What do you think?
Accidents Happen: Stories
From the master of Filipino crime fiction, a genre-bending collection that documents murders, disappearances, and acts of violence in stories that range from procedural crime to horror to near-future noir
F.H. Batacan’s first novel, Smaller and Smaller Circles, was an instant classic when it was published in 1999, a masterpiece of Filipino crime fiction that won the Philippine National Book Award. In this extraordinary and far-ranging story collection, she explores the darkest corners of human experience, depicting with pitch-black humor the systems of class and politics that her characters are trapped in and the moments of violence—accidental or otherwise—that can, at any moment, shatter their lives. In particular, Batacan shines an unsparing light on the epidemic of violence against women in the Philippines.
When a wealthy politician’s twelve-year-old son disappears, the family’s driver witnesses the aftermath. A field investigator for the World Health Organization travels the globe giving presentations about a biomedical enzyme that will lead to the extinction of the human race. And Father Augusto Saenz, the Jesuit priest and forensic anthropologist from Smaller and Smaller Circles, returns to investigate the murder of a woman whose secretive life holds the key to her death.
Sure to cement Batacan’s status as a crime writer of global status, Accidents Happen is a relentless exploration of worlds where the smallest moments are infused with life and vibrating with menace, and death is always close at hand.
F.H. Batacan’s first novel, Smaller and Smaller Circles, was an instant classic when it was published in 1999, a masterpiece of Filipino crime fiction that won the Philippine National Book Award. In this extraordinary and far-ranging story collection, she explores the darkest corners of human experience, depicting with pitch-black humor the systems of class and politics that her characters are trapped in and the moments of violence—accidental or otherwise—that can, at any moment, shatter their lives. In particular, Batacan shines an unsparing light on the epidemic of violence against women in the Philippines.
When a wealthy politician’s twelve-year-old son disappears, the family’s driver witnesses the aftermath. A field investigator for the World Health Organization travels the globe giving presentations about a biomedical enzyme that will lead to the extinction of the human race. And Father Augusto Saenz, the Jesuit priest and forensic anthropologist from Smaller and Smaller Circles, returns to investigate the murder of a woman whose secretive life holds the key to her death.
Sure to cement Batacan’s status as a crime writer of global status, Accidents Happen is a relentless exploration of worlds where the smallest moments are infused with life and vibrating with menace, and death is always close at hand.
Audible Audio
Published March 11, 2025
About the author
F.H. Batacan
7 books218 followersMaria Felisa H. Batacan is a Filipino journalist and a writer of crime and mystery fiction. Her work has been published in the Philippines and abroad under the name F.H. Batacan.
She was a fellow at the 1996 Dumaguete National Writers' Workshop.
Batacan worked in the Philippine intelligence community and then became a broadcast journalist. She attended the University of the Philippines, where she pursued a master's degree in Arts Studies. In 1999 her manuscript, Smaller and Smaller Circles, won the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Grand Prize for the English Novel. This novel was published in 2002 by the University of the Philippines Press. Although most Filipino English-language fiction works garner a single print run of only 1,000 copies,Smaller and Smaller Circles had been reprinted four times by the year 2006, for a total of 6,000 copies. The novel was one of the first Filipino works of crime fiction.
The novel also won the 2002 Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award and the Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award in 2003.
In 2008, she won 1st prize in the English short story category of the Philippines Free Press Literary Awards.
She was a fellow at the 1996 Dumaguete National Writers' Workshop.
Batacan worked in the Philippine intelligence community and then became a broadcast journalist. She attended the University of the Philippines, where she pursued a master's degree in Arts Studies. In 1999 her manuscript, Smaller and Smaller Circles, won the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Grand Prize for the English Novel. This novel was published in 2002 by the University of the Philippines Press. Although most Filipino English-language fiction works garner a single print run of only 1,000 copies,Smaller and Smaller Circles had been reprinted four times by the year 2006, for a total of 6,000 copies. The novel was one of the first Filipino works of crime fiction.
The novel also won the 2002 Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award and the Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award in 2003.
In 2008, she won 1st prize in the English short story category of the Philippines Free Press Literary Awards.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
June 4, 2025
Solid 5 stars. No notes.
March 31, 2025
frankly, felisa batacan, i’d read your grocery lists
i devoured this book, which gifted me one of those reading experiences wherein you forget you’re reading — it’s now maybe my new favorite short story collection with almost no misses (pretty rare for me to feel about an anthology!)
also if you’ve read smaller and smaller circles beforehand the payoff is quite good hehehe it has like… purposeful easter eggs/character comebacks unlike yung isa diyan na kakapublish lang din this month LOL (i am talking abt sotr)
i devoured this book, which gifted me one of those reading experiences wherein you forget you’re reading — it’s now maybe my new favorite short story collection with almost no misses (pretty rare for me to feel about an anthology!)
also if you’ve read smaller and smaller circles beforehand the payoff is quite good hehehe it has like… purposeful easter eggs/character comebacks unlike yung isa diyan na kakapublish lang din this month LOL (i am talking abt sotr)
April 15, 2025
In the Filipino psyche, the phrase “accidents happen” is layered. It’s not just a casual way to brush off mistakes or misfortunes. Within the context of Filipino culture, it reflects deeper social attitudes shaped by history, faith, and survival. In F.H. Batacan’s Accidents Happen, the title itself plays on this tension: are these accidents truly accidental? Or are they symptoms of deeper, ignored violence in society?
Since reading Smaller and Smaller Circles, I have been yearning for more F.H. Batacan. Batacan’s writing is both evocative and sharp that captures the nuances of Filipino society while crafting universally resonant tales. Her ability to blend elements of crime, horror, and speculative fiction showcases her versatility and depth as a storyteller. Accidents Happen is a compelling read that offers both suspense and social commentary. Each of the 11 stories not only entertain but also provoke reflection on the pervasive issues of injustice and inequality. It does not have a single unremarkable moment. In Batacan’s world, violence lurks in every aspect, even in something harmless as a No. 1 pencil.
