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The Stairwell
Frightful visions.
An unknown manipulator.
A force from beyond reason.
Brandon Chapman arrives home to a horrific scene. His wife, Stephanie, is exhibiting behaviour that he can only describe as that of someone possessed – yet he doesn’t even believe in the supernatural. He soon realises that it was nothing other than a frightful, haunting vision.
After discovering a dark secret about Stephanie, Brandon meets a strange figure with knowledge about his own life that no one could possibly know. As his visions become more frequent and terrifying, he begins to question his sanity.
Brandon must either side with this figure or his wife before his daughter comes to harm.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived when Niel ends up in a coma after a traffic accident.
Alice fears he may never wake up again and, unaware of the consequences, strikes a deal with a strange voice. When Niel awakes, his behaviour changes drastically, and Alice – like Brandon – becomes subject to nightmarish, violent visions.
Are Brandon and Alice caught in a never-ending nightmare?
An unknown manipulator.
A force from beyond reason.
Brandon Chapman arrives home to a horrific scene. His wife, Stephanie, is exhibiting behaviour that he can only describe as that of someone possessed – yet he doesn’t even believe in the supernatural. He soon realises that it was nothing other than a frightful, haunting vision.
After discovering a dark secret about Stephanie, Brandon meets a strange figure with knowledge about his own life that no one could possibly know. As his visions become more frequent and terrifying, he begins to question his sanity.
Brandon must either side with this figure or his wife before his daughter comes to harm.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived when Niel ends up in a coma after a traffic accident.
Alice fears he may never wake up again and, unaware of the consequences, strikes a deal with a strange voice. When Niel awakes, his behaviour changes drastically, and Alice – like Brandon – becomes subject to nightmarish, violent visions.
Are Brandon and Alice caught in a never-ending nightmare?
- GenresHorror
201 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2018
34 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Dean Bryant
1 book10 followersDean has always loved writing, ever since his primary school teacher wrote “another cracker from the pen of Dean Bryant” on his English homework. He loves writing horror and dark thrillers as they allow him to be as imaginative as possible. He won a nation-wide poetry competition when he was 11 and went on to never write another poem.
He’s a huge fan of the classic horror authors Stephen King and Dean Koontz, with Midnight being his favourite book of all time. He studied Psychology at university which made him the friend everyone goes to for advice.
Dean lives in London with his partner of ten years, who also doubles as a beta-reader and critic. He is a type 1 diabetic, which hasn’t stopped him eating cake, he just has to do a lot of mental math first.
He’s a huge fan of the classic horror authors Stephen King and Dean Koontz, with Midnight being his favourite book of all time. He studied Psychology at university which made him the friend everyone goes to for advice.
Dean lives in London with his partner of ten years, who also doubles as a beta-reader and critic. He is a type 1 diabetic, which hasn’t stopped him eating cake, he just has to do a lot of mental math first.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 10, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and to Emma Welton of damppebbles blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Stairwell is classic, occult horror, mixed in with some modern day mental health issues, such as body dysmorphia, esteem issues, hallucinations and self-harm.
The story is told in two threads, alternating between Brandon – struggling, unemployed artist with self esteem issues and problems in his marriage – and Alice – naive, virginal student plunging headlong into her first romantic relationship with a man she has only just met. Chapter by chapter we follow these two main characters as their lives quickly disintegrate into nightmarish scenarios with a number of similarities: hellish hallucinations, unexpected violence, and loved ones who appear to have been possessed.
From the very beginning, we are plunged straight into the darkness, as Brandon witnesses his wife perform horrifically violent and clearly paranormal activities, apparently controlled by some demonic external (or internal) force. But can he – or we – trust his own senses?
Both Brandon and Alice are clearly troubled characters, even before the paranormal horror oozes into their lives. Both have low self-esteem and are constantly putting down their own accomplishments and physical features. Brandon struggles with alcohol addiction and depressive tendencies, whilst Alice is generally managing her life a little better at first, but is quick to fall for the first stranger to smile at her and then ignore any qualms she has about Niel and be willing to promise her life away to save his almost immediately. Neither has any kind of defense against the darkness that is about to engulf them.
Dean Bryant slowly winds the two separate stories around each other, building an atmosphere of ominous, oppressive inevitability as his heroes flail desperately against an overwhelmingly superior foe, cloaked in mystery. Their individual spirals eventually lead to a shocking showdown and a cleverly ambiguous ending which leaves the reader guessing and – depending on the reader’s intestinal fortitude – turning on all the lights before bed!
Fans of supernatural horror films like Drag Me To Hell will enjoy this dark debut from Dean Bryant, which delivers a terrifying take on ideas of possession and compulsion.
She reached for me with broken, disfigured fingers. Her face was now centimetres from mine. Despite her jaw hanging grotesquely, a voice echoed from within her. “This is the beginning, Brandon,” it said, before the black veins from around her eyes extended out of her face. The last thing I remember seeing that night was those veins snaking their way to my eyes, and piercing them leaving me in pitch blackness. Before I passed out, I could feel the creature slipping away, but not before whispering, for a final time,
“just the beginning.”
– Dean Bryant, The Stairwell
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Stairwell is classic, occult horror, mixed in with some modern day mental health issues, such as body dysmorphia, esteem issues, hallucinations and self-harm.
The story is told in two threads, alternating between Brandon – struggling, unemployed artist with self esteem issues and problems in his marriage – and Alice – naive, virginal student plunging headlong into her first romantic relationship with a man she has only just met. Chapter by chapter we follow these two main characters as their lives quickly disintegrate into nightmarish scenarios with a number of similarities: hellish hallucinations, unexpected violence, and loved ones who appear to have been possessed.
From the very beginning, we are plunged straight into the darkness, as Brandon witnesses his wife perform horrifically violent and clearly paranormal activities, apparently controlled by some demonic external (or internal) force. But can he – or we – trust his own senses?
Both Brandon and Alice are clearly troubled characters, even before the paranormal horror oozes into their lives. Both have low self-esteem and are constantly putting down their own accomplishments and physical features. Brandon struggles with alcohol addiction and depressive tendencies, whilst Alice is generally managing her life a little better at first, but is quick to fall for the first stranger to smile at her and then ignore any qualms she has about Niel and be willing to promise her life away to save his almost immediately. Neither has any kind of defense against the darkness that is about to engulf them.
