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Clown in a Cornfield #3
The Church of Frendo
Quinn has just survived yet another bloody run-in with the murderous clown Frendo, but somehow still she knows this won’t be the last. Tired of being hunted and seeing innocent people hurt, Quinn believes the only way to beat the horror is to take justice into her own hands--and stop the Frendo followers herself. Little does she know that this path will take her across cornfields and state lines, to where she will have to face the most dangerous and bloody menace yet: True believers.
It’s an all-new tale in this terrifying trio series about the villains inside us all.
It’s an all-new tale in this terrifying trio series about the villains inside us all.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2024
324 people are currently reading
8145 people want to read
About the author
Adam Cesare
65 books2,588 followersAdam 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 908 reviews
October 22, 2024
Know you a master manipulator and habitual liar too / But don't tell no lie about me and I won't tell truths 'bout you (Euphoria – Kendrick Lamar).
No preamble, The Church of Frendo’s electric pace coupled with its bloody exciting twists and turns easily make it a most welcome third installment in a series that I didn’t even realize was going to be one. It's funny because my immediate thought after I finished the first two was basically like, "Yup, that's a good ending. Nothing more to see here." and then my line of thinking after finding out there's going to be another sequel is always like, "Oh yeah, another one? Great. Makes sense." I guess I'm just happy to be along for the ride. Anyway, when I found out that we'd get to see more of Quinn, I let out a squeal of excitement! It was rather embarrassing, really. Though, I think I wanted to tackle this one a little differently than the first two, because I noticed that I’ve only ever read them on some “Run, Shadowfax! Show us the meaning of haste!”-type shit, so I was never really able to stop and let the bloods and guts wash over me! Okay, that was gross, but it’s a gross and messy book, so I’m just trying to stay on theme! What I’m trying to say is that by taking it slow, I was able to appreciate the effort that the author put into making a story with a rather silly premise like “killer clowns attacking their children in a red haze of rage,” and giving it a poignant enough theme about the dangers of cult-like mindsets, right-wing radicalization, and disillusioned old folks subscribing to mass panic and raging against the “youths.” It’s a story about how easy it is for scam artists to weaponize fear and hatred and use it as a tool to turn people against their loved ones. There's also an interesting through line throughout all three books that the preachers, the head honchos, the leaders of the flock, are usually portrayed as scam artists, grifters, who don't actually believe in anything they're saying and are only using their influence to spew hatred for a quick buck. I've seen it said before that "hey, at least they don't actually believe in the vitriolic things they're saying," but it's like... that's still bad? Even if you don't mean the things you say, you're still saying them! It changes nothing, really. And I wish the examples of these kinds of people shown throughout the Clown in a Cornfield saga were hyperbolic situations that could never happen in real life, but I sadly feel like clowns like Frendo are seemingly popping up everywhere. I won't name names, but hell, I'm probably blocking hundreds of soulless ghouls every few minutes on Twitter. I actually had a hard time writing about this book because the subject matter would often feel a little too real, a little too on the (red clown) nose, and I didn't really know what there was left to say. We live in interesting times, that's for sure. "I wish it need not have happened in my time," you know how it goes. There's some real clownish behavior showcased in this novel; goofy, outlandish, and terrifyingly real.
But hey, this is fiction (right?), so we can at least take solace in the fact that we get follow a proactive protagonist like Quinn in her quest for vengeance against all the freaks that have tormented so many innocent people. Though the stakes are higher than ever in this book, in many ways, The Church of Frendo feels like a much needed balm due to the simple fact that we finally see the clowns experience fear for once as they are relentlessly hunted by Quinn. Haha! Now they get to learn the age-old lesson that when you do clownery, the clown comes back to bite. Though it’s not all sunshine and roses as Quinn finds herself struggling with the growing struggle between her morality and the simple logistics of keeping her crusade going. Through the escalation of danger, even I started to ask whether or not this mission of hers was even worth it. I mean, this might just be because I love her as a character so much, but I just wanted her to go home and chill out for a bit! That probably wouldn't have made for an interesting book though, would it? Quinn is clearly supposed to evoke imagery reminiscent of classic legends like Sarah Connor or Ellen Ripley and I'd say she's very successful of doing just that. But the reason why she can stand among the greats isn’t just because she’s a “badass,” cold and calculating, it’s because the author understands that, she, like those who preceded her, is so broken by the traumatic experiences in her past that facing them head-on is literally the only thing that she knows what to do, and gives that side of her the respect it deserves. What keeps her going? Well, it turns out that rage is a hell of an anesthetic. She’s not great because she’s unfeeling, she’s great because she feels everything. Want to know something really wild? I’d argue that this book’s greatest strength is the way it gets real political with it. "You wanna get [political]? Okay, Let's get [political]!" And look, I know, I know, “books should be about escapism” and that we should all "Let people have their fun!" and a blah blah blah, but but bu~ut... I have a lot of fun when stories are brave enough to set out and mean something without diluting their message (*cough* Falcon and the Winter Soldier *cough*), whittled down to the point where there isn't much of a point anymore. Sorry if that makes me sound super pretentious. Besides, I’m a queer person of color, so my entire existence is already deemed “political” by many, so it’s not like I’d even be able to escape labels given to me anyway, so I might well embrace the whole thing! I think it’s cool and refreshing how Adam Cesare decided to take a staunch stance in what he’s trying to say with his literature. There's more than enough literature that focuses on being "light" and "easy," so why not have the creepy clown books be about something more?
