I was walking in Target one day, passing the book section, when I turned around & this book caught my Bette Davis eye. There it was, standing out, calling me. I approached it, inspected it; looked a little more into it. The book had been popular on the internet. & you know what I say about the internet!?! If it’s on the internet, it’s true! I did not put the book in my reusable tote– go green! No. I signed onto lapl.org, looked to see if the library carries it, which it does, & then queued it to borrow. Yes, I utilize the library to the max. I cannot wait for Central Library to reopen! I so do not miss the bums though.

I received the book, quickly, & got into it. No, Clown in a Cornfield isn’t a piece I read over the course of a few days. I’m into it, not that into it. It’s not The Cubicle Diaries, any of them. I took my time. When I read, I like taking it all in. I don’t speed through. The story takes place in none other than the Midwest. Kettle Springs, Missouri. I know Missouri, & misery, not too much of Kettle Springs. Farmland. Hence, the word ‘cornfield’ in the title…  Pretty sure it’s a fictional town. The Maybrooks, Dr. Glenn and his daughter, Quinn, move from Philadelphia to Kettle Springs for a “fresh start.” The town is rundown, a little, abandoned, kind of, dated, ailing, and Republican. Quite different, & slower, from life on the east coast for them. It’s takes some adjusting to. Where’s the Mrs., you ask? She’s dead. She had a drug problem, & their wounds are still kind of healing, hence the “fresh start.”

The town resolves around, for the most part, an old corn syrup factory, Baypen, that is now abandoned. Baypen was the city, it’s founder. The locals hope they can get it up & running again, but that comes to a halt when it “mysteriously” burns down. As if things aren’t tragic enough for them. The person “at-fault?” The “it”-bad boy-larger than life, Cole Hill, though he is never officially charged. Cole is the cat’s meow throughout the story. Meow. I guess everything resolves around Frendo, too. LMAO. Frendo the Clown. Though Frendo is not actually your friend. From Quinn’s bedroom window, blindless, curtainless, through the massive cornfield she lives by, she can see the town’s mascot/ icon, Frendo the clown, painted on one of Baypen’s deteriorating walls. She swears he stares her down and is watching her.

The major event, one of two, is Founder’s Day, the celebration of the town. The other is a forbidden, hidden party the local teenagers throw, of course, in the middle of a cornfield. Frendo is EVERYWHERE at both places. Everything backfires for everyone. I’m not here to give a plot summary or some book report, but I do want to give a good rundown of what the story tells. You’ll have to borrow the book from the library yourself for all the specific deets. Yes, I’ve already returned my copy, so you should be able to get it.

A killer dressed as Frendo the clown becomes at large. Killer clown, go figure. Frendo’s killings were written good. Descriptive. I enjoy the way Frendo off’d Harlan Jaffers & Tucker. The bow & arrow scene in chapter 12 is great. I could hear the clicking & thrusting of the arrows. Hmmm—. Matt got what he deserved. Damn douche. Ronnie is a bitch. When Frendo is on a killing spree at the forbidden party, before all is learned, I thought, this person has to be someone who is active, fit, mobile. I then questioned if it is Mr. Vern, a high school teacher who hates the new generation. Mr. Vern has his 15-minutes of fame via a rant in a scene in his classroom, bashing all the students & then eventually “banning” them from Founder’s Day. I did, again, really start to suspect Mr. Vern when Glenn Maybrook is taken hostage & it is learned the previous doctor is dead, hence his sudden disappearance. I was like, some twisted stuff is going on. I can only imagine what that room smells like.

Frendo’s identity: I had my suspicions after Tucker, but I also kept it open for anything & anyone. I had a feeling the author was going to make almost anything happen. That’s what we learn in “Scream 4,” right? & this work is deemed as new age & old age. I did, however, always think it is Mr. Vern. The game changer: when it’s learned there is a group of killer clowns. I really no longer felt safe for these people. Like the cover says, the kids are not all right. & of course, they made sure Cole was OK. But then it is learned why, at the end. I can’t believe older & younger people joined forces & it not just being the elder. As for the killer clown group, this was well thought out. Ride or die. Or, intend to die.

Another twister, for me, is when it is learned the town’s former financier’s daughter is the one who died in the prologue/ beginning. All to only bring more weight on the beloved, & behated, Cole’s shoulders. The former financier deserted the town & left them hanging. The people understood though. So, they seemed to. But daddy dearest makes his grand return & mysterious exit & clever resurface, which explains why Cole must remain alive come the end. Twists, I tell you! Twists! What’s even more of a twister is the gay twist at the end. Hmmm—. Should’ve saw it coming when the two, Cole and Rust, gushed over each other after reuniting at the beginning of the party, but I don’t really have a gaydar.

What a plot! A scheme! Or schemes. 😊 Lots of blood, violence, shooting. Betrayal is a major theme. The feeling of entrapment is real. Scary. To be constantly chased, blindsided, by disguised people in a form that terrifies most, in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It can only be certain people who are after you. So much for love thy neighbour.

Cole, Cole, Cole! Everyone is obsessed with Cole. Hell, there came a point where I started to become, too! Way to go, Adam! You’re welcome! Parents hate him, girls love him, guys love him, apparently. Does he love himself? Seems like such a brooder. The town made Cole Hill carry so much when he accidentally burned down the abandoned factory. Were they really hoping to resurrect it?!? Their grudge is visible. The chemistry between Quinn & Cole meet.

I tried the audiobook. I couldn’t. The broad’s voice is so annoying. I wanted to channel Mr. Vern or the town sheriff in a Frendo costume while having to listen to her on her! She sounded so corny. Couldn’t they have gotten someone better?!? Her impressions were horrible! It helped me conclude: I’m not really into audiobooks. I’m old school. I don’t even really like e-readers. I like turning a page. 😉 Speaking of good old Mr. Vern, the audio reader really dragged on his rant. That was probably the breaking point –for me! It made LA traffic seem more eternal-er than it already is! Yes, I pay attention! Her voice is so irritating! Corny! Even though I’m against cancel culture, cancel her!!! Re-record- T.Swizzle style! I heart T.Swizzle.

Like all readings, this exposed me to more, opened more reading doors. I’m not trying to discriminate, but there’s only so much you can learn from a YA book. But don’t underestimate them! N E V E R! From some, you can actually learn a lot. Look at Gossip Girl. We’ll just say they’re a hit or a miss. I learned a few new words: Atonal. Deigned. Guttural. Cull. There were a few others. I forgot them. Young adult novels don’t use a lot of big words. LOL. The nods to reality: make “Kettle Springs great again.” LMAO. Yeah, that sets the tone for the town’s political status. When reflecting to Philadelphia, I thought the mention of the Comcast building was fun. It was a good book. I enjoyed it. I think some of the more important messages the story shares are, not everyone around you likes you. & in general, not when it comes to killing, or maybe, if you want something done right, do it yourself! Small town life can be cruel & rough. It’s not only common in big cities. We’ll just have to wait & see if it gets adapted into a major motion picture.