Treze Horas para Chicago

by Riley Sager

UM COMBOIO SEM PARAGENS.
UM JOGO MORTAL DE SOBREVIVÊNCIA E VINGANÇA.
Em 1942, seis pessoas destruíram a família de Anna Matheson. Doze anos depois, chegou a hora da sua vingança.
Sob falsos pretextos, Anna reúne todos os responsáveis pela ruína da sua família num comboio de luxo que parte de Filadélfia com destino a Chicago, numa viagem nocturna de treze horas.
O seu plano é confrontar cada um, conseguir as suas confissões e entregá-los às autoridades que a aguardam no final do trajecto.
Este acerto de contas, meticulosamente calculado, descarrila quando um dos passageiros é assassinado. À medida que o comboio avança pela escuridão, fica claro que alguém a bordo está a executar a sua própria vingança… e não vai parar até que todos os tripulantes estejam mortos.
O tempo esgota-se rapidamente e Anna vê-se obrigada a investigar quem é o assassino antes que faça novas vítimas, e para isso terá de proteger precisamente aqueles que mais quer ver destruídos. Salvar os seus inimigos é a única forma de os derrotar… ainda que isso signifique arriscar a sua própria vida.
Treze Horas para Chicago é mais recente thriller do autor bestseller Riley
uma leitura compulsiva repleta de reviravoltas que o vão deixar sem fôlego!

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Adult

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2025

About the author

Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, most recently THE ONLY ONE LEFT and THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE. His first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and has been published in more than thirty-five countries. His latest novel, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, will be published in June.

A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins."

Reviews

[shanayaa · Rating 1 out of 5]

i legit wanted to burn all the characters alive 😭

[Sydney Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Dutton for sending me a free finished copy.

2.5* rounded up. Womp womp. Super disappointed and it makes me SO SAD. I thought the premise sounded interesting but unfortunately I was paaaainfully bored for pretty much 90% of this?? The last 10% or so *finally* got a bit exciting but even then, I just didn’t even care that much anymore. Characters felt really flat and the plot (which has been done a millllion times) didn’t do anything new or exciting to me.

[ELLIAS (elliasreads)]

sigh....adds to TBR.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, let me start with this: I’m a reasonable person… but I am also the unapologetic queen of holding grudges, and right now I am sticking my metaphorical tongue out at Sager’s publisher for yet again rejecting my ARC request. Like, really? After everything we’ve been through? I swear I’m not a scary reviewer — just an honest one who’s deeply passionate about twisty, moody, genre-bending thrillers. I even wrote you a song called “Why You Hate Me” (still unreleased, but emotionally raw)!

Anyway, I digress… I’ll nurse my wounds with dramatic flair and move on because, to my own surprise and joy, this book turned out to be one of my favorite Riley Sager novels ever.

Yes, it’s polarizing. Yes, the reviews are mixed. But if you’re anything like me — obsessed with classic noir films, Hitchcockian suspense, locked-room mysteries, revenge thrillers, and trains as metaphorical pressure cookers — then buckle up, because this is the ride you didn’t know you needed.

That said, despite my playful feud with the ARC gods, I still managed to get my hands on this book — and OH. MY. WORD. I devoured it in a single day and can confidently say: Sager is back and bolder than ever. This is hands down one of his most stylish, tightly wound thrillers, and it’s clear he poured his love of noir films, Hitchcockian suspense, and vintage whodunnits into every page.

📽️ As a die-hard fan of black-and-white cinema, I couldn’t help myself. Mid-read, I took a detour and rewatched Strangers on a Train, The Lady Vanishes, and Murder on the Orient Express (yes, the Albert Finney version!) — and it only deepened my appreciation for the moody, cinematic ride this book delivers. It’s a train-bound mystery, a revenge tale, and a ticking-clock thriller, all wrapped into one gorgeously plotted historical package.

🕵️‍♀️ The story:
Set in 1942, the novel follows Anna Matheson — a woman with nothing left to lose. After her family dies in a suspicious train crash, she boards a luxury overnight train from Philadelphia to Chicago with a mission: take revenge on the six people responsible. She’s not alone — Seamus, who also lost someone in the crash, is helping her carry out a carefully orchestrated plan. But as the journey unfolds, unexpected twists arise: the mastermind behind the sabotage is replaced by his son, Dante — Anna’s former love. And someone else is onboard with a deadly agenda, killing the targets before Anna can reach them.

The tension rises by the hour. Everyone has secrets. Someone may be hiding in plain sight. And Anna must outsmart them all before her plan goes up in smoke.

🚂 My thoughts:
This was such a smart, sharp-edged story. The locked-room (or locked-train!) setup, the revenge theme, the romantic tension, the danger lurking behind every velvet curtain — it kept me breathless. Sager’s signature pacing is on full display here, but this time with a classic noir flair that makes the reading experience feel like an old movie marathon.

Is it a little dramatic at times? Absolutely. The final act is basically a vintage-flavored Mission: Impossible chase scene, and Anna’s crime-solving skills stretch realism a bit — but I was too invested to care. The character dynamics are compelling, the dialogue crackles, and the reveals come like clockwork, each one landing harder than the last.

I especially loved that Anna never fell into the "damsel" trope. She’s sharp, layered, and relentless — a woman driven by grief but guided by intelligence. The emotional stakes are sky-high, and I appreciated that Sager gave weight to her pain without ever slowing the momentum of the plot.

🖤 Bottom line:
This is a smart, stylish, addictive thriller that feels like Sager’s loving homage to classic Hollywood suspense — think Hitchcock meets Agatha Christie on a 14-hour express train. It’s bold, propulsive, and full of twists. I genuinely loved it and couldn’t put it down.

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[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

While this is my lowest rated Riley Sager novel to date, I did still find it quite entertaining. I can't lie about that. With a Vengeance takes us on a cross-country train journey with a handful of questionable characters.

The full set of individuals was lured onto the trip by a young woman named Anna, who is hoping over the course of the journey from Philadelphia to Chicago, she can get them all to confess their crimes, and the ways they've wronged her.