Since reading Smaller and Smaller Circles, I have been yearning for more F.H. Batacan. Batacan’s writing is both evocative and sharp that captures the nuances of Filipino society while crafting universally resonant tales. Her ability to blend elements of crime, horror, and speculative fiction showcases her versatility and depth as a storyteller. Accidents Happen is a compelling read that offers both suspense and social commentary. Each of the 11 stories not only entertain but also provoke reflection on the pervasive issues of injustice and inequality. It does not have a single unremarkable moment. In Batacan’s world, violence lurks in every aspect, even in something harmless as a No. 1 pencil.
April 13, 2025
Batak talaga magsulat si F. H Batacan #real!
11 short stories all set in the Philippines. These stories delve into the nature of evil.
Batacan's writing style really got me. Easy to read, but it has depth. Substance. She has a way of writing style where she slowly builds up the story line. Maybe a small detail foreshadowing where you will disregard it at first read, but when the last liner comes, it all makes sense. The boom factor is always in the last line. This writing style is what I really look for, be it in a poem or a novel. Huling-huli ni Batacan kiliti ko rito. Kaya binabalikan ko SASC e. It really makes you sit at the edge of your seat talaga.
Batacan will not state it explicitly in the story, but the details presented will be enough. You'll know, even deep down.
I've been waiting for this book's release since I finished reading/watching smaller and smaller circles. What I was really looking forward to was Fr. Saenz's future works after SASC. Gus Saenz's character really intrigued me. Mostly because he was kind of "glorified" on the fields that he chose (being a priest and a Forensic Anthropologist). That combination was really intriguing. Plus points na lang talaga na pogi raw siya and tall he-he. I was waiting for Fr. Lucero's appearance pero na-da.
Accidents happen, first story. Francis who is a 12-year-old child of a wealthy corrupt senator and drug addict mom. His complex relationship with everyone around him, including his gentle driver. Francis' story was what I really liked and pinaka na mind blown ako. I had to read the last few paragraphs a few times bago mag sink in. Yung last liners talaga mga favorite ko. I am conflicted whether I want to read the boy's future life or its better to leave it as it is. Let the mystery and curiosity drape over the whole story of that one intelligent 12-year-old boy who allegedly staged his death.>
Napaka raw and real din pagkakasulat doon sa story where Joanna and Tony appeared. It hits too close to home. Doon ko nakuha mga favorite quotes ko e.
"Promises to keep" wherein two past lovers meet again for a complete and different circumstances. It felt an awful like "Past lives" by Celine Song. The premises are similar, but also the story telling. I cannot pinpoint it exactly, but it was mostly because of the atmosphere, maybe.
Each story has unique plotlines and hindi mo talaga alam saan ka dadalhin ng story, but wherever it is, it will not leave you disappointed.
The story telling, the angst, the mystery, the noir-ness. I eat it up everytime.
11 short stories all set in the Philippines. These stories delve into the nature of evil.
Batacan's writing style really got me. Easy to read, but it has depth. Substance. She has a way of writing style where she slowly builds up the story line. Maybe a small detail foreshadowing where you will disregard it at first read, but when the last liner comes, it all makes sense. The boom factor is always in the last line. This writing style is what I really look for, be it in a poem or a novel. Huling-huli ni Batacan kiliti ko rito. Kaya binabalikan ko SASC e. It really makes you sit at the edge of your seat talaga.
Batacan will not state it explicitly in the story, but the details presented will be enough. You'll know, even deep down.
I've been waiting for this book's release since I finished reading/watching smaller and smaller circles. What I was really looking forward to was Fr. Saenz's future works after SASC. Gus Saenz's character really intrigued me. Mostly because he was kind of "glorified" on the fields that he chose (being a priest and a Forensic Anthropologist). That combination was really intriguing. Plus points na lang talaga na pogi raw siya and tall he-he. I was waiting for Fr. Lucero's appearance pero na-da.
Accidents happen, first story. Francis who is a 12-year-old child of a wealthy corrupt senator and drug addict mom. His complex relationship with everyone around him, including his gentle driver. Francis' story was what I really liked and pinaka na mind blown ako. I had to read the last few paragraphs a few times bago mag sink in. Yung last liners talaga mga favorite ko. I am conflicted whether I want to read the boy's future life or its better to leave it as it is. Let the mystery and curiosity drape over the whole story of that one intelligent 12-year-old boy who allegedly staged his death.>
Napaka raw and real din pagkakasulat doon sa story where Joanna and Tony appeared. It hits too close to home. Doon ko nakuha mga favorite quotes ko e.
"Promises to keep" wherein two past lovers meet again for a complete and different circumstances. It felt an awful like "Past lives" by Celine Song. The premises are similar, but also the story telling. I cannot pinpoint it exactly, but it was mostly because of the atmosphere, maybe.
Each story has unique plotlines and hindi mo talaga alam saan ka dadalhin ng story, but wherever it is, it will not leave you disappointed.
The story telling, the angst, the mystery, the noir-ness. I eat it up everytime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2025
F.H. Batacan’s new collection shows, paradoxically, that the things we think coincidental are in fact a culmination of systemic and oppressive gears that have long been turning. To me, the only “accidents” in these crime stories are the people being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Because if not this person, then someone else; the crimes themselves would unfold just the same.
What sets F.H. Batacan from your usual (Western?) crime fiction writer is that her stories are, in a way, less about the crimes themselves and more about the moving parts around it. Sometimes solving how the crime was committed felt tangential to the story for me. The primordial question is “Why?” and the answer is not what one normally gets from a Criminal Minds episode or a true crime documentary. The answer to that question necessitates another question and then another answer and another question, and so on. Even after you’ve closed the book, you’d raise your head and look at your surroundings with brand new eyes and ask “Why?”
All of that is what I find so admirable about F.H. Batacan ever since I’ve read her novel Smaller and Smaller Circles about eight years ago. I’m so happy to have read more of her stories in this new collection, and to have seen and listened to her in person last month at Fully Booked BGC and Book Nook Podium. It was an exception to the platitude to never meet your heroes. It was enriching and enlightening.