Dean Bryant slowly winds the two separate stories around each other, building an atmosphere of ominous, oppressive inevitability as his heroes flail desperately against an overwhelmingly superior foe, cloaked in mystery. Their individual spirals eventually lead to a shocking showdown and a cleverly ambiguous ending which leaves the reader guessing and – depending on the reader’s intestinal fortitude – turning on all the lights before bed!
Fans of supernatural horror films like Drag Me To Hell will enjoy this dark debut from Dean Bryant, which delivers a terrifying take on ideas of possession and compulsion.
She reached for me with broken, disfigured fingers. Her face was now centimetres from mine. Despite her jaw hanging grotesquely, a voice echoed from within her. “This is the beginning, Brandon,” it said, before the black veins from around her eyes extended out of her face. The last thing I remember seeing that night was those veins snaking their way to my eyes, and piercing them leaving me in pitch blackness. Before I passed out, I could feel the creature slipping away, but not before whispering, for a final time,
“just the beginning.”
– Dean Bryant, The Stairwell
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
October 31, 2020
3.5 Stars from me
Where to start with this one...?
It's a perfect Halloween read that's for sure as The Stairwell is dark and otherworldly with a side order of mild terror!
Also - I absolutely LOVE the cover image, I think it's fab.
I felt so sorry for small town girl, naive little Alice! Going off to uni should have been the time of her life and it so nearly was once she'd made some friends and hooked up with Mr Dreamy himself, Niel the perfect boyfriend.
But things soon take a dark turn for this poor girl.
The Stairwell also follows the story of Brandon and his - frankly - long suffering wife Stephanie. (He struck gold with her!) They are jogging along ok in an average life until dark and frightening visions start happening to Brandon. Is he losing his mind or are they real?
One thing's for sure, there is dark and malevolent force stalking the stairwell and this is not a read for the easily spooked. Dare you...
#TheStairwell @DeanBryantBooks @Darkstrokedark @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours
Book Blurb: Frightful visions. An unknown manipulator. A force from beyond reason.
Brandon Chapman arrives home to a horrific scene. His wife, Stephanie, is exhibiting behaviour that he can only describe as that of someone possessed – yet he doesn’t even believe in the supernatural. He soon realises that it was nothing other than a frightful, haunting vision.
After discovering a dark secret about Stephanie, Brandon meets a strange figure with knowledge about his own life that no one could possibly know. As his visions become more frequent and terrifying, he begins to question his sanity.
Brandon must either side with this figure or his wife before his daughter comes to harm.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived when Niel ends up in a coma after a traffic accident.
Alice fears he may never wake up again and, unaware of the consequences, strikes a deal with a strange voice. When Niel awakes, his behaviour changes drastically, and Alice – like Brandon – becomes subject to nightmarish, violent visions.
Are Brandon and Alice caught in a never-ending nightmare?
Where to start with this one...?
It's a perfect Halloween read that's for sure as The Stairwell is dark and otherworldly with a side order of mild terror!
Also - I absolutely LOVE the cover image, I think it's fab.
I felt so sorry for small town girl, naive little Alice! Going off to uni should have been the time of her life and it so nearly was once she'd made some friends and hooked up with Mr Dreamy himself, Niel the perfect boyfriend.
But things soon take a dark turn for this poor girl.
The Stairwell also follows the story of Brandon and his - frankly - long suffering wife Stephanie. (He struck gold with her!) They are jogging along ok in an average life until dark and frightening visions start happening to Brandon. Is he losing his mind or are they real?
One thing's for sure, there is dark and malevolent force stalking the stairwell and this is not a read for the easily spooked. Dare you...
#TheStairwell @DeanBryantBooks @Darkstrokedark @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours
Book Blurb: Frightful visions. An unknown manipulator. A force from beyond reason.
Brandon Chapman arrives home to a horrific scene. His wife, Stephanie, is exhibiting behaviour that he can only describe as that of someone possessed – yet he doesn’t even believe in the supernatural. He soon realises that it was nothing other than a frightful, haunting vision.
After discovering a dark secret about Stephanie, Brandon meets a strange figure with knowledge about his own life that no one could possibly know. As his visions become more frequent and terrifying, he begins to question his sanity.
Brandon must either side with this figure or his wife before his daughter comes to harm.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived when Niel ends up in a coma after a traffic accident.
Alice fears he may never wake up again and, unaware of the consequences, strikes a deal with a strange voice. When Niel awakes, his behaviour changes drastically, and Alice – like Brandon – becomes subject to nightmarish, violent visions.
Are Brandon and Alice caught in a never-ending nightmare?
November 7, 2020
I’m not a true horror fan and I’ve never read Stephen King (though I’ve seen a few of the films based on the novels), but I have read James Herbert, plus the classics like Dracula and Frankenstein. So when I say I’m not a ‘horror’ fan I really mean slasher-type horror. I do like a bit of supernatural haunting however and add to that a smattering of Faustus selling his soul to the devil and I’m straight in there.
The Stairwell is a homage (in my humble opinion) to the good old horror stories such as The Omen and The Exorcist with a bit of Drag Me To Hell thrown in for good measure. Nothing like a bit of demonic possession!
But on to the story! Brandon was brought up in care, having been adopted as a baby. After a series of failed foster homes, he finally finds happiness with Stephanie, they marry and have a beautiful daughter Lily. All is going reasonably well until Brandon starts having visions – or rather nightmares – that involve his wife killing Lily. Brandon will do anything – and I mean ANYTHING – to make them stop.
In the meantime Alice is a quiet, shy, university student who meets a gorgeous guy named Niel and they fall instantly in love. Then Niel has a terrible accident, leaving him in a coma and Alice promises to do anything – and I mean ANYTHING – to turn the clock back.
Both Alice and Brandon are plagued by terrible visions – visions of gruesome murders, eyes with black veins and no pupils, tentacles reaching out and black gunge expelling like vomit from screaming mouths. And voices in their head that tell them what awful things they must or must not do in order to survive and protect their loved ones. But how much of it is real and how much is a figment of their own imagination? We know Brandon likes a drop of gin or ten but why poor Alice? Who is going to believe her if she tells them about that terrible night and the promise she made?
I noticed that one review on Goodreads (thanks Charlie Tyler) said this book is so ‘super-scary’ it’s ‘not for the timid and certainly not to be read before bedtime’. I disagree. What better time to read than under the covers with the full moon shining through the curtains, making shadows on the walls, while wolves howl in the dark forest….. OK. I exaggerate. Read it at bedtime at your peril, but not if you live alone and there’s a thunderstorm etc. You get the picture.
