As a massive fan of Chuck Wendig, I was delighted to get an early copy of his new novel. Very dark with flawed but interesting characters, an engaging central mystery with a satisfying conclusion.

⭐️4.5⭐️ ~ rounding up because it was so twisty and fun!

The Staircase in the Woods follows four distant friends as they come together years after one member of their group vanishes after going up a mysterious staircase they found in the woods during a night out.

After years of separation, they all reluctantly come together again, and they all find themselves at the top of another staircase found in the woods in hopes of bringing their lost friend home finally. What they find at the top of those stairs is unimaginable horror and grief that no one was prepared for (including me).

This book is a masterpiece in its own right - it satisfied all my spooky cravings perfectly and somehow opened my own emotional wounds by seeing the characters face their own individual traumas.

It’s dark, funny, horrifying, and incredibly painful at times. It’s a deep and unforgiving look at friendship and how sometimes getting lost is the best method when trying to find our way home.

This novel was such an immersive experience in all the right ways. I thoroughly enjoyed it and also loved all the super nerdy references placed throughout the book. I am truly honored to be able to read the ARC before its set release date in April 2025. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Worlds, and Chuck Wendig for giving me the e-ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review 💛

I just finished The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig and I don't even know with this book... it is haunted house but not, psychological horror but not, Stand by me... but not. 5 stars. Highly recommend. Will purchase upon release.

Another brilliant novel from Chuck Wendig, who has swiftly become one of my favorite authors! The Staircase in the Woods is a story that deals with trauma, grief, horror, and mystery in ways that feel very Stephen King, just like Wendig's previous horror stories.

While not as good as Black River Orchard, this may be my second favorite of his books. Can't wait for more!

The Staircase in the Woods follows a group of trauma-bonded friends as they navigate their way back to each other after one of the group, Matty, disappeared after reaching the top of a staircase found in the woods as teens. As adults, Nick has summoned Owen, Lore, and Hamish back to the woods, specifically back to another staircase in the woods; and this time they all make their way to the top and into the void they watched their friend disappear into years earlier. What they find is a house of horrors. No windows, only doors. But these doors lead only to more interior rooms. Rooms where terrible things have happened. The tethers on their friendships have grown loose over the years, and now the four must navigate their way through a, possibly liminal, Escape Room from Hell, all while the house works to fray those strings to the point of snapping. Heavy on topics of grief, abuse, mental illness, and relationships, Wendig's new novel is a terrible, wonderful, often funny and horrifying, descent into madness, and I loved every second of it.

The Staircase in the Woods is a story of four ex-friends, to find their friend who disappeared off a staircase they’d found in the woods years ago. In the present, they’ve discovered another staircase, and once at the top, they find a house with shifting rooms, each door has a history behind it.

The idea of The Staircase in the Woods was interesting. I am new to the horror genre and in thrillers I have some idea what's going to happen., This was not the case with this book. I swear the characters figured everything out faster than I did. Some characters did feel one-dimensional at the beginning. I almost dnf'ed it. But, I was too curious about the different rooms. So give this book a chance to grow on you.

Thank you Netgalley and Random house for letting me read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, okay, fine. If I find a staircase in the woods, I PROMISE not to climb. You've convinced me (and this coming from the kid who'd shut herself in wardrobes, trying to get to Narnia.)

This was a claustrophobic, visceral, emotional explosion of a horror novel. I absolutely devoured it (and avoided getting devoured myself); each of the POVs was interesting and unique, and I particularly loved the wittiness spread throughout. Without spoiling anything, this was ... how shall we say ... more of a haunted house novel than I was expecting? And I think I'm okay with that. It was horribly delicious fun, and perfect for Halloween season.

Just like a house, this is a book that took some time to settle into.

The Staircase in the Woods tells the story of four (former) friends, getting together in a last-ditch effort to find their friend who disappeared off the top of a freestanding staircase they’d found in the woods a number of years ago. In the present, they’ve discovered another staircase, and once they step off the top, they find themselves inside a house with shifting rooms, each open door with its own gruesome history behind it.

