Dean Bryant – The Stairwell

‘The Stairwell’ by Dean Bryant is a thriller that has plenty of horror and supernatural elements skilfully weaved into the story that gave me goosebumps and had me doublechecking my doors at night.

Told in alternating chapters with Brandon, in the present day and Alice, hers are set in the past. Brandon’s chapters tell his dark and intense story. We see him experiencing nightmares in which a terrifying creature who resembles his wife, Stephanie has murdered their three-year-old daughter Lily. We are witness to Brandon, battling with his mental health, a voice inside his head that he is hearing and his conscience as well, to attempt to save his marriage. This strange voice is everywhere and it sounds weirdly like the voice of a mysterious strange figure that he sees constantly, and is insisting he needs to kill Stepanie before it is too late.

Alice is at university when we visit her past chapters. While at a student union evening she is approached by Nial, this almost knocks her off her feet as she feels she is overweight and doesn’t see her own prettiness. They end up staying together in her university room and he is everything she could wish for. They are always together as time goes by and even her parents approve. Well, Alice is in seventh heaven and can’t believe how lucky she is, until the day she begins to experience terrible visions. Nial then is in a horrific accident. Alice can’t help but wish her beautiful perfect boyfriend would come back. Sometimes in life, you just need to leave everything alone! She begins to be terrorised by someone who looks like Nial but can’t be Nial, he is a different man!

Alice and Brandon, two separate people, both having terrifying things happening to them in two different times. What could make them connected? How will their stories pan out?

I have read several scary stories over the last couple of months and this one is among the top of the books I have read. An excellent plot, characters that, for me, are memorable and well developed. The inclusion of the supernatural took it to the next level as well! Made it so dark, scary and intense that I was flipping the pages wanting more but at the same time a tiny bit scared of what was coming next, it was as times spine-tingling for me. If you enjoy getting into a real scary thriller this is one you should read.

Thanks to Damp Pebbles Publicity and Dean Bryant for the copy of this book that gave me the chills so I could give you my thoughts today.