And if you were worried that you wouldn't be able to see what I'm talking about in this book, I'm happy to report that the author literally puts a bit where a few characters basically look into the camera and say, “Hey, these clowns are the Alt-Right, and I think that’s a bad thing, actually.” I know that that might seem a little out of left field, a little sloppy, putting it down in writing like that, but it's a sentiment that's unfortunately become a little controversial to say outright. If anything, sometimes these things need to be stated plainly, to remind people of where you stand. I also enjoyed how the book didn’t even spare any grace for the fence-sitters either. You know, the folks who like to perch themselves on the moral high ground, smugly claiming that “everyone should all be allowed free speech, no matter how vile and terrible their opinions, I will always fight for everyone's free speeeech!,” without ever once stopping for a second to take their head out of their ass and realizing that, hey, hate speech isn’t free speech. I'm always saying this, but nah, you can't be kind to all without being cruel to some. How’s that saying go? If your buddy joins a table with four Nazis, then we're looking at a table of five Nazis. Okay, I'll lighten up a bit, my bad. Because at the end of the day, these books are, at their core, fun slasher novels. I mean, I certainly had fun! I've always liked it when a horror has a strong sense of identity, a particular thing that makes it uniquely scary. The Mist has the mist, Smile has people smiling there menacingly, and The Church of Frendo has... like, an odor to it. Anything from the way the grotesque food is described to the putrid smells the characters often come across told to us in excruciating detail, one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that Adam Cesare sure knows how to set a scene. A gross scene. He must have been doing some vigorous note taking during that one sick tomato eating scene in Lord of the Rings (you know the one). Seriously though, I was out here crinkling my nose in disgust every couple sentences! Like damn, these clowns needs to get washed. I kind of liked its dedication to being as vile and nasty as possible. Nasty, huh? I guess it matched my freak? Between watching Alien Romulus and reading this, I’m pretty sure that my subconscious wants to make sure I never eat again! Anyway, I loved this! It felt like the finale, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised before, so I’ll just end this review by saying that it isn’t just reviewer word salad when I say that these books are great because they have fun in following a heightened reality, and yet, hardly an exaggerated one.
"It felt good to be cruel to the cruel."
No preamble, The Church of Frendo’s electric pace coupled with its bloody exciting twists and turns easily make it a most welcome third installment in a series that I didn’t even realize was going to be one. It's funny because my immediate thought after I finished the first two was basically like, "Yup, that's a good ending. Nothing more to see here." and then my line of thinking after finding out there's going to be another sequel is always like, "Oh yeah, another one? Great. Makes sense." I guess I'm just happy to be along for the ride. Anyway, when I found out that we'd get to see more of Quinn, I let out a squeal of excitement! It was rather embarrassing, really. Though, I think I wanted to tackle this one a little differently than the first two, because I noticed that I’ve only ever read them on some “Run, Shadowfax! Show us the meaning of haste!”-type shit, so I was never really able to stop and let the bloods and guts wash over me! Okay, that was gross, but it’s a gross and messy book, so I’m just trying to stay on theme! What I’m trying to say is that by taking it slow, I was able to appreciate the effort that the author put into making a story with a rather silly premise like “killer clowns attacking their children in a red haze of rage,” and giving it a poignant enough theme about the dangers of cult-like mindsets, right-wing radicalization, and disillusioned old folks subscribing to mass panic and raging against the “youths.” It’s a story about how easy it is for scam artists to weaponize fear and hatred and use it as a tool to turn people against their loved ones. There's also an interesting through line throughout all three books that the preachers, the head honchos, the leaders of the flock, are usually portrayed as scam artists, grifters, who don't actually believe in anything they're saying and are only using their influence to spew hatred for a quick buck. I've seen it said before that "hey, at least they don't actually believe in the vitriolic things they're saying," but it's like... that's still bad? Even if you don't mean the things you say, you're still saying them! It changes nothing, really. And I wish the examples of these kinds of people shown throughout the Clown in a Cornfield saga were hyperbolic situations that could never happen in real life, but I sadly feel like clowns like Frendo are seemingly popping up everywhere. I won't name names, but hell, I'm probably blocking hundreds of soulless ghouls every few minutes on Twitter. I actually had a hard time writing about this book because the subject matter would often feel a little too real, a little too on the (red clown) nose, and I didn't really know what there was left to say. We live in interesting times, that's for sure. "I wish it need not have happened in my time," you know how it goes. There's some real clownish behavior showcased in this novel; goofy, outlandish, and terrifyingly real.
But hey, this is fiction (right?), so we can at least take solace in the fact that we get follow a proactive protagonist like Quinn in her quest for vengeance against all the freaks that have tormented so many innocent people. Though the stakes are higher than ever in this book, in many ways, The Church of Frendo feels like a much needed balm due to the simple fact that we finally see the clowns experience fear for once as they are relentlessly hunted by Quinn. Haha! Now they get to learn the age-old lesson that when you do clownery, the clown comes back to bite. Though it’s not all sunshine and roses as Quinn finds herself struggling with the growing struggle between her morality and the simple logistics of keeping her crusade going. Through the escalation of danger, even I started to ask whether or not this mission of hers was even worth it. I mean, this might just be because I love her as a character so much, but I just wanted her to go home and chill out for a bit! That probably wouldn't have made for an interesting book though, would it? Quinn is clearly supposed to evoke imagery reminiscent of classic legends like Sarah Connor or Ellen Ripley and I'd say she's very successful of doing just that. But the reason why she can stand among the greats isn’t just because she’s a “badass,” cold and calculating, it’s because the author understands that, she, like those who preceded her, is so broken by the traumatic experiences in her past that facing them head-on is literally the only thing that she knows what to do, and gives that side of her the respect it deserves. What keeps her going? Well, it turns out that rage is a hell of an anesthetic. She’s not great because she’s unfeeling, she’s great because she feels everything. Want to know something really wild? I’d argue that this book’s greatest strength is the way it gets real political with it. "You wanna get [political]? Okay, Let's get [political]!" And look, I know, I know, “books should be about escapism” and that we should all "Let people have their fun!" and a blah blah blah, but but bu~ut... I have a lot of fun when stories are brave enough to set out and mean something without diluting their message (*cough* Falcon and the Winter Soldier *cough*), whittled down to the point where there isn't much of a point anymore. Sorry if that makes me sound super pretentious. Besides, I’m a queer person of color, so my entire existence is already deemed “political” by many, so it’s not like I’d even be able to escape labels given to me anyway, so I might well embrace the whole thing! I think it’s cool and refreshing how Adam Cesare decided to take a staunch stance in what he’s trying to say with his literature. There's more than enough literature that focuses on being "light" and "easy," so why not have the creepy clown books be about something more?
