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Last Laugh
What's scarier than a collection of clown dolls in a secret locked room?
How about... those clown dolls coming to life. And hunting you down.
How about... those clown dolls coming to life. And hunting you down.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2024
67 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Alexander
39 books116 followersK.R. Alexander was raised in the holler and filled out on katydids, moonbeams, and a few good yarns. She's an animal rescuer, dedicated reader, and (wannabe) world traveler.
Now she writes paranormal reverse harem romance with rich characters, multi-layered relationships, and engaging stories you'll never forget.
If you're anything like her, one taste of RH and you'll never want to go back to traditional romance!
Now she writes paranormal reverse harem romance with rich characters, multi-layered relationships, and engaging stories you'll never forget.
If you're anything like her, one taste of RH and you'll never want to go back to traditional romance!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 18, 2024
I've never liked horror. The last horror movie I saw was in college and I've never looked back. But I do like spooky, atmospheric, suspenseful, and a little frisson of fear. For that reason, I think middle grade horror is the sweet spot for me. It's genuinely spooky (there are spooky clowns on most pages of this book) but is generally not gory and I'm not worried about people getting eviscerated on screen/page. This was the fun kind of scary. It did give me a few unsettled dreams when I started it right before bed, but in a way that was enjoyable, and not terrifying, for me. I liked the siblings in this and I think the cover will be an easy sell for all kids who are into horror. I will absolutely be bringing it on school visits.
Also, I can see why horror is so often suggested to and liked by reluctant readers--it is short and it moves. The pacing in this is on point, there's lots of plot happening and also lots of characterization and suspenseful writing, and it's 164 pages. Authors/publishers: more short books for middle grade readers, please! I've been reading some children's classics lately and it's interesting how short they are while still managing to pack in great characters and plots. I think the success of the later Harry Potter books taught us that long books for children could be successful, but they don't all have to be long! Give me a banger in under 200 pages--it's possible! This book proves it!
Give this to kids who are intrigued by It but too young for it or adults who are too sensitive for adult horror but want some chills in their lives.
Also, I can see why horror is so often suggested to and liked by reluctant readers--it is short and it moves. The pacing in this is on point, there's lots of plot happening and also lots of characterization and suspenseful writing, and it's 164 pages. Authors/publishers: more short books for middle grade readers, please! I've been reading some children's classics lately and it's interesting how short they are while still managing to pack in great characters and plots. I think the success of the later Harry Potter books taught us that long books for children could be successful, but they don't all have to be long! Give me a banger in under 200 pages--it's possible! This book proves it!
Give this to kids who are intrigued by It but too young for it or adults who are too sensitive for adult horror but want some chills in their lives.
December 27, 2023
It was ok but there are better books from the author.
February 22, 2025
Grandma's dark house is full of cats and very strange artefacts. When their big sister Sarah leaves Victor and Genevieve there alone, what else would they do but break Grandma's biggest rule? They enter her bedroom and move one of her myriad clown dolls to a different room. What starts out as revenge to scare Sarah turns into a nightmare for Victor. Are the clowns alive? If they aren't, why do they keep appearing all over the neighborhood? A quirky, disconcerting middle-grade novel for those who like things that go bump in the night.
October 20, 2024
If I were a child I would also be scared to know that it’s my fault my grandma will die lol
Me gustó, especially para niños pero habían partes de suspenso muy cool, para niños está perfecto. No sería memorable para mi pero meh, no soy the target audience
Me gustó, especially para niños pero habían partes de suspenso muy cool, para niños está perfecto. No sería memorable para mi pero meh, no soy the target audience
July 1, 2024
It’s really not a scary book if you’re scared to read it. But it sometimes gets a little to boring. Like it’s not a book you’re addicted to. But if you like more thriller/ mystery books I would recommend it. It’s one of the best KR Alexander books so if your a fan of him I would definitely recommend.
August 7, 2024
This book was writiin in a very good way! It was hooking form the star all the way to the end! It was not that scary but it was still really good. It may scare little kids because at the very end it talks about how a scary clown doll comes to life. This is book is good for kids 9+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
I thought about rounding this one up to four and a half stars.
