With a Vengeance by Riley Sager – Book Guide

Name: With a Vengeance
Author: Riley Sager

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Author: Riley Sager
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publication Year: 2025
Setting: A luxury passenger train (the Philadelphia Phoenix) traveling from Philadelphia to Chicago during a snowstorm in 1954, twelve years after the events that destroyed the Matheson family.
Narrator: Third-person limited, primarily following Anna Matheson but occasionally shifting to other characters such as Judd Dodge, Sally Lawrence, and Seamus Callahan.

Short Summary

Anna Matheson lures six people onto a luxury train, believing they conspired to frame her father for a deadly troop train explosion twelve years earlier. Her plan to expose them and deliver them to the FBI unravels when one of the passengers is poisoned mid-confrontation. As the non‑stop train hurtles through a blizzard, more murders follow. Anna must identify the killer while confronting the truth about her own family’s secrets. With the help of an undercover FBI agent and a former lover, she fights to survive the night and bring the real culprits to justice—before she becomes the next victim.

Full Summary

The story opens with Anna Matheson boarding the Philadelphia Phoenix with her accomplice Seamus Callahan. She has invited six people—Jack Lapsford, Judd Dodge, Herb Pulaski, Sally Lawrence, Edith Gerhardt, and Kenneth Wentworth—all of whom she holds responsible for destroying her family. Twelve years earlier, a troop train engineered by her father Arthur Matheson exploded, killing her brother Tommy and several soldiers. Arthur was framed for the sabotage, murdered in prison, and Anna’s mother later committed suicide. Anna’s dying aunt left her evidence proving the conspiracy.

Anna reveals herself to the guests, but Kenneth Wentworth is not aboard; instead his son Dante takes his place. Dante and Anna share a past—they were teenage lovers until his father forbade the relationship. Anna accuses the six of complicity. Judd Dodge, a former engineer, appears to die after drinking a poisoned martini. Anna suspects the killer is among the group.

She discovers rat poison in the galley and confronts the passengers. Edith Gerhardt confesses her role in the plot—she was blackmailed with a photo of her in Nazi uniform. Edith is later found strangled. An unexpected ninth passenger, Reggie Davis, reveals he is an FBI agent sent to protect the group while the bureau verifies Anna’s evidence. However, Reggie is actually a second killer: his father died in the same train disaster, and he wants to murder everyone involved. He manipulates events and frames Anna for the crimes.

Seamus, Anna’s loyal ally, admits he strangled Judd Dodge because Judd was the architect of the engine flaw that killed his brother. Seamus also suffers from a terminal nerve condition. When Anna confronts him, he confesses and leaps from the train to his death. Anna then realizes another murderer is still aboard: Reggie. She stages a fake execution of Sal (who faked her death) to draw out Reggie. In the final chase, Anna follows Reggie onto the train roof and shoots a skylight, causing them to fall into a car.

The train finally stops in Chicago. Anna finds Kenneth Wentworth in the locomotive cab. He admits he ordered Arthur Matheson’s murder and reveals that Tommy was actually his biological son. Anna, exhausted and enraged, shoots him. The survivors—Sal, Jack Lapsford, and Dante—face arrest. Anna has succeeded in stopping the killing, but not without paying a terrible personal price.

Main Characters

Anna Matheson – The vengeful protagonist who orchestrates the train journey to expose the conspirators.
Seamus Callahan – Anna’s accomplice; brother of a victim; suffers from a terminal nerve condition and becomes a murderer.
Dante Wentworth – Kenneth Wentworth’s son; secretly helped Anna by sending evidence to her aunt.
Reggie Davis – FBI agent undercover; secretly a second killer seeking vengeance for his father’s death.
Judd Dodge – Former engineer; fakes his own death using rat poison; murders several passengers.
Jack Lapsford – Retired lieutenant colonel; blackmailed into facilitating the sabotage; feigns a heart attack to survive.

Themes

Revenge vs. Justice – Anna’s quest for legal justice clashes with the urge for personal vengeance.
Betrayal and Deception – Nearly every character conceals their true motives or deceives others.
Guilt and Redemption – Characters grapple with guilt; some seek redemption through confession or sacrifice.
Family Secrets – Hidden relationships, such as Kenneth being Tommy’s biological father, drive the conspiracy.
Survival – Stranded on a non‑stop train, passengers fight to survive both the killer and the storm.

