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Death of a Clown
Born and raised into the Sacred Order of Tragicomedy, Chester Brown's path is written in stone. The bulbous nose and gigantic feet define him physically, while The Sacred Church of Razzmatazz ensnares him in its grip.
For Chester there can be no escape...or so he believes.
But Chester Brown has a secret passion―he longs to become a writer.
When a chance encounter leads him on an existential pilgrimage across Europe, a new world begins to surface.
Will Chester manage to erase the marks of the clown, or will the bonds of his past prove unbreakable?
DEATH OF A CLOWN is a metaphorical tale of dark fantasy, a story of hope, courage and self acceptance.
For Chester there can be no escape...or so he believes.
But Chester Brown has a secret passion―he longs to become a writer.
When a chance encounter leads him on an existential pilgrimage across Europe, a new world begins to surface.
Will Chester manage to erase the marks of the clown, or will the bonds of his past prove unbreakable?
DEATH OF A CLOWN is a metaphorical tale of dark fantasy, a story of hope, courage and self acceptance.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
68 people want to read
About the author
Catherine McCarthy
31 books319 followersCatherine McCarthy is a Welsh working class writer who weaves dark tales on an ancient loom.
Her longer works include Immortelle, Mosaic, A Moonlit Path of Madness, The Wolf and the Favour, The House at the End of Lacelean Street and her most recent novella, Death of a Clown, which published May '25 through Sobelo Books.
Her short fiction can be found in various publications, including Gamut Magazine, Dark Matter Magazine and Haven Spec Magazine.
Time away from the loom is spent hiking the Welsh coast path or huddled in an ancient graveyard reading Dylan Thomas or Poe.
Her longer works include Immortelle, Mosaic, A Moonlit Path of Madness, The Wolf and the Favour, The House at the End of Lacelean Street and her most recent novella, Death of a Clown, which published May '25 through Sobelo Books.
Her short fiction can be found in various publications, including Gamut Magazine, Dark Matter Magazine and Haven Spec Magazine.
Time away from the loom is spent hiking the Welsh coast path or huddled in an ancient graveyard reading Dylan Thomas or Poe.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 27, 2025
Catherine McCarthy has become a favorite author of mine over the last few years or so. Death of a Clown has cemented Catherine near the top of my list.
Chester is feeling unfilled at The Sacred Church of Razzmatazz, but he's never known anything else. His bulbous nose and huge feet make him a shoe-in, (see what I did there?), for performing as a clown. It's all he's ever known, but lately, it's just not enough. Chester has been writing stories in secret and he finally decides that he wants to chase that dream. All he's ever been told is that he was born to be a clown, look at his nose and feet, he's perfect! It takes bravery to escape such a trap, but Chester is brave and he does escape. Will he find what he's looking for? You'll have to read this novella to find out!
Throughout the main narrative are a few of Chester's short stories, written under his pen name of Runo Quill. These short stories-within the story were charming and delightful, and oftentimes outright funny. I especially enjoyed the one featuring the peach tree as the language was often sly and filled with innuendo.
I enjoyed Chester's story and his search for self. I relished reading about the places to which he traveled, and what was going on in the world around him at the time. As he travels and meets new people, (for the first time in his sheltered life), we learn that Chester is not the stupid funny man we thought he was. Catherine's clever storytelling reveals just how much more than that Chester really is and I WAS HERE FOR IT.
I feel that Catherine has a great skill for writing characters that are realistic and inspire passion in the reader. You slowly begin to empathize with them and see things from their points of view. With Chester, the more I got to know him, the more I realized that he was so much more than a simple clown. By the time I finished this novella, I loved the man and wanted nothing but the best for him. He inspired me.
Maybe Catherine can inspire you too? During this chaotic time in which we live, what reader doesn't want to escape now and then? How about taking a break from it all, and having a sit with Chester one afternoon? At the very least, you'll be escaping the daily news. At the best, you'll be gaining a new friend with a big nose and huge feet, while traveling to France and Italy. Doesn't that sound better than an afternoon with Anderson Cooper?
This tale is not easy to categorize, but I never was one for pigeon-holing stories. Death of A Clown has everything: darkness, humor, great writing, wonderful scene-setting and emotions that are all over the map. I think this is an extraordinary piece of work and as such I give it my highest recommendation. ALL THE STARS!
*ARC from author
Chester is feeling unfilled at The Sacred Church of Razzmatazz, but he's never known anything else. His bulbous nose and huge feet make him a shoe-in, (see what I did there?), for performing as a clown. It's all he's ever known, but lately, it's just not enough. Chester has been writing stories in secret and he finally decides that he wants to chase that dream. All he's ever been told is that he was born to be a clown, look at his nose and feet, he's perfect! It takes bravery to escape such a trap, but Chester is brave and he does escape. Will he find what he's looking for? You'll have to read this novella to find out!
Throughout the main narrative are a few of Chester's short stories, written under his pen name of Runo Quill. These short stories-within the story were charming and delightful, and oftentimes outright funny. I especially enjoyed the one featuring the peach tree as the language was often sly and filled with innuendo.
I enjoyed Chester's story and his search for self. I relished reading about the places to which he traveled, and what was going on in the world around him at the time. As he travels and meets new people, (for the first time in his sheltered life), we learn that Chester is not the stupid funny man we thought he was. Catherine's clever storytelling reveals just how much more than that Chester really is and I WAS HERE FOR IT.
I feel that Catherine has a great skill for writing characters that are realistic and inspire passion in the reader. You slowly begin to empathize with them and see things from their points of view. With Chester, the more I got to know him, the more I realized that he was so much more than a simple clown. By the time I finished this novella, I loved the man and wanted nothing but the best for him. He inspired me.
Maybe Catherine can inspire you too? During this chaotic time in which we live, what reader doesn't want to escape now and then? How about taking a break from it all, and having a sit with Chester one afternoon? At the very least, you'll be escaping the daily news. At the best, you'll be gaining a new friend with a big nose and huge feet, while traveling to France and Italy. Doesn't that sound better than an afternoon with Anderson Cooper?
This tale is not easy to categorize, but I never was one for pigeon-holing stories. Death of A Clown has everything: darkness, humor, great writing, wonderful scene-setting and emotions that are all over the map. I think this is an extraordinary piece of work and as such I give it my highest recommendation. ALL THE STARS!
*ARC from author
February 9, 2025
An inspirational piece that looks inward as much as it peers outward, Death of a Clown is through and through an art novella. McCarthy executes a vision and feeling, painting an allegory that rebels against the constraints of class as caste. It’s an inspired work that defies genre. And it’s an uplifting one.
Following Chester Brown, a man born into clown work, the narrative is built upon his turmoil: its budding, its festering, its blinking awake, opening to the light, its death-rattle release. Chester wants more from life. He’s an artist, a writer. Despite being born into the station, he’s not a clown. Not on the inside. And when he finds a mysterious book that promises a blueprint for escaping his mental prison, he retraces the journey spelled out within—a journey that takes him from Dover to Florence to Paris. Interspersed with Chester’s short stories, this is an immersive and heartening read.
It’s the perfect subject for auteur cinema (I can see it flickering in black and white on a screen in 1960s Florence).
