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The Things He Heard: A horror novella
A tragic, violent
The boy didn't have cancer. He had something else buried deep within which he named "his Cancer". Others didn't know it was there, even though he tried telling them. Instead, they said he was "fine" and being "silly" and "melodramatic". Even when his anger turned to frustration and streams of tears, they continued to say he was okay. He knew he wasn't though and, the more they doubted him and didn't listen, the more the "cancer" grew.
He could feel it inside and, it scared him. He knew that, one day, it was going to explode. What he didn't know was who would be caught up in the explosion.
From award-winning author Matt Shaw, the author of Sick B*stards, The Octopus Trilogy and Roe V. Wade.
The boy didn't have cancer. He had something else buried deep within which he named "his Cancer". Others didn't know it was there, even though he tried telling them. Instead, they said he was "fine" and being "silly" and "melodramatic". Even when his anger turned to frustration and streams of tears, they continued to say he was okay. He knew he wasn't though and, the more they doubted him and didn't listen, the more the "cancer" grew.
He could feel it inside and, it scared him. He knew that, one day, it was going to explode. What he didn't know was who would be caught up in the explosion.
From award-winning author Matt Shaw, the author of Sick B*stards, The Octopus Trilogy and Roe V. Wade.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2022
69 people are currently reading
1463 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
534 books2,222 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
July 13, 2023
This absolutely broke my heart 💔
Ben Closs is a ten year old boy, who is constantly bullied at school. He has a voice in his head nicknamed “cancer”, which constantly tells him to do bad things, and if he just acts upon it once, then the voice will leave him alone.
This is a novella which I devoured in one sitting, and once again Matt Shaw has turned the “shock” dial up to the MAX!!!
I’m still trying to process that ending!! 😱😢💔
Ben Closs is a ten year old boy, who is constantly bullied at school. He has a voice in his head nicknamed “cancer”, which constantly tells him to do bad things, and if he just acts upon it once, then the voice will leave him alone.
This is a novella which I devoured in one sitting, and once again Matt Shaw has turned the “shock” dial up to the MAX!!!
I’m still trying to process that ending!! 😱😢💔
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January 14, 2025Edited to add: I had forgotten I even reviewed this this thing. If I were to review it now I would be way less nice, don't waste your time with this book and its garbage AI generated cover.
I decided not to rate this one. Ultimately I have a very profound dislike for the tropes used in this story ("the voices in my head told me to do it", bullied child, failure to communicate...) and I knew it before I started reading. I read this book because of the BOH indie authors brawl and I don't think it would be fair of me to give this book a low rating when I knew it wasn't for me and proceeded anyway.
I decided not to rate this one. Ultimately I have a very profound dislike for the tropes used in this story ("the voices in my head told me to do it", bullied child, failure to communicate...) and I knew it before I started reading. I read this book because of the BOH indie authors brawl and I don't think it would be fair of me to give this book a low rating when I knew it wasn't for me and proceeded anyway.
December 9, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a nasty little affair. Poor Ben struggled so greatly with the voice inside of his head. Not like a normal internal dialogue that we all have, but something a little more...shall we say...direct? Lots of solid plot points and a likeable lead. Where this fell short for me, literally, was the length and the development of both Ben and his dynamics with this voice. There were so many possibilities here and the author could have dragged this out much more, benefitting everything, but it all felt very rushed, abbreviated, and incomplete. This needed to pace itself better and take its time, as it had all the right pieces, but just couldn't fit them together in such a way that gave it all justice. Still a fun way to kill thirty minutes.
January 28, 2023
This broke my heart in pieces.
February 12, 2024
Bullied
Ben was a quiet and shy boy. He was bullied because of this and it was worse when he couldn’t take up for himself. Ben heard voices in his head that kept getting louder, imploring Ben to do something guaranteed to make Ben happy and the voice would go away. What did the voice want him to do? Would he do it?
Ben was a quiet and shy boy. He was bullied because of this and it was worse when he couldn’t take up for himself. Ben heard voices in his head that kept getting louder, imploring Ben to do something guaranteed to make Ben happy and the voice would go away. What did the voice want him to do? Would he do it?
January 1, 2023
You know that voice inside your head? Would you listen to it if it said for you to do something bad and evil? Would you try to get rid of it?
Check the trigger warnings before reading.
Check the trigger warnings before reading.
