I didn't jump on this one right away. The beginning felt a bit stiff and a little dated, but there was an early sense of unease that kept me going. Once I got into the writing groove, the tension did its thing.

After a few chapters, I realized I was reading faster than I intended. It's not that it's flashy or addictive, but the pressure just keeps building up. I've thought about putting it down and not reading it late at night. I've had some trouble with that.

For me, the characters were the best part. Dr. Barrett was just the right mix of annoying and tolerable. Florence had me feeling a bit uncertain about her. Fischer didn't say much, but he was the most important person there. This book really shines when it's about people trying to impose order on something that's just not having it.

The house doesn't go out of its way to scare you. It holds back. Each scene builds up pressure, and by the end, it all pays off. A few moments dragged a bit, but the core of it stayed sharp.

📖 I've got a full review on the blog!
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What's your personal favorite haunted house story?
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You’re out hiking in the woods and suddenly spot a staircase that leads nowhere.
Do you climb it? I probably shouldn’t have. But here we are.

I struggled with this one at first. The opening felt slow, mostly because the characters seemed deeply committed to staying stuck in their own problems. I kept wishing they’d actually do something about it.

Eventually, it clicked that the story is meant to feel stagnant. Once that became clear, my irritation turned into understanding.

When the book found its rhythm, I genuinely enjoyed it. The restraint started working in its favour, the concept carried the narrative, and the slow, lingering unease became oddly satisfying.

The horror stays controlled. The woods and the staircase function more as ideas than active threats. Atmosphere does the work while the plot politely stays out of the way. I respected that, and by the end, I had a genuinely good time with it.

📖 Check out the full review on the blog!
🔗 Link is in my bio.
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