With a Vengeance: A Train Wreck of a Thrill Ride
As someone who’s always been drawn to tales of revenge and retribution, I couldn’t resist picking up "With a Vengeance" by Riley Sager. The premise—Anna Matheson luring the six individuals who destroyed her family onto a luxury train—is as enticing as it is chilling. With themes of betrayal, grief, and justice, I was ready for a thrilling ride. Unfortunately, what I hoped would be a taut mystery turned out to be a winding track filled with plot holes, convoluted twists, and characters that left me feeling more confused than captivated.
From the start, Anna’s quest for vengeance is gripping. The fact that she’s planned an elaborate scheme to confront her family’s murderers during a train journey from Philadelphia to Chicago sets the stage for what could have been a perfectly contained whodunit. However, as the story unfolds, I found myself questioning the logic behind many of the characters’ actions. Take the conductor, who chooses not to stop the train for money—an odd decision that doesn’t quite gel with the reality of such a setting. It’s moments like these that began to pull me out of the immersive experience I craved.
Sager’s writing reflects a familiar style, though it feels overly laden with filler at times. The pacing is sluggish, with dialogues overly repetitive as characters continually address each other by their full names. Sure, it’s a small quibble, but it made the reading experience drag on in what already felt like a lengthy journey. I often found myself wondering how on earth Anna was going to extract any real justice when she was so bogged down by tedious conversations.
What Worked: I did appreciate the background themes that Sager wove throughout the narrative—like toxic family dynamics and the psychological scars left by earlier trauma. The elements of grief and how they manifest through Anna’s actions were poignant, albeit overshadowed by the narrative’s shortcomings. There are flashes of brilliance, particularly around Anna’s complex relationships, such as her connection with her Aunt Retta and the climate of danger aboard the train.
However, I can’t escape the sense that With a Vengeance was stuck in the station when it should have been hurtling towards a climactic finish. The plot twists felt haphazard, with many moments that seemed contrived rather than organically developed. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the twist ending, as it felt more like a box-ticking exercise in “surprise” than a satisfying resolution.
By the time I reached the final pages, I felt exhausted—not from suspense, but from waiting for all the loose threads to come together, only to discover they had never really been tied up in the first place. Yet, I do find value in Sager’s inclusion of more diverse characters, such as the queer representation that has become increasingly important in contemporary literature.
In closing, while "With a Vengeance" may appeal to die-hard Sager fans fond of tangled plots shot through with melodrama, I ultimately found it lacking in the suspense and intrigue I expected. Readers looking for a straightforward thrilling ride with a fast pace may want to look elsewhere. However, for those willing to dig into the complexities of Anna’s motivations and the murky waters of revenge, Sager’s latest may still hold some appeal.
So, if you enjoy narratives steeped in family drama, complex relationships, and a slow-burn revenge plot, grab a copy and take your seat on this train—but keep your expectations in check.