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Bức Tranh Kỳ Quái
Bức tranh cô gái đứng trong gió được đăng tải trên một trang blog nọ, lại có Bức tranh bị nhòe và bóng mờ bao phủ căn hộ do một đứa bé bị mất tích vẽ, còn cả Bức tranh phong cảnh đồi núi với những nét vẽ run rẩy...
Những bức tranh vẽ tưởng chừng như vô thưởng vô phạt, cũng chẳng hề liên quan gì đến nhau... Tất cả tổng cộng 9 bức tranh vẽ tay ẩn chứa những “câu đố bí ẩn” chờ đợi được giải mã.
Rốt cuộc những người vẽ ra chúng đã muốn truyền tải thông điệp gì?
Sự thật chấn động nào được chôn giấu phía sau 9 bức vẽ kỳ lạ ấy?
Sẽ ra sao khi những mảnh ghép bí ẩn rời rạc nọ bỗng dưng được xâu chuỗi lại và liên kết với nhau để mở ra một cái kết chẳng thể ngờ tới?
Những bức tranh vẽ tưởng chừng như vô thưởng vô phạt, cũng chẳng hề liên quan gì đến nhau... Tất cả tổng cộng 9 bức tranh vẽ tay ẩn chứa những “câu đố bí ẩn” chờ đợi được giải mã.
Rốt cuộc những người vẽ ra chúng đã muốn truyền tải thông điệp gì?
Sự thật chấn động nào được chôn giấu phía sau 9 bức vẽ kỳ lạ ấy?
Sẽ ra sao khi những mảnh ghép bí ẩn rời rạc nọ bỗng dưng được xâu chuỗi lại và liên kết với nhau để mở ra một cái kết chẳng thể ngờ tới?
388 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2022
4776 people are currently reading
82241 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,482 reviews
June 16, 2025
Calling all mystery fans! Here's one you're not going to want to miss.
Can a mystery be laid out such that all the clues you need to solve it are in a few drawings? Sure, if it's simple. But what about an intricate, multi-part, multi-crime mystery? Well, here comes Strange Pictures to show us exactly how it's done.
On the surface, this seems like a straightforward concept. We're presented with a series of drawings and seemingly unrelated mysteries. The drawings contain clues, which allow deductions to be made and secrets to be unearthed, until the entire mystery of this story is completely unraveled.
And yet, beneath the surface is this fascinating and surprisingly complex puzzle. It's my favorite type of mystery, where everything you need to solve it exists right before your eyes. The drawings contain all the necessary clues, so I happily donned my detective hat and proceeded to stare really hard at all of them.
But it's not just the mechanics of the mystery that had me impressed. It was also the way the author captured the psychology and emotions behind the crimes. The quiet understatedness of the writing puts the current of unease squarely at the center of attention, and the result is about as compelling as they come.
Needless to say, I was utterly riveted. I feel like I could've easily read this in one sitting if I had the chance. As it was, I gobbled it up as fast as I could, and my mind is still reeling from the way it all came together.
The only thing that held me back from picking this up sooner was the horror aspect. A big deal has been made about how spine-tingling it is, and I'm not afraid to admit I'm a big wimp. You throw in some eerie sketches, and I wasn't sure I could do it. But thankfully, it was all good. I didn't find it scary, only a bit sinister and macabre.
Mystery has got to be the genre I read more than any other. I feel like at this point, I've seen it all and heard it all, and nothing really surprises me anymore. So when a book comes along that amazes me not only with its story but also how it's told, I tend to get pretty darn excited.
And this book certainly did. Don't miss it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Can a mystery be laid out such that all the clues you need to solve it are in a few drawings? Sure, if it's simple. But what about an intricate, multi-part, multi-crime mystery? Well, here comes Strange Pictures to show us exactly how it's done.
On the surface, this seems like a straightforward concept. We're presented with a series of drawings and seemingly unrelated mysteries. The drawings contain clues, which allow deductions to be made and secrets to be unearthed, until the entire mystery of this story is completely unraveled.
And yet, beneath the surface is this fascinating and surprisingly complex puzzle. It's my favorite type of mystery, where everything you need to solve it exists right before your eyes. The drawings contain all the necessary clues, so I happily donned my detective hat and proceeded to stare really hard at all of them.
But it's not just the mechanics of the mystery that had me impressed. It was also the way the author captured the psychology and emotions behind the crimes. The quiet understatedness of the writing puts the current of unease squarely at the center of attention, and the result is about as compelling as they come.
Needless to say, I was utterly riveted. I feel like I could've easily read this in one sitting if I had the chance. As it was, I gobbled it up as fast as I could, and my mind is still reeling from the way it all came together.
The only thing that held me back from picking this up sooner was the horror aspect. A big deal has been made about how spine-tingling it is, and I'm not afraid to admit I'm a big wimp. You throw in some eerie sketches, and I wasn't sure I could do it. But thankfully, it was all good. I didn't find it scary, only a bit sinister and macabre.
Mystery has got to be the genre I read more than any other. I feel like at this point, I've seen it all and heard it all, and nothing really surprises me anymore. So when a book comes along that amazes me not only with its story but also how it's told, I tend to get pretty darn excited.
