The Night Stairs
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Pub Date 9 Jul 2026 | Archive Date 1 Aug 2026
Random House UK, Vintage | Harvill
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Description
Every school has its scandals. At St Cordula’s, the next one could be fatal.
‘Had me hooked from page one’ JENNIE GODFREY
‘Deliciously dark’ JANE FALLON
‘Relentlessly gripping… Original, atmospheric’ LUCY CLARKE
St Cordula’s Catholic boarding school has survived for centuries on tradition, discipline and silence. Now its future is under threat, and Deputy Head Fiona Fox is preparing to lead the controversial change that could save it from ruin.
But St Cordula’s has always had rules of its own.
Legend has it that the ghost of fifteenth-century nun, Sister Matilda, will keep the school safe. But only as long as the words ‘GOD FORGIVE ME’, scrawled by Matilda on a chapel staircase wall before she fell to her death, remain.
Every year, the words are repainted.
The only time they were allowed to fade, in 2002, a terrifying outbreak of vertigo swept through the pupils. One girl died on the night stairs. And only three people know what really happened.
Now the vertigo is back, and as panic sweeps the school, Fiona must confront a dark secret from her past.
Or face the deadly consequences…
‘A complex and beautifully written gothic thriller… I raced through it’ CLARE MACKINTOSH
‘A stylish and utterly compulsive read from one of my favourite storytellers’ RUTH WARE
‘Hysteria, secrets, faith… and murder? This gothic boarding school mystery… gripped me until the very last twist’ JUNO DAWSON
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781787305618 |
| PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 400 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 224 members
Featured Reviews
Leeanne L, Reviewer
This book was outstanding. I absolutely love Erin Kelly’s writing and couldn’t wait to dive into this one — it did not disappoint.
The storytelling was brilliantly done, with shifting perspectives from the main characters across past and present timelines. Each voice felt distinct and added depth to the mystery as it slowly unfolded. The boarding school/convent setting was atmospheric and intense, capturing the complexities of teenage girl behaviour — the friendships, rivalries, secrets and simmering tensions.
What begins as a slow-burning, character-driven story gradually tightens its grip. When the twist hits, the pace ramps up dramatically and the book transforms into a gripping page-turner. It’s haunting, dark and unsettling, constantly keeping you guessing.
The final act builds into a dramatic, unforgettable climax that I genuinely didn’t see coming. A twisted, intelligent thriller that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.
Cressida M, Book Trade Professional
A beautifully written gothic mystery that drew me in from the first page. I love Erin Kelly's writing and The Night Stairs was so powerful. It makes you think about faith and devotion, not just in a higher power but in yourself, and in your friends. It is spot on about being a teenage girl, all the potential but also the uncertainty, the cliques and the bullying and failing to fit in that is so painful at school, and must be so much worse in a boarding school. The mystery is tantalising, the tension is expertly built and the revelations at the end were satisfying and shocking. It'a a compelling, beautifully written thriller that has so much depth and heart, and characters that feel wholly real.
Book Trade Professional 1641188
A gripping and pitch perfect boarding school thriller, dissecting and playing with the causes of mass psychogenic incidents and their prevalence in teenage girls. Impeccable setting, voice and tone. I loved it.
June H, Reviewer
Having read all of Erin Kelly’s previous books, I was thrilled to receive an ARC from Netgalley. This book is outstanding, my favourite one so far.
The novel tells the story of a convent all girls school which has been hit twice by ‘the spins’. Alternating between 2002 & 2025, it follows the story of 3 schoolgirls who were involved in a terrible accident. A very clever, thought provoking book which is extremely well written. In particular, I loved the characters of Kylie and her subsequent development. I’d highly recommend this book and look forward to future writings
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