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My favourite Sager to date. I love the train, I love the 1950s timeframe, I love the locked room mystery, I loved where the twists & turns of the plot took us!

This is 100% inspired by Murder on the Orient Express and because of that, it‘s inevitable to compare the two. It‘s nowhere near Agatha Christie‘s level, and the red herrings abound, but it‘s still a fun romp. This is my first from this author, and I was definitely entertained, though it wasn‘t isn‘t throwing as it‘s inspiration. Definitely a good “locked train” mystery and I loved the main character‘s struggle and ambition.

Riley Sager combined two of Agatha Christie's books, Then There Were None (which I loved) and Murder on the Orient Express (which I haven't read, yet). Sager put so many twists in this book. I never had a clue. Anna Mattheson lost her famy and now she's going to get revenge. She sends out 6 invitations for a train ride to Chicago, to the people that destroyed her life. The only question is: how many will survive. 5⭐️

#Bookspinbingo

Bk4 of my recent #bookhaul is another crime thriller, this one‘s the latest Riley Sager. I‘ve enjoyed their other books & this looks promising. It‘s a very similar premise to Murder On The Orient Express by Dame Agatha, it‘s even set in the same time period. The major difference being it‘s set in America not Europe & it‘s one person wanting revenge not the whole train. Can‘t wait to see if it‘s anywhere near as good as Orient Express!

Not my favorite Riley Sager novel but still very good! Twists and turns aplenty, some easy to see coming and some a little more surprising, and plenty of action to keep the reader reading. This is your typical locked room, Orient Express type story that doesn‘t really offer anything new to the trope, s if you‘re sick of this sort of structure this might not be for you. For me I enjoyed it! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟5/5 soooo good ❤️❤️

8-22-25: My 57th finished book of 2025! Anna has invited some nasty folks on a train ride. the Philadelphia Phoenix, once her father‘s train, is headed to Chicago, no stops in between. On the train are a series of bad people who at one time or another had something to do with multiple people dying including some very close to Anna. Anna‘s setting out to bring them to justice any way that she can. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣7️⃣

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I thought I would love this one because Hello it‘s Riley Sager…but, compared to all of his other reads, this just wasn‘t my favorite. A few thrills and honestly I love the cover the best! 🩵

2025 reads continued
TTTNH - fun, witty banter gay romcom
WAV - enjoyable twisty and easily read. Betterthan MOTN
S - I laughed a few times but this def wasn't for me. Read in a day
ISRGOWH? - fun and loved the main characters. Her best since JHMYY

I really dig Riley Sager and wasn‘t disappointed…I devoured this one in one sitting!

#bookspinbingo - free space
#read2025

My happy place every week, library & a puzzle 💕

Not the strongest Sager book, but still a rewarding read! It‘s got trains, it‘s got murder, it‘s got family trauma, it‘s got an eccentric aunt AND the FBI. Oh, and a dash of WWII. It‘s fast, so make sure you have time to sit and read it all day! I enjoyed this book, despite it not being Sager‘s best…but if you want a REALLY good train murder extravaganza, go read Murder On The Orient Express by my girl Agatha Christie!

July 2025 Wrap Up
* With a Vengeance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* The Tenant ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
* The Memory Collectors ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
* Ace of Spades ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
* Blood in the Water ⭐️⭐️⭐️

July 27, 2025 I would give this a 6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Yes. No regrets. By far this book is my favorite written by Riley Sager. So glad to have read it and pick it up at Target for sale!

July 27, 2025 Nonstop suspense from the middle of the book. Events just continued to develop. At one time, Judd was dead and then he wasnt. Later on, Judd reappears and happens to be alive until Seamus kills him. So far 100% Judd, Edith, and Pulaski are dead. Next, Seamus decides that he has had enough killing and tells Anna that she should end it. As a result, he jumps off the train and disappears into the dark night. Alright no more spoilers...

This was a good one! It takes place in the 1940‘s on a train so it definitely has that classic mystery feel. No cellphones, no social media just a classic whodunit with a side of revenge! It kept me guessing until the end which I always appreciate!

A locked mystery on a train 🚂 after WWII.

Justice is good but vengance is better.

July 25, 2025 Many thoughts are going through my mind as I reach the end the of the book. I am not sure what to think in terms of who the killer could be and who is faulted for the death of Judd Dodge and Edith. Could it be Seamus? He owns a gun. Could it be Dante? Maybe. He use to love Anna but maybe he has changed since he hates his father. Could it be Herb? hmmmm Page 244 reveals Seamus talking with Anna and how Sal thinks Seamus did it.

