31 Reads of Terror: 'Last Laugh' by K.R. Alexander

There was nothing more alluring during the early morning power outage than snuggling up with a flashlight and diving into a middle-grade horror novel. The book in question? Last Laugh by K.R. Alexander—a name I wasn’t familiar with until now, but apparently, he’s penned quite a few spine-chilling tales aimed at kids, trying, perhaps in vain, to measure up to the legendary R.L. Stine. Yes, I admit it: my decision to pick this book was driven entirely by its cover art, which features a porcelain clown doll that practically oozes creepiness. I can't be the only one who thinks clowns are just a bit sinister, right? Ahem... Pennywise.

So, here’s the grim tale: nothing humorous lurks in the shadows of true evil. For as long as they can remember, siblings Victor and Genevieve have been warned about one particular room in their grandmother's house—it’s an off-limits zone, shrouded in mystery. No one dares to give details about what lies inside, only that the door should never be opened. Naturally, this prohibition only piques Victor's curiosity. When the opportunity presents itself, with their grandmother away, he seizes the moment. What he discovers behind that forbidden door is enough to chill the bones: a nightmarish collection of clown dolls, each more sinister than the last. But the real horror? Once that door swings open, the clowns are free to escape, and that's when the real nightmare begins. A race against time ensues—can they put the lid back on this grim Pandora’s box?

K.R. Alexander employs a strategy reminiscent of the Goosebumps formula: you’ve got the plucky child protagonist, an adventurous sibling sidekick—which we find in Victor and Genevieve—along with a delightfully creepy atmosphere that envelops their grandmother's house like a suffocating fog. The villain of the piece? Well, it’s not just the clown dolls, though they certainly take center stage; something darker lurks behind those porcelain smiles. I won't give the twist away, but let’s just say those dolls are confined for a very compelling reason.

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. ╌★★★★★

〜B.J. Burgess