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The Man on the Endless Stair: A fantastical, page-turning locked room mystery
When troubled but talented young author Euan meets decorated novelist Malcolm Furnivall, he feels his luck has finally changed. Malcolm takes Euan as a protégé, vouching for him in the rarefied literary scene in the 1950s. But lately, Malcolm has not been himself. Consumed by his work, he cuts an increasingly isolated figure and has become convinced that something terrible will befall him. He summons his loved ones to his secluded island in the Hebrides and – to everyone's surprise – entrusts Euan with the task of completing his masterpiece.
Malcolm's suspicions soon prove well-founded; he is discovered brutally murdered in his study, and his invaluable unfinished novel has vanished. Cut off from the mainland, with the killer on the loose and the island's inhabitants circling, Euan feels both his mentor's legacy and his only chance at greatness slipping away. He must venture deep into Malcolm's labyrinthine mansion to find the manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands.
But what he doesn't yet know is that the closer he comes to solving the mystery, the tighter he will bind himself to a fate sealed in time . . .
Malcolm's suspicions soon prove well-founded; he is discovered brutally murdered in his study, and his invaluable unfinished novel has vanished. Cut off from the mainland, with the killer on the loose and the island's inhabitants circling, Euan feels both his mentor's legacy and his only chance at greatness slipping away. He must venture deep into Malcolm's labyrinthine mansion to find the manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands.
But what he doesn't yet know is that the closer he comes to solving the mystery, the tighter he will bind himself to a fate sealed in time . . .
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2025
8 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 30, 2025
Updated review following book club.
This book poses some interesting questions, the most important being if you knew what was going to happen in your life would you try to change it? Or are events predestined and set in stone?
Euan our protagonist is a troubled young author and he has travelled to the home of his mentor reclusive but brilliant author Malcolm Furnivall. Malcolm has been consumed by his work convinced something terrible is going to happen to him, he has summoned all his family and Euan to his home on a remote Hebrides island. Malcolm asks Euan in front of everyone to complete his masterpiece. When Malcolm is brutually murdered it falls upon Euan to discover who did it and recover the lost manuscript. But as Euan comes closer to finding the truth of the mystery he is sealing his own fate.
I really enjoyed this book, it was the book chosen for book club this month. There are some interesting questions in this book, is Euan by solving the mystery sealing his fate? Is time linear? Everyone in this book had something to hide even Euan but at the end I felt sorry for him, as he can’t escape his fate no matter how hard he tries. I think it would drive a person mad if they knew how their life was going to play out, you’d drive yourself insane trying to change things but would you be completing a self fulfilling prophecy by trying? Overall this book kept me guessing, I didn’t see any of the twists coming and the suspense is slowly built up to a crescendo at the end. This book was really intelligently written and I enjoyed this as it’s one of those novels that makes you think but was really easy to follow. As this is the authors debut book, I think he has done really well and I look forward to seeing what he writes in the future.
In bookclub tonight this book was given an overall rating of 5/10, I personally think it deserves more as I thought this book was a masterpiece for a debut book. Sadly a lot of the group didn’t pick up on what the author was trying to convey and didn’t enjoy it, but there were a few of us who really enjoyed it. The author had recorded a video message for us and explained what he was trying to do in this book, I’m pleased to say that I picked up on the questions that the author wanted us to ask.
This book poses some interesting questions, the most important being if you knew what was going to happen in your life would you try to change it? Or are events predestined and set in stone?
Euan our protagonist is a troubled young author and he has travelled to the home of his mentor reclusive but brilliant author Malcolm Furnivall. Malcolm has been consumed by his work convinced something terrible is going to happen to him, he has summoned all his family and Euan to his home on a remote Hebrides island. Malcolm asks Euan in front of everyone to complete his masterpiece. When Malcolm is brutually murdered it falls upon Euan to discover who did it and recover the lost manuscript. But as Euan comes closer to finding the truth of the mystery he is sealing his own fate.
I really enjoyed this book, it was the book chosen for book club this month. There are some interesting questions in this book, is Euan by solving the mystery sealing his fate? Is time linear? Everyone in this book had something to hide even Euan but at the end I felt sorry for him, as he can’t escape his fate no matter how hard he tries. I think it would drive a person mad if they knew how their life was going to play out, you’d drive yourself insane trying to change things but would you be completing a self fulfilling prophecy by trying? Overall this book kept me guessing, I didn’t see any of the twists coming and the suspense is slowly built up to a crescendo at the end. This book was really intelligently written and I enjoyed this as it’s one of those novels that makes you think but was really easy to follow. As this is the authors debut book, I think he has done really well and I look forward to seeing what he writes in the future.
In bookclub tonight this book was given an overall rating of 5/10, I personally think it deserves more as I thought this book was a masterpiece for a debut book. Sadly a lot of the group didn’t pick up on what the author was trying to convey and didn’t enjoy it, but there were a few of us who really enjoyed it. The author had recorded a video message for us and explained what he was trying to do in this book, I’m pleased to say that I picked up on the questions that the author wanted us to ask.