And if you were worried that you wouldn't be able to see what I'm talking about in this book, I'm happy to report that the author literally puts a bit where a few characters basically look into the camera and say, “Hey, these clowns are the Alt-Right, and I think that’s a bad thing, actually.” I know that that might seem a little out of left field, a little sloppy, putting it down in writing like that, but it's a sentiment that's unfortunately become a little controversial to say outright. If anything, sometimes these things need to be stated plainly, to remind people of where you stand. I also enjoyed how the book didn’t even spare any grace for the fence-sitters either. You know, the folks who like to perch themselves on the moral high ground, smugly claiming that “everyone should all be allowed free speech, no matter how vile and terrible their opinions, I will always fight for everyone's free speeeech!,” without ever once stopping for a second to take their head out of their ass and realizing that, hey, hate speech isn’t free speech. I'm always saying this, but nah, you can't be kind to all without being cruel to some. How’s that saying go? If your buddy joins a table with four Nazis, then we're looking at a table of five Nazis. Okay, I'll lighten up a bit, my bad. Because at the end of the day, these books are, at their core, fun slasher novels. I mean, I certainly had fun! I've always liked it when a horror has a strong sense of identity, a particular thing that makes it uniquely scary. The Mist has the mist, Smile has people smiling there menacingly, and The Church of Frendo has... like, an odor to it. Anything from the way the grotesque food is described to the putrid smells the characters often come across told to us in excruciating detail, one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that Adam Cesare sure knows how to set a scene. A gross scene. He must have been doing some vigorous note taking during that one sick tomato eating scene in Lord of the Rings (you know the one). Seriously though, I was out here crinkling my nose in disgust every couple sentences! Like damn, these clowns needs to get washed. I kind of liked its dedication to being as vile and nasty as possible. Nasty, huh? I guess it matched my freak? Between watching Alien Romulus and reading this, I’m pretty sure that my subconscious wants to make sure I never eat again! Anyway, I loved this! It felt like the finale, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised before, so I’ll just end this review by saying that it isn’t just reviewer word salad when I say that these books are great because they have fun in following a heightened reality, and yet, hardly an exaggerated one.
"It felt good to be cruel to the cruel."
August 20, 2024
Quinn's revenge spree is definitely full of blood, gore and torture. Interesting how I felt like I needed to root for her all the way. Missed some of the OG characters, but liked the flow and how it played out.
May 5, 2025
One of the more fun, freaky, and surprisingly highbrow slasher series in the past several years is the unlikely-titled "Clown in a Cornfield" series by Adam Cesare. The third in the series, "Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo", was published two months ago. The inevitable movie is currently in production.
In case you haven't been following this series, it is probably one of the most brutal and hilarious anti-Trump diatribes disguised as horror fiction that I have encountered.
Of course, it's more than that, and, to be fair, the name "Donald Trump" never appears once in the books. It doesn't have to, as the allusions are pretty obvious.
Quinn Maybrook is the "final girl" survivor of the first book's massacre perpetrated by small-minded small-town followers of Arthur Hill, a rich asshole who feels that liberal elitism (and especially the children of liberal elites) are destroying the very foundation of our traditional female-repressing, immigrant-hating, gay-bashing, gun-loving, and Christian nation. Solution? Round them up and kill them. (Cesare makes it clear that this is by no means an original American solution. It's merely history repeating itself. Again.)
In the second book, social media and a slew of conspiracy-theory-driven online nutsos have flipped the script, claiming the mass killing of teenagers in Kettle Springs, Missourri in 2020 was a hoax, replete with actors and deep fakes. Quinn has gradually become a household name among these Internet idiots, as well as the new face of the enemy.
In this third book, Quinn is on her way back home to Kettle Springs---not to be reunited with loved ones but to face a new, weirder threat. Apparently, someone is resurrecting Arthur Hill's mad worldviews and turning the townspeople into a Frendo-worshipping cult.
As is typical with the third installment of any good slasher series, "CIAC3" boasts a lot more blood and guts than the first two books combined. It's also got a lot more caustic socio-political criticism; criticism that isn't afraid to rip on the Right and Left equally. If it's possible to be both "woke" and "anti-woke" simultaneously, then this book succeeds.
In case you haven't been following this series, it is probably one of the most brutal and hilarious anti-Trump diatribes disguised as horror fiction that I have encountered.
Of course, it's more than that, and, to be fair, the name "Donald Trump" never appears once in the books. It doesn't have to, as the allusions are pretty obvious.
Quinn Maybrook is the "final girl" survivor of the first book's massacre perpetrated by small-minded small-town followers of Arthur Hill, a rich asshole who feels that liberal elitism (and especially the children of liberal elites) are destroying the very foundation of our traditional female-repressing, immigrant-hating, gay-bashing, gun-loving, and Christian nation. Solution? Round them up and kill them. (Cesare makes it clear that this is by no means an original American solution. It's merely history repeating itself. Again.)