F.H. Batacan’s virtuosity in writing eye-opening stories that matter makes the stories no less entertaining, which crime or mystery enthusiasts might be looking for in this genre. I’ve let out at least one of the following in each story in this collection: an audible gasp, a “what the fuck?” or an “ewww.” Sometimes I just abruptly closed the book feeling disturbed. Another time, a story played out in a nightmare after I fell asleep reading.
Rather than an outlet to give justice on paper where there is none in real life, Accidents Happen serves as a reminder that this is the reality of the Filipino experience. Our remoteness, non-involvement from a crime does not entirely remove us as victims—or perpetrators by complicity. The least we could do as a people is to keep our eyes peeled and question the things that are not what they seem: whether it’s a sleepy town in the countryside, a child in conflict with the law, a balikbayan, a white guy on a wheelchair, or a poor family at a closed roadside eatery.
What sets F.H. Batacan from your usual (Western?) crime fiction writer is that her stories are, in a way, less about the crimes themselves and more about the moving parts around it. Sometimes solving how the crime was committed felt tangential to the story for me. The primordial question is “Why?” and the answer is not what one normally gets from a Criminal Minds episode or a true crime documentary. The answer to that question necessitates another question and then another answer and another question, and so on. Even after you’ve closed the book, you’d raise your head and look at your surroundings with brand new eyes and ask “Why?”
All of that is what I find so admirable about F.H. Batacan ever since I’ve read her novel Smaller and Smaller Circles about eight years ago. I’m so happy to have read more of her stories in this new collection, and to have seen and listened to her in person last month at Fully Booked BGC and Book Nook Podium. It was an exception to the platitude to never meet your heroes. It was enriching and enlightening.
F.H. Batacan’s virtuosity in writing eye-opening stories that matter makes the stories no less entertaining, which crime or mystery enthusiasts might be looking for in this genre. I’ve let out at least one of the following in each story in this collection: an audible gasp, a “what the fuck?” or an “ewww.” Sometimes I just abruptly closed the book feeling disturbed. Another time, a story played out in a nightmare after I fell asleep reading.
Rather than an outlet to give justice on paper where there is none in real life, Accidents Happen serves as a reminder that this is the reality of the Filipino experience. Our remoteness, non-involvement from a crime does not entirely remove us as victims—or perpetrators by complicity. The least we could do as a people is to keep our eyes peeled and question the things that are not what they seem: whether it’s a sleepy town in the countryside, a child in conflict with the law, a balikbayan, a white guy on a wheelchair, or a poor family at a closed roadside eatery.
March 21, 2026
I could ignore the book disclaimer and believe that the stories here did happen to anyone. Because these human circumstances, if one keenly trains their eyes on a challenged locality that this nation is rife of, soon enough they will find these grim realities witnessed even by early-aware children. Nakatambad na maging sa batang may murang isip pa lang. And that shouldn't be left at that, clearly not to be shrugged off as natural.
Some of my preferred pieces,
‣ Accidents Happen
A twelve-year-old son endures the confines of growing up in an affluent and political family. It ended intriguingly and I wanted to know more.
‣ The One Cry
Joanna Bonifacio, the journalist from Smaller and Smaller Circles , returns to cover the murder of a young woman in a small provincial town where everyone knows everyone else. This is one of the longer pieces and it has some effective descriptions.
‣ Promises to Keep
Short-lived lovers meet up again after decades to fulfill a favor. Probably the gentlest and affective in this collection.
‣ The Gyutou
A sentient artisanal Japanese knife meets its compatible owner. Best that I don't share any more than that.
‣ Road Trip
A group of policemen goes out of town to celebrate their chief’s birthday in some resort south of Manila during the pandemic (indubitably took cues from that shameless lockdown mañanita ). Just when I thought Batacan wouldn’t go this way.
The Langdon-esque character that the readers of Smaller and Smaller Circle will be familiar with—Father Augusto Saenz, the Jesuit priest and forensic anthropologist—appears a couple of times here in ‘Pencil No. 1’ and in ‘Comforter of the Afflicted’.
It's wise to read these stories not expecting resolution. Batacan tells this,
Some of my preferred pieces,
‣ Accidents Happen
A twelve-year-old son endures the confines of growing up in an affluent and political family. It ended intriguingly and I wanted to know more.
‣ The One Cry
Joanna Bonifacio, the journalist from Smaller and Smaller Circles , returns to cover the murder of a young woman in a small provincial town where everyone knows everyone else. This is one of the longer pieces and it has some effective descriptions.
‣ Promises to Keep
Short-lived lovers meet up again after decades to fulfill a favor. Probably the gentlest and affective in this collection.
‣ The Gyutou
A sentient artisanal Japanese knife meets its compatible owner. Best that I don't share any more than that.
‣ Road Trip
A group of policemen goes out of town to celebrate their chief’s birthday in some resort south of Manila during the pandemic (indubitably took cues from that shameless lockdown mañanita ). Just when I thought Batacan wouldn’t go this way.
The Langdon-esque character that the readers of Smaller and Smaller Circle will be familiar with—Father Augusto Saenz, the Jesuit priest and forensic anthropologist—appears a couple of times here in ‘Pencil No. 1’ and in ‘Comforter of the Afflicted’.
It's wise to read these stories not expecting resolution. Batacan tells this,
In fiction as in real life, sometimes that most you can arrive at is not justice, but understanding.
February 6, 2026
5/5. This is my sign to read more books by Filipino authors!
August 2, 2026
One of those rare collections of short stories where every single piece was excellent! Absolutely stunning work.
Some of my favorites:
1) Door 59 - Neatly subverts expectations, but upon my second read, I realized the twist wasn't out of nowhere at all. Proof that F.H. Batacan certainly knows how to lay groundwork and effectively utilize foreshadowing.
2) The One Cry - A bleak, horrific look at how justice works in the Philippines. If you've ever heard the song Tatsulok, this story truly exemplifies the line "ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman".
3) Road Trip - If you remember the story of Philippine National Police Chief Sinas's birthday celebrations in May 2020 which violated lockdown protocols and how he never faced any kind of consequence for it, this one will hit beautifully.
