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Clown in a Cornfield

Adam Cesare (Goodreads Author)

3.84 · Rating details · 2,160 ratings · 707 reviews

Quinn Maybrook just wants to make it until graduation. She might not make it to morning.

Quinn and her father moved to tiny, boring Kettle Springs to find a fresh start. But ever since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down, Kettle Springs has cracked in half. On one side are the adults, who are desperate to make Kettle Springs great again, and on the other are the kids, w ...more

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Hardcover, 352 pages

Published August 25th 2020 by HarperTeen

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Aug 20, 2020 megs_bookrack rated it it was amazing

Quinn Maybrook moves to Kettle Springs, Missouri, after her father accepts a position as the town's new General Practitioner.

While he didn't ask for Quinn's opinion on the matter, she is willing to let it slide. After everything they have been through, she just wants to see her Dad happy again.

To be honest, Quinn was ready to leave Philadelphia anyway. Since her Mom's tragic, and very public death, it was tough to be there; to deal with everyone's pitying looks.

When they arrive at their new home ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, hardback, horror-etc, young-adult

What in the hell ass crazy clown did I just read!! 🤨🤡

This WAS NOT what I was expecting, not by a damn long shot! This book came out of left field. The left corn field! <- that was so corny <- omg! Corny! I can’t win on this one 🙄🤣😂

I’m seriously at a loss for words 🤔. If I open my big ass mouth, I’ll give something away! Just know this book will not be what you’re thinking it’s going to be! Take that and run with it. No seriously... RUN!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

Read with some awesome peeps at the group: Horror A ...more

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Aug 29, 2020 ELLIAS (elliasreads) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, thriller-mystery

BLOODY GORY FUN, THIS WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED!!!

SMALL TOWN + SERIAL KILLER CLOWN + TEENAGE PARTIES??? (what could go wrong?) = EVERYTHING . But in the best way possible.

This book had the highest body count I've ever read in a slasher novel. Bodies dropping left and right— slash, stick, stabby stabby, shot, burned, sliced, and diced . SCREAM could never! Entertainment value??? 10000000000000% BISH!!!!

This book was like a fun romp through a halloween horror night at the amusement park w ...more

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Aug 27, 2020 Gabby rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, liked-it, reviewed, cover-lust, 4-star-books, horror, arc-or-won-or-received, read-in-2020, own

3.5 stars
This was one of my most anticipated horror books of the year so I was so incredibly stoked when Adam sent me a review copy! This book follows this girl named Quinn who is moving to a small town called Kettle Springs. Her and her Dad are looking for a fresh start and this is where they decide to live, but the town is strange. She becomes friends with this group of teens who stream their pranks online and it drives the older crowd in the town insane.

This book was a fun slasher horror, it ...more

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Aug 26, 2020 Riley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

this was such a great slasher book! totally reminded me of friday the 13th or halloween, and the horror elements really went there. it was super gory

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Mar 19, 2020 Sadie Hartmann Mother Horror rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cemetery-dance

Review originally published at Cemetery Dance:
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...
The setting for Clown in a Cornfield is the fictional town of Kettle Springs, a rural town that sounds like good ol’ Nowheresville, USA. The townspeople seem caught in a time-warp where young people are to be seen and not heard, especially while the grown-ups are trying hard to “Make Kettle Springs Great Again.” Unfortunately for our protagonist, Quinn Maybrook, her father took a job in Kettle Springs and Quinn Review originally published at Cemetery Dance:
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...
The setting for Clown in a Cornfield is the fictional town of Kettle Springs, a rural town that sounds like good ol’ Nowheresville, USA. The townspeople seem caught in a time-warp where young people are to be seen and not heard, especially while the grown-ups are trying hard to “Make Kettle Springs Great Again.” Unfortunately for our protagonist, Quinn Maybrook, her father took a job in Kettle Springs and Quinn has no choice but to adjust to her new scene.

Adam Cesare is no stranger to horror tropes. He has a popular YouTube channel where he reviews and discusses horror movies and horror fiction. He’s written several of his own books, each one with their own cinematic flair and intentional nods to familiar tropes but with Cesare’s own twists.

It’s no surprise that Clown in a Cornfield, Cesare’s debut New York publishing novel, already has movie adaptation buzz surrounding it. It’s this reader’s opinion that his stories have always been ready for the big screen. There’s just something about his writing style and his passion for horror movies that translates onto the page.

Clown is no exception and reads like a retro-slasher film but with social commentary relevant to today’s audience. The best of both worlds. Some readers might find the first one hundred pages a bit of a slow burn. I found the set-up to be slightly underwhelming for all its early hype.

In classic slasher fashion where there’s an arresting, violent introduction (think of the babysitter scene in SCREAM or the hit-and-run scene of I Know What You Did Last Summer) Clown opens with a heart-pounding hook.