November 25, 2025
It’s just a couple of years after WWII as young writer Euan embarks on the most extraordinary journey of his life – literally and figuratively. Euan is not unsuccessful, but he’s gained more respect as a writer since he’s been taken under the wing of Malcolm Furnivall. Malcom is a reclusive but very highly esteemed writer of a series of books that play with time and place. Now, Euan, Malcoms’s son and daughter, and another protégé of Malcom gather together for a big revelation. How big, nobody knows until Malcom reveals that he would like Euan to write the final book in the series.
But first, Malcom is found murdered in his library the next day, so Euan has to solve the murder and find the manuscript. Who could be the murderer? The housekeeper? One of Malcom’s children? His wife? Or the two men that also live on the island and who have a history with Malcom?
This is absolutely not an ordinary whodunnit. From the start, nothing is as it seems and all characters are mostly unreliable. Euan is plagued by memories of his early childhood throughout the story, but how much this has to do with what happens during his few days on the island, will only come out later. And in a very, very unexpected way.
The story is very complicated, with strong characters, full of surprises and with layers within layers. It is thought-provoking, intelligent and sometimes heart-breaking.
Recommended to readers who are looking for something special.
Thanks to Pegasus Crime and Edelweiss for this review copy.
But first, Malcom is found murdered in his library the next day, so Euan has to solve the murder and find the manuscript. Who could be the murderer? The housekeeper? One of Malcom’s children? His wife? Or the two men that also live on the island and who have a history with Malcom?
This is absolutely not an ordinary whodunnit. From the start, nothing is as it seems and all characters are mostly unreliable. Euan is plagued by memories of his early childhood throughout the story, but how much this has to do with what happens during his few days on the island, will only come out later. And in a very, very unexpected way.
The story is very complicated, with strong characters, full of surprises and with layers within layers. It is thought-provoking, intelligent and sometimes heart-breaking.
Recommended to readers who are looking for something special.
Thanks to Pegasus Crime and Edelweiss for this review copy.
August 20, 2025
This is a beautifully written, intelligent, engaging, and thought-provoking read. I went into this thinking I was getting a historical crime/murder mystery. The book certainly doesn't disappoint, with detailed descriptions and a well-crafted cat and mouse game with puzzles that would make Agatha Christie proud. However, this is so much more than a murder mystery. The author lures you into a false sense of security and then pulls out the rug from under your feet.
The story has a philosophical exploration of free will, the meaning of life, identity, second chances, ambition, sacrifice, and what it is to be human. That this is a debut novel is almost unbelievable. The author knows how to craft a story that will captivate the imagination and turns things on their head. This is one of those books that every time you read it, you'll find something new.
The book is fast-paced and completely unexpected in the direction it takes. The characters are well developed and deliciously untrustworthy, and the Scottish landscape has a life of its own. I don't want to give anything a way, but it was hard to put this one down! I am excited to see what the author does next.
Huge thanks to the author, Birlinn Books, Bloody Scotland, and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
The story has a philosophical exploration of free will, the meaning of life, identity, second chances, ambition, sacrifice, and what it is to be human. That this is a debut novel is almost unbelievable. The author knows how to craft a story that will captivate the imagination and turns things on their head. This is one of those books that every time you read it, you'll find something new.
The book is fast-paced and completely unexpected in the direction it takes. The characters are well developed and deliciously untrustworthy, and the Scottish landscape has a life of its own. I don't want to give anything a way, but it was hard to put this one down! I am excited to see what the author does next.
Huge thanks to the author, Birlinn Books, Bloody Scotland, and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
January 6, 2026
I listened to this as an audiobook whilst on the road this week and it kept me interested. The Hebridean island setting, the dark characters, and the central mystery are all wonderfully vivid.
That said, as a physicist I found the story tipped a little too far into the fantastical for my taste, especially in the way it plays with time, fate, and narrative reality. Basically, it didn’t land for me on a plausibility level as my old friend “unable to suspend disbelief” came to the fore.
Still, it’s a clever, moody book with a strong sense of place and a compelling mystery at its heart. I’m glad I read it, even if I wasn’t fully convinced by it.
That said, as a physicist I found the story tipped a little too far into the fantastical for my taste, especially in the way it plays with time, fate, and narrative reality. Basically, it didn’t land for me on a plausibility level as my old friend “unable to suspend disbelief” came to the fore.
Still, it’s a clever, moody book with a strong sense of place and a compelling mystery at its heart. I’m glad I read it, even if I wasn’t fully convinced by it.
August 7, 2025
A thrilling debut by a writer who clearly has a brilliant understanding of both plot and character.
As other reviews have noted, Chris Barkley barely gives us pause for breath with this genre-defying crime novel. Events, descriptions and even passages of dialogue had me on the edge of my seat. The plot unfolds beautifully and - like all good crime novels - becomes increasingly complex.
A highly enjoyable read - I can't believe it's a debut!
As other reviews have noted, Chris Barkley barely gives us pause for breath with this genre-defying crime novel. Events, descriptions and even passages of dialogue had me on the edge of my seat. The plot unfolds beautifully and - like all good crime novels - becomes increasingly complex.
A highly enjoyable read - I can't believe it's a debut!