In the second book, social media and a slew of conspiracy-theory-driven online nutsos have flipped the script, claiming the mass killing of teenagers in Kettle Springs, Missourri in 2020 was a hoax, replete with actors and deep fakes. Quinn has gradually become a household name among these Internet idiots, as well as the new face of the enemy.
In this third book, Quinn is on her way back home to Kettle Springs---not to be reunited with loved ones but to face a new, weirder threat. Apparently, someone is resurrecting Arthur Hill's mad worldviews and turning the townspeople into a Frendo-worshipping cult.
As is typical with the third installment of any good slasher series, "CIAC3" boasts a lot more blood and guts than the first two books combined. It's also got a lot more caustic socio-political criticism; criticism that isn't afraid to rip on the Right and Left equally. If it's possible to be both "woke" and "anti-woke" simultaneously, then this book succeeds.
Want to read
January 8, 2024just learned this was coming out and it MADE MY DAY!!!
FRENDOOOOOOO!
FRENDOOOOOOO!
August 21, 2024
The author claims this was his favorite of the series, but I can honestly say that I don’t understand HOW.
The first book was great, the second astoundingly just as good (if not better), and this final installment was so deeply disappointing.
The culturally relevant theming, so over-the-top in the first and frighteningly on-the-nose in the second, isn’t nearly cohesive nor overt enough in Church of Frendo (despite the potential- radical, brainwashed, impoverished Christian fundamentalists, hello?!??)
While I enjoyed and appreciated the addition of Tabitha’s POV as she watches her community and family drastically change, the novel overall was deeply lacking in the wit and biting humor that characterized the first two. Even the dynamic between Quinn and Johnny D felt hollow.
I don’t mind an ambiguous ending, or one that’s missing a Happily Ever After, but this one also left me wanting… something. It felt anticlimactic after everything the characters have been through, and a huge departure from the gore and mayhem that make up 95% of the series.
TL;DR- loved the first two, would definitely skip this final installment
The first book was great, the second astoundingly just as good (if not better), and this final installment was so deeply disappointing.
The culturally relevant theming, so over-the-top in the first and frighteningly on-the-nose in the second, isn’t nearly cohesive nor overt enough in Church of Frendo (despite the potential- radical, brainwashed, impoverished Christian fundamentalists, hello?!??)
While I enjoyed and appreciated the addition of Tabitha’s POV as she watches her community and family drastically change, the novel overall was deeply lacking in the wit and biting humor that characterized the first two. Even the dynamic between Quinn and Johnny D felt hollow.
I don’t mind an ambiguous ending, or one that’s missing a Happily Ever After, but this one also left me wanting… something. It felt anticlimactic after everything the characters have been through, and a huge departure from the gore and mayhem that make up 95% of the series.
TL;DR- loved the first two, would definitely skip this final installment
Want to read
September 27, 2024NO WAY! A clown/scarecrow-hybrid on this cover!!!
The two things I am most afraid of in this world. I cannot wait for it to grace my shelves.
The two things I am most afraid of in this world. I cannot wait for it to grace my shelves.
September 3, 2024
3.5 stars
Hmmm... I reread books 1 and 2 in this series before picking this one up and both of them were bumped up to a 5 star from my original 4.5 star ratings. I just loved the atmosphere, the characters, the setting of Kettle Springs and the slasher vibes that I'm constantly looking for from Scream and Halloween.
So imagine my disappointment when we're no longer in Kettle Springs and we get barely any of Rust, Cole or Quinn's dad. In fact the only OG character we're still following is Quinn. We have a whole new cast of characters, and an entirely new plot line, and unfortunately, it just didn't work for me as well as books 1 and 2. I still had a good time but I didn't love it.
This is a little bit like when they make movies - for example Halloween 3 Season of the Witch - in which, the movie itself lends nothing to the franchise and could have been titled literally anything else and probably been received a bit better. (Granted this example might be terrible because Michael Myers isn't even in it, but my point still stands, its got the title of the previous movies and is therefore part of the franchise). I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all. But, I'd of probably enjoyed this a whole bunch more if it had been nothing to do with the original Clown in a Cornfield books and was its own standalone book about a murderous cult that dresses up and a vigilante like character coming in to save the day.
I don't know, honestly, this has thrown me for a loop a little bit. I was entirely anticipating 5 stars for this but it hasn't hit the same as the first two. Will I continue to read them if Adam continues to write them? Absolutely. Do I hope he might go back to Kettle Springs and have some of the OG characters again? Yes please.
Also, I did wanted to mention that I loved the addition of Jonny D.
Hmmm... I reread books 1 and 2 in this series before picking this one up and both of them were bumped up to a 5 star from my original 4.5 star ratings. I just loved the atmosphere, the characters, the setting of Kettle Springs and the slasher vibes that I'm constantly looking for from Scream and Halloween.
So imagine my disappointment when we're no longer in Kettle Springs and we get barely any of Rust, Cole or Quinn's dad. In fact the only OG character we're still following is Quinn. We have a whole new cast of characters, and an entirely new plot line, and unfortunately, it just didn't work for me as well as books 1 and 2. I still had a good time but I didn't love it.
This is a little bit like when they make movies - for example Halloween 3 Season of the Witch - in which, the movie itself lends nothing to the franchise and could have been titled literally anything else and probably been received a bit better. (Granted this example might be terrible because Michael Myers isn't even in it, but my point still stands, its got the title of the previous movies and is therefore part of the franchise). I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all. But, I'd of probably enjoyed this a whole bunch more if it had been nothing to do with the original Clown in a Cornfield books and was its own standalone book about a murderous cult that dresses up and a vigilante like character coming in to save the day.
