Wow! This was my first Chuck Wendig book and I’m so happy I got to read one of his books! He is a master at writing a creepy atmosphere. I haven’t been this terrified by a book for a long time.

i am stuck between a 2 or a 3 for this book, so i’m just going to round up to 3! the plot was all over the place at points which was annoying, but the premise was so interesting that i continued reading anyways. i was drawn in immediately at the idea that a staircase randomly appeared in the woods and caused someone to disappear from a group of teenagers. the themes of friendship and grief were heavy and complicated, but i believe that’s how real life works. i was disappointed by how unlikable all of the characters were, though, as well as the ending. however, i’m probably going to be thinking about this story and the extremely creepy, hateful house for a long time. thank you to netgalley/the author for this ARC!

Thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5/5

"It's to us. To the....to all of us." There was a beat before she said; "The Covenant."
The Covenant. As if that was even a thing anymore. That, a bone long broken, left unhealed.'

Holy moly this was creepy af!!! But that's EXACTLY what I've come to expect from Chuck, and he sure doesn't disappoint with this story. The story certainly went in unexpected directions and the horror elements are truly shiver inducing. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the trope of a group of high school friends who come back together after many years estranged. It totally felt like a call back to Stephen King's It, one of my favorite novels. The character work here is wonderful as always, with people who are flawed, damaged and feel totally real. I don't want to get into any other specifics of the story, because I definitely don't want to spoil anything, but just know that each of these characters has trauma and secrets in their past which are forced into the light through the events of the story. There are traditional horror elements, as well as ties to D&D, video games and of course, dysfunctional families. And as I often find with Chuck's stories, there are emotional, teary moments and an ending that definitely leaves you wanting more. If you enjoy character driven spooky, creepy stories and haven't read anything by Chuck before, this is a terrific entry point to his works, and I can certainly recommend all his other works as well!! And don't forget....avoid all staircases in the woods!!

I'm feeling a bit torn about this book. The start was pretty slow, but things finally picked up in the middle, and that’s when I started to really enjoy the story. Just a heads up to check the trigger warnings. I found the idea behind the novel super intriguing, and there were some solid horror moments that I really liked, especially the haunted house vibe. However, the characters, who seemed to be in their 30s, acted a bit immature. The ending didn’t sit well with me either; it felt rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied. After getting so invested, it was a letdown to have such an open ending. I understand that might have been the point, but it just felt like a waste of my time

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Worlds | Del Rey for allowing me to read this ARC.

Yet another outstanding entry in Wendig's oeuvre! This novel not only provides an accurate view of the dynamics of friend groups, but of the 90s as well. (I cannot believe he named checked Maniac Mansion; I thought my sister and I were the only people who played that!) The 90s and current cultural references are germane to the novel and don't feel shoehorned in as fan service. Likewise the thoughtful discussion of body focused repetitive behaviors.

Beyond that rich and deep background color of the novel, we get to experience a plot that keeps you riveted and staying up well past your bedtime.

This novel was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book.

In this book a group of friends reunite to join forces to find a missing friend, and ultimately end up in a battle between good and evil. It reminded me of the book "It" by Stephen King, with video game themes added to the mix, which resulted in a very engaging tale. I found this book to be very scary at times, and avoided reading it at night for that reason. In addition to the scary vibes, there is a decent amount of gore, which I was unprepared for and I think led to me avoiding reading it at night.

I've heard mention of some books where the house is a character (Example: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett) and in this case the house definitely is a character in the book. This book also explores friendships, romantic relationships, messy family situations and feelings of loneliness, guilt, and inadequacy. Reading it definitely brought me back to middle-school and high-school years, when I spent a lot of time reading Stephen King books, exploring neighborhood parks and woods, and looking for secret passageways in my house (I was disappointed to never have found any).

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because it was very suspenseful and definitely kept me engaged. It was the first book I have read by this author and plan to read his book "The Wanderers" soon. This review is also posted on Goodreads (link below).

This was my first Chuck Wendig but will DEFINITELY not be my last! I was familiar with his name but had somehow never read his books before - a mistake I intend to remedy but quick. He has a compelling storytelling style and the way he blends the friends-reunion-after-tragedy with supernatural ghost story horror elements is really something. He has an easy narrative voice and his creep-factor gave me King/Hill vibes while still feeling wholly original. With a marvelous eye for detail - both in the construction of his fantastic world and in the complex characters who populate it - he managed to draw me in, hold me tight, and refuse to let me go until the bitter end.