September 19, 2025
The Man on the Endless Stair
by Chris Barkley
A no-spoiler review
Quote at the beginning of this book,
‘When writers die they become books, which is, after all, not too bad an incarnation.’
Jorge Luis Borges
There’s a saying that we die twice, once when we draw our final breath and a second time when others stop using our name. It is an inherently human thing to wish to live on in some way, whether that is through our children (if we’re blessed with those), or through a body of work we leave behind. We, writers, live on through our books. And we might even be inspiring the next generation of writers and our voice might echo through their work. You could call this incarnation if you like, or immortality, or being a living memory (personally I prefer this one). This is the magic of books, to live on and leave something of a legacy.
With so many great writers before us, what can we possibly add to that? Can we stand on the shoulders of those giants? Or maybe, they felt the same way, in doubt of ever achieving greatness.
Maybe Tolkien was right when he said,
‘Because, being made by a Creator, one of our natural factors is wishing to create, but since we aren't creators we have to sub-create – let's say rearrange – the primary material in some particular form which pleases, which isn't necessarily be a moral pleasing, it's partly an aesthetic pleasing.‘
We create nothing truly new, it’s all been said and done before, we only recreate in our own unique way.
Earlier this year, I read The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges, it was Chris Barkley who actually inspired me to pick up this book, and I’m glad to have read those stories. And it was a joy to hear some distant echos of those stories in The Man on the Endless Stairs. This debut, on its own, is a fantastic book to read, but it’s even more enjoyable because one can taste some of those familiar flavours in this new delicious recipe. Kudos!
Chris, you’ve become an immortal, but... keep going, keep writing!
P.S.
Fairly early on I had my suspicion about Euan, and in the end it was confirmed. Still, it was a ride to follow him along on his journey!
by Chris Barkley
A no-spoiler review
Quote at the beginning of this book,
‘When writers die they become books, which is, after all, not too bad an incarnation.’
Jorge Luis Borges
There’s a saying that we die twice, once when we draw our final breath and a second time when others stop using our name. It is an inherently human thing to wish to live on in some way, whether that is through our children (if we’re blessed with those), or through a body of work we leave behind. We, writers, live on through our books. And we might even be inspiring the next generation of writers and our voice might echo through their work. You could call this incarnation if you like, or immortality, or being a living memory (personally I prefer this one). This is the magic of books, to live on and leave something of a legacy.
With so many great writers before us, what can we possibly add to that? Can we stand on the shoulders of those giants? Or maybe, they felt the same way, in doubt of ever achieving greatness.
Maybe Tolkien was right when he said,
‘Because, being made by a Creator, one of our natural factors is wishing to create, but since we aren't creators we have to sub-create – let's say rearrange – the primary material in some particular form which pleases, which isn't necessarily be a moral pleasing, it's partly an aesthetic pleasing.‘
We create nothing truly new, it’s all been said and done before, we only recreate in our own unique way.
Earlier this year, I read The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges, it was Chris Barkley who actually inspired me to pick up this book, and I’m glad to have read those stories. And it was a joy to hear some distant echos of those stories in The Man on the Endless Stairs. This debut, on its own, is a fantastic book to read, but it’s even more enjoyable because one can taste some of those familiar flavours in this new delicious recipe. Kudos!
Chris, you’ve become an immortal, but... keep going, keep writing!
P.S.
Fairly early on I had my suspicion about Euan, and in the end it was confirmed. Still, it was a ride to follow him along on his journey!
September 5, 2025
‘The Man on the Endless Stair’ is a genre-defying debut novel that will linger in a reader’s subconscious long after that final page has been turned. Every so often as a reader you get that feeling of being immersed in something special and I predict big things for this one. It is ambitious for a debut novel and I for one will be keeping an eye out for what Chris does next!
I was once asked what I meant by the term ‘literary crime’ and this book encapsulates that. Yes, there is a central crime about which the narrative is based, but it goes much deeper and explores the human psyche and what we mean by identity. This is a book full of puzzles - physical, mental, and metaphysical. At times there may be too many puzzles for Euan to wade through, but it is entertaining to read about his complete inability actually to investigate.
Chris takes his influences from the classics of the Golden crime era of Christie, Sayers, Marsh and Chesterton. He even name-checks the latter and the ‘Detection Club’ has Malcolm as a member. In this Chris has been very successful as some hallmarks of this era are included, but when the novel veers to the esoteric it becomes weaker. Chris has laboured over the choice of every word and its impact on the narrative and the reader. The standard of writing is right up there and it does capture your attention right from the beginning. This was an entertaining read that takes the reader on quite a journey.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
September 2, 2025
I was a fan of this author before reading this book because of his approach to writing and reading. He views it all as art, and when that happens, sometimes, the words don't match the execution. I am still a fan because with this book, he created art. :)
The pacing of this novel plays with the rules of the murder-genre oh-so-well. I expected to read a murder mystery set on a remote Scottish island. I got that. I also got philosophy. It is like cracking an egg and getting two yolks. The twists made me ignore my life (and Google how to get eight hours of sleep in three hours).
The setting lives and breathes (like some of the characters). I love how poetic the descriptions are and how they don't distract us away from the plot. Euan has this delicious onion that just keeps unfolding and spreading its lingering aroma.