However, readers are then led through a meandering journey as Quinn makes new friends and asks them questions about some of the town’s landmarks and historical celebrations. Quinn finally recognizes that there is something seriously different about her new hometown and it becomes her mission to uncover the mystery and expose the truth.

Eventually, the horror engine turns over and it’s off to the races! The second half of the book is non-stop action. The body count rises and Kettle Spring’s streets run red.

Don’t let this book genre label turn you off from pre-ordering this title. There’s nothing “toned down” or unmentioned about this full-on attack on today’s youth. Other than the protagonist and her friends being teenagers, this is fully capable of providing full-grown scares. ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 ♡ oscar ♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, 2020-releases

"Quinn had never been scared of the dark. And before tonight, she'd never even thought to be afraid of clowns."

To give you guys some non-spoilery blurb on what this all about:

After a recent tragedy, Glenn Maybrook and her daughter, Quinn, moved from Philadelphia to Kettle Springs, a small town surrounded by this vast of cornfield. Glenn is the new doctor in town while of course, Quinn is the 'new girl'. New girl goes to her new school, Kettle Springs High. New girl meets her new set of frien "Quinn had never been scared of the dark. And before tonight, she'd never even thought to be afraid of clowns."

To give you guys some non-spoilery blurb on what this all about:

After a recent tragedy, Glenn Maybrook and her daughter, Quinn, moved from Philadelphia to Kettle Springs, a small town surrounded by this vast of cornfield. Glenn is the new doctor in town while of course, Quinn is the 'new girl'. New girl goes to her new school, Kettle Springs High. New girl meets her new set of friends-Cole, Janet, Ronnie, and Mat- whom are considered by the town as troublemakers. Apparently, Founder's Day is just right around the corner. Everyone is geared up. Everyone is excited for it. Nothing could go wrong right?

You know what I'm just gonna say it. I expected Clown in a Cornfield to suck so bad and I'm literally over the moon right now to say that this exceeded my expectations. I'm so good in sabotaging myself in these things. If there's a clown, that's me. I'm eating my words right now. I haven't read any good YA horror like for months so naturally I was skeptical in picking this up.

This book was thrilling and horrifying from the 30 percent until the end. I went from "huh this is okay" to "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING". Personally I think the things that happened here is too much for a YA novel. I believe the writing was the best part in this story. It was captivating and vivid making me to clearly picture in my head the action sequences. I feel like I was watching Scream or any good slasher movie.

As for the horror I don't know if this is type of horror most horror junkies would like. The horror in this was far from paranormal or supernatural. If you're expecting Pennywise kind of horror then you're in for a disappointment. It was realistic. The horror in this was the "someone's running fast towards you with a chainsaw so you gotta run faster" kind of horror. This book was pure adrenaline and loved it.

To be petty, I honestly hoped there was more background as to why and how these things are happening. It was explained in the novel but still I wished there was more backstory to it? Yeah.
...more

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Feb 16, 2020 Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy, horror

4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/Jb7RBxJZjz0
Murderous Clowns & Snarky Teenagers… all the elements you need for an awesome slasher horror movie. This book pretty much demands to be adapted.

I have previously read several of Adam Cesare’s other books and I am always impressed by his range as an author. No two of his books are quite the same and this newest one, once again, feels different feels different from the rest. I have really enjoyed his previous work, but I think this one might be hi 4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/Jb7RBxJZjz0
Murderous Clowns & Snarky Teenagers… all the elements you need for an awesome slasher horror movie. This book pretty much demands to be adapted.

I have previously read several of Adam Cesare’s other books and I am always impressed by his range as an author. No two of his books are quite the same and this newest one, once again, feels different feels different from the rest. I have really enjoyed his previous work, but I think this one might be his best. It’s certainly my personal favourite.

While this is classified as young adult, I can confidently say that this novel will appeal to a wider adult audience. Cesare avoids so many of the annoying tropes of the YA genre and instead presents a story that felt nuanced and mature. The teenage characters felt very realistic, but, thankfully, not in an annoying way.

The story started out slower, first establishing the group dynamics between the characters. Yet, soon enough, the action kicked off and it did not stop. The narrative was fast paced and easy to fly through. However, I did find myself wanting more explanation of the motivations behind the violence. I just never fully understood the motivations for the killings which left me a bit unsatisfied.

In terms of horror, this book delivers in the good. Despite being targeted at a young adult audience, the author does not hold back. If you have a fear of clowns, this novel could be absolutely terrifying. Even though I am not afraid of clowns, I still found the situations surrounding the clowns to be scary enough without that added phobia. This novel was gory and gruesome with some fantastic kill scenes. There were a couple of scenes I found legitimately scary. They were described vividly so that I could not help but imagine myself in those terrifying situations. Anyone who complains that YA horror plays it “too safe” should read this one.

The author clearly has a love of the horror genre and that shows through in his storytelling. This novel took many of the classic tropes of horror stories, but addressed them in some smart and thoughtful ways.

