Wendig really draws in the reader with this haunted house tale of sorts about a staircase that appears in the woods. Loosely inspired by an abandoned staircase of a decaying mansion that he came across in New Hampshire, he deftly weaves his characters' stories into his framework. Mysterious and spooky.

**Review: *The Staircase in the Woods* by Chuck Wendig**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Chuck Wendig delivers another eerie, mind-bending horror novel with *The Staircase in the Woods*, blending supernatural terror with a deep exploration of trauma, friendship, and the haunting grip of the past.

The story follows five high school friends who, during a camping trip in 1998, discover an eerie staircase in the middle of the woods. When one of them climbs it, he vanishes without a trace—along with the staircase itself. Twenty years later, the staircase reappears, forcing the now-estranged friends to reunite and confront what happened that fateful night.

Wendig masterfully crafts an unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after the book is closed. The horror elements are relentless, offering a mix of psychological dread and grotesque, visceral imagery that will appeal to fans of *The House of Leaves* and *It*. The dual timeline structure adds layers to the narrative, revealing not just the supernatural mystery but also the personal horrors each character carries with them.

However, while the premise is fantastic, the pacing is uneven. The middle section drags a bit, occasionally weighed down by repetitive introspection and heavy-handed themes. Some revelations feel predictable, and the dialogue—while sharp—sometimes leans too much into modern references, momentarily pulling the reader out of the immersive dread.

That said, *The Staircase in the Woods* remains a compelling, chilling read. If you love cosmic horror, unsettling folklore, and stories about the scars we carry into adulthood, this one is worth the climb. Just be careful—you might not come back the same.

An amazing concept that had me gripped from beginning to end.

I ended up giving this 3 stars for a few reasons. I loved the characters and the variety of personalities, and I found myself relating to all of them in unique ways. There were many graphic depictions of both mental and physical trauma that I don't think will be suitable for many readers. Although it was hard to read at times, I personally appreciated the representation. (Please be sure to check the trigger warnings!) The concept of a staircase in the woods that leads to unbelievable horrors, which the characters must solve in order to survive, was insanely intriguing, and I believe it was executed quite well.

However, I had a few personal issues, including instances where characters would blurt out information with no explanation. One character would solve a problem, and the only explanation for them knowing the solution was, "I just knew." Huh?! Or, "I could just feel it." What do you mean? This felt cheap to me personally and frustrated me at times. I also felt the ending was too open-ended and left me unsatisfied with the novel as a whole. I enjoy a good open-ended book, but this left me with too many questions, making my entire reading experience feel somewhat wasted.

Overall, I did enjoy reading this, but I couldn't wholeheartedly recommend it. Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

This very pedestrian haunted house novel is more or less a retread of better novels like "The Shining" and "The Haunting" and isn't nearly as eery or disorienting as the Reddit r/nosleep story that it appears to have been lifted from. Despite some well written, extremely grim scenes of the tragedies that "built" it this particular haunted house isn't so much frightening as it is gross and the group of unlikeable, stereotypical friends who walk its halls in search of a lost comrade never feel like characters the reader can root for.

The book feels cinematic in the sense that it's as though the author is waiting for clever cinematography and good acting to elevate the story telling. The plot unfolds exactly as you'd expect it to, there are no surprises here. Its message, when your friend runs up a random staircase in the middle of the woods and vanishes if you don't follow him you're a terrible person, is honestly ridiculous.

The Staircase In The Woods is a decently constructed and very readable modern haunted house story, with vivid descriptions and plenty of twists and turns. For its intended audience, surely a compelling and enjoyable read.

On the more subjective side of things, I felt the characters fell a little flat, defined by their demons without a lot of depth to uncover. They seemed to fit the themes and plot of the book a little too easily. The dialogue is modern enough and contains a few memes that break the immersion just enough for the reader to realize that there is an author writing this story, but at the same time, this might be very fun for many readers. I rated it 3/5 stars, satisfying and gripping enough without being groundbreaking or particularly immersive.

This will be one of the best books of the whole year for me, I already know. Wow. I loved this book from start to finish and will think about it often. The symbolism, the character development, the anxiety! It was spooky and introspective and beautiful! All the stars!

This book was creepy as hell. There were a couple of nights where I was like, nope, time to stop reading this and read something a little less macabre before bed.

I did enjoy reading this book, and before they went into the house, I was really invested in it. But the middle of the book seemed to drag a bit for me. There was a lot of creepiness during this, but I didn’t really feel like it advanced the plot much, it was more for the shock factor?

However, it did pick up again at the end. Wendig is a great storyteller, and if you’re into horror books, I would definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

This was my first time reading Chuck Wendig, and while I enjoyed parts of The Staircase in the Woods, it didn’t fully blow me away. The premise was intriguing—mystery, horror, and folklore blended into an eerie tale about unexplained staircases appearing in the woods. The atmosphere was fantastic, with Wendig crafting an unsettling and immersive setting that kept me turning pages.

However, the pacing felt uneven at times. Some sections dragged, making it a bit of a slow burn, while other moments felt rushed. The characters were well-developed, but I didn’t connect with them as much as I’d hoped. The horror elements were creepy, but I wanted more payoff in certain areas.

