Last Updated on 23 February 2025 by Vanessa
Today, we are going to the quaint town of Clervaux in Luxembourg, where more cats roam its streets than people walk them. It’s known as “cat haven” and has been a tourist hot spot for years. People come here to see and interact with cats and to buy cat-related souvenirs.
But beneath the idyllic surface lies a chilling truth.
This sets the scene for the supernatural thriller Clowders, which is free on Kindle this week.
Are you a cat lover? Enjoy a good scare? Then this book is for you!
But before diving in, let’s explore the story and its real-life inspirations.
Clervaux, Luxembourg: cats and tourism turn deadly in Clowders
Story
In the town of Clervaux, Luxembourg, cats outnumber humans, making it a feline paradise. Tourists flock here to bask in the company of cats and indulge in cat-themed souvenirs. Aidan, Jess, and their young daughter Eleonore move from America to this idyllic setting, only to discover a sinister truth lurking beneath the surface.
Legend has it that for every cat’s death, nine human lives are claimed as punishment. Initially dismissed as folklore, the eerie events that unfold after Jess accidentally hits a cat with her car suggest otherwise.
With each death, a clowder of cats appears, sparking fear and paranoia.
As the body count rises, Aidan and Jess grapple with the chilling reality: Clervaux’s cat obsession conceals a malevolent force. Their move to Europe turns into a descent into darkness, where every alley holds secrets and every feline gaze feels like a warning.
Inspirations
In the early 2000s, I visited a tiny but charming town in Luxembourg: Clervaux. As soon as the car entered this community surrounded by woods, I knew it would once become the setting for one of my stories.
I already used of few elements of Clervaux in my horror novel Drowned Sorrow (which actually takes place in New England). However, as soon as I started working on Clowders, there was no doubt about it that the story would be set in Clervaux.
While drafting Clowders, I mainly used my travel pictures and Google Maps as research, but once the plot was complete, I went back there to have a clear understanding of the topography and to describe places such as the restaurants, the shops, and the castle.
But Clervaux wasn’t the only inspiration.
Clowders also takes its cue from Japanese cat islands such as Tashirojima and Aoshima.
These islands have garnered worldwide attention as havens for feline aficionados. They draw tourists from far and wide to immerse themselves in the whimsical world of cats.
Here, visitors are greeted by a plethora of friendly felines, outnumbering the human inhabitants. Everywhere you look, there are charming cat-themed decorations adorning buildings, streets, and shops. From cat-shaped lanterns illuminating the pathways to storefronts adorned with whiskered mascots and even cat-shaped houses, the entire atmosphere exudes a delightful feline charm.
And it’s not just the aesthetics; cat-themed merchandise abounds, offering everything from trinkets and souvenirs to clothing and accessories, ensuring that visitors can take a piece of the cat paradise home with them.
This type of cat tourism, while not a novel concept, has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, fueled by the growing fascination with our feline friends. Beyond the cat islands, cat cafes have emerged as magnets for cat enthusiasts seeking to connect with their favorite creatures. These establishments offer more than just a cup of coffee or a scenic island view; they provide an immersive experience, allowing visitors to bond with cats in a relaxed and inviting setting.
However, unlike the premise of the book, these real-life cat destinations aren’t shrouded in darkness or cursed by malevolent forces. Instead, they serve as beacons of joy and tranquility, offering a sanctuary for both cats and humans to coexist in harmony.
What others have to say about Clowders
“A startling new voice in horror” – Lucky McKee (director)
“Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness.” – Scott Nicholson (author)
“One very fine writer for both books and screen – Vanessa has a style that is intoxicating.” – Grady Harp (Amazon Top 100 Reviewer)
“The female version of Stephen King.” – Pedro Chaves (director)
“A first-rate horror story.” – Port Jericho (blog)
“A surprisingly scary book.” – With Love For Books (blog)
“An intelligent piece of classic horror with a family at the heart of the story.” – The Shades of Orange (blog)
“Clowders is a book that reminded me a lot of vintage, small-town European horror from the likes of Herbert, Hutson, Clark, and Campbell. Vanessa Morgan weaves a creepy, suspenseful tale about urban legends and rural superstitions, with a plot that feeds on paranoia and fear.” – Sally Bend (author)
“I think Clowders has a Children of the Corn vibe. Replace the corn with cats, and replace the kids with adults. You’ll find the same theme.” – Kathy Finfrock (author)
“A horror novel written in a way that has me picturing its scenes as though I’m watching a horror movie.” – Miranda Burski (author)
“Great story. Solid characters. Well crafted suspense.” – Hatched Mouth (YouTube)
“A good shiver-causing read.” – Toni Lesatz (author)
“Really terrifying.” – Bookshelf Life (blog)
“Full of suspense and terror.” – Warm Days Will Never Cease (blog)
“It’s riveting and chilling and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I can already see it as a movie.” – Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows (blog)
“I really enjoyed having no idea if the impending doom was real or just a figment of the townspeople’s imagination. It really left me second guessing what was truly going on.” – The Book Return (blog)
“My hats are off to Vanessa Morgan for her ending. She didn’t settle, and she hit the right plot points.” – The Literary License (podcast)
“Ms. Morgan has certainly scratched out a special niche in the horror genre with Clowders.” – Tome Tender (blog)
Vanessa Morgan wears many hats in the world of entertainment. She’s mainly known for her cat memoir Avalon as well as for her movie reference guides When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampire Movies, and Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children.
She’s also authored four supernatural thrillers: Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, A Good Man, and Clowders. Three of her stories have made their way to the big screen.
Outside of her writing pursuits, Vanessa also plays a role in the European film festival scene, introducing screenings at festivals and working as a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels, Belgium.
When she’s not busy with literary or cinematic endeavors, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, dining out, doing yoga, and documenting feline adventures for Traveling Cats.
Giveaway
Conclusion
Did Clowders catch your attention? Good news: it’s free on Kindle this week and also on Kindle Unlimited.
Check out these other articles about cats and tourism
- If Chefchouen in Morocco the ultimate cat tourist destination?
- Su Pallosu’s “cat beach” is taking Sardinian tourism by storm
- The ultimate cat enthusiast’s guide to Paris
- The ultimate cat lovers’ guide to London: 25+ cat-themed activities for a purr-fect trip
- A cat lovers’ itinerary to Positano
- What to see in Malta in 2 days: the ultimate cat lovers’ sightseeing itinerary
- 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites where cats reign supreme
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4 responses
I’m all for anything involving cats!
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll download this onto my kindle#pocolo
What brilliant reviews! I love cats and my daughter regularly visits a local cat cafe with her friends. (I’ve not been yet, but I will, most of my friends are dog lovers and I have been to a dog cafe) This sound like a real scary book and I’ve not read a good horror for a long time so I think I’ll download it now on my kindle. Thanks.
Delightful and terrifying at the same time!