Needless to say, I would recommend this horro4 novel to a wide range of readers who enjoy a good slasher story with plenty of action and some good scares.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher, HarperCollins Canada. ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 Paul rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD starts as a fun and scary retro-slasher but then cleverly twists and bloodies its way into being a very now kind of beast.

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Sep 06, 2020 Char rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: group-read, young-adult, dark-fiction, arc, coming-of-age, edelweiss

In the town of Kettle Springs Missouri, there's an abandoned factory with a big clown painted on the side. This lovely sight greets Quinn, as she looks out her bedroom window in their new home. Having lost her mother only a short time ago, Quinn promises her father she'll do her best to make a go of it in this new town, for his sake as well as her own. But something is wrong is this quiet town and it has to do with Frendo the clown. And cornfields. And twisted minds. If all this sounds good to y ...more

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Jan 19, 2020 Mindi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have to admit that when I heard Cesare had written a horror novel in the YA genre I was both hesitant and intrigued. I don't really read very much YA at all, but I love Cesare's work, so I was super excited to pick this one up when it was released. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when Cesare reached out to me and asked if I would like to read a review copy. I answered immediately.

Quinn Maybrook is the new kid in town. Having grown up in Philadelphia, Kettle Springs is way too country for her I have to admit that when I heard Cesare had written a horror novel in the YA genre I was both hesitant and intrigued. I don't really read very much YA at all, but I love Cesare's work, so I was super excited to pick this one up when it was released. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when Cesare reached out to me and asked if I would like to read a review copy. I answered immediately.

Quinn Maybrook is the new kid in town. Having grown up in Philadelphia, Kettle Springs is way too country for her liking. But Quinn quickly makes friends when she is forced into detention with some of the other cool kids in her class. Founder's Day is coming up soon, and it's the biggest event in town. Everyone comes out to celebrate the town's mascot, Frendo the Clown. That's definitely a super creepy name for a clown, but I'm also wondering if it's a nod to the film No Country for Old Men. There are comparisons to be made between Anton Chigurh and Frendo the Clown, but I'll let the reader discover those.

The kids who received detention are not permitted to attend Founder's Day, but since it was just their teacher assigning the punishment all of them ignore him and go anyway. Something very unfortunate is planned by some of the kids, and this makes the Sheriff even more incensed toward the high schoolers, and one of the boys in particular. Cole likes the new girl Quinn, so he invites her to go to a barn party way out in the sticks the night after the Founder's Day debacle. She likes him too, and so they join most of their classmates in the revelry. Unfortunately, someone wearing the Frendo costume doesn't like the kids and their antics, and so he decides to crash the party and starting killing kids one by one. Before the night is over a bloodbath ensues, and some long buried secrets are revealed about Kettle Springs.

When the party starts and the carnage beings, this one really kicks into high gear. Kids are dropping like flies, and everyone is trying to hide to save themselves. The tension really ratchets up, and I found myself really rooting for the core group of kids to survive. There's lots of gore, and as the town secrets are revealed I was rooting for the kids even more. This one is just pure fun from start to finish. Perhaps I need to delve into some more YA horror, but I have a feeling that the appeal is Cesare's writing. Definitely pick this one up when it's released. ...more

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Jun 07, 2020 Edward Lorn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Friendly reminder, three stars on this site means I liked it. And I did. I liked it.

The first thing I'd like to mention is, I'm fully aware this book isn't for me, and you should take that into consideration while reading this review. I've seen all this before. Where this book will shine is how it will (hopefully) get more kids into reading horror, and it might, as long as they haven't seen more than two or three slasher films. But an old dog like me saw much of this book coming, and what littl Friendly reminder, three stars on this site means I liked it. And I did. I liked it.

The first thing I'd like to mention is, I'm fully aware this book isn't for me, and you should take that into consideration while reading this review. I've seen all this before. Where this book will shine is how it will (hopefully) get more kids into reading horror, and it might, as long as they haven't seen more than two or three slasher films. But an old dog like me saw much of this book coming, and what little I didn't see coming wasn't necessarily too-little-too-late, but real close to it.

Adam Cesare is a fantastic author, and one of the three content creators who inspired me to start my own YouTube channel. This is the lowest I've rated any of his work, and I think that speaks volumes. He's also a nice dude, from what little interaction I've had with him, but that has no bearing on my rating, just wanted to say, I'm a fan of him and his work. He's the only reason I got an ARC of this book, after I was declined not once but twice by the publisher, which makes me want to raise my rating based on him fighting for me to get to read it early, but I won't, because people trust me to be honest, and giving this anymore than a "good" rating would be lying.

But, again, this book ain't for me.