July 25, 2025 Tea is getting spilled. Stories are being shared by the remaining passengers on the train. Judd Dodge and Edith are dead. So that leaves Herb, Sal, Lapsford, and Wentworth (aka Dante NOT Kent). Herb feels like he is the next one to be killed. But WHAT IF Herb Pulaski is the killer? I mean, he tried to slit Anna's throat because he wanted to get off of the train even when he already knew the train wasn't going to make stops.

July 25, 2025 Page 153 "But why would he kill Judd? Why would any of them?" (says Seamus) "Be ause the dead can't tattle" (says Anna) "You think whoever killed Judd is planning to do it again?" (asks Seamus) "Possibly" (says Anna) "To avoid that happening, we need to keep an eye on everyone for the rest of the trip. Thag means checking on them once an hour, maybe more"

July 25, 2025 continued... Anna requests Reggie to pat her down so she can take in every inch of him. He pats her down and tells everybody that she is fine. However, she has a knife under her dress that Reggie did not bother to mention. Is he trying to protect her and back her up? What secrets does he have? Why is he not telling the truth? Once Reggie is finished, Anna confirms that he won't be allowed to get off the train and need to stay.

July 25, 2025 Reginald Davis, a stranger who accidently came onto the train because he got confused, appears on the train. He is a handsome twenty-something and just looks around the room as he comes into the lounge where everyone is. Anna introduces herself and once he does the same, she warns him that the Philadelphia Phoenix will not stop until it reaches Chicago. Since the other six passengers were searched, Anna has to be searched too.

July 25, 2025 My mind is blown. After seeing that Judd Dodge is dead, from drinking alcohol from a martini glass and Anna checking everybody's pockets to make sure that nobody on the train killed Judd, the train goes silent for 20 unbearable minutes and then suddenly Anna hears footsteps outside, just beyond the door at the front of the car. There are not only eight passagers aboard the Philadelphia Phoenix; there are NINE 🤯

July 22, 2025 Page 94 "And you think it's enough to prove my father organized it?" (says Dante) "Without a doubt. The most damning evidence is the financial records. In 1942, your father transferred massive amounts of money to five numbered bank accounts in Switzerland. Can you guess who thos accounts beloned to?" (says Anna) "I think I already know" (says Dante) "It's foolproof" (says Anna) "I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble"

July 21, 2025 Another quote from page 71 says, "You really think my father was behind all of this? Why would he do that? He's as patriotic as they come." Anna states, "This wasn't about devotion to America. In fact, it has nothing to do with the war. This was greed, pure and simple. Your father wanted to expand his holdings and grow his wealth while not spending too much money in the process. My father's railroad was the easiest target."

July 21, 2025 In black and white, page 71 says, "It was a six-person conspiracy. Jack Lapsford, Sally Lawrence, Judd Dodge, Edith Gerhardt, and Herb Pulaski all helped frame my father. They lied to the authorities. They covered up their own crimes. And it was at the behest and instigation of my father's biggest business rival, Kenneth Wentworth. "Anna tells Dante, "Your father's just as bas as the rest of them.... He's worse."

July 20, 2025 All six of the 'guests' that were invited to this reception in the first-class lounge have no idea or realization about why they are all meeting together. Nvm that is only partly true! Dante Wentworth, Kenneth Wentworth's son knows WHO is behind this whole fiascal. Kenneth Wentworth worked alongside Arthur Matheson who is Anna's father. Arthur owned the Philadelphia Phoenix before Kenneth took over and owned it. But they pay 😡

July 20, 2025 OK now what is going on? When Judd Dodge gets onto the train, he gets ushered by a porter to his room and then gets settled in when he suddenly sees another note on his bed waiting for him. It says, "Your presence is requested at a cocktail reception in the first-class lounge at 8 pm. Please be on time." When he makes his way towards the observation car and first-class lounge, no one is to be found. Where did everyone go?

July 20, 2025 Judd Dodge, a fifty three year old man use to work with the trains. He was quite familiar with the Philadephia Phoenix because of it being so luxurious. He was invited by Anna and on the back of the invitation it said, "I know what you did. If you don't come, others will know too." Uh oh WHO could be the next victim? At first he had doubts of boarding the train. However, if he didn't, he woukd be in some trouble....

