I’m a big Chuck Wendig fan and always enjoy his mix of horror, science fiction, and mystery. Needless to say, I had huge expectations for The Staircase in the Woods.

Reunited after years of being apart, four childhood friends reunite as adults only to discover they’ve been brought back together to relive a shared trauma that torn their friendships apart. While the trope of ‘friends returning to the scene of trauma’ isn’t exactly new, Wendig makes it entirely his own by interweaving plenty of horror-esque elements and fantasy.

I’m a big fan of multiple POVs and love when all our main characters not only have a ‘present’ but also flashbacks, especially as the flashbacks are what give us the story that lead to the trauma.

While this was a creepy and entertaining read, I did find that it could have been cut down a bit. The repetitive nature of some parts (even though told through different viewpoints) made it feel longer than it needed to be. I also have a hard time occasionally with such open ended fantasy aspects, I needed just a few more answers around how ‘this’ could even happen so something to think about. Otherwise, Wendig is always a good choice if you want an atmospheric, descriptive, and creepy read.

Other Chuck Wendig Reviews

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★

The Staircase in the Woods comes out April 29, 2025. Huge thank you to Del Rey Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.