THE STAIRCASE IN THE WOODS BY CHUCK WENDIG
ABOUT
A group of friends investigate the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel.

READ IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OR LIKE
- Supernatural horror - urban legends/magic
- Character-driven story
- Camping/Wilderness setting
- Friendship and nostalgia themes
- Dual timelines
- Small town horror

REVIEW
Clocking in at 400 pages it's actually a shorter novel for the genre bending author, Chuck Wendig. The publisher actually described this one better than I've seen in the past. It's not really a horror book but a dark supernatural thriller with feelings of dread and terror sprinkled in. It's well-written and reminds me of the character-driven characters of It by Stephen King and The Hollow Place by T. Kingfisher. I enjoyed it but I still think it could have been edited more and it felt a bit disjointed at times.

THE SWIMMER BY LORETH ANNE WHITE
ABOUT
Socially awkward Chloe Cooper divides her time between dog walking, bartending, caring for her ailing mother, and at a safe distance, watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. Like Chloe’s new neighbors: glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and Jemma’s husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon. They’re attractive, wealthy, and in a house of open windows, so exposed.

READ IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OR LIKE
- PNW setting
- Psychological suspense
- Neighborhood secrets
- Domestic lies
- Books that make you want to make a red string board

REVIEW
Warning. Do not engage in any activities while reading or listening to this book or you won't know what the hell is going on. There are a lot of characters in this book and I struggled in keeping them straight throughout the story. As a novel I didn't love it but I do think that there were about three strong story ideas. It kept me engaged most of the time but had too many subplots.

WOOM BY DUNCAN RALSTON
“Warning: this book contains graphic violence and sexuality most readers will find offensive.”

ABOUT
The Lonely Motel holds many dark secrets... and Room 6 just might possess the worst of them all. Angel knows all about pain. His mother died in this room. He's researched its history. Today he's come back to end it, no matter the cost, once and for all. Shyla, a plus-sized escort, thinks the stories Angel tells her can't be true. Secrets so vile, you won't want to let them inside you. But the Lonely Motel doesn't forget. It doesn't forgive. And it always claims its victim.

READ IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OR LIKE
- Extreme horror
- Splatterpunk
- Vignette style stories
- Disgusting/disturbing content
- Trauma centered characters

REVIEW
PLEASE READ TRIGGER WARNINGS ABOVE. I finally ripped off the band aid and read my first extreme horror book. I made a lot of faces, gagged a few times, and had to pick my jaw up off the floor more times than I can count. I think it would have thought this book was average but the last few pages were INSANE. SHOCKING. APPALLING. But then somehow left me incredibly hopeful for the characters.

CHLOE BY CONNIE BRISCOE
ABOUT
A mansion haunted by the ghost of a cool, charismatic first wife. A second bride from a small Southern town who may be in over her head. A brooding billionaire who grows icier the more his new wife questions him about the past.

READ IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OR LIKE
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
- Domestic suspense
- Gothic stories
- Reimagined classics
- POC representation

REVIEW
There are two types of people in the world. People who believe that their favorite book or film should never be adapted or rewritten and will curse anyone or anything that doesn't live up to their high expectations OR those who love the book or film so much they want to see all the different adaptations. I'm the second one. I LOVED this one. I read it in a day. Wonderful audiobook or wait for the paperback but if you liked Rebecca AND you want to read something that reads A LOT like it then this one is for you. Just think of what Ross said on Friends, "Don't you see? This is just like that. Only with a few details changed."