Anna finds out that even the simplest plans can go awry though, when one of the passengers is killed. There's no stopping now, they're on a non-stop express to Chicago, trapped with a killer.

What progresses from there is a fairly classic Locked Room Murder Mystery, with a few twists, as well as many revelations involving the various characters.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and did enjoy it in that format. I felt like it kept it moving and helped it to play out in my mind like a movie.



I find this with all of Sager's writing. The delivery always makes it easy for me to picture everything that's happening. I also feel like his writing has a touch of a film noir quality to it that I adore.

For this one in particular, I think maybe because of the time period, I couldn't help but think of Hitchcock, and it perhaps being shown in black and white. The way the characters interacted and their dramatic motivations gave it an air of a classic film.



Overall, this might not be a new favorite for me, but I still had a fun time reading it, and as always, I look forward to whatever Sager is going to grace us with next!!

Earlier:

Denied again for an ARC. Riley, your people hate me.



It makes me so sad. I received the first six of his books early, I believe, but the last two, no way. I used to love getting them early and screaming how much I love them from the rooftops. Sadly, those days are gone.

Problems of a bookworm...

Original:

❤️🖤💙❤️🖤💙❤️🖤💙❤️

Pack your bags. Sager's taking us on a train journey!

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for providing this arc!!

it seems my streak of 4 star books continues because i really liked this one!! read it in one sitting in just over 3 hours, this was so so addictive to read. i have loved a lot of riley sager's books in the past, and i loved the direction we took with this one (it was very much giving agatha cristie-esque murder mystery). it was super atmospheric which was one of the things i really enjoyed about it, the snowy setting paired with the inescapable train journey was so fun. i also loved how this felt like a race against the clock - definitely made me read this all the more quickly. would highly recommend and im excited to see if riley sager ends up doing any more stories in a similar vein!

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s 1954…twelve years after SIX people destroyed Anne Matheson’s life and she finally has the proof that she needs to exact her REVENGE.

So, under false pretenses, Anna has lured them onto a luxury train once owned by her family for a 14 hour overnight journey from Philadelphia to Chicago.

The front of the invitation reads: “Your Presence is requested at a cocktail reception in the first class lounge at 8 P.M.-Please be on time”. The back of each invitation has a more personal note-one written to make sure that each guest realizes that it is in their own best interest to accept, even though the recipients have no idea who the invitation is from.

Her goal is to confront those responsible for the deaths of father, mother and brother and to convince them to confess their crimes. She has already provided the FBI with the evidence and they will be waiting at the end of the line-her Dad’s name cleared-Justice served.

But, someone on board would rather kill off those who know the truth, rather than let that happen…

The story becomes a “LOCKED ROOM” mystery which unfolds HOUR BY HOUR as the nonstop train races towards its destination…

Trains are definitely having their moment as the backdrop of many recent books, and as I began this story, I could hear the mournful wail of one, blasting its warning horn, several miles from where I sat, setting the tone for this one perfectly.

I was hoping that the average rating on Goodreads of 3.55 ⭐️ as of this writing reflected the fact that this book is VERY different from the twisty thrillers usually published by this author, and that his fans were just disappointed with the change of style.

The setup was fun, and I loved the nostalgic feel as I began but unfortunately, my personal experience was the same as many early readers-not because of style change-but because so many locked room mysteries become way too OTT as the body count rises. This one was no exception, guilty of stretching plausibility too far for my taste.

A buddy read with MaryBeth, who loves things twisty. Be sure to watch for her review to see if she enjoyed this one more than I did.

Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for providing both the Audible and written copies on Publication day, allowing me to enjoy an Immersive reading experience.

[emilybookedup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sager is so back!!!! 🚂🖤🔪 WITH A VENGEANCE is his best release in 3 years—and this will be such a fun summer binge!

Sager’s recent releases have been a bit subpar for my thriller taste and i’ve been missing his earlier work like FINAL GIRLS or HOME BEFORE DARK where he went there. but he finally is back in that space with this new release!!! WITH A VENGEANCE has tons of action (some of it is even a little gruesome).

if you were upset by his slow burn mysteries in his last 2-3 books, you’ll be pleased with how fast moving and action-packed this thriller is! it’s also such a creative revenge plot—6 people are lured into a 14-hour train ride that turns deadly 👀 there are MULTIPLE twists and suspicious murders and all the action made this so entertaining. Sager makes you suspect everyone and it makes for such a good mystery filled with tension and drama! 

WITH A VENGANCE is all about revenge. Anna’s life was destroyed by six people and she’s determined to get justice. she lures them on a 14-hour train ride—where they are the only passangers—to send them to Chicago’s FBI team where the evidence lies. but when one of them is murdered, her entire plan is at risk 👀

i just thought this was so fun! it’s going to be a perfect summer thriller binge by the pool and i think readers will really like the murder mystery and the revenge plot. i really liked Anna and learning all the characters’ involvement in what happened. plus it was atmospheric—having all the characters locked in a train made for a really intense, anxiety-inducing race to the finish line.

similar to Lisa Jewell’s new release, the ending of this was a little too wrapped up for my thriller taste. i am desperately missing the shocking endings thrillers had 4-5 years ago!!

👇🏼 for reference, here are my top 3 faves of his
1️⃣ FINAL GIRLS
2️⃣ THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE
3️⃣ HOME BEFORE DARK

[Jan Agaton · Rating 1 out of 5]

sir please take that writing break, we all beg you

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 entirely 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 managed to show and not tell who each of these personas were at their core only amplified his undeniable skill. 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. All told, 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.

SYNOPSIS:

In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.

Under false pretenses, Anna has lured those responsible for her family’s downfall onto a luxury train from Philadelphia to Chicago, an overnight journey of thirteen hours. Her goal? Confront the people who’ve wronged her, get them to confess their crimes, and deliver them into the hands of authorities waiting at the end of the line. Justice will at last be served.

But Anna’s plan is quickly derailed by the murder of one of the passengers. As the train barrels through the night, it becomes clear that someone else on board is enacting their own form of revenge—and that they won’t stop until everyone else is dead.

