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CLOWN

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During the day, he's a children's entertainer; a happy, go-lucky clown. By evening, he tortures the kids he hates. One man but two sides to his personality who - until now - had no idea the other existed...

271 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2014

33 people are currently reading
345 people want to read

About the author

Matt Shaw

529 books2,204 followers
Biography

MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.


Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.

Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.

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5 stars
81 (27%)
4 stars
98 (33%)
3 stars
77 (26%)
2 stars
21 (7%)
1 star
16 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Peter Topside.
Author 6 books1,462 followers
April 13, 2025
This was one of those books that I put off for a bit due to some of the lower reviews, but I really enjoyed it. Not sure if its my fascination with killer clowns and such, but I dug this joint a lot. As I’ve stated, I’ve seen almost every incarnation of killer clown from Killjoy to IT to John Wayne Gacy and beyond. Clowns can be creepy as hell, and most horror stories just have a random killer in a clown mask, or an evil entity that kills for food and/pleasure. But they all sort of blend together. Matt Shaw didn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel here, but he took the story away from the common tropes expected, and dove into a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde type of situation. While there is a fair amount of kills in the book, the violence is not extreme or excessive at all. Majority of the story is spent jumping between our main character’s very different and often combative mindsets. Sometimes they can work together, while other times it’s like watching two completely seperate people fighting each other. And the ending was exactly where it needed to be, with the final line making me laugh. But I had an expectedly great time here and recommend to all clown fanatics, coulrophobics, clown kinks, juggalos, etc. One warning to potential readers here is that several young children are killed, and while there is some description, nothing is drawn out.
Profile Image for Mort.
Author 3 books1,632 followers
April 10, 2020
I have this love/hate thing with the stories of Matt Shaw. While I am a fan and mostly sing his praises, he also wrote a story which pissed me off so much I wrote a very scolding review.

In this story, Shaw concentrates on the psychological aspect more than gore, and my personal opinion is that it is where his strength lies. He doesn't need to gross people out all the time to prove he has the darkest mind in horror. If you read his stories, you will see he has a fearless approach which makes his work truly shocking - something I can respect.

In this story, we have this whole FIGHT CLUB thing going - not story wise, don't misunderstand - with the main character who has multiple personality disorder.

Okay, I love me some abnormal psychology, it interests me greatly, but I think that people who are looking for cheap and gory thrills will hate this book. It is heavy on the internal struggle, and for the first half there is very little forward movement. So, if this isn't your thing, don't take this one on, it will bore you to tears.

And there lies the only problem I have with this story, it started to feel so long, I would have abandoned it if I didn't trust the author to deliver.

Which makes this a difficult story to recommend - most hardcore fans will probably be disappointed with the lack of gore, even though the content is truly horrific.
My advice is to tackle this one only if you can live with the slow pace.
Profile Image for Shelby *trains flying monkeys*.
1,748 reviews6,576 followers
July 25, 2014
Clowns anyone?


Matt Shaw takes some peoples worst nightmare and brings it to life. He seems to be very good at that.

Clown is a decent book. 3 stars from me isn't bad. The only problem I had with the book is that sometimes I got confused with the point of view. I know that was supposed to happen but I'm picky dammit.


It's hard to review one of his books because you don't want to give the story away. He packs a whole lot of punch into short little books.



I did receive a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review..he is also my friend on GR. So bite me iffen it offends you.

Profile Image for JaHy☝Hold the Fairy Dust.
345 reviews631 followers
March 18, 2015
** 4 " HE'S NOT CLOWNING AROUND" STARS**
As I've stated earlier, this isn't Matt Shaw's typical tale. The gore factor isn't as prevalent......although, in my humble opinion the plot itself is as horrific as it gets.... but no fear PETA members, no animals were harmed during any part of the story, just numerous - - ...

CLOWN is the tale of a somewhat lonely man who loves his job as a performing clown. The plot starts off rather somber but once Matt's bag of tricks is REALLY opened you will not be able to put CLOWN down.... and unfortunately I will not be able to tell you anything further without spoiling the experience for everyone.

(I lied) One more thing. For everyone who's afraid of clowns, trust me when I say you'll be hoping this clown hangs around.

**Special THANKS for my advanced sneaky peeky Matt.**

For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways



Profile Image for Karés.
267 reviews95 followers
November 1, 2014
4 "Extreme psychological" Stars.!

description..

This book by far mind-fucked me much worse than the other books that I've read by Matt Shaw.

Clown is everyone's worst nightmare came true. and even for the Clown himself..
It's a story about a fifty-ish year old entertainer. who loves to surprise kids with his tips and tricks. hearing the sound of the kids laughter makes him appreciate his job. But at the end of the day he faces his monster.. Bummer. That's all i can tell you. otherwise i'll ruin it for you. :(

The Plot started a bit sweet. nothing creepy YET. and i honestly didn't think it would get any more spookier. but huh! whom i kidding? it's a book by Matt Shaw!! he'll silently give you his magic..