All of my problems with this book are massive spoilers, which I will explain in detail in the spoiler section below [after the book comes out]. They have to do with the predictability that comes with overused tropes. The first 25% of this book is godawful boring to the point that I almost quit it. I'd make a prediction and that prediction would come to pass. Happened seven times in the first 25%. Had it not been for my trust in Cesare, had this been literally any other author, I would've bailed. Cesare came through with the next 70%, which is horror gold, and then returned to further predictability in the last 5%. I want to believe this was on purpose, that Cesare regurgitated tropes from dozens of movies and books, in an attempt to prepare younger audiences for future horror viewing/reading. If true, I respect that. I simply wanted something...more.

Again, again, this book ain't for me.

Before I jump into spoiler territory, I have one final thing to mention about the content. There's a lot of reviews stating that this is gory for YA, but I don't think any of these reviewers have ever read a YA horror novel. I say this because I have a severely limited experience with YA horror, and even I know it can be brutal as fuck. See Survive the Night and Welcome to the Dark House as examples. If all you're looking for is gore, this book will certainly deliver plenty. It is loads of fun in that regard. There's a deeper message here, but I'll get to that in the spoilers. My point is, please do not discount an entire genre, or give readers preconceived notions about a genre, when you yourself don't have any experience with it, and all you can offer is supposition based on your own preconceived notions.

[Spoilers to be added after the release of the book]

In summation: Again, again, again, this book ain't for me. I do hope that millions read this book, and that the movie option produces as long-lasting franchise. I wish Adam Cesare the absolute best, all the success in the world, but this ain't for me. Many thanks to the author for a review copy of this book.

Final Judgment: Could possibly do for slashers what Harry Potter did for wizards. ...more

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Oct 09, 2020 karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, october-is-spooky, live-through-this

SPOOKTOBER CONTIIIIINUES!!!

oh, man, this book. i thought i knew what i was getting into and i was so wrong.

it’s YA with balls and a vintage horror cover i wanna marry, about a girl named quinn who moves from big city philly to ketttle springs, missouri—a small town saturated with its own secrets and tragedies; a town struggling to get by; a town trying to make itself great again; a town whose corn syrup mascot, frendo the not-at-all-creepy clown is part and parcel of their heartland identity of ...more

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Oct 24, 2020 jd 지훈 is currently reading it

Status: Currently Reading
Progress: 75% done

at this point, i still don't care about any of the characters and i couldn't care less if they're all gonna end up dead lol.

- - -
"And, yeah, he’s pretty cute . . . for an arsonist."

dude this shit is spicy af lol

- - -
is this YA? is this horror? mystery/thriller? i don't even know. but y'all are reading it so let's check it out!

(pls let this be a good one!!!)

Status Updates:
START | how big can that neck be zaddy | idc if they all end up dead | i fucking ha ...more

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May 25, 2020 Brian Keene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020

With an already impressive body of work to date, this is absolutely Adam Cesare's best, elevating and showcasing not just his own considerable talents, but elevating and showcasing the best of the modern horror resurgence. A loving homage to what has come before but absolutely cutting edge and shredding the old tropes. Plus, there's a vein of dark humor that runs throughout, and that just makes the terror all the more real. Highly, highly recommended.

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Dec 27, 2019 Cassie Lola (holo.reader) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-2020, gore-galore, recommended-by-friends, young-adult, death-as-subject, horror, read-2020

Can I first just say how badly I want gory horror to be a standard in YA book releases? I know, I know – a few naysayers think they’re above books marketed at “young adult” audiences, and sometimes even the gory ones can be filled with an overuse of unnecessary romance (there’s a pink neon cover that springs to mind in this vein), but I’m here to tell you that those people are wrong. Sure, YA may not be for them particularly – not everything is for everyone, and that’s okay! – but please don’t l Can I first just say how badly I want gory horror to be a standard in YA book releases? I know, I know – a few naysayers think they’re above books marketed at “young adult” audiences, and sometimes even the gory ones can be filled with an overuse of unnecessary romance (there’s a pink neon cover that springs to mind in this vein), but I’m here to tell you that those people are wrong. Sure, YA may not be for them particularly – not everything is for everyone, and that’s okay! – but please don’t let that sway you from giving it a shot! You may find that, although the audience the book is marketed toward is younger than your personal demographic, the teen slasher-esque mayhem that Adam Cesare writes at the peak of this this corn & clown filled nightmare will satisfy even the most experienced veterans of the genre.

City girl Quinn Maybrook is the new kid in town after moving to middle-of-nowhere Kettle Springs from her previous home in Philadelphia with her father, hoping for a fresh new start. Unfortunately for Quinn, the town is a little more behind on the times than she’s used to, and the adults of Kettle Springs don’t seem too eager to help urge it into modernity – much to the dismay of the teens that live there. When she gets into a little bit of trouble at school, Quinn ends up befriending “the wrong crowd”. Things take a turn for the worse when her new friends decide to play a few pranks on the town’s Founder’s Day parade, causing a bloody, violent chain reaction that will either force the Kettle Springs into the ways of the future, or keep it tightly bound to the secrets of the town’s past.