And this book certainly did. Don't miss it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
August 9, 2025
Ale to było świeże i oryginalne! I love it
September 18, 2025
Baffled by the hype on this one. This was the most boring, surface-level, over-explained mystery I've ever read. Not horror at all. The linking pictures are a good idea, but the explanations are so unbelievable and the characters have no depth whatsoever. I also don't know whether to blame the author or the translator, but this had some of the most obvious, simplistic, juvenile writing I've ever read.
January 17, 2025
A quirky, minimalist mystery novel that at times feels more like a logical demonstration than fiction. It is a book that invites you to be a detective. The innovative use of pictures is surprisingly more than a gimmick. It makes you feel like you have the entire body of evidence in your hands.
"Adults can draw what they see, the real thing, in their pictures. Children, though, draw the "idea" of what appears in their heads. Like an artist."
"Adults can draw what they see, the real thing, in their pictures. Children, though, draw the "idea" of what appears in their heads. Like an artist."
September 5, 2025
4,25
Ależ to było satysfakcjonujące! Wyśmienite
Ależ to było satysfakcjonujące! Wyśmienite
October 24, 2025
This CLEVER bestseller is all the rage in Japan-and now I know why!
First, we have a mysterious author. Uketsu is a YouTube sensation with 1.5 million followers and he only appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. His “sketch mysteries” such as this one, have sold nearly 3 million copies in Japan since 2021.
So what are they?
They are vignettes which all include a child-like sketch which offers up clues into an unsolved mystery, and eventually these mysteries will become linked together.
A child who murdered her mother draws a sketch which gives hope that she can be rehabilitated
Sketches on a blog hint that a pregnant woman may have been in danger
Another child’s drawing of his home hints at a dark secret
And, finally a murder Victim is able to sketch a final clue hoping it will lead investigators to the person who killed him
Can you recognize the clues and piece the story together? 🧩
I certainly couldn’t which makes the reveals at the end even more fun! I’m sure I will check out another one of these books sometime soon.
Translated to English by Jim Rion. I wonder if he has met Uketso?
AVAILABLE NOW
First, we have a mysterious author. Uketsu is a YouTube sensation with 1.5 million followers and he only appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. His “sketch mysteries” such as this one, have sold nearly 3 million copies in Japan since 2021.
So what are they?
They are vignettes which all include a child-like sketch which offers up clues into an unsolved mystery, and eventually these mysteries will become linked together.
A child who murdered her mother draws a sketch which gives hope that she can be rehabilitated
Sketches on a blog hint that a pregnant woman may have been in danger
Another child’s drawing of his home hints at a dark secret
And, finally a murder Victim is able to sketch a final clue hoping it will lead investigators to the person who killed him
Can you recognize the clues and piece the story together? 🧩
I certainly couldn’t which makes the reveals at the end even more fun! I’m sure I will check out another one of these books sometime soon.
Translated to English by Jim Rion. I wonder if he has met Uketso?
AVAILABLE NOW
August 23, 2025
I was on board with the concept of this, with all the pictures included but there is a lot of repetition which I felt was just used to make the book longer. Everything is over explained.
The logic was really bothering me too at times. When they figured out what happened to the teacher that was murdered on the mountain, who turned out to draw a picture of the scenery to prove his time of death?? Which he did under his sleeping bag so the killer couldn't see... Well if she couldn't see then why not write her name?? Hide it somewhere she's not going to find it.
And then the guy retracing his steps draws the same 'clue' when he gets murdered...
And that pregnant woman suspected her mother in law was killing her but instead of doing anything to stop it all she just makes cryptic pictures to leave behind once shes gone?
Also, there's a character who refused cancer treatment because hes sixty five and doesnt have a family so there's 'not much of a life waiting' for him. Give it a rest.
I'm sorry to say that I really ended up disliking this book and I was just rushing for it to be over.
Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this book
..
EDIT: Your enjoyment of the book is not invalidated by my dislike of the book - I don't care to hear that you don't agree with me ✌️
The logic was really bothering me too at times. When they figured out what happened to the teacher that was murdered on the mountain, who turned out to draw a picture of the scenery to prove his time of death?? Which he did under his sleeping bag so the killer couldn't see... Well if she couldn't see then why not write her name?? Hide it somewhere she's not going to find it.
And then the guy retracing his steps draws the same 'clue' when he gets murdered...
And that pregnant woman suspected her mother in law was killing her but instead of doing anything to stop it all she just makes cryptic pictures to leave behind once shes gone?
Also, there's a character who refused cancer treatment because hes sixty five and doesnt have a family so there's 'not much of a life waiting' for him. Give it a rest.
I'm sorry to say that I really ended up disliking this book and I was just rushing for it to be over.
Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this book
..
EDIT: Your enjoyment of the book is not invalidated by my dislike of the book - I don't care to hear that you don't agree with me ✌️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2025
This is a mind bender and your participation is required…
Things are not as they seem in the Japanese mystery novel, Strange Pictures. The author Uketsu, invites the reader to take an interactive journey through four wildly inventive short stories. Each containing a mystery for you to solve with clues found hidden within pencil drawings and sketches.
Elements of crime and horror will leave you shocked and disturbed and may linger in the back of your mind well passed the last page.
I would recommend this curiously bizarre novel to anyone that enjoys wearing their detective hat.
