Clown in a Cornfield is a 2020 horror novel by American author Adam Cesare and marks his first novel in the young adult genre. A sequel was released in 2022, with another sequel being released in 2024. A film adaptation was released on the 9th of May of 2025.
Kettle Springs is caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. It’s a fight that looks like it will destroy the town. Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now.
Victims[]
Before the Book[]
- Mrs. Hill - Died of cancer before the events of the book, mentioned.
- Samantha Maybrook - Died of a drug overdose before the events of the book, mentioned.
- Victoria Hill - Back of her head accidentally cracked open by Cole Hill while she was jumping into a lake off of a cliff, shown in a flashback.
- Total - 3
During the Book[]
- Mayor Harlan Jaffers - Stabbed through the throat by Frendo with an ice pick.
- Tucker Lee - Stabbed in the stomach and throat slit by Frendo.
- Dr. Weller - Killed by a Frendo off-page, body shown.
- Annabeth "Ginger" Wagner - Shot in the back and through the eye by Frendo with a crossbow bolt.
- Jake Peps - Fell into a fire and burned to death after being shot in the back by Frendo with a crossbow bolt.
- Erin Werther - Shot in the side of the head by Frendo with a crossbow bolt.
- Unnamed Male Teenager - Shot through the neck by Frendo with a crossbow bolt.
- Unnamed Male Teenager - Shot through the ear by Frendo with a crossbow bolt.
- Mr. Vern/Frendo the Clown - Shot in the chest and head by Quinn Maybrook with a hunting rifle.
- Janet Murray - Head cut off by Frendo with a buzzsaw.
- Unnamed Frendo the Clown - Part of his side shot off by Quinn Maybrook with a shotgun.
- Unknown Teenager - Impaled on a pitchfork by a Frendo off-page, body shown.
- 14 Unnamed Teenagers - Killed by Frendos off-page, number mentioned in Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives.
- Unnamed Frendo the Clown - Killed when Rust blew up the barn with a firecracker.
- Unnamed Frendo the Clown - Suffocated to death after having his mask melted onto his face when Rust blew up the barn.
- Veronica “Ronnie” Queen - Part of her head sliced off by Quinn Maybrook with a meat cleaver following an extensive fight.
- Matthew “Matt” Trent - Skull crushed by Quinn Maybrook between two cars.
- Trudy/Frendo the Clown - Died of her wounds after Quinn Maybrook shot off her hand with a shotgun.
- Alec Murray/Frendo the Clown - Legs broken with a truck and shot in the chest by Rust with a shotgun.
- Sheriff George Dunne/Frendo the Clown - Shot twice in the stomach by Quinn Maybrook with a shotgun.
- Total - 33
Deaths[]
- Total - 36
- 15 Victims of Unknown Gender
- 14 Men
- 7 Women
Kill Counts[]
- Frendo the Clown - 24 (Deceased)
- Quinn Maybrook - 6 (Alive)
- Rust - 3 (Alive)