Do Not Disturb

Night of the Killer Clowns #1

by Jon Athan

On their way to Las Vegas for a pair of bachelor’s and bachelorette's parties, Colton and Lacey run into some car trouble. They find shelter at Motel Ace, located in Middle-of-Nowhere, Nevada. They’re welcomed by a quiet clerk and they meet a cast of interesting travelers. They expect a quiet, romantic night at a dingy motel as they wait for the mechanic. Then they hear the screaming in the other rooms. Then they see the clowns outside. And those violent, deformed clowns want to come into their room to play…In the blink of an eye, a peaceful night transforms into a battle for survival and a motel becomes a bloody battleground.Jon Athan, the author of Cannibal Jungle and The Law of Retaliation, returns to his roots with this gruesome, suspenseful slasher novel inspired by the 2016 clown sightings. A ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign can’t keep these clowns away! This novel contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: Horror, Splatterpunk, Fiction, Ebooks, Thriller, Horror Thriller, Audiobook

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2020

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I remember how crazy this got with all those bozos (Pun intended), running around in clown costumes acting crazy. And I, being one of the biggest killer klown advocates of this generation, thought it sullied the good name of hard working clowns out there. Even the nice ones that come from sewers in Derry, Maine, or from space in carnival-like spaceships, were all given the wrong attention. Needless to say, one of those dopes got pistol whipped and wouldn't ya know it...the clown sightings stopped. So Jon Athan picked a really great concept to work with. However, much like his other books, I feel like he chose gore over substance. We had Lacey and Colton, who were the token young couple, get pulled into a siege of psycho clowns killing everyone in this little motel in the middle of nowhere. There were other characters, half of which were given bare bones introductions and were just used as placeholders in kill scenes. So 95% of the story alternates between kill scenes and our main characters, and got very repetitive. The gore is magnificent, but a strong majority of it felt like it was forced and way more elaborate than it needed to be. The clowns have no basis to what they're doing, and there were hints of something larger going on beyond this story, but it was never explored. And even with Colton and Lacey showing the reader how deep their connection was, with suggestions of a future marriage and Colton saying he would prove himself to his girlfriend amounted to nothing. Much like the clown attacks, none of it went anywhere and could have made a huge shift in the quality of the book. So we end the story with one survivor and everything just felt abruptly concluded with no reasoning or purpose. This wasn't a terrible book by any means, but it had a lot of flaws. I would highly recommend Judith Sonnet's Clown Hunt for a much better story centered around this real life phenomenon.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was intense, very gory and as a slasher it was a very good one. But to me I wanted more of a story from it than just gore. But it was definitely readable and extreme.

[Tara Losacano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this and it was so fucking badass!! I think this one just took the spot for my favorite Jon Athan book.. it was just pure murderous mayhem, brutal kills, and just an awesome setting out in a desert motel. Two severed thumbs up and 5/5 clown skulls 💀

[John The Crippledgimp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well holy fucking violence.....What can I say about this book it's a straight up brutal gory violent slasher and it's all about the killing man. This books was like a slasher film started violent and just mashed down the gas pedal till the intense ending. I'm looking forward to reading part 2 when it's released. If you want kills this one should do it. Awesome read

[Jon Von · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Without the gore, it was a fun, unpredictable clown slasher with tons of action and a good sense of escalation. The second half I pretty much read all at once and was pretty much a blast. But then, there’s the gore. You know, I get that it’s a selling point and there’s a lot I liked about it. After the first kill I was like, wow I don’t know how it can get more brutal than that. Turns out, that was a very stupid thing to think. The whole sequences with the tourists, the family, and Monique, I get that the author is just delivering the goods here. Just super f-cking gory, unimaginable, genital and eyeball mutilation. I also liked that he gave a lot of specific medical detail, that’s the kind of touch that really sells it to me, the weird little bones and specific organs being traumatized. He really puts in an effort. But it’s too much. There’s some sexual violence that even the author, in the afterward, was like, maybe that was too far. It’s wild. I get that that’s the point, but for the casual reader it crosses the line from indulgent to repellent. But then, I dunno, I liked the story. The characters were well realized, it had interesting twists and turns. The idea of a massive network of cultists basically attacking America at once is compelling. And I liked how no one believes the heroes every time they used the word clown (until it was too late of course). For really extreme horror fans, I’d say this is a must-read and I’m actually looking forward to part 2, but I’d honestly have preferred a toned-down version. This is my second book by the author, and obviously he’s honed his talent over 30+ books, but I think maybe he should consider putting out some tamer action-driven horror novels that don’t rely so much on shock value. He’s got the talent, but maybe I don’t need a screaming clown eating a hookers rectum skin off a drill bit.