Some of my favorites:
1) Door 59 - Neatly subverts expectations, but upon my second read, I realized the twist wasn't out of nowhere at all. Proof that F.H. Batacan certainly knows how to lay groundwork and effectively utilize foreshadowing.
2) The One Cry - A bleak, horrific look at how justice works in the Philippines. If you've ever heard the song Tatsulok, this story truly exemplifies the line "ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman".
3) Road Trip - If you remember the story of Philippine National Police Chief Sinas's birthday celebrations in May 2020 which violated lockdown protocols and how he never faced any kind of consequence for it, this one will hit beautifully.
August 16, 2026
“maybe some people are still capable of telling the truth in this fucked-up country.”
i thought no one quote could sum up the reading experience i had with this book… but there’s just this one line that stuck with me the most. batacan explores more of the country’s violence and injustice with this collection of short stories, may it be accidental or not.
this book was a whole rollercoaster ride of “oh my god what just happened?!” and “nakakainis naman yung isang character?!” but more than my resentment towards those people in the book came my silent prayer that still hopes for justice to be served—in this country, or even in the stories here.
maybe there are some people who’re capable of telling the truth after all?
i thought no one quote could sum up the reading experience i had with this book… but there’s just this one line that stuck with me the most. batacan explores more of the country’s violence and injustice with this collection of short stories, may it be accidental or not.
this book was a whole rollercoaster ride of “oh my god what just happened?!” and “nakakainis naman yung isang character?!” but more than my resentment towards those people in the book came my silent prayer that still hopes for justice to be served—in this country, or even in the stories here.
maybe there are some people who’re capable of telling the truth after all?
August 30, 2026
Accidents Happen was a book I went into with high expectations after really enjoying Smaller and Smaller Circles. Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy this one as much. I can see that there are deeper meanings and social issues being explored in each story, and some of them really worked for me, but others felt like something I was simply reading without fully understanding or connecting with on a deeper level.
Maybe this book is simply not for me. Some stories were a hit, while others did not really leave much of an impression, but I can still appreciate what the book was trying to say. Overall, I would say it is a good book, just not one that I personally connected with.
Maybe this book is simply not for me. Some stories were a hit, while others did not really leave much of an impression, but I can still appreciate what the book was trying to say. Overall, I would say it is a good book, just not one that I personally connected with.
June 28, 2026
Goosebumps over and over. Absolutely masterfully written.
(Read the World challenge Philippines)
(Read the World challenge Philippines)
March 2, 2026
Accidents Happen by F. H. Batacan is a masterclass in the art of “showing, not telling.” Set in the Philippines, this short story collection exposes the ugliness and unsettling realities of human nature when people are confronted with difficult choices and adversities. Batacan doesn’t spoon-feed explanations or moral conclusions—she lets the characters’ actions speak for themselves, allowing readers to witness the slow unraveling of consequences.
A more expansive version of “hurt people hurt people” runs through the book’s core. The stories revolve around selfish and morally corrupt individuals whose choices ripple outward, harming not only others but ultimately themselves. In Batacan’s hands, evil isn’t loud or theatrical—it’s disturbingly ordinary, making the consequences feel all the more real
A more expansive version of “hurt people hurt people” runs through the book’s core. The stories revolve around selfish and morally corrupt individuals whose choices ripple outward, harming not only others but ultimately themselves. In Batacan’s hands, evil isn’t loud or theatrical—it’s disturbingly ordinary, making the consequences feel all the more real
February 23, 2026
Most of the stories feature someone who is about to die, is dying, or is already dead—that's just how crime fiction is, I suppose—Batacan does an excellent job of making each story distinct and chilling in its own way. While her style of writing is quite conventional for my taste, but I found myself invested in each story because of the way Batacan writes character-driven narratives with a careful balance of scene description and character monologue. This was a wonderful collection that showcases the many perspectives from which crime fiction can be written.
July 14, 2025
You can also read my review here: The Paper Reels!
“Everybody’s got a heart beating under the floorboards. Everybody.”
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of story collections. Scroll just a little on my feed and you’ll see I’m always reaching for them: fiction, non-fiction, anything that hits. So when I heard about Accidents Happen, F.H. Batacan’s new crime fiction collection, I ran, not walked, to her book signing.
First of all, let it be known: I’m already a long-time Batacan fan. Ever since I read Smaller and Smaller Circles, I’ve been craving more from her. And at the same time, aching, really, because we need more Filipino writers in this genre. We need more.
〰️ Accidents Happen is made up of 11 deliciously dark, tightly crafted stories that orbit around a central theme: evil. Evil that lives inside people, that festers and for some, evil that waits. There were that stories made my skin crawl while others left me heartbroken, staring at the page thinking, “This is too real.” And that’s what makes it so good. It’s sharp, timely, and unflinching.
〰️ Batacan’s writing remains as precise and piercing as ever. She writes crime fiction with the grace of literary prose; there’s a quiet beauty in the way she lays down even the most chilling details. Her opening lines alone are enough to pull you under. She really is a master of the slow sting, and that’s a hill I will gladly die on.
〰️ In her acknowledgments, Batacan writes: “Evil speaks to what is already inside many of us, yearning to get out, just waiting for permission.” This collection explores exactly that. It shows you the evil, then dares you to ask why. Some stories answer. Others let the question linger and grow. Either way, it gets under your skin.
Here are my top 5 favorites from the story collection:
🚪Door 59
🌹Comforter of the Afflicted
🔪The Gyutou
🚲 Accidents Happen
✏️ No. 1 Pencil
Every story leaves its mark, subtle but lasting, the kind that lingers long after the last line. Batacan brings a lyrical sharpness to crime fiction that’s rare and powerful. I can only hope we don’t have to wait too long before she blesses us with more. 🤲
“Everybody’s got a heart beating under the floorboards. Everybody.”
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of story collections. Scroll just a little on my feed and you’ll see I’m always reaching for them: fiction, non-fiction, anything that hits. So when I heard about Accidents Happen, F.H. Batacan’s new crime fiction collection, I ran, not walked, to her book signing.
