A review by rowena_m_andrews
The Stairwell by Dean Bryant

5.0

The Stairwell was a chilling read from start to finish, weaving together two very distinct timelines, characters and spine-chilling stories. The narrative alternating between Brandon whose chapters are set in the present, and Alice whose chapters are set in the past, dove into the darkness from the very start – and not just of the paranormal kind, because both the main characters were flawed and struggling in their own ways. Wonderfully human, and realised characters, with cracks in their defences to let the darkness seep in and take hold, and we get to watch that happen. I think that is part of the reason why this book has so much impact because both Alice and Brandon are real characters that we can’t help but emphasise with. We’re drawn into their lives from the beginning, and we’re right there when the visions and voices start, and as the nightmare unfolds, we can’t look away because we need to know what will happen to them.
I particularly loved how The Stairwell plays with the question of whether we – both characters and readers – can trust our own senses? Terrifying dreams and visions, blurring with reality, loved ones who seem to have been possessed and twisted beyond recognition. This blended with some genuinely atmospheric writing, with vivid, inescapable descriptions that really brought the nightmares to life, really breathed life into the horror lurking within the pages.
The writing was excellent, and I felt that the transitions between the characters were beautifully handled – although the cliff-hangers!! This was a gripping read from start to finish, and Bryant knew just how to keep you reading because you just had to find out what happened next. The two storylines were well balanced, and the voices in each were unique and distinct, so you were never in doubt of where you were. While the pacing was spot on, although I would say that the very beginning of the relationship between Alice and Nial was the only place where the pacing slipped a little, and the development felt a little rushed. However, this evened out very quickly, and their relationship and what it led to were some of my favourite parts of the book. And the atmosphere and tension were drawn to knifepoint with exceptional skill, as these two separate storylines were wound around one another
The Stairwell was an intricately woven, goosebump raising read, and exactly the kind of horror that I love reading, the kind that leaves you double-checking doors and leaving the light on at night. There were plenty of twists and turns, and that ending was both perfect – and chilling – and left me wanting more from this author. I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a horror thriller, with that dash of the supernatural that will send tingles down your spine, and leave you wary of the dark.