This was my first Riley Sager book and now I totally get why people love his stuff! I had such a good time reading this. The story takes place almost entirely on a luxury train. There was a lot of tension, so many secrets, and so many insane twists that I lost count (in the best way).
The second half was wild. It felt like surprises were coming out of nowhere, one after another. I was wrong so many more times than I was right when making predictions... And I honestly couldn't put it down.
The whole book was very fast-paced and high-stakes, and I enjoyed every moment. It reminded me of Bullet Train, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

12 years ago, 6 people destroyed Anna’s family. Anna is ready for revenge, and had lured the 6 on a train ride. A train ride from Philadelphia to Chicago, which ends by being met with the authorities. When a passenger dies along the way however, Anna knows she needs to find out who killed them before they all wind up dead.

I’m sure @ahatforeveryread will be absolutely shocked to know I have never read an Agatha Christie book. I know, I know, I know! So while I know the general idea, in that sense this book was completely unique! I kind of loved Anna’s plan to trap these people and torture them until handing them over to the feds. Like…what a boss b*tch response! I listened to this one and the narration was fantastic and kept me listening intently! While I saw some of the twists, I certainty did not see them all coming, which always makes a book extra enjoyable for me! Overall, I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you to @duttonbooks and @prhaudio for my gifted copt of this book!

Set in the 1950s after World War II Riley Sagers new book takes place over one night on a train to Chicago. Twelve years ago, due to a train explosion, Anna wrongfully lost her whole family in various ways. Now she was vengeance for the wrongs committed. She lurers the 6 people who helped commit the wrong onto a train from Philly that will not stop until Chicago hoping to hand them over to the FBI that will be waiting. If all goes to plan all 6 of those people should arrive at the station alive and unharmed.

To preface, Riley Sager is one of my favorite thriller authors. I have read most of his books. So, it hurts to say that unfortunately this one did not deliver for me. Many of his other books has kept me on my toes, waiting for the twists and turns. This time the plot twist and turned so much that if this had been a car trip I could have sworn, I saw the same tree 3 times.

I did like some of the characters. Anna was good and I am glad that she stuck to her guns (ha!) of having all of those people who wronged her arrive alive to Chicago. I did like the Detective even though he wound up being rather unhelpful instead of helpful. Dante was also interesting, and I had hoped that him and Anna could have had some sort of endgame. I also appreciated that in the end Anna was able to look into being an FBI agent. That was a nice touch.

As for the guy that was Anna's partner in her train plan, I figured it was him from the beginning. Then it was revealed to be him, but, then it wasn't. Just kidding it was him but he's not the only one killing people. That was where I got kind of bored.

This plot sounded like it was going to be an interesting read. It just kind of felt flat in my opinion. I look forward to Riley Sagers next book though! Hopefully it will be a better fit for me.

This is perfect for someone who liked "Murder on the Orient Express" and wants to read another locked door mystery.

An excellent mystery with compelling and dynamic characters. Loved the confined environment the train provided, and the ticking clock of the train's eventual destination. Added urgency and tension to almost every scene.

I have really enjoyed some Riley Sager books in the past, and I was excited by the idea of this one. That being said, I was bored most of the time. I think the struggle with locked door mysteries is that the writer has to somehow provide enough intrigue within a closed system to maintain the suspense of it all. I did not feel like Sager accomplished that with this one. The premise is pretty far fetched, to begin with. The idea that this woman would use everything she has left in the world to organize this extreme revenge trip rather than just going straight to the authorities and using her little nest egg to create some sort of future for herself really asks the reader to suspend their disbelief. Anna fluctuates between the innocent doe eyed victim of a grand plot and an absolute sociopath. Then there's the fact that men are just falling over themselves to be with her. It almost became something you could play a drinking game with - every time a man on this train comes on to Anna, take a drink - you'd be unwell. The moments - and yes, there are more than one - when two of the men fight over her are particularly off putting. The six people locked on the train with this unstable femme fatale are all completely one dimensional. The FBI Agent, the retired military man, the childhood sweetheart - it's all just so tropy. Nobody has any depth except for Anna, and her depths are...bizarre. I kept asking myself if Sager was trying to make fun of the tropes from mysteries of this era because this really didn't feel like a Riley Sager book to me. It felt lazy and one dimensional.

Vividly evoking the feel of Agatha Christie all while adding his own classic verve, Riley Sager crafted a clever locked room mystery in his newest novel, With a Vengeance. From the ratcheting pace to the intricate plotting, I felt like a fly on the wall of the cross-country train turned site of revenge. A riveting game of cat-and-mouse that held plenty of deftly obscured twists and turns, there wasn’t a chance of me figuring any of it out before each reveal. You see, every time a plot-shifting twist arrived on the scene, it changed up the direction just enough to leave my jaw hanging in midair. But then, I think that being taken completely unawares is always the best kind of surprise.

As for the characters, alongside a whole crew of morally gray characters, I was head over heels for the strong, clever, and upstanding protagonist. Mildly flawed and with plenty of past traumas, Anna was the epitome of Sager’s best heroines. Of course, the fact that this masterful author manages to show and not tell who each of these personas were at their core only amplified his undeniable talent. Thanks to the well-developed multiple POVs, I not only understood where each of them were coming from, but I felt their gnawing sadness and grief. Well, except for those of them that I just loved to hate. Clearly, I was blown away by each of their well-rounded perspectives.

I do have to mention, of course, that this newest Sager novel has gotten some rather mixed reviews. I put this down to the fact that it was quite the departure from his prior novels. More mystery than thriller, it brought to life a very Murder on the Orient Express slash And Then There Were None-esque vibe. If that’s not what you’re expecting, then it might just not be your kind of read. That being said, I was an ardent admirer of it from beginning to end, so perhaps you should give it a try regardless of any and all doubts? After all, once it hit the halfway point, the plot became one huge adrenaline-fueled climax with bodies dropping like flies.

All said and done, I was blown away by yet another book by this unstoppable author. Again squeezing in a slight paranormal edge, it had me questioning everything and everyone as I sped through the novel. The best piece of all, though? How even once the evil doer was outed, there was still yet more to be revealed. You see, this onion-like plot was equal parts whodunnit and whydunnit—otherwise known as the best combo of all. So if you like mildly historical settings that modernize a Golden Age murder mystery-type plot, this book is most definitely for you. Just don’t expect one of Sager’s past novels as this has an altogether different feel. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Riley Sager, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin/ Dutton and Mr. Sager for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

If Murder on the Orient Express (which I LOVE) was crossed with Clue (which I ALSO LOVE) and set in 1954 (which I DO NOT love but also don't mind, at least it's not yet another WWII Historical, lord help me). Anna has assembled six individuals who she can prove destroyed her family on a luxury train, where they are the sole passengers, and which will deposit them directly in Chicago into the open arms of the FBI. ((((Why she wants to do follow through with this plan, which is literally costing her ALL her money, and has about 1000 ways things could go wrong, is tenuously explained as "she wants to witness their delivery to justice for herself." Yeah, okay.))))

I love a locked-room mystery. I love the horrible claustrophobic isolation of a train, especially one without stops and in inclement weather. A train has the added bonus of all those weird little closets and compartments where people or other surprises could hide. I just couldn't really understand why Anna would do this. Her rationale/motivation seemed a little weak. Why not just give the documents to the FBI and call it a day? SO many things could (and did) go wrong, but frankly as just one woman with a "helper" Anna could easily have been subdued by the other passengers; desperate people will do desperate things and I kept waiting for it to happen. TBH I was *really* hoping for a Clue-style ending in which each person offs another, but (spoiler) that ALSO did not happen. I didn't really mind that the horror aspect was low to nonexistent. I understood it to be a historical mystery and it was exactly that. I will say, Riley Sager has a real talent at creating an atmospheric setting. I really felt like I was on that slightly musty, slightly worn down luxury train in the early 50s. The train itself was my favorite character! lol

Overall an enjoyable mystery. ⭐⭐⭐

One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge. In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.

Author @riley.sager does it again with a standout thriller that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The locked room on a train premise and the multiple plot twists make this a must read for any suspense fan! This is, by far, one of his best books.

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Summary:
1942. A train deployed with soldiers leaves Philadelphia, only to find its fate doomed as the train explodes with every passenger on board. Anna Matheson's only sibling, Tommy, is lost in the disaster, but he isn't the only one who suffers from the tragedy. Her parents lives are ripped away from her. Others lose family who were employed by the railroad company. And 12 years later, Anna, who is sent mysterious files about the doomed train, is out for vengeance. Rather than let the FBI do their job and arrest those involved, she wants answers. So she gathers up all the suspects for a one-way, non-stop trip to Chicago, on what will become yet another doomed train... where not everyone will make it out alive.

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Personal:
I am typically a huge Riley Sager fan, but this was my least favorite of his works that I've read so far. I felt like the writing was very slow. It was very hard to get into until nearly the second half of the book, and the twists weren't anything crazy (I had a far better idea for one than what actually ends up happening!). It took me months to finish on and off, and I wish it had been faster paced so that it would have kept my attention better. I had a friend who didn't even finish it at all for similar reasons. Because of the slow pacing, I unfortunately have to rate this one a 3. As someone who has been traveling on trains a lot lately, I did really like the setting. But I just couldn't get into this story. Also as a random complaint, I just disliked the name Judd Dodge because I kept stumbling over pronouncing it every time it came up.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

With a Vengeance is the newest Riley Sager book. This book has a unique premise of a group of 6 individuals invited to take a train journey from Philadelphia to Chicago. The people do not know who invited them or why until arriving on the train. Once there, they learn that Anna Matheson has invited them based on all of their past misdeeds which have ruined her family. Anna wants revenge for her family, but as the train speeds towards Chicago, her plans start to unravel as passengers are mysteriously killed.

I have read several Sager books and this was by far my favorite. I loved the train premise and the locked room aspects throughout. While there wasn't as much of a thriller vibe, I enjoyed the fast pace and was on the edge of my seat until the end. Highly recommend as a fast paced, summer read by the pool!

Whether you're a long-time Riley Sager fan (like I am) or new to his work, this latest book With a Vengeance is a captivating ride that blends vintage vibes with modern suspense.

This was a standout in Sager’s lineup and felt like a refreshing shift from his last couple of books, which in my opinion were duds. Anna’s life was destroyed by six people and she is determined to get justice. Under false pretenses, Anna lures them on a 14-hour train ride—where they are the only passengers—with the end goal turning these individuals into the Chicago’s FBI team where the evidence lies. but when one of them is murdered, her entire plan is at risk. This was an atmospheric read, set in 1942, it has serious classic noir vibes with clear inspirations from Strangers on a Train, The Narrow Margin, and The Lady Vanishes—which made it even more fun to read.

This was a high speed train ride with no escape (literally). The pacing was great throughout—tight, tense, and never dragging. I was hooked by the murder mystery and the layered revenge plot, but what really pulled me in was Anna Matheson. She’s a phenomenal main character—smart, gutsy, and incredibly sharp. Definitely one of my favorite Sager characters!

Multiple twists, suspicious murders, and suspects everywhere this one is super entertaining. Solid 4 stars from me!

I am a huge fan of Riley Sager, so whenever there is a new book coming out, I am right there waiting for it! This book was a departure from some of the more intense Sager novels and felt more like an edgy cozy mystery to me. But I still enjoyed it all the same. There was the historical aspect, which is always fun - solving a mystery in another time without cell phones and answers at your fingertips. I also love mysteries set on a train. This book was a delight to read. Loved the characters and found it to be engaging.

🚂WITH A VENGEANCE by Riley Sager🚂

📆PUB DATE: June 17
➡️Swipe for synopsis
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: Audiobook/ebook (thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook!)
Read if you like:
🔏Locked-room thrillers
🗝️Noir-style books
💔Revenge plots

With A Vengeance started out rocky for me; I initially DNF’d the e-book about 25% in because of a slow start and plot that didn’t necessarily appeal to me. I decided to try again with the audio version, and I’m so glad I did! After the characters and setting were established, the tension built up and the last third of the book was full of twists and turns. As for the characters, they were all extremely unlikeable. I know this was purposeful, but it made it hard to get invested in their outcomes.

While not my favorite Riley Sager, if you stick it out until the end of the book, you’ll be glad you did.

With A Vengeance is the new summer release by Riley Sager. This one is set on a train in the 1950s. It definitely reads like a locked room mystery, and I found the trapped-on-a-train setting to be enjoyable. You could feel the tension build as the passengers navigated through the train cars, not knowing whom they could trust. I liked that we got to know the backstory of each passenger and why they were personally selected to be on the train for this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Now to see who can survive to the end. Read and enjoy!

I loved this Agatha Christie inspired turn for Riley Sager. With a Vengeance is the perfect summer read.

Anna Matheson has to figure out who has caused her family so much heartbreak. She has a plan to exact revenge on the responsible party and decides to create a situation conducive to getting the suspects cooperation. Enter a locked room mystery reminiscent of all the greats, fast paced and compulsively readable, I was turning pages until the very end.

There’s no summer without a new Riley Sager book—and With a Vengeance did not disappoint! As a die-hard Agatha Christie fan, I was beyond excited for this one. A train journey, a locked-room mystery, and a long-buried secret? Count me in!

This book feels a little different from Sager’s previous work, yet still unmistakably his. The writing style is familiar, the pacing is tight, and each chapter builds suspense masterfully. And of course, there’s that signature twisty ending that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

Sager does a fantastic job channeling a Christie-esque mystery while making it feel fresh and relevant for today’s readers. It’s clever, atmospheric, and just plain fun. Perfect for a sunny day read—highly recommended!

I was so excited to receive an early copy of With a Vengeance. I have read all of Riley Sager's thrillers and unfortunately, this one just didn't deliver for me the way his past stories have. I had trouble keeping the characters straight and found the pacing to be a bit off. It had an Agatha Christie/Knives Out vibe and a fun premise, it just ultimately wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was not my favorite Riley Sager book. Overall, it was too slow paced for me and there was too much telling instead of showing for my liking. There were character POVs that I liked and the setting/premise were cool which is why I was still able to finish it.

Not the book I would recommend from the author but it still worth a read for you are looking for a quick read filled with criminal suspense.

This was so much fun, I read it in one sitting! I love locked room, race against the clock mysteries, and as a die-hard Agatha Christie fan, this was all the best vibes!

I was so happy to receive the arc of this! Thank you so much for sending it to me. I love Riley Sager so I was looking forward to this. However, this was kind of a dud for me. I am bummed that I didn’t like this. I think the setting is so cool in this. The claustrophobia of the train and the characters trying to work together to solve the murders kept me engaged. I also love Anna because she’s smart, strong and has an equal balance of coldness and caring. Her relationships with everyone is has a good through line and she reacts to everyone differently. However, I don’t think the split POV works for this book. It is surprising to me how much we don’t see given how many POVs we see. It doesn’t make a ton of sense. I think that the pacing of this suffers from the author not wanting to reveal his whole hand. I was surprised by some of the twists but most of the twists were predictable and I was just waiting for them to pop up. The killer being the person we have the least amount of information on is kind of a cop out. I want to know why his family fell apart after the crash. We hear about Anna and while that makes sense, I wished that the killer had given us more. Same with Sermaus because it would have given us more reason to think he the killer. You did get me with Tommy though. I thought for most of this book that he was alive and was waiting for him to pop up. The fact that it was Dante was a good twist. The biggest flop with this book is the pacing and how simple the story is overall. I do like the setting and the relationships between the characters. I would recommend this one but it is not my favorite of his books. Please note that my review for this will not be on Goodreads because they requested no spoilers. I may wait a bit to post one so people can read it. Thank you for the ARC!