With time running out before the train reaches its destination, Anna is forced to hunt the killer in their midst while protecting the people she hates the most. In order to destroy her enemies, she must first save them—even though it means putting her own life at risk.

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

PUB DATE: June 10, 2025

Content warning: blackmail, poisoning, murder, knife violence, suicide, mention of: gun violence

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* Riley Sager has created another whodunit with multiple twists and suspects. Aboard the Phoenix train, traveling from Philadelphia to Chicago, are six suspects and Anna. She has lured them aboard with invitations, but little do they know she will deliver them to authorities at the end of the journey for the downfall of her family. In 1942, Anna's family was destroyed and twelve years later she sought justice. Nothing goes as planned. One of the passengers is murdered because someone else must be seeking revenge. As Anna hunts for the killer, she must protect the ones she despises for her justice. It becomes complicated and there isn't anywhere to go or without knowing who is the killer, she suspects them all.
"One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge."
Quite entertaining and mysterious. I love Riley Sager. I'm not a fan of train books, but he set it up well. It is fast paced, which is a plus.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ghoul Von Horror · Rating 1 out of 5]

[TW/CW: smoking, drinking, toxic family relationships, abuse, death of family, language, cheating, death by suicide, grieving, blood, violence ]

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.

Under false pretenses, Anna has lured those responsible for her family’s downfall onto a luxury train from Philadelphia to Chicago, an overnight journey of thirteen hours. Her goal? Confront the people who’ve wronged her, get them to confess their crimes, and deliver them into the hands of authorities waiting at the end of the line. Justice will at last be served.

But Anna’s plan is quickly derailed by the murder of one of the passengers. As the train barrels through the night, it becomes clear that someone else on board is enacting their own form of revenge—and that they won’t stop until everyone else is dead.

With time running out before the train reaches its destination, Anna is forced to hunt the killer in their midst while protecting the people she hates the most. In order to destroy her enemies, she must first save them—even though it means putting her own life at risk.
Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 400
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Riley Sager has great covers
2. Train mystery

What I Didn't Like:
1. So many plot holes
2. Unrealistic scenarios
3. Unrealistic characters
4. Very slow and boring
5. Addressing everyone by their full names the whole way through the book
6. Way too long for how slow this book is - could have been 100 pages shorter
7. That ending

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

The premise reminds me of the movie Clue, which is a phenomenal movie (based off the board game) from the 80s starring the amazing Tim Curry.

The whole idea of Aunt Retta slapping Anna into submission made me laugh because Retta was rich at 18. What would she know about being weak?

I just keep thinking where is this going? The problem with putting these people on a train with the shoestring plot is that it feels kind of boring and pointless. I'm with Dante it's a waste of time when the police would have gotten the people anyways and this could have been wrapped up in an hour train ride. I'm on page 100 and I keep thinking this is going to keep getting more and more stale. What more can they talk about??

It doesn't make sense that the conductor wouldn't stop when more money is offered to him. They're at the door right now offering him so much money but because she said that they would say that he won't stop. But why? If he's doing this all for money why wouldn't he want more money? He's already got her money and he could get more. I can't see no reason why he wouldn't stop. Does he have some allegiance to her? Is it some mystery guest? It just doesn't make sense if a dude does something for money he's going to do other stuff for more money. She says that the conductor wants Justice maybe for all the other ones that died and people on the train. Okay yeah okay.

So ridiculous Dante comes up to the door and Anna is freaking out that the conductor is going to listen to him. But she told the conductor to not listen to his dad because he was a part of it but why would he listen to the son? I don't get it. Plus doesn't this guy need a job he can just afford to throw away his job by not listening to the owner of the train? Other than being paid double what she paid the people on the train would that even be enough to throw away a job?

Just think it takes way too long to get to the conclusion that the poison was in the drink and who made the drink. They do this whole back and forth trying to decide who would be out to get the other and finally make it back to Dante aka the person who made the drink.

At this point I think Judd just killed himself. Or or or he's faking his death. Seamus didn't even check his pulse correctly.

People i suspect of Judd's death
• Judd
• Seamus
• Edith
• Dante
They're the only ones that weren't around Lapsford so during the distraction they could have faked a murder.

God, Anna says she can't see a reason for why someone who was paid to be on the train would put poison in the cup but for countless pages she's mentioned over and over that lots of people were affected by the actions of these people, so yeah there is many reasons why they would want to kill one if them. Why is this contradicting itself?

I don't know I feel like Reggie is a part of Anna's plan. That she kept him secret from the other dude

Reggie is working for someone because he says bosses orders when thinking about the bed. I still wonder if he's with Anna.

I do not care about the romance between Anna and Dante. Why does every thriller have to have some stupid cheesy cringey romance?

Would it be a Riley Sager book if we didn't have a ghost of someone's long dead family? Of course Anna sees the profile of her brother what else would be there? Pretty predictable.

I wish that the author would stop writing everyone's full name out. Is he getting paid by word count? This is getting ridiculous we already know the character's names we do not need their whole name every 2 seconds.

Edith has been bumped off in this whole time I keep thinking it must be Dante because all Riley Sager characters that murder someone are always the love interest to someone else.

So Davis is a agent. Like what? Where are we going with this? I feel I'm listening to my grandpa ramble on and on about things that don't matter.

After finding out who Reggie was it seems like such a lame reason for him to even be on the train. His whole job is to make sure they don't get off the train because the detectives in Chicago will want to go through the boxes for evidence. But then his boss tells him to not interfere and just observe but how would he do that and keep people on the train? Such a contradiction.

Please stop using full names......

Luckily Seamus just with luck taught Anna how to fight on the off chance that she would have to fight these people on the train, but good old Aunt Retta beat him to the punch (pun intended). Fate has Herb also luckily taking her hostage we get to witness this. Ridiculous.

Anna keeps saying there is no way to get off the train but there is. Dante can tell the conductor to pull into the next stop. She for whatever reason is choosing to let people die.