A great weekend read :)
Things are not as they seem in the Japanese mystery novel, Strange Pictures. The author Uketsu, invites the reader to take an interactive journey through four wildly inventive short stories. Each containing a mystery for you to solve with clues found hidden within pencil drawings and sketches.
Elements of crime and horror will leave you shocked and disturbed and may linger in the back of your mind well passed the last page.
I would recommend this curiously bizarre novel to anyone that enjoys wearing their detective hat.
A great weekend read :)
October 20, 2024
Cult Japanese author Uketsu’s ‘sketch novel’ features a wealth of eerie, unsettling scenes but it’s much closer to crime than horror, an intricate murder mystery with an unusual structure. The majority of the book operates like a puzzle. There are no easily distinguished unifying characters. No detective, amateur or otherwise, to guide readers through Uketsu’s maze. Instead, readers have to figure out how disparate pieces might fit together, although Uketsu’s narrative slowly builds towards a big reveal finale. Loosely connecting the novel’s different sections are themes of perspective and interpretation, an emphasis on the attitudes, and viewpoints that might dictate how we understand our everyday world - and the tendency to force fragments into some semblance of a coherent whole.
Images are key to Uketsu’s approach here, which draws on the concept of child therapists using patients’ drawings to understand their likely state of mind. This idea is introduced at the start via a lecture given by a child psychologist. The psychologist talks her students through her process, aided by a crude drawing made by a former patient, a matricidal killer dubbed Little Girl A. The psychologist explains how her reading of Little Girl A’s pictures became instrumental in dictating Little Girl A’s treatment and her identification as a candidate for rehabilitation and eventual release.
This chapter’s followed by a series of seemingly disconnected episodes, featuring a succession of characters and crimes - from suspicious deaths to obvious murders. The shift from one section to another sometimes so abrupt it felt like the verbal equivalent of a jump cut. His narrative’s highly visual qualities are in keeping with Uketsu’s background as a Youtuber who made his name through a series of eccentric videos. He wants his fiction to appeal to audiences who rarely read as well as those who do. The extensive illustrations incorporate numerous diagrams as well as charts highlighting potential plot developments. These suggest Uketsu’s deliberately blending conventions from locked-room style Golden Age mysteries with aspects of manga: Uketsu’s stated influences are contemporary Japanese crime writers like Honobu Yonezawa, he’s also a fan of Holmes and Watson.
There were moments when Uketsu’s concept felt a bit contrived and gimmicky but, for the most part, this was a gripping, entertaining experience, laced with striking twists and turns – whenever I worked out a possible link between one crime and another, I felt surprisingly smug. The only remaining enigma was Uketsu himself, apart from his pseudonym and gender almost nothing’s known about him. A bestselling author in Japan, Uketsu’s core readers are women between 30 and 50; often referred to as the Edogawa Ranpo of the Internet, Uketsu digitally disguises his voice and never appears without his trademark white mask and all-encompassing, black body suit. Translated by Jim Rion.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Pushkin for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
Images are key to Uketsu’s approach here, which draws on the concept of child therapists using patients’ drawings to understand their likely state of mind. This idea is introduced at the start via a lecture given by a child psychologist. The psychologist talks her students through her process, aided by a crude drawing made by a former patient, a matricidal killer dubbed Little Girl A. The psychologist explains how her reading of Little Girl A’s pictures became instrumental in dictating Little Girl A’s treatment and her identification as a candidate for rehabilitation and eventual release.
This chapter’s followed by a series of seemingly disconnected episodes, featuring a succession of characters and crimes - from suspicious deaths to obvious murders. The shift from one section to another sometimes so abrupt it felt like the verbal equivalent of a jump cut. His narrative’s highly visual qualities are in keeping with Uketsu’s background as a Youtuber who made his name through a series of eccentric videos. He wants his fiction to appeal to audiences who rarely read as well as those who do. The extensive illustrations incorporate numerous diagrams as well as charts highlighting potential plot developments. These suggest Uketsu’s deliberately blending conventions from locked-room style Golden Age mysteries with aspects of manga: Uketsu’s stated influences are contemporary Japanese crime writers like Honobu Yonezawa, he’s also a fan of Holmes and Watson.
There were moments when Uketsu’s concept felt a bit contrived and gimmicky but, for the most part, this was a gripping, entertaining experience, laced with striking twists and turns – whenever I worked out a possible link between one crime and another, I felt surprisingly smug. The only remaining enigma was Uketsu himself, apart from his pseudonym and gender almost nothing’s known about him. A bestselling author in Japan, Uketsu’s core readers are women between 30 and 50; often referred to as the Edogawa Ranpo of the Internet, Uketsu digitally disguises his voice and never appears without his trademark white mask and all-encompassing, black body suit. Translated by Jim Rion.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Pushkin for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
January 28, 2025
Do you know the logic grid puzzles in which you are only given a limited amount of clues about a bigger picture and with the few clues you are given you try finding details of that bigger picture? Like five people sitting in a waiting room of a doctor with five different diseases for five different appointments, and you need to find out their respective names, ailments and appointments. Harmless geek fun which saved my life in many a times of boredom.
Well, Strange Pictures is the book form of a logic puzzle. It comprises five interconnected short stories which, with the help of pictures and logic clues, the reader analyzes and resolves different mysteries revolving around one family.
