“Polite” horror may seem an oxymoron in and of itself. Editors Alexis DuBone and Eric Raglin bring together 15 writers to explore how politeness and niceness are sometimes merely a fine coat of paint for the absolute rot underneath. The stories are nicely varied in terms of what they explore; tales of how society can crush down individuals, how people treat one another, and how politeness can go very wrong.

Opening the collection is Ariel Marken Jack’s “Cire Perdue,” a tale of weird horror and people who become “wax” metaphorically and perhaps literally. Jack’s writing is sharp and incisive, with social commentary abound. With utterly incredible writing, Jack explores the loss of self at the hands of those in the community. They write with metaphor and poetry, proving a worthy start to the anthology

Next is “These Small Violences” by J.A.W. McCarthy, a stirring story of how kindly violence can be inflicted. McCarthy presents characters who are fundamentally normal individuals with the shared desire to inflict violence. Exploring the depth of violence and the danger behind smiles is nothing new to McCarthy, and this proves to be one of the sharpest, strongest stories for how macabre the danger is.

Marisca Pischette’s “Acid Skin” shows a wish that goes wrong in the worst of ways, demonstrating how politeness can sometimes be literally toxic to all around. The story takes the metaphor of dangerous people who hide beneath polite gazes while being dangerous to those around them. Pischette’s descriptions are simultaneously alluring while never allowing the reader to forget the danger.

“As the Silence Burns” by Sara Tantlinger showcases the sometimes literally burning rage that can lurk behind forced smiles. The tale is one of barely repressed rage, a victim who seeks to take the system about them and turn it to ashes. Tantlinger writes with a fury that can only be described as righteous while exploring what remains when one has nothing left but violence.

Gwendolyn Kiste explores the loss of self in “Welcome to the New You.” Harkening back to such polite horrors as The Stepford Wives, Kiste introduces one person to their duplicate. A better version of themself before demonstrating how utterly horrific a scenario would be.

No Trouble at All is a reminder of how the worst frights can sometimes be hidden behind the kindest of smiles. A terrific anthology with every story being a polite wonder.