Overall, it was a solid read with a unique concept and strong writing, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’d be open to reading more from Wendig, though, to see how his other books compare.

Chuck Wendig’s The Staircase in the Woods is a horror novel that delves into the complexities of friendship, trauma, and the supernatural. The narrative oscillates between two timelines, weaving a rich tapestry that explores how a harrowing event in the past reverberates through the lives of those involved.

In 1998, five high school friends, bound by a solemn oath to protect one another, embark on a camping trip in the forests of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Their adventure takes a sinister turn when they encounter a mysterious staircase leading to nowhere. Curiosity compels one friend to ascend, resulting in his inexplicable disappearance along with the staircase itself. This traumatic incident fractures their bond and leaves them grappling with guilt and confusion.

Two decades later, the enigmatic staircase reappears, prompting the estranged friends to reunite in hopes of uncovering the truth behind their friend’s disappearance. As they confront their shared past and the malevolent forces at play, they are thrust into a reality where the boundaries between the known and the unknown blur.

Wendig masterfully crafts a sense of dread, using the staircase as a symbol of unresolved trauma and the perilous journey toward redemption. The dual timelines offer a profound exploration of how past events shape present identities, with each character’s evolution meticulously portrayed. The author’s prose is both evocative and unsettling, immersing readers in a world where every shadow conceals a lurking terror.

The Staircase in the Woods is a haunting and thought-provoking addition to the horror genre, blending psychological depth with supernatural elements. It is a compelling read for those who appreciate horror stories that probe the darker facets of human nature and the lingering echoes of past traumas.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy and Chuck Wendig for your phenomenal horror stories. I always look forward to your new books. #NetGalley #TheStaircaseintheWoods #ChuckWendig

"The Staircase in the Woods" by Chuck Wendig is a gripping, eerie, and deeply unsettling read that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. It starts with a simple yet chilling premise: five high school friends go camping in the woods and stumble upon a staircase that leads to nowhere. When one of them ascends and vanishes without a trace, their lives are forever changed.

The story jumps between that fateful night and two decades later, when the staircase reappears, forcing the now-estranged friends to reunite and confront their past. Wendig does a fantastic job of blending supernatural horror with psychological depth. The atmosphere is thick with tension—every shadow in the woods feels like it’s hiding something, and the sense of unease never lets up.

What really stood out to me was how well Wendig captured the way trauma shapes people. The characters aren’t just dealing with the supernatural; they’re grappling with guilt, fear, and the ways they’ve grown apart. Some moments hit hard emotionally, making the horror feel even more personal.

That said, there were parts where the pacing dragged a bit, especially in the middle. Some sections felt overly drawn out, and a few of the characters could have used more depth. But when the horror ramps up, it really ramps up. The final act is intense, unsettling, and full of shocking reveals that had me flipping pages late into the night.

Overall, The Staircase in the Woods is a haunting and thought-provoking read. If you love slow-burn horror with a strong emotional core, this one is worth checking out.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/29
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"Friendship is like a house. You move into this place together. You find your own room there, and they find theirs, but there's all this common space, all these shared places. And you each put into it all the things you love, all the things you are. Your air becomes their air. You put your hearts on the coffee table, next to the remote control, vulnerable and beautiful and bloody. And this friendship, this house, its a place of laughter and fun and togetherness too. But there's frustration sometimes. Agitation. Sometimes that gets big, too big, all the awful feelings, all that resentment, building up like carbon monoxide. Friendship, like a house, can go bad, too."
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I loved The Book of Accidents, so I immediately jumped on the opportunity to read this one. I absolutely love Windigs ways of writing. There is something so eerie and unsettling in his horror books that I am very drawn to. I am all about psychological horror with some paranormal aspects and this one hit the mark for me.
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The Staircase in the Woods is a slow to steady paced book told in a dual timeline between when Matty goes missing and the present when the rest of the friends' head back to try to fix their abandonment. It's also told in multiple POV in order to give each of the characters a voice. I loved this for this story because each of the characters were able to grow throughout the book but also really dig deep down into the character and bring the long buried traumas to the surface in order for them to grow. Where the staircase leads are so unbelievable unique and interesting. I was so intrigued by finding out what each of the rooms contained and how they would be explained (and it is). This gave such a claustrophobic feel with the perfect amount of blood and gore; it's not overly terrifying but it's just enough to make you uncomfortable while reading.
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Overall, this is a huge win for me. I really enjoyed everything about this one and i think that my horror fans will enjoy this one as well! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Chuck Windig and Random House for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was going to start this review by discussing the thing that I liked the most about this novel only to realize that it was a big spoiler, so I will have to thread lightly. First the atmosphere. Just like the pictures of stairways going nowhere in the middle of the woods (they’re real, as the internet will show you), the creepiness factor is very high. Then what this group of friends finds is disturbing, engrossing, amazing and I loved it while I cringed. This saved the book for me, because at first I loathed these characters and their toxic traits. One of them does something so unforgivable that I didn’t understand how the rest didn’t go back home immediately. This is later explained but I still never liked the cast. I still wanted to know what was coming next, so I kept turning the pages. The other part that bothered me was the politics. One of the characters brings up real-life politics for no reason right from the start. Fine, it defines her so I guess it adds to who she is. But then the rant goes on and on and on, aggravating half of the readership for no reason. This comes back later in the book, another long rant. Some of us read for fun, if you want to include politics at least make it brief, please. Anyway, I liked the plot. It requires a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief but this won’t bother horror readers. So it is dark and graphic but original and addictive. It would have been a five-star read for me based on that, even despite the unlikable characters, but I’m taking two off for the unsolicited political content. Too bad.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House Worlds | Del Rey.