I Loved everything about it. how the Point views were "exchanged".
even though i knew what was wrong with the character
. but still i did not expected to end like that! Which was awesome, and funny (Because of the last words!!)..


You should know; that I no longer will look at a normal Clown the same way again.

"All these years, I thought I was in the driving seat but no, it's him. It has always been him."


Happy Halloween..
description
Profile Image for Paul Nelson.
681 reviews162 followers
July 26, 2014
Clown is the traumatic and brutal trip into the disturbed mind of a man fighting against the onslaught of a mental disorder that pits good against evil, and as evil becomes more and more prevalent the tension rises to some heart stopping moments.

By day he’s mostly the entertainer, working the kids parties and the Park to drum up business, polite, funny, wouldn't say Boo to a goose it seems. He leaves his makeup on to keep away the evil one but it’s not working anymore, in fact it’s taking over, he’s losing control and when he learns what’s been going on when he’s not in control.
It can only end one way, somebodies going to hell.

The dialogue is handled really well, it’s mainly pretty obvious which persona is talking and this leads to some great opportunities to mix it up, cracking story I couldn't stop reading the second half as our protagonists situation escalates to the extreme.

Matt Shaw is fast turning into my discovery of the year and I’ve got a hell of a lot to catch up on, the writing is disturbing but not in too much of a vulgar way, it’s cleverly written, hiding behind some breathtaking moments and I’m loving it.

Clown was given to me by the author as a Beta read for an honest review, it’s now available to buy and I recommend you get it, my thanks for the opportunity and I look forward to reading more of Matt Shaw’s work.

http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Profile Image for Zoeytron.
1,036 reviews898 followers
August 13, 2014
Remember that old song from the 60's 'Everybody Loves a Clown' by Gary Lewis & the Playboys? This offering by Matt Shaw will have you second guessing that thought.

Make-up masks the real face of the individual underneath. In this story, the purpose of the elaborate face painting of the clown in question is twofold. It is aimed to amuse the children, but also to keep an unwelcome evil from emerging. Made up faces, smiling faces tell lies. The proof is found within the pages of Clown. Watch the fake smile broaden as the children scream . . .
Profile Image for Lisa Sandberg.
298 reviews16 followers
July 25, 2014
Another great job by Matt Shaw. He never ceases to amaze me. I have read several of his books and his writing is unique and diverse.

CLOWN...good clown vs. evil clown. This clown enjoys entertaining children at their birthday parties and such. He likes to see them smile and laugh. When he goes home it is a different story. He fights with the evil clown, the one that wants to do bad things, disturbing things.

It was interesting reading this book, being in the mind of the clown, hearing the arguments that ensued. Seeing which one was becoming stronger, and in the end...oh the end!

I haven't read a story quite like this. It was a good change. I highly recommend it if you are into extreme, gory, or disturbing.

This book was given to me by Matt Shaw as a beta read for my thoughts and an honest review. Thank you, Matt, for the opportunity. I think this was a great idea that turned into an amazing read. Matt is a very talented writer with an excellent imagination.

5 stars, yes!! I will continue reading Matt's work. Well done, keep up the good work.
Profile Image for Ken B.
471 reviews22 followers
October 8, 2014
"Clown" is a twisted novella told from two distinct points of view. First, from the point of view of a down-on-his-luck clown, an entertainer of children. And second, from that very same clown's psychotic, child-killing alter ego. Frankly, those two don't really get along that well.


4 STARS
Profile Image for Victoria.
423 reviews166 followers
September 20, 2022
I hate clowns. I do. So I had to read this book as soon as I knew it existed. I was guessing all the way through and I wasn’t sure if I was even right, even after the last page.

Trigger warning.
Profile Image for Stuart Keane.
Author 55 books145 followers
July 24, 2014
One thing is obvious: Matt Shaw is a diverse horror author. One of his endearing - if that's the right word - qualities is his ability to take any horror story and turn it on its head. There are many to choose from, and Shaw isn't afraid to tackle them in an original manner. However, in his latest story, he tackles possibly the most iconic of horror tropes, one that petrifies people to this very day and - surprisingly - is still fresh and scary in modern society. The Clown.

The clown of the narrative is lonely, downtrodden and ignored. People cancel his bookings without telling him because, let's face it, clowns don't matter. They're the scourge of society, a literal walking joke, the modern day jester. However, this particular clown has a sinister side...and it's nothing to do with the make-up. Let's just say his interest in kids goes beyond his bookings...