Victor lives with his parents and his older sister Sarah and younger sister Genevieve. When his grandmother needs to travel out of town, the children's mother has them stay at their grandmother's house to watch her three cats. The grandmother was a world traveler, and her house is packed with objects she has collected, and there are a good number of dolls, which Victor finds a bit creepy. High school aged Sarah isn't happy, and decides to go out with friends, leaving Victor and Genevieve alone. To get back at her, Victor breaks his grandmother's rules and goes into her bedroom, where he finds an immense collection of clown figurines. He takes one and tucks it under the covers of the bed where Sarah will sleep, since she is terrified of clowns. When Sarah comes home, she finds her clothes in the sink, covered with ketchup, and feels that it is Victor's way of getting back at her for leaving. The only problem, Victor didn't do it. And the clown is gone. Once the children return home, Victor starts being stalked by clown figurines and dolls that no one else can see. He eventually confides in his sisters and his best friend. They believe him, but there's little they can do. I don't want to say much more and spoil the plot, but Victor has to battle the clowns to save his grandmother, who becomes ill because they are on the rampage, and who holds the key to why they are all evil!
Strengths: Well, I didn't have coulrophobia before, but there's nothing like a clown doll menacing characters with a steak knife to instill a little bit of fear! There's just enough family drama in this to root it to reality, and I loved that the siblings are fighting together. The grandmother's backstory with the clowns is a nice twist, and makes sense. It doesn't hurt that we end on a bit of a cliffhanger; the story's not over, not that there will be a sequel. This makes it extra creepy. It's good to see that Victor has a good friend (don't have the book E ARC with me; I think it began with a G. Gavin or Garrett), and they are not only able to work together, but the clowns target him because of their friendship. The epic clown battle is great. Students who think they want to read Stephen King's It will definitely pick this up, as will Alexander's loyal followers.
Weaknesses: Alexander writes a LOT of books, and they're really good, but they aren't perfect. My weaknesses are minor: this got a bit repetitive, the clowns weren't doing much actual damage, and the fight was a little shorter than it could have been. I loved the grandmother's story, and that could have been better developed; we don't really find out about her involvement until everything is over, and it would have been cool to see her help with the fighting instead of having her be passed out in a hospital bed. Again, none of this will stop my students from devouring this title.
What I really think: Are there many middle grade books about creepy clowns? R.L. Stine's Nightmare on Clown Street is the only one I can recall, although Arden's Small Spaces gave me that vibe. Is it that clowns are TOO SCARY for middle school? This is a possibility. At any rate, I will purchase three copies... to start. There may need to be more. Over the summer, all of this author's books came back, and there wasn't enough room on the shelf for them because they are usually all checked out.
I thought about rounding this one up to four and a half stars.
Victor lives with his parents and his older sister Sarah and younger sister Genevieve. When his grandmother needs to travel out of town, the children's mother has them stay at their grandmother's house to watch her three cats. The grandmother was a world traveler, and her house is packed with objects she has collected, and there are a good number of dolls, which Victor finds a bit creepy. High school aged Sarah isn't happy, and decides to go out with friends, leaving Victor and Genevieve alone. To get back at her, Victor breaks his grandmother's rules and goes into her bedroom, where he finds an immense collection of clown figurines. He takes one and tucks it under the covers of the bed where Sarah will sleep, since she is terrified of clowns. When Sarah comes home, she finds her clothes in the sink, covered with ketchup, and feels that it is Victor's way of getting back at her for leaving. The only problem, Victor didn't do it. And the clown is gone. Once the children return home, Victor starts being stalked by clown figurines and dolls that no one else can see. He eventually confides in his sisters and his best friend. They believe him, but there's little they can do. I don't want to say much more and spoil the plot, but Victor has to battle the clowns to save his grandmother, who becomes ill because they are on the rampage, and who holds the key to why they are all evil!
Strengths: Well, I didn't have coulrophobia before, but there's nothing like a clown doll menacing characters with a steak knife to instill a little bit of fear! There's just enough family drama in this to root it to reality, and I loved that the siblings are fighting together. The grandmother's backstory with the clowns is a nice twist, and makes sense. It doesn't hurt that we end on a bit of a cliffhanger; the story's not over, not that there will be a sequel. This makes it extra creepy. It's good to see that Victor has a good friend (don't have the book E ARC with me; I think it began with a G. Gavin or Garrett), and they are not only able to work together, but the clowns target him because of their friendship. The epic clown battle is great. Students who think they want to read Stephen King's It will definitely pick this up, as will Alexander's loyal followers.
Weaknesses: Alexander writes a LOT of books, and they're really good, but they aren't perfect. My weaknesses are minor: this got a bit repetitive, the clowns weren't doing much actual damage, and the fight was a little shorter than it could have been. I loved the grandmother's story, and that could have been better developed; we don't really find out about her involvement until everything is over, and it would have been cool to see her help with the fighting instead of having her be passed out in a hospital bed. Again, none of this will stop my students from devouring this title.