I have to admit that I’m not easily terrified by supernatural goings on, but I am repulsed by anything too gross and gruesome (but you still have to read on don’t you). This book has both these things in spadefuls and I enjoyed every minute!
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
The Stairwell is a homage (in my humble opinion) to the good old horror stories such as The Omen and The Exorcist with a bit of Drag Me To Hell thrown in for good measure. Nothing like a bit of demonic possession!
But on to the story! Brandon was brought up in care, having been adopted as a baby. After a series of failed foster homes, he finally finds happiness with Stephanie, they marry and have a beautiful daughter Lily. All is going reasonably well until Brandon starts having visions – or rather nightmares – that involve his wife killing Lily. Brandon will do anything – and I mean ANYTHING – to make them stop.
In the meantime Alice is a quiet, shy, university student who meets a gorgeous guy named Niel and they fall instantly in love. Then Niel has a terrible accident, leaving him in a coma and Alice promises to do anything – and I mean ANYTHING – to turn the clock back.
Both Alice and Brandon are plagued by terrible visions – visions of gruesome murders, eyes with black veins and no pupils, tentacles reaching out and black gunge expelling like vomit from screaming mouths. And voices in their head that tell them what awful things they must or must not do in order to survive and protect their loved ones. But how much of it is real and how much is a figment of their own imagination? We know Brandon likes a drop of gin or ten but why poor Alice? Who is going to believe her if she tells them about that terrible night and the promise she made?
I noticed that one review on Goodreads (thanks Charlie Tyler) said this book is so ‘super-scary’ it’s ‘not for the timid and certainly not to be read before bedtime’. I disagree. What better time to read than under the covers with the full moon shining through the curtains, making shadows on the walls, while wolves howl in the dark forest….. OK. I exaggerate. Read it at bedtime at your peril, but not if you live alone and there’s a thunderstorm etc. You get the picture.
I have to admit that I’m not easily terrified by supernatural goings on, but I am repulsed by anything too gross and gruesome (but you still have to read on don’t you). This book has both these things in spadefuls and I enjoyed every minute!
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
October 22, 2020
ARC given by the author!
EN
Two horrifying tales of pain and suffering!
So hey! I got accepted for this book ARC and so here I am giving back to the author! An honest and real review of what I thought of this book!
Starting of with the cover, its interesting, not very revealing an ominous to say the least! Very relatable to the story as you begin to read it!
The story itself is rather curious, since you follow two people, Alice and Brandon, who don't seem to have that much in common at first, except for the fact that there's some sort of paranormal forces afecting both of their lives!
Alice is a young girl, very obsessed with how she looks and with low self esteem, who finds a guy with whom she rapidly falls in love... And I do mean rapidly! It's one of my "not so great" points here, as the shy beautiful curvy girl with loads of guys on her back suddenly gives all of herself to that one specific one... I think that his entrance is needed for the plot along the way, but it seems that their relationship was rather rushed so the plot would move faster. The story of them both gets better as Niel gets into a serious accident that takes Alice to a desperate solution, making a deal with something while praying for Niel. Things only go sideways from there.
As for Brandon, he is a simple man, married with a successful lawyer but he himself is unemployed. Being an artist is hard and Brandon is a very insecure man as we start learning by the story moving. The marriage is in danger but as the plot moves Brandon and his wife Stephanie get various situations that gets them closer again. Brandon himself is tormented by visions of death and gore and by someone, or something, who claims to be his friend and wants to help him. The thing is, his help involves very homicidal situations. Brandon being a shy insecure person is manipulated by this figure and sees himself caught in a horrible mess that gets not only hi life in danger but his wife and daughters as well.
A tale of paranormal influences that preys on insecurity and desperation, it explores how our minds are so easy to be manipulated when everything is falling down! How those grave thoughts in our heads mix with the voices outside, not precisely paranormal, sometimes all you need is a badly intended person to manipulate you to do something you'd normally avoid!
The story is gripping and you can see that Dean clearly loves to leave us with cliff hangers at the end of each chapter! I do believe its a very scary story, specially right at the beggining with that prologue and even more with its ending!! My jaw dropped with those final words!!
There are things that could be better, specially the clichés of horror stories that we see too often not to notice, but Dean has his own ideas and imagination, not letting those same clichés take over the story!!
So yeah, if you like a nightmare inducing story, The Stairwell definitly is a must read for you!!
Thanks Dean for the ARC aproval, I hope you enjoy the review and I hope that only success awaits you from here forth!
EN
Two horrifying tales of pain and suffering!
So hey! I got accepted for this book ARC and so here I am giving back to the author! An honest and real review of what I thought of this book!
Starting of with the cover, its interesting, not very revealing an ominous to say the least! Very relatable to the story as you begin to read it!
The story itself is rather curious, since you follow two people, Alice and Brandon, who don't seem to have that much in common at first, except for the fact that there's some sort of paranormal forces afecting both of their lives!
Alice is a young girl, very obsessed with how she looks and with low self esteem, who finds a guy with whom she rapidly falls in love... And I do mean rapidly! It's one of my "not so great" points here, as the shy beautiful curvy girl with loads of guys on her back suddenly gives all of herself to that one specific one... I think that his entrance is needed for the plot along the way, but it seems that their relationship was rather rushed so the plot would move faster. The story of them both gets better as Niel gets into a serious accident that takes Alice to a desperate solution, making a deal with something while praying for Niel. Things only go sideways from there.
As for Brandon, he is a simple man, married with a successful lawyer but he himself is unemployed. Being an artist is hard and Brandon is a very insecure man as we start learning by the story moving. The marriage is in danger but as the plot moves Brandon and his wife Stephanie get various situations that gets them closer again. Brandon himself is tormented by visions of death and gore and by someone, or something, who claims to be his friend and wants to help him. The thing is, his help involves very homicidal situations. Brandon being a shy insecure person is manipulated by this figure and sees himself caught in a horrible mess that gets not only hi life in danger but his wife and daughters as well.
A tale of paranormal influences that preys on insecurity and desperation, it explores how our minds are so easy to be manipulated when everything is falling down! How those grave thoughts in our heads mix with the voices outside, not precisely paranormal, sometimes all you need is a badly intended person to manipulate you to do something you'd normally avoid!
The story is gripping and you can see that Dean clearly loves to leave us with cliff hangers at the end of each chapter! I do believe its a very scary story, specially right at the beggining with that prologue and even more with its ending!! My jaw dropped with those final words!!