I don't know, honestly, this has thrown me for a loop a little bit. I was entirely anticipating 5 stars for this but it hasn't hit the same as the first two. Will I continue to read them if Adam continues to write them? Absolutely. Do I hope he might go back to Kettle Springs and have some of the OG characters again? Yes please.
Also, I did wanted to mention that I loved the addition of Jonny D.
August 14, 2024
As a Clown in a Cornfield fan, I want to give a warning to other fans about this book that isn’t really a spoiler and (I believe) should be known ahead of time.
RUST AND COLE ARE NOT IN THIS BOOK.
NOR IS KETTLE SPRINGS.
NOR JERRI.
Or anything/anyone else you might’ve been attached to from the first two books.
We get maybe 3 chapters from Quinn’s dad and a few pages of Rust, Cole, and a mention of Jerri. It’s a whole new ball game here.
The third Clown in a Cornfield book is a lot like Halloween Ends. Was it a good story? Yes. Hence the 3 stars. Was it a satisfying end for the characters you’ve spent the previous two books/movies following? A good final Quinn vs Frendo (Laurie vs Michael)? No. Which is why there are only 3 stars.
I see what David Gordon Green and Adam Cesare were going for with their wrap ups, and they’re interesting directions for sure, but man sometimes you just want more of what you already had. I’m here for evil clowns in a cornfield (or a town in the case of Frendo Lives) killing teenagers. Here you have Quinn on a revenge roadtrip interspersed with a weird village side story that doesn’t make sense until they begin to merge in the middle of the book. It’s . . . unfulfilling.
Like most slasher fans do, I will be picking up any sequels that come from a beloved property (and I do love Clown in a Cornfield). I hope Adam Cesare continues writing and we get all the way up to Frendo In Space. Maybe The Church of Frendo is just a bad hiccup for me. I mean, not all third entries can be Dream Warriors. Anyway. I hope I get to find out.
*hypocritical maybe, but I actually am a fan of Halloween Ends, it just happened to be the perfect parallel
RUST AND COLE ARE NOT IN THIS BOOK.
NOR IS KETTLE SPRINGS.
NOR JERRI.
Or anything/anyone else you might’ve been attached to from the first two books.
We get maybe 3 chapters from Quinn’s dad and a few pages of Rust, Cole, and a mention of Jerri. It’s a whole new ball game here.
The third Clown in a Cornfield book is a lot like Halloween Ends. Was it a good story? Yes. Hence the 3 stars. Was it a satisfying end for the characters you’ve spent the previous two books/movies following? A good final Quinn vs Frendo (Laurie vs Michael)? No. Which is why there are only 3 stars.
I see what David Gordon Green and Adam Cesare were going for with their wrap ups, and they’re interesting directions for sure, but man sometimes you just want more of what you already had. I’m here for evil clowns in a cornfield (or a town in the case of Frendo Lives) killing teenagers. Here you have Quinn on a revenge roadtrip interspersed with a weird village side story that doesn’t make sense until they begin to merge in the middle of the book. It’s . . . unfulfilling.
Like most slasher fans do, I will be picking up any sequels that come from a beloved property (and I do love Clown in a Cornfield). I hope Adam Cesare continues writing and we get all the way up to Frendo In Space. Maybe The Church of Frendo is just a bad hiccup for me. I mean, not all third entries can be Dream Warriors. Anyway. I hope I get to find out.
*hypocritical maybe, but I actually am a fan of Halloween Ends, it just happened to be the perfect parallel
August 1, 2025
3.5⭐
loved this more than the second one!
frtc
loved this more than the second one!
frtc
April 12, 2025
This was not at all what I expected from the third entry in a slasher trilogy, which is great. It is hard to really talk about this without spoiling the first two novels, but suffice it to say that Frendo has found new life yet again, but instead of sitting around avoiding a killing spree our final girl Quinn is on a road trip of her own. This means that we do not spend much time with other survivors from the first two books but instead we are introduced to some brand new characters, and as with the other books in the series Cesare does a great job at crafting robust and well-fleshed out characters that you want to spend time with, even if you don’t like them all that much. Add to that the journey, both physical and emotional, that Quinn goes on and this slasher finale has a lot more heart than it rightfully needs to. The world-building continues to be fun, and as Quinn is on the road we get all new places to visit, each of which feels intentional and compelling.
The writing is solid as usual, moving back and forth between Quinn’s POV and that of a newly introduced character, and it is used to create great tension while also build out the world and the narrative. The actual mystery and slasher-business of it all is satisfying. I mean, each of the previous novels have been pretty wild in terms of their reveals, straddling the line between maybe insane and also maybe a perfect encapsulation of the current socio-political landscape. So, in that vein, to see a character insist that good ol’ religion and violence are all that’s needed to cultivate an imagined past of what America used to be like, and use that mythologized vision to consolidate power and wealth, well, yeah, that all tracks. While it is good, bloody fun Cesare is asking questions about violence, both psychological and physical, and how it transforms the perpetrator as much as the victims.
Cesare really went outside the normal mode with this one, it is not what you expect from a slasher but it makes the trilogy all the better for it. While still wild and violent and just a little insane it is still firmly rooted in the real world, with what could easily be happening just down the street. It is a fitting conclusion to what has been an incredible ride, satisfying and cathartic without giving the reader everything they expect.