There's no way I can express the fun I had while reading this and I very much recommend it! It's useful to know that the print copy is recommendable, though apparently there's a pdf document with pictures and clues that accompany the audiobook.
Well, Strange Pictures is the book form of a logic puzzle. It comprises five interconnected short stories which, with the help of pictures and logic clues, the reader analyzes and resolves different mysteries revolving around one family.
There's no way I can express the fun I had while reading this and I very much recommend it! It's useful to know that the print copy is recommendable, though apparently there's a pdf document with pictures and clues that accompany the audiobook.
Read
November 21, 2025A brief but terrible waste of time. I would stay anonymous if I had written this amateur drivel, too.
Feels like the first draft of a story outline, with flimsy non-characters speaking clunky exposition at each other at a perfunctory pace for the benefit of the reader. The mysteries all feel built around the service of this picture gimmick, with zero believability or depth to the proceedings. A ridiculous and pointless exercise that only becomes more maddening and absurd as illogical truths are revealed.
In brief — irredeemable garbage masked by some alluring marketing and a fun cover. Don’t bother.
Feels like the first draft of a story outline, with flimsy non-characters speaking clunky exposition at each other at a perfunctory pace for the benefit of the reader. The mysteries all feel built around the service of this picture gimmick, with zero believability or depth to the proceedings. A ridiculous and pointless exercise that only becomes more maddening and absurd as illogical truths are revealed.
In brief — irredeemable garbage masked by some alluring marketing and a fun cover. Don’t bother.
October 31, 2025
4 stars ☆
📚⁞ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐮
📖⁞ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙿𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔
🏷️⁞ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢-𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛
📆⁞ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟷𝟶/𝟸𝟺/𝟸𝟻 - 𝟷𝟶/𝟸𝟾/𝟸𝟻
📃⁞ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “A series of seemingly innocent pictures draws you into a disturbing web of unsolved mysteries and shattered psyches. A pregnant woman's sketches on a seemingly innocuous blog conceal a chilling warning. A child's picture of his home contains a dark secret message. A sketch made by a murder victim in his final moments leads an amateur sleuth down a rabbithole that will reveal a horrifying reality. ” 」
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟿𝟽 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʙᴇɴᴛᴏ ʙᴏx 🍱
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 🎶 ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ — ᴅᴏɴɴᴀ ᴍᴜʀᴘʜʏ
1:26 ———♡——— 3:10
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛ me, I'm just your mother, what do I know? I only bathed and changed and nursed you. go ahead and leave me, I deserve it. let me die alone here, be my guest. when it's too late, you'll see, just wait, mother knows best.❜
────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ──────
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🔎 ɪᴍᴍᴇʀꜱɪᴠᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ
🔎 ᴜɴꜱᴇᴛᴛʟɪɴɢ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ
🔎 ᴘᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴛ
· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · · · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · · · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · · · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·
❝ “𝙰𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜. 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 “𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊” 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜. 𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚝. 𝙿𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑.” ❞
📚⁞ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐮
📖⁞ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙿𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔
🏷️⁞ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢-𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛
📆⁞ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟷𝟶/𝟸𝟺/𝟸𝟻 - 𝟷𝟶/𝟸𝟾/𝟸𝟻
📃⁞ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “A series of seemingly innocent pictures draws you into a disturbing web of unsolved mysteries and shattered psyches. A pregnant woman's sketches on a seemingly innocuous blog conceal a chilling warning. A child's picture of his home contains a dark secret message. A sketch made by a murder victim in his final moments leads an amateur sleuth down a rabbithole that will reveal a horrifying reality. ” 」
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟿𝟽 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʙᴇɴᴛᴏ ʙᴏx 🍱
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 🎶 ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ — ᴅᴏɴɴᴀ ᴍᴜʀᴘʜʏ
1:26 ———♡——— 3:10
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛ me, I'm just your mother, what do I know? I only bathed and changed and nursed you. go ahead and leave me, I deserve it. let me die alone here, be my guest. when it's too late, you'll see, just wait, mother knows best.❜
────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ──────
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🔎 ɪᴍᴍᴇʀꜱɪᴠᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ
🔎 ᴜɴꜱᴇᴛᴛʟɪɴɢ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ
🔎 ᴘᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴛ
❝𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠, 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜.❞
· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · · · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · · · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · · · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·
July 24, 2025
Had the best time reading this along with a dozen of my reading friends. We did a giant live stream, where we each read 20 or so pages on a sprint, then came back and deep-dived on theories for what was going on. Went for 12 hours and picked apart every clue and every thread. What a wild ride. Also, proud of us cause we killed it with the mystery-solving.
If you want to watch it back and read along with us, I put up markers for when we're reading specific pages and then markers for when we're discussing spoilers for those pages. Follow this link to watch.
If you want to watch it back and read along with us, I put up markers for when we're reading specific pages and then markers for when we're discussing spoilers for those pages. Follow this link to watch.
February 16, 2025
Drawn out connected murder stories. Felt like an episode of 20/20. A lot of people seem to like this book but it just wasn’t for me. Maybe some of it is in the translation to English, comes across as very simplistic writing.