July 20, 2025 continued... Sal Lawrence (Car 12, Room A) Jack Lapsford (Car 12, Room B) Kenneth Wentworth (Car 12, Room C), Herb Pulaski (Car 13, Room A) Edith Gerhardt (Car 13, Room B) and Judd Dodge (Car 13, Room C). All of them are next to each other because that makes it easier for Anna to kill them one after another. Get it??!

July 20, 2025 So far aside from Anna Matheson whose family has all been targeted: her mother, father, and brother, the other characters are as follows: Sal Lawrence, Jack Lapsford, Kenneth Wentworth, Herb Pulaski, Edith Grrhardt, and Judd Dodge. All six of them were specifically called and invited by Anna because she was going to get revenge for what they ALL did towards her family. Yikes!!! Makes me feel chills already haha

Up next… 🚂🕵️‍♀️🫆

July 19, 2025 NEW TBR alert

Started this one on my lunch break.

My sky high expectations were simply too high. Love Riley Sager books, but guessed too many twists and turns to feel satisfied.

I put a Target gift card to good use.

I am SO into this! Historical fiction, locked room mystery, train thriller, and slasher all rolled into one. Thank you, Sager. I needed this 🙌🏾

I have so much respect for Sager‘s ability to construct plot twists and am a huge fan. This was a slower start but, the last third whizzed past like the snowy landscape outside the train‘s frosted windows heading to its inevitable arrival. Who will survive and why is what kept me reading the last third in one sitting.

At 1st I wasn‘t sure I was going to like this one or not, but once I got more into it, I really liked it and seeing how it all played out. I‘m usually not the biggest fan of locked room mysteries but this one worked for me. The setting of 1954 was interesting as it made for a simpler story w/out technology advances. I rated it 4 stars but could see where others may not like it. I‘d like to see this one adapted. Who would play Anna?

This is probably my favorite of Riley Sager‘s. Reminds me of the first Agatha Christie I read “And Then There Were None”.
Book #20 of 2025

This book is set in 1954 and is a nod to a few of Agatha Christie books. It is a story about revenge and features a locked room mystery set on a train, with a strong female character. I admit that the plot is a bit convoluted, and with both numerous characters and lots of predictable twists and turns it felt a little like a farce. Despite that, I still found it entertaining and enjoyed the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 3.75/5

It was a boring set up, the twists didn‘t wow me, a couple could have been done better (my thoughts in comments) - the last one was cartoonish which I expect from him.None of it reads like it would take place in the 40s/50s. Just no. Not the summer blockbuster I‘ve come to expect from Riley Sager.

I‘m a little over halfway of Sagers new novel, but so far not much has happened…at all. This is a bit different than his previous novels, so I think that‘s why I‘m a bit more harsh with it. I‘m a huge Riley Sager fan since his books take place where I live, but this one isn‘t doing it for me so far. I‘ll continue on though and hope it gets better, or at least a bit more interesting!

So reminiscent of Agatha Christie with a flair of Sager in it and wish there was Clue in it more. I appreciate the twists in it and I still love Riley Sager even though this and the last release weren‘t his best. I like he‘s half way decent at writing women protagonists. I have Seamus unofficially diagnosed. But very undecided that I like any of the men in this book. Easy read.

Y‘all. I‘m worried I‘m going to start sounding like a crotchety old lady but I‘ve just hit a streak of books that haven‘t worked for me. And I expected to love With a Vengeance. I‘ve loved every Riley Sager book to date, but this one just didn‘t work for me. There were too many plot holes, unlikable characters, and ridiculous plot twists for me to overlook. ⭐️⭐️

Full Review: https://wildwoodreads.com/2025/06/23/with-a-vengeance-review/

Went to a silent reading book club event in town this morning, brought my book, brought the bub, brought his book (You‘re My Little Cuddle Bug) got a Green Monster Smoothie & an egg and cheese, managed to read 37 pages while entertaining a baby in public and eating a greasy sandwich. A win is a win.

Twisty, but not typical Riley Sager at all. I was semi-bored and unimpressed with this one from him 😭!

I think it‘s fun when authors give a nod to a good ‘ol train murder mystery so when it‘s a whodunit train ride my only requirement is to be entertained. And I was!

This started with a exciting premise but ultimately fell flat and the twists were quite predictable. An easy fast read though. 3⭐️

Another year, another Riley Sager. I enjoyed this one. It was very fast-paced, and it kept me wondering who had done it constantly. This one was more of a mystery than a thriller. I was guessing and entertained up until the end. I feel like the end got super convoluted and just way too much. But, other than that, I loved it! 4/5