Following Chester Brown, a man born into clown work, the narrative is built upon his turmoil: its budding, its festering, its blinking awake, opening to the light, its death-rattle release. Chester wants more from life. He’s an artist, a writer. Despite being born into the station, he’s not a clown. Not on the inside. And when he finds a mysterious book that promises a blueprint for escaping his mental prison, he retraces the journey spelled out within—a journey that takes him from Dover to Florence to Paris. Interspersed with Chester’s short stories, this is an immersive and heartening read.
It’s the perfect subject for auteur cinema (I can see it flickering in black and white on a screen in 1960s Florence).
May 24, 2025
A wonderfully crafted novella that will surely find its readers through its intelligent allegories. It's the story of Chester Brown, a clown who finds himself trapped in a life that holds no purpose for him anymore. Through the discovery of a journal, he dares to leave all he knows behind, embarking on a journey through Europe. What he finds there is a discovery. A discovery of self. A discovery of the joy to be embraced when self-imposed shackles are broken.
Catherine McCarthy's language is, as always, a joy to read, layering setting and detail and dialogue seamlessly together to form a story that says at its heart, break free from rules and prejudice. Be brave, and be true.
Catherine McCarthy's language is, as always, a joy to read, layering setting and detail and dialogue seamlessly together to form a story that says at its heart, break free from rules and prejudice. Be brave, and be true.
February 21, 2025
Death of a Clown is one of those reads that I think everyone on some level can relate to in their own way. Chester Brown’s struggle to break free from a life that feels preordained hit me on a deep level. His journey to rewrite his own story, despite the weight of expectations, felt so familiar, almost like looking in a mirror. I recognized parts of myself in Chester, in his doubts, his longing, and his quiet courage to chase something more. I absolutely loved the short stories that he wrote for himself, never intending for anyone else to read them. They were a little glimpses into his soul, so raw. This book is a metaphorical adventure that takes us on a quest to find our true selves. If you’ve ever felt trapped by who the world expects you to be, this one’s for you.
February 10, 2025
Thank you to Catherine for gifting me with an eARC of this wonderful story.
I enjoyed this journey of self-discovery with Chester. Most of us have felt uncomfortable in our own skin at some point in our lives, and I could relate to his need to find out who he was. This is an expertly woven tale, as are all of McCarthy's books.
Catherine's writing is beautifully ethereal. You get swept along in the magic of the story, experiencing every step with the characters. No one does this quite like she does.
As always, I highly recommend this to any and all readers.
I enjoyed this journey of self-discovery with Chester. Most of us have felt uncomfortable in our own skin at some point in our lives, and I could relate to his need to find out who he was. This is an expertly woven tale, as are all of McCarthy's books.
Catherine's writing is beautifully ethereal. You get swept along in the magic of the story, experiencing every step with the characters. No one does this quite like she does.
As always, I highly recommend this to any and all readers.
March 26, 2025
Death of a Clown by Catherine McCarthy is a dark fantasy about a man struggling to escape his past and start a new life, even as the stubborn remnants of his former life pull him back.
This story was a captivating journey, blending dark fantasy with intriguing world-building. The hope for the future kept me hooked! This is another of Catherine’s works that you just don’t want to miss!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/death...
This story was a captivating journey, blending dark fantasy with intriguing world-building. The hope for the future kept me hooked! This is another of Catherine’s works that you just don’t want to miss!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/death...
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April 8, 2025An unexpected delight from an author whose work I've long admired. Chester Brown is a writer trapped in the body (and class) of a clown, but that doesn't stop him from stepping out of his comfort zone to find his true self. A glorious, genre-defying novella. McCarthy is a must-read author for me, and Death of a Clown proves the case again.
June 21, 2025
Inspiration and self discovery is the rock and heart that holds and beats throughout DEATH OF A CLOWN. The story is not a tale of death in the physical way. The harrowing moments that begin and end the novella justify the ‘dark’ in its dark fantasy, yet the real body and pull is of a protagonist discovering the world and thus, himself. Chester Brown is a fascinating character you follow and root for. A fellow thoughtful and compassionate, the journey he begins is one I feel many have pondered, wondering if there truly are riches at the end of the rainbow.
Chester Brown lives his life destined to what he believes is his fate: a clown to entertain the masses. Yet a near traumatic incident, plus the ensuing fallout, has Chester betray the lesson of Bilbo Baggins (mind your feet!) and he chances himself into Magicians Quarter where a text in its library hits a note. Titled DEATH OF A CLOWN… the volume speaks to him in ways that promote Chester to act.
Catharine McCarthy has been one author to watch. Her prose tempts and glides the reader through Chester's journey as effortlessly as the works before. The sentences are never too lush, never too monotonous. This just-right porridge of writing holds the book from beginning to end, as Chester begins a journey that I won’t spoil here, but you must experience the grandness itself. Although I had some issues with some choices of Chester’s before his journey, the author seemed aware and hopefully an ambiguous outcome for the reader leaves a positive outcome for some of the supporting cast. Otherwise, DEATH OF A CLOWN is another feather in Catherine McCarthy’s cap that I would recommend to anyone feeling inert and of longing.
Chester Brown lives his life destined to what he believes is his fate: a clown to entertain the masses. Yet a near traumatic incident, plus the ensuing fallout, has Chester betray the lesson of Bilbo Baggins (mind your feet!) and he chances himself into Magicians Quarter where a text in its library hits a note. Titled DEATH OF A CLOWN… the volume speaks to him in ways that promote Chester to act.
Catharine McCarthy has been one author to watch. Her prose tempts and glides the reader through Chester's journey as effortlessly as the works before. The sentences are never too lush, never too monotonous. This just-right porridge of writing holds the book from beginning to end, as Chester begins a journey that I won’t spoil here, but you must experience the grandness itself. Although I had some issues with some choices of Chester’s before his journey, the author seemed aware and hopefully an ambiguous outcome for the reader leaves a positive outcome for some of the supporting cast. Otherwise, DEATH OF A CLOWN is another feather in Catherine McCarthy’s cap that I would recommend to anyone feeling inert and of longing.
June 12, 2025
This was a beautiful story of making your own path and finding who you’re truly meant to be, in spite of others expectations.
February 20, 2025
Absolutely beautiful gem of a book. Despite being a novella, this story is packed full of allegories: death, rebirth, self-identity, self-perception...I'm convinced this book could be read a number of different ways, depending on the reader's perception or current state of mind.
As one can always expect from a Catherine McCarthy book, the language is rich and luxuriant, with not a word wasted to unfold this beautiful tale. The world building is immaculate, the characters solid. Chester is unforgettable, and he burrowed his way into my heart. His journey is painful at times, but his open mind, determination, and open heart bolster him to see it through.
This is a book I can see myself re-reading multiple times in the future.
As one can always expect from a Catherine McCarthy book, the language is rich and luxuriant, with not a word wasted to unfold this beautiful tale. The world building is immaculate, the characters solid. Chester is unforgettable, and he burrowed his way into my heart. His journey is painful at times, but his open mind, determination, and open heart bolster him to see it through.
This is a book I can see myself re-reading multiple times in the future.
April 15, 2025
“Aim high, and never allow the apathy of others to shatter your dreams.”
📚
Chester Brown’s path has always been set in stone. There is no escape from the clutches of the Sacred Order of Tragicomedy, nor the grip of The Sacred Church of Razzmatazz. Born into the role of a clown, his huge feet and bulging nose define him physically, while his community’s narrow mindset and rigid beliefs trap him within a mundane and stifling box. Until decades of performative drudgery wear him thin, leading to an existential crisis and stark realization: he longs to be a writer. His secret passion moves him to action, resulting in a chance encounter precipitating a European pilgrimage and the discovery of a new world. Can he break the bonds of his past, or will its pull prove too strong to overcome?