I loved the premise of The Staircase in the Woods. It gave some strong Cabin in the Woods vibes (although, it’s been ages since I’ve seen that movie). I kept pushing forward for the next chapter, the next room, the next spooky encounter. Usually in novels, especially horror, I have some idea of where we’re going, what the next twist was going to be, but this one kept me on edge, the characters figuring things out faster than I did, which was, actually, rather nice. It felt more like I was on the journey with them.

I’ve seen others say that they found the characters unlikable and unrelatable. I completely get what they’re saying, but also felt the characters became less one-dimensional as the book progresses. In the beginning, they’re all seething with anger, grudges, and disappointments with one another and themselves. As they move through the house, it helps them open old wounds to wrap them properly this time. The characters learn so much about themselves, but also come closer together, reknitting old traumas. As someone who had a large falling out with her high-school friends during college, I empathized with these characters’ growth, their attempts to mend old divides and reminisce about the good days in their relationships.

As an avid horror reader, I didn’t find The Staircase in the Woods to be particularly scary, but I think that has more to say about me than it does this book. It definitely has the traditional horror elements, but I also feel it would have done so much better as a movie (or, let’s be honest, a video game). The whole backdrop would have been captured so fantastically on a screen, and likely would have given me the chills that reading it didn’t. Each room relied heavily on visually aspects, the jumpscares, to create the horror, and it just didn’t come across well enough for me on the page. The fact that the characters also became fairly desensitized by the horror may have also contributed.

Like I said in the beginning, this book grows on you. I definitely suggest giving it a fair chance. The opening is difficult to get through, and could have seriously benefitted from a re-write. The characters feel cardboard and their thoughts, actions, and conversations feel like people talking through the comment section on a facebook post rather than, you know, how people actually talk to one another. There's also some problematic conversations that made me cringe very hard and were completely unnecessary for the plot and characterization. The novel really hit its stride around the forty percent mark, leaving behind the stereotypical characterization and the chronically online language choices.

If you can make it through that, the rest is definitely worth it.

Was very fortunate to be able receive an ACR copy of The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig from NetGalley. The first thing that caught my eye was the title and then I was sucked in by the blurb.
This book was a great read for October aka Spooky season, the thriller/horror elements , the lengths these friends gave to go to escape not only the house but their pain, the psychological challenges, with some scenes bloody and chilling made this an immersive read.
The book comes out April 2025.

Wow!!!! I had never heard of this author before, but the cover and the title immediately caught my attention. This book was absolutely PERFECT for spooky season!!! The author nailed setting the mood for this book. I will most definitely be looking for more titles from Chuck Wendig. (Cool name by the way) I love love love the whole idea behind this story, it's fresh and I don't feel like it's been done over and over again. THAT ENDING!!!!!! oh yes, I highly highly reccomend reading the staircase in the woods, even better during spooky season!! Thank you so much for giving me a chance with the arc!!

Years ago 5 friends came up on a staircase in the woods. One of them climbed it and disappeared into oblivion. Over a decade since his disappearance the covenant is invoked and the friends ascend the staircase in the woods to seek answers.
The staircase leads to a house of horrors filled with blood, corpses, murder, and despair and the friends have to find a way to escape the house before it captures them permanently.
The concept was interesting and my favorite part was the description of the horrors within the walls of the house. In my opinion, it was longer than it needed to be and I found the pace to be slow at times. The characters were all unlikeable which I don’t usually have a problem with in horror but it made the emotional scenes less impactful to me.
I’d read another book by this author based on the writing style.

I saw the title! I saw the author! Immediately I was Over-the-Moon! I read the book! Over-the-Moon from Page One! Does Chuck Wendig ever KNOW how to bring an "A" game that few others can match!!

Do not attempt to read this at intervals: carve out whatever necessary block of time, lock your doors, silence your phone, feed your pets. Settle in to the amazing, horrifying, inescapable Universe that Chuck Wendig spins. You will never forget.

Four friends come together twenty years after their friend Matty disappeared after he walked to the end of a staircase in the woods. Now they find a staircase again, this time they all walk up.

