And this, my friends, is why I don’t go in haunted houses at the carnival. The thought of being stuck in a labyrinth of a house where the rooms keep changing from bad to worse while reminding you of all of your deepest fears and childhood tragedies..no thank you! This book was scary and gross and sad and full of all of the triggers that you need a warning for. So good. It’s a long one, and a little bit of a slow burn, but when it’s going it’s reaaaallly going.

As a side note- Mr. Wendig, this description of He Who Shall Not Be Named made me cackle loudly. It’s perfect.
“the man with the face like a melting citronella candle”

Thank you to Chuck Wendig and Random House Worlds/Del Rey for the free advance readers copy!

My first Chuck Wendig, but definitely not my last! 5 friends go on a camping trip their junior year of high school. There appears a mysterious staircase in the woods. One friend, Mattie, goes up the staircase, and doesn't come back down. The friends try to move on, even though they have a special pact that means they will always be there for each other.
20 years later, and the friendship has disintegrated. One friend, Nick, calls the rest back through their covenant. He has found a new staircase. It's time to find Mattie.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this digital e-arc.*

The nitty-gritty: A most unusual haunted house story, The Staircase in the Woods is an unhinged, psychological mystery that explores personal terrors and complicated friendships.

Chuck Wendig’s latest is a creepy, unsettling haunted house/possession story with multifaceted characters and lots of tension and mystery. It’s also a fairly short book compared to Wendig’s usual page count, and I actually liked this leaner, more focused story. The Staircase in the Woods, about four friends who find themselves trapped in an impossible house, is a claustrophobic mystery that will mess with your mind. 

The story follows five high school best friends—Owen, Lore, Matty, Hamish and Nick—who decide to go camping in the woods the summer before their senior year in high school. Near their campsite, they inexplicably see a circular staircase in the middle of the woods that isn’t attached to anything. Fueled by alcohol and drugs, Matty decides to venture up the stairs while the others watch below. But when he gets to the top, he steps off the last step and literally disappears. The others frantically try to find him, but Matty is gone.

Now, decades later, Owen, Lore and Hamish get an email from Nick, imploring them to fly to New Hampshire for a reunion of sorts. Nick claims he’s dying of pancreatic cancer and wants to see his friends one last time. But Nick actually has a secret agenda. He wants to invoke the Covenant, an old promise among the friends to help each other no matter what, because Nick thinks Matty is still alive and wants to go looking for him.

Out of a sense of guilt for not looking harder for Matty when he first disappeared, the others agree. But what Nick has in store is something none of them could have imagined, and the experience will bring back the past in some horrifying ways.

This is a story that can be easily spoiled if I tell you too much about the plot, so I’ll try to keep things vague and focus instead on various story elements. I mentioned it’s a haunted house story, and yes, the four friends end up inside a house, but that’s where I’ll stop. Aside from the terrifying things they see in this house, Wendig’s strength lies in his ability to convey real emotion through his characters. Lore, Hamish, Nick and Owen are fully developed, three dimensional characters with traumatic backstories, successes, failures and plenty of emotional baggage. Owen has severe OCD and has always been afraid to try anything new. Lore is a successful game designer who is struggling in a field that isn’t very welcoming to female designers. Hamish was bullied in high school for his appearance, and so he changed all that as an adult, becoming obsessed with losing weight. Nick, who appears to be happy and well adjusted, is hiding a terrible secret from his childhood. Matty’s disappearance shattered their friendships, and reuniting as adults is uncomfortable to say the least.

Wendig also brilliantly explores the idea of “houses” and “homes,” what they stand for, how they change, and how they are affected by the people who live, love and even hate inside them. Part of the story hinges on the psychological terrors of moving through various rooms in a house and seeing parts of your past coming back to haunt you. I loved the way each character must face their past and come to grips with how it has affected them in the present.

But if you’re here for the horror, you won’t be disappointed. The scenes inside the house are at times upsetting. The author touches on some possibly triggering events like suicide, murder and child abuse, but to be honest, it’s more psychological terror than anything else. As the characters make their way through the house, the mystery as to what it is and why they’re there deepens, and it was fun to watch each character come up with different theories about what was happening to them.

I did have a couple of issues, though, which is why I didn’t rate this book higher. First, the middle section of the story becomes a bit repetitive, with the seemingly endless wandering through the house and the smorgasbord of different horrors laid out, one after the other. It actually became a little tedious, and I was eager for something different to happen.