First of all, let it be known: I’m already a long-time Batacan fan. Ever since I read Smaller and Smaller Circles, I’ve been craving more from her. And at the same time, aching, really, because we need more Filipino writers in this genre. We need more.
〰️ Accidents Happen is made up of 11 deliciously dark, tightly crafted stories that orbit around a central theme: evil. Evil that lives inside people, that festers and for some, evil that waits. There were that stories made my skin crawl while others left me heartbroken, staring at the page thinking, “This is too real.” And that’s what makes it so good. It’s sharp, timely, and unflinching.
〰️ Batacan’s writing remains as precise and piercing as ever. She writes crime fiction with the grace of literary prose; there’s a quiet beauty in the way she lays down even the most chilling details. Her opening lines alone are enough to pull you under. She really is a master of the slow sting, and that’s a hill I will gladly die on.
〰️ In her acknowledgments, Batacan writes: “Evil speaks to what is already inside many of us, yearning to get out, just waiting for permission.” This collection explores exactly that. It shows you the evil, then dares you to ask why. Some stories answer. Others let the question linger and grow. Either way, it gets under your skin.
Here are my top 5 favorites from the story collection:
🚪Door 59
🌹Comforter of the Afflicted
🔪The Gyutou
🚲 Accidents Happen
✏️ No. 1 Pencil
Every story leaves its mark, subtle but lasting, the kind that lingers long after the last line. Batacan brings a lyrical sharpness to crime fiction that’s rare and powerful. I can only hope we don’t have to wait too long before she blesses us with more. 🤲
May 14, 2025
After Smaller and Smaller Circles became a standout read for me, I was excited to dive into Accidents Happen. It made me so happy to see familiar faces like Father Saenz again. This anthology leans into crime, horror, and speculative fiction, all wrapped in Filipino atmosphere and grit.
Some stories absolutely haunted me. Gyutou was chilling in the best way, Road Trip was unsettling and eerily grounded, and Keeping Time hit a little too close to home with its pandemic theme. Batacan knows how to explore the darker corners of the human psyche while keeping it rooted in real-world issues like class, corruption, and violence.
That said, not all the stories stuck with me. A few felt a bit long, and as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of short stories, I did miss a sense of closure here and there. But when these stories hit, they really hit.
If you love layered, character-driven horror with a distinctly Filipino flavor, there are some real gems here worth savoring.
I scored them individually but overall, this was a 3.8 stars rounded off to 4.
Some stories absolutely haunted me. Gyutou was chilling in the best way, Road Trip was unsettling and eerily grounded, and Keeping Time hit a little too close to home with its pandemic theme. Batacan knows how to explore the darker corners of the human psyche while keeping it rooted in real-world issues like class, corruption, and violence.
That said, not all the stories stuck with me. A few felt a bit long, and as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of short stories, I did miss a sense of closure here and there. But when these stories hit, they really hit.
If you love layered, character-driven horror with a distinctly Filipino flavor, there are some real gems here worth savoring.
I scored them individually but overall, this was a 3.8 stars rounded off to 4.
July 26, 2025
4.5
Top 1 & 2 were my favorites, no contest. The rest, I had to think about. Best part was that you end up wanting more after every story. Biggest critique would be that some endings fell flat.
I want to particularly note that I had to stop reading The One Cry midway through to take a couple of deep breaths. The whole story felt like absolute torture.
My personal ranking:
1. Door 59 - I wouldn't
2. The One Cry
3. No. 1 Pencil
4. The Gyotou
5. Road Trip
6. Harvest
7. Promises to Keep
8. Accidents Happen
9. Comforter of the Afflicted
10. Original Sin
11. Keeping Time
Top 1 & 2 were my favorites, no contest. The rest, I had to think about. Best part was that you end up wanting more after every story. Biggest critique would be that some endings fell flat.
I want to particularly note that I had to stop reading The One Cry midway through to take a couple of deep breaths. The whole story felt like absolute torture.
My personal ranking:
1. Door 59 - I wouldn't
2. The One Cry
3. No. 1 Pencil
4. The Gyotou
5. Road Trip
6. Harvest
7. Promises to Keep
8. Accidents Happen
9. Comforter of the Afflicted
10. Original Sin
11. Keeping Time
August 4, 2025
Surprisingly good. My favorite stories were Original Sin, No. 1 Pencil, and Road Trip.
November 6, 2025
a very enjoyable, thought-provoking collection. all the stories were interesting in some way, but my favorites are Door 59, Harvest, and Road Trip.
4.5
4.5
April 23, 2026
prio reading for a book club w/ college friends!
my first f.h. batacan! i love it. the ruveals gag me. me at any point that i am reading this: "Where are you taking me?!" na para bang ako si AjayDeluxe na nagrereact sa bagong kanta
my first f.h. batacan! i love it. the ruveals gag me. me at any point that i am reading this: "Where are you taking me?!" na para bang ako si AjayDeluxe na nagrereact sa bagong kanta
August 5, 2026
amazing
August 8, 2026
fave stories are road trip and door 59!!
September 3, 2026
amazing amazing AMAZING! every story left me dumbfounded and I had to pace myself with reading bc every story leaves you with something to mull over.
June 28, 2025
An exceptional short story collection that are intertwined by one fact: no accidents happen. This one made me think not just about the stories in the book but also the untold crimes left hanging by a justice system filled with corruption.
February 1, 2026
What’s guaranteed in this reading experience is that, as a reader, you become aware of how powerless you actually are in an oppressive system, especially if you are a woman in a semi-colonial country where the justice system is deeply flawed and its biggest criminals are those in power. At the very least, in Batacan’s world, there’s the accompanying moody, smoky, melancholic feel of noir—cinematic, like those in detective dramas, with a figure walking along empty streets.