There are things that could be better, specially the clichés of horror stories that we see too often not to notice, but Dean has his own ideas and imagination, not letting those same clichés take over the story!!
So yeah, if you like a nightmare inducing story, The Stairwell definitly is a must read for you!!
Thanks Dean for the ARC aproval, I hope you enjoy the review and I hope that only success awaits you from here forth!
November 6, 2020
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.
January 7, 2021
The blurb for this book and new author left me really wanting to read this book. There is nothing worse than a "scary" or "horror" story that leaves you wishing it was scary, creepy or any kind of horror. I'm happy to say The Stairwell is truly a horror story that has all the makings of a good scary, creepy horror story.
The story revolves around two characters named Brandon and Alice. Both have low self-esteem and other issues. Brandon had a horrible childhood in the foster system, which results in depression and issues with alcohol. Alice falls madly for the first guy she really meets even though she can't understand why he likes her. This story adds creepy black pulsing veins and black ooze to the lives of the two characters already struggling in their lives. Brandon and Alice are plagued with horrific visions of murder, death and destruction of those around them.
As the book continues going back and forth between the two characters, you wonder what ties them together other than this black ooze and visions. The end of the book ties things together is a good and believable way. The ending even leaves you wondering if there will be a continuation of the story.
I think Dean Bryant will continue to have success with stories like this.
I received a free ARC copy from StoryOrigin and I am leaving an honest review of the book.
The story revolves around two characters named Brandon and Alice. Both have low self-esteem and other issues. Brandon had a horrible childhood in the foster system, which results in depression and issues with alcohol. Alice falls madly for the first guy she really meets even though she can't understand why he likes her. This story adds creepy black pulsing veins and black ooze to the lives of the two characters already struggling in their lives. Brandon and Alice are plagued with horrific visions of murder, death and destruction of those around them.
As the book continues going back and forth between the two characters, you wonder what ties them together other than this black ooze and visions. The end of the book ties things together is a good and believable way. The ending even leaves you wondering if there will be a continuation of the story.
I think Dean Bryant will continue to have success with stories like this.
I received a free ARC copy from StoryOrigin and I am leaving an honest review of the book.
January 20, 2021
3.5 Stars
This book feels more like a thriller or a gothic horror instead of horror. But was very good, well written, it took me a little while to get into as when you first start the book you go back and forth from one person to the other and then you start to see their life falling to pieces. then you see the two stories start to come together.
This book feels more like a thriller or a gothic horror instead of horror. But was very good, well written, it took me a little while to get into as when you first start the book you go back and forth from one person to the other and then you start to see their life falling to pieces. then you see the two stories start to come together.
September 10, 2020
This is a super-scary, dark and frightening read – you have been warned. It’s a story in the same vein as those by the fantastic James Herbert; full of sex, graphic violence and other-worldly terror – not for the timid and certainly not to be read before bedtime. There are two main strands to this horror story; first, the tale of failing artist Brandon Chapman and his desperation to save his family life with wife Stephanie and young daughter, Lily. It is also the story of student, Alice Hamilton, which recounts her whirlwind romance with Niel Curtis, the love of her life.
Right from the opening page, nothing is what it seems. A strange figure reaches out to the betrayed Brandon and his life changes forever. This stranger, purports to be a friend, but one whose features, over time, seem to melt into nothing and who encourages and feeds off every vengeful thought Brandon has. Meanwhile Alice, out of desperation, makes a bargain with what she hopes is a divine being, but is then forced to live with the terrible consequences. Both Brandon and Alice begin to experience horrifying visions filled with a thick black substance which gets everywhere, but which, at times, only the pair of them seem able to see. There’s a strong theme of mystery throughout – who is doing this and why? Are the visions real? Are Brandon and Alice connected in any way?
Bryant is the master of suspense, so I read much of it holding my breath; meanwhile, people died, pivotal items went missing and paintings materialised which seemed to foreshadow future events. As a reader, I was forced to question everything; was I really witnessing the same things as Alice and Brandon? Was alcohol to blame? Did Brandon need therapy to recover from his traumatic childhood growing up in a care system which failed him dismally?
I love the duality of the story – Bryant leaves you with a cliff hanger at the end of each scene before he switches between the two plots, but it means you never get respite from the action. You’re never sure what horror to expect next so I was grateful for the occasional mention of Peppa Pig to give me some much-needed breathing space.
Bryant’s descriptions are vivid and the stuff of nightmares; visions are laced with dark protruding veins, blackness which oozes from pores and flesh-eating worms. But there are tender moments too and when Alice’s life is thrown into turmoil it is heart breaking and I had continual butterflies in my stomach, hoping that she would find a way out of her dire situation.
Thanks to Bryant, I now keep checking the colour of people’s irises when they aren’t looking and I really, really can’t deal with staircases. This is a great, action-packed horror story with slick and vivid writing plus there is a very satisfactory unravelling of the mystery – not to mention a great, twisted ending. Superb!
Right from the opening page, nothing is what it seems. A strange figure reaches out to the betrayed Brandon and his life changes forever. This stranger, purports to be a friend, but one whose features, over time, seem to melt into nothing and who encourages and feeds off every vengeful thought Brandon has. Meanwhile Alice, out of desperation, makes a bargain with what she hopes is a divine being, but is then forced to live with the terrible consequences. Both Brandon and Alice begin to experience horrifying visions filled with a thick black substance which gets everywhere, but which, at times, only the pair of them seem able to see. There’s a strong theme of mystery throughout – who is doing this and why? Are the visions real? Are Brandon and Alice connected in any way?
Bryant is the master of suspense, so I read much of it holding my breath; meanwhile, people died, pivotal items went missing and paintings materialised which seemed to foreshadow future events. As a reader, I was forced to question everything; was I really witnessing the same things as Alice and Brandon? Was alcohol to blame? Did Brandon need therapy to recover from his traumatic childhood growing up in a care system which failed him dismally?
I love the duality of the story – Bryant leaves you with a cliff hanger at the end of each scene before he switches between the two plots, but it means you never get respite from the action. You’re never sure what horror to expect next so I was grateful for the occasional mention of Peppa Pig to give me some much-needed breathing space.
Bryant’s descriptions are vivid and the stuff of nightmares; visions are laced with dark protruding veins, blackness which oozes from pores and flesh-eating worms. But there are tender moments too and when Alice’s life is thrown into turmoil it is heart breaking and I had continual butterflies in my stomach, hoping that she would find a way out of her dire situation.
Thanks to Bryant, I now keep checking the colour of people’s irises when they aren’t looking and I really, really can’t deal with staircases. This is a great, action-packed horror story with slick and vivid writing plus there is a very satisfactory unravelling of the mystery – not to mention a great, twisted ending. Superb!
October 20, 2020
This story is so imaginative. I’m sure Stephen King will pinch himself at the fact that he didn’t write it.
The imagery is incredible. I don’t want to spoil anything but it is horrifying. There is very well done body horror and some hints of splatterpunk.
Ultimately, Dean reaches his peak horror when the characters you care for are in danger.
It’s a non-stop thrill ride and you can’t get off.
I’m excited to read his future stories.
The imagery is incredible. I don’t want to spoil anything but it is horrifying. There is very well done body horror and some hints of splatterpunk.
Ultimately, Dean reaches his peak horror when the characters you care for are in danger.
It’s a non-stop thrill ride and you can’t get off.
I’m excited to read his future stories.
May 28, 2024
I haven't read a good horror story in quite a while, so I was delighted to get a copy of The Stairwell. From the beginning, it feels like you get insight into two characters' nightmares, and Bryant teases you with reality and fiction until you're not sure which is which. Though both protagonists have their foibles, you hope they can find their way out of the madness—somewhat of their own making—while you try to guess their connection. The reveal is a twist you won't see coming!
November 11, 2020
It is always exciting to discover a fine novelist whose work you haven’t read before, and Dean Bryant has certainly written an exciting debut novel. The Stairwell was recently published by darkstroke, an imprint of Crooked Cat Books.
The Blurb
Frightful visions. An unknown manipulator. A force from beyond reason.
Brandon Chapman arrives home to a horrific scene. His wife, Stephanie, is exhibiting behaviour that he can only describe as that of someone possessed – yet he doesn’t even believe in the supernatural. He soon realises that it was nothing other than a frightful, haunting vision.
After discovering a dark secret about Stephanie, Brandon meets a strange figure with knowledge about his own life that no one could possibly know. As his visions become more frequent and terrifying, he begins to question his sanity.
Brandon must either side with this figure or his wife before his daughter comes to harm.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived when Niel ends up in a coma after a traffic accident.
Alice fears he may never wake up again and, unaware of the consequences, strikes a deal with a strange voice. When Niel awakes, his behaviour changes drastically, and Alice – like Brandon – becomes subject to nightmarish, violent visions.
Are Brandon and Alice caught in a never-ending nightmare?
The Review
The Stairwell does not read like a debut novel. It is as assured as it is horrifying and I defy you not to be hooked by the tense, vivid prologue. I would not normally choose to read horror novels, but this one is so enthralling, so intense that I could not put it down and I read it in one sitting.
The story cleverly weaves the stories of Brandon and Alice in a nightmarishly fascinating way. The fires of our world and the fires of hell burn in sequence to create a satisfying thriller of the first order.
I hope there are more novels to come from this talented author because, be sure, I will gird up my courage and read them all. I highly recommend The Stairwell to all who enjoy the novels of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Edgar Allen Poe and now, of course, Dean Bryant.
The Author
Dean has always loved writing, ever since his primary school teacher wrote “another cracker from the pen of Dean Bryant” on his English homework. He loves writing horror and dark thrillers as they allow him to be as imaginative as possible. He also is proud of the fact that he won a nation-wide poetry competition when he was 11 but went on to never write another poem.
He’s a huge fan of the classic horror authors Stephen King and Dean Koontz, with Midnight being his favourite book of all time. He studied Psychology at university which made him the friend everyone goes to for advice.
Dean lives in London with his partner of ten years, who also doubles as a beta-reader and critic. He is a type 1 diabetic, which hasn’t stopped him eating cake, he just has to do a lot of mental math first.
Val Penny
The Blurb
Frightful visions. An unknown manipulator. A force from beyond reason.
Brandon Chapman arrives home to a horrific scene. His wife, Stephanie, is exhibiting behaviour that he can only describe as that of someone possessed – yet he doesn’t even believe in the supernatural. He soon realises that it was nothing other than a frightful, haunting vision.
After discovering a dark secret about Stephanie, Brandon meets a strange figure with knowledge about his own life that no one could possibly know. As his visions become more frequent and terrifying, he begins to question his sanity.
Brandon must either side with this figure or his wife before his daughter comes to harm.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived when Niel ends up in a coma after a traffic accident.
Alice fears he may never wake up again and, unaware of the consequences, strikes a deal with a strange voice. When Niel awakes, his behaviour changes drastically, and Alice – like Brandon – becomes subject to nightmarish, violent visions.
Are Brandon and Alice caught in a never-ending nightmare?
The Review
The Stairwell does not read like a debut novel. It is as assured as it is horrifying and I defy you not to be hooked by the tense, vivid prologue. I would not normally choose to read horror novels, but this one is so enthralling, so intense that I could not put it down and I read it in one sitting.
The story cleverly weaves the stories of Brandon and Alice in a nightmarishly fascinating way. The fires of our world and the fires of hell burn in sequence to create a satisfying thriller of the first order.
I hope there are more novels to come from this talented author because, be sure, I will gird up my courage and read them all. I highly recommend The Stairwell to all who enjoy the novels of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Edgar Allen Poe and now, of course, Dean Bryant.
The Author
Dean has always loved writing, ever since his primary school teacher wrote “another cracker from the pen of Dean Bryant” on his English homework. He loves writing horror and dark thrillers as they allow him to be as imaginative as possible. He also is proud of the fact that he won a nation-wide poetry competition when he was 11 but went on to never write another poem.
He’s a huge fan of the classic horror authors Stephen King and Dean Koontz, with Midnight being his favourite book of all time. He studied Psychology at university which made him the friend everyone goes to for advice.
Dean lives in London with his partner of ten years, who also doubles as a beta-reader and critic. He is a type 1 diabetic, which hasn’t stopped him eating cake, he just has to do a lot of mental math first.
Val Penny
October 30, 2020
OMG,this book is absolutely bloody incredible. This spine chilling story is written in chapters that alternate between Brandon, whose chapters are set in the present day and Alice, whose chapters are set in the past. In Brandon's chapters we learn that he is being plagued by terrifying nightmares in which a horrifying creature who looks a lot like his wife Stephanie has murdered their three year old daughter Lily. We follow Brandon's journey as he struggles to save his marriage whilst battling with depression, his conscience and the mysterious voice inside his head. A voice that sounds remarkably like his new friend, the sinister figure that Brandon keeps seeing everywhere and who keeps insisting that Brandon must kill Stephanie before it is too late.
In the chapters set in the past, Alice is in her first year at University and is struggling to fit in. She is a pretty girl although she thinks she is plain and overweight so she is therefore shocked when she is approached at the students union by handsome Nial and they end up spending the night together in her tiny room. Nial is kind hearted, loving and caring and soon the pair are inseparable, even Alice's parents like him. By this point me and probably many other readers are thinking, yep, I know where this is going, whirlwind romance, perfect boyfriend it's all too good to be true. And you would be right but Alice's life doesn't turn into a living nightmare due to the usual reasons. Apart from the terrible visions that she has suddenly started experiencing, all is going well in Alice's life until Nial is involved in a terrible accident and Alice is so desperate to have her wonderful boyfriend back that she forgets the golden rule, be very careful what you wish for. Her wish is granted but she swiftly starts to wish that is wasn't after she finds herself being terrorised by someone who looks a lot like her once loving boyfriend but whose personality has changed beyond all recognition. Two vivid characters, two time frames, two spine chilling stories. Are these two characters connected in some way? Why are they both suddenly having terrifying dreams and visions? How does their stories end? If you want to know the answers to these questions then you are just going to have to get your hands on a copy of this chilling thriller and find out.
Wow....just wow and Omg, this is a intricately plotted, extremely well written, spine chilling thriller that has a large dash of the supernatural and horror thrown in for good measure. It's a creepy, dark, mesmerising story that had me glued to my kindle and frantically turning the pages. The plot contains a couple of ingenious twists and that ending, it gave me goosebumps, it was so chilling. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this incredible book. Worth far more than five stars and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.very very highly recommended.
In the chapters set in the past, Alice is in her first year at University and is struggling to fit in. She is a pretty girl although she thinks she is plain and overweight so she is therefore shocked when she is approached at the students union by handsome Nial and they end up spending the night together in her tiny room. Nial is kind hearted, loving and caring and soon the pair are inseparable, even Alice's parents like him. By this point me and probably many other readers are thinking, yep, I know where this is going, whirlwind romance, perfect boyfriend it's all too good to be true. And you would be right but Alice's life doesn't turn into a living nightmare due to the usual reasons. Apart from the terrible visions that she has suddenly started experiencing, all is going well in Alice's life until Nial is involved in a terrible accident and Alice is so desperate to have her wonderful boyfriend back that she forgets the golden rule, be very careful what you wish for. Her wish is granted but she swiftly starts to wish that is wasn't after she finds herself being terrorised by someone who looks a lot like her once loving boyfriend but whose personality has changed beyond all recognition. Two vivid characters, two time frames, two spine chilling stories. Are these two characters connected in some way? Why are they both suddenly having terrifying dreams and visions? How does their stories end? If you want to know the answers to these questions then you are just going to have to get your hands on a copy of this chilling thriller and find out.
Wow....just wow and Omg, this is a intricately plotted, extremely well written, spine chilling thriller that has a large dash of the supernatural and horror thrown in for good measure. It's a creepy, dark, mesmerising story that had me glued to my kindle and frantically turning the pages. The plot contains a couple of ingenious twists and that ending, it gave me goosebumps, it was so chilling. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this incredible book. Worth far more than five stars and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.very very highly recommended.
November 23, 2020
The Stairwell by Dean Bryant is a terrifying tale of horrific visions, violence, murder, and manipulation. As this story is organized around two main perspectives, this is one that is sure to keep you guessing!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but I also purchased a copy. This did not affect my rating in any way.
What would you do if you suddenly began having visions that showed you horrific things that, at the time, you believed were really happening? What if those visions were then discussed by a real person, no longer allowing you to just brush them aside? The two characters in this tale are haunted by exactly that.
From one perspective we meet a man that has found out that his wife had been cheating on him. But was she just straying, or was there something more sinister at play there?
In the second perspective we meet a young girl who has just met a man that has totally flipped her world upside down. While she is absolutely smitten, is this too good to be true?
As the story continues on, it just gets darker and darker…
I absolutely loved this read. It’s wonderfully written and I really enjoyed how the organization of the chapters in varying perspectives were put together in a way that really amplified the tension and terror.
The plot was so interesting and absolutely chilling. This read had me on the edge of my seat throughout and while I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, I also dreaded finding out what would happen next.
I also really enjoyed the two main characters and felt horrible for them when things started to go downhill. I kept wishing for a happy ending and I couldn’t wait to see if the two characters were going to cross paths at some point before the conclusion of the tale.
My Favorite Passages
I parked in the driveway and approached the front door, but even before inserting my key into the lock, I knew something was wrong.
My mood was still much darker than any of the clouds handing overhead ready to reclaim the sky…
The sweet innocence of my daughter almost made me forget everything else that had happened. It was as if her love for me allowed me to build a wall in my mind, though how long until it inevitably came crashing down, I wasn’t sure.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy dark and twisted reads centered around characters with a lot of heart and bravery, then this is a book for you! This is also a tale that will make readers question what they would do if they found themselves in the shoes of the two main characters…
This is a story that I will definitely be returning to in the future.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but I also purchased a copy. This did not affect my rating in any way.
What would you do if you suddenly began having visions that showed you horrific things that, at the time, you believed were really happening? What if those visions were then discussed by a real person, no longer allowing you to just brush them aside? The two characters in this tale are haunted by exactly that.
From one perspective we meet a man that has found out that his wife had been cheating on him. But was she just straying, or was there something more sinister at play there?
In the second perspective we meet a young girl who has just met a man that has totally flipped her world upside down. While she is absolutely smitten, is this too good to be true?
As the story continues on, it just gets darker and darker…
I absolutely loved this read. It’s wonderfully written and I really enjoyed how the organization of the chapters in varying perspectives were put together in a way that really amplified the tension and terror.
The plot was so interesting and absolutely chilling. This read had me on the edge of my seat throughout and while I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, I also dreaded finding out what would happen next.
I also really enjoyed the two main characters and felt horrible for them when things started to go downhill. I kept wishing for a happy ending and I couldn’t wait to see if the two characters were going to cross paths at some point before the conclusion of the tale.