My other issue is one I’ve mentioned in other reviews, and every time I see it it annoys me a little bit more. And it has to do with using fiction to go off on a rant about politics. I get it: the world is a mess right now. Politics have gone to hell, the economy is tanking, human rights are being taken away right and left. But honestly, it’s enough to deal with all that in real life. I don’t want to read about it my fiction. Wendig goes on several rants, as his characters on opposite sides of the issues have it out with each other. Not only was it unpleasant to read, but the actual dialog felt forced. For example, Lore is a very angry woman who is extremely defensive about her chosen lifestyle (pansexual) and her career choice (game design), and she’s going to tell everyone how she feels. Instead of sounding like natural dialog, I could hear the author’s voice inserting himself into the conversation and it simply felt fake.

That being said, I have to assure you that these “rants” are a very small part of the overall story and shouldn’t stop you from picking up this book. Chuck Wendig is a talented and imaginative author, and his passion for storytelling comes through loud and clear. After reading The Staircase in the Woods, you may be temped to seek out one of these mysterious staircases yourself. But if you do find one (and I googled it, it’s a real thing!), please don’t climb it. That would be a very, very bad idea.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

Monster House meets the first season of American Horror Story in this story about a random staircase that shows randomly in every now and then. Don’t go up them, unless you want to face your worst fears.

Dark, disturbing, demented and depressing. The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig took the concept of hell and put it into this book. There is too much trauma that these friends bring with them when they start their journey up the staircase in the woods. Please read and heed the Content Warnings. This is a unique and intense haunted house story. I’m still traumatized days after finishing this book. ARC was provided by Del Rey/Random House Worlds via NetGalley. I received an advance reading copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book had a very interesting plot. I enjoyed how realistic the characters were and that they had flaws. There were times I felt like things dragged on a little bit but nothing too crazy. Overall, I really enjoyed this.

‘On Friday, June 5th, 1998, five teenagers went into the woods surrounding High Chair Rocks in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A staircase appears. One goes up it. Only four of them came out. Twenty years later the staircase is back, as are the four remaining friends.’

Wendig is a new to me author and I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I must say, WOW, what a story!! I am so glad I requested the arc. I love how creative this was, the creep factor alone gave me goosebumps. I don’t know how his mind rotates but Wendig somehow wrote a horror and expanded it into this emotional, deep, insightful and impactful story (that I can’t stop thinking about!) And not to stop there, he added sarcasm and a bit of funny into the storyline. I grew to love and root for the characters. Their backstories with sad situations. A little long and repetitive at times but I really enjoyed this. What an incredible writer. What an interesting story. Read it! ❥ 4.5 stars — Pub. 4/29/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts off slow with characters that I did not particularly like…but then things get going and I was sucked in, reading nearly 300 pages in one day. The staircase in the woods will challenge your concept of what home means, what happens behind closed doors, and the effect it has on the world whether you know it or not. This book reminds us that behind every closed door is a n unknown, potentially a horrible secret rotting away. A solid reminder that everyone needs therapy. Read this book! And call your therapist! And your friends. Share with them, build a community you can lean on. Leave no man behind.

In The Staircase in the Woods, Chuck Wendig masterfully explores the fragility of friendship, the meaning of home, and the complicated ties of family, all while delivering a fresh, chilling twist on the classic haunted house narrative. With his signature darkly lyrical prose and a profound understanding of human vulnerability, Wendig constructs a tale that is as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying.

At the heart of the novel lies a chilling idea: “Friendship, like a house, can go bad, too.” Wendig uses this metaphor to full effect, weaving a narrative in which the comfort of the familiar is slowly corrupted. The home, often a symbol of safety, becomes a site of festering pain, repressed rage, and lingering sorrow. Through this lens, Wendig blurs the lines between emotional trauma and supernatural horror, suggesting that the real terror often lies in what we carry with us.

Set against the backdrop of an ancient, whispering forest, the story’s atmosphere is palpable. The creak of old wood and the rustle of leaves are no longer innocent; they hint at deeper, more sinister forces lurking just out of sight. The forest becomes a character in its own right—twisting, watching, remembering.

What truly elevates The Staircase in the Woods is Wendig’s ability to balance dread with heart. His characters are flawed, deeply human, and achingly real, each grappling with their own ghosts. As the mystery unfolds, so too does an emotional narrative about belonging, loss, and the complexities of love and loyalty.

A symphony of shadows and sorrow, The Staircase in the Woods is a haunting, unforgettable journey into the heart of fear. Wendig has crafted a novel that not only unsettles but lingers—long after the last page is turned.

Verdict: A gripping, atmospheric read that redefines haunted house horror through a deeply human lens. Highly recommended

Terrifying, gripping, nostalgic, and creepy, The Staircase in the Woods grabbed my attention and never let go! I was instantly drawn into the dual timeline story about a group of friends, the past, the present, and all the things in-between. I had a hard time putting this book down as I was fully invested in learning what happened when five friends walked into the woods and only four came out! I don't know about you but if I am walking in the woods and see a staircase, I won’t be climbing it. Just saying. Nothing good can come of it, and yet five teenage friends on a camping trip are intrigued and decide to climb........

