Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damn Fine Story | 2017 | Chuck Wendig | Buy |
| 2 | The Book of Accidents | 2021 | Chuck Wendig | Buy |
| 3 | Dust & Grim | 2021 | Chuck Wendig | Buy |
| 4 | Black River Orchard | 2023 | Chuck Wendig | Buy |
| 5 | The Staircase in the Woods | 2025 | Chuck Wendig | Buy |
Chuck Wendig’s standalone novels show his range as a writer, from horror to middle-grade fiction. Damn Fine Story (2017) is actually a writing craft book about storytelling structure rather than a novel, despite appearing in this category. The Book of Accidents (2021) was his first big standalone horror release, following a family that moves back to a rural Pennsylvania town where dark things happened in the past and are happening again.
Dust and Grim (2021) is a middle-grade novel about a boy who discovers his family runs a funeral home for monsters, which is lighter in tone but still has Wendig’s signature weirdness. Black River Orchard (2023) went darker, telling the story of a small town transformed by apples from a mysterious orchard that make people feel incredible but come with a terrible cost. The Staircase in the Woods (2025) continues his exploration of rural horror.
These books represent Wendig’s shift toward standalone horror after years of working primarily in series fiction and licensed properties. The Book of Accidents and Black River Orchard in particular have drawn comparisons to Stephen King’s small-town horror novels, a comparison Wendig seems comfortable with given his open admiration for King’s work.