From memory, I can't remember many horror books about clowns. The most iconic is Pennywise from Stephen King's It...but otherwise my brain fails to conjure another clown that sticks in the memory. However, the sheer thought of clowns and the stigma that follows them, one that haunts us as horror readers, former children and fans, is what gives this book pure horror kudos. Clowns don't scare me, but they have a reputation. The opinion varies but clowns are nasty, evil, paedophiles, mad...the list goes on. The pages of this book drip with menace and evil. Just the fact you are reading about a clown gives this book its atmosphere, one that hangs over the words that pass before your eyes, eyes that are about to bare witness to one of the best horror books of the year.

Clown isn't so much about the clown; it's about the man inside. A tortured man who finds solace in his clown suit. The clown plays a part, yes, but the man inside is pulling the strings. In fact, take away the clown, and you have a great psychological study of a character so well crafted, so maligned by society and so detached, it feels like you're in a shrinks office. Don't get me wrong, it's riveting stuff but it conjures more than the basic horror of the piece. Whether this was intentional by the author or not will remain unknown, but by projecting the slow-burn horrors of one character against the obvious horrors of the people around him is a master-stroke.

5* - A phenomenal book. Matt Shaw said himself that this might be his greatest work to date, and I'm inclined to agree. I'm also honoured to have received this book as a beta read during the writing process. The fact Matt respected my opinion to ask me about the direction of the material is a proud moment for me. He had nothing to worry about. There's no doubt Matt can do gore, shocks, extreme and scary, but the heart of his work is psychological. Clown is a testament to it and is proof that, if you hold on the gore and splatter - to an extent - you can craft a horror story that lingers in the memory long after the final word. Who needs blood and guts when you can traumatise someone? Clown will stay with me for a while...much like Pennywise did in the 80's. This has made my Top Five for the year. Excellent stuff!
Profile Image for Valerie Sparkle.
208 reviews12 followers
November 13, 2015
This wasn't what I expected when I started this book. It wasn't just a scary story about a killer clown. Clowns terrify me by the way. It was about a man who had suffered terrible things as a child which led to his suffering with mental illness. I'm trying not to say too much so I don't ruin it for someone else. I'll just say Matt Shaw continues to impress me. This one is not to be missed.
Profile Image for Richard Bankey.
471 reviews35 followers
March 29, 2023
Good novella about a man with dual personalities. Not as extreme as most of Matt Shaw's horror tales.
987 reviews28 followers
March 10, 2023
Children's screams were music to his ears. He doesn't like the man under the clown make up. Its hard to keep him hidden, its hard to control him. What the hell is in the bag? In the dumpster? A child seized from a park, into the clown illustrated van and whisked away. A cold cellar floor, paintings of kids, headless, limbless. As he starts to apply his clown make up he starts to feel calm, a smile washes over his face. The clown says to a child after smashing their parents faces in that children should not be heard or seen before grabbing him. Another child chased through a house, his mother bleeding out from a gaping neck wound. The boys stomach stabbed, the white glove feeling inside for intestines as his life slips away. Internal monologue, deep insanity and suffering. And clowns are just sick fucks anyway.
Profile Image for Kim (Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews).
428 reviews12 followers
August 12, 2014
This is the story of a damaged individual. Trying to hide the madness he knows is breaking to break through - he performs as a clown at children's parties. Slowly but surely though, the madness is taking over - can he keep it buried or will it burst through, and what will be the consequences?

This was a very clever story. Seen entirely through the eyes of a man suffering from a degenerative madness. We watch helpless as the madness takes over and can't help but feel for him as he fights to regain control. Matt has once again ensured that we get inside the characters head and feel what he feels. This was not as graphic as some of Matt's books but no less chilling for that. I wasn't especially happy with clowns before I sat down to read this (in one go I might add) and my view has only been strengthened!
207 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2018
Clown is the story of the internal struggle of a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder. We see the internal(?) monologues of the competing personalities throughout the book.

True to a Shaw book, we have to have a twist of depravity. The conflict between the two personalities centers around one's hobby of abducting and killing young boys.

Though some dialogue may be repetitive, Clown is a quick and enjoyable read.
25 reviews2 followers
August 8, 2014
Didn't USE to be afraid of clowns....

Didn't USE to be afraid of clowns....

I've never been one of those people afraid of clowns....but after reading this my clown creep factor may have changed. Another Awesome story by Matt Shaw! I loved how he did the back and forth conversations between the "two" main characters!
Profile Image for Emily.
625 reviews11 followers
November 24, 2022
Clown - 4/5
By Matt Shaw

I’m one of those weird people absolutely loves clowns - throw in a mentally deranged clown and I am there!

This story keeps you guessing throughout about whats going on and the ending was very satisfying.

