Adam Cesare Books in Order

Where to Start with Adam Cesare

If you are new to Adam Cesare's adrenaline-fueled, cinematic horror, the absolute best place to start is with his blockbuster young adult slasher novel, Clown in a Cornfield (2020). This Bram Stoker Award-winning novel introduced readers to Quinn Maybrook, the small town of Kettle Springs, and the terrifyingly iconic killer mascot, Frendo the Clown. It functions perfectly as both a standalone tribute to classic 80s slasher films and the gateway to his most famous continuity.

For readers who prefer adult horror or monster movies, Video Night (2013) is another fantastic entry point. It captures a nostalgic, VHS-era feel featuring an alien invasion during a high school movie night, perfectly showcasing Cesare's ability to blend gore, humor, and heart.

The Clown in a Cornfield Series in Reading Order

While most of Cesare's books are standalone stories, the Clown in a Cornfield universe requires a strict sequential reading order to properly follow the character arcs, escalating conspiracy, and changing town dynamics. The series should be read as follows:

1. Clown in a Cornfield (2020) – Quinn Maybrook moves to Kettle Springs looking for a fresh start, only to find the local teens targeted by a murderous town mascot during an outdoor party.
2. Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives (2022) – Set after the events of the first book, this sequel explores the aftermath of the Kettle Springs massacre, dealing with online conspiracy theories, media sensation, and the return of the slashers.
3. Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo (2024) – The stakes go national as the ideology of Frendo spreads beyond Kettle Springs, testing Quinn and the survivors in a bloody climax.
4. Lights! Camera! Frendo! (Expected late 2026) – The upcoming fourth installment in the franchise, which shifts the slasher action to a film set environment.

Adam Cesare's Standalone Novels and Novellas

Outside of Kettle Springs, Adam Cesare has written several standalone horror novels and novellas that can be read in any order. These stories range from creature features and survival horror to dark satire:

• Tribesmen (2012) – A gritty homage to Italian cannibal films, following a film crew that encounters real horror on a remote island.
• Video Night (2013) – A 1980s-nostalgia trip featuring high schoolers, VHS tapes, and a slimy alien invasion.
• The Summer Job (2014) – A tense, isolationist thriller set at a remote summer camp with a sinister, cult-like secret.
• Leprechaun in the Hood: The Musical (2014) – A collaborative horror parody co-authored with Cameron Pierce and Shane McKenzie, originally serialized on Reddit's horror community.
• Exponential (2014) – A fast-paced creature feature set in the desert, pitting characters against an escalating biological threat.
• Mercy House (2015) – A claustrophobic siege novel focusing on the staff and residents of a home for troubled women under attack.
• The Con Season (2016) – A bloody satire of horror conventions, where fans and washed-up genre stars find themselves trapped in a real-life horror scenario.
• Influencer (2024) – A modern thriller exploring the dark, obsessive side of social media stardom and vacation horror.

The Sam Truman Mysteries

For readers who enjoy supernatural noir, Cesare contributed to the collaborative series Sam Truman Mysteries, created by writer Ed Kurtz. Cesare wrote the fourth installment, a novella titled Bound by Jade (2012). This story, alongside the rest of the investigator's cases, can be found collected in The Sam Truman Mysteries Omnibus Volume 1 (2013).

Graphic Novels and Media Tie-Ins

Cesare is a versatile writer who has written extensively for comic publishers, graphic novels, and official franchise companion books. Here is what to check out in his visual catalog:

Graphic Novels

• Dead Mall (2023) – A cosmic horror graphic novel illustrated by David Stoll and published by Dark Horse Comics. It follows a group of teens who sneak into a demolishing shopping mall, only to find the structure is a living, shifting labyrinth that demands blood.
• Power Rangers Unlimited: Call to Darkness (2023) – A graphic novel compilation where Cesare contributes to the cosmic lore of the Power Rangers.

Franchise Work & Tie-Ins

• Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #1–12 (2019–2020) – Cesare wrote the four-issue arc "The Ballad of Hup & Barfinnious" (issues #5–8) of this prequel comic series published by BOOM! Studios.
• The Dark Crystal Bestiary: The Definitive Guide to the Creatures of Thra (2020) – A gorgeous, official in-universe non-fiction guide written by Cesare and illustrated by Iris Compiet.
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Contributions – Cesare has contributed stories to several Power Rangers comic compilations, including the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2018 Annual and the one-shot Power Rangers Unlimited: The Coinless #1 (2023), which are featured in various collected volumes like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Recharged and omnibus editions.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Adam Cesare's bibliography, keep these quick tips in mind:

• The Slasher Aesthetic: Cesare's writing is highly cinematic and visual, heavily inspired by his love of film. He studied film at Boston University and runs a popular horror-themed YouTube channel, Project: Black T-Shirt, where he reviews books and movies.
• YA vs. Adult Horror: While the Clown in a Cornfield series is categorized as Young Adult, it does not shy away from the intense gore, high body counts, and suspense typical of classic R-rated movies. His older novels (like Tribesmen and Mercy House) are written strictly for adults and feature heavier splatterpunk elements.
• Standalone Freedom: Except for the Clown in a Cornfield trilogy and the Sam Truman omnibus, you can jump into any of his standalone novels or comics based purely on which subgenre (aliens, cults, cannibal films, or cosmic malls) appeals to you most.