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.

Something mysterious happened to five friends when they were in high school. The incident ruined their friendship and years are no longer speaking. When Nick emails them that he is dying of cancer, his last request is to spend time together. Reunited after twenty years, they find another mysterious staircase in the woods, similar to the one their friend Matty climbed and disappeared all those years ago. When the group follows the staircase hoping to find Matty, they discover a hellish place. This book has some gruesome scenes and difficult topics. It gives you an unsettling feeling as you read about their time beyond the stairs.

Solid horror story. A bit bloated even though it isn't very long. For myself, a bit more editing, and it would have been fantastic. With that said it's another good entry from Wendig.

I was initially drawn to The Staircase in the Woods because of its intriguing premise and promise of a gripping thriller mystery. However, as I dove into the book, I found it tough to engage with.

While the book is categorized as general adult fiction and thriller mystery, I feel an aspect of the horror genre could be included as well. Unfortunately, the writing style wasn’t for me. Right from the beginning, there was an overwhelming amount of descriptive imagery, metaphors, similes, and personification. While these are beautiful writing techniques with their merits, they made it difficult to focus on the characters or the plot. I found myself repeatedly going back to remember which character was being referenced because the figurative language became distracting.

Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters. For adults in their 30s, the characters seemed a bit immature in their behavior and decision-making, which made it harder to relate to them. Some unexpected references—such as a scene involving threesome sex with toys—felt out of place for the genre and what the story seemed to be about. There were also political references, including mentions of Trump, which didn’t add anything meaningful to the plot and seemed unnecessary for the flow of a thriller mystery.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at 50%, as I found myself skimming paragraphs and unable to stay fully engaged. While the descriptive writing is well-crafted, it was too much too soon. As a reader, I was hoping to first build a foundation with the characters, but instead, I spent more time deciphering the metaphors than connecting with the story.

For readers who enjoy highly descriptive, metaphor-heavy writing, this might be more appealing. But for those looking for a fast-paced mystery thriller, this one may not hit the mark.

Thank you to Random House Worlds, Chuck Wendig, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I struggled with reading this novel and I was surprised as I enjoyed previous books by this author. Horror is not the usual genre for me and this was a bit out there for me. I felt it was quite disjointed and I really could not attach myself to any of the characters. For people who were most likely in their late 30's for most of this book, they seemed to be pretty juvenile.

I was greatly put off in the beginning by the sex toy references and the Trump Derangement Syndrome Screed. It seemed like the author might have a few problems of his own if this had to go into the book because none of it really played into the storyline at all. I almost stopped reading after the TDS lines.

I do appreciate being offered an early read of this book by Del Rey and NetGalley.

This book felt very long but it’s a very good, creepy story. It was very detailed which to me made it feel like a long way to get to the core of the story. However I was disappointed to get to the end. I wanted it to continue as I was invested in the characters and wanted more. I gave this book 4 ⭐️’s because the details were just too much for me but the story itself is 5 ⭐️’s.

Is there anything better than a childhood group of friends reunited in an action-fiction story? In The Staircase In the Woods, four friends come back together after one calls upon them. Many years ago, an accident took a friend from them and none of them have ever recovered. Join this rag tagged reunion that investigates a very eerie phenomena - a staircase in the woods. Where does it lead, why is it there? Dare you find out ?

Wendig does a superb job as always of juggling multiple interesting characters while keeping a unique plot moving along.
#randomhouse #thestaircaseinthewoods #chuckwendig

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

The blurb sounded sooo good and so exciting that I just had to read it.

The beginning, however, is a bit bumpy and long-winded. I don't really like the writing style either. Sometimes you're in the here and now, then in the past, and when things get exciting, it doesn't continue straight away but picks up somewhere else entirely. There were just too many flashbacks that were just too long and detailed and that meant that 1. you lost the thread a bit and 2. the tension was gone every time...

And that meant it took a long time for me to keep reading.

The book just drifts off too much for me... you have to like the writing style and since it's my second book by the author, which I also didn't liked as much, it will also be my last.

If coming-of-age tales hold a special place in your heart, then this horror novel offers a dark and intriguing twist on that cherished genre. The mystery of a strange staircase in the woods becomes the heart of this captivating story, where five friends are forever changed by a single, haunting event.

Wendig weaves a mesmerizing tale of suspense and nostalgia. The book opens with a group of high school friends, bonded by a promise to protect one another. Their friendship is central, and the way their bond is tested as they face the unknown feels authentic and gripping. On a seemingly innocent camping trip, they stumble upon the staircase—a thing of nightmares. When one of them climbs it and vanishes, their lives spiral into an unresolved horror that shadows them into adulthood.

This book is a seamless blend of supernatural horror with the deeply emotional journey of growing up and confronting the past. Twenty years later, the staircase returns, and so do the scars of youth. The return of these now-adult characters to the scene of their trauma adds a bittersweet layer of reflection on how far they've come—or how stuck they've remained. As they reunite to unravel the mystery of their lost friend, readers are pulled into a journey that explores fear, loyalty, and the complexities of youth's lasting impact.

