Daniels, Elisa D. – Mikey the Clown

Mikey the Clown

~Elisa D. Daniels

one, two, Mikey’s coming for you

three, four, he’s hiding behind that door

five, six, don’t fall for his tricks

seven, eight, you’ve sealed your fate

nine, ten, he’s always smilin’

eleven, twelve, no one will hear you yell

thirteen, fourteen, smile before you scream

fifteen…..

oh wait, it’s too late.

~Karen

Mikey the Clown by Elisa D. Daniels is everything a horror movie fanatic craves in a classic slasher. It captures the pulse-pounding tension, unforgettable kills, and creeping dread that made the genre a staple, while wrapping it all in a nostalgic 90’s atmosphere.

Five years ago, on Halloween night, siblings Buffy and Chaz dared each other to explore an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. What they discovered was the stuff of nightmares: a clown brutally stabbing a woman in the basement. But when police arrived, there was nothing. No body. No blood. No clown. Their therapist dismissed it as a shared fabrication.

Now, Halloween has come full circle.

A one-night-only invitation to Shrieks & Giggles, a haunted attraction inside that very warehouse, lands in Buffy and Chaz’s hands. Buffy has never forgotten what happened that night, while Chaz insists none of it was real. Reluctantly, Buffy joins her brother and a group of friends, but the moment they step onto the property, old memories come rushing back. Every instinct tells her to leave. Instead, the nine friends head inside, expecting the bomb diggity Halloween experience of their lives.

Daniels has always excelled at character development, but her leap into horror elevates that strength even further. Buffy anchors the novel beautifully. She’s scarred by her past, fiercely protective of those she loves, and far stronger than she realizes. She doesn’t want to be at Shrieks & Giggles, but she’ll never let her brother face it alone. As the danger escalates, so does her determination.

Then there’s Mikey. He’s relentless, terrifying, and seems to thrive on fear itself. Daniels cleverly keeps readers questioning exactly who, or even what, Mikey really is. The supporting cast is equally impressive. They’re far more than expendable horror victims. Each has a distinct personality, believable motivations, and enough depth that every loss carries weight. Daniels makes you care, which only raises the stakes.

The pacing is razor sharp. Once the doors close behind the group, Mikey the Clown barrels forward with mounting suspense, claustrophobic tension, and relentless dread. Flashing lights, fog-covered floors, echoing footsteps, sinister whispers, creepy doll tea parties, and killer clowns lurking around every corner create the perfect haunted-house nightmare. The 90’s setting only amplifies the isolation. No smartphones. No quick calls for help. Just instinct, courage, and survival.

When the action begins, Daniels unleashes twist after twist. Everyone becomes suspicious. Trust evaporates. Every hallway could lead to freedom… or straight into Mikey’s waiting hands. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story yanks the rug out from under you. The final revelation lands like a sledgehammer, leaving you flipping back through earlier chapters wondering where the clues were hiding all along.

Mikey the Clown by Elisa D. Daniels releases August 20, 2026, on Amazon and Kindle. Don’t stand around outside the warehouse thinking you’ll come back later. Grab your copy before Mikey comes looking for you.

I would like to thank Elisa D. Daniels for the opportunity to Alpha/ Beta/ARC read Mikey the Clown. As always, all opinions of my own volition, Karen Brooks, aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of Mikey the Clown.