And once again, a must-read for the year from Riley Sager! I LOVE Sager's takes on horror, and going full-on locked train thriller/murder mystery (with just a little hint of the greatest film of all time, CLUE) wasn't what I expected - but I loved it. It's thrilling, it's got a bit of dark humor, and I think it's screaming for a filmed adaptation. Unexpected and great!

3.5 stars, rounded up. This one is more of a departure for Riley Sager, but you can still feel the movie-inspired vibes from this one, and there's clear homage to classic mysteries that is well done. I liked this one a lot and think that what we get to know about the characters was interesting, but it wasn't quite enough.

This was quite a departure from Riley Sager's usual book. I found the mystery on a train premise really compelling and the plot was engaging but I had a difficult time connecting to the characters due to the switching POV's.

I was really excited to read Riley Sager's twist on a golden age locked room mystery. Unfortunately, this book is so generic, anyone could have written it. It was a solid story, I guess. Not particularly thrilling. And every twist was an homage to a classic; unfortunately, that made every twist predictable and hackneyed. Overall, this didn't "feel" like a Riley Sager; it didn't have enough of his unique spin on a genre. Ultimately, if I were going to read a bland golden age mystery, there's plenty more to choose from. And if you want to read a Riley Sager, there's plenty more of those to choose from too.

I will always read Riley Sager. I’ve been a fan since the beginning, since Quincy became a final girl. Having said that, With a Vengeance is underwhelming, like I’ve read this plot before. Even the twists and reveals fall flat, and it felt like Sager was just throwing plot twists to see what might stick. Locked room thrillers are normally my favorite trope, but this one just left me wanting more.

Anna doesn’t just want revenge for the death of her brother and the destruction of her family, she wants vengeance for her and the families of the other soldiers killed in a tragic train crash over a decade ago. Luckily for her, Anna’s aunt has damning information about the masterminds behind the incident delivered directly to her after her death. With this knowledge, Anna embarks on the train ride of her life—13 hours with the six people responsible for killing her brother, framing her father, and leaving her emotionally vulnerable.

This novel is unlike anything else I’ve read from Riley Sager. The historical element threw me at first, but the twists and turns are well done and kept me reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Geoup Dutton for the ARC!

This was so different from anything Riley has written and it took me by surprise. I loved "locked door" thrillers and this one upped it a level with them all being together on a train with a countdown for arrival. I was hooked!!!  Anna the MC is on a revenge mission for her parents and brother who all died horrible deaths. There are so many other characters with their own motives and  the twists towards the end were CRAZZZZY! I immersive read this one and it was a blast!. The audiobook is narrated by Erin Bennett. I have not listened to anything by her but she was fantastic and made me root for Anna!

whomp whomp. - man was I ready for another Sager story, but maybe not a thriller that’s wrapped up in 24 hours. This one fell flat, characters aren’t as developed, and a plot that seems pretty similar imo with holes left opened. I also felt like it didn’t really pick up until the 85% percent mark - while others would have probably dnf’ed or given up. At least I finished!

Thank you PRHAudio and PRH for my copy!

A period piece with a revenge plot at its heart and many players all invited on a train journey. This was a puzzling premise with twists and turns and reveals you won’t see coming, but will enjoy them unfolding until the last page.

Really enjoyed this locker room mystery set on a moving train. This was different than all of Riley Sager's past books but I definitely recommend it. The beginning started off a little slow for me but I stayed on the train and went along for the ride and ended up enjoying the adventure. The characters at first were hard to distinguish amongst eachother but I was able to separate them after not too long which helped me get out of a "too many characters slump". I definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys a historical locked room mystery similar to Murder on the Orient Express.

Unfortunately, this one didn't grab me like previous Sager books. I don't know if it's because of the fact it was more of a Christie-esque locked door mystery, or if there were just too many things happening at once with not many likeable characters to root for, but I just didn't connect with this mystery. I appreciate that he tried something new outside of what I usually expect from him, but it was a miss for me overall.

The first 2/3 of this book was following a predictable plot line similar to several other population murder mysteries like And Then There Were None and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect. Things started to turn for the better and there was one twist I absolutely didn't see coming, but I think i just wanted something a smidgen more original. Still a fun, quick read, and as usual with Riley Sager, a lot of moving pieces that make it difficult till pin down the bad guy.

Although this doesn't feel like a typical Riley Sager novel, it's still gripping in its suspense and there are enough twists and turns in this locked room mystery to keep you constantly guessing. With a Vengeance is a taut, fast-paced thriller that masterfully blends suspense, psychological tension, and gripping twists. Sager delivers a compelling protagonist and a plot that keeps readers guessing until the final page. With sharp writing and a chilling atmosphere, this novel is a must-read for fans of smart, twisty thrillers.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for this digital e-arc.*

Riley Sager creates an enticing mystery, housed within the walls of a train that leaps off the page and keeps readers guessing until the end.

We're instantly thrown onto the train, without much context as to how we arrived there. Throughout the novel, more pieces are revealed that ultimately lead to a satisfying end.

What worked for me were the narration switches where we'd focus on some of the suspects and get a window into what they were doing, as well as following our main character and trying to piece together what happened. There were so many breadcrumbs that could lead a reader to the ending, but also weren't incredibly obvious that one could guess what would happen next.

Definitely a favorite by the author, and one I'm excited to share with people going forward.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this early in exchange for a review!

Sigh. Okay. You would think I would have completely loved this book by Riley Sager. Normally, I love what he rights, especially when we don't go down the occult/supernatural rabbit hole. I HATE that. So this book didn't have that.

Here's the issue: it reads almost EXACTLY like Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None. Every person has been gathered on the bus for one reason. They are all connected to the crime and they must pay for their actions. We know that right off the bat. We also know what the crime was right off the bat. Then the book reads like Alfred Hitchcock's film "Strangers on a Train"

I did enjoy the book, don't get me wrong. Well parts of it. Some of it was pure ridiculousness--like some of the murders were just eye rolling. And I did expect the twist. After all, it was the oldest reason in the book <spoiler> scorned lover. The ultimate reason to destroy a man's reputation was because of a girl, a girl who was pregnant with the bad dude's baby </spoiler>

I love books that take place in this time period though so that was a perk. Very different setting for a Sager novel. That made the reading unique.

Seeking revenge for the deaths of her family members Anna dupe the guilty to take a luxury train trip straight to the FBI in Chicago. A solid locked room mystery on board commences early with deaths and much finger pointing the twists just didn’t get twisty enough for a higher rating. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy for an honest review.

An obvious ode to Agatha Christie, With a Vengeance by Riley Sager definitely delivers on atmosphere and red herrings. Where I as a reader felt a disconnect were the characters. The main heroine, Anna Matherson, has collected the six people responsible for destroying her family on a nonstop train trip from Philadelphia to Chicago. The broad concept is interesting, but in execution it is a wee bit convoluted. But it’s pointed out enough that I believe Sager realized this and was comfortable with the dramatic turns. I have only read a handful of Sager books and correct me if I’m wrong, but this seems like their most traditionally mystery-coded; so as a first attempt, I’m intrigued. Sager still includes some of the creepy gore that I recognize from previous titles. I think this is a great entry into the train mysteries subgenre and one I think classic who-dunnit fans will enjoy.

This was a solid murder mystery set on a non-stop train from Philadelphia to Chicago. While it wasn't particularly fast-paced, it moved steadily enough to keep me engaged throughout. The twists weren't jaw-dropping, but they were unexpected and added to the enjoyment. I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s books in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

Riley Sager returns with a fast-paced whodunnit that keeps you guessing until the very end. The plot keeps you engaged as a reader and while there are multiple characters, it never gets overwhelming or too involved. This one will keep you up late because you won’t want to put it down. 3.5/5

What happens when you get together all the people that framed your father for a crime on to one train? This has probably been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I could not wait to get my grubby hands on it. I screamed when I saw this approval come through. I absolutely love the premise of this and could not wait to jump in. Clue meets Orient Express. This honestly felt so claustrophobic to me with that locked room vibe, but in the train setting. I loved each twist and turn in this book. Each person is a suspect and I love books like this that make me question everyone. Riley Sager has a perfect way of masterfully creating his books that keep you hooked from the get go. This one was no exception. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to read this early!