Adam Cesare writes violence and bloodshed like nobody else, and I genuinely have so much fun reading his books that I hope he keeps writing them forever. He has this incredible knack for nailing each gory scene in a way that disgusts, terrifies, and thrills the reader simultaneously, without leaving anything to be desired. His ability to write genuine fear in his characters and make it a palpable experience for the reader in various situations – from the threat of a looming figure outlined in the cornfields, to the terror of being trapped in a fiery building with little chance of surviving – is absolutely unparalleled as far as I’m concerned. There’s a reason he’s my most read author this year! Add to his writing talent the absolute NOPE that is the concept of ‘killer clown’, and this is one of the most terrifying, best books I’ve read all year – definitely in my Top 10 for sure!

Although our main characters are a group of teens, the dialogue and writing aren’t at all juvenile, putting the focus of the story less on the age range of our cast, and more on the horrors that await them. There’s a slow tension that begins to build from the very beginning, and it doesn’t take long for the calmer start in Cesare’s story to ramp up to compulsively page-turning levels of ferocity and chaos. I won’t say too much here because part of the fun in reading this was going along for the heart pounding, adrenaline-spiking ride, but I will say this: you need to read this one if you’re a fan of slashers and excellently written horror.

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD releases August 25th, so it’s just under a month away now – you can pre-order it here! I read this one back in January and it has been K-I-L-L-I-N-G me because I like to wait until closer to release to post my full reviews, and the anticipation of the approaching publication date was driving me bananas – you may have noticed my repeated sharing of the cover on bookstagram & Twitter, sorry not sorry! Cesare is such a great voice in the genre, and I’m ecstatic to see his work being picked up by a big name like HarperTeen. I truly wish a book like this had come along when I was a teen struggling to find YA fiction that was exciting to read – and I’m happy kids around the world are going to find that with CiaC now!

Etsy | Twitter | Bookstagram | Instagram ...more

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Aug 24, 2020 Cameron Chaney rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, ya, horror

I was sent an ARC of Clown in a Cornfield in exchange for an honest review. See my video review HERE.

As corny as it sounds, being an Ohioan means I know a lot about cornfields. Okay, maybe I don't know a lot about cornfields, I just know what it feels like to be surrounded by cornfields at all times. The majority of the houses I've lived in have been across the street from cornfields. And the scenery on the drive to town was a lot of cornfields as well. Just corn for freaking miles, and then mor ...more

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Oct 17, 2020 Gavin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-reads

BRILLIANT! A young adult horror novel that is not afraid of the bloodshed.

Quinn moves with her father to Kettle Springs, a small town that is divided between old and new, and the appearance of a clown in a pork pie hat will change the lives of the teens of the town forever.

So much happens in this book that I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'm trying to be as vague as possible, but once certain events happen, things move at a break-neck speed and doesn't stop til the very end. Carnage. ...more

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Jan 29, 2020 Michael Hicks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, edelweiss

My review of CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD can be found at High Fever Books.

Perhaps I should admit right at the outset that, largely due to my own ignorance, I have not necessarily a bias against young adult fiction, but perhaps a presumption of what YA lit is. When it was announced that Adam Cesare was making his YA debut this summer with Clown in a Cornfield, I was both very excited for him, having read and enjoyed the hell out of several of his indie/small press titles, but also a bit skeptical. Yeah, My review of CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD can be found at High Fever Books.

Perhaps I should admit right at the outset that, largely due to my own ignorance, I have not necessarily a bias against young adult fiction, but perhaps a presumption of what YA lit is. When it was announced that Adam Cesare was making his YA debut this summer with Clown in a Cornfield, I was both very excited for him, having read and enjoyed the hell out of several of his indie/small press titles, but also a bit skeptical. Yeah, I kind of raised my eyebrows at the news, a fact that now shames me. I was going to read it for sure because, hey, it’s Adam Cesare! But I was also kind of preparing myself for some watered down, kid-friendly scares-in-quotation-marks stuff where the violence was implied but rarely shown, and none of the kids had ever heard, let alone spoken, a foul word, and everyone makes it through safely and virtually unharmed.

So, let me admit, too, that I’m clearly a fucking idiot. Because this book, Clown in a Cornfield? It ain’t that. Like, at all. Yes, the main cast of characters are high schoolers in the latter stages of their adolescence, but (if you’re anything like me) don’t let the YA label or the HarperTeen imprint fool you. Cesare pulls absolutely zero punches here and Clown in a Cornfield fits in properly among the pantheon of horror slashers like Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Scream.