Death of a Clownis a layered, metaphorical dark fantasy rich in atmosphere and world-building. The writing is gorgeous, employing an utterly immersive story-within-a story structure that produces a resonant and fulfilling rumination on existence and the courage required to eschew the safe and familiar in favor of change, exploration, and self-acceptance — and of facing the ultimate fear: living. It’s at once a warm embrace and a sharp blade: inspiring and introspective, merciless and shrewd, illuminating humanity’s shortcomings and fallibility through captivating tales rooted in literature and philosophy, observation and contemplation. These stories simmer with darkness, hope, despair, and possibility, evolving in time with their author.
Chester’s surroundings feel tangible; the further he travels from his known environment, the more sumptuous, vibrant, and alive everything becomes. He escapes through writing, achieving freedom and adventure, reflection and introspection, unleashing his inner sorrow and cynicism, a sublime smiting of society’s indoctrination-based consumerism, control, superficiality, and hierarchy, recognizing where true wealth and value lie: not in position or material possessions, but in experience and fulfillment, study and challenge, sincerity and understanding. A well-lived life shouldn’t be predetermined, inflexible, intolerant, or unforgiving, but rather something fluid and meandering, as unique as each individual’s singular essence.
Thank you to Catherine McCarthy for sharing an eARC of this incredible forthcoming novella, which releases via Sobelo Books on May 27th. It’s an engrossing and powerful meditation on learning, love, and self-actualization and a divine reading journey that will easily rank among this reader’s all-time favorites.
📚
Chester Brown’s path has always been set in stone. There is no escape from the clutches of the Sacred Order of Tragicomedy, nor the grip of The Sacred Church of Razzmatazz. Born into the role of a clown, his huge feet and bulging nose define him physically, while his community’s narrow mindset and rigid beliefs trap him within a mundane and stifling box. Until decades of performative drudgery wear him thin, leading to an existential crisis and stark realization: he longs to be a writer. His secret passion moves him to action, resulting in a chance encounter precipitating a European pilgrimage and the discovery of a new world. Can he break the bonds of his past, or will its pull prove too strong to overcome?
Death of a Clownis a layered, metaphorical dark fantasy rich in atmosphere and world-building. The writing is gorgeous, employing an utterly immersive story-within-a story structure that produces a resonant and fulfilling rumination on existence and the courage required to eschew the safe and familiar in favor of change, exploration, and self-acceptance — and of facing the ultimate fear: living. It’s at once a warm embrace and a sharp blade: inspiring and introspective, merciless and shrewd, illuminating humanity’s shortcomings and fallibility through captivating tales rooted in literature and philosophy, observation and contemplation. These stories simmer with darkness, hope, despair, and possibility, evolving in time with their author.
Chester’s surroundings feel tangible; the further he travels from his known environment, the more sumptuous, vibrant, and alive everything becomes. He escapes through writing, achieving freedom and adventure, reflection and introspection, unleashing his inner sorrow and cynicism, a sublime smiting of society’s indoctrination-based consumerism, control, superficiality, and hierarchy, recognizing where true wealth and value lie: not in position or material possessions, but in experience and fulfillment, study and challenge, sincerity and understanding. A well-lived life shouldn’t be predetermined, inflexible, intolerant, or unforgiving, but rather something fluid and meandering, as unique as each individual’s singular essence.
Thank you to Catherine McCarthy for sharing an eARC of this incredible forthcoming novella, which releases via Sobelo Books on May 27th. It’s an engrossing and powerful meditation on learning, love, and self-actualization and a divine reading journey that will easily rank among this reader’s all-time favorites.
February 13, 2025
Thank you so much Catherine for letting me read an early copy of this.
Death of a Clown is a a novella that packs a great big punch. It has such an interesting plot that ends up having so much more meaning than you think it’s going to have. To me, this story was about identity and the great length’s in which one will go to find their true self.
I really enjoyed getting to know Chester. I felt so protective of him. The Chester we meet in the beginning is not the same Chester by the end of the story and I loved the journey he takes.
This story is also about following your dreams and doing what you were born to do. It was so inspiring many ways. I consider myself a shy and quiet introvert, and getting to see Chester stand up for himself and go after what he wants was wonderful.
Per usual, Catherine’s writing is just marvelous. She has such a way with words and they just flow right off of the page. I love how she takes an idea and then makes it so uniquely her own.
Death of a Clown is a a novella that packs a great big punch. It has such an interesting plot that ends up having so much more meaning than you think it’s going to have. To me, this story was about identity and the great length’s in which one will go to find their true self.
I really enjoyed getting to know Chester. I felt so protective of him. The Chester we meet in the beginning is not the same Chester by the end of the story and I loved the journey he takes.
This story is also about following your dreams and doing what you were born to do. It was so inspiring many ways. I consider myself a shy and quiet introvert, and getting to see Chester stand up for himself and go after what he wants was wonderful.
Per usual, Catherine’s writing is just marvelous. She has such a way with words and they just flow right off of the page. I love how she takes an idea and then makes it so uniquely her own.
February 5, 2025
Full disclosure: I was sent an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story:
Written in a deeply empathetic manner, McCarthy’s latest offering deals with a young man who makes his living as a clown.
2 decades into his life and work, he now experiences a sudden bout of deep, and all-encompassing existential crisis. Knowing full well that his life as a clown is over, he’s not entirely sure what he means to do. That is, until a mysterious diary finds him. One that will lead him on an adventure to some of the most artistic cities of Europe.
It might present itself as a coming-of-age/finding-yourself sort of tale on face value, but in true McCarthy style it’s far more than that. Interspersed between Chester’s story is also the short stories he writes while on his travels. Said stories are all from the POVs of different (and seemingly unrelated) characters, yet common to them all is that they run an almost parallel course to Chester’s life and experiences, offering a deeper insight into his internal workings than he’s able to provide directly himself. It’s elegantly done and ultimately a touching tale tackling topics of alienation, self esteem issues, disenchantment & self realization.
Sidenote: I’d love to learn more about the clown mythology only lightly touched upon in this story (e.g. Cholly).
I might be more familiar with McCarthy’s horror, but this quick read made for a nice change of pace at a time when the world seems to be burning. I enjoyed this a lot and I’m looking forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
The story:
Written in a deeply empathetic manner, McCarthy’s latest offering deals with a young man who makes his living as a clown.
2 decades into his life and work, he now experiences a sudden bout of deep, and all-encompassing existential crisis. Knowing full well that his life as a clown is over, he’s not entirely sure what he means to do. That is, until a mysterious diary finds him. One that will lead him on an adventure to some of the most artistic cities of Europe.
It might present itself as a coming-of-age/finding-yourself sort of tale on face value, but in true McCarthy style it’s far more than that. Interspersed between Chester’s story is also the short stories he writes while on his travels. Said stories are all from the POVs of different (and seemingly unrelated) characters, yet common to them all is that they run an almost parallel course to Chester’s life and experiences, offering a deeper insight into his internal workings than he’s able to provide directly himself. It’s elegantly done and ultimately a touching tale tackling topics of alienation, self esteem issues, disenchantment & self realization.
Sidenote: I’d love to learn more about the clown mythology only lightly touched upon in this story (e.g. Cholly).