My curiosity lies in the recurrent use of the characters from “Smaller and Smaller Circles,” particularly Father Augusto Saenz, a religious male figure, and Joanna Bonifacio, a female journalist, who repeatedly investigate the aftermaths of crime and whose characteristics appear transferable to real-life figures. Batacan’s characters possess rich inner dialogues that depict intimacies grounded in familiarity, allowing us to easily imagine ourselves in their shoes as they confront frustration or make difficult choices. And through her rendering of their perspectives, the author clearly signals her own experiences as a journalist who previously worked within the intelligence community.
Personally, I approach crime stories with hesitation, largely out of the concern that the writing may lean toward reactionary perspectives (especially cop-based stories) rather than humanizing portrayals. However, I did not feel this way here. In fact, I found myself feeling deep sympathy for those who strive to do good in spaces where doing so is inconvenient and difficult.
Needless to say, I would gladly return to this story collection in the future, and I would recommend it to everyone I know. A solid 10/10 for its socio-political commentary and the smooth, clever quality of its writing.
My curiosity lies in the recurrent use of the characters from “Smaller and Smaller Circles,” particularly Father Augusto Saenz, a religious male figure, and Joanna Bonifacio, a female journalist, who repeatedly investigate the aftermaths of crime and whose characteristics appear transferable to real-life figures. Batacan’s characters possess rich inner dialogues that depict intimacies grounded in familiarity, allowing us to easily imagine ourselves in their shoes as they confront frustration or make difficult choices. And through her rendering of their perspectives, the author clearly signals her own experiences as a journalist who previously worked within the intelligence community.
Personally, I approach crime stories with hesitation, largely out of the concern that the writing may lean toward reactionary perspectives (especially cop-based stories) rather than humanizing portrayals. However, I did not feel this way here. In fact, I found myself feeling deep sympathy for those who strive to do good in spaces where doing so is inconvenient and difficult.
Needless to say, I would gladly return to this story collection in the future, and I would recommend it to everyone I know. A solid 10/10 for its socio-political commentary and the smooth, clever quality of its writing.
April 3, 2025
1 - Francis is the son of a powerful politician, whom he despises. His mother, a former beauty queen, is now a drug addict who isolates herself in her room. Francis often confided in Juanito, their driver, sharing stories about his hometown in Laguna. One day, he fled, leading his parents to believe he had suffered an accident while riding his bike. However, in reality, he simply left. I loved that my two hometowns, Batangas and Mindoro, were mentioned. There was nothing shocking about the politician's lifestyle, though.
2 - How tragic. This child stabbed herself with a pencil just to escape the constant shouting of her stepmother. Lord, please protect and save the children.
3 - Did that man in the wheelchair really sexually assault a 6-year-old child? That's horrifying.
4 - Justice has been served, ladies and gentlemen.
5 - Okay, it didn't really grip me, but it does have a dystopia-to-real-world theme. Personally, I didn't like it. (discovered that i want to work for WHO lol)
6 - Adultery and murder through the perspective of a knife????
7 - ha so mercy killing?
8 - ha
9 - Ah, so the twins… had a relationship?
10 - As for the stories, they seem to be getting more and more bland over time.
11 - That's what I like—something weird! 🤣 For me, the ending was powerful.
2 - How tragic. This child stabbed herself with a pencil just to escape the constant shouting of her stepmother. Lord, please protect and save the children.
3 - Did that man in the wheelchair really sexually assault a 6-year-old child? That's horrifying.
4 - Justice has been served, ladies and gentlemen.
5 - Okay, it didn't really grip me, but it does have a dystopia-to-real-world theme. Personally, I didn't like it. (discovered that i want to work for WHO lol)
6 - Adultery and murder through the perspective of a knife????
7 - ha so mercy killing?
8 - ha
9 - Ah, so the twins… had a relationship?
10 - As for the stories, they seem to be getting more and more bland over time.
11 - That's what I like—something weird! 🤣 For me, the ending was powerful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2024
This was an extremely strong short story collection with a mystery bent. Set in the Philippines, these stories explore acts of violence, mostly towards women as well as some definite different points of view (one of my favorites is from the POV of a beautiful kitchen knife). There is a recurring character, a forensic anthropologist, who is also a priest, and he's in the author's earlier book, Smaller and Smaller Circles. I can't wait to read that one as well.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
July 15, 2025
In the afterword to her first short story collection, Filipino crime writer F.H. Batacan made note of a certain kind of evil in our country, one that knocks on our doors, hangs up its hat, and breaks bread with even the best of us. Many of those in power count on this kind of evil: folksy, quotidian, and hinging on ‘pakikisama,’ on snagging the ‘kiliti’ of the masses. It GETS us, it knows us, and, Batacan cautions, it is perhaps already inside many of us, just biding its time.
Certainly, much of her anthology, ‘Accidents Happen and Other Stories’ doesn’t so much grapple with this evil as sit across from it and stare it dead in the eye. These are stories of crime, horror, and the supernatural, featuring those in high places who are used to insidiously striking fear and getting their way…and those in low places who are unable to extricate themselves from the jaws of impunity. Because let’s face it: we live in the Philippines, where, to quote writer Jessica Zafra, ‘nobody knows assholes like we know assholes,’ where monsters cloak themselves in the benign, where justice is as elusive as mercury, where more often than not, the very best we can do is bear witness and then tell the story.
There is some pretty gutting stuff in this book. These stories dwell in a place where impunity, avarice, and harmful lusts are the rule rather than the exception. And yet, to borrow a quote from 2000s TV show, ‘Angel’: “If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.” Because Batacan is also all about the small yet necessary justices, about the ones who persist in a deeply corrupt system. While she is greatly skilled at characterizing the lurking fiends among us, I laud her portrayal of the different shadings of beneficent people there still are. Some stories feature souls who intimately understand loneliness and stave it off with each other’s company; many center around those who choose to live fulfilling lives slowly and deliberately in a rushing world. I found it very heartening how she writes about ordinary bleeding-hearts in solidarity with the oppressed; deeply empathetic folk who bend the rules just to make things right. And lit like lanterns are her virtuoso characters with electric-impulse minds and abilities to connect the dots, geniuses who fortunately use their powers for the good that is so desperately needed in a country like ours.