Twenty years after the night they found a staircase in the woods, four friends came home. Their lives have taken them in different directions, and they lost touch after that fateful camping trip. But they have been invited back and hope to find their missing friend once and for all. If you are getting It vibes, you are not alone. But The Staircase in the Woods stands on its own (pun intended) and Wendig delivers a creepy and terrifying tale of friendship, abandonment, grief, loss, guilt, love, and the things that haunt us.

I loved the creepy and eerie vibe of this book. I also loved the tension, the atmosphere, the sense of danger that oozed throughout the book, the vivid descriptions, and the heaviness of the character's feelings. Don't even get me started on the ending!

Creepy, tense, well thought out, and hard to put down!

4.5 stars


Thank you to Random House Worlds | Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you love horror like It, with a group of friends gathered back together, give this one a try. It has unique characters that you get to know as kids and as adults, and horror in both timelines.

When five friends find a lone staircase in the woods, one friend ascends the stairs and disappears along with the staircase. Now 20 years later the staircase reappears and the friends face their fears to try and find the friend they lost all those years ago.

This is not my normal read but the synopsis was so interesting I decided I needed to read this and so glad that I did. This was such a wild, weird ride. I never knew what was going to happen next and that was so fun. This book felt like a fever dream in the best way!

Five friends decide to go camping and they find a staircase in the woods and one of them decides to climb it. He is forever gone, and his friends move on with their lives. Twenty years later, one of the friends reunites them again as his last dying wish. The staircase reappears, and this time, they all decided to climb it. What they find there will change them forever. Through shifting rooms, supernatural, and creepy situations, all the friends will confront their traumas and deal with their demons.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Worlds/ Del Rey!


The Staircase In The Woods is a novel like no other. A must-read for everyone who enjoys horror, thrillers, gore, magic, and the supernatural! 💫💫💫💫💫

Chuck Wendig has another extraordinary novel that explores what it means to be human, focusing on the disturbing and disgusting aspects of who we are while also examining friendship and found family. This novel also delves into being seen, what it means to individuals, and how not feeling seen can have a profoundly negative impact on lives. I'm eager to read and discuss this with my book club next year.

In this book we follow a group of friends on a camping trip in the woods when a mysterious staircase leading to nowhere appears. One friend walks up the staircase never to be seen again. Now several years later, the staircase reappears and the rest of the group uses this as an opportunity to find their friend who went missing years before.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect since this was my first book I’ve read from this author but I loved his writing style. I felt like it was sarcastic and funny at times while also being extremely deep and insightful. I also just loved the entire premise. Felt really “creepypasta” to me and I loved how the author took this concept and made it into something really impactful and interesting. I also grew to root for the characters. They all have their story with pretty sad pasts and situations but I really grew to love them. The one negative I will say is it just felt a little long at times and it got to be a bit repetitive but overall I highly enjoyed and would definitely recommend!

I had no idea where this would go and it continued to “go places” I couldn’t dream up or imagine. I found myself skimming through quickly in the middle but intrigued enough to continue to the end. I’ll forever “look” at my house differently. Thanks to NetGalley for the experience.

As a horror fan Chuck's books are my favourite to read as I know I am always in for a surprise. This one definitely creeped me out as the staircase in the middle of the woods that leads nowhere is a folk / scary story I have heard but always manages to scare me. I felt invested in the friends as they sought to encounter the evil that took their friend.

Four friends confront the past and an old evil as they search for their lost childhood friend. This one started out as entertaining but it didn’t quite hold my attention like his previous books did, it seemed to wander in the middle and lose its way. I did enjoy the afterword about abandoned staircases. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Rounded down from 4.25 ⭐️'s

This is a hard book to describe. It definitely falls into the horror category - literally every depravity is represented 😅. Some parts were pretty graphic, and the imagery was next-level (but GROSS). However, the heart of this story is so much deeper than body horror, creepy crawlies, violence, and scary stuff.

I love it when a book transcends genres, and this one did just that. The plot explores many deep themes, and you can't help but root for all the characters. It was heartbreaking, relatable, and, of course, eerie as hell.

The only thing that kept me from rating it five stars was a lull in the middle. I think the book was just a little bit too long.

Overall, The Staircase In the Woods is a unique, standout horror novel. I have never read anything quite like it.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the chance to read an early copy!

This book started out so strong. I was in. I was really interested in the premise. A mysterious Staircase steals their friend away when they are kids. Terrifying. Where it lost me was how long it took to get to the twist and the explanation of the house. I thought that the origin/backstory should have happened earlier in the book. Overall, I did enjoy the story. It was just too long and could have gotten to the twist and ending sooner.