Some really interesting stories here. Some of my favorites were the shortest stories in the collection. The author has a talent for distilling things down into few words, while still painting enough of a picture to enthrall. Also, I really enjoyed having an author's note follow each story with some annotations and backstory.

SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION by Richard Thomas is a collection of stories that take you inside the mind of the deranged. These are not simple tales of monsters but are the monsters themselves. Smolder with me as you explore clown faces, gambling(do you win when you lose? Or lose when you win?), the good and bad side of twins, a slave state ruled by beasts, a second person Lovecraftian story, and a 1500+ word, one sentence panic filled story among other tales.
These stories leave you with a disquiet feeling in your gut and will have you burning for more.

Maybe it’s just because short stories aren’t really my thing, but this collection just didn’t do it for me. As with every short story collection, some were better than others. A few really kept my attention, like “Notus Tollens,” which is about a man who wins a card game and receives a magic coin (along with some other magical things he didn’t really sign up for). That was my favorite. “In His House” was another spooky story that kept me intrigued—it is addressed to the reader and is a uniquely written story (I won’t say anymore so as not to give it away). But others, like “Battle Not With Monsters” and “Clownface,” felt either really predictable or way too short. I didn’t hate this collection, and there are definitely some stories I would recommend or return to, but most of them I would probably pass.

I had a hard time deciding what to rate this because I loved a few of the stories but overall, I wasn’t a fan. I couldn’t connect to most of the stories but I would recommend it if you enjoy really odd short story collections.

Very interesting set of short stories! Perfect for someone who wants to dip their toes into the horror genre!

A fantastic collection of 14 thought provoking horror short stories. Wonderful introduction to the author. As an audiobook I fully enjoyed the various voice actors for each story, the voice matched the story they told. The author notes after the story made the whole experience so intimate. Each story is completely different from the last and at the same time blend so well with one another. The elements of the stories range as wide as the horror genre can reach; each could be a stand alone. I will definitely need a copy for myself.

I’m not usually the biggest fan of single author short story collections (Clive Barker aside), but this one hit all the right notes for me. Although the quality of each story varies, the overall book is definitely worth 5 stars. I recommend this one to those who like their horror with a bit more of a literary feel to it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

I had initially thought this collection would be more obviously scary, as it listed in the horror genre. However, I find myself still thinking about several of these stories with discomfort and unease - and that, for me, is the hallmark of a good horror story. They were not all consistently strong, but the standouts are definitely worth revisiting. Very much enjoyed the author's notes and wish that more collections included these. I hardly ever purchase a physical copy of a book after listening to the audiobook, but I cannot wait to purchase this and reread it.

Notes on the audiobook narration: This collection of stories was perfect to have narrated by different people. This helped to highlight how truly different these stories were in tone and style.

Here is a link to my review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4554526844

These stories give you a subtle sense of uncomfortableness that comes in waves with each story. This anthology isn't outright horrific or bloody; this collection of stories will stoke your flight or fight senses until you can barely stand to be in your own skin as you wait and listen to what happens next. The vaguely uncomfortable feeling sits in your gut and festers. I'm still not over chapter 1. The changing of the narrators helps to distinct each story and gives each a different character.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was hard to get through. I enjoy horror, but nothing in this came across as more than gross or unsettling. I would not recommend this book.
The narrators were good, but that was the one good thing about it.

A dark and disturbing look into human psyche.

ARC review; Releases 2/22/2022
A collection of 14 stories that originally appeared in other collections, sort of a Richard Thomas primer; which is good for me as I somehow have never heard of the author before. These stories vary in almost all aspects: genre, length, POV, tone, etc, but all circle around a theme of the darker sides of the human condition consuming the characters sometimes even releasing the inner beast.

I really enjoyed the majority of these stories, for me the top stand outs were Battle Not With Monsters because it felt real in way of what could happen if there are unanswered calls for help, and Nodus Tollens as it felt like it could have come out Tales from the Crypt, the story I least connected with was How Not to Come Undone and it still was a decent story.

If you have triggers this probably is not the collection for you, but I really enjoyed it. I tend get bogged down in longer fiction as rule so it’s nice to break the mold occasionally.

