With a Vengeance | Riley Sager

With a Vengeance: A Novel

Accolades & Recognition

• An Instant New York Times Bestseller.
• Authored by master of suspense and bestselling psychological thriller writer Riley Sager.
• A gripping, period-piece locked-room mystery combining historical tension with unexpected twists.

Extended Synopsis

In 1954, Anna Matheson steps aboard a luxury overnight train bound for Chicago, having commissioned the journey specifically to confront six passengers. Twelve years earlier, during the height of World War II, these six individuals shattered her family’s life. Driven by a heart hardened by loss and operating under a false identity, Anna has orchestrating a chilling reunion on a train with no stops.

Anna’s plan is precise: trap her targets, force long-buried truths to the surface over thirteen hours, and ensure justice is served when they reach their destination. However, her meticulous plot unravels before dawn when one of the passengers is found murdered. Realizing a second killer is aboard, Anna discovers she isn't the only person keeping secrets or seeking retribution.

As the train speeds through the icy night, Anna must navigate layers of deception, reexamine her quest for vengeance, and protect the very people she came to destroy. With danger closing in from all sides, Anna races to uncover the murderer before someone ensures no one arrives at the final station alive.

About the Author

Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous psychological thrillers, including Final Girls, The Last Time I Lied, Lock Every Door, Home Before Dark, and The House Across the Lake. A former journalist, editor, and graphic designer, Sager is renowned for crafting high-concept mysteries filled with sharp atmosphere and unexpected plot twists.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of locked-room thrillers, period mysteries, and historical psychological suspense.
• Readers who enjoy classic train-bound murder mysteries with modern, dark twists.
• Followers of Riley Sager, Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Agatha Christie.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is With a Vengeance about?
Set in 1954, the story follows Anna Matheson, who traps six people aboard a luxury train to seek revenge for a crime committed twelve years earlier. Her plan goes awry when a murder occurs on board, revealing that another killer is on the train.

Is this novel part of a series?
No, With a Vengeance is a standalone psychological thriller.

Who wrote the book?
The book is written by Riley Sager, the New York Times bestselling author of popular suspense novels such as Final Girls and The House Across the Lake.