I am not going to spoil this book, but it is a 10/10 on all fronts.
The pacing of this novel plays with the rules of the murder-genre oh-so-well. I expected to read a murder mystery set on a remote Scottish island. I got that. I also got philosophy. It is like cracking an egg and getting two yolks. The twists made me ignore my life (and Google how to get eight hours of sleep in three hours).
The setting lives and breathes (like some of the characters). I love how poetic the descriptions are and how they don't distract us away from the plot. Euan has this delicious onion that just keeps unfolding and spreading its lingering aroma.
I am not going to spoil this book, but it is a 10/10 on all fronts.
September 2, 2025
This is a brilliant first book - I loved it. It is clever - well written and superbly crafted. As a reader I responded in several ways. Approaching it as a standard murder mystery I was engrossed - I wanted to know who did it and was eager for every plot development. The ending absolutely blew my mind. What sort of mind thinks of something like that? Amazing! Occasionally I was frustrated by the density of the language as I wanted to initially focus on the plot. This is why I am going to reread it to dive into the language - vocabulary and sentence structure. There were times when I felt the language was slightly pretentious and a bit self conscious - writing by somebody very aware of the writing process. But more often it successfully created mood, atmosphere and emotion. Well done Chris! I'm looking forward to your next book.
August 12, 2025
An enthralling read from start to finish!
Like Euan himself I was swept up, carried along from the very opening pages through a mystery deftly built and strikingly revealed, all couched in a mystic language of music and physics that spoke, it almost seemed, straight to me - as Euan hearing the voices of the island.
This was a remarkable read - all the more so for a debut! - tense, hopeful, at times terrifying, but above all beautiful: from the setting and the journey right down to the construction of the individual sentences. The care that went into the crafting of every line shines through.
One to return to, changed by the returning.
"My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure." - Gene Wolfe
Like Euan himself I was swept up, carried along from the very opening pages through a mystery deftly built and strikingly revealed, all couched in a mystic language of music and physics that spoke, it almost seemed, straight to me - as Euan hearing the voices of the island.
This was a remarkable read - all the more so for a debut! - tense, hopeful, at times terrifying, but above all beautiful: from the setting and the journey right down to the construction of the individual sentences. The care that went into the crafting of every line shines through.
One to return to, changed by the returning.
"My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure." - Gene Wolfe
August 18, 2025
What a debut novel! Chris has a beautifully descriptive and engaging writing style.
At first you are drawn into a traditional closed circle murder mystery story, with unusual undertones, it reminded me of Agatha Christie meets Susan Hill. but with a completely refreshing style, each sentence felt carefully crafted and only as you read the novel do you understand that it plays into the wider narrative. The remote Scottish island, the family, his protégé and his solicitor being invited to the island with little prior information, what could go wrong? Why murder of course!
The characters of Malcolm and his family were deliciously suspicious and I suspected everyone and trusted no-one. I found the son and daughter of Malcolm in particularly rather creepy and felt on edge every time one of them would be appear, every time I heard the name "Clara", I thought oh no!
I loved the intrigue of the game of cat and mouse between Euan and the murderer and the games that ensued. It was refreshing having the element of the puzzles / games and the reflections of Euan's past haunting him which helped you understand Euan and his motivations further.
And what an ending - the last 3-4 chapters just made me re-think EVERYTHING I had read in the book.
At first you are drawn into a traditional closed circle murder mystery story, with unusual undertones, it reminded me of Agatha Christie meets Susan Hill. but with a completely refreshing style, each sentence felt carefully crafted and only as you read the novel do you understand that it plays into the wider narrative. The remote Scottish island, the family, his protégé and his solicitor being invited to the island with little prior information, what could go wrong? Why murder of course!
The characters of Malcolm and his family were deliciously suspicious and I suspected everyone and trusted no-one. I found the son and daughter of Malcolm in particularly rather creepy and felt on edge every time one of them would be appear, every time I heard the name "Clara", I thought oh no!
I loved the intrigue of the game of cat and mouse between Euan and the murderer and the games that ensued. It was refreshing having the element of the puzzles / games and the reflections of Euan's past haunting him which helped you understand Euan and his motivations further.
And what an ending - the last 3-4 chapters just made me re-think EVERYTHING I had read in the book.
September 16, 2025
Euan is a young writer who is invited by his mentor to a remote Scottish island where something is going to be revealed. But then Malcolm is murdered and Euan is stuck on an island with a bunch of suspects and no idea what's going on. This was a fab locked room mystery, reminiscent of Christie, where everybody appears to be hiding something. Nice little twist at the end which I did not see coming.
August 12, 2025
Loved this book. Was gripped throughout. In addition to a murder mystery thriller Barkley bends the genre to ask deeper questions about free will, ambition and the nature of time. In addition to a compelling plot Barkley skillfully chooses his words to create powerful images of the Scottish island and the mansion in which the story is set, again giving the reader more than they might have expected. This author looks like one to watch.
August 14, 2025
An amazing, thoughtful, gripping and truly enthralling read! I couldn’t stop reading! The story grips you in a way the many wonderful and rather troubling moments are gripping the characters in the story! A wonderful read! Looking forward to the next one!?