April 6, 2025
4.5 Stars raised to 5. Strange Pictures, by Japanese author Uketsu, is a brilliant, innovative mystery chiller. He is an enigmatic bestseller of Magna books in Japan, has an internet presence, and has many followers. He always appears with his face hidden behind a white mask and his voice disguised electronically. The format was complex, unique and different from anything I had ever read. It was flawlessly translated into English, but the names of characters and descriptions of food firmly placed it in Japan. I was riveted to the pages, rarely figuring out what was happening in this creative, unsettling book. I regarded it as a human drama and puzzle rather than a horror story.
This fascinating book contains a series of short stories and novellas, each section supplied with illustrations leading to secrets and clues, and concentrates on individuals, rarely with a resolution. The atmosphere is eerie and unsettling, placing the reader in Uketsu's puzzling and tangled web.
The first chapter introduces us to a child therapist who explains the use of a youngster's drawings to understand their troubled moods and outlooks on life. She displays the drawing of a young girl charged with killing her mother. Based on her interpretation of the drawing, the therapist concludes she is a good candidate for rehabilitation and release. The following episodes feature different individuals with illustrations, graphs and timelines necessary to the overall plot. This begins a series of seemingly unrelated episodes focusing on a drawing by a young boy that troubles his teacher and mother, a group of pictures in a blog by a young artist that may reveal a disturbing mindset and fear, and hidden sketches of a landscape by a couple of characters just before their murders.
We enter a tangled labyrinth with unconnected people trying to solve the picture clues. Many of their theories and speculations are clever but incorrect.
I was not expecting the intricately interwoven finale connecting the previous characters in jaw-dropping twists and revelations. The ending was satisfying and made sense. I purchased this book for my Kindle, but now plan on ordering it in the book version, as I want to reread the clues and determine how everything flows together. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy being immersed in a complicated puzzle.
This fascinating book contains a series of short stories and novellas, each section supplied with illustrations leading to secrets and clues, and concentrates on individuals, rarely with a resolution. The atmosphere is eerie and unsettling, placing the reader in Uketsu's puzzling and tangled web.
The first chapter introduces us to a child therapist who explains the use of a youngster's drawings to understand their troubled moods and outlooks on life. She displays the drawing of a young girl charged with killing her mother. Based on her interpretation of the drawing, the therapist concludes she is a good candidate for rehabilitation and release. The following episodes feature different individuals with illustrations, graphs and timelines necessary to the overall plot. This begins a series of seemingly unrelated episodes focusing on a drawing by a young boy that troubles his teacher and mother, a group of pictures in a blog by a young artist that may reveal a disturbing mindset and fear, and hidden sketches of a landscape by a couple of characters just before their murders.
We enter a tangled labyrinth with unconnected people trying to solve the picture clues. Many of their theories and speculations are clever but incorrect.
I was not expecting the intricately interwoven finale connecting the previous characters in jaw-dropping twists and revelations. The ending was satisfying and made sense. I purchased this book for my Kindle, but now plan on ordering it in the book version, as I want to reread the clues and determine how everything flows together. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy being immersed in a complicated puzzle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2025
3.75 stars
Creepy image galore, Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is a comparable novel to Strange Pictures, where a collection of drawings becoming an integral part of the narrative. Strange Pictures goes one steps further with observation and deduction, uncovering hidden meanings through manipulation — if Rekulak's story is a horror/thriller, Uketsu's novel is more of a horror/detective fiction. This process of 'decoding' is my favorite aspect of the reading experience, especially with the accompanied illustration/info-graphic breaking down the solution.
The plot is much more interwoven than I initially anticipated (I thought it was a collection of short stories), so definitely keep the cast in check as even the seemingly irrelevant side characters become a critical point of view later on.
While I enjoy the brain teasers, as well as the intricacy of its plot line, my biggest gripe with Strange Pictures is the writing/translation, coming across very rudimentary and stilted. Especially with a story containing darker subject matters (such as domestic abuse), they lose a lot of their intended impact, because the reader is being 'told' of things, rather than having the event described in a visceral way, or acted out by emotive, compelling characters — a little bit like reading a plot breakdown rather than the actual novel.
From a creativity stand point, Strange Pictures is worthy of checking out for its well-executed gimmick, and the surprisingly complex plot. I just wish the writing is a little bit more layered and colorful to propel it as a solid favorite.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Creepy image galore, Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is a comparable novel to Strange Pictures, where a collection of drawings becoming an integral part of the narrative. Strange Pictures goes one steps further with observation and deduction, uncovering hidden meanings through manipulation — if Rekulak's story is a horror/thriller, Uketsu's novel is more of a horror/detective fiction. This process of 'decoding' is my favorite aspect of the reading experience, especially with the accompanied illustration/info-graphic breaking down the solution.
The plot is much more interwoven than I initially anticipated (I thought it was a collection of short stories), so definitely keep the cast in check as even the seemingly irrelevant side characters become a critical point of view later on.
While I enjoy the brain teasers, as well as the intricacy of its plot line, my biggest gripe with Strange Pictures is the writing/translation, coming across very rudimentary and stilted. Especially with a story containing darker subject matters (such as domestic abuse), they lose a lot of their intended impact, because the reader is being 'told' of things, rather than having the event described in a visceral way, or acted out by emotive, compelling characters — a little bit like reading a plot breakdown rather than the actual novel.