No matter what happens you'll hear over and over and over that Anna's brother and father were killed. It's so repetitive I want to scream!

Dante "reveals" that his dad the mad train tycoon did all of this because of his love of Anna's mom. Seriously??? That's what we are going with for this story?? He went with this insane plan because he wanted revenge for her breaking up with him. Dante also says he sent Retta the evidence his father had because he was mad that his father was this evil but I'm not buying it.

The fact that there is a killer on the loose and no one knows who the killer is but everyone opening the doors to let anyone in when they knock is stupid.

It has been refreshing to get some queer rep in books from the author even if it's just secondary characters

I swear to God was Kenneth Wentworth like a psychic but he just knew everyone's secret and how he was able to find out everyone's secret is insane. Sally is a lesbian and hooks up with a woman who looks like Rita Hayworth but when the lady calls her at work Sally goes to go meet her and there is Kenneth Wentworth somehow knowing that she's a lesbian and that she was going to sleep with this woman and he was going to be able to blackmail her with this information. It's just absurd. The most far-fetched scenarios to get these people on board.

How is this going to work if Sally had said let's go to her apartment instead of the hotel? Originally that Rita person asked let's go to your place and Sally was the one who suggested going to the hotel. Of course there's a person hidden in the closet taking photos of them.... No flash and no sounds.... Okay....

Wait wait so Herbs killer left through the window on a speeding train in the middle of winter and climbed up to the roof of the train through a 3 foot window. And would survive too.

Seamus has to be the one behind some of this because if he didn't care about these people being murdered and her killing them he would have hid that pin. But now he's the one that magically finds it and he's telling people about it. It doesn't make sense other than he wants her to be the one blamed for everything. She had an altercation with Herb so anything could have happened and that instant. It could have stuck to him and they didn't notice and he brought it back to his room or it could have even been on his shoe.

Soooooo Judd isn't dead (hello Saw and what thought) and faked his death so he could kill people. I also don't understand why they moved him at all since the police would have wanted to investigate. Is Judd's whole plan count on them moving him? What if they left him there and continued walking around him? So many questions.... It's okay it's a Riley Sager book and we still got 10000000 twists left for zero reasons.

What is this red flaked foam about that Judd was able to put on his mouth to make it look like he was poisoned? Never explained or anything. That's cool we're only reading a book here so why explain things...

Ahhhhhh they have 4 hours left to go till they are in Chicago BUTTTTTT decide they should split up at the last moment to look for Judd. Why? They say they can't wait here til then but again why? It doesn't make any sense to split up and look for him when you could stay together. Plus as mentioned Judd knows this train better than anyone else so he has the element of surprise on his side. This whole scene reminds me so much of Clue the movie where they suggest splitting up into pairs.

The red foam is explained. Stupid. How was he able to do all this? There was still people on the train when he got on. No one said anything about him going into the kitchen and doing all of this? Remember how she said she hired people to be on the train so it would look like a real train none of these people thought it was weird dude was just going into the kitchen? I guess I just don't understand why he would still have it in his mouth when it's been 6 hours since this happened.

Why move Judd to his room again? What's the point?

Omg I get Anna wants answers but it's honestly annoying how she makes everything about her dead family. She's holding a pill in front of Lapsford mouth and trying to get him to confess his guilt while he's almost dying - not a good way to convince others you're not so resentful that you're killing them.

I'm on page 332 and in the middle of this we're talking about Seamus' hands shaking and his medical history, but why? There have been three murders on this train and we're 80% into this book but we're going to stop and talk about this dude's medical history. We're not going to talk about somehow how Reggie got stabbed but Jude was already dead? We're not going to try and figure out who the other murderer was we're just going to stop and talk about why he has the shakes. 5 pages of this.

Anna has accused every single person on this train. It's so repetitive.

I seriously keep hoping that the way the killer is getting around isn't by climbing on the top of a train. Because there's no way that would work. How could a killer climb on top of this slick train in the snow during a blizzard slide back through windows and show up not disheveled, or cold, or their clothes wet.

Omg Seamus is the murderer and I am just shocked completely shocked AKA not at all. How would you not know it's him? It seems really obvious. Plus doesn't make sense how would she not find out it's him when Dante's tied up and Lapsford had a massive panic attack. He painted himself into a corner.

Dante would have to be the one working with him. It can't be Judd because Seamus was the one with the motive. Then when Sal was shot Seamus was with Anna and Judd was already dead.

So there are two killers they just aren't working together. Seamus killed Judd when he found him. Guess Seamus didn't ask Judd why he killed those other people - odd but okay. So he assumed he murdered Sal and Herb. Is the murderer Dante or Reggie? He's been gone for so long. Oh and Seamus jumped off the train since he was dying anyways and Anna wouldn't lie about who did it, but then he hands he a gun and tells her to finish it. Why would she do that if she wouldn't even lie to protect him? Seems like a reason for the author to hand her a gun when it goes against everything she stands for.

Sigh. Well there it is again. Riley Sager king of 8 billion terrible twist endings strikes again. Sally when we thought was dead has opened her eyes. Oh but it gets better Anna somehow magically figures out that it was Reggie that's the killer and hides in Lapsford room and catches him. Of course of course of course his dad was killed by these people. Such a coincidence that he was put on this train.

Jude agreeing to murder people and frame Anna doesn't change that he would still go to prison for the crimes he did. Plus for the love of me I cannot understand why Reggie who so mad at these people would agree to work with one of them even if it meant killing them at the end. I do love how it's not explained how Reggie came upon that it was this group of people that were a part of his father's death. It's just skimmed over.

This book is ridiculous I mean what are the chances of finding two men seeking revenge and plotting the same thing on a train and then asking Anna the same thing - to not tell.

Oh my God so Sally's really alive she magically was used to use nail polish and lipstick to pretend like she was shot in the head. Weird. And Anna was working to save their lives so they weren't killed even though she hates these people for murdering her family she somehow cares enough to save them from being murdered so they can maybe go to prison. What?