Symbols

The Philadelphia Phoenix – The train represents a trap, resurrection, and the inescapable past.
Locomotive Pin – Anna’s father’s lapel pin symbolizes family legacy and the burden of the past.
Rat Poison and the Pocket Watch – Hidden malice and deceptive innocence; the watch becomes a murder tool.
Grauer Geist (Gray Ghost) – A ghostly figure from legend representing guilt and the specter of death.

Ending Overview

The climax reveals Reggie Davis as the second killer, driven by his father’s death. Anna tricks him by faking Sal’s murder and ultimately shoots Kenneth Wentworth after he confesses to ordering Arthur’s murder. The train arrives in Chicago as survivors face the law. For a deeper analysis, see the ending explained.

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Chapter	Title/Number	Summary
1	Departure	Only the heading appears; no events are described.
2	Chapter One	Anna boards the train with Seamus, confirms the six guests are present, and silently completes her accusation.
3	Chapter Two	Judd Dodge boards after receiving a threatening note; he discovers the train is completely empty of crew and passengers.
4	Chapter Three	Herb Pulaski arrives hoping for a financial opportunity; he and Judd realize the one-way invitation traps them.
5	Chapter Four	Sally Lawrence boards, guilt-ridden over a past deal; Judd recognizes her as “Sal.”
6	Chapter Five	Edith Gerhardt recalls the Grauer Geist legend; she enters the lounge and recognizes the others as ghosts from her past.
7	Chapter Six	Jack Lapsford recalls being blackmailed into a sabotage scheme; he demands to know who summoned them.
8	Chapter Seven	Dante Wentworth secretly takes his father’s place; he recognizes Anna’s handwriting and looks forward to confronting her.
9	Chapter Eight	Anna enters the lounge and accuses the six of destroying her family; she reveals Aunt Retta’s evidence.
10	Chapter Nine	Anna names the conspirators; Lapsford destroys a blueprint but Anna claims copies were sent to the FBI.
11	Chapter Ten	Lapsford pulls the emergency brake without stopping the train; Seamus is revealed as the fake conductor.
12	Chapter Eleven	Anna confronts Dante; flashbacks show their first meeting; Dante orders the engineer to keep moving.
13	Chapter Twelve	Dante offers drinks; Judd collapses, foams at the mouth, and dies.
14	Chapter Thirteen	Anna searches for poison; Edith provokes her; a ninth passenger appears.
15	Chapter Fourteen	Reggie Davis claims he boarded the wrong train; Anna hides a knife on her thigh.
16	Chapter Fifteen	Reggie discovers Anna’s knife but stays silent; he retrieves a hitman’s list of five names.
17	Chapter Sixteen	Anna and Seamus move Judd’s body; they recall meeting at Aunt Retta’s funeral and debate suspects.
18	Chapter Seventeen	Seamus reflects on his brother’s death; he notices a missing pill from Reggie’s pillbox.
19	Chapter Eighteen	Anna finds rat poison in the galley; Dante apologizes for abandoning her.
20	Chapter Nineteen	Anna presents the poison; Edith confesses her role; Anna sees a figure who looks like Tommy.
21	Chapter Twenty	Edith reflects on her past and being blackmailed by Kenneth Wentworth; she sees the Grauer Geist approaching.
22	Chapter Twenty-One	Anna finds Edith strangled in the observation car.
23	Chapter Twenty-Two	Reggie reveals he is an FBI agent; Anna keeps her sighting of Tommy secret.
24	Chapter Twenty-Three	Flashback: Reggie is sent undercover; he questions Anna’s plan and decides to take charge.
25	Chapter Twenty-Four	Anna and Reggie interrogate Herb, who admits gambling debts and fears he is next.
26	Chapter Twenty-Five	Lapsford remains silent during interrogation; flashback shows Kenneth blackmailed him over war profiteering.
27	Chapter Twenty-Six	Anna follows a shadow; Herb ambushes and holds a knife to her throat.
28	Chapter Twenty-Seven	Anna disarms Herb; she nearly kills him but Seamus stops her; the group sees her hidden knife.
29	Chapter Twenty-Eight	Dante treats Anna’s cut and confesses he sent the evidence; he reveals his father’s motive was heartbreak, not greed.
