Thriller Review: With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

- January 04, 2026

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,

With a Vengeance is Riley Sager's ninth thriller. It is published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In it, we are introduced to Anna Matheson. She is the daughter of a disgraced railway mogul and the only surviving member of her family. When she discovers that her father was framed for his crimes, she sets out to destroy the people that led to her family's death.

With the help of Seamus, another of their victims, she assembles the guilty party on a non-stop train to Chicago. There, the FBI will be ready to arrest everyone responsible for the fall of the Matheson family. But a snow storm and an unexpected variable derails Anna's plans. One man is dead and she is sure she is about to be the killer's next victim.

Isolation suspense is a favorite of mine, and Sager did not disappoint. Anna's rogue's gallery were a group of reprehensible individuals with little redeeming qualities. As they got picked off, there was a frustration I felt due to me wanting Anna's plan to work. This book was exciting and filled me with anxiety as the train headed towards the station. The adrenaline-filled sequences Sager gives culminated in a amazing finale that delivered shocking reveals.

I read With a Vengeance in part with the narration of Erin Bennett (The Final Girls). Her ability to bring characters to life with voices and a sense of urgency complimented the characters well. She has read many books that I have enjoyed in the past. I believe she made the experiences better with her work.

With a Vengeance was a five star read for me. I canceled my plans and settled in for my first reading session of the year. I had no idea I would end up reading the book in one day. If you need a crazy thrill ride that you may not want to put down, this book is for you.

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