Wendig has yet again nailed an original fever dream story onto pages! This story is bound to stick with you in the back of your mind just to creep its way forward the next time you're in the woods! The characters are relatable to a piece of us or those within our friend group, at least for myself personally. Do we ever REALLY know what goes on behind closed doors? Even those doors of our closest friends and the places we love spending time at? Some are masters at hiding it and we'll never know.
Lastly, I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia as these characters are of my generation and reminded me of my high school social group.

"This is the hell of bad houses. Where broken, hate-poisoned places go after they die."

Chuck Wendig's new novel is about a group of five high school friends who are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what. On a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One of the friends walks up to the staircase and never comes down only for it to then disappear. Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group return in hopes to find the lost friend and the truth behind where this staircase leads.

The premise alone felt eerie. As you journey further into this story it delves further than just the dynamics of this friend group. Several issues of childhood trauma and challenges are addressed under the veil of the horror that has been following on from the beginning.

Within the creepy scenes and events that take place is insight into how each of these friends in this group are learning things about themselves they hadn't fathomed before.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It was a dark mysterious horror story that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Five friends, bonded by shared experiences, enter the woods. Only four of them come back out.

A time to relax, a time to party and get away from their lives for a bit. During the course of their adventure, they come across a mysterious staircase seemingly leading to nowhere. One of the friends climbs it and disappears, and so does the staircase. Now, 20 years later, they are called together again at the reappearance of the staircase and a burning question - what happened to their friend?

Wow. The way this book had me in a chokehold the entire afternoon I read it, I literally could not put it down. The characters were all flawed, somewhat unlikable, but deeply human in their lives and experiences. The setting came alive in a way I felt I was there right along with the friend group, which (not to give too much away, read the book 😉) had me on the edge of my seat the entire ride. This one is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you like a good thriller/horror pick, then it’s for you.

Recommended if you like: multiple timelines, thrillers, horror

I am not usually a horror reader, but Chuck Wendig blends sci-fi and horror beautifully. I love that his books , while having blood, guts and gore tend to focus on a more phycological type of horror. It is the things in our own mind that scare us the most. I really enjoyed that ending, it gave closure but still left an opening for your own interpretation of what was going to happen.

"Home is where the hurt is. Where the horror lives."

In Chuck Wendig's latest novel, five close-knit friends are navigating high school. They decide to go on a camping trip and find a staircase in the middle of the forest that leads to nowhere ... One of them walks up and never returns. Then, the staircase disappears. What happened to him? Well, some twenty years later, the staircase is back. The remaining four return to try to find their lost friend and, in turn, what is beyond that staircase in the woods.

This book is in parts dark, painful, eerie and gripping. Reminiscent of online creepypasta or paranormal discussions you can find on Reddit, this story takes an unflinching, raw look at the unspeakable things that happen behind closed doors, the types of things that change and haunt us. Perhaps form our own personal hell's. This book hurt my feelings, and I enjoyed every second. Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC. If you enjoy all things creepy and unhinged, pick this up when it publishes April 29, 2025!

There was a lot going on in this one.

A group of friends come together years after they lost their friend, Matty, to a staircase in the woods while camping.

They come together years after to another staircase in the woods, and it brings out some horror and deep seated trauma in the group.

It’s like the Cube a bit, but with much more feeling.

The end is creepy creepy creepy!

Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig is a gripping blend of mystery, nostalgia, and supernatural suspense. When childhood friends reunite years after a chilling encounter with a strange staircase, secrets unravel. Wendig’s vivid storytelling keeps the tension high while exploring friendship, trauma, and the unknown. With its eerie atmosphere and emotional depth, this novel is both thrilling and unforgettable.
Looking forward to owning another Wendig book!

I have very mixed feelings about The Staircase in the Woods. The premise of a labyrinth house is one of my absolute favorites. Also, friendships that are found family, another favorite. This very much gave Stephen King "It" vibes. 3 guys, 1 girl. The girl "isn't like other girls". Lore was the only female presenting and queer character. And she was insufferable. I align with her anger and rage on all the topics she was vocal about but she was portrayed in a bad way. (obviously my opinion, is it internalized misogyny? Maybe but that's for me and my therapist) Around the middle things go redundant. Then there was the "haha he's the bad guy! Ope, he's fine now! Wait! Got ya again!" and the last page. I said out loud to my empty room "you have got to be f***ing kidding me!" I like an ambiguous ending. This one wasn't it. Overall this is very readable, it's fairly quick and I think it will appeal to Stephen King and Joe Hill readers especially.