As AC/DC once sang, if you want blood, you got it! If you want savage kill scenes, plenty of f-bombs, and virtually non-stop carnage, you got it in spades right here. This may be a YA book given its focus on teens in trouble (deep, deep trouble), but make no mistake, this is most definitely some R-rated horror. And it all starts soon after Quinn Maybrook and her father, recent transplants from Philly, move into their new home in Kettle Springs, MO. Their house abuts a cornfield, and Quinn’s attic bedroom looks out over it and the abandoned, burned out Baypen factory situated within, the company’s mascot and Kettle Springs founder, Frendo the Clown, painted on one wall and leering through Quinn’s window. The Maybrooks have arrived just in time for Founder’s Day and the celebration of all-things Frendo. They’ve also arrived just in time for everything to go terribly, terribly wrong…

Clown in a Cornfield is a kinetic, super-amped up work of slasher terror, and once Cesare kicks things into high gear there is absolutely no slowing it down. This book moves like an out of control, high-speed train plowing over everything, and everyone, in its path, right up until its final moments. The pages here damn near turn themselves. It’s a compulsively readable book and one you’ll be hanging on to for dear life from start to finish.

It’s also got some nifty (and for me, highly welcome) social and political commentary throughout, which makes this a particularly timely release. A part of me can’t help but wonder if HarperTeen somehow engineered the “OK, Boomer” meme in order to generate some viral advance publicity for this one… And if they didn’t, they definitely need to capitalize on it pronto! The characters here feel real, and Cesare certainly knows how to write authentic teens that feel very much of their time and in this world. Quinn is a fantastic protagonist, too, one who rises to the challenge and, when push finally comes to shove, is able to adapt and fight back, making her one hell of an impressive new Scream Queen for horror lit fans.

TL;DR — I freaking loved this book. I was legitimately enamored with it the whole through and I couldn’t believe some of the stuff Cesare pulled off here. Clown in a Cornfield is a shot of pure adrenaline in horror book form. It’s a wild, entertaining, and frenetic blast from start to finish, and every single bit as good and blood-soaked as its phenomenally awesome, old-school cover art suggests. If you’re at all a fan of slasher horror, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Highly, highly, highly recommended. ...more

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Oct 07, 2020 Dannii Elle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-hazes, mysterious-miasmas

Multiple murders but make it fun.

This combined all the best aspects of a teen slasher film into a literary format and whilst it didn't ever become chill-inducing for me, it remained a highly entertaining, action-focused, and binge-worthy read, throughout. I loved the small town setting, the endless murderous and blood-soaked scenes, and the concluding political focus that lent the narrative some depth. I doubt this will become my usual go-to genre, but it provided a nice change of pace from the ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 Tracy Robinson rated it it was amazing

Ahhh! Haven’t read a Cesare book yet that I didn’t enjoy. This one is no exception. 🤡🔪🌽

Here is my review from Sci Fi and Scary:

Clowns. Cornfields. Adam Cesare. This book hit my “must read immediately” trifecta the moment I learned of it. I previously read three other books by this author, all of them within the 4-5 star range. You can check out my review of Exponential, The Summer Job, and the first one I read, Video Night.

I admit to being a bit apprehensive, sometimes books just don’t work for Ahhh! Haven’t read a Cesare book yet that I didn’t enjoy. This one is no exception. 🤡🔪🌽

Here is my review from Sci Fi and Scary:

Clowns. Cornfields. Adam Cesare. This book hit my “must read immediately” trifecta the moment I learned of it. I previously read three other books by this author, all of them within the 4-5 star range. You can check out my review of Exponential, The Summer Job, and the first one I read, Video Night.

I admit to being a bit apprehensive, sometimes books just don’t work for readers, favorite authors or not. (Looking at you, Cari Mora) With this being billed as YA, something I don’t generally read or review, there was a little twinge of “ohhh please be good” happening, and I wondered if I was the right reviewer for this book.

Guess what? I may not be the most experienced YA reviewer, but I was absolutely the right reader for THIS book. To my fellow readers who might be wondering the same, do not be deterred by categorization. This book delivers a depth of characters and all the bloody, wonderful horror elements I crave. And yes, I know YA books can do this too, go easy on me.

I teach high school classes and some college courses as well. Why does this apply here? Because it is this reader’s opinion that Cesare pretty much nailed the high school “scene.” There are some clique-y groups that inhabit the halls of all schools no matter the size or the era. They weren’t silly cliches, but were instead well-realized and, well, real. There is a decent sized cast here even though it is set in a small town; however, I found it easy to navigate and to remember who was who.

The two main characters are Quinn Maybrook, a recent transplant from a large city as she and her father try to make a fresh start, and the town of Kettle Springs itself. I LOVE when the setting is more than just a cardboard thing which only exists because it has to. Kettle Springs is a sleepy small town; you know the type. Chock full of adults who I can just hear saying “those meddling kids!”.

While “father/daughter making new start” and “suspicious small town with a tragic past” are definitely story lines I have read before, I quite enjoyed Cesare’s take on them. I didn’t feel like “I’ve read this before” and by the time I finished, I just knew others would love it, too.