From a creativity stand point, Strange Pictures is worthy of checking out for its well-executed gimmick, and the surprisingly complex plot. I just wish the writing is a little bit more layered and colorful to propel it as a solid favorite.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
November 4, 2025
Picked this up because I was craving a WEIRD READ. 🙃
VERDICT: Interesting concept, but there's a GLARING CONTRADICTION that makes the whole story fall apart (see below 🚨). I've also included a SUMMARY OF EVENTS for anyone interested (📝).
I know three things about this book: (1) it's a mystery-horror, (2) told through a mix of narrative and drawings; and (3) it's a sensational bestseller in Japan.
PROLOGUE
Professor Tomiko Hagio shares with her students a rudimentary drawing of a little girl beside a house and a tree. She says it was drawn by a child she'll call Little A, and shocks the room when she reveals that Little A was arrested at age eleven for the murder of her mother. She then breaks down all the little details in the drawing that reveal something about Little A and her potential for rehabilitation.
Just a few pages in, and this is already very interesting. Consider me intrigued. 😀
CHP ONE - THE OLD WOMAN'S PRAYER
I won't be dropping any spoilers in this reading log, which really ties my hands when it comes to sharing my thoughts on this chapter.
Here's what I can say:
(1) This is an interesting mystery with a good twist.
(2) Even if I had the patience to fiddle with it, I doubt I'd have ever solved the mystery of the drawings.
(3) Each chapter is it's own mystery, yet the whole book has an overarching story, so what I CAN do is speculate about the story at large, and here's my working theory so far... 🔎
CHP TWO - THE SMUDGED ROOM
This chapter follows the story of a missing boy. There are a few illogical leaps in deduction here that feel very gimmicky.
While this chapter didn't hook me to the same degree as the first chapter, I'm happy to report that I did guess the big twist that...
CHP 03 - THE ART TEACHER'S FINAL DRAWING
Holy smokes! This chapter is DARK! 😱
This chapter is WILD, and the murder (somewhat ridiculously) hinges on...
FINAL CHP - THE BIRD, SAFE IN THE TREE
This chapter essentially summarizes the entire book, laying everything out clearly, which I found helpful, but there appears to be ONE MAJOR CONTRADICTION that makes the whole thing fall apart.
🚨 THE CONTRADICTION 🚨
In the final chapter...
Overall, I found this story intriguing but somewhat hard to follow because I struggled to keep the names straight (Yuki and Yuta, Haruto and Haruoka... augh! so similar!), and I found the summary really helpful in clearing things up. So here's a summary if you need it...
📝 SUMMARY OF EVENTS 📝
Here's what happened...
Finally, were MY SPECULATIONS about CHP 01 correct? Answer:
VERDICT: Interesting concept, but there's a GLARING CONTRADICTION that makes the whole story fall apart (see below 🚨). I've also included a SUMMARY OF EVENTS for anyone interested (📝).
I know three things about this book: (1) it's a mystery-horror, (2) told through a mix of narrative and drawings; and (3) it's a sensational bestseller in Japan.
PROLOGUE
Professor Tomiko Hagio shares with her students a rudimentary drawing of a little girl beside a house and a tree. She says it was drawn by a child she'll call Little A, and shocks the room when she reveals that Little A was arrested at age eleven for the murder of her mother. She then breaks down all the little details in the drawing that reveal something about Little A and her potential for rehabilitation.
Just a few pages in, and this is already very interesting. Consider me intrigued. 😀
CHP ONE - THE OLD WOMAN'S PRAYER
I won't be dropping any spoilers in this reading log, which really ties my hands when it comes to sharing my thoughts on this chapter.
Here's what I can say:
(1) This is an interesting mystery with a good twist.
(2) Even if I had the patience to fiddle with it, I doubt I'd have ever solved the mystery of the drawings.
(3) Each chapter is it's own mystery, yet the whole book has an overarching story, so what I CAN do is speculate about the story at large, and here's my working theory so far... 🔎
CHP TWO - THE SMUDGED ROOM
This chapter follows the story of a missing boy. There are a few illogical leaps in deduction here that feel very gimmicky.
While this chapter didn't hook me to the same degree as the first chapter, I'm happy to report that I did guess the big twist that...
CHP 03 - THE ART TEACHER'S FINAL DRAWING
Holy smokes! This chapter is DARK! 😱
Miura teased a pen from his pocket.
He had to draw.
To keep them safe.
This chapter is WILD, and the murder (somewhat ridiculously) hinges on...
FINAL CHP - THE BIRD, SAFE IN THE TREE
This chapter essentially summarizes the entire book, laying everything out clearly, which I found helpful, but there appears to be ONE MAJOR CONTRADICTION that makes the whole thing fall apart.
🚨 THE CONTRADICTION 🚨
In the final chapter...
Overall, I found this story intriguing but somewhat hard to follow because I struggled to keep the names straight (Yuki and Yuta, Haruto and Haruoka... augh! so similar!), and I found the summary really helpful in clearing things up. So here's a summary if you need it...
📝 SUMMARY OF EVENTS 📝
Here's what happened...