I might be more familiar with McCarthy’s horror, but this quick read made for a nice change of pace at a time when the world seems to be burning. I enjoyed this a lot and I’m looking forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2025
I really loved this story!
This felt like I was reading the story of my own life! So often I have been told to stick to the script but my heart has always yearned for more. I found hope in this story of Chester who broke away from the story everyone else wanted him to write and rewrote his own ending. It was beautiful!
This felt like I was reading the story of my own life! So often I have been told to stick to the script but my heart has always yearned for more. I found hope in this story of Chester who broke away from the story everyone else wanted him to write and rewrote his own ending. It was beautiful!
June 8, 2025
A lovely story, brilliant writing and an absolute joy to read.
When opening this book, the metaphor loomed large. How many of us think our lives are a joke, that we don’t fit and that we can never be happy? And we all want the sad clown to be happy, right?
But Catherine McCarthy has cleverly built this work with layers, not just a metaphor but a web of them, all linking like the pixels in a photo, waiting for us to get the big picture. There is a huge skill to including stories within a story as she has here, and to make them not only relevant but captivating and seamless in transitions, a constituent part of the whole. Does it work? Oh yes! This is a fantastic life-relevant fairytale with other little fairytales built in.
Chester is an out-of-place soul, sensitive and self-educated. When he has an emotional reaction, he auto-telegraphs it with his whole body. Seeing the world through his eyes coats the locations (the streets, train stations, theatres, cafes and cathedrals) with an atmosphere of wonder. His lack of confidence and the impostor syndrome written large on his big clown heart, are the weights holding the story in place and the credibility which anchors the ending.
So, to summarise: A complex layered story, but so easy to read. When you think about this book you will possibly start to think about your own life.
I give this 5 stars and I’ll break that down (layering stars within stars): 5 stars for the story, 5 for the writing and 5 for the after-read impact.
When opening this book, the metaphor loomed large. How many of us think our lives are a joke, that we don’t fit and that we can never be happy? And we all want the sad clown to be happy, right?
But Catherine McCarthy has cleverly built this work with layers, not just a metaphor but a web of them, all linking like the pixels in a photo, waiting for us to get the big picture. There is a huge skill to including stories within a story as she has here, and to make them not only relevant but captivating and seamless in transitions, a constituent part of the whole. Does it work? Oh yes! This is a fantastic life-relevant fairytale with other little fairytales built in.
Chester is an out-of-place soul, sensitive and self-educated. When he has an emotional reaction, he auto-telegraphs it with his whole body. Seeing the world through his eyes coats the locations (the streets, train stations, theatres, cafes and cathedrals) with an atmosphere of wonder. His lack of confidence and the impostor syndrome written large on his big clown heart, are the weights holding the story in place and the credibility which anchors the ending.
So, to summarise: A complex layered story, but so easy to read. When you think about this book you will possibly start to think about your own life.
I give this 5 stars and I’ll break that down (layering stars within stars): 5 stars for the story, 5 for the writing and 5 for the after-read impact.
June 8, 2025
Chester Brown’s career as a clown is not enjoyable, he feels lost and trapped. But a book discovery sets him on a path to find a new life and accepting that he won’t be able to see his family again. Chester has some big decisions to make.
A very intriguing story of Chester Brown trying to find his way in a world when nothing makes sense to him. Chester’s joy at his discoveries are also counterbalanced with the hold that the past has on him. His own short stories give your glimpse into his mental torment and desire to create something new.
A very intriguing story of Chester Brown trying to find his way in a world when nothing makes sense to him. Chester’s joy at his discoveries are also counterbalanced with the hold that the past has on him. His own short stories give your glimpse into his mental torment and desire to create something new.
June 5, 2025
Welsh horror author Catherine McCarthy is always unpredictable. From cosmic folk horror to gothic horror to whatever puzzle box her last novel The Last House on Lacelean Street was, you never know what you’re going to get, but you can be sure it will throb with a vivid sense of atmosphere and a keen sense of humanity. But with Death of a Clown, out now from Sobelo Books, McCarthy has ventured from horror to literary dark fantasy. However, her horror fans need not fear: while the chills have gone, this is a gloriously imaginative triumph, maybe her crowning glory yet, and one that will only fail to move you if your heart has been replaced by a particularly obtuse brick.
The story concerns Chester Brown, a clown raised in a clown society and a clown quarter of an alternative London, destined to perform. Only problem is, he doesn’t want the life anymore—the performing, the humour, the culture—and seeks to start afresh. With the help of a mysterious journal he finds, he leaves his clown life behind on the journey of a lifetime to travel the cultural heart of Europe to try and see if he can really reshape his destiny or else be trapped by his origins.
As you can probably guess by my attempted plot summary there, this is a journey of self-discovery and freedom from an oppressive life that you no longer feel—or never really felt—truly a part of, and McCarthy is a perfect author for such a tale. Her language is clear yet wonderfully evocative and descriptive, and the constant dance between dark poignancy and warm hope that characterises much of her writing makes Chester a character you will root for and be fascinated by.
It’s the choice of this alternate world clown society that also sets this book apart. On the one hand, you might think the use of clown worldbuilding – the sacred church of razzmatazz, the clown god Cholly, the scared order of tragicomedy, the clown quarter of London, next to the magician’s quarter—is at odds with a subtle, serious dark fantasy of self-discovery, and can only be played for laughs. But of course, as McCarthy explores in depth here, humour has always been allied with tragedy—as the term tragicomedy implies—and it’s McCarthy’s use of a humour-filled society rather than a dour one that aptly shows how it’s not the tone that’s important, it’s the sense of freedom from dogma or forced culture that matters. This clown society might be constantly laughing, but it’s a warped form of repressive humour, the opposite to true wit, and she smartly shows how even a society free from literally imprisoning you can feel like a prison of conformity.
It reminded me of the joke about a clown—stop me if you’ve almost certainly heard this one before—who goes to the doctor about his depression. “The great clown Grimaldi is in town tonight,” the doctor says, “Go and see him! That should sort you out.” The man bursts into tears. “But doctor,” he says, “I am Grimaldi.” Chester’s condition is Grimaldi’s and all the jokes in the world can’t free him from a life he doesn’t belong.
Another clever move is that we see firsthand Chester’s attempts at a new career – writing—in the form of a selection of his stories that break up the main narrative. From the sinister—a repressive society where questions are banned unless you want your mouth to be stitched—to the poetic—a character discovers their father was a tree (I might have described that too matter-of-factly) these reflect the themes of conformity, self expression, and rebirth that the book is about and also, rather wonderfully, reflect the changing emotions of Chester himself. As he starts to hope he can change and even hope he might find love, the tenor of the stories change, a subtle and wonderful narrative device.
As the second half of the book moves away from his prison to his journey, we our immersed in the culture and romance of the renaissance heart of Europe. Paris and Florence, those bastions of the arts, are evocatively described, and I felt as though as I was in some dream version of them, a gentle paradise of cultural possibility. McCarthy skips between artists real and imagined to paint the canvass of Chester’s self discovery, all the while seeding the intriguing mystery of who wrote the journal that has directed Chester’s journey and what his aims are. These are breathless, beautiful, wonderful chapters, with a compelling romance at the core, concerned with of the joy of immersing yourself in a new world and culture and suggesting that ultimately, the only person who can change yourself is you.