Characters:
At first I really disliked all of the characters but when I got further into the story they did start to get better. The friendship was just toxic, as were the individual characters. During the story it did get better but for a book that really puts the emphasis on this friendship I hoped it would have been better. Especially some scenes were very unnecessary like the one in the car. You haven't seen eachother in twenty years and you start a discussion immediately? It made it feel like the author just wanted to put in a political statement but didn't know how to do it.

Plot:
I liked the plot, even though it was a bit weird sometimes. The overall atmosphere was perfect for this time of the year. The ending felt a bit rushed but I still liked it.

Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC. I was really intrigued by the synopsis so I was excited to be approved. Overall the book was okay, I did enjoy it most of the time so I'm glad I got the chance to read it.

This one lingers...I finished this book late last night and I'm still thinking about that ending, which had a little bit of everything: hope, dread and a little bit of the unknown. I have to say, I much prefer that type of ending than the "wrap it up in a nice bow, everyone lives happily ever after" type ending. The book itself was a complete "mindf**k". In a totally good way. I loved the exploration of friendship throughout the book and what it means, but also how it can be lost, and found again. Also really loved the creepy, foreboding tone of the book. I felt like I was there with the characters as they went room to room, trying to figure out what was going on. Honestly, I can't recommend this book enough! I also can't wait to see what Mr. Wendig writes next.

*(SOME) TRIGGER WARNGS THAT COMES TO MIND: Self harm; SA; drug abuse; child neglect/abuse; death of a child

Well… that was quite the reading experience. Dark, creepy, effed up, and disturbing. I definitely picked a good month to read this ARC!

Even though the story did grip me with its suspense and turn of events after the friends went up the staircase, I initially debated dnfing this book periodically in the first 30%. The book was just pretty rough going for me for quite a few reasons, as outlined below:

-The author’s writing was often very crass and vulgar, too much so for my liking. Example: “He sipped at the coffee and made a face like he’d just licked a booger off a wall.” (Eww no, just gross.)

-I wasn’t the biggest fan of the friendship dynamic. The five were definitely a toxic bunch that didn’t even seem all that fond of each other. I wasn’t very convinced of their love and bond with one another, or that it was strong enough to prevail through all the horrors that they had to face post stair climb.

-The mentions of COVID/ pandemic/Trump/ politics/ gender identity were pretty off putting and took me out of the story. I read to escape, not to be reminded I exist in the same nightmare reality of a world as this book.

-Lore's characterization was meh. Just another example of a man not being able to write a woman well. It's like the author had a checklist of all the stereotypes/attributes of a modern, liberal woman and gave that all to Lore and more.

I was also not satisfied with how the author wrapped up the story. I love my definite, firm conclusions, and am not a fan of ambiguity and when loose ends are left untied. You are the author. YOU tell me how it concludes.

Overall the story did fascinate me and held my attention (If you want to be left feeling disturbed and weird after a read, this is the perfect book for you), but I just don't think this author is for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the uncorrected proof in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book is horrifying disturbing, filled with self harm, gore, death and is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!

The plot follows 5 friends- Owen, Matty, Lore, Nick and Hamish. One night, high on life (and drinks/drugs), partying in the woods they stumble on a staircase in the woods. Next morning it's just four of them. Matty is missing. Thirty years later the four meet again, having found another staircase, and possibly a chance to change what went wrong.

The pace is pretty slow so it took me a while to get into the book. I am not a fan of the pacing and the initial half structure of the book (too much backstory revealed all at once, leaving the present storyline hanging). BUT it gets good... and actually made up for all of it! The book is horrifying, and the characters are incredibly smart (no more stupid people who split up in horror movies and die!), with the way that their mundane careers give them clues to survive the place they are in.

The ramblings are utterly disturbing, so do look at the content warnings. This book is not for the frail, it is an adult book with mature topics. It hits, it slaps and it delivers exactly what was promised. Possibly the best horror book of this season!

This is a difficult book to review. I have only read one other book by this author—The Book of Accidents—and I found that story very compelling. So, when NetGalley offered me an ARC of this book, I jumped at the opportunity. However, it did not live up to my expectations.

