Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Clown in a Cornfield

Clown in a Cornfield is a must-read for anyone who enjoys graphic horror scenes, blood, and a good old-fashioned slasher.

Kettle Springs, Missouri, is your typical redneck town with little to do, but people live there anyway. The people of Kettle Spring are sick of the kids, and the kids are just being kids. They are teenagers who want to have fun and live life to the fullest before the inevitable transition into adulthood. That is, until Frendo, a once beloved figure, becomes the embodiment of terror as he goes on a gruesome killing spree, leaving the town in a state of shock and fear. As the body count rises, secrets start to unravel, revealing a dark underbelly of Kettle Springs that no one could have imagined. The residents must now confront their deepest fears and band together in a desperate fight for survival against this bloodthirsty mascot.

Cesare leads us through this fast-paced story of prose and mystery, but some descriptive horror moments may make you want to avoid reading it while eating lunch. Cesare's vivid descriptions of the brutal murders and chilling atmosphere leave you feeling uneasy long after you finish reading. Frendo's transformation from lovable mascot to bloodthirsty killer is both shocking and disturbing, thanks to the author's deft characterization. Cesare's ability to maintain a consistent pace throughout the story keeps you on the edge of your seats, eagerly turning pages to discover the truth behind this horrifying tale.

What could have made this story better? More people of color would have bolstered the plot and reasoning behind the murders. The overall goal of the town is to "make kettle springs great again." That philosophy is backed up by a lot of 21st-century racism and bigotry. Furthermore, some of the protagonists felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, so character development could have been more nuanced. Furthermore, delving into the slasher's motivations could have added an extra layer of intrigue and suspense to the story. By providing deeper insights into the lives and backgrounds of the supporting characters, I would have been able to form stronger connections with them and feel more invested in their fates. This would have enhanced the overall emotional impact of the story and made it easier for me to empathize with the town's struggles and its ultimate goal of revitalization.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The author's ability to capture the essence of both classic and contemporary horror genres is commendable. The combination of 80s slasher vibes with a modern twist creates a unique and engaging reading experience. With elements reminiscent of Scream and The Faculty, you are sure to be hooked from start to finish.

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bookishgoob's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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ekmook's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I am bit conflicted. On one hand it was extremely entertaining and I couldn't put the book down. On the other hand there were a lot of things I disliked. First of all, I didn't know it was a slasher book and had completely different expectations. But that's on me. The characters were a bit flat for my taste but I don't think you can expect to have characters with a lot of depth in this kind of book. But still, a lot of plot points didn't really work for me because the characters were so flat and there was zero explanation to their actions. During the whole book I had literally no idea who Cole was as a person and how his life has been up to that point.

Like yeah, his mother died and then his sister too. But what else? And his father was no different. The reasoning behind his need to kill his son is just so freaking stupid. He mentioned that he lost his son even before the death of his daughter, but what exactly happened? Was it because of the Youtube stuff or was is the generational thing?

Can't really say anything about Quinn. She felt like a side character and I didn't care what happened to her to be honest. The romance was just weird.

I wasn't on board with these romantic feelings or whatever between Quinn and Cole and then the author pulled a 180 and introduces a romance between Cole and Rust out of nowhere. I didn't see it coming at all and it just felt so forced.

My biggest problem were the villains and the whole reasoning behind the whole thing. It was just ridiculous and too forced/political. It felt like an agenda being pushed down my throat. I actually had to snort when I found out why the killings happened. It's laughable and flimsy at best. The villains were predictable, dumb and felt cartoonish. The ending made everything even worse though.

Saying 'Even if they killed everyone, they would have been caught regardless' just undid the entire thing. It was all pointless.

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cherryufos's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was on my to read list for quite some time and honestly, at first glance, I thought it would be paranormal.

It’s not. Now that in itself would be fine except

the amount of gore in this book was just too much for me. It was just way too descriptive into the kills and just felt like the majority of the book was describing murder. If you like any of the characters, good luck; about 90% die by the end.

I also didn’t like that there was a few plot holes or things left unsaid. Who were the other clowns? What did Janet’s mom do after the news? And why did Cole’s father become a deranged clown killer at the end(at least it seemed implied). I understood the clown idea for the town but why would the dad go to Cuba and just become a killer? I would’ve liked it better if he was missing in the cornfield, Cole not knowing when he’d appear.

Now besides all the negatives, I did enjoy something’s. I found the writing voice well, it was the only reason I could finish it. I also enjoyed the reference to things that are happening in today’s standards. I feel I would enjoy Adam’s other books if there isn’t any gore. This book just wasn’t for me; I’m too squeamish. If you like this type of thing though, you may enjoy this book!

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