The pacing is tight, the atmosphere chilling, but what makes this novel truly resonate is the coming-of-age thread. It’s not just about what lurks in the woods, but about the friendships that form, fracture, and are tested by unimaginable forces. The characters' development over two decades brings depth to the horror, as they navigate both literal and figurative demons.

This book isn't just about what happened in the past—it’s about what happens when you’re forced to confront it. A must-read for those who love horror tinged with emotional weight and the poignant journey of growing up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review The Staircase in the Woods prior to publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of “The Staircase in the Woods.” I have been a big fan of the tales of wooded staircases since the Reddit creepypasta days and was very intrigued by the premise of this book, which explores a young group of friends whose lives are torn apart after a fatal encounter with a forest staircase. I overall enjoyed the pacing and writing style. The plot was unexpected and kept me on my toes. While I didn’t have a lot personally to relate with the characters, they were well developed.

I absolutely loved this! From start to the last page I was enthralled- an overused word in my opinion but no other word fits. This took me a week to read because work, kids, life. Otherwise, I would have binged it in a day or two. This is a story full of friendship, heart, fleshed out characters, but more than that: A plot and concept that was original, scary, and so f-ing fun! I want a physical copy Mr. Windig!!!

I gave my 17 year old son a brief synopsis of what I was reading when he asked me why I’d not made dinner yet. After 20 minutes of an explanation, him sitting and listening he said “Cool, that’s a movie I’d watch… now what’s for dinner?” Ummm- that’s a compliment. Five (freaking scary, un-put-down-able, can I read it again? )⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for a copy of this eARC for my unbiased opinion. Definitely in my top five books I’ve read this year!!!

This is a book you don't just read, but experience. A terrifying take on a real phenomenon which leads to horrific heights and is so much more than it first appears.

Five teenage friends go into the woods to party one night. Only four of them return. And now, thirty years later, they meet once again.

Where did Matty go? He climbed a staircase which appeared in those woods and disappeared, never to be seen again. Then, the staircase vanished. Now, another staircase in the woods and a chance to find their friend.

This novel takes us to where the stairs lead. A nightmare fueled labyrinth like "place" where brutal and monsterous horrors await. A place that traps and wants to take you over. Can these four former friends escape?

This book is also about friendships and each of these characters have secrets. They've drifted from each other over the years as jealousies, fears, and misunderstandings drove a wedge in between them. They fight and argue, spiteful words are said yet they'll have to work together if they want to escape the hellish landscape they find themselves in.

It's one of those books you lose yourself to. From the first chapter you just know you're in good hands from the author. It's fantastic pacing, unrelenting dread, and built up tension ensures you'll read well into the night. Of course I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was neat! I think at certain points it dragged a bit, the flash backs got a little over done for me, to the point where I just wanted to be back in the present. I thought the concept was really interesting, a unique take on the back rooms kind of concept. Really spooky!

Chuck Wendig's new book has a premise easily recognizeable to any creepypasta reader: a group of teenage friends go camping in the woods, and find a staircase apparently leading nowhere. As the author himself explains in the afterword, the phenomenon of "the stairs in the woods" is real (he describes his own fascinating encounter), though there's nothing supernatural about it - the stairs are remnants of previous houses now entirely collapsed or burned.

The staircase in Wendig's novel, however, is just the first step (pun intended!) on the way to an incredibly sophisticated concept which expands on the idea of haunted houses, or houses where something really bad has happened. My jaw dropped when the explanation was offered, very late in the book, of what the teenagers were actually facing. It's impossible to describe it without spoiling it, so I'll limit myself to the confession that Wendig has a powerful story idea in his hands, one which should not be limited to a single book. That said, the book on its own is a brilliant take on this idea, sufficiently developping it into a riveting and entertaining story, with several shocking twists, totally unpredictable turns, many painful reminders of the world we live in, and simply genius characterization.

I can't stress enough how immersive this book is. Everything felt real to me. All the characters spoke and acted like real persons. The insights into mental illness, self-harm, unaliving, on the one hand, and friendship, love, family issues, adulthood, and contemporary life, on the other, were invaluable. In fact, taking into account the complex plot, the terrific writing, the vivid imagery, and the satisfying ending, I'd say that this is Wendig's best horror book to date. It affected me on so many levels, in such unpredictable ways, I can only urge everyone to pick up this book and enjoy the ride!

I read half the book. The writing is very good. I enjoyed this authors other books. I just couldn't connect with this one. I was really bored most of the time reading it. I felt myself skipping alot of the writing just to get to the good parts. I don't ever do that usually. . Give it a chance if you want. :)

What a great read for spooky season! Chuck Wendig knows how to deliver a good scary story and this book is no exception. If you enjoy a creepy tale, then j recommend you try this book.