August 7, 2025
"No mystery is stranger than that we live ourselves"
I did not want to put this book down. You follow Euan returning back to his mentors home on a secluded island after receiving a letter and strange things begin to happen, starting with a murder and was that the ghost of his sister?
With no way of contacting the authorities until the next day, we watch Euan trying to figure out who is guilty of his mentor's murder and find his hidden manuscript.
A murder mystery with a spooky feel. I thought I knew what was coming, but it kept surprising me.
It is such a fast paced book, that just keeps giving.
I did not want to put this book down. You follow Euan returning back to his mentors home on a secluded island after receiving a letter and strange things begin to happen, starting with a murder and was that the ghost of his sister?
With no way of contacting the authorities until the next day, we watch Euan trying to figure out who is guilty of his mentor's murder and find his hidden manuscript.
A murder mystery with a spooky feel. I thought I knew what was coming, but it kept surprising me.
It is such a fast paced book, that just keeps giving.
September 10, 2025
I love a good closed door murder mystery and this book had absolutely everything I'd expect from this genre.
When Euan arrives at his mentor, Malcolm's mansion, little does he knows that within a short time, Malcolm will be found dead and the manuscript that he was meant to be completing, will be stolen.
At first, this looks like a regular locked room mystery, but this actually becomes something much more complex.
I loved the character presentation and development, with many of them emerging into something creepy and suspicious.
I don't think there's one person who I didn't, at some point, suspect.
The writing style was brilliant with a really well crafted plot which had me totally immersed and pretty on edge throughout.
The setting of the remote Scottish island is one of my favourites for this genre.
There's something about the wilderness of the landscape that adds so much to the atmosphere which reading and this was so well written that I was completely transported there.
I really enjoyed trying to work through the puzzles with the characters - not that I'd be a great help, but it was great to see how far I could get before things came together and the answers unfolded.
This was such a great read and even moreso now knowing that it's a debut novel.
I'm already keen to see what comes next from this author.
When Euan arrives at his mentor, Malcolm's mansion, little does he knows that within a short time, Malcolm will be found dead and the manuscript that he was meant to be completing, will be stolen.
At first, this looks like a regular locked room mystery, but this actually becomes something much more complex.
I loved the character presentation and development, with many of them emerging into something creepy and suspicious.
I don't think there's one person who I didn't, at some point, suspect.
The writing style was brilliant with a really well crafted plot which had me totally immersed and pretty on edge throughout.
The setting of the remote Scottish island is one of my favourites for this genre.
There's something about the wilderness of the landscape that adds so much to the atmosphere which reading and this was so well written that I was completely transported there.
I really enjoyed trying to work through the puzzles with the characters - not that I'd be a great help, but it was great to see how far I could get before things came together and the answers unfolded.
This was such a great read and even moreso now knowing that it's a debut novel.
I'm already keen to see what comes next from this author.
December 12, 2025
Even though it has a poetic, philosophical style, where every description has a metaphor, I still felt like I was reading words on a page.
It's a good book, but it wasn't for me. Or maybe I wasn't in the mood for it.
It might be better as an audiobook, mainly because I'm crap at reading poetry, and also because I read the book because I like the author and I follow him on Instagram and loved the things he posts on writing, and expected a book he wrote about authors would be just my thing.
It's a good book, but it wasn't for me. Or maybe I wasn't in the mood for it.
It might be better as an audiobook, mainly because I'm crap at reading poetry, and also because I read the book because I like the author and I follow him on Instagram and loved the things he posts on writing, and expected a book he wrote about authors would be just my thing.
August 24, 2025
The Man on the Endless Stair by Chris Barkley.
This was a really good read. I got into it straight away. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. The cover was why I signed up for this tour. The only character I did like was Euen. I wasn't sure how I felt about the other characters. Lewis, Clara, Anwin, Harris, James, Tilly, Mrs Gibson. Oh my. That did surprise me. I was not expecting that. This was cleverly written. Wow. I do recommend this book.
This was a really good read. I got into it straight away. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. The cover was why I signed up for this tour. The only character I did like was Euen. I wasn't sure how I felt about the other characters. Lewis, Clara, Anwin, Harris, James, Tilly, Mrs Gibson. Oh my. That did surprise me. I was not expecting that. This was cleverly written. Wow. I do recommend this book.
August 21, 2025
I received a gifted digital copy of this book.The novel begins with our narrator, Euan, travelling to the Hebridean Island Mansion of his patron and mentor author Malcolm Furnivall, who shortly after Euans arrival is found dead. What starts as a fairly straightforward "locked room scenario" death and mysterious disappearance of Malcolms last and concluding book series manuscript, swiftly becomes a more complex exploration of the nature of time ( is it linear or cyclical?) and whether we live our lives following a predetermined or free will path.
The novel creates an unsettling, menacingly creepy atmosphere. With the characters gradually emerging from the page as you find out more about them.
The novel creates an unsettling, menacingly creepy atmosphere. With the characters gradually emerging from the page as you find out more about them.
September 20, 2025
Well-written, thought provoking, mind-bending revelations, intricate mystery.