Overall, it’s impossible not to be deeply moved and inimitably inspired by the journey of self-discovery of Chester Brown the conflicted clown. McCarthy’s foray into literary dark fantasy has only reinforced her label as a rising star of British speculative fiction.
The story concerns Chester Brown, a clown raised in a clown society and a clown quarter of an alternative London, destined to perform. Only problem is, he doesn’t want the life anymore—the performing, the humour, the culture—and seeks to start afresh. With the help of a mysterious journal he finds, he leaves his clown life behind on the journey of a lifetime to travel the cultural heart of Europe to try and see if he can really reshape his destiny or else be trapped by his origins.
As you can probably guess by my attempted plot summary there, this is a journey of self-discovery and freedom from an oppressive life that you no longer feel—or never really felt—truly a part of, and McCarthy is a perfect author for such a tale. Her language is clear yet wonderfully evocative and descriptive, and the constant dance between dark poignancy and warm hope that characterises much of her writing makes Chester a character you will root for and be fascinated by.
It’s the choice of this alternate world clown society that also sets this book apart. On the one hand, you might think the use of clown worldbuilding – the sacred church of razzmatazz, the clown god Cholly, the scared order of tragicomedy, the clown quarter of London, next to the magician’s quarter—is at odds with a subtle, serious dark fantasy of self-discovery, and can only be played for laughs. But of course, as McCarthy explores in depth here, humour has always been allied with tragedy—as the term tragicomedy implies—and it’s McCarthy’s use of a humour-filled society rather than a dour one that aptly shows how it’s not the tone that’s important, it’s the sense of freedom from dogma or forced culture that matters. This clown society might be constantly laughing, but it’s a warped form of repressive humour, the opposite to true wit, and she smartly shows how even a society free from literally imprisoning you can feel like a prison of conformity.
It reminded me of the joke about a clown—stop me if you’ve almost certainly heard this one before—who goes to the doctor about his depression. “The great clown Grimaldi is in town tonight,” the doctor says, “Go and see him! That should sort you out.” The man bursts into tears. “But doctor,” he says, “I am Grimaldi.” Chester’s condition is Grimaldi’s and all the jokes in the world can’t free him from a life he doesn’t belong.
Another clever move is that we see firsthand Chester’s attempts at a new career – writing—in the form of a selection of his stories that break up the main narrative. From the sinister—a repressive society where questions are banned unless you want your mouth to be stitched—to the poetic—a character discovers their father was a tree (I might have described that too matter-of-factly) these reflect the themes of conformity, self expression, and rebirth that the book is about and also, rather wonderfully, reflect the changing emotions of Chester himself. As he starts to hope he can change and even hope he might find love, the tenor of the stories change, a subtle and wonderful narrative device.
As the second half of the book moves away from his prison to his journey, we our immersed in the culture and romance of the renaissance heart of Europe. Paris and Florence, those bastions of the arts, are evocatively described, and I felt as though as I was in some dream version of them, a gentle paradise of cultural possibility. McCarthy skips between artists real and imagined to paint the canvass of Chester’s self discovery, all the while seeding the intriguing mystery of who wrote the journal that has directed Chester’s journey and what his aims are. These are breathless, beautiful, wonderful chapters, with a compelling romance at the core, concerned with of the joy of immersing yourself in a new world and culture and suggesting that ultimately, the only person who can change yourself is you.
Overall, it’s impossible not to be deeply moved and inimitably inspired by the journey of self-discovery of Chester Brown the conflicted clown. McCarthy’s foray into literary dark fantasy has only reinforced her label as a rising star of British speculative fiction.
February 28, 2025
Death of a Clown is not an easy book to describe. The blurb calls it "dark fantasy", but I've been pondering how well this fits. Is it dark? Maybe. Although the MC (Chester, the clown referenced in the title) goes through serious struggles and questions of self-worth, it's ultimately an uplifting book with a hopeful message. Is it fantasy? Again, I say... Maybe. One major fantastical element is called into question by the end of the novella, and remains ambiguous in this reader's mind. But that is part of the brilliance of the book; as with McCarthy's prior The House at the End of Lacelean Street, readers are left with questions to ponder after finishing, and a sense that the world within the story will go on, that the characters will continue to develop off-page. This is a type of writing I enjoy, as it invites a sort of reader participation into the experience.
So I continue to ask: What is Death of a Clown? It's certainly not horror, a label which seems to be continuously affixed to McCarthy's work (although I consider myself a horror fan, I could write an essay on why I don't agree with this assessment, and perhaps one day I will!).
Is it historical fiction? Death of a Clown takes place in what appears to be our world, with immersive descriptions of Chester's experiences in late-19th century Paris and Florence. These settings highlight Catherine McCarthy's prose style, lush and skillful but never dense or unreadable. She knows how to use gorgeous language, but she also knows when to use restraint. And yet "historical fiction" isn't quite right, either, given the speculative elements of the story outweigh any sense that the author was trying to create an authentic snapshot of an actual place and time. Alternate Reality Historical Fiction? Perhaps!
In the end, it doesn't really matter what genre this is. From my standpoint, here is what I think matters: I think it's the best book Catherine McCarthy has written (not an easy task, considering her past work). I think it's a tale that will connect with readers on an emotional level, one that left me pacing around with enthusiasm after I finished, so enthralled was I by the wonderfully-drawn characters of Chester and Eveline.
Of course, no book is flawless. If I had to give any sort of criticism, it's that the first section leaned a bit too heavily into the allegorical aspect for my tastes. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with allegory, but the message (albeit one I very much agree with), came across too obvious at times. This feeling diminished as the story progressed, and by the halfway mark the author seemed to trust the reader completely, delivering the message in more subtle ways from that point forward.
I'd also like to mention a unique aspect of the novella's structure. There are a few short stories sprinkled throughout, with the explanation that they are written by the main character himself, under the pen name Runo Quill. While these tales relate to Chester on a subconscious level, they are all great stories on their own. This was a pleasant surprise for me, as I discovered Catherine McCarthy a few years ago specifically because of her shorter work.
I recommend Death of a Clown to anyone who has ever felt trapped in an unhappy situation, and fearful that things will never change. I recommend Death of a Clown to anyone who has ever felt self-conscious about any part of themselves. I recommend Death of a Clown to anyone who has ever tried to create something new (art, music, poetry, prose, etc.) and has felt a sense of Imposter Syndrome upon sharing their creations with the outside world.
This is all a lengthy way of saying: Go read this book. Give it a chance. And praise the Great Clown God Cholly that we are gifted with writers like Catherine McCarthy in the world.
So I continue to ask: What is Death of a Clown? It's certainly not horror, a label which seems to be continuously affixed to McCarthy's work (although I consider myself a horror fan, I could write an essay on why I don't agree with this assessment, and perhaps one day I will!).
Is it historical fiction? Death of a Clown takes place in what appears to be our world, with immersive descriptions of Chester's experiences in late-19th century Paris and Florence. These settings highlight Catherine McCarthy's prose style, lush and skillful but never dense or unreadable. She knows how to use gorgeous language, but she also knows when to use restraint. And yet "historical fiction" isn't quite right, either, given the speculative elements of the story outweigh any sense that the author was trying to create an authentic snapshot of an actual place and time. Alternate Reality Historical Fiction? Perhaps!