There isn’t too much more I can say without entering into spoiler territory. I may even write up something else a bit closer to publication; August is so far away. On a personal note, I am so happy that Harper Teen grabbed up this Cesare novel. There are so many small press authors whose work I love, and man, it is GREAT to see this happen for Adam. Because this story? It is entertainment, depth, and horror all wrapped into one; I cannot WAIT for the larger community to get their hands on it. Oh, and maybe don't read this one next to a cornfield. You never know. ...more

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Oct 08, 2020 alana ♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: thriller, horror, mystery

"The corn itself could have been waving hello, or it could have been breathing.”

There’s still plenty of time to squeeze in a good ol’ slasher book for the month of October and this book absolutely delivered on that. The best part about Clown in a Cornfield is that it’s a relatively quick read coming in at just over 300 pages but it’s extremely fast paced – I seriously could not put this down. And now I find myself on the hunt for all the gory, murder-filled YA books that I can squeeze in for ...more

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Sep 10, 2020 Latasha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, horror, books-i-own

This was ok. The teens were awful but didn't deserve to die! i felt it took too long to get to the slasher bits. Once it got there, it was good ol slasher fun.

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Mar 01, 2020 Glenn Rolfe rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

(Share the Horror Review) CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD by Adam Cesare (Harper Teen, 2020)

I am definitely new to the world of Young Adult novels. In my mind, I thought that meant “Goosebumps” type books. After reading the latest novel from horror author, Adam Cesare (The Summer Job, Video Night), consider me enlightened.

Let’s face it, teenagers swear, see (or perpetrate) violence, and do plenty of adult things, so of course they should be properly represented in the books targeted at them. And Cesare doe (Share the Horror Review) CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD by Adam Cesare (Harper Teen, 2020)

I am definitely new to the world of Young Adult novels. In my mind, I thought that meant “Goosebumps” type books. After reading the latest novel from horror author, Adam Cesare (The Summer Job, Video Night), consider me enlightened.

Let’s face it, teenagers swear, see (or perpetrate) violence, and do plenty of adult things, so of course they should be properly represented in the books targeted at them. And Cesare does not flinch. The dialog is authentic, and well-done. This comes as no surprise to me as I’ve been a fan of his books for a number of years now, and the action and suspense are delivered at top-notch levels, as well.

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD centers on a small rural town where the kids of today and their love of all things social media and technology are really irritating the aging community. Quinn Maybrook and her father, Glenn (great name, btw), move to the town after Quinn’s mother od's back home in Philly. Quinn is the new girl and quickly gets mixed up with the loudest kids in town. Cole, the son of the town’s recluse former syrup factory owner, is the rich kid/troublemaker/rebel, and he takes Quinn under his wing.

After a few chapters of setting up the book's main characters, Cesare introduces us to Frendo the clown, the mascot of the out of business syrup factory. Just reading the name Frendo had me on edge as it triggered memories of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem’s character in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN). Knowing Cesare’s love for film, I’d be willing to guess that was intentional.

The story builds to the night of the “big party” and that’s when all the stuff really hits the fan.
Cesare expertly puts Quinn, Cole, and their friends through a night of pure hell. The ending was absolutely satisfying, but you’ll have to read the book to know how it all goes down.

Stepping back, I see a lot of appeal in this book for adults and teens alike. When the Frendo attacks begin, the term “active shooter” is used by one of the characters in the book while a group of party-goers has locked themselves inside a silo for protection. I have kids in junior high and elementary school, and I know in today’s world, this is a serious threat and concern for kids. My kids practice these “lock-down” drills every few months. I know these aspects of the story will certainly speak to both the teens reading the book and their parents (hello!) reading, as well.

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD also touches on how older people (say, 40 yo and +) are being effected by today’s “me-me-me” youth culture (with all the emphases kids put on social media and YouTube these days), and just how unsettling it is for some. To realize we (the 40+ers) are increasingly growing out of touch with technology and lingo and the way kids interact with each other now compared to say, 20 or 30 years ago, is forcing us to change, as well, and not everybody likes change. We don't understand it, and when we don’t understand something, we fear it. And in the harshest instances, we try to get rid of it or kill it. Cesare does a fantastic job handling these perspectives within this tale.

This is a Young Adult novel, but it can most certainly be read and eaten up by Cesare’s flock of loyal horror enthusiasts, too. Trust me, folks, you will not be let down.
Seriously, when CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD drops in August, you better go out and grab a copy.

5 stars! All day.
...more

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Aug 17, 2020 Emily rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Clown in a Cornfield is a really fun slasher, and it was different than what I was expecting. This is my second Adam Cesare book, and both stories have been really entertaining. If you need a gory and creative slasher, I highly recommend picking up Clown in a Cornfield!

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Aug 16, 2020 Stacee rated it really liked it

Shelves: edelweiss, read-in-2020

Corn is absolutely terrifying, but add murderous clowns and there was no way I was skipping this one.