The writing is solid as usual, moving back and forth between Quinn’s POV and that of a newly introduced character, and it is used to create great tension while also build out the world and the narrative. The actual mystery and slasher-business of it all is satisfying. I mean, each of the previous novels have been pretty wild in terms of their reveals, straddling the line between maybe insane and also maybe a perfect encapsulation of the current socio-political landscape. So, in that vein, to see a character insist that good ol’ religion and violence are all that’s needed to cultivate an imagined past of what America used to be like, and use that mythologized vision to consolidate power and wealth, well, yeah, that all tracks. While it is good, bloody fun Cesare is asking questions about violence, both psychological and physical, and how it transforms the perpetrator as much as the victims.
Cesare really went outside the normal mode with this one, it is not what you expect from a slasher but it makes the trilogy all the better for it. While still wild and violent and just a little insane it is still firmly rooted in the real world, with what could easily be happening just down the street. It is a fitting conclusion to what has been an incredible ride, satisfying and cathartic without giving the reader everything they expect.
August 23, 2024
The thrilling third installment to Cesare's Clown in a Cornfield series see our final girl Quinn back with a vengeance, tired of being a victim she decides to take justice into her own hands, tracking down those responsible for the tragedies that occured in Kettle Springs. There's more blood, gore, and creative kills than ever before, this does take a different trajectory than the previous books, no clowns or cornfields, some may be disappointed in that but honestly, do you want to read the same thing over and over? (Yes but in a series? No it can get stale real quick) In my opinion this book (once again) demonstrates Adams deft skill at characterization, all have depth but the transformation and development of Quinn along the series is fantastic, he's an author that makes you *really* root for his characters and makes you feel like we are right there alongside her as she battles her inner demons. Whilst readers will appreciate this as a fun nostalgic slasher horror, this installment amps up the social and societal commentry, shedding light on the darker side of human nature. An immersive and impressive end to a fantastic bloody ride.
October 24, 2024
How long 'til number four? Love listening to the Clown in a Cornfield books on audio because the narrative is always brought to life in my imagination like fireworks.
Narrator Jesse Vilinsky does such a flawless job I would forget she was the solo voice and it wasn't a multicast collaboration. Phenomenal.
Narrator Jesse Vilinsky does such a flawless job I would forget she was the solo voice and it wasn't a multicast collaboration. Phenomenal.
September 9, 2024
Rating: 2.5 stars.
***SPOILER WARNING***
Sigh
I really wanted to like this book. I was DESPERATELY waiting for this book to come out since February of this year. I even staked out my local Barnes & Noble to find out what the title was when Frendo Returns came out in paperback. I don't remember ever being this hyped for a book in my adult years, and when I finally got it, it blew up in my face.
I was hoping to give this book at least 3.0 stars, something that didn't live up to my expectations, but was still good. I am usually very forgiving when it comes to books I am not crazy about and I feel super guilty rating books below a 3.0. But not this one. I couldn't in good conscience give it a higher rating. I love the series too much to do that.
I definitely understand that Adam Cesare wanted to go in a different direction with this story and he accomplished that very well. I think in any other circumstance the natural progression of the Clown in a Cornfield story would come to this point, but I didn't expect it so soon and not so haphazardly. One thing I noticed with Cesare's writing is that he writes a lot, but it progresses WAY too fast as a narrative and then by the 400 page mark as the story is nearing an inevitable end you feel like there is still so much more to tell, and it all feels rushed in the last few pages. You've finished the story, but you feel like you just started it. So much hangs in the air at the end because reading these books felt like going 100MPH and then suddenly stopping to a screeching halt. This was definitely the case with the second book, and it was definitely the case with this one. Almost 450 pages and I felt like I knew nothing and everything at the same time.
Yes, I was trying to finish the book before the end of the month, so maybe I was ravenously reading it on purpose and the story definitely kept me intrigued. However, that doesn't negate the feeling of emptiness I felt in those last two-three chapters thinking things were going to suddenly turn out differently and the rushed nature of the book would all be worth it for a satisfying ending, but that never came. Maybe the pacing did attribute to why I didn't like the book better, maybe it didn't. Who knows. Definitely felt more intrigued and satisfying with Frendo Lives, than I did with this one.
Mr. Cesare, I know you enjoyed writing this book. I can tell and I appreciated that greatly throughout the novel. I think the boldness and breach from the slasher format did make this book feel like something new. BUT, I made this joke a long time ago and I am afraid that it actually came true. The Clown in A Cornfield series is like Scream . While the first two movies hold up well (with the first holding up more-so), unfortunately The Church of Frendo ends up being to this series what Scream 3 is to the Scream franchise. A third lackluster conclusion to the protagonist's long-winded journey in fighting off ghosts that just don't seem to die down no matter how hard she tries. And while I know you tried to give Quinn a Sidney Prescott ending, it felt like you just made her disappear from the series because you don't know what else to do with her anymore.
Unfortunately, this was an overall flop for me, and while I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more, I am sure there will be other Clownfield fans who LOVE this book. I wish I could be them, but I am not. I definitely didn't hate it, but I definitely did not enjoy it either. Expectations are the killer of joy I guess.
HOWEVER, Cesare makes it very obvious in his author note that he plans to continue the story IF THE PEOPLE WANT IT. While I wish our trilogy would continue as is, I won't be devastated if he wrote another rendition with a whole new cast and perspective. It would be something new and interesting that I would definitely enjoy reading. That being said, while this book is the Scream 3 of the series, that means there is hope for an eventual Scream 4 down the road in a few years. And when that time comes, I will be seated.
***SPOILER WARNING***
Sigh
I really wanted to like this book. I was DESPERATELY waiting for this book to come out since February of this year. I even staked out my local Barnes & Noble to find out what the title was when Frendo Returns came out in paperback. I don't remember ever being this hyped for a book in my adult years, and when I finally got it, it blew up in my face.
I was hoping to give this book at least 3.0 stars, something that didn't live up to my expectations, but was still good. I am usually very forgiving when it comes to books I am not crazy about and I feel super guilty rating books below a 3.0. But not this one. I couldn't in good conscience give it a higher rating. I love the series too much to do that.
I definitely understand that Adam Cesare wanted to go in a different direction with this story and he accomplished that very well. I think in any other circumstance the natural progression of the Clown in a Cornfield story would come to this point, but I didn't expect it so soon and not so haphazardly. One thing I noticed with Cesare's writing is that he writes a lot, but it progresses WAY too fast as a narrative and then by the 400 page mark as the story is nearing an inevitable end you feel like there is still so much more to tell, and it all feels rushed in the last few pages. You've finished the story, but you feel like you just started it. So much hangs in the air at the end because reading these books felt like going 100MPH and then suddenly stopping to a screeching halt. This was definitely the case with the second book, and it was definitely the case with this one. Almost 450 pages and I felt like I knew nothing and everything at the same time.
Yes, I was trying to finish the book before the end of the month, so maybe I was ravenously reading it on purpose and the story definitely kept me intrigued. However, that doesn't negate the feeling of emptiness I felt in those last two-three chapters thinking things were going to suddenly turn out differently and the rushed nature of the book would all be worth it for a satisfying ending, but that never came. Maybe the pacing did attribute to why I didn't like the book better, maybe it didn't. Who knows. Definitely felt more intrigued and satisfying with Frendo Lives, than I did with this one.
Mr. Cesare, I know you enjoyed writing this book. I can tell and I appreciated that greatly throughout the novel. I think the boldness and breach from the slasher format did make this book feel like something new. BUT, I made this joke a long time ago and I am afraid that it actually came true. The Clown in A Cornfield series is like Scream . While the first two movies hold up well (with the first holding up more-so), unfortunately The Church of Frendo ends up being to this series what Scream 3 is to the Scream franchise. A third lackluster conclusion to the protagonist's long-winded journey in fighting off ghosts that just don't seem to die down no matter how hard she tries. And while I know you tried to give Quinn a Sidney Prescott ending, it felt like you just made her disappear from the series because you don't know what else to do with her anymore.
Unfortunately, this was an overall flop for me, and while I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more, I am sure there will be other Clownfield fans who LOVE this book. I wish I could be them, but I am not. I definitely didn't hate it, but I definitely did not enjoy it either. Expectations are the killer of joy I guess.
HOWEVER, Cesare makes it very obvious in his author note that he plans to continue the story IF THE PEOPLE WANT IT. While I wish our trilogy would continue as is, I won't be devastated if he wrote another rendition with a whole new cast and perspective. It would be something new and interesting that I would definitely enjoy reading. That being said, while this book is the Scream 3 of the series, that means there is hope for an eventual Scream 4 down the road in a few years. And when that time comes, I will be seated.
August 23, 2024
The real journey was the Frendos we met along the way 💕
September 7, 2024
My least favorite of the three so far (predictable and not as atmospheric as the first two entries), but yes, I'll continue buying them until "Frendo in Space" and beyond. They look good on the shelf too.
October 9, 2024
THERE’S GOING TO BE A THIRD! AHHH
August 16, 2024
To me horror is at its best when it embraces the social political and Adam continues to get it
June 5, 2025
Get ready for more stabby fun sure to give coulrophobes the heebie-jeebies!
And, kudos to Cesare for choosing to locate his religious nutjob/cult compound mere miles from where I grew up in central Pennsyltucky. Trailers, tractors, Trump signs, and confederate flags . . . a church that worships a teen-killing, clown-mask-wearing psychopath would blend right in.
And, kudos to Cesare for choosing to locate his religious nutjob/cult compound mere miles from where I grew up in central Pennsyltucky. Trailers, tractors, Trump signs, and confederate flags . . . a church that worships a teen-killing, clown-mask-wearing psychopath would blend right in.
September 12, 2024
lets be real, we all know who these people are voting for
June 30, 2025
3.5 stars 🌟
November 24, 2024
told from the perspective of multiple POVs, the third clown in a cornfield focuses on our final girl quinn maybrook and how she’s veering in completely the opposite direction than she did in the sequel. instead of assimilating into society, she’s on the hunt, a vigilante.
there’s also the settlement of new kettle springs in a previous amish-esque community and the arrival of the prophet who is changing everything in the name of the Founder. the followers of Frendo the Clown are now more than just fanatics, it’s a whole ass cult.
this third in the trilogy amps up the gore, gets even a bit more gross with cannibalism, has a weird pseudo romance with a 17 year old, but generally was my favourite of the three books. you could read this as a stand alone, but for more context and understanding, and to see just how far quinn has come, i’d recommend reading them in order.
🤡🪓
there’s also the settlement of new kettle springs in a previous amish-esque community and the arrival of the prophet who is changing everything in the name of the Founder. the followers of Frendo the Clown are now more than just fanatics, it’s a whole ass cult.
this third in the trilogy amps up the gore, gets even a bit more gross with cannibalism, has a weird pseudo romance with a 17 year old, but generally was my favourite of the three books. you could read this as a stand alone, but for more context and understanding, and to see just how far quinn has come, i’d recommend reading them in order.
🤡🪓
August 23, 2024
This book went from a solid 4 - 5 star review and plummeted in the final few chapters. I again express my want of half star ratings on Goodreads because this was the definition of fine.
A villain with little to no backstory given when it could've truly saved the story and showed how detached from reality he actually was. Two previous main characters missing with no explanation. The main character Quinn is so back and forth between being mentally stable and aware of her surroundings at all times to being snuck up on "by surprise" so many times in the book you lose the feeling of being surprised by it.
If we get a fourth entry into the series I hope it borrows more from the first two entries than the third.