In the end, it doesn't really matter what genre this is. From my standpoint, here is what I think matters: I think it's the best book Catherine McCarthy has written (not an easy task, considering her past work). I think it's a tale that will connect with readers on an emotional level, one that left me pacing around with enthusiasm after I finished, so enthralled was I by the wonderfully-drawn characters of Chester and Eveline.
Of course, no book is flawless. If I had to give any sort of criticism, it's that the first section leaned a bit too heavily into the allegorical aspect for my tastes. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with allegory, but the message (albeit one I very much agree with), came across too obvious at times. This feeling diminished as the story progressed, and by the halfway mark the author seemed to trust the reader completely, delivering the message in more subtle ways from that point forward.
I'd also like to mention a unique aspect of the novella's structure. There are a few short stories sprinkled throughout, with the explanation that they are written by the main character himself, under the pen name Runo Quill. While these tales relate to Chester on a subconscious level, they are all great stories on their own. This was a pleasant surprise for me, as I discovered Catherine McCarthy a few years ago specifically because of her shorter work.
I recommend Death of a Clown to anyone who has ever felt trapped in an unhappy situation, and fearful that things will never change. I recommend Death of a Clown to anyone who has ever felt self-conscious about any part of themselves. I recommend Death of a Clown to anyone who has ever tried to create something new (art, music, poetry, prose, etc.) and has felt a sense of Imposter Syndrome upon sharing their creations with the outside world.
This is all a lengthy way of saying: Go read this book. Give it a chance. And praise the Great Clown God Cholly that we are gifted with writers like Catherine McCarthy in the world.
March 27, 2025
Although known primarily as a horror writer, and a very good one, Catherine’s tales have always eschewed blood, guts and violence, favouring a quieter approach, closer in tone to Ramsey Campbell or Robert Aickman. Death of a Clown, while categorically not a horror story, feels Aickmanesque at times and, as I’ve noted in other reviews of Catherine’s work, her ability to capture the awful awkwardness of ordinary human interaction is strongly reminiscent of Campbell.
At the beginning of the novella, we are dropped into a world that is recognisably our own, with the addition of a few skewed and fantastical elements. I’ve never quite been sure what ‘magical realism’ is, but I suspect we’re venturing into its territory with this tale. There is an allegorical feel to the piece, too, but deftly handled and kept from being in any way heavy-handed by the incredibly strong character work. Chester is real and sympathetic from the moment we meet him: confused, uncertain, dissatisfied, lonely. In fact, all the characters we encounter as Chester makes his way across Europe are vivid and enchanting.
The quest that forms the core of the story is compelling, But the many diversions and stories-within-stories are, ultimately, more compelling still. And I’m confident this is precisely Catherine’s intent. As John Lennon sang: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
As a meditation on self-doubt, fear of failure, and the ever-present conditioning that says ‘that life is not for the likes of you’, Death of a Clown is essential reading for any writers (or creatives of any sort) who are prone to imposter syndrome and the devastating self-sabotage that can give rise to. It also vividly highlights the importance of ‘supporting characters’ and cheerleaders in our own lives.
I’ve mentioned Aickman and Campbell, but there is another writer whose influence can be felt here, and that is Catherine’s Welsh compatriot Arthur Machen, with mythical and folkloric elements scattered throughout, generally of the unnerving and not the whimsical variety.
Death of a Clown is a delight: moving, intelligent, romantic, funny, and the conclusion, like all great finales, is both inevitable and surprising. And I will absolutely be reading it again.
At the beginning of the novella, we are dropped into a world that is recognisably our own, with the addition of a few skewed and fantastical elements. I’ve never quite been sure what ‘magical realism’ is, but I suspect we’re venturing into its territory with this tale. There is an allegorical feel to the piece, too, but deftly handled and kept from being in any way heavy-handed by the incredibly strong character work. Chester is real and sympathetic from the moment we meet him: confused, uncertain, dissatisfied, lonely. In fact, all the characters we encounter as Chester makes his way across Europe are vivid and enchanting.
The quest that forms the core of the story is compelling, But the many diversions and stories-within-stories are, ultimately, more compelling still. And I’m confident this is precisely Catherine’s intent. As John Lennon sang: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
As a meditation on self-doubt, fear of failure, and the ever-present conditioning that says ‘that life is not for the likes of you’, Death of a Clown is essential reading for any writers (or creatives of any sort) who are prone to imposter syndrome and the devastating self-sabotage that can give rise to. It also vividly highlights the importance of ‘supporting characters’ and cheerleaders in our own lives.
I’ve mentioned Aickman and Campbell, but there is another writer whose influence can be felt here, and that is Catherine’s Welsh compatriot Arthur Machen, with mythical and folkloric elements scattered throughout, generally of the unnerving and not the whimsical variety.
Death of a Clown is a delight: moving, intelligent, romantic, funny, and the conclusion, like all great finales, is both inevitable and surprising. And I will absolutely be reading it again.
February 1, 2025
Let me start by saying I do not have enough superlatives to throw at this beautiful little book. And in reality it is really 5+*
I dived into this late Thursday and finished on Friday evening. That first evening of reading, I was smitten and didn't want to put this down but the previous night's insomnia caught up with me so stymied that. This early part of reading, however, was a delight as I was introduced to a gorgeously created world in the Clown Quarter: the concept of the Sacred Church of Razzmatazz, Mess instead of Mass and so many other aspects of the clown's world were brilliantly done. Nor was I let down on the next day's reading, the level of quality was maintained throughout.
Following the main character - the clown Chester Brown - on his journey of self-discovery, McCarthy deftly builds the subtle emotional links which tie you to the man and his progress so that you both laugh and weep with him. Indeed, the traditional pathos of the tragic clown is perfectly reflected in her words. Interspersed with this journey are the stories he writes, stories which have a fairy tale feel and which appear as the sense of his true self grows and his perceived self fades.
For me, Chester Brown's journey is a metaphor, one of being trapped by the expectations and prejudices of others and the struggle to find the 'real' self. Words, clothes, behaviour, all the rules applying to these are thrown at Chester and he reacts against them. So much of this can even be reflected in our times, societal strictures which seem to be growing ever tighter - so many rules are directed at us, so many lists of words to use or not use, censorship of speech and of thought to an almost Orwellian degree.
Chester's tale is heartwarming, inspirational, and poignant. We should learn from Chester, throw off the shackles that others seek to impose and follow our hearts. Chester certainly has a big heart and he has won mine.
I dived into this late Thursday and finished on Friday evening. That first evening of reading, I was smitten and didn't want to put this down but the previous night's insomnia caught up with me so stymied that. This early part of reading, however, was a delight as I was introduced to a gorgeously created world in the Clown Quarter: the concept of the Sacred Church of Razzmatazz, Mess instead of Mass and so many other aspects of the clown's world were brilliantly done. Nor was I let down on the next day's reading, the level of quality was maintained throughout.
Following the main character - the clown Chester Brown - on his journey of self-discovery, McCarthy deftly builds the subtle emotional links which tie you to the man and his progress so that you both laugh and weep with him. Indeed, the traditional pathos of the tragic clown is perfectly reflected in her words. Interspersed with this journey are the stories he writes, stories which have a fairy tale feel and which appear as the sense of his true self grows and his perceived self fades.
For me, Chester Brown's journey is a metaphor, one of being trapped by the expectations and prejudices of others and the struggle to find the 'real' self. Words, clothes, behaviour, all the rules applying to these are thrown at Chester and he reacts against them. So much of this can even be reflected in our times, societal strictures which seem to be growing ever tighter - so many rules are directed at us, so many lists of words to use or not use, censorship of speech and of thought to an almost Orwellian degree.