[Mique Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO FUCKING FUN!!!!! Slasher usually don’t work as books, but Jon Athan…. Idk how he does it, but reading his books feel like watching a movie. Every beat, every cut, the way his mounting tension builds to a crescendo of blood and guts (but doesn’t linger & overstay its welcome), is always just so fucking perfect! This is a fantastic start to a very promising trilogy.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

On their way to Vegas, Lacey and Colton get a flat tire while passing through the desert. Eventually, they reach a small town, and see the Motel Ace - with a vacancy sign. Unable to get a cell signal, and with all local phone lines down, they cannot get any help, and have no choice but to rent a room.
Later that night, the Motel Ace is overrun with psychotic killer clowns, going room to room and brutally murdering every occupant. Lacey and Colton hear the noises and rationalize it as being anything from domestic disputes to rowdy sex - when it reality, the clowns are making their way ever closer to their room.
Gaggles, Pumpkin, Blue and Puddin' are looking for a night of real "fun" and will stop at nothing to make sure there are no survivors.

[clumsyplankton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was so bad and the gore was crazy

[Kiera ☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 (rounded up for GoodReads)

After DNFing quite a few reads this month, I decided I needed to go back to my roots. I needed to read something mindlessly violent and fun. Killer Clowns at a Motel definitely fits that bill! I read 'Bad Appetites' by Athan earlier this year which I LOVED so I figured this read would be a safe bet.

This was incredibly brutal in the best way. It's been a while since I had to put a book down to breathe a bit in the middle of a violent scene. Athan did a really great job with the gore and brutality in this book and it definitely keeps you coming back for more. I think where it kind of lost me was its length. It would have been stronger for me with 50 or so less pages. The focus here is definitely the violence and so as a result it lacks a bit in story strength but not so horribly that it stops being enjoyable. Overall I still really enjoyed this read and plan to read the other two books to the series.

The Clowns were terrifying!! There is something about killer clowns that really ramps up my anxiety. Jon did a great job with the characters and their bloodlust. Truly horrifying scenes that will stick with me for a long time. Without spoiling anything I will warn that there is violence against a child so if you struggle with that just know it's coming. I didn't anticipate that and thought that scene was particularly hard to stomach. That being said, this is an extreme horror read and I go in to all these books anticipating to probably be triggered. Overall, really fun read!

[Jason Harlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was decent but unfortunately, my search for an extreme horror book that matches The Groomer still continues. The story follows Colton and Lacey, who are on the way to one of those weird dual bach party things. They spend the evening at a motel and end up being stalked by a group of clowns. Clowns in general are overdone and this didn't offer much outside of some insane gore. If you're reading this solely to get your 'extreme' horror fix, you may dig this, otherwise you may want to skip, since the story itself doesn't offer much. I give this a 3/5, but will hopefully have more fun when I finally get around to checking out Into the Wolves' Den.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yall remember back in 2016 when there were those random clown sightings?! Well....let's just be glad we didn't end up like these fine folks.

This book was a lot of...fun...? If I dare say that. Superfast-paced and gore packed book. The gore was ALOT to take in, and the clowns had my anxiety through the roof from beginning to end. I am ready to read book 2 and eagerly awaiting book 3s release!

If you like slashers and don't suffer from coulrophobia, I highly recommend giving this book a peak

[Uptown Horror Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THAT......is how you write a goddamn slasher.

[CARLEEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE HITS DON'T STOP!

This killer clowns story was gory, sad and full of kill thrills; the door is ABSOLUTELY open for killer clown sequel, trilogy....hmmm

[MadameD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extreme Slasher!

Story 4/5
Narration 3/5

Do Not Disturb (Night of the Killer Clowns Book 1) by Jon Athan, is a good extreme slasher story.
These killer clowns are incredibly depraved and imaginative in the way they make the final moments of their victims excruciating, just for fun.
Lots of action and non-stop extravagant killing scenes.
I highly recommend it!

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many of horror books and I like to consider myself as a horror connoisseur. This book I was not ready for at all. I have never gasped and had so many outbursts as I’ve had while reading this book. This book this author takes it to a whole other level.

This book about a couple name Lacey and Colton they are traveling Nevada on their way to Vegas or so they thought. They experience car trouble and they have to stay the night at a motel in the middle of nowhere. (Insert creepy circus clown music) Then the clowns come they didn’t come from space these clowns came from hell. They decide that want to play so let the brutal, horrific, painful and graphic fun begins.

Besides the gruesome scenes that have scarred my soul. The true horror is your worst fears: 1. being in the middle of nowhere and 2. clowns. These two elements together conjures up many of nightmares. I highly recommend this book but proceed with caution.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to go the rest of my life without hearing the word “prolapse.”

This is brutal. If some of the dialogue didn’t sound so much like it came straight out of It: Chapter 1 & if one of the characters didn’t remind me so much of Harley Quinn, I would have liked this much more.

[Mounkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a ride ! This starts furious and keeps going! Very violent, awesome scenes. Athan does a great creative job with describing some of the terrible scenes. Story is a bit linear, not a ton of char development but is makes up for it with the clown actions.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of great violence. So much torture. That's a great thing, but I was hoping for a reason for the madness, or maybe more of a story. I tend to read mostly novellas, and I understand if a 100 page book is light on the story. But when it's a story of this length, I expect more than torture. Also, the characters were weak. For example, a police man scared to shoot a clown who just severed his Achilles tendon? A man defending his wife has a gun but is scared to shoot it? I don't buy it. Athan emphasized that it's not easy for a normal person to kill,but the characters didn't have to shoot to kill. They could have shot to immobilize their attacker. I also get it that if the people with guns would have taken out all the clowns that the story would have been over. A couple times, I wished for that because I honestly got a tad bored at the end

[Vaelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick, very disturbing and yet oddly satisfying read.
Definitely not the kind of horror book I'd read all the time (I prefer to have more substance to the characters) but recommended to fans of slashers and those who can handle over-the-top scenes and of course murderous clowns.

[Chelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just.. no. It wasn't the gore, it was the story, it just.. no.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slasher that is filled with lots of gore and violence. Starts off as a bloodbath, and dosen't let up. I've read maybe like 5 of his books and I've liked them all. The ending was intense.

[Samantha Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Do Not Disturb" by Jon Athan

💥Please proceed with caution in regards to this read, as it is an extreme slasher and NOT for the faint of heart💥

"He felt his heel cord slither up his leg."

Creepy clown sightings have been reported all across the country and quite a few of them were located in Nevada.

It just so happens that couple Lacey Holloway and Colton Curtis are driving through Nevada on their way to Vegas for a wedding their supposed to be in. When they find themselves stuck inside a dead zone with a flat tire, a RV catches their attention. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone inside. They make the life altering decision to drive slowly until they reach the next town but nothing could prepare them for what they'd find when they arrived.

Welcome to the Motel Ace; Blue and his friends are waiting for you to come play inside.

Enter the world of Jon Athan where anything and everything is possible. This read is extremely reminiscent of "The Purge" franchise but with its own unique Athan twist. This story is extremely brutal. I can't express that enough. While I consider Lacey and Colton to be the main character's, there are a lot of other characters as well that experience some serious terror, torture, and death. These killer clowns are ruthless and unrelenting.

Please, also read the authors note at the end of this read. Athan helps to explain why his presence since Covid has been limited and gives us some extra insight into his future plans. 5 🌟

[Sharon Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I love this author. You can always be sure of a great story with some good extreme, brutal and grotesque torture in there. This was no different. Full of blood and gore with great characters. I always know I'm going to have a good time reading when it comes to Mr Athan. His descriptions throughout the book has you envisioning it all as though you are there. Great story, great characters, well written, nail biting and full of extreme horror. What more can you ask for.

[Deacon D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of action of the torture porn variety and very little in the way of a story. I kept reading to see if a coherent story would appear, but no luck.

[Amy McDonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. Super gory and intense!

[shyra ❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

not me being in vegas as i read this but the killer clowns were clowning. 🤡🔪🩸

this is by far one of my favorite jon athan books and there’s no other author that writes detailed gore scenes the way he does.
this was such a lovely & brutal slasher in a dead zone at a sketchy motel.

i’ll never forget seeing the 2016 clown sightings all over social media when i was in middle school.
them running after me would give me a heart attack for sure.

if you have an intense fear of clowns or being chased after, steer clear of this book.

[Ashley Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was fucking brutal. I loved it. Not too much of a story with a plot or anything - just straight up slasher. Don't get me wrong, the story around it was built very well, but the slasher was all there was to it. But it was GOOD. It was fucking disgusting and made me wince out loud a few times lmao.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

JON ATHAN IS THE GOAT

This was the first novel I got by Jon Athan and I am just reading it now (after already reading 10 of his other novels). Damn… what a fantastic slasher.

I should be surprised anymore. This guy is the most consistent author out there and my personal favorite at this point. Never a dull book.

Do Not Disturb was one of those slashers that never stopped with the action and it looks like I’ll have to dive straight into the other books in the series!

[Dale Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Switch your brain off and strap yourself in! You're going to want to bleach your brain after this one.

You're not reading this book for the storyline or character background, you're reading this because you want a dose of blood and guts. And that's exactly what it gives you! Some of the most imaginative deaths i've read.

Why only 3 stars you may ask. It's nothing to do with the gratuitous amounts of blood - I can handle that. It was more the writing style, i just couldn't get to grips with it - a lot of the death scenes were overloaded with medical jargon (technical names for parts of the body that were getting abused) which wasnt in keeping with the rest of the book, there didnt need to be that exact info, it felt too forced. Multiple character view points left me a bit disorientated when they were used just for 1 sentence, then it bounced back to another character, then another.

Little things that probably don't bother others but anything that takes me out of a story, then yeah, it bothers me. Once or twice, i can forgive, but if it keeps happening then it bugs me.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not read if you are easily offended.
It's gruesome and gorey with f'ed up clowns running rampage. I've read things about a rubber chicken I can never unread.
However I did find one thing really annoying, which was the constant use of medical terms to explain injuries, having to stop every couple of minutes to Google what stuff means really took me out of the moment, but at least I can say I know what a glabella is now 🤷🏻‍♀️