There are some stories in this collection that could have been done better –they felt like unfinished trains of thought still poised on the edge of something. But Batacan’s more polished tales truly shone and left me mulling upon them long after the pages were turned.
My favorite stories in this collection:
Accidents Happen – a young boy struggling to keep his head up amidst the household dysfunction and filthy politicking of his parents, a sympathetic driver watching out for him, a longing to break free from the nastiness of it all…the ending to this one promptly set off many MORE stories in my head like fireworks. Now this how you start an anthology.
Just One Cry – Go-getter journalist Joanna and quick-minded photographer Tony set out to cover a story about a rape and murder in a small town, unearthing the dirty ministrations of a great many in the process. This one is a searing, sometimes disheartening look at how far some would go to shield the powerful who couldn’t care less for them. And yet, as Joanna says, “Maybe some people are still capable of telling the truth in this fucked-up country.”
The Gyotou – The life of a kitchen knife as it passes from the hands of one who deeply cares for it to one who abuses it, culminating in an act of violence. Batacan takes a real gamble with this one, but it pays off – the result is a narrative personification full of grit and polish, and a twisted and elegant comeuppance that was gruesomely poetic and gave me goosebumps.
Promises to Keep – my favorite of all the stories, about a woman who reunites with her ex-lover from years past to fulfill a mysterious promise she has made to him. Well, Batacan sure went for the emotional jugular on this one! I love how this story is suffused with the bittersweet ache of promises present and the would-have-beens of a love affair long past. It is quietly and achingly melancholic in an everyday sort of way, yet there is nothing at all commonplace about what this man has asked of this woman. There is a sense of the inevitable – these two are years and continents apart, yet only he could have asked such a thing of her, and only she could have done it for him. There’s a particular moment of elegiac intimacy towards the end that feels like a kick to the heart.
Original Sin – a man comes home to someone with whom he shares an unspeakable past, for which all their loved ones still quietly condemn them. There’s a song out there titled ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,’ which is an apt description for the slow devolution of a relationship depicted in this story.
Road Trip – cops on the go enact violence on a small family and subsequently face dark and out-of-this-world consequences. It’s worth it to note that though is the final story of this collection, it is the ONLY one in which the police force really plays a vital role….and a malevolent role at that. Because let’s face it: more often than not, most cops are bastards. I needed some sweet vindication for the wronged party in this one, and boy did I get it in the most deliciously chilling way possible. And thus, ‘Accidents Happen and Other Stories’ ends on a gratifying flourish.
Certainly, much of her anthology, ‘Accidents Happen and Other Stories’ doesn’t so much grapple with this evil as sit across from it and stare it dead in the eye. These are stories of crime, horror, and the supernatural, featuring those in high places who are used to insidiously striking fear and getting their way…and those in low places who are unable to extricate themselves from the jaws of impunity. Because let’s face it: we live in the Philippines, where, to quote writer Jessica Zafra, ‘nobody knows assholes like we know assholes,’ where monsters cloak themselves in the benign, where justice is as elusive as mercury, where more often than not, the very best we can do is bear witness and then tell the story.
There is some pretty gutting stuff in this book. These stories dwell in a place where impunity, avarice, and harmful lusts are the rule rather than the exception. And yet, to borrow a quote from 2000s TV show, ‘Angel’: “If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.” Because Batacan is also all about the small yet necessary justices, about the ones who persist in a deeply corrupt system. While she is greatly skilled at characterizing the lurking fiends among us, I laud her portrayal of the different shadings of beneficent people there still are. Some stories feature souls who intimately understand loneliness and stave it off with each other’s company; many center around those who choose to live fulfilling lives slowly and deliberately in a rushing world. I found it very heartening how she writes about ordinary bleeding-hearts in solidarity with the oppressed; deeply empathetic folk who bend the rules just to make things right. And lit like lanterns are her virtuoso characters with electric-impulse minds and abilities to connect the dots, geniuses who fortunately use their powers for the good that is so desperately needed in a country like ours.
There are some stories in this collection that could have been done better –they felt like unfinished trains of thought still poised on the edge of something. But Batacan’s more polished tales truly shone and left me mulling upon them long after the pages were turned.
My favorite stories in this collection:
Accidents Happen – a young boy struggling to keep his head up amidst the household dysfunction and filthy politicking of his parents, a sympathetic driver watching out for him, a longing to break free from the nastiness of it all…the ending to this one promptly set off many MORE stories in my head like fireworks. Now this how you start an anthology.
Just One Cry – Go-getter journalist Joanna and quick-minded photographer Tony set out to cover a story about a rape and murder in a small town, unearthing the dirty ministrations of a great many in the process. This one is a searing, sometimes disheartening look at how far some would go to shield the powerful who couldn’t care less for them. And yet, as Joanna says, “Maybe some people are still capable of telling the truth in this fucked-up country.”
The Gyotou – The life of a kitchen knife as it passes from the hands of one who deeply cares for it to one who abuses it, culminating in an act of violence. Batacan takes a real gamble with this one, but it pays off – the result is a narrative personification full of grit and polish, and a twisted and elegant comeuppance that was gruesomely poetic and gave me goosebumps.
Promises to Keep – my favorite of all the stories, about a woman who reunites with her ex-lover from years past to fulfill a mysterious promise she has made to him. Well, Batacan sure went for the emotional jugular on this one! I love how this story is suffused with the bittersweet ache of promises present and the would-have-beens of a love affair long past. It is quietly and achingly melancholic in an everyday sort of way, yet there is nothing at all commonplace about what this man has asked of this woman. There is a sense of the inevitable – these two are years and continents apart, yet only he could have asked such a thing of her, and only she could have done it for him. There’s a particular moment of elegiac intimacy towards the end that feels like a kick to the heart.
Original Sin – a man comes home to someone with whom he shares an unspeakable past, for which all their loved ones still quietly condemn them. There’s a song out there titled ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,’ which is an apt description for the slow devolution of a relationship depicted in this story.
