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.

"ACCIDENTS HAPPEN does not have a single forgettable moment, and Batacan proves that she has complete mastery of the written word."

“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.