May 2, 2025
#️⃣1️⃣9️⃣6️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🐠 🍭
Date 🌬️: Friday, May 2, 2025 ☄️
Word Count📃: 16k Words, short
╔⏤⏤⏤╝❀🌸💮🌸❀╚⏤⏤⏤╗
૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ My 4th read in summertime read-a-thon "since idk wtf to do with my life for one thousand — two hundred — twenty four hours straight" (^-^ )
5️⃣🌟, NO BEN NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
I am uh......speechless 😶 😶 😶 😶 Ben (MA PRECIOUS 10-YEAR-OLD) and his what do you call it? Schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations? This is a very quick heartbreaking story about Ben and his so called "cancer" and how his guardians take that thing literally and never even acknowledged the possibility that MAYYYYYYBE your son has auditory hallucinations that tells him to do bad things? We all go through this very short book all from Ben's perspective in the conversations his 'little voice in his head' tells him to do and only different times that he tries to get rid of it like covering his ears with a pillow to make the voice go away and the most important scene in here, stabbing his ears with a compass 🧭 , yes i'm talking about that type of compass.
The book is like really really short (i finished it in like 30 minutes), this lil paperback is such a gem in literature and just the ending of it was really heartbreaking 😭💔💔 i can't really say anything more than that because this would just be on spoilers territory.
Date 🌬️: Friday, May 2, 2025 ☄️
Word Count📃: 16k Words, short
╔⏤⏤⏤╝❀🌸💮🌸❀╚⏤⏤⏤╗
૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ My 4th read in summertime read-a-thon "since idk wtf to do with my life for one thousand — two hundred — twenty four hours straight" (^-^ )
5️⃣🌟, NO BEN NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
I am uh......speechless 😶 😶 😶 😶 Ben (MA PRECIOUS 10-YEAR-OLD) and his what do you call it? Schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations? This is a very quick heartbreaking story about Ben and his so called "cancer" and how his guardians take that thing literally and never even acknowledged the possibility that MAYYYYYYBE your son has auditory hallucinations that tells him to do bad things? We all go through this very short book all from Ben's perspective in the conversations his 'little voice in his head' tells him to do and only different times that he tries to get rid of it like covering his ears with a pillow to make the voice go away and the most important scene in here, stabbing his ears with a compass 🧭 , yes i'm talking about that type of compass.
The book is like really really short (i finished it in like 30 minutes), this lil paperback is such a gem in literature and just the ending of it was really heartbreaking 😭💔💔 i can't really say anything more than that because this would just be on spoilers territory.
July 4, 2023
This one was super quick but super fun and fucked up. Y’all should know that anything with a kid doing creepy shit is gonna get me 😅
January 31, 2026
This short Matt Shaw novella offers a tale wherein the real horror lies within just how possible the heartbreaking events and emotions could be in real life. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a bullied kid, or someone who has struggled with mental health, there's something in here to terrify anyone but the most callous of hearts. And for those latter types, you suck.
May 5, 2023
Short but creepy :)
I read this in a single sitting. It grabbed me from the start and kept my attention all the way through, which is common from Shaw. :)
I loved the creepy vibe Ben gave off. I love how I can connect with Ben, too, though. I was also bullied in school. I'm just Thankful I didn't have the same issue he has. Lol
I did take off 1 star though because of the ending. It leaves you with too many unanswered questions.
I read this in a single sitting. It grabbed me from the start and kept my attention all the way through, which is common from Shaw. :)
I loved the creepy vibe Ben gave off. I love how I can connect with Ben, too, though. I was also bullied in school. I'm just Thankful I didn't have the same issue he has. Lol
I did take off 1 star though because of the ending. It leaves you with too many unanswered questions.
December 30, 2022
A sad and disturbing story.... but a very well written book....Ben hears a voice in his head and the more he tries to ignore it the harder it gets....finally he gives into it with a surprising and shocking ending...Matt Shaw is a superb author and can only get better and better. I loved it!!
December 21, 2022
Disturbing yet sad
This was a good read. It was disturbing to think of a child in this way Ben was portrayed and at ten same time sad too. Too this I of a child like Ben suffering for so long alone not able to speak out. It brings to the forefront the.harm and self doubt that people have with the same issues that then lead to terrible brutal attacks. And intriguing read with some brilliant characters. Recommended.
This was a good read. It was disturbing to think of a child in this way Ben was portrayed and at ten same time sad too. Too this I of a child like Ben suffering for so long alone not able to speak out. It brings to the forefront the.harm and self doubt that people have with the same issues that then lead to terrible brutal attacks. And intriguing read with some brilliant characters. Recommended.
October 19, 2023
To be honest I was waiting the ENTIRE story for him to listen to the voice. I kept picturing in my head what he would do. The head in the duffle bag was a nice touch. This is my first Matt Shaw book and the next one I’ve decided to read is Matt Shaw as well. Love love loved the storyline,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2022
I enjoyed it! It was my first by Matt Shaw and I look forwards to reading more. The story was raw and heartbreaking in so many ways. The hardest thing for me was the disregard adults showed for him when he LOUDLY needed help, because its what happens every day in every school. It was real horror, happening now.