Road Trip – cops on the go enact violence on a small family and subsequently face dark and out-of-this-world consequences. It’s worth it to note that though is the final story of this collection, it is the ONLY one in which the police force really plays a vital role….and a malevolent role at that. Because let’s face it: more often than not, most cops are bastards. I needed some sweet vindication for the wronged party in this one, and boy did I get it in the most deliciously chilling way possible. And thus, ‘Accidents Happen and Other Stories’ ends on a gratifying flourish.
January 15, 2026
3.5 stars
strong short stories mostly across the board but personal standouts were definitely accidents happen, door 59, the gyutou, and harvest. finished those stories with many questions and much urge to know what transpires after.
batacan’s writing is just as compelling as demonstrated in smaller and smaller circles, and revisiting it was a good time!
strong short stories mostly across the board but personal standouts were definitely accidents happen, door 59, the gyutou, and harvest. finished those stories with many questions and much urge to know what transpires after.
batacan’s writing is just as compelling as demonstrated in smaller and smaller circles, and revisiting it was a good time!
September 18, 2025
PERFECTION. CREEPY. TIMELY. UNIQUE.
DARK. IMPACTING. EERIE. THOUGHT PROVOKING. BRAVE. DEVASTATING.
I like all the stories but my favorites are Accidents happen, Keeping time, The gyutou, Comforter of the afflicted, and Road trip.
DARK. IMPACTING. EERIE. THOUGHT PROVOKING. BRAVE. DEVASTATING.
I like all the stories but my favorites are Accidents happen, Keeping time, The gyutou, Comforter of the afflicted, and Road trip.
March 23, 2025
The author of this wonderful collection of short stories may not be familiar to most U.S. readers, but that very well could change. F.H. Batacan is a Filipino journalist, musician and crime fiction writer currently based in Singapore. She won the prestigious Philippine National Book Award for her debut novel, SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN does not have a single forgettable moment, and Batacan proves that she has complete mastery of the written word. Here are four stories that especially resonated with me.
“Accidents Happen”: The title piece is indeed memorable. This deeply layered tale begins with Domingo and Mario, who are driving a refrigerated van full of contraband meat out of Manila before they are met with a serious vehicular accident. A young boy named Francis will find his life forever changed by these events that are all but unrelated to him, except for fate. Batacan explores all facets of this story with fine results.
“No. 1 Pencil”: The death of a woman who allegedly fell down the stairs of her house becomes the initial circumstance that opens the door to a much deeper issue and a possible homicide at the hands of an unlikely suspect. Mrs. del Mundo was not liked by everyone, least of all her stepdaughter, Laya, a musical prodigy who is now completely deaf. This was not immediately discovered by the inspectors working on the case, but it was found out by the consultant they called in for help: Father Augusto Saenz, who also is the protagonist of SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES. The truth is utterly chilling, and the cause of Laya's hearing loss and the ironic reference to pencils will stun even the sternest reader.
“Keeping Time”: In this horrific end-of-the-world story with a definite leaning towards science fiction, Mike Tejada from the World Health Organization is tasked with traveling the world to speak about the pandemic that will be the eventual doom of all life on earth. The water is permanently tainted, which causes every living being to die a painful death due to starvation. Mike himself has fallen from a top weight of 300 pounds to his current fit and trim self, but it’s just a matter of time. He meets a stranger, an attractive young woman who happens to be a journalist covering his speech, and they share some very philosophical, existential moments together.
“Original Sin”: This quiet, unassuming story leaves much to the reader’s imagination, but along the way it builds from a haunting past between the two primary characters that colors all of their current interactions. Grace has not seen Greg since each got married for the first time. Greg left their town after some unpleasantness and found work in the United States. But now he is back in his home country and trying to reconnect with Grace, for whom he always had a thing. Any reluctance she has about being with him is amplified when his cousin and her new husband appear on the scene to reopen old wounds.
There is something to be enjoyed and respected in each of these stories, enough to make me want to go back and read SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES and wish aloud that F.H. Batacan does not wait so long between book releases next time around.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN does not have a single forgettable moment, and Batacan proves that she has complete mastery of the written word. Here are four stories that especially resonated with me.
“Accidents Happen”: The title piece is indeed memorable. This deeply layered tale begins with Domingo and Mario, who are driving a refrigerated van full of contraband meat out of Manila before they are met with a serious vehicular accident. A young boy named Francis will find his life forever changed by these events that are all but unrelated to him, except for fate. Batacan explores all facets of this story with fine results.
“No. 1 Pencil”: The death of a woman who allegedly fell down the stairs of her house becomes the initial circumstance that opens the door to a much deeper issue and a possible homicide at the hands of an unlikely suspect. Mrs. del Mundo was not liked by everyone, least of all her stepdaughter, Laya, a musical prodigy who is now completely deaf. This was not immediately discovered by the inspectors working on the case, but it was found out by the consultant they called in for help: Father Augusto Saenz, who also is the protagonist of SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES. The truth is utterly chilling, and the cause of Laya's hearing loss and the ironic reference to pencils will stun even the sternest reader.
“Keeping Time”: In this horrific end-of-the-world story with a definite leaning towards science fiction, Mike Tejada from the World Health Organization is tasked with traveling the world to speak about the pandemic that will be the eventual doom of all life on earth. The water is permanently tainted, which causes every living being to die a painful death due to starvation. Mike himself has fallen from a top weight of 300 pounds to his current fit and trim self, but it’s just a matter of time. He meets a stranger, an attractive young woman who happens to be a journalist covering his speech, and they share some very philosophical, existential moments together.
“Original Sin”: This quiet, unassuming story leaves much to the reader’s imagination, but along the way it builds from a haunting past between the two primary characters that colors all of their current interactions. Grace has not seen Greg since each got married for the first time. Greg left their town after some unpleasantness and found work in the United States. But now he is back in his home country and trying to reconnect with Grace, for whom he always had a thing. Any reluctance she has about being with him is amplified when his cousin and her new husband appear on the scene to reopen old wounds.
There is something to be enjoyed and respected in each of these stories, enough to make me want to go back and read SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES and wish aloud that F.H. Batacan does not wait so long between book releases next time around.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
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