Finally, were MY SPECULATIONS about CHP 01 correct? Answer:
November 24, 2024
Enjoyed this a lot, a real throwback in a lot of ways. The kind of puzzle story you just don't get in the US. A series of interconnected stories, all tied to mysteries contained in drawings.
The first story has very big creepypasta vibes, I thought we were going into horror. But while there is plenty of violence in the rest of the book, it's really more about unraveling mysteries after that. The book manages to break your brain more than once with its twists, realizing this character in this story is actually the same person as that character in that other story. It shifts your perspective in big ways that are very disorienting and wildly fun.
Thrillers in the US are starting to feel too twisty for their own good. Here are big twists that constantly surprise and don't feel like you've seen them a hundred times before.
The first story has very big creepypasta vibes, I thought we were going into horror. But while there is plenty of violence in the rest of the book, it's really more about unraveling mysteries after that. The book manages to break your brain more than once with its twists, realizing this character in this story is actually the same person as that character in that other story. It shifts your perspective in big ways that are very disorienting and wildly fun.
Thrillers in the US are starting to feel too twisty for their own good. Here are big twists that constantly surprise and don't feel like you've seen them a hundred times before.
January 31, 2025
More gimmicky than truly great. The prose is extremely simple and cliché, yet the story is intriguing enough, due to the pictures and the puzzling structure.
In general, good idea, but the execution is not that good
In general, good idea, but the execution is not that good
February 22, 2025
Bien, entretenido, un poco rocambolesco. Me lo esperaba más oscuro, la verdad. Pero se devora.
Pronto reseña
Pronto reseña
January 15, 2025
(3.5) Strange Pictures comes with ready-made lore surrounding the author, who is (apparently, I haven’t looked too deep into this so don’t take my word for it) an anonymous YouTuber whose face and voice are always disguised. Each chapter features a separate story accompanied by a drawing which, if studied carefully, reveals something about the mystery that connects them all. If this seems an odd gimmick to build a book around, it’s explained by the further detail that Uketsu is (again, apparently) well-known for creating these ‘sketch mysteries’.
In the first story, two students discuss a weird old blog they’ve found, one with a chilling final entry. At this point, the vibe is distinctly creepy; Strange Pictures has more of a horror feel at the beginning, then slowly transforms into a whodunnit. It’s straightforwardly written – plain style, a lot of repetition – it reminded me more than anything of Chris Priestley’s Tales of Terror series for children. That said, it works: the mystery of the blog, especially, is gripping, and it all comes together successfully at the end.
I received an advance review copy of Strange Pictures from the publisher through NetGalley.
In the first story, two students discuss a weird old blog they’ve found, one with a chilling final entry. At this point, the vibe is distinctly creepy; Strange Pictures has more of a horror feel at the beginning, then slowly transforms into a whodunnit. It’s straightforwardly written – plain style, a lot of repetition – it reminded me more than anything of Chris Priestley’s Tales of Terror series for children. That said, it works: the mystery of the blog, especially, is gripping, and it all comes together successfully at the end.
I received an advance review copy of Strange Pictures from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 1, 2025
Have you been looking for the next Hidden Pictures? Move over Jason Rekulak, Uketsu’s bestselling Japanese novel Strange Pictures has made its way to the United States!
This book is brilliant!
Puzzle your way through a series of murder mysteries/stories all connected by a series of drawings. Through psychologically interpreting the drawings, you will be able to connect the characters and solve the murders.
The clever structure of this book is what really makes it a winner! I couldn’t stop flipping the pages to figure out how the different chapters connected. The pictures seem so innocuous at first, but challenge the reader to think in new ways. It even culminates in a very satisfying ending!
The only issue I had with the book was the stilted writing, but it’s possible that this is a result of the translation into English. However, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying it!
Highly recommend!
4/5 stars
This book is brilliant!
Puzzle your way through a series of murder mysteries/stories all connected by a series of drawings. Through psychologically interpreting the drawings, you will be able to connect the characters and solve the murders.
The clever structure of this book is what really makes it a winner! I couldn’t stop flipping the pages to figure out how the different chapters connected. The pictures seem so innocuous at first, but challenge the reader to think in new ways. It even culminates in a very satisfying ending!
The only issue I had with the book was the stilted writing, but it’s possible that this is a result of the translation into English. However, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying it!
Highly recommend!
4/5 stars
April 30, 2025
I am not a crime nor horror reader frequently but this book just draws you in and makes you want to find out how its interlocking parts fit together. Clever, yet very accessible and readable, I get why this was a hit in Japan
Wait, there is more?
Uketsu himself is a fascinating anonymous author, a YouTuber hiding his face behind a mask and voice distorter, with a monicker that apparently means Rain Hole.
Strange Pictures features three seemingly unconnected stories that feature childhood trauma, abuse and mental health issues. And murders.
Story one starts of with a student paranormal club. The year is 2014, blogs are dying out but one abandoned blog is triggering the interest of the club.
Analysing pictures as an insight into people’s psyche plays a major role and Escher and optical illusions being mentioned.
The blog seems to hint of visions of the future drawn by a mother, a professional illustrator.
There is a lot of tell, and the writing is not entirely sophisticated, but this story definitely draws you in right away.
Second story features a widow who’s kid draws concerning pictures and disappears, while she tries to avoid police and seems to be stalked.
We’ve all got our skeletons in our closets a child wisely observes.
The third story features a mountain murder on an art teacher (who apparently no one really liked), investigated by two sidetracked journalists. I enjoyed the puzzle like nature and eeriness of this story, focusing on being alone on a mountain.
And we find out that Catching the murderer doesn’t mean it’s all over is definitely true.
All is revealed in the fourth section of the book, wrapping up the storylines.
Depression, stigma around mental health problems and childhood abuse and trauma come back a lot. The pictures really make you think and in a sense contain all the clues. Yet the intricacy of the puzzle Uketsu offers is such that I found it hard (and addictive) to see where the narrative is going.
I am not normally a mystery/crime/horror reader, but the author blends these genres effectively and I am keen to read Strange Houses soon!
Wait, there is more?
Uketsu himself is a fascinating anonymous author, a YouTuber hiding his face behind a mask and voice distorter, with a monicker that apparently means Rain Hole.
Strange Pictures features three seemingly unconnected stories that feature childhood trauma, abuse and mental health issues. And murders.
Story one starts of with a student paranormal club. The year is 2014, blogs are dying out but one abandoned blog is triggering the interest of the club.
Analysing pictures as an insight into people’s psyche plays a major role and Escher and optical illusions being mentioned.
The blog seems to hint of visions of the future drawn by a mother, a professional illustrator.
There is a lot of tell, and the writing is not entirely sophisticated, but this story definitely draws you in right away.
Second story features a widow who’s kid draws concerning pictures and disappears, while she tries to avoid police and seems to be stalked.
We’ve all got our skeletons in our closets a child wisely observes.
The third story features a mountain murder on an art teacher (who apparently no one really liked), investigated by two sidetracked journalists. I enjoyed the puzzle like nature and eeriness of this story, focusing on being alone on a mountain.
And we find out that Catching the murderer doesn’t mean it’s all over is definitely true.
All is revealed in the fourth section of the book, wrapping up the storylines.
Depression, stigma around mental health problems and childhood abuse and trauma come back a lot. The pictures really make you think and in a sense contain all the clues. Yet the intricacy of the puzzle Uketsu offers is such that I found it hard (and addictive) to see where the narrative is going.
I am not normally a mystery/crime/horror reader, but the author blends these genres effectively and I am keen to read Strange Houses soon!
December 18, 2024
ARC for review. To be published January 14, 2025.
3 stars.
Translated from the Japanese by Jim Rion.
This is billed as mystery/horror; each of the three stories revolves around drawings, the first is about the pregnant partner of a blogger, the second a primary school child and the last a murder victim. There is a mystery within each and an overarching backstory that ties the three together.
This sounds way more interesting than it turns out to be, unfortunately. It’s also not mystery/horror, it’s just mystery. It is, however, a wonderful concept and the book definitely has the tenor of Japanese mysteries….if you’ve ever read any, you’ll know what I mean. It’s just a better idea than it is when executed here. According to the copy on the book the author, “Uketsu” is an enigma in Japan and the book is very popular there. Cannot confirm. But I’m huge in Belgium.
3 stars.
Translated from the Japanese by Jim Rion.
This is billed as mystery/horror; each of the three stories revolves around drawings, the first is about the pregnant partner of a blogger, the second a primary school child and the last a murder victim. There is a mystery within each and an overarching backstory that ties the three together.
This sounds way more interesting than it turns out to be, unfortunately. It’s also not mystery/horror, it’s just mystery. It is, however, a wonderful concept and the book definitely has the tenor of Japanese mysteries….if you’ve ever read any, you’ll know what I mean. It’s just a better idea than it is when executed here. According to the copy on the book the author, “Uketsu” is an enigma in Japan and the book is very popular there. Cannot confirm. But I’m huge in Belgium.
March 21, 2025
O carte foarte bună, cum nu am mai citit. Trei povești despre desene ciudate, care ascund detalii la care nici nu te-ai fi gândit. Deși par a fi povești distincte, vedem cum se îmbină toate, iar personajele au legătură între ele.
Dacă și vouă vă place descifrarea desenelor pentru rezolvarea unor mistere, cartea asta este pentru voi! Faptul că am citit-o în maximum 3 ore cred că vorbește de la sine.
I-am scăzut o stea doar pentru că sunt convinsă că nu voi ține minte pentru prea mult timp acțiunea, la cât de întortocheată este. Dar știu că va fi o plăcere să o recitesc. 😊
Dacă și vouă vă place descifrarea desenelor pentru rezolvarea unor mistere, cartea asta este pentru voi! Faptul că am citit-o în maximum 3 ore cred că vorbește de la sine.
I-am scăzut o stea doar pentru că sunt convinsă că nu voi ține minte pentru prea mult timp acțiunea, la cât de întortocheată este. Dar știu că va fi o plăcere să o recitesc. 😊
January 27, 2025
That was a book.
January 24, 2025
Clunky writing, not a horror book, not even a good mystery book. But it read quickly, and the use of images was fun. It's just a shame there is such a lack of substance.
October 23, 2025
4.25/5 ⭐
If you like suspenseful, weird, unusual Japanese mysteries, then this is definitely the book for you.
If you like suspenseful, weird, unusual Japanese mysteries, then this is definitely the book for you.
March 21, 2025
Dