Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for this ARC!

While I love some other works from Riley Sager, this one was very middle of the pack to me,

The premise was an interesting one for me, and as someone who grew up riding trains quite frequently, I was excited by the relatable setting. I also liked our main character, Anna. I found her to be plucky and determined, and not one to lie down when the going got tough. The pace, flashes to the past for context, and including other POV's provided a bit of an unreliable narrator aspect that I found myself enjoying.

However, I think after the first big plot twist- I knew where the story was going. There were a couple that tripped me up (the VERY end, iykyk), but as a whole I had an idea of what would happen next even if I didn't know who was going to do it. I also found the ending a bit off since Anna somewhat facilitated the opportunity for these crimes to have taken place?

Overall, I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. Sager's books are so easy to breeze through that even though this one wasn't my favorite, I'll most likely still pick up the next book he comes out with.

Let me just preface this by saying people are either going to love or hate this one, which tends to be the case for most of Riley’s books. But this one felt VERY different! It’s a true slow burn locked room mystery, unlike anything Riley has written before. Not to mention it’s set in 1940 and has a very historical feel. It reminded me so much of Murder on the Orient Express but with the cold wintery setting of the Polar Express!

While there were many characters to keep track of, my favorite part was getting to know each one and discovering their motive. What I wasn’t expecting was the romantic subplot. I personally didn’t mind it but I know some people may not enjoy that aspect. I love how Riley has recently been weaving more emotion in his stories!

I was surprised but thoroughly enjoyed the subtle spooky vibes he incorporated and the winter setting made it feel even more isolated! I do wish he had run with the paranormal element a bit more or just left it out completely since it did feel slightly out of place.

This wasn’t my favorite locked room style thriller I’ve ever read and it won’t be taking the top spot as my favorite Riley Sager. But overall, this was a fast paced mystery that kept me entertained the whole ride through!

Side note: content warning for self-harm.

Thank you to Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Anna has lured the people who have destroyed her family onto a train, seeking revenge. Her revenge comes in the form of planning to confront them and have them confess, which will end with her placing them into the authorities' hands. This plan seems sound, but then one the people is killed and she has to try and keep the people she's seeking vengeance against safe. I feel like Sager's work is very hit or miss for me and this one was mostly a miss. I found it boring too often, despite enjoying the train setting. The surprises weren't so surprising and the plot holes could fit a literal train through them.

Riley Sager is one of those authors that is extremely hit or miss authors for me and the last few releases have been erring a bit more on the miss side. With a Vengeance was a bit more middle of the road for me, it mostly kept my attention but definitely didn't wow me. I will absolutely still read more from him in the future, but I'm still waiting for a return to the Last Time I Lied esque books.

I really enjoyed this murder mystery with a bit of a historical fiction and thriller flare. A bit of a departure from Riley's normal books, but an enticing read that kept me turning the pages. The characters are fully formed and interesting, and there were plenty of plot twists and red herrings while staying true to the plot.

Firstly, thank you so much Netgalley and @duttonbooks for the ARC of Riley Sagers latest novel, With a Vengeance. I was so excited when I saw my request had been approved, and it didn’t disappoint.

With a Vengeance drew me in immediately, and the pacing throughout continued to keep me invested. I liked how the multiple POVs through the first few chapters introduced us to each person as they entered the train, and the trap that Anna had set upon them all.

I know that this premise may sound familiar to some, as I know that similar ideas have been put to paper before, but the way that Riley Sager spun this web and unravelled it was twisty and kept me guessing.

The last 100 pages felt more roller coaster than train ride, and ultimately led to a satisfying ending.
There was, admittedly, a small twist that I’d guessed, but honestly, there was so much going on and so many other surprises that it didn’t bother me in the slightest. It was so well done and addictive.

I’ll definitely be recommending this one!

Anna is out for revenge. When a master manipulator causes her to lose her entire family, all she can see is how she can make him and those that helped him suffer. She gets Semus, who also lost someone due to this mess, to help her devise a plan to load a train with all the people who played a part in wronging them and deliver them to the FBI in Chicago. Little does she know that others have a plan too and not everyone will make it to Chicago alive.

You never know what you will get with Sager. His books are all so different for each other. This one may be the most different…set further back in time, on a train, but still with the “who done it” vibe. I enjoyed the ride!

What a perfect homage to Agatha Christie's Murder On the Orient Express! It took that well known tale and did a modern twist that kept you at the edge of your seat. The slow unraveling of the characters was done so well!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dutton, and Riley Sager for the digital ARC of With a Vengeance. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️.75

I love a good locked-room mystery. I love the suspense, the limited suspect pool, the twists I know are coming. I still remember the first time I read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (and the second time, years later, when I’d forgotten the culprit). I find that Christie’s work is what I compare nearly all locked-room mysteries to now. Unfortunately, Sager’s newest novel fell a bit flat for me.

I think part of my problem was that it took 30% or more of the book for me to really get invested. Even then, I sometimes found fault with characterization and motivation. I really loved Sager’s earlier thrillers and have struggled with his most recent ones. I just didn’t care? about Anna and her issues and the victims on the train. I don’t think the novel was atmospheric enough to engross me and make me feel the suspense. I only gave it 2.75 stars because I don’t totally feel like it’s one I’d recommend (3 stars for me I’d still typically recommend). I will say that, while disappointed, there were still a few red herrings I fell for, so I’ll give the story that!

Anna Matheson is on a quest for revenge. Years before, she lost her entire family because of the actions of 6 people in particular. For one night, Anna, an accomplice, and those 6 will be trapped on an overnight train ride with no stops and no chance of escape. However, Anna wants justice in the form of them paying for their crimes with the FBI. But someone else has their own form of revenge when people on board start to be picked off one by one.
This definitely had some mystery and suspense to it but overall, the story felt very lackluster compared to some of Sager’s past work. The ending especially felt flat compared to some events earlier in the novel. Not my favorite from Sager, unfortunately.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed it. A strong four stars.

"With a Vengeance" by Riley Sager is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller with masterful twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. Sager’s sharp storytelling and intense suspense make this a five-star must-read for any thriller fan. Thanks Net Galley!

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, you’ll love this book. It’s got the suspense, the twists, the double-crosses and the trains!

Not at all a horror. I just need to say that. A solid mystery with some fun surprises. I admired Anna and her revenge plot. Spoilers ahead. The length of the train ride was the downfall of her plan. These people did a despicable thing and deserved to rot in prison. This is not the typical book I expect from Sager but if you like mysteries it’s worth reading. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

A train mystery based around revenge and unextremely unlikeable and rather flat characters. Slow paced, non-stop repeating dialogue and extremely predictable.

A non stop train to Chicago with vengeance in mind. What could go wrong?!

I was amazed how many twists and turns happened in this book. It was a wonderful read and hinted to past murder mystery books by the likes of Agatha Christie.

Riley Saga’s writing created a wonderful setting and the characters were all mysterious in their own ways. Add to that a feisty lead character and you have an epic journey.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

“Revenge is fleeting. Vengeance lasts a lifetime.” I am always excited for a new Riley Sager release, and With a Vengeance did not disappoint! This classic whodunit mystery follows Anna on a twisty plot to get back at the people who destroyed her family. Over the course of a thirteen-hour train ride, a body turns up, and the passengers realize that no one is safe.

It was so easy to root for Anna throughout the story—after all that heartbreak, we were cheering for her to find just a little retribution! The train setting was also serving main character energy, giving the locked room trope the perfect atmospheric backdrop. I was hooked! Perfect for fans of true whodunit mysteries and “Clue”-style detective work.

4.5* Can’t wait to recommend this to our library’s mystery readers!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Books for providing an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is June 10, 2025.

I’ll admit that this newest thriller by Riley Safer didn’t really live up to my expectations, but it wasn’t the worst thriller I’ve ever read. It was a play on the theme of a group getting killed off one by one, and in this story it takes place all in one night on a train traveling from Philadelphia to Chicago. With Sager I’ve learned to expect a major plot twist that is totally unpredictable, but it never really happened in this one. Everything felt very “yeah I saw this coming.” I did really enjoy the main character toying with the idea of losing humanity and what it really means to find peace whether through vengeance or justice. The story felt stagnant at times as the characters rushed back and forth on this train trying to figure out who was committing all these killings, but I did like the premise of the express ride with no stopping. This wasn’t my favorite of Sager’s novels, but it isn’t last on my list either.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Del Ray for an ARC of this title.

Eight people locked on a moving train. All of them connected, but it’s every man or woman for themselves. If you are a fan of a taut, twisty, turny thriller, Riley Sager’s With a Vengeance is just the ticket. This suspenseful tale will keep you guessing until the very end.
As to be expected from Riley Sager, this is a book that will keep you up far too late into the night because you simply can’t put it down. Just when you think you have it figured out, Sager throws in a twist that puts your theory right back to square one.
The atmosphere is perfect for this tale, making a train feel both claustrophobic and large enough to be creepy all at the same time. The characters are all intriguing and easy to become invested in, making you care about how things play out for them…and wondering what their true plans and motives may turn out to be.
Like the Philadelphia Phoenix train, barreling toward its final destination, With a Vengeance had me speeding to the end to find out what happens. I always look forward to Riley Sager’s books and this one does not diminish that excitement at all.

Yet another twisty mystery from Sager! This kept me guessing until the last page!

Riley Sager never fails me!!! I would read his grocery lists at this point :)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!