Honestly it's my fault I thought we were going to go a logical way for the murders but I forgot Riley Sager just throws darts at a board with random ideas that make no sense and lack any sense of purpose.

For some reason Anna's logic is that she should get on the roof of the train also to follow Reggie because this way she can know where he's at instead of him surprising her by coming through the window. I am not a genius but I would probably find something I could put in front of the window or maybe just block out the light so he couldn't see and then just hold my ground in one room, rather than go on to an icy roof of a train doing 80 miles an hour and a blizzard.

Somehow and is able to say Reggie outside on a speeding train and he hears her.

She's also has the decision to shoot Reggie at the top of the train but decides not to because she wants to see him punished in the way the others should have been punished. You do not have the capability of detaining this man and bringing him into the train so I really don't know what her plan is at this point. Either way I'm pretty sure Reggie's going off that train one way or another.

Not once does Reggie even threaten that he would turn Anna in when she's the one who has motive and gathered these people on a train. He could have just said that she lost it and started killing everyone. He's a cop in the 40s and she's a woman I'm pretty sure he could get away with it.

Hey another plot twist when she finally goes to the engineer to open up the door guess who's there?? Kenneth Wentworth..

He fired the engineer who the hell is driving the train? Is this guy an engineer? Did I miss something that he can drive trains to? Why though? This could be the dumbest twist I think I've ever read in a book. He took the train because he was curious where she was taking it even though he knew it was going to Chicago. Oh this just works out for the plot well because he's going to be arrested. I mean it makes no sense at all in a reading way but I guess the author wants to wrap everything up so perfectly in this weird gifted way.



Anna's brother Tommy was really Kenneth's son...



Kenneth also had Anna's father Arthur killed in prison...

I just don't understand how Reggie wouldn't be able to frame her. When the police come on to the train she's holding a gun to Ken's back and Reggie has a shot out of his leg. This does not make her innocent. Plus he confesses to them that he did the killings. It doesn't make sense he was ready to kill Anna to protect himself before and now he's confessing like he doesn't care.

And just like that it ends with them offering her a job. I guess that makes sense in this weird world.


Final Thoughts:
This book is the most basic story that has been told 100 times. There is no mystery. I was never shocked when people presented themselves for who they were. The book just slowly continues on and on. You think it's going to go somewhere but it's so slow and so boring. Everyone sitting around talking about their lives and boring stuff. Where's the suspense or mystery? All I read was people talking about the sane stuff.

This is a whodunit but I don't care who did it story.

This book is guilty of the thing that drives me crazy that authors do. They have a character and they're working with someone but they act like they don't know what's going on even though we get an internal monologue to what they're thinking, but for some reason they never think about what's going on when it deals with showing us what's happening. I hate it and annoys me because a normal person would think about that constantly.

For me whenever I read a Riley Sager book I always feel like I've seen the movie but can't remember the name of the movie. I am 100% certain that he is writing his books based off obscure older movies that younger Generations don't know.

Why does he have to always do those twist endings that add nothing to the book? Ah.

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**Original review - A female protagonist... Welcome back Riley Sager. Now we just need a hot handyman and it'll all feel like home.**

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a Vengeance is Riley Sager channeling Agatha Christie! It's set on a train, that has no stops, limited riders, and a character with revenge on the mind! I loved the trapped feeling that Sager created in this book. Once the riders boarded and the train departed from the station, there was no way off the train!!! Plus, this book had a very nostalgic feel as it is set around 1954, a time where riders got dressed up to ride!

Anna Matheson’s family was destroyed in every way imaginable in 1942 with the help of six people. Fourteen years later, she has invited the six people she holds responsible to take a train from Philadelphia to Chicago. They have no idea who has invited them to ride the train, but all have been lured by her handwritten messages on the back of the invitations! As the train makes its way toward Chicago, a passenger is dead! Anna is not responsible. All she wanted was confessions from all of them, but someone on board is a killer!!!!!

The search is soon on to catch a killer before anyone else turns up dead! But whodunit? Who is the killer and who will be next?????? The book soon becomes a cat-and-mouse game where anyone could be the killer. All the passengers have something to hide, all are suspects, and nowhere on board is safe!

I enjoyed the vibe of this book. It does have a very old movie feel to it. I could see this playing out in my mind. As I mentioned, all the characters have secrets and have done something which brought about the downfall of Anna's family. I also enjoyed how Riley Sager showed how Anna's guest for revenge and retribution affected her life. How it was so consuming it was all she had to hold onto. I found this to be very well done.

I enjoyed the atmosphere, the train setting, the cast of characters, the nostalgic feel, the tension, shocking twists, and the mystery in this book.

3.5 stars rounded up

*My book from NetGalley did have some issues with symbols being used for letters on almost every page which made reading this book a little frustrating at times.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Teres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine a game of Clue played on the Orient Express.🕵️‍♀️

Meh.

Running out of ideas, Riley?

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Dutton for an early copy in exchange for my honest feedback…

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.

Now you’re probably wondering, why didn’t you DNF? Simply because it was an ARC from NetGalley and I take great pride in my high feedback ratio. I’ve also read all of Sager’s books and want to continue on doing that because I’ve really enjoyed the majority of his books.

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.

Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2mpTw62/

[JanB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Mathison lures the six people responsible for her family’s deaths onto an overnight train journey from Philadelphia to Chicago. Once aboard they discover they are the only passengers.

Anne’s motive is the satisfaction of revenge. She wants to make them squirm, confess their crimes, then anxiously await their fate. The FBI, who has all the evidence they need to make arrests, will be waiting at the train station in Chicago.

But someone on the train has other ideas and the bodies begin piling up.

I expect a campy thriller as an homage to the genre when I read this author. I expect OTT fun. But that’s not what this is. Although I applaud an author who tries something a bit different, I wish I’d enjoyed it more.

I loved the 1954 era, as well as the setting aboard a luxury train as a snowstorm raged outside. I also loved the homage to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.

There are the trademark OTT twists expected from the author and I’m not sure why I couldn’t overlook them and enjoy the story more. The characters, the motivations, and the execution of the plot just didn’t capture my imagination.