I really liked Quinn. She’s trying to make the best of a bad situation and dealing with grief the only way she knows how. There were several other characters in this story, but I’m not going to say anything about them.

Plot wise, it did take a bit to get started, but once it did...damn. I loved the straight up horror movie aspect of it all, especially the not getting a real explanation until the ...more

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Aug 27, 2020 Maximilian Birner rated it really liked it

Shelves: four-star-books-2020

Clown In A Cornfield delivered EVERYTHING I wanted from this YA slasher. And can I just say right here, Adam Cesare doesn't hold back on the gore or the action. When the sun sets... you must prepare yourself for a wild ride!

Clown In A Cornfield is very action-packed, and gives every reader what they want! There's a midway twist that might have/not have been inspired by a few trending topics in late 2019... but I won't give away too much. All I'll say is you're definitely getting what you paid fo ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Sara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, fiction, young-adult, lgbtq

3.5 stars.

I have this thing about clowns. Essentially, I hate them. The giggly laugh, the painted face, the giant knife to stab you with... I'm not a fan. So I knew that this would be a horror that I would love and hate in equal measures - making it the ideal Halloween read. Quinn and her doctor gather have moved to the small town of Kettle Springs as a fresh start following the death of Quinn's mother. However, the town seems to have an odd fascination with Frendo, the local mascot. Add in the 3.5 stars.

I have this thing about clowns. Essentially, I hate them. The giggly laugh, the painted face, the giant knife to stab you with... I'm not a fan. So I knew that this would be a horror that I would love and hate in equal measures - making it the ideal Halloween read. Quinn and her doctor gather have moved to the small town of Kettle Springs as a fresh start following the death of Quinn's mother. However, the town seems to have an odd fascination with Frendo, the local mascot. Add in the strange tension between the old and young residents, and you could say Quinn is in for an eventful time.

Quinn is a decent protagonist. She can instantly see the absurdity in some of the adult residents of Kettle Spring, and their obvious hatred for the high school children and their views about destroying their town. She's a fresh pair of eyes, and the grounding component to the story, as she's sucked into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a killer clown. She's wilful, brave and able to stand up for herself with the added gunho attitude that seems to follow slasher movie heroines around. She's not against a bit of killing in order to survive. I did find that beyond this there's not much emotional depth to her character, and we don't really delve that deep into her psyche or relationship with her father beyond her need to protect him. It feels a little superficial at times.

The same could be said for the secondary characters. Those that stick around long enough are quite clichéd, and with no emotional depth to match their behaviours. I felt we only scratched the surface of the build up to the events that happen, and why. I wanted more backstory to explain the behaviours and decisions. This was especially true of Cole, who feels on the surface to be such a complicated soul but we never really see what I wanted to see from him and his relationships with his friends and family, which lessened the impact of events.

This is also a little slow to get off the ground pacing wise, however when things start to kick off things go down very quickly. It was gory and messy and action filled all the way through to the end from about 30% of the way through, and I found myself flying through this. It's well written and flows well and a found myself racing to the end. The story also goes in a direction I wasn't expecting (view spoiler) with a decent amount of social commentary thrown into the mix regarding the older generations and their blatant disregard for younger people's opinions and values. It surprised me in its intelligent reasoning and how impactful it was when played out in a scenario involving a killer clown.

This surprised me in its plot direction and delivery, and I'd certainly pick up whatever Adam Cesare writes next. I just wanted more emotional depth and backstory to back up certain characters actions. ...more

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Sep 10, 2020 Dawn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved this crazy clown book! Would have read it in a sitting if I didn’t have to work for a living 🤪. I know some have been turned off thinking this was a YA book, but it didn’t seem that way to me, so give it a shot! Plenty of scares and gore and even well formed characters I really liked (or didn’t). I think the theme is also creepy to me, which added to the scares. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

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Aug 28, 2020 Maxwell Ochman rated it did not like it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I’m surprised I found a book that could be more disappointing than Wonderland 🤷‍♂️

So this book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and flopped just as hard as my other anticipated reads. Survivor Song, Wonderland, and now Clown in a Cornfield. Perhaps the biggest thing I’ve seen about this book is that it’s “Friday the 13th!” It’s “Halloween!” It’s “Scream!” Really it’s none of those things, except for maybe the bad parts. Flat teens who instead of being total horn dogs always have a ke ...more

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Challenge Corner: Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare --> Starting October 13th, 2020	19	6	Oct 22, 2020 10:41AM
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About Adam Cesare

Adam Cesare

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Adam Cesare is a New Yorker who lives in Philadelphia. His books include Clown in a Cornfield, Video Night, The Summer Job, and Zero Lives Remaining. He’s an avid fan of horror cinema and runs Project: Black T-Shirt, a YouTube review show where he takes horror films and pairs them with reading suggestions.

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“Quinn looked to the horizon as the cornstalks swayed with the breeze. The corn itself could have been waving hello, or it could have been breathing.” — 2 likes

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