April 4, 2023
A great story! Matt Shaw has never disappointed, and in this, he really dove deep into the mind. The torment and pain of a fractured mind! Allowing Ben and his "cancer" to really take shape of how mentally someone can be tortured was eye-opening. Not all monsters come from unhealthy environments. Such a detailed and enjoyable mind screw, thanks Matt!
January 16, 2023
"It could happen"
Sadly the subject matter in this one is something that can easily happen IRL.
In all honesty that my preferred horror most of the time.
Matt Shaw paints an engaging and heart breaking story that I could not put down.
Sadly the subject matter in this one is something that can easily happen IRL.
In all honesty that my preferred horror most of the time.
Matt Shaw paints an engaging and heart breaking story that I could not put down.
April 2, 2023
Equal parts devastating and shocking.
The Things He Heard had me gasp in horror at the end!
I do wish this story was a bit longer and that we had more info on the origins of Ben’s “cancer”. It felt like the story stopped just as things were amping up.
The Things He Heard had me gasp in horror at the end!
I do wish this story was a bit longer and that we had more info on the origins of Ben’s “cancer”. It felt like the story stopped just as things were amping up.
January 14, 2023
The story could easily be real life events and that’s what makes it scarier and sad, enjoyed binge reading it
January 18, 2023
All the things he heard
I went in blind, but I love Matt Shaw so I know it's gonna be good 🙌 a short story about a young boy, plagued with voices 💗
I went in blind, but I love Matt Shaw so I know it's gonna be good 🙌 a short story about a young boy, plagued with voices 💗
June 16, 2025
This has to be the first time I've given a horror novella 5 stars Ben's story was so heartbreaking and it really tughed on my heart strings to think a ten year old boy had to go through what he did is so sad I think this book is important I know it's fiction but people really do go through this and the impact that has on those individuals can be heartbreaking I really think this book carries a great mental health awareness and some people may be able to relate to this it was a quick read one I read in one sitting it was hard hitting and it's a book I will think about for quite a while I would highly recommend this book
October 8, 2023
3.5★
This was a really good short horror novella. Even though the ending was predictable it was still sad and really good for my first Matt Shaw book.
This was a really good short horror novella. Even though the ending was predictable it was still sad and really good for my first Matt Shaw book.
May 27, 2023
I did enjoy this and I thought the character development was more than decent for such a short story.
There were a lot of typos which were a little distracting as time went on, but a little polish and care would fix that up.
Very depressing and sort of claustrophobic as you feel trapped with Ben and his cancer. The tension building in that sense was great, and it all unfolded very rapidly at the end.
It was good, more of a 3.5. A good short read, and an interesting premise for a longer novel.
There were a lot of typos which were a little distracting as time went on, but a little polish and care would fix that up.
Very depressing and sort of claustrophobic as you feel trapped with Ben and his cancer. The tension building in that sense was great, and it all unfolded very rapidly at the end.
It was good, more of a 3.5. A good short read, and an interesting premise for a longer novel.
November 25, 2022
Another great read
This book was a lot of fun. Seeing Ben slip into the madness was masterfully written. Even though I feel a little sad that it was a child, I thought it was very cool.
This book was a lot of fun. Seeing Ben slip into the madness was masterfully written. Even though I feel a little sad that it was a child, I thought it was very cool.
April 27, 2023
Great Novella!!
This novella is the first work that I have read from Matt Shaw. I am now looking forward to reading all of his work. This story is chilling and unnerving. The perfect combination!!
This novella is the first work that I have read from Matt Shaw. I am now looking forward to reading all of his work. This story is chilling and unnerving. The perfect combination!!
May 13, 2024
This was a very depressing and heart-breaking story by Shaw.
I'm used to his extreme stories, I think this is my first book by him that's not technically "splatter" but I was still intrigued. So captivating and sad. I absolutely loved it!
4/5
I'm used to his extreme stories, I think this is my first book by him that's not technically "splatter" but I was still intrigued. So captivating and sad. I absolutely loved it!
4/5
January 19, 2023
My first book by Matt Shaw but it won’t be my last.
April 30, 2023
This was my first book from Matt Shaw. I enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. I did not see that ending coming.
July 9, 2023
DNF
Boring with a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. Please get an editor.
Boring with a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. Please get an editor.
June 9, 2024
I love it! It’s a short story about a kid with a voice in his head urging him to commit terrible acts. It was sad how the kid had to endure all the bullying and the persistent voice telling him to harm everyone, but the ending was so satisfying for me. It’s terrible but I like it
October 16, 2024
A dark and heartbreaking story! Definitely a good short read for spooky season!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews