Thank you to Dutton Books and Riley Sager for my copy of With a Vengeance. This book was set in 1942 on a train from Philadelphia to Chicago, where Anna has gathered the six people who destroyed her life under false pretenses. She wants to confront them and get them to confess, and then have them delivered to the FBI at the end of the life. Unfortunately someone has other plans, and won’t stop until everyone on the train is dead. Anna needs to hunt the killer in order to protect the people she hates most, saving their lives so they will face the justice the deserve.

Thoughts: This was the perfect setting for a locked room mystery! I loved the way the reader knows the plot from the very beginning and the interesting backstory of why Anna wanted justice for her family. I liked the train in this story and the claustrophobic feeling of moving through the cars and hunting the killer.

The story was a bit repetitive for me and once the motive was out in the open, there wasn’t much more that could be revealed. I wasn’t surprised by much in the book, and even when there was a reveal, it felt obvious to me. This felt like a traditional locked room mystery but didn’t have many thrilling aspects or the psychological twists Sager is known for. It was a quick read, but I really wanted a punch at the end. 3.5 stars for me.

I found that this book is not a favorite of mine in terms of Riley Sager books I've read so far but it was still very compelling and interesting. At times I did joke with friends that it read like an Agatha Christie fanfiction but towards the end everything truly became what Riley Sager is known for...messy and keeping you on your toes until the end.

I have been a fan of Riley Sager for a while now and his books just keeps getting better. This title grabbed me from page one – loved the characters and most of all the setting on a train. I enjoyed how the story played out and then came together in the end. This has to be my favorite from him. Thank you for the ARC Net Galley #WithaVengeance#RileySager #NetGalley

Publishes on June 10th and follows a group of people who are trapped on a nonstop train headed for Chicago by a woman named Anna who is delivering them to authorities to pay for their role in destroying her life.

So, right off the bat we learn that this is a story of revenge and that Anna wants these people to admit what they’ve done. Of course her plan doesn’t pan out exactly as expected when a passenger on the train ends up murdered.

I found this story absolutely dreadful. The characters were all so unlikable (they’re the self righteous boring business types) and the plot line was so played out, it didn’t have me gripped whatsoever. I knew from the get go that this was not for me.

I’ve read all of Sager’s books and want to continue on doing that because I’ve really enjoyed the majority of his books, but this one just was not for me.

The only positive thing I can say about this book is that it was fast paced so I was able to finish it in 2hrs.

If you’ve ever fantasized about getting revenge while holding a perfectly chilled martini and maintaining dangerously sharp eyeliner, With a Vengeance is your next obsession. Riley Sager has written the thriller equivalent of slow, sexy payback—layered, lethal, and dripping with tension.

This book is like if Gone Girl and Kill Bill had a love child raised on true crime podcasts and vintage noir movies. The plot is twisty enough to make you question every shadow in the room, and the characters? Deliciously unreliable. You’ll be flipping pages wondering who you can trust—and realizing the answer is absolutely no one.

Sager doesn’t just serve drama; he delivers it with a chef’s kiss of psychological chaos. Every chapter peels back another layer of secrets, betrayals, and just the right amount of unhinged energy that makes you think, “Maybe I could disappear into the night and start a new life if things go sideways.” (Just me?)

The vibe is dark, sharp, and as sleek as a blade. If you're into morally gray characters, plot twists that gut-punch you, and female leads who are messy, complicated, and dangerous in all the best ways—this book is your new religion.

It’s the kind of thriller that leaves you side-eyeing your neighbors, questioning your life choices, and maybe wondering if vengeance really is a dish best served cold… or on fire. Either way, Sager’s serving it, and I am here for the chaos.

I'm not typically a fan of murder mysteries, this one did keep my attention. It did take me kind of a while to read. It was a bit difficult for me to get sucked into, but that is because I prefer thrillers over murder mysteries. There were certain parts where I was gasping and was completely shocked. I really loved the writing in this book. It painted a very vivid picture for me. If you love Riley sager then you'll love this one!

This was definitely a departure from Sager's normal fare, and because of that it took me quite a while to get into it. I found the characters unlikable and the plot to have quite a few holes, but it was a quick and fun read.

I am so thankful for receiving this early copy as Riley Sager is one of my favorite thriller authors! This was highly anticipated for me this year, but unfortunately this is probably my least favorite Sager book. I found all the characters to be bland and the storyline just didn't hook me like his other books always do. While there were some twists, nothing was shocking or out of left field. This felt like a murder mystery on a train and nothing more. I think Riley Sager was trying something different with this one and it just didn't work. It didn't feel like his usual writing style and that really bummed me out. I'll still continue to read anything he writes, but this was just not it for me.

I'll read anything by Riley Sager, and I love a locked room mystery, so this was a lot of fun for me! Was it the most innovative mystery out there? No. But did I have a great time reading it and also fly through it to get to the end? Yes!

What’s better than a room full of angst filled humans with dangerous secrets, questionable pasts, untoward motives and a lust for vengeance? Trap that same group of unlikable characters into a rapidly moving train ride with no stops, no other occupants, and murders a plenty. Who do you focus on? What motives drive this runaway train? What rot lays at its core? Riley Sager has once again pulled an Agatha Christie level who-dun-it murder mystery aboard a locked in speeding train.

I would suggest you jump aboard the Phoenix, stock like a fly on the wall, and hold on to your britches as you navigate the cold hard wrath of vengeance denied … vengeance delayed.

If you like the whodunit mystery, locked in rooms, and Sager’s amazing storytelling, this is the book for you!

Thank you once again to the publishers, author and of course NetGalkey for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read, “With a Vengeance” by Riley Sager. As always, navigating Riley’s novel was quite the suspenseful fun!!

I'm a huge fan of Riley Sager and have never read a book that I didn't completely love, until this one. I enjoyed the throwback feel and the homage that he seemed to be paying to Agatha Christie. However, the plot just never gripped me. The story felt slow and it took way too much time to get into the thick of the plot. I don't think everyone will feel this way, it's just a matter of reading preference. As usual, the book is well written and engaging and I guess I was just expecting more with this one.

Riley Sager does it again! The first half of the book reads like a mystery novel with classic mystery tropes: murder(s) on a train, a locked room mystery, a smart heroine. In the second half the tension and action ramps up to a pulse pounding thriller with lots of unexpected twists and turns. I will definitely be recommending this one as sonn as it's out!

4 Stars - A Gripping, Twisty Ride with High Stakes

With a Vengeance is another fast-paced, twist-filled thriller from Riley Sager that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Set on a luxurious overnight train journey, the book follows Anna Matheson, a woman on a mission to seek retribution for the destruction of her family. She's lured the six people responsible onto the train, with plans to confront them and finally see justice served.

The suspense is high from the very beginning as Anna's carefully laid plan unravels after one of the passengers is murdered, and it quickly becomes clear that someone else is taking matters into their own hands. The concept of a deadly game on a confined train adds to the tension, creating an atmosphere of claustrophobia and paranoia. The twists come fast, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Sager pulls the rug out from under you, keeping the suspense alive until the very end.

Anna’s internal struggle between seeking revenge and protecting her enemies is a compelling layer that gives depth to her character. However, at times, her decisions can be a bit hard to believe, and some of the secondary characters felt a bit underdeveloped. Still, these minor drawbacks don’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

If you love thrillers with complex characters, unexpected twists, and a tense, high-stakes atmosphere, With a Vengeance is a must-read. It’s a thrilling ride that doesn’t let up, making it a perfect choice for fans of Riley Sager’s signature style.

"Like a queen bee hunting those who destroyed the hive, she wanted them to feel her sting."

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. At first I was struggling to get into it but as soon as I did, I read the majority of it in one sitting.

This book was filled with twists and turns and a moral dilemma that had me thinking what I would do in this situation. I like the locked room/train mystery and felt the suspense throughout the whole book.

I'm glad I enjoyed this because I did not like Middle of the Night and needed Riley to redeem himself. And he did!

Riley Sager... what can I say! The premise of this book sounded SO good when I read it!

Sager is a master of plot twists...and this book delivers. So many twists and turns, and so many character storylines to follow. The timeline is...interesting- set in 1954- its hard to remember sometimes that this novel is meant to be set in the past. It reads like the setting is current-and I'm not sure that the time period enhances the story at all.

The many characters in this book are ALL unlikeable. I didn't find myself caring overmuch what happened to any of them,

If you're a fan of the game CLUE, you'll likely enjoy this title! It is entertaining, if nothing else.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Did Riley write this? So slow and so boring, I skimmed this to get to the end. Too many characters with backstories and motivations that never quite land, and the plot holes pile up fast. Didn't really care about the main character so it made it hard to want to read on and finish. The story is so convoluted that it's hard to care at all. Not the usual Riley Sager book that I recommend to my patrons at the library. Very disappointing.

Definitely not a typical Riley Sager. With A Vengeance was an Agatha Christie type locked room mystery, but definitely not up to Agatha Christie standards. I honestly thought it was silly after awhile.

How far will you go for vengeance on those who take everything from you? Are there any lines you won't cross? Anna faces those exact questions when her big master plan is thrown off track in a way she never saw coming. This story unfolds on a 13-hour train ride between Philadelphia and Chicago with twists and turns that will keep you guessing and wondering who if anyone you can trust. While I didn't like any of the characters, I did feel for a few of them and wanting to know how it was going to play our kept me reading. I am giving it four stars because even if I can't say I enjoyed it, it did keep me interested until the end and the end was better than I was afraid it would be.

All aboard the train, Philadelphia to Chicago, no stops. The stage is set as six individuals board the train where they will pay for their crimes. The time has come to answer for what they did. Anna can take the pain she's been carrying around no longer. She wants answers and she wants the guilty to pay. What will follow will not be what she planned. Someone amongst them has other plans of revenge. When one passenger is found dead, it will become clear they are not safe. Anna will have to work to stay alive and keep those who she blames alive through the night.

Riley Sager writes very clever characters. People who have something to lose but also something to gain. Anna feels that she has been wrong and she makes a stance to do something about it. Could she have done it differently sure, but revenge is really a wicked dish. The locked room setting had you guessing to find the guilty party with Sager level twists around each corner. Was it my absolute favorite book, no, but all the same absolutely worth the read. Especially as Sager continues to explore different time periods within his writing. Thank you Netgalley and Dutton for the advanced copy.