Chuck Wendig’s The Staircase in the Woods is a captivating, atmospheric blend of horror, nostalgia, and mystery that reeled me in, held tight, and refused to let go.

The heart of the story begins in the late 1990s, when five teenage friends stumble upon a mysterious staircase in the woods—one that leads to nowhere. When one of the friends climbs the staircase and vanishes, the four that remain are fractured and haunted by the past. Decades later, they reunite as adults to confront a new staircase and the secrets it holds.

Wendig excels at creating a world that feels both eerily surreal and deeply personal. The book starts with a slow, deliberate unraveling of each character’s life, building the kind of emotional stakes that make every strange and terrifying moment hit harder. And once the group steps into the unknown, the tension ratchets up to an almost unbearable level.

What’s exists beyond the staircase? What does it want? Every page is laced with dread and anticipation as the friends navigate a labyrinth that seems to know them all too well.

The atmosphere that Wendig created drew me in. He’s crafted a fascinating and horrifying environment filled with a sense of unease that lingered with me long after I turned the last page.

Additionally, each of the characters in this story feels fully realized, and their relationships are the beating heart of the story.

There is a palpable sense of mystery throughout the book. Every revelation is layered with meaning, pulling you deeper into a narrative that’s as emotional as it is chilling

If you love books that mix psychological horror with unrelenting suspense, The Staircase in the Woods will have you hooked. This story explores friendship, memory, and the things we can’t outrun—set against a brilliantly executed backdrop of creeping terror.

Chuck Wendig has written a tale that’s as unsettling as it is captivating. With its blend of nostalgia, mystery, and sheer horror, The Staircase in the Woods kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This is one of those rare stories that had me staying up well past my bedtime while telling myself, “just one more chapter”. I can’t wait to see what Wendig writes next.

🌟 4.5/5 Stars 🌟

Note: This is my honest review based upon an advance reader’s copy of the book. The Staircase in the Woods is set to release April 29, 2025 and can be preordered by following the links on this page.