It felt like Shutter Island mixed with Dorian Gray and Italo Calvino.
The prose is beautiful. The descriptions are both visceral and poetic. I love how the mansion and the island aren’t just settings, but characters of their own.
The narrative is strong and each chapter pushes forward, while taking time to unfold delicately into deeper themes.
This is a unique read—Something that not only holds curiosity within a mystery surrounding a famed novelist’s final manuscript, but challenges you to suspend your own perception of reality to consider the possibility of the ideas presented in the story world.
Again, suburb writing. The narrative is both delicate and weighted, flowing effortless from sentence to sentence. I read it in a few sittings. I can’t wait to read what he writes next. The amount of detail packed into this book is amazing. I really enjoyed it. A true breath of fresh air injected into the genre, bending it into a category of its own.
It felt like Shutter Island mixed with Dorian Gray and Italo Calvino.
The prose is beautiful. The descriptions are both visceral and poetic. I love how the mansion and the island aren’t just settings, but characters of their own.
The narrative is strong and each chapter pushes forward, while taking time to unfold delicately into deeper themes.
This is a unique read—Something that not only holds curiosity within a mystery surrounding a famed novelist’s final manuscript, but challenges you to suspend your own perception of reality to consider the possibility of the ideas presented in the story world.
Again, suburb writing. The narrative is both delicate and weighted, flowing effortless from sentence to sentence. I read it in a few sittings. I can’t wait to read what he writes next. The amount of detail packed into this book is amazing. I really enjoyed it. A true breath of fresh air injected into the genre, bending it into a category of its own.
October 3, 2025
So I read this book twice and I encourage everyone to do so. when you read this the first time it's confusing when you read it knowing the end you see all the little gems you missed.
August 23, 2025
I enjoyed this read! I was very intrigued as to why Euan had been invited over at the same time as a solicitor, then the story began to unfold. Malcom? Wanted Euan to finish his legacy but it wasn’t as simple as it seemed!
It had twists and turns throughout that I was not expecting. There were times where I was not convinced who Euan could trust, and that included himself!!
I liked how we found out parts of Euan’s past and what had happened with his sister. I wasn’t expecting the ending, it blew my brain a little bit but in a good way!!
I liked the writing style and found the pacing of the book great. It kept me wanting to read just a little bit more at the end of each chapter.
It had twists and turns throughout that I was not expecting. There were times where I was not convinced who Euan could trust, and that included himself!!
I liked how we found out parts of Euan’s past and what had happened with his sister. I wasn’t expecting the ending, it blew my brain a little bit but in a good way!!
I liked the writing style and found the pacing of the book great. It kept me wanting to read just a little bit more at the end of each chapter.
December 17, 2025
First, I listened to the audiobook, because Angus King is a brilliant narrator and he did not let me down. Are there audiobook narrator awards? He deserves one.
As for the story, spoilers ahoy!
This gave major Mighty Max cartoon finale vibes. Which I know is a ridiculously niche reference, but... watching it as a kid messed me up. Basically, the good guys lose, but Max uses his magic hat to "reset" everything, going back in time to the start of the series, but with a brief helpful note.
That's almost exactly what happened here, just with magic stones and elder gods instead of a magic hat.
The twist is time travel. The narrator and the author he goes to work for are the same person. The author's final manuscript is a retelling of the narrator/author's life story. There are themes of inevitably and free will, predestination and futility, but it ends with the narrator (after just about giving in to his predestined future and making me want to punch him in the face) somehow managing to do something that wasn't written in the manuscript, suggesting that choice and hope may actually exist and there may be a way to break the cycle, this time.
The cycle involves parent/child CSA and sibling incest. And it's abhorrent and leaves you feeling like you need to wash. The narrator's sister was raped repeatedly by their father. He goes away to fight in the war, and returns to his sister having disappeared and his father having hanged himself. He never got over it. Once he became the author, he was a useless, emotionally unavailable parent who created an environment of isolation for his family. The kids only had each-other to socialize with and of course things got Flowers in the Attic, culminating in an incestuous pregnancy/ a little girl who the narrator mistakes at the start of the story as his missing sister.
...I wish the other fella had pushed him off the cliff while he had the chance, to be honest. A spark of hope is great and all, but...
Thougts/minor quibbles:
I didn’t like Tilly- I thought her character was annoying, but worse, lacked any nuance. Also the sex scene between she and the narrator could have been avoided. She was a caricature of a smug, deluded fanfiction writer and it was... awkward.
Likewise, the secondary characters don't get a ton of development. (And most of them are kind of garbage human beings. Honestly, the only ones who aren't are the child of incest and the housekeeper. I find stories where everyone sucks tedious, so at least there were a few characters who inspired more positive sentiment.) Which is ok, I think. The narrator doesn't have time to fraternize, he's trying to solve [his own] murder and find [his own] manuscript that will set him up for life (little does he know).
The pace was pretty steady, I didn’t find myself wandering (though Mr. King may be partly responsible for that), and the story was interesting enough. I will say, I was more invested before the twist. I had expected it to be fantastical from the start, and when it wasn’t, I was pleasantly surprised. Delighted, even. And then in the 4th quarter the time loop grenade got lobbed and I found myself sighing. I know I'm in the minority, here, but I think I would have preferred a version without the speculative fiction elements, just a straight up gothic-ish whodunit.
The writing was solid, competent and polished. The plotting was careful. The narrator was reasonably well-developed and, if not likable, at least someone you're willing to root for. Overall, it was an entertaining listen, and while I would drop my rating to 3, I feel like 4 is still pretty fair. Even though it was very Mighty Max.
As for the story, spoilers ahoy!
This gave major Mighty Max cartoon finale vibes. Which I know is a ridiculously niche reference, but... watching it as a kid messed me up. Basically, the good guys lose, but Max uses his magic hat to "reset" everything, going back in time to the start of the series, but with a brief helpful note.
That's almost exactly what happened here, just with magic stones and elder gods instead of a magic hat.
The twist is time travel. The narrator and the author he goes to work for are the same person. The author's final manuscript is a retelling of the narrator/author's life story. There are themes of inevitably and free will, predestination and futility, but it ends with the narrator (after just about giving in to his predestined future and making me want to punch him in the face) somehow managing to do something that wasn't written in the manuscript, suggesting that choice and hope may actually exist and there may be a way to break the cycle, this time.
The cycle involves parent/child CSA and sibling incest. And it's abhorrent and leaves you feeling like you need to wash. The narrator's sister was raped repeatedly by their father. He goes away to fight in the war, and returns to his sister having disappeared and his father having hanged himself. He never got over it. Once he became the author, he was a useless, emotionally unavailable parent who created an environment of isolation for his family. The kids only had each-other to socialize with and of course things got Flowers in the Attic, culminating in an incestuous pregnancy/ a little girl who the narrator mistakes at the start of the story as his missing sister.
...I wish the other fella had pushed him off the cliff while he had the chance, to be honest. A spark of hope is great and all, but...
Thougts/minor quibbles:
I didn’t like Tilly- I thought her character was annoying, but worse, lacked any nuance. Also the sex scene between she and the narrator could have been avoided. She was a caricature of a smug, deluded fanfiction writer and it was... awkward.
Likewise, the secondary characters don't get a ton of development. (And most of them are kind of garbage human beings. Honestly, the only ones who aren't are the child of incest and the housekeeper. I find stories where everyone sucks tedious, so at least there were a few characters who inspired more positive sentiment.) Which is ok, I think. The narrator doesn't have time to fraternize, he's trying to solve [his own] murder and find [his own] manuscript that will set him up for life (little does he know).
The pace was pretty steady, I didn’t find myself wandering (though Mr. King may be partly responsible for that), and the story was interesting enough. I will say, I was more invested before the twist. I had expected it to be fantastical from the start, and when it wasn’t, I was pleasantly surprised. Delighted, even. And then in the 4th quarter the time loop grenade got lobbed and I found myself sighing. I know I'm in the minority, here, but I think I would have preferred a version without the speculative fiction elements, just a straight up gothic-ish whodunit.
The writing was solid, competent and polished. The plotting was careful. The narrator was reasonably well-developed and, if not likable, at least someone you're willing to root for. Overall, it was an entertaining listen, and while I would drop my rating to 3, I feel like 4 is still pretty fair. Even though it was very Mighty Max.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
📚The Man on The Endless Stair
✍🏻Chris Barkley
Blurb:
When troubled but talented young author Euan meets decorated novelist Malcolm Furnivall, he feels his luck has finally changed. Malcolm takes Euan as a protégé, vouching for him in the rarefied literary scene in the 1950s. But lately, Malcolm has not been himself. Consumed by his work, he cuts an increasingly isolated figure and has become convinced that something terrible will befall him. He summons his loved ones to his secluded island in the Hebrides and – to everyone's surprise – entrusts Euan with the task of completing his masterpiece.
Malcolm's suspicions soon prove well-founded; he is discovered brutally murdered in his study, and his invaluable unfinished novel has vanished. Cut off from the mainland, with the killer on the loose and the island's inhabitants circling, Euan feels both his mentor's legacy and his only chance at greatness slipping away. He must venture deep into Malcolm's labyrinthine mansion to find the manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands.
But what he doesn't yet know is that the closer he comes to solving the mystery, the tighter he will bind himself to a fate sealed in time . . .
My Thoughts
Like Euan himself I was swept up, carried along from the opening pages through a mystery couched in the enthralling language of music, physics, and mysticism.
This was a remarkable read - all the more so for a debut! - tense, hopeful, at times terrifying, but above all beautiful, from the setting itself and the protagonist's journey right down to the construction of the individual sentences.
One to return to, changed by the returning.
A murder mystery with a spooky feel
Thanks Edelweiss, Pegasus Crime and Author Chris Barkley for the advanced copy of "The Man on the Endless Stair.
#Edelweiss
#PegasusCrims
#TheManontheEndlessStair
#ChrisBarkley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Chris Barkley
Blurb:
When troubled but talented young author Euan meets decorated novelist Malcolm Furnivall, he feels his luck has finally changed. Malcolm takes Euan as a protégé, vouching for him in the rarefied literary scene in the 1950s. But lately, Malcolm has not been himself. Consumed by his work, he cuts an increasingly isolated figure and has become convinced that something terrible will befall him. He summons his loved ones to his secluded island in the Hebrides and – to everyone's surprise – entrusts Euan with the task of completing his masterpiece.
Malcolm's suspicions soon prove well-founded; he is discovered brutally murdered in his study, and his invaluable unfinished novel has vanished. Cut off from the mainland, with the killer on the loose and the island's inhabitants circling, Euan feels both his mentor's legacy and his only chance at greatness slipping away. He must venture deep into Malcolm's labyrinthine mansion to find the manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands.
But what he doesn't yet know is that the closer he comes to solving the mystery, the tighter he will bind himself to a fate sealed in time . . .
My Thoughts
Like Euan himself I was swept up, carried along from the opening pages through a mystery couched in the enthralling language of music, physics, and mysticism.
This was a remarkable read - all the more so for a debut! - tense, hopeful, at times terrifying, but above all beautiful, from the setting itself and the protagonist's journey right down to the construction of the individual sentences.
One to return to, changed by the returning.
A murder mystery with a spooky feel
Thanks Edelweiss, Pegasus Crime and Author Chris Barkley for the advanced copy of "The Man on the Endless Stair.
#Edelweiss
#PegasusCrims
#TheManontheEndlessStair
#ChrisBarkley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 22, 2025
The Man on the Endless Stair by Chris Barkley is a compelling mystery that delves into the complexities of truth, perception, and personal transformation. The story follows Euan, a young writer who becomes entangled in the enigmatic circumstances surrounding the death of his mentor, Malcolm Furnivall, on a secluded Scottish island. As Euan navigates the mansion and uncovers layers of secrets, the narrative mirrors his internal journey, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
What makes Chris Barkley’s novel stand out is its ability to immerse readers in a world where every revelation challenges their understanding, not just of the plot, but of themselves. The slow unraveling of the mystery serves as a catalyst for introspection, prompting readers to confront their own biases and expectations.
In essence, The Man on the Endless Stair is more than just a mystery; it's a reflective journey that explores how our perceptions shape our realities. It's a testament to the power of storytelling and its capacity to transform both the characters within and the readers themselves.
What makes Chris Barkley’s novel stand out is its ability to immerse readers in a world where every revelation challenges their understanding, not just of the plot, but of themselves. The slow unraveling of the mystery serves as a catalyst for introspection, prompting readers to confront their own biases and expectations.
In essence, The Man on the Endless Stair is more than just a mystery; it's a reflective journey that explores how our perceptions shape our realities. It's a testament to the power of storytelling and its capacity to transform both the characters within and the readers themselves.
August 14, 2025
The Man on the Endless Stair was such a delightful book to read and not your typical "who done it" mystery. It is literary fiction at its finest-- deep, philosophical, full of intrigue, twists and turns (in more ways than one) and a touch of the extraordinary. It reads a bit like a film because the descriptions of scenes, characters and possibilities are so clear. Every sentence was so beautifully crafted, I found myself stopping often just to savour them like a delicious meal. There are many wonderful layers to this book; I've just started to read it a second time for a deeper dive. Five stars from me!
August 28, 2025
A brilliant debut novel from Oxford graduate Chris Barkley.
We follow writer Euan on a visit to his mentor, Malcolm, who lives on a remote Scottish island. It starts as a locked-room murder-mystery with Agatha Christie undertones and a bit of vomit (not from my side): Euan has to solve a murder, find a manuscript and navigate an Addams Family-esque mansion, all with a small number of people eyeing each other out.
But. It’s not what we think. There's no Poirot neatly tying it together at the end. The chapters themselves twist and turn, leading us on a labyrinth of a journey.
Original and unpredictable. We’re looking forward to reading what Chris writes next.
We follow writer Euan on a visit to his mentor, Malcolm, who lives on a remote Scottish island. It starts as a locked-room murder-mystery with Agatha Christie undertones and a bit of vomit (not from my side): Euan has to solve a murder, find a manuscript and navigate an Addams Family-esque mansion, all with a small number of people eyeing each other out.
But. It’s not what we think. There's no Poirot neatly tying it together at the end. The chapters themselves twist and turn, leading us on a labyrinth of a journey.
Original and unpredictable. We’re looking forward to reading what Chris writes next.
November 3, 2025
Thought I was reading a fun murder mystery about an island in Scotland…. But it was Sci Fi (not my jam) and murder and creepy and physics and psychological and just not for me. Luckily it wasn’t too long so I could suck it up and finish it. The cool part about it was I got a signed copy in Edinburgh before it was released in the States. But the book was so disappointing.
September 22, 2025
I loved this book, and couldn’t put it down once picked up. Over and above the gripping story (with quite the unexpected twist), I loved the richness of the author’s language and the way he evokes the landscape and sea of Scotland. I’ll be re-reading this to revel in the language again.
January 8, 2026
From beginning to end I was absolutely captivated and mind blown. Chris Barkley has a true talent for pulling readers in and keeping them hooked. Every time I thought I knew what was true, a new revelation unfolded that completely caught me off guard.
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