Here's what worked: atmosphere. Wendig is good at creating a horrific atmosphere—the story literally feels suffocating at times. It's not comfortable to read this, but it is a horror novel, so it does its job well in that regard. There are lots of fun, creepy concepts and the overall story idea is really good. If the Backrooms intrigues you, then pick this book up for sure!

The book also does a pretty good job of looking at the pain of being a human (this was a theme in The Book of Accidents also, so definitely this author's hobbyhorse). However, this examination is less skillful here - the book hits you over the head with gruesome imagery and repeated stories of people hurting people to the point that it just starts to feel depressing to read. Perhaps that was his intent, in which case it's well done, but I like my horror novels to be more creepy then sad. This book is both in equal measure.

For me, what did not work were the characters. They are all hard to root for or care about, which I think was a mistake. I understand they are all suffering from a case of arrested development due to traumatic childhoods, but given the dark nature of the book and the repeated violence and labyrinth (literally) of pain and suffering, having characters I could care about more would have kept me more invested.

The only likable character - maybe - was Matty. I had a tough time believing Matty would have ever been friends with the other kids. It made zero sense. If there was an early childhood connection he could have still been friendly with them, but as teenagers there is just no way this kid would have still hung out with the others. His character didn't even make sense by itself...a teenager beloved by everyone who is good at everything - including sports AND being the star of every theater production. His character is not fleshed out at all, which is fine since he is not a main player, but he seemed completely unbelievable.

Finally, there was one aspect of the story that was pointless. Why the random couple of political statements? The author's views do not differ from mine, so it's not that this irritated me because I disagree. It irritated me because it served zero purpose in the story. It felt like clumsy, tacked-on, virtue-signaling garbage. I blame the editor as much as the author - a better editor would have pointed out how out of place this was.

Although the ending feels rushed, I actually liked it. I definitely have mixed feelings on this book. It's worth a read for horror fans but didn't quite live up to its promise.

So, this book was such an eerie ride, like total chills. A group of high school friends goes camping, and they stumble across this random staircase in the middle of the woods—like, seriously, how creepy is that? One of them, of course, decides to climb it (because, duh, horror), and then poof—he’s gone. Just vanished. The staircase disappears too, and the rest of them are left to wonder what even happened. Fast forward 20 years, and that same group gets pulled back into the mystery when the staircase reappears. I mean, talk about nightmare fuel!

The build-up in this one was on point. It starts out with the whole reunion vibe, but then it dives into some serious tension as they try to figure out what really happened that night. The mix of suspense and mystery kept me turning the pages, and even though some parts felt a bit repetitive, the overall creep factor totally made up for it. I did get frustrated with a few of the characters, but honestly, by the end, I was all-in and had to know how it wrapped up. Plus, the eerie atmosphere and the whole "what's beyond the staircase" concept? Chilling. It’s definitely worth the read if you’re into horror with a slow burn and a spooky, mysterious vibe.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

As a huge fan of the horror genre, I was extremely excited to get my hands on a copy of The Staircase In the Woods. Chuck Wendig has a phenomenonal record and following in the horror department, so I was immediately surprised when I kept finding myself struggling to finish this novel. A few things felt off and disjointed in the book from the political mentioning, unrelatable characters, and over repetetiviness.
The book definitely has potential, but feel short for me, I really hate when authors stick any political mentioning in fiction books. I'm trying to escape life and enjoy it with my hobby of reading, and the last thing I want is to be bombed with politics. Sorry, Mr. Wendig, but I'm giving this one a 3 out of 5.

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig is a haunting and imaginative horror novel that captures the terror and mystery of a seemingly forgotten tragedy. It revolves around a group of friends who, as teenagers, lost one of their own when he inexplicably disappeared after climbing a strange staircase deep in the woods. Years later, one of the friends enacts a ritual known as "the convenant"—a bond that compels them to reunite and confront the dark mystery behind their friend's disappearance. What follows is an eerie journey that blends eerie elements with emotional complexity, as they seek to understand the power of the staircase and attempt to rescue their lost friend.