30	Chapter Twenty-Nine	Anna confronts Sal, who hints her motive involves shame and a woman.
31	Chapter Thirty	Sal recalls being blackmailed with photos of an affair; she suggests Seamus may be the killer.
32	Chapter Thirty-One	Anna confronts Seamus, who denies killing; they find Herb dead with his throat cut.
33	Chapter Thirty-Two	Anna deduces the killer escaped via the window; her locomotive pin is found; her room has a missing drapery cord.
34	Chapter Thirty-Three	Anna concludes Judd faked his death; they find his bed empty.
35	Chapter Thirty-Four	Judd reveals he used rat poison and sleight of hand to fake death; he vows to kill everyone.
36	Chapter Thirty-Five	Reggie declares Judd the murderer; the group splits into search parties.
37	Chapter Thirty-Six	Anna and Reggie search the front cars; Reggie is stabbed by Judd.
38	Chapter Thirty-Seven	Anna stitches Reggie’s wound; Reggie reveals his father was murdered; Anna sees a grotesque figure of Tommy.
39	Chapter Thirty-Eight	Anna faints; Dante finds her; they find Judd’s body in the bathroom.
40	Chapter Thirty-Nine	Anna discovers the plastic-wrap shard and realizes Judd was strangled; a second killer is aboard.
41	Chapter Forty	Anna and Seamus suspect Lapsford; Lapsford has a real heart attack; Seamus saves him with a pill.
42	Chapter Forty-One	Seamus admits he has a terminal nerve condition; his revolver goes missing; two gunshots are heard.
43	Chapter Forty-Two	Anna finds Reggie stabbed; Sal dead from a gunshot; Anna accuses Dante and ties him up.
44	Chapter Forty-Three	Anna stages an accusation to catch the real killer; she tackles a figure smothering Lapsford—it is Seamus.
45	Chapter Forty-Four	Seamus admits he killed Judd; he returns Anna’s locomotive pin and jumps off the train.
46	Chapter Forty-Five	Anna grieves; she realizes Seamus only confessed to killing Judd, meaning a second killer remains.
47	Chapter Forty-Six	Dante escapes; Lapsford feigned his heart attack; Sal is revealed to be alive.
48	Chapter Forty-Seven	The killer, Reggie, prepares to kill Lapsford; Anna confronts him in the room.
49	Chapter Forty-Eight	Reggie confesses to the murders; Anna reveals his gun is unloaded; Sal knocks Reggie unconscious.
50	Chapter Forty-Nine	Anna stages a fake execution of Sal to buy time; she retrieves bullets; Reggie vanishes.
51	Chapter Fifty	Anna follows Reggie onto the roof; she shoots the skylight, causing them to crash inside.
52	Chapter Fifty-One	Anna and Reggie fight; Anna decides to shoot him in the leg; the train stops.
53	Chapter Fifty-Two	Anna chases Reggie; Kenneth Wentworth appears in the locomotive cab.
54	Chapter Fifty-Three	Kenneth admits he is Tommy’s biological father and ordered Arthur’s murder; Anna shoots him.
55	Arrival	The chapter consists solely of the word “Arrival”; no further content is provided.

Common Questions

Who is the main character of With a Vengeance?
The protagonist is Anna Matheson, who seeks justice for her family by luring six conspirators onto a train.
What is the setting of the novel?
The entire story takes place aboard the Philadelphia Phoenix, a luxury train traveling from Philadelphia to Chicago during a blizzard in 1954.
Who are the six people Anna lures onto the train?
Jack Lapsford, Judd Dodge, Herb Pulaski, Sally Lawrence, Edith Gerhardt, and Kenneth Wentworth (who is replaced by his son Dante).
What happened to Anna’s family?
Her brother Tommy died in a train explosion, her father Arthur was framed and murdered in prison, and her mother committed suicide.
Who is the first killer?
Judd Dodge fakes his death and begins murdering passengers, but the true second killer is Reggie Davis.
Why does Seamus kill Judd?
Seamus strangles Judd because Judd designed the flawed engine that caused his brother’s death.
What is Reggie Davis’s true identity?
He is an FBI agent undercover, but he is also a second killer seeking vengeance for his father’s death in the same train disaster.
How does the novel end?
Anna shoots Kenneth Wentworth after he confesses his role; the train arrives in Chicago, and the survivors face arrest.