This was a trippy weird eerie ride and a fabulous spin on the haunted house concept. I loved the cover art and the concept of the eponymous staircase in reality had me googling to see if any exemplars were located near me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds and Del Rey for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was only my second experience with Chuck Wendig's writing (also read The Book of Accidents), and it certainly won't be my last. I'm not going to lie, I almost abandoned this novel around the halfway mark because some of it felt too repetitive and long. But then it got really good and I finished the second half in one sitting. I don't think that too many authors can weave beautiful writing/profound passages with horror, but I found that in The Staircase in the Woods. This was the first time that I highlighted quotes and entire paragraphs in a book of this genre. While I personally struggled a bit to stomach some of the gruesome details - which is both a kudos to the author for painting those images, and an indicator of my horror threshold - I appreciated the caution Wendig used to approach Nick's history towards the end. He could have easily gone the unnecessary graphic route, and I'm so grateful that he didn't.

The Staircase in the Woods was atmospheric, creepy, unsettling, and so much more than your typical horror story. It's definitely one that will stick with me for a while. I'm not a fan of political statements or references in my fiction, so that knocked the rating down a bit for me.

Overall a great read especially during Halloween. This book follows a group of friends whose lives went in very different directions but then come back together to finally address the cause of their falling out. The author did a great job developing the characters throughout the book and keeps you engaged by continuing to give more and more pieces of information about their pasts. Make sure you pay attention because there are some twists and turns along the way.

I enjoy a good haunted “house” story; however prefer to avoid books that try to be too relevant by including politics and social issues.

Wow, what a wild ride!
A group of five teenage friends go on camping trip and after finding a mysterious staircase in the woods, only 4 of them return. As adults, they have grown apart but when one of them gets a terminal diagnosis, they reunite and discover the staircase has returned.
I really enjoyed the flashbacks and glimpses into the groups childhood stories. It is a sad reminder that you never truly know what another person goes through. The friendship dynamics were complex and emotional. The story took a super creepy turn and had a few jump scares for me. I enjoyed the twists and the reveal at the end. Very cool concept, I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for the digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is publishing April 29, 2025.

The entire set-up premise for the friends getting together seems like it was torn from 3 Body Problem. However, it is an original concept and how we get where we get to is nuts. Matty disappeared years before after a group of 5 teenagers found a staircase in the woods. Years later, the other 4 friends have lost touch but come together again. However, another staircase in the woods is found, and what happens next is nuts and very sci-fi.

I have read a few of Chuck Wendig's stories and novels and can happily report that, so far, he has never really disappointed. This was no different.

This is about friendship, about despicable humans, all kinds of social hot topics - and, sadly, about redemption. Yep, it's about rekindling friendships and atoning for what you've done / coming to terms with what has been done to you. Personally, I was disappointed by that. I wanted blood and guts and by all the bookgods, these assholes would have deserved it. *lol*

Vibes I got while reading this were that of "The Cube" (anyone remember that movie?) what with the changing rooms. That was actually a nicely nightmarish element of the story. Not to mention that when there was the literal writing on the wall ("the house hates you") I vigorously nodded my head in agreement. #teamhouse
For those who know it, maybe even played it as kids, there are also classic D&D vibes in here.
Whichever of the above appeals to you more, the worldbuilding is providing some really cool atmosphere.

As I'm used to by now when reading one of Wendig’s stories, the writing was top notch, the characterizations extremely detailed. Not every book can make you feel so deeply about its characters (whether in a positive or negative way). I hadn't known about the urban myth behind this story but researched it a little while reading this book and quite liked it - just like I enjoyed what the author made of it.

While I had wished for a different direction for this to go and while I was ready to strangle at least one character myself since the author refused to do it, I absolutely loved the atmosphere, the horror elements (because they are definitely exist) and the overall reading experience.

This book had such an amazing “creepypasta” type concept and also so original. Five friends found a lone staircase in the woods while out on a camping trip. One of the friends goes up the stairs and never comes down. Written in a past and present timeline, this book continues years later when another set of stairs appears.

This was my first book by Chuck Wendig and man can this guy tell a story. I was not expecting what a journey this was going to take me on. I almost DNFd because it got really scary all of a sudden but the plot was so intriguing that I had to know what happened. It did start kind of slow but one it picked up it was so well paced. I admittedly did get a few nightmares if I read this too close to bed so it took me longer to finish this because I had to wait until I could read it earlier in the day. I scare easily so at times I had to do the book equivalent of consuming the story while peeking through my fingers while covering my eyes during gory scenes but also being unable to tear my eyes away from the page.

The ending left me with mixed feelings and I'm not talking about the final scene, that I didn't mind. I didn't care for how it wrapped up overall. It's hard to go into details without spoiling it but it toed the line of being cheesy.

I loved this book even though I would've preferred a different ending but I couldn't even begin to think how someone could end a book like this. This would make an excellent horror movie. The scenes were so vivid and well-written that it feels like I watched this instead of reading. I will definitely read more books by Chuck Wendig when I'm feeling brave.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Works - Del Rey for letting me have an eARC of this book. The opinion on this review is my own.

3.5⭐️ rounded up… this book was different. I knew about the staircase in the woods in NH, remnants of an old castle that burned down, so the title of this book intrigued me. This was a gamer, horror, sci-fi amalgam. At times fascinating, creepy, disturbing… others bizarre. For the most part, there was always something going on. I definitely had a WTF did I just read moment when I finished it.

The story follows four childhood friends, still reeling years later after seeing their friend disappear off the top of a staircase in the woods and being accused by their community of murder, as they reconnect and search for their lost friend. The horrific, game-like adventure forces them each to face their demons, both individually and as a group as they fight to survive.

The constant reference to “the covenant”, which was used to invoke the groups promise to always be there for each other, started to get on my nerves in the second half of the book. The switching amongst the four perspectives did get a little confusing and I had to reread a few parts, but over all it was eventful, entertaining, and different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of "The staircase in the Woods" because this is one of my alltime favorite horror books now!

If you're a fan of "The House of Leaves" or even some of the surreal horror like Joe Hill-- don't miss this when it is released in April of 2025. I was legit terrified at times reading, once yelling at my husband for scaring me in the middle of the night!

This was my first Chuck Wendig read, and will be by no means my last. This is the story of 4 lifelong friends who, over the years, have grown apart after the disappearance of a 5th friend, Matty. Matty found a staircase in the woods and climbed it, with his friends too scared to follow him..
Matty was never seen again.
But years later, when they're invited to the "funeral" of one of the friends dying of cancer, their whole world turns upside down, and the group, called The Covenant, faces their most horrifying fears, when they find another staircase..
But, leading to where? and whom?
The writing in this novel was exceptional, with shades of early King.
Mr. Wendig has a new fan in me. I look forward to reading more from him.
This was a 5 Star read for me.

This was my first book from Chuck Wendig. It good things about him and the cover and description grabbed me. I love the staircase and the exploration, inner and outer that the characters go through because of it.
It's an intense, dark book.
I found the characters and their dynamics engaging. The hard, defensive edges rang true.
The imagery, characterizing details, settings, conflicts, and loyalties worked beautifully.
For me, there was too much explanation and exposition in the final 40%. I was intrigued enough to keep reading but it lost the wonderful immersive magic of the earlier chapters.
The novel has strong echoes of Stephen King. I was glad to read the note at the end for insights on the author's inspiration. I took a look at his blog, too.
Although there's a lot of horror imagery, to me the book reads as speculative fiction. I liked the ending. The story powered through and overcame the excessive explanations by about 94% and went where it needed to go. I'm okay with resting in that open space and the journey the characters took to make their choices. It was worthwhile and satisfying.
I'll post a full review on GoodReads and TikTok closer to the release date.
Thank you for the eARC for consideration. I recommend The Staircase in the Woods highly for readers who appreciate speculative fiction and unusual horror.

I have mixed feelings about this one. The beginning was very slow, it only picked up during the middle part and there I started to quite enjoy the story. There were some really good horror sequences and I liked the haunted house setting a lot.
However I never grew to like any of the characters or their dynamic, it didn't feel like a real friendship group and honestly not even like they liked each other a lot. For me there was too much focus on their backstories, I didn't care about any of that, and it took away time from the actual horror elements. I also couldn't ignore how similar this felt to Stephen King, not sure if it was intentional, but I was missing originality in the story. Everything felt like it had been done before. After the initially strong middle part I also didn't enjoy the ending, it felt anticlimatic and confusing.

So I truly wanted to get more into this book. The whole summary captivated me and look at that cover, beautiful! I really love the whole myth about staircases and doors in the woods just randomly being there and causing all kinds of crazy things but this one wasn't it for me.

I couldn't get past the characters in this book. With their reactions and conversations you wonder how they ever could be friends.

This book turned from getting to know our characters and their trip to see Nick their old friend who is dying of cancer, to a political rant.

I meant this one goes very deep. I understand that some people would appreciate this political rant included but for me it took me entirely out of the story as we see the authors feelings more in the book than our characters themselves. This rant about Trump and political beliefs last for pages.

Overall based on what I've read so far I can tell I won't enjoy this book. I already hate the characters and don't understand how they could have ever been friends or decent humans towards each other. This book just was not for me.

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wendig has done it again.

He's quickly becoming my go-to for beyond-solid horrors. He's got great, complicated, messy characters, a discovery-till-you-puke vibe, and some serious growth for these guys. As teens, then messed-up adults, we've got a while IT vibe going on here that I absolutely love.

Friends, people. Growing up, growing apart, growing back together. That's what this one is about. I LOVED it.

Oh, and be forewarned, there's so much characterization going on here that I got lost in it. Wendig is usually pretty fantastic for this, but I truly got lost in these peeps. And, let's not forget, this IS a horror, but I've never seen a horror serve so much THERAPY as SK's IT as this.

Plus, let's be real, this one's a very Gen X kind of therapy. So, whatever. It is what it is. Muahahahahaha