Johnny D rules though.
A villain with little to no backstory given when it could've truly saved the story and showed how detached from reality he actually was. Two previous main characters missing with no explanation. The main character Quinn is so back and forth between being mentally stable and aware of her surroundings at all times to being snuck up on "by surprise" so many times in the book you lose the feeling of being surprised by it.
If we get a fourth entry into the series I hope it borrows more from the first two entries than the third.
Johnny D rules though.
September 27, 2024
Wow!! Just wow!!! I didn’t think that book 3 in this series could match up to the first 2 books but, I was totally wrong!! Book 3 is the BEST of the series!!!!
This book does not disappoint the reader in any way!! It follows Quinn Maybrook has taken it upon herself to put an end to Fredo and all the members who followed him. She has to make sure that the cycle is finally stopped and justice served. Will she be able to end the madness? Will she need help in her quest for justice? Read this amazing book and find out how she plans to put an end to this crazy cult of mad men, women and children. You will be captivated by tale of craziness!! I finished in one setting because I could not put it down!!!!!
This book does not disappoint the reader in any way!! It follows Quinn Maybrook has taken it upon herself to put an end to Fredo and all the members who followed him. She has to make sure that the cycle is finally stopped and justice served. Will she be able to end the madness? Will she need help in her quest for justice? Read this amazing book and find out how she plans to put an end to this crazy cult of mad men, women and children. You will be captivated by tale of craziness!! I finished in one setting because I could not put it down!!!!!
December 6, 2025
Fun book!
This book took me forever to read, but that was because of life interruptions and not how well I enjoyed the book! Though, not quite on par with the first two books, imho, this was a fun slasher horror novel! Highly recommended if you’re a fan of the genre!
This book took me forever to read, but that was because of life interruptions and not how well I enjoyed the book! Though, not quite on par with the first two books, imho, this was a fun slasher horror novel! Highly recommended if you’re a fan of the genre!
September 18, 2024
"...Death, he said. You've got a death wish, Quinn Maybrook. But death's not so bad. Don't I look happy? He smeared two oily fingers across the smile of his mask."
Our bloody dreams filled with murderous clowns have been answered... It'll also never be safe to go back into the cornfields.
Adam is back with book three of the Frendo series, and I hope that this isn't the last one. If you thought it couldn't get any better, then you're wrong.
This has to be my favorite book in the entire series so far. It was action-packed and bloody as hell. My horror-loving, bizarre heart was obsessed with this book. We all know how big of a Phillies fan I am, and I read this during a game. (Please don't tell the Phillies) I could not put it down.
Our bloody dreams filled with murderous clowns have been answered... It'll also never be safe to go back into the cornfields.
Adam is back with book three of the Frendo series, and I hope that this isn't the last one. If you thought it couldn't get any better, then you're wrong.
This has to be my favorite book in the entire series so far. It was action-packed and bloody as hell. My horror-loving, bizarre heart was obsessed with this book. We all know how big of a Phillies fan I am, and I read this during a game. (Please don't tell the Phillies) I could not put it down.
July 31, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️
So disappointed with this one ☹️
So disappointed with this one ☹️
August 28, 2024
This series is so awesome, and this latest installment is the best yet! Lots of gore, crazy religious zealots, and a really (dare I say it) fun buddy road trip!! I just adore Quinn and get badass final girl self going on a revenge mission to torture those who did her wrong. But along the way we meet the wonderfully lovable Johnny D, who was such a great character, who couldn’t help but call Quinn baby girl which was not a good idea. The relationship that bloomed between these two was good enough for me but Adam also threw in some insane folk horror and made this book off the charts fantastic!! I had a great time with this one and I just love all of Adam’s characters, whether or not I actually hate them! Haha! Please please let this series continue I’m not done with this story yet.
October 17, 2024
Ok… full disclosure. I finished this book and then shotgunned two martinis while watching “Agatha All Along”. This is going to be short, sweet and hopefully coherent. 🍸
First, I will always be here for a final girl’s revenge tour. It’s extremely satisfying.
Second, MAGA republicans are in a cult. Seriously, you could have just called this CIAC3: The Church of Trumpo. 🤡
And last… the thing I had no idea I was missing. A juggalo love interest. Who knew?
First, I will always be here for a final girl’s revenge tour. It’s extremely satisfying.
Second, MAGA republicans are in a cult. Seriously, you could have just called this CIAC3: The Church of Trumpo. 🤡
And last… the thing I had no idea I was missing. A juggalo love interest. Who knew?
March 5, 2025
The first one was about generational and political divide... the second was about disinformation... I have no idea what the third was about. Part murder-hobo revenge tale, part subpar M. Night movie, book three plays with some expectations and has a couple of surprising reveals, but leans too heavily into a "is it supernatural or not?" theme that doesn't have the same impact as the first two.
Still, a fun slasher, easily digestible. Sounds like there's going to be a fourth book. It would be interesting to explore the furthering of a protagonist's heel-turn, evolving into what was hated at the start of the saga.
2.5 / 5 rounded up
Still, a fun slasher, easily digestible. Sounds like there's going to be a fourth book. It would be interesting to explore the furthering of a protagonist's heel-turn, evolving into what was hated at the start of the saga.
2.5 / 5 rounded up
May 11, 2025
I have mixed thoughts about this book, but overall I think I would have to say the series fell flat with this one. The religious horror trope was definitely very creepy and a great idea, although the constant change in perspective every chapter became very hard to keep track of and made the story not flow very well. At one point I think we were following 4 different sets of characters, all in different places. Finally, this book strayed so very far from the original concept that it didn’t feel like part of the series at all. Not a bad book by any means, just not what I was hoping for when it came to the next entry.
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