What I really think: Are there many middle grade books about creepy clowns? R.L. Stine's Nightmare on Clown Street is the only one I can recall, although Arden's Small Spaces gave me that vibe. Is it that clowns are TOO SCARY for middle school? This is a possibility. At any rate, I will purchase three copies... to start. There may need to be more. Over the summer, all of this author's books came back, and there wasn't enough room on the shelf for them because they are usually all checked out.
Read
October 30, 2024 If you like reading suspenseful books, then Last Laugh by K.R. Alexander will be a spooktacular book to read. This book is all about frequent frights and possessed clown dolls.
This book is about a kid named Victor who has to cat sit his grandma’s cats with his sisters, Sarah and Genevieve, while their grandma is out of town. They all had to follow the three rules; don’t touch anything, don’t stay up too late and, finally, don't go into her bedroom. But Victor being Victor, wanted to scare his older sister, like any sibling would, and what happens next is indescribable. He decides to take one of grandma's clown dolls and hide it to scare Sarah. But it wasn’t long before questionable things started to happen. The cats start acting very strange, knocking things over and running rampant. Victor can tell something isn’t right, especially when he starts hearing voices and loud sounds. Victor then starts to think the dolls are following him. Victor’s grandma gets deathly sick and is taken to the hospital. Gareth spends the night at Victor’s house and gets deathly sick the next day. Victor then goes to school and finds something sinister in his locker and that’s when things take a turn for the worst.
Last Laugh is a fantastic thriller for those who like horror and suspense. The author has an astonishing writing style and way to express fear through just the style of the text. The sibling rivalry is very relatable to any person with siblings. In the end you find out grandma’s involvement and I think it should have been left in clues throughout the book. I think the grandma could have been doing something other than being laid up in the hospital the whole time.
All in all, I think Last Laugh by K.R. Alexander is a fantastic book! It’s not very long so I read it pretty fast but it kept me interested and wondering what was going to happen next.
This book is about a kid named Victor who has to cat sit his grandma’s cats with his sisters, Sarah and Genevieve, while their grandma is out of town. They all had to follow the three rules; don’t touch anything, don’t stay up too late and, finally, don't go into her bedroom. But Victor being Victor, wanted to scare his older sister, like any sibling would, and what happens next is indescribable. He decides to take one of grandma's clown dolls and hide it to scare Sarah. But it wasn’t long before questionable things started to happen. The cats start acting very strange, knocking things over and running rampant. Victor can tell something isn’t right, especially when he starts hearing voices and loud sounds. Victor then starts to think the dolls are following him. Victor’s grandma gets deathly sick and is taken to the hospital. Gareth spends the night at Victor’s house and gets deathly sick the next day. Victor then goes to school and finds something sinister in his locker and that’s when things take a turn for the worst.
Last Laugh is a fantastic thriller for those who like horror and suspense. The author has an astonishing writing style and way to express fear through just the style of the text. The sibling rivalry is very relatable to any person with siblings. In the end you find out grandma’s involvement and I think it should have been left in clues throughout the book. I think the grandma could have been doing something other than being laid up in the hospital the whole time.
All in all, I think Last Laugh by K.R. Alexander is a fantastic book! It’s not very long so I read it pretty fast but it kept me interested and wondering what was going to happen next.
October 10, 2025
Last Laugh has the vibe of a kid-friendly version of The Twilight Zone, and it captures the same essence that made R.L. Stine's Goosebumps a staple of childhood horror. There’s enough depth to the young characters to keep readers engaged, even if some of the dialogue feels a tad forced, as if an adult were attempting to channel the inner voice of a child. At times, the kids seem a bit older than their years, but hey—this is fiction, not a documentary. We can suspend our disbelief for a little while, can’t we?
Overall, this book is a charming romp through the eerie halls of child-centric horror, proving that yes, a kid-lit horror tale can absolutely have its cute moments. Maybe it’s the twisted innocence of it all, or perhaps it’s just the thrill of fear wrapped in a delightful package. Either way, I found it a surprisingly cute read, and in the world of horror, that’s a remarkable feat. ╌★★★★★
Find my full review at https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/....
Overall, this book is a charming romp through the eerie halls of child-centric horror, proving that yes, a kid-lit horror tale can absolutely have its cute moments. Maybe it’s the twisted innocence of it all, or perhaps it’s just the thrill of fear wrapped in a delightful package. Either way, I found it a surprisingly cute read, and in the world of horror, that’s a remarkable feat. ╌★★★★★
Find my full review at https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/....
February 11, 2024
It was a really good book. But it stayed on the same topic for so long and that's why I had to boot it down to three stars. Pretty good book overall and I loved how the fear of Sarah got mentioned in the entire book and how everyone was like trying to help but like some kind of failed if you know what I'm talking about. Yeah pretty good book but I would say I like gallowgate better than this book so yeah that's what I got to say about it.
December 20, 2024
This book was kind of a meh for me. It was good in some parts, and bad in other parts. I like the cover art with the clown in bed. The story was kind of confusing at the start. But farther into the book, I understanded the story more. I like the idea of the monster being able to possess people like he did to that one kid. And I really liked the boss fight at the end. It was honestly my favorite scene of the book. Also, were there those weird ass things in his locker?
July 9, 2025
A clown phobia or known as Coulrophobia, affects 42% of people in America both in kids and adults. Sure not all clowns are bad but there is several that are. Namely "IT" and "Pennywise" are famous for their interesting choice of work. This book was chilling yet enjoyable because I don't have a clown in the house or in a mile radius of me. Alexander knows how to leave a lasting impression in her books long after they are read ♥
April 11, 2024
This book brought me back to my elementary days when I loved buying these kind of books from the book fair . I bought this at my son's book fair and I liked it . I've also never been scared of clowns , I had collected clowns since I was super little , so I also owned hundreds of clowns myself at one point . Love these little books that bring back memories
January 26, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4. It's so easy to devour one of KR Alexander's books. This isn't one of my favorite of his, possibly because I'm just not scared of clowns/dolls, but it was still entertaining, had a great creep factor, suspense and action. And, OMG, that cover is to die for! I don't have a doubt that our middle school students will snatch up this one, just like they do all his other books!
May 1, 2024
For a young adult read this was good. Reminds me of goosebumps. Not alot of background detail and side conversation just straight to the point. My 10 year old daughter wanted me to read this after she bought it from the book fair because I'm afraid of clowns. Was a good book for what it is.
May 16, 2024
Book 86 of #goodreadschallenge2024
My 11yo daughter wanted to read this so I figured I might as well, too. I don't particularly hate clowns, but I don't necessarily like them, either. But I can tell you I 💯 don't want clown dolls coming to life. This was a fun (and creepy) read.
My 11yo daughter wanted to read this so I figured I might as well, too. I don't particularly hate clowns, but I don't necessarily like them, either. But I can tell you I 💯 don't want clown dolls coming to life. This was a fun (and creepy) read.
May 16, 2024
One of my students was excited to share her book with me. If you’re already afraid of clowns, this one will probably give you the shivers. If you aren’t spooked by clowns, you might think differently about them once you’ve been introduced to the idea of Mordeth. (Cue the creepy music.)
June 4, 2024
I saw this book on the shelf at Walmart and the cover drew me in. Even though it is labeled for middle school age it was actually a good read. It was a fun short read that had simplicity but keeps your interest.
June 25, 2024
I love this book but one thing that I don’t really like is that they kept repeating that Sarah’s fear is about clown.But I like how in the end there was a part that told us about how Sarah conquered her fear.
October 27, 2024
Book:
LAST LAUGH by K.R. Alexander
Review:
3.5⭐
LAST LAUGH is a quick, thrilling read. Though this is marketed toward younger readers, I found the haunted, cursed clowns terrifying and perfect for Halloween.
LAST LAUGH by K.R. Alexander
Review:
3.5⭐
LAST LAUGH is a quick, thrilling read. Though this is marketed toward younger readers, I found the haunted, cursed clowns terrifying and perfect for Halloween.
January 2, 2025
Not a bad book! Very easy read. Could have done without it being a creepy clown book though! The ending was surprising to me wasn’t expecting that at all. But if you like middle aged horror this is a book for you!:)
March 5, 2025
This was a really good read. I was interested in the story the whole time, invested in the characters, and eager the whole time for the nightmare to end. Definitely a really well written scary book for kids.
May 26, 2025
Cute book with enough creepy parts to freak out a 3rd grader 🙂I was shocked by the ending, since most try to give “reasonable” explanations for the scary stuff, but not this one! They kept the paranormal through to the very end.
November 13, 2025
Honestly I thought the book and the idea was great and it was really good until the end the ending really dissapointed me and the grandma being a witch is kinda off the storyline I wish it was just different
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2024
The book was great, however it felt really dragged out. This would’ve been a nice short story!
March 14, 2024
I liked it a lot my friend was terrified by the book cover!!
March 15, 2024
Nighty night..... sleep tight..... don't let the clown bite.....
March 18, 2024
An entertaining and suspenseful read with my 10 year old. By the end of the book, we had the whole family gathered around listening. Might be too scary for some kids.
March 22, 2024
The clowns in grandma’s bedroom were really creepy and I didn’t like that.
April 5, 2024
Quick read it was very enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews