropes he places several people on a nonstop train, through a snowstorm, with a killer eyeing vengeance. As they are picked off one by one the reader is left to guess whodunnit and Sager doesn’t miss a beat with many twists and turns that don’t derail the plot. A fantastic read.

Boy oh boy, Riley Sager does not disappoint... again in "With a Vengeance." This locked-room- mystery was the perfect blend of an Agatha Christie novel and a classic who-done-it? Just when you think you've got it all figured out Sagers' twists and turns weave a brilliant story full of red-herrings, unrequited love, revenge and the power of repentance. Definitely a must-read for your mystery bookshelf. Thank you to @NetGalley for the ARC!

Revenge is best served cold, but in this case served every which way on a silver bullet overnight train ride from Pennsylvania to Chicago. Riley Sager’s new book, With a Vengeance, requires you to settle in and get cozy and enjoy the deathly who done it in this fast paced thriller with many sharp turns. The history and characters of the book we’re well thought out and enjoyable. Some of the twists are predictable, tiring and never-ending but it is still worth the read. This is not one of Sager’s best gotchas, so I was missing that jaw dropping part of the story. Overall a good read especially if he is an autobuy,. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced copy.

An invitation to a one way train trip. A personalized note for each of the 6 passengers whom who a part of a sabotaged train. One woman who brought these people together for justice.
I have read the majority of books that Riley Sager has published- and enjoyed them all, including this one. Sager's stories present thrillers with minimal gore and horror, while having a satisfying ending for the reader. This story was no different, but I did feel the ending was a little too unrealistic (Anna getting invited to join the FBI because of her work creating this trip). The pacing of this book was really good, and I didn't feel like anything was dragging along, even those parts that were more backstory for the individual characters. I think the connection to history in this book (set during World War 1 and Hitler, with the plot being centered around sabotaging U.S. troops to 'aid the war effort' and Anna's father accused of being a Nazi) was really interesting, and something that I personally haven't read in a contemporary mystery/thriller book.
I would definitely recommend this book to Riley Sager fans, thriller readers, or even historical fiction readers who want to dip their reading into more mystery/thriller books.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of With a Vengeance by Riley Sager in exchange for an honest review.

The publishing company asked to keep this review spoiler-free, so I will keep it shorter than my other reviews!

This book is a loose rendition of Murder on the Orient Express. It has suspense, sadness, revenge, and plotting... and that was about it. I did not become genuinely invested in the characters. Even though we get their backstory, they felt very 2D for me. They, and the plot, were very one-dimensional and moved in a straight line. This could be interpreted as mirroring the train line's fast-paced movement forward. The author did well in throwing suspicions at different characters and making you think about who the killer may be. However, I was not entirely bought into one person and/or surprised when the suspect was identified.

While I was not captivated by the story, the author writes in a way that is easy to follow. I don't find myself flipping back a few pages, wondering if I missed something. I have had a few misses with Sager and some that I wholeheartedly recommend to others! I still look forward to what he puts out in the future!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc! this is my second riley sager arc and he does not disappoint. the pacing of this book made it very compelling and there was a lot i didnt expect. not overly satisfied with the ending for one reason (cant spoil) but othwrwise really liked this one

Riley Sager has done it again!
As usual, the character development was phenomenal and the story kept you guessing to the very end.
So many times, I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong every time.
This has to be one of my favorite books of the year and is definitely my favorite book by Riley Sager.
I will be recommending this book to all my customers

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc.

I’ve read every single one of Riley Sager’s novels and will continue to do so. The way he writes is simple but wildly entertaining.

This is not my favorite of his novels, but it was a fun ride. It’s was very Murder in the Orient Express meets Runaway Jury. I had a great time and I really liked Anna. I heard another review that said they didn’t feel like she was believable or likable but I think as someone who has lost everything and has lived only to seek justice, she was written well. She was focused and driven and her past trauma made her less emotional than I think we would have wanted from a woman in her position. I don’t think that makes her less interesting, but I think it makes her real.

Overall, Sager hit us again with some twists I never saw coming and provided a throughly fun read.

With a vengeance was a very compelling story.
Anna Mathesons life was destroyed 12 years ago, her brother died on a military train and her father was blamed for it all. What unravels is a story about revenge and truth.
A train ride that will take all those to blame for Anna’s family’s downfall, to their own.
I really enjoyed this story, despite it being a slow start and not really knowing what was going on in the beginning I really liked how things were tied up in the end. You get to feel Anna’s grief and how stuck she is until those responsible pay for their crimes, although someone else on the train has a different idea on what revenge should entail. I was really intrigued by how it was going to end and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! Have always enjoyed Riley Sagers book and this one did not let me down! Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the arc!!