Chester's tale is heartwarming, inspirational, and poignant. We should learn from Chester, throw off the shackles that others seek to impose and follow our hearts. Chester certainly has a big heart and he has won mine.
April 30, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Catherine McCarthy's latest work, Death of a Clown, and I could not put it down. Already one of my favorite authors, McCarthy managed to raise the bar of her already substantial writing acumen and acclaim with this poignant, expertly written examination of identity. Instantly relatable, Death of a Clown serves as both mirror and allegory--reflection of our innermost selves and, perhaps, a treatise on modern society, as well.
At the onset, our protagonist, Chester, seems mired in the throes of an identity crisis--one that, as a writer and just creative type in general, I can relate to all too well. The story that ensues is truly like a well-crafted cocktail or Michelin star meal, composed of a variety of thought-provoking elements and genres. There is critical self-analysis, philosophical musings on both the psyche and our places in the world, a healthy dose of magical realism, and, at its core, a love story of sorts for, truly, the most challenging people we love will often be ourselves.
How we identify ourselves, and with whom, is a topic that I have grappled with throughout my life. Our earliest environments shape us indelibly, and we are who we are both thanks to and because of our upbringings. We carry those specters of the past forward into the future, and they can prove either to be a boon or a burden--oftentimes both; no one knows that better than the focus of our tale, Chester.
Perhaps my favorite pair of lines in the book, these sum up not merely the thrust of the plot, but the source of strife for so many among us; they speak, too, to McCarthy's inimitable writing style and her ability to touch our souls in only a few sentences.
"How long does it take to rid oneself of one's past? he wonders. How far does one need to venture before the burden is eradicated for good?"
Five stars, and yet another smash in the author's ever-growing bibliography. A must-read!
At the onset, our protagonist, Chester, seems mired in the throes of an identity crisis--one that, as a writer and just creative type in general, I can relate to all too well. The story that ensues is truly like a well-crafted cocktail or Michelin star meal, composed of a variety of thought-provoking elements and genres. There is critical self-analysis, philosophical musings on both the psyche and our places in the world, a healthy dose of magical realism, and, at its core, a love story of sorts for, truly, the most challenging people we love will often be ourselves.
How we identify ourselves, and with whom, is a topic that I have grappled with throughout my life. Our earliest environments shape us indelibly, and we are who we are both thanks to and because of our upbringings. We carry those specters of the past forward into the future, and they can prove either to be a boon or a burden--oftentimes both; no one knows that better than the focus of our tale, Chester.
Perhaps my favorite pair of lines in the book, these sum up not merely the thrust of the plot, but the source of strife for so many among us; they speak, too, to McCarthy's inimitable writing style and her ability to touch our souls in only a few sentences.
"How long does it take to rid oneself of one's past? he wonders. How far does one need to venture before the burden is eradicated for good?"
Five stars, and yet another smash in the author's ever-growing bibliography. A must-read!
May 2, 2025
I was immediately immersed in the story of Chester, from the moment I met him hanging upside down to amuse an audience to the satisfying ending.
Chester has been brought up as a clown, sent to clown school and of course clown church (the church of Razzamatazz). He spends every day performing as a tragi-clown for a meagre salary. It’s his destiny. Or so he’s told. One day his eyes are opened to the emptiness and foolishness of his life. When he finds a mysterious book which tells him to follow the author, Geppetto, to Florence, he leaves his old life and sets forth on a magical adventure.
Chester is a charming character. He sets out on his travels with only his savings and a destination in mind. He is also acutely conscious of his bulbous nose and huge feet, the trademarks of the clown. I loved this idea, that the longer Chester performed as a clown the more he came to resemble one. It’s a touch of horror, perhaps. but one that holds an element of truth – so often our lives are written on our faces. Chester is self-conscious and shy, humble and endearing, as well as a talented writer. I love the excerpts of his stories that are included in the text.
Death of A Clown is layered and open to differing interpretations. I would call it a tribute to those who refuse to let society define them and an inspiration to those who try to live up to other people’s expectations, rather than being true to themselves. Most of all, I would say it is an encouragement to people to cast aside self-doubt and forge their own path in search of happiness.
Chester has been brought up as a clown, sent to clown school and of course clown church (the church of Razzamatazz). He spends every day performing as a tragi-clown for a meagre salary. It’s his destiny. Or so he’s told. One day his eyes are opened to the emptiness and foolishness of his life. When he finds a mysterious book which tells him to follow the author, Geppetto, to Florence, he leaves his old life and sets forth on a magical adventure.
Chester is a charming character. He sets out on his travels with only his savings and a destination in mind. He is also acutely conscious of his bulbous nose and huge feet, the trademarks of the clown. I loved this idea, that the longer Chester performed as a clown the more he came to resemble one. It’s a touch of horror, perhaps. but one that holds an element of truth – so often our lives are written on our faces. Chester is self-conscious and shy, humble and endearing, as well as a talented writer. I love the excerpts of his stories that are included in the text.
Death of A Clown is layered and open to differing interpretations. I would call it a tribute to those who refuse to let society define them and an inspiration to those who try to live up to other people’s expectations, rather than being true to themselves. Most of all, I would say it is an encouragement to people to cast aside self-doubt and forge their own path in search of happiness.
August 21, 2025
Part fairy tale, part fable, and part philosophical exploration, "Death of a Clown" constructs a detailed and convincing view into a world very similar to our own, with a few noteworthy exceptions. Chief among these is the idea that clowns are "born to be" what they are, with actual red bulbous noses and enormous feet, size 20 for example. This is common enough in the world's instance of London that an entire quarter of the city is dedicated to the clowns and their culture, which includes a religion centered around "the clown god," the apparent originator of their kind.
Born into this world is Chester Brown, a clown of some renown, who has made the cut, having graduated from "clown school" and held a job as a performer for almost twenty years since the age of 10. Chester has never fit in, aspiring to be something more than what he is and inwardly railing against the limitations and constraints of clown society until he has an epiphany in the middle of a performance, which is where the story begins.
I hesitate to say much more as any additional thoughts and comments I have about the tale risk spoiling the joy of experiencing it for oneself but I will say that I found "Death of a Clown" to be a very engrossing, satisfying, and thought-provoking read, with a variety of clever and expertly-delivered narrative techniques that only reinforced my already-high opinion of Catherine McCarthy's abilities as a writer and storyteller. If you're a fan of speculative fiction that's simultaneously fanciful and poignant, this is a book you should absolutely read.
Born into this world is Chester Brown, a clown of some renown, who has made the cut, having graduated from "clown school" and held a job as a performer for almost twenty years since the age of 10. Chester has never fit in, aspiring to be something more than what he is and inwardly railing against the limitations and constraints of clown society until he has an epiphany in the middle of a performance, which is where the story begins.
I hesitate to say much more as any additional thoughts and comments I have about the tale risk spoiling the joy of experiencing it for oneself but I will say that I found "Death of a Clown" to be a very engrossing, satisfying, and thought-provoking read, with a variety of clever and expertly-delivered narrative techniques that only reinforced my already-high opinion of Catherine McCarthy's abilities as a writer and storyteller. If you're a fan of speculative fiction that's simultaneously fanciful and poignant, this is a book you should absolutely read.
March 17, 2025
'A metaphorical tale of dark fantasy, a story of hope, courage and self acceptance.'
Chester was born into the circus, into the life of a clown, but his public persona of tragi-comedy is not one that sits well with him. What he really wants to do is change his entire life. See the world, concentrate on his main passion - his writing. As we join him in this unusual tale, circumstances have given him the impetus to begin his adventure.
This is such a beautiful book, in so many ways. I always read on Kindle, preferring it, but I wanted to hold this in my hands. The writing itself is so emotive and atmospheric, bringing the cities and theatres to life; it's the best I've seen from this author. Chester himself is a total darling, someone you badly want to find happiness.
Interspersed with the events of his own life are the stories he writes under his pen-name of Runo Quill. These are often metaphors for his own life, though one, The City of Silence, was more like a warning from fiction about the threats to free speech we experience in our own world. I love clever deviations from the main theme of a novel, especially when, like these, they give you the feeling of delving down intriguing side alleys before resuming your journey.
Death of a Clown will be released on May 27th - I highly recommend! I was given an ARC by the author, at my own request.
Chester was born into the circus, into the life of a clown, but his public persona of tragi-comedy is not one that sits well with him. What he really wants to do is change his entire life. See the world, concentrate on his main passion - his writing. As we join him in this unusual tale, circumstances have given him the impetus to begin his adventure.
This is such a beautiful book, in so many ways. I always read on Kindle, preferring it, but I wanted to hold this in my hands. The writing itself is so emotive and atmospheric, bringing the cities and theatres to life; it's the best I've seen from this author. Chester himself is a total darling, someone you badly want to find happiness.
Interspersed with the events of his own life are the stories he writes under his pen-name of Runo Quill. These are often metaphors for his own life, though one, The City of Silence, was more like a warning from fiction about the threats to free speech we experience in our own world. I love clever deviations from the main theme of a novel, especially when, like these, they give you the feeling of delving down intriguing side alleys before resuming your journey.
Death of a Clown will be released on May 27th - I highly recommend! I was given an ARC by the author, at my own request.
July 12, 2025
Wow! This one really took me by surprise from the worldbuilding to the story structure to the unexpected twists and turns. Hard to categorize the genre exactly—definitely a quiet character study but with fantastical and mystery elements added in such imaginative ways. Chester Brown is born into basically a cult of clowndom, which leaves him seemingly no choice but to follow in his family's comically-oversized footsteps. Dreaming of a much different life, Chester plunges into a strange pilgrimage across Europe, following clues left in a mysterious journal. Along the way, he will make unexpected friends, explore new places, and practice his preferred craft of writing.
Interspersed throughout the book are Chester's stories, so charming and engaging in their own right that I'd be eager to read an entire collection of just these little gems. Sometimes you get the feeling an author was having the time of their life writing a book. The playfulness of the form, setting, and subverting of expectations here makes me think this was perhaps as enjoyable to write as it was to read. Chester is a character that will stick with me for a long time and the larger metaphors at work here for how we all struggle to find our paths in life are really quite lovely. Highly recommended for fans of the offbeat and weird with a very human and relatable heart at the center of it all.
Interspersed throughout the book are Chester's stories, so charming and engaging in their own right that I'd be eager to read an entire collection of just these little gems. Sometimes you get the feeling an author was having the time of their life writing a book. The playfulness of the form, setting, and subverting of expectations here makes me think this was perhaps as enjoyable to write as it was to read. Chester is a character that will stick with me for a long time and the larger metaphors at work here for how we all struggle to find our paths in life are really quite lovely. Highly recommended for fans of the offbeat and weird with a very human and relatable heart at the center of it all.
July 3, 2025
Catherine knows how to spin tales we all want to read. Never a dull moment. I loved following Chester around as he discovered himself and who he was meant to be. I did figure out pretty quickly what was really happening, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment at all, in fact, it drove me to keep going. I also enjoyed the little stories within the story that Chester wrote in his journal. This story puts on display how self-doubt and lack of confidence can morph our own expectations and even our own image of ourselves. Many times in my own life I have felt different, still do, but now see who I really am and was meant to be, just as Chester comes to do. The message in this story is important, and I really felt a kinship with Chester the whole way. This is a story for everyone, yes, but I dare you to tell me there isn't a special nod to all writers who question themselves at every turn. This story takes you on a journey, both personally and in the imagination. Highly recommend! Make a pot of tea and dive into this scrumptious tale and let it warm your heart.
August 19, 2025
I felt this beautiful book profoundly.
Chester's frustration is very relatable to me, and many who undergo some kind of awakening at a point in their lives will take a lot of comfort from this.
Catherine's writing is so elegant and sincere. I loved her caring and sensitive approach to our hero, and it was a artistic stroke of brilliance for Chester to reveal so much of himself through his own short stories.
It was a joy to see the wonder with Chester as he leaves the Clown quarter, shedding so much of what had been imposed upon him as he travels further afield.
I adore this book, and it means a lot to me. It carries so much depth and metaphor, like so many great tales of the past.
Death Of A Clown is a fairytale for adults with emotional depth, and such a very refreshing read in an age in which we are bombarded with vaccuous, style over substance products.
Bravo Chester, and bravo Catherine.
Chester's frustration is very relatable to me, and many who undergo some kind of awakening at a point in their lives will take a lot of comfort from this.
Catherine's writing is so elegant and sincere. I loved her caring and sensitive approach to our hero, and it was a artistic stroke of brilliance for Chester to reveal so much of himself through his own short stories.
It was a joy to see the wonder with Chester as he leaves the Clown quarter, shedding so much of what had been imposed upon him as he travels further afield.
I adore this book, and it means a lot to me. It carries so much depth and metaphor, like so many great tales of the past.
Death Of A Clown is a fairytale for adults with emotional depth, and such a very refreshing read in an age in which we are bombarded with vaccuous, style over substance products.
Bravo Chester, and bravo Catherine.
November 3, 2025
Death Of A Clown, by Catherine McCarthy, is a very special book. It's the story of Chester Brown who was born into the life of a clown. It's all he knows. One day he decides that he wants more out of life, so he sets out to find his way in a world that is unfamiliar to him; a world, it seems, that was just waiting for him. This story hit very close to home for me. Chester sees himself very differently than others see him. All he sees are big feet, a bulbous nose, and other physical quirks that are attributed to clowns. He comes to realise that his view of himself, outside and inside, isn't accurate at all. This is a story of self-discovery and hope. It will fill your heart with sadness, and ultimately, joy. The writing is wonderful. Of course it is...it's Catherine. I was sent an eARC by the author, but I loved the book so much that I had to get a physical copy for myself. I will definitely be reading it again, and it's also definitely a best-of-the-year book.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
May 29, 2025
I am a fan of Catherine McCarthy's horror adjacent fiction. This dark fairy tale was a wonderful departure, though threads of existential suffering do persist. Chester Brown's story takes place in a fictionalized version of Europe, London to begin, where kinds of people are divided into sects. Chester is a clown, but there are also magicians and so on. Early in the story, we understand Chester feels the pull of a different calling, and a mysterious text leads him away from what is comfortable to what is unknown but undeniable. Leaving London, Chester fears the reactions of the public to his cauliflower-nose and too big feet. He settles in Italy to find the author of the text, but ultimately that was not the question he needed answered. I'll avoid spoiling it, but this was a gorgeous, one-sitting read that felt like a literary hug.
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