My Favorite Passages
I parked in the driveway and approached the front door, but even before inserting my key into the lock, I knew something was wrong.
My mood was still much darker than any of the clouds handing overhead ready to reclaim the sky…
The sweet innocence of my daughter almost made me forget everything else that had happened. It was as if her love for me allowed me to build a wall in my mind, though how long until it inevitably came crashing down, I wasn’t sure.
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy dark and twisted reads centered around characters with a lot of heart and bravery, then this is a book for you! This is also a tale that will make readers question what they would do if they found themselves in the shoes of the two main characters…
This is a story that I will definitely be returning to in the future.
November 24, 2020
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 actually 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. Brandons 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 healt,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 really 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 totally different man!
Alice and Brandon, two seperate 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 a number of scary stories over the last couple of months and this one is among the top of the books I have read.A plot that is excellent, 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 os 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.
Told in alternating chapters with Brandon, in the present day and Alice, hers are set in the past. Brandons 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 healt,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 really 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 totally different man!
Alice and Brandon, two seperate 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 a number of scary stories over the last couple of months and this one is among the top of the books I have read.A plot that is excellent, 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 os 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.
November 1, 2020
With that beginning, do not ever think it is a good idea to go down to your cellar at night where the lights don’t work. Don’t be a Zoé because that’s what I did. The fear of foreboding in the dark, all down to some words that have been written in front of you! Such a thrill!
Two timelines, two ways to try and scare you and two dark and malevolent entities to mess with your head. As a reader, the story of Alice and Brandon are separate. We have a light story of young love, sickeningly so but still enough to make you smile until it doesn’t, this is contrasted against a dark intense story where you fear time is running and quick. The balance of these stories plays out well. The shocks are aplenty and I found myself getting a bit teary one bit. Yes, I know this is a horror book, it’s not meant to make me want to cry!!
However, both stories Alice and Brandon experience some horrifying visions…but all of them were visions which makes it all that much worse. It is the sort of thing that could literally make you lose your mind. Can we really trust what is unfolding in front of us?!
I started this book once I had done the bedtime routine with my mini-me, started a couple of chapters and planned to stop as I had adulting to do…I didn’t stop. It was like I was possessed, I had to keep turning the pages I literally could not stop that is how enticing The Stairwell is. There is so much tension in this book you could literally cut it with a knife. This book will suck you into its web and just as you think everything will be ok, it will drag you down to hell. What makes it worse is the ending leaves way too much to my imagination, places I do not want to go! It all depends on what ending you want.
Two timelines, two ways to try and scare you and two dark and malevolent entities to mess with your head. As a reader, the story of Alice and Brandon are separate. We have a light story of young love, sickeningly so but still enough to make you smile until it doesn’t, this is contrasted against a dark intense story where you fear time is running and quick. The balance of these stories plays out well. The shocks are aplenty and I found myself getting a bit teary one bit. Yes, I know this is a horror book, it’s not meant to make me want to cry!!
However, both stories Alice and Brandon experience some horrifying visions…but all of them were visions which makes it all that much worse. It is the sort of thing that could literally make you lose your mind. Can we really trust what is unfolding in front of us?!
I started this book once I had done the bedtime routine with my mini-me, started a couple of chapters and planned to stop as I had adulting to do…I didn’t stop. It was like I was possessed, I had to keep turning the pages I literally could not stop that is how enticing The Stairwell is. There is so much tension in this book you could literally cut it with a knife. This book will suck you into its web and just as you think everything will be ok, it will drag you down to hell. What makes it worse is the ending leaves way too much to my imagination, places I do not want to go! It all depends on what ending you want.
November 12, 2020
This book certainly starts as it means to go on. You are thrown straight into the World of the paranormal and the horror that overtakes Alice and Brandon’s lives. This is really quite a dark book perfect for horror fans with a great ending.
Brandon Chapman comes home to a horrific scene, and his wife behaving very strangely but he soon realises that it was nothing more than a haunting vision. But then his life starts to unwind as he has more visions and he is forced to choose between the paranormal force that is taking him over or his wife and daughter.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets the love of her life handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived as Alice starts having visions of Niel’s death. Sadly her vision comes true and Niel is involved in a terrible car accident. Scared that he will never wake up Alice makes a deal with a strange voice to save Niel’s life. When Niel miraculously awakes his behaviour has changed and Alice slips into a nightmare of paranormal visions and dark deeds.
How will this nightmare end for Brandon and Alice?
Brandon Chapman comes home to a horrific scene, and his wife behaving very strangely but he soon realises that it was nothing more than a haunting vision. But then his life starts to unwind as he has more visions and he is forced to choose between the paranormal force that is taking him over or his wife and daughter.
Alice Hamilton, a shy and quiet university student, meets the love of her life handsome Niel Curtis whilst on a night out with friends. They very quickly fall for one another, but their happiness is short-lived as Alice starts having visions of Niel’s death. Sadly her vision comes true and Niel is involved in a terrible car accident. Scared that he will never wake up Alice makes a deal with a strange voice to save Niel’s life. When Niel miraculously awakes his behaviour has changed and Alice slips into a nightmare of paranormal visions and dark deeds.
How will this nightmare end for Brandon and Alice?
June 14, 2025
It is super rare that I read a book in the horror genre as I scare very easily, but I could not help be drawn to this book and I just had to read it. It is a very chilling and disturbing tale, that did absolutely freak me out and one that had me only reading it during the day!
In the case of The Stairwell, less is more when taking about the plot and it is best going in with just what the blurb gives you. What I will say is the Dean Bryant has created something so terrifying yet intriguing and it just messes with your head, so much so that you feel like you are also experiencing it, but through the characters eyes.
As a debut novel, I think that Dean Bryant has done an amazing job with The Stairwell. The writing is sharp, the characters well developed, interesting and have really been brought to life through the pages perfectly. You can’t help but feel for them and what they are going through.
The Stairwell is a dark and twisted read that is so creepy, but at the same time, also very compelling. It just demands your attention and with each chapter ending with you wanting more, even with the fear factor, it was very hard for me to stop reading after the sun had gone down!
In the case of The Stairwell, less is more when taking about the plot and it is best going in with just what the blurb gives you. What I will say is the Dean Bryant has created something so terrifying yet intriguing and it just messes with your head, so much so that you feel like you are also experiencing it, but through the characters eyes.
