🩸 Horror Fiction

Floating Staircase

✍️ Ronald Malfi
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$14.95
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A haunting novel about a house with a violent past and stairs rising from a lake.

Malfi focuses on the psychological erosion of Travis Glasgow as he confronts the supernatural elements surrounding his new home. The narrative does not rely on jump scares but rather on the slow accumulation of bizarre occurrences, such as ghostly shapes and mysterious footprints. The wooden stairs emerging from the water serve as a central mystery that drives the plot forward. Travis’s journey is one of uncovering truth through personal investigation rather than external help. The story examines how past trauma can manifest in physical spaces, affecting those who inhabit them. Malfi uses the setting of the lake and woods to create a sense of isolation, making the couple's experience feel more intense and inescapable.

Key Themes
haunted house violent past supernatural secrets
Literary Context

Published in 2011 by Medallion Press, this work fits within the contemporary American horror genre. It draws on classic gothic traditions of domestic haunting and unresolved family tragedy. The setting reflects a common trope in US literature where rural idylls conceal dark histories.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Shirley Jackson · Ramsey Campbell · Henry James
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Medallion Press 📅 2011 📖 492 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781605424361

📝 Description: Floating Staircase

Ronald Malfi presents a haunting tale in Floating Staircase, drawing on the tradition of haunted house fiction. The narrative follows Travis and Jodie Glasgow as they settle into an idyllic small town home near woods and a lake. What begins as a picturesque life quickly deteriorates when Travis experiences strange noises at night and dreams filled with ghosts. Barely glimpsed shapes resembling a little boy appear in darkened hallways, leaving behind footprints that lead nowhere logical. The story centers on the discovery of wooden stairs rising cryptically from the lake, a physical manifestation of the house's violent and tragic past. Malfi structures the plot around Travis’s investigation into these mysteries, revealing that some secrets cannot remain buried forever. The author is known for his work in horror and supernatural fiction, bringing a grounded sense of dread to this domestic setting. This book suits readers who enjoy atmospheric tales where the environment itself becomes an antagonist. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions, as the narrative prioritizes lingering unease over immediate thrills.

💎 Our verdict on Floating Staircase

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Malfi delivers a compelling exploration of psychological decay through Travis Glasgow’s investigation into his home’s violent past. The author excels at building tension through subtle, unexplained phenomena like nocturnal noises and enigmatic staircases rising from the water, avoiding reliance on jump scares. This approach creates an inescapable sense of isolation, making the couple’s experience intensely personal and terrifying. The narrative structure, driven by internal discovery rather than external intervention, suits readers who prefer atmospheric depth over fast-paced action. While it lacks immediate resolution, its strength lies in the persistent, lingering unease that defines true psychological horror.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate slow-burning atmospheric horror and psychological erosion will find this novel deeply rewarding. It appeals to those interested in how past trauma manifests physically within domestic settings, offering a grounded sense of dread rather than cheap thrills. Fans of ghost stories that rely on the accumulation of bizarre occurrences, such as mysterious footprints and ghostly shapes, will enjoy the immersive isolation created by the lake and woods setting. This book is ideal for audiences seeking a haunting tale where the environment itself becomes hostile, providing a lingering unease that lingers long after the final page.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Malfi delivers a compelling exploration of psychological decay through Travis Glasgow’s investigation into his home’s violent past. The author excels at building tension through subtle, unexplained phenomena like nocturnal noises and enigmatic staircases rising from the water, avoiding reliance on jump scares. This approach creates an inescapable sense of isolation, making the couple’s experience intensely personal and terrifying. The narrative structure, driven by internal discovery rather than external intervention, suits readers who prefer atmospheric depth over fast-paced action. While it lacks immediate resolution, its strength lies in the persistent, lingering unease that defines true psychological horror.

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