I consumed this book via audiobook; Each story has it’s own narrator which I really enjoyed for a short story collection. There were some issues with quality when changing the speed of narration. On Audible my baseline speed is 1.4X…this is my first book I’ve listened to in the Netgalley app so I’m not sure if this is due to it being an ARC and final audio editing is happening or if it’s just an issue with the app. You’d think the 1.5x would be 1.5x regardless of app but there are definitely difference if the file is not designed to be sped up.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing access to this ARC.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Forward

I don’t always read the forward but as I’ve never read Richard Thomas before I decided to give it a shot. Brian Evenson delivers a compelling forward that definitely peaks my interest in the anthology. I do think it could have been cut down some to greater affect but all and all it does it’s job and makes me excited to dive in.
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Repent

The noir feeling of a bad kid growing Into a worse cop felt gritty and plausible. I actually like that he was a pretty static character even a valiant act was done for his own desires and while there are nods to trying alternate routes he ultimately chooses a dark path.
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Clown face

Umm disturbing yet not much to it. A decent micro fiction moment in time. I just prefer more to stories
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Requital

Dark insight into guilt consuming someone’s dark deeds. At least that’s how I read before the authors note mentions the little girl is something evil really makes you have to wonder if this is his guilt or something that is being done to him.
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Battle not with monsters

This has been my favorite so far, ironic as in the authors note indicates this one had numerous rejections over 7 years.

A dark look at someone that is truly disturbed, who is both aware yet completely obvious to their actions. A person that may have been helped but went unnoticed in a sea of more oblivious bad people and had to seek a darker absolution. To me it felt akin to Dexter if Harry hadn’t shaped him into the weapon he became.
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Saudade

Even before the authors note this gave strong Dark Tower feels, with a dash of children of the corn. I actually really like these circular stories with a slight changes each in each loop. I’d like to see this one expanded and know more about the story.
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Hiraeth

As noted above the NetGalley app audio seems off but this one really hit robot levels of distortion.

But the story itself, a darker less fantastical Jack and beanstalk feeling story, added into a young romance. And then takes a hard twist into the wtf just happened. I’m left feeling unsure about my feelings of the story

I think this was more on me for not understanding mixed with the poor audio quality.
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Nodus Tollens

Deals in the dark with strangers are rarely a thing that turns out well for those involved. This is an engaging cautionary tale, where your windfall may not be the saving grace you were looking for. I enjoyed it.
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How Not to Come Undone

Interesting magical realism involving twins but didn’t really engage me in the way I’d expect from the premise.
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From Within

I liked this one it packs a lot into a short story. it has a bleakness not always seen in sci-fi, yet leaves room for hope. I’d read a longer form of this story.
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The Cages Bird Sings in a Darkness of Its Own Creation

This one took some time for me to find the grove and I had to go back and listen again but it’s well written and it ask some interesting larger questions and let’s the reader interpret them in there own way. For a story that didn’t immediately grab me I think it says something that I thinks it’s one of the top stories in the collection upon my second listen.
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In His House

Definitely felt the Lovecraft vibes in this story even before the direct references. It’s interesting as it’s presented in the form of a missive that by the end seems as if it’s speaking to the reader themselves.
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Open Waters

A dark look into a plausible dystopian future. A little black mirror mixed with Phillip K. Dick. It’s sad in it’s possibility.
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Undone
Told as a single run on sentence. Gives the reader a sense of anxiety and desperation for a period for an end, for a question unanswered, or even worse a question truly answered. It ramps up as it goes on leaving the reader feeling the fear, exhaustion, and terror of the characters.
Leading towards the truly odd metamorphic ending.
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Ring of Fire

This one was lot. It’s the longest story of the collection that explores isolationism and change, but it’s hard to get into it without spoiling as it could go a lot of different ways. The inclusion of more “spice” was a little off putting not that I’m opposed to that in books it just seemed out of place with the rest of the collection. I did end up enjoying this story by the end.

I fell in love with this short stories. They are all so unsettling and strange, I feel like I’d have even more fun reading it physically. Each narrator is different and perfect for the story they’re reading. The writing is spectacular. I genuinely really loved it. I am indeed buying the physical copy 😂

Imaginative, creepy, visceral. Thomas focuses on human behaviors and emotions, often drawing on characters' dark urges to craft his horror. While I won't say there's something here for everyone, this collection does feature a range of settings in a variety of lengths and genres that broadens its audience appeal. That's the beauty of anthologies: if one story doesn't suit you, others likely will. Case in point, the first few stories had me uncertain about continuing - I had a very strong impression of reading stories written by a man for men - but following stories caught my attention and lessened the feeling. I loved the author's notes accompanying most stories that give insight to his thoughts and the circumstances around each story coming to life. The range of narrators adds interest and helps to differentiate chapters, my favorite easily being the stellar performance of Pete Cross on "Undone." Horror fans, definitely check out this skillfully written collection!