I definitely do not recommend reading this if you are adverse to indiscriminate murders of both adults and children and bad language!
Profile Image for Raul sadok.
290 reviews8 followers
May 15, 2019
What a disappointment, clown with double personality killing kids, such a cliché. And the dialogue is way to repetitive and so simple.

Is the first book I read from this author and was not a great experience.

Profile Image for Luis&minxy Rodriguez.
52 reviews4 followers
October 13, 2019
A very sick clown

This book was epic and yet challenging read because, of content of gore. And typically having adults killed in gory ways in other books doesn’t affect me. It was the aspect of having children being killed in gory ways that really challenged me to continue to read this book. And to be honest this Book took me about two years to finish it was hard for me to keep reading for that one detail. However, I did enjoy the double personalities the killer clown had because It was like a sick thriller horror movie. And for that reason I loved it. I recommend this book to people who have a strong mindset and can pursue these type of books and keep on reading!
Profile Image for Cliff.
20 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2014
one of the best stories I've read recently. this was very well written.
Profile Image for Matthew.
Author 118 books84 followers
August 6, 2014
What's the matter? Don't you like clowns? Don't yah think they're fucking funny? Don't they make yah fucking laugh? This one won't either.
Profile Image for WTF did I just Read Reviews.
182 reviews27 followers
November 9, 2024
Clown by Matt Shaw

*WARNING* - there is strong gore, upsetting scenes, strong language and adult themes contained within this novel. Please DO NOT buy if easily shocked, upset or offended.

WTF did I get myself into. Once I start a book I mostly try to finish them. This was no exception.
I love clown books, this one is pretty hardcore, maybe a little to much for me (which isn't usually the case) but I think the victims being so many children, or maybe the details in it, turned even my stomach.
I think I would compare this book almost to the groomer, which is a good book but also hard due to the children. Overall though if you are good with the extreme sensitive horror triggers then yeah go for it. I am going to give the books 4 stars still because I like to look at it as for people who can handle these specific triggers. I mean I was looking for extreme horror/when I got the book and that is exactly what I got.
I will say sometimes Matt Shaw is very ummm 'gross?' which is hard for me only because gross things make me had but this one isn't like that. Kinda cool too see the side in this book.
I also think that the plot of the split lives between the two men is so well written and really takes you into the dark place that some are really in, making this book more possible than we like to admit.
As usual Mr. Shaw, Well Done!

Find your copy here on Kindle at
https://a.co/d/7JPyhHW

Book blurb;

A new psychological horror from Matt Shaw - author of PORN, Sick Bastards, Rotting Dead F*cks and The Happy Ever After series - CLOWN tells the tale of a mild-mannered fifty year old entertainer.

By day he likes nothing more than to hear the screams of children enjoying his gags and tricks at their parties but - when he gets home - his mask slips and the real monster is revealed. Devastating
Profile Image for Amit.
773 reviews3 followers
May 16, 2020
Pathetic, disgusting, disgusting and disgusting tale to read. Absolutely sick disgrace, shouldn't have read this. Wasted the whole time while reading it...

I thought it will be a book like a clown scare the hell out of you or something. But it was not and which was okay really. What the story about is a man who lives his daily life by performing clown and entertain children with that clown's outfit. Which obviously was absolutely ok too for me. The moment comes after that actually. When a psychopath suddenly appeared in the scene and met the person who originally plays the clown outfit. The story kept moving from there. Gore horror you will find there, that psychopathic beast started kill innocent children and call the clown man he is too in his team, they had common side so he should joined him. What really disgusted me the way that clown man acted with that psychopath. The clown man a low minded and pathetic character who got nothing but to offer pity and no personality about himself at all. So when the psychopath took control of his life it was obvious the clown man being in the mercy of him. The story disgust me further when the clown man finally concede the defeat and joined him. I just couldn't take it anymore within me and I admitting it when finally I finished the book it was a huge relief for me as the book didn't offer me anything but annoying moments. Thanks but no more of it, glad that it has no further part like series book. Better luck for next reading of the same author...
Profile Image for Janette Baillie.
69 reviews
March 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a dark, harrowing tale with a man battling an inner demon/schizophrenia, who’s a children’s entertainer by day, and psychopath killer by night. It’s very well written, and if you like Matt shaws other books then you’ll love this one. Some parts are quite disturbing, so if you’re easily shocked or offended then I advise you not to read it, but if you love a good psychological horror, then this is definitely for you.
128 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2019
Crazy Insane & A Thrill ride

Not overly gory - a psychological thriller. I kept wondering who was in control, who was going to win. The ending really surprised me. I figured on a nut house, but alas, not what happens. If you enjoy a crazy psychological thriller, this is it. But there is some really disturbing events, so beware.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews

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