A buddy read with Marialyce, it was a quick, fast-paced read but not one of our favorites.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Riley Sager book save me…save me new Riley Sager book…

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

DON’T MESS WITH A WOMAN SCORNED

Anna Matheson is on a mission to get revenge on the six people who twelve years ago ruined her families’ lives. She manages to lure them on a luxury train that will take them 14 hours to reach their destination. In those 14 hours she plans to confront the six and make them confess to their crimes. Unfortunately, Anna’s plans are about to get derailed as one of the six gets murdered and its clear there is someone else on board with their own intention on how the journey is going to pan out. Can Anna catch the culprit before they all get killed off one by one?

Well damn Mr. Sager. It looks like you have redeemed yourself with this new release. I haven’t read a locked room murder mystery in a hot minute, and I must say this book was quite enjoyable. We have a bunch of unlikeable characters, all with a motive to want to kill and it was an interesting time going on this twisty ride.

The pacing of the book was extremely slow at times, and they were chapters of information that could have been edited out as it dragged out the story and took away from the thrilling suspense.
For me it was predictable in most parts, and the ending was very convoluted and over the top but compared to his previous release this was more entertaining.

⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Locked Room Vibes
➽ Entertaining twist and turns

⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ All the characters
➽ Dragged in most parts
➽ Quite predictable
➽ OTT ending

Mr. Sager has somewhat redeemed himself with this Agatha Christie esque novel, so I might just put him back on my author to read list.




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
FFS! I said I was done with this author!
But that BLURB!!!!!!!!!!!
Plus I am sucker for Historical Fiction Thrillers
Pleaseeeeee let this deliver! 💙💙

[Ricarda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was ready to be decently entertained or immensely disappointed because you never know with Riley Sager, and well ... this turned out to be another disappointment. Didn't he say he wanted to take a break from writing? That was like 2 years and 2 mediocre books ago, so maybe he really should have done so. At least this book had a good premise: Anna Matheson gathers six people on a train to take revenge after they wronged her family in the past. She wants them to suffer for the rest of their lives and plans to put them in jail, but someone starts murdering them on the nonstop 13-hour train ride. But what sounds like a fast-paced, thrilling story turned out to be a dragging mess full of uninteresting characters, nonsensical plot twists and misleading cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter. It's hardly an uneventful book, but nothing caught my attention. The way all the characters were introduced at the beginning, one chapter after another, almost put me to sleep. Character work is not a strength of Riley Sager, so a multiple POV book is a weird choice for him in my opinion. Everyone played a role in a train accident and in the death of Anna's family, and all of that is revealed fairly early on. A big part of the book then is about revealing the reasons for the characters' former actions, and I don't know, but can we not focus on the literal murders that are occurring present day? But no one here tried to find the murderer. A death would occur, the other characters would find the body and the murder weapon, then discuss the method of murder and then throw around wild accusations. And repeat. There were no clever hints to the murderer, because everyone was accused by everyone at some point. Honestly, I didn't even care anymore when the truth was revealed eventually. All in all, a repetitive and unthrilling thriller that makes nothing of its cool premise.

One last thing that I don't want to leave unmentioned: one of the invited characters is Edith Gerhardt. Her whole personality is about her being an old German lady. But that apparently doesn't mean that she can actually speak German. Like, der Spinne (the spider)? Come on! If you look up the German translation for a word anyway why wouldn't you look up the correct article for said word? And don't get me started on the way Edith called Anna Schatzi. I don't know anyone who would use this term in a serious way, let alone when referring to a child outside of one's family. Why isn't stuff like this checked in the publishing process? A native speaker would catch such mistakes immediately. I will never understand. I got an arc, so this might actually be corrected in the finished version of the book, but I honestly doubt it. I know that an English speaker wouldn't notice, but it always bugs me when this occurs in books.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 - 5 stars rounded up

On December 14, 1954, The Philadelphia Phoenix departs Philly at 7 pm EST and will arrive in Chicago at 7 am CST. Individual notes from Anna Matheson brought six passengers on board for the long non-stop journey. Anna has a good reason for luring these people on board as 12 years previously, they are responsible for her families downfall. This journey is a reminder of what she has lost and it’s time for vengeance and justice. Judd Dodge, Herb Pulaski, Sally Lawrence, Edith Gerhardt, Jack Lapsford and Dante Wentworth (representing his father Kenneth) all reluctantly accept the invitations and it’s time to face the music. At 8 pm Anna appears and informs them of the evidence she has obtained and the situation for the six is grave. However, Anna‘s plans are shattered when one of the six is murdered. Who else on board this non-stop train has vengeance on their mind? Anna now has to act the detective in order to protect those she hates so that her ultimate plan is still fulfilled. Can she? Is her own life at risk? Only time will tell.

This is a very entertaining homage to the golden age mysteries and movies of the 1940s and 1950s. The writing flows well, the characters and plot feel of their time and Anna’s rage at the six is very understandable. It’s chock full of atmosphere especially the Philadelphia Phoenix which is very appropriate for a mystery of this type, the chilly atmosphere aboard the steam train which is matched by blizzard conditions outside and some scenes are reminiscent of action movies. I like to the references to the past especially World War II which very much has a bearing on the plot.

Riley Sager keeps me guessing throughout, peppering in some very good chapter ending bomb like revelations that blow Anna’s plans out of the train windows, deepening and complicating the mystery as a consequence. Lies, lies and more damn lies. Puzzles, conundrums, double bluffs, red herrings, tension you could cut with a knife it’s so highly charged and just when you think it couldn’t get any more suspenseful, the author up the ante. A storm builds on the inside just as it does on the exterior and the impossible seems to be possible. Twists? Naturally, some are so good my jaw drops and there are so many good ones towards the end it makes my head spin! I suspect everyone and learn to trust absolutely no one even those you think you might just be able to.

Overall, highly entertaining fun read which is hard to put down.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated daily copy and return for an honest review.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna Matheson is out for revenge twelve years after the death of her entire family during the war in 1942. But as Anna lures the six people she blames onto a luxury train in order to confront them and extract their confessions, she has no idea one of the passengers might just be a murderer.

Whew, boy has this book been getting mixed reviews. I have seen some readers rave and others not as much. While there were some elements I really enjoyed, on the whole, I think it just wasn’t my speed (pardon the pun). Before I go further, I want to give a shout out to Riley Sager and a handful of other authors who have really gone the extra mile (oops…pardon that one too) to try to give their readers something different and fresh, outside of their normal writing style and/or genre. Kudos to them for being creative and innovative even if it doesn’t work quite as well in the execution.

Given that the gorgeous cover of this book features a train, let’s start off with the setting. I am such a sucker for thrillers set on various modes of transportation - I don’t know why, but I am. This old Hollywood-style mystery, set on a luxury rail line, set against the backdrop of World War II, sounded right up my alley. But here is where I felt like something was missing— the dark, mysterious, and gritty atmosphere of this train carrying a murderer. The train should have held much more of an impact (even to the point of being a side character), but instead, other than that they reference where things are occurring, it didn’t add to the ambience as much as I would have liked.

The first third of the book is spent introducing various characters both on the train and in the past, and I found myself both a bit overwhelmed with the amount of characters, while also feeling like the pacing was moving incredibly slow. Perhaps it was the style in which Sager gives each character’s backstory in a sort of x,y,z list fashion. This really created a slow burn vibe from the go. Once you hit the midway point, it becomes a twist-athon. There was twist upon twist upon twist. While this did create more of a popcorn type read at this point, I also felt as though some of the twists were really over the top, including one technique, used multiple times, that had my eyes rolling. And by the time we reached the pivotal conclusion, I ran out of steam (oops again) and found myself more disengaged than engaged.

All of that said, there was still an entertainment factor here that can’t be discounted. And if you are someone who prefers more of the slow burn mystery, with an added element of historical fiction, that doesn’t mind the over the top nature so many thrillers seem to have these days, you may really enjoy this one. With so many mixed reviews, it’s worth a try if it’s been on your radar.

Read if you like:
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️locked room mysteries
▪️ensemble casts
▪️twisty reads
▪️slow burn
▪️Murder on the Orient Express


Check out my Bookstagram post here 🚂

Thank you Dutton and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

[Tara — on semi-hiatus for health reasons; will check in when possible. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now Available!

**Synopsis:** “With a Vengeance” is a gripping thriller set against the atmospheric backdrop of a luxury train in 1954. Riley Sager masterfully crafts a darkly compelling tale of justice, betrayal, and the lengths one woman will go to uncover the truth.

Anna Matheson’s life was shattered in 1942, and now, twelve years later, she’s ready to confront the six individuals responsible. Her meticulously plotted plan brings them all aboard a lavish overnight train from Philadelphia to Chicago, where she intends to expose their crimes and bring them to justice. However, when one of the passengers is found murdered, Anna’s pursuit of truth spirals into a high-stakes game of survival.

Sager expertly weaves classic locked-room mystery elements into a taut psychological drama. As secrets unravel and the body count rises, Anna faces the ultimate question: How far will she go for retribution? Is she willing to compromise her plan and her principles? And who can she truly trust when even her enemies are in danger?

My Thoughts While Sager has written some exhilarating thrillers—“The Only One Left” being my favorite, closely followed by “Home Before Dark”—“With a Vengeance” leans more toward the mystery genre than a thriller. However, it lacks the spark that defines his best work. Though the premise is strong and offers a tantalizing locked-room mystery, the execution falls short. The pacing drags at times, and the characters feel underdeveloped, making it tough to connect with them. Moreover, the plot twists lean towards cliché, with some being more predictable than I expected.

It's hard not to draw comparisons to Agatha Christie’s “Murder On The Orient Express.” I had high hopes for this book! That said, I did find enjoyment in the final 10%. The buildup and big reveal, despite being somewhat predictable, picked up the pace and delivered excitement—something that was unfortunately lacking throughout much of the book. Ultimately, was the thrill merely a relief that my struggle with the pacing was nearing its end? It’s a mixed bag, but there are certainly elements that shine through.

Expected UK release June 12

Expected North American release June 10

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.

UPDATE—PRE-READ

I contacted NetGalley and told them about the Kindle file. I am only able to read a copy of “With A Vengence,” on the NetGalley app on my Apple iPad Pro only. The Kindle file is either corrupt or has a compatibility issue as our dear GR friend Sri brought to my attention. (Thank You so much!!!) 🤗 On the NG app I can’t highlight paragraphs or change the font it’s so darn small but it’s a lot better than the Kindle copy. The downside reading for long stretches on my iPad gets uncomfortable from the weight and size.

Has anyone else encountered this issue with the UK e-ARC for their Kindle?

Will revise my review if I can hang in and finish reading it.

[Helga چـو ایـران نباشد تن من مـباد · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the name of all the ungripping, putdownable and DNFable books was this?

[JaymeO · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did Riley Sager lose his mojo?

With a Vengeance is just another remake of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. There is literally nothing new or exciting here.

I am so disappointed! After last year’s super mediocre Middle of the Night, I was really hoping this book would blow me away. Unfortunately, the plot lacks originality and the characters are way too underdeveloped. Anna Matheson is a boring MC and I didn’t buy her extraordinary sleuthing skills.

I attended Sager’s book tour last year, and he mentioned that he set this book in the past so that he could avoid having to incorporate complicated technology into the plot. However, this book does not feel like a period piece at all.

The first three hours crawled by at a snail’s pace. But, once the train got moving, the plot picked up and I became more invested. Sager does succeed at casting doubt on all of the characters and throwing in several twists. But…it was a little too late to win me over.

Unfortunately, With a Vengeance’s lack of originality, mediocrity, and uninspired characters left me bored and sorry that I wasted my time reading it. I know Sager is capable of so much better, ie. The Only One Left, so I still plan to read his next offering.

2.5/5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC of With a Vengeance in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first this was giving Agatha Christie vibes: a locked room murder mystery on a train. Hell ya! I was totally here for it.