As a debut novel, I think that Dean Bryant has done an amazing job with The Stairwell. The writing is sharp, the characters well developed, interesting and have really been brought to life through the pages perfectly. You can’t help but feel for them and what they are going through.
The Stairwell is a dark and twisted read that is so creepy, but at the same time, also very compelling. It just demands your attention and with each chapter ending with you wanting more, even with the fear factor, it was very hard for me to stop reading after the sun had gone down!
November 9, 2020
3.5*
I love a good prologue and The Stairwell kicks off with one hell of a mind bending, haunting prologue. This set the scene for one hell of a chilling read from beginning to the very twisted end.
I found a totally unreliable narrator in Brandon. His drinking and his horrifying visions made me question how much of what was going on was real. But then the sweet innocent Alice developed similar traits which made me question myself. What had I let myself in for with The Stairwell??! The more I read, the more unnerved I felt. The events got more monstrous as the pages went on.
Bryant has written a complex horror story which made me question everything: the characters, the events, who the frig is Brandon’s “friend” and what the hell happened to Niel?? If you’re of a nervous disposition, I’d recommend you steer well clear of The Stairwell. I felt on edge all the way through and after finishing it, I didn’t read for 24 hours which is very unlike me. I dared to enter The Stairwell; do you?
I love a good prologue and The Stairwell kicks off with one hell of a mind bending, haunting prologue. This set the scene for one hell of a chilling read from beginning to the very twisted end.
I found a totally unreliable narrator in Brandon. His drinking and his horrifying visions made me question how much of what was going on was real. But then the sweet innocent Alice developed similar traits which made me question myself. What had I let myself in for with The Stairwell??! The more I read, the more unnerved I felt. The events got more monstrous as the pages went on.
Bryant has written a complex horror story which made me question everything: the characters, the events, who the frig is Brandon’s “friend” and what the hell happened to Niel?? If you’re of a nervous disposition, I’d recommend you steer well clear of The Stairwell. I felt on edge all the way through and after finishing it, I didn’t read for 24 hours which is very unlike me. I dared to enter The Stairwell; do you?
February 9, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised with the twists, yes plural. I was thoroughly entertained.
Dean Bryant did a fabulous job of intertwining two separate chilling tales. The story focuses on two main characters, Alice and Brandon, dealing with an unforgiving, insidious entity/force.. The first chapter (or Prologue, I forget which) will hook you right in. I enjoyed the freaky "wtf" moments throughout this book. It was gut-wrenching at times because I felt sorry for these characters as the story went on. The story really came together for me; the ending. That's all I will say! I had fun reading it. I would recommend to get your hands on this through Kindle Unlimited if you can since it's free.
February 16, 2021
A very gripping story indeed.Well two stories involving separate characters whose lives are in some sort of nightmarish free fall. Their innermost fears start to comes to life and spurned by some demonic terrifying entity that can take possession of human existence. And at last a connection is revealed ... Don't tend to read horror very often, but got totally immersed in this one. Not revealing any more as avoiding 'spoilers' . But recommended .
December 14, 2023
Told from the perspectives of two different characters, the mystery starts right from the off, with Alice and Brandon suffering from horrific visions that might or might not be real.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that both are suffering from similar issues, but how is it all connected. The answer to that question makes for one of the best moments in what is a very entertaining book.
There are some solid horror set pieces in The Stairwell, a few of which are tough to take, especially those with Brandon's daughter.
I enjoyed this one, and look forward to more from Dean Bryant.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that both are suffering from similar issues, but how is it all connected. The answer to that question makes for one of the best moments in what is a very entertaining book.
There are some solid horror set pieces in The Stairwell, a few of which are tough to take, especially those with Brandon's daughter.
I enjoyed this one, and look forward to more from Dean Bryant.
November 12, 2020
a weird but thrilling ride. When you first start the book your bounced back and forth from one person to the other and then you start to see their life falling to pieces. There were some parts that left me slightly wondering and the end is a major cliff hanger basically but a good read all the way through for the most part.
November 30, 2020
The first thing that struck me about this novel was the excellent writing style. Bryant paints such a vivid picture that I could easily envisage the characters and scenes. Excellent writing, characters I became engrossed in and a storyline that kept me turning the pages. Bravo!
February 5, 2021
Truly chilling
Well I love a spooky paranormal tale like this! Two stories intertwine and the author keeps you guessing how almost until the end. Some really terrifying scenes and twists and turns keep you reading far too late into the night, and then sleeping with the light on!
Well I love a spooky paranormal tale like this! Two stories intertwine and the author keeps you guessing how almost until the end. Some really terrifying scenes and twists and turns keep you reading far too late into the night, and then sleeping with the light on!
September 24, 2020
I will start out by first saying I haven't read a Stephen King or Dean Koontz novel for ages. For a good reason, too, as I tend to scare these days easily. But I read an ARC of The Stairwell and found that I immensely enjoyed it! Disturbing, creepy, and uncomfortable, this entertaining story is woven in the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz and Edgar Allen Poe. Skillfully penned, the story follows two characters, Brandon, in the third person, and Alice in the first person. In the beginning, I noticed the change, in the middle, it didn't matter, and in the end...well, if you enjoy reading horror, then I highly recommend this book. Thank you for writing this!
January 31, 2021
Great Read
Hard to put down with a great twist. A short read that you could do in an evening. Give a shot
Hard to put down with a great twist. A short read that you could do in an evening. Give a shot
September 15, 2021
A fun horror that was easy to get in to, and kept my intreast, I did think the ending was a little rushed, but other then that it was a good read.
March 28, 2021
I haven’t read a great supernatural book in a while and I really enjoyed this debut novel. It reminded of a mix between Constantine (the movie) and the British paranormal TV show called Hex.
I really liked the writing style, swapping from two different perspectives and it was fast paced. Well done Mr Bryant. I look forward to reading your next novel. There was some plot twists I really didn’t expect and one memorable moment where I said out loud, ‘Holy shit. I didn’t see that coming.’ I love it when stories surprise me, thanks for that! :D
I really liked the writing style, swapping from two different perspectives and it was fast paced. Well done Mr Bryant. I look forward to reading your next novel. There was some plot twists I really didn’t expect and one memorable moment where I said out loud, ‘Holy shit. I didn’t see that coming.’ I love it when stories surprise me, thanks for that! :D
September 24, 2020
A complex, suspenseful plot with tension so thick that it felt palpable. Wonderful characters with depth and substance. I was immediately drawn in and held captive from beginning to end.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
September 17, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
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