Then it just gets so wild and random and relies on pure luck and circumstance throughout the plot to prove its point. C’mon Sager, why’d you have to make this weird?

Seriously, this book is so over the top ridiculous.

[Katie Nye Cogley · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're a Riley Sager fan, skip this.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

With A Vengance is A mix between Clue and Murder on the Orient Express. I really enjoy a good locked room mystery where everyone is a suspect. I am on the fence about how I feel about this one.

What I liked:
-The 1950’s setting
-Locked room mystery
-Everyone was a suspect at some point
-atmospheric moments

What didn't work for me:
-too long
-Repetitive
-underwhelming twists
-no character depth

Unfortunately, this isn't Sagar’s best. I’m sure fans like me are still hoping for a Riley Sagar from his earlier releases so hopefully we will see that next summer. This is my 9th read by the author and even though its not my favorite, ill continue to read whatever he releases. Even though it wasn't my favorite, I'm sure thriller readers will absolutely enjoy this one.

I listened to the audiobook version which was read by Erin Bennett who did a fantastic job.

With A Vengance by Riley Sagar will be available on June 10. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!

[Dutchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope, didn’t like this at all

This was a complete train wreck. It didn’t even feel like the same author I look forward to reading every summer.

Anna Matheson has invited six people onto a luxury express train from Philadelphia to Chicago. The six do not know why they are there having only received a cryptic invitation. During the early hours of the trip, one person dies. Who did it? Our choices are limited and our setting is a train so it’s only a matter of time before the mystery is solved.

The only reason I didn’t give this one star is it was a quick read. I hope his next release we get the Sager whose novels were always jaw dropping. I’ve been disappointed in the past two releases, but hoping the next one will be back on par.

If you like quick, locked room mysteries this one might be for you. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

[Isadora (GR is evil rn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, even our favorite authors might let us down. I adore Riley Sager’s stories with all my heart and though this book does have some interesting ideas and wasn’t a total dud, it doesn’t hold up to the previous books of his I’ve read.

Writing
I love Sager’s thrillers more than others because of his focus and detail in describing a setting and minor aspects of a room. This is him at his best! I was worried about feeling a lack of connection to the location of the novel because it solely takes place in a train and lets just say I would skip the channel whenever ‘Thomas The Train’ was on as a kid 🌚. However, Sager delivered in completely transporting me onto this train and I felt like I knew every inch of it. Major points for the writing here and if you love the idea of a wintery atmospheric read, you might enjoy this.

Characters
We have a large cast of characters here and follow them through 3rd person POVs. I usually don’t even like dual POV and mainly just like to focus on a single one, but I didn’t mind going out of my comfort zone for this as we mostly just follow our protagonist Anna anyways. Anna is dead set on gaining vengeance against the people that destroyed her family. She is clever, determined and a pained heart that still has some tenderness. I enjoyed her story but I have to say, she isn’t my favorite MC by Sager. The rest of the cast varies on the interesting scale haha but I do think all their stories were interesting and vital to hear.

Thrills
This is where I really struggle with this story, the beginning is so painfully slow I was zoning in and out of focus while reading. It really could’ve been cut down a little in the first act in order to quicken the pace. This concept is also a little boring… I’m not a fan of one by one stories as they tend to be a little predictable and I was able to figure out many of the twists before they came out. The reason for the twist was quite weak and a little too on the nose for me. I love Riley Sager for the absolutely crazy ideas he has and I feel like this is a big step down from his previous books. Though it was predictable there were a few shocks and overall not totally uninteresting.

I still love Sager’s work and I did like this book, just not as much as his others I’ve read. No matter what he’s still one of my ride or die authors and AHH SO EXCITED FOR HIS NEW RELEASE HE’S BEEN TEASING ON INSTA 🥳💗. I would recommend this if you’re new to the thriller genre and want something that fits a cold, winter setting!

[NZLisaM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve years ago, six vile people ruined Anna Matheson’s life.

Anna has meticulously planned every last detail of her revenge, has lured them all aboard the Philadelphia Phoenix express train – a thirteen-hour non-stop rail journey from Philly to Chicago on a snowy mid-December night in 1954.

But someone has other plans…

Even though Riley Sager’s previous novels are essentially murder mysteries, and the majority of them are set last century, With a Vengeance utilised a straight-up traditional-style locked room format, lacking the horror and supernatural elements of his other books. As you would expect it paid tribute and shared some plot commonalities with Agatha Christie novels, particularly Murder on the Orient Express (1934), and And Then There Were None (1939). And even though this wasn’t technically a slasher novel, it did share similarities with the movie Terror Train (1983) in that an unknown killer was murdering people trapped on a locomotive who had no means of escape.

Things started off ho-hum, a woman’s elaborate revenge plot to avenge those who destroyed her family when she was too young to do anything about it has been done to death, although respect to the author for coming up with an original concept relevant not only to the time period, but also involving the train they were travelling on, making it fairly engaging. But then came the bait and switch, which had me fully committed, intrigued and guessing. Anna thought she was the one in control, but it quickly became clear that she was as much of a puppet as those she was stuck on the train with, and that someone far more threatening and with deadlier intentions, was pulling the strings.

Everything ran smoothly from my perspective in regard to the Philadelphia Phoenix setting. I loved how we were immediately given the layout of the train as we followed the character who helped design it boarding and walking through the various cars to his first-class room. The fact that this was set in the dead of winter with a snowstorm raging outside, and that the trip itself was an overnight one made the serious situation they were in even more ominous and claustrophobic.

But during the last 30% things took a nosedive with the plot becoming absurd and hard to swallow, and by the end I was feeling ho-hum again. Sadly, there were too many outlandish twists, fake-outs, and over-the-top action scenes for With a Vengeance to be believable. I have a feeling this is intended to be the first in a series too. I’m sorry to say I have no desire to continue. I hope other mystery lovers enjoy the final twists more.

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Hodder & Sloughton, and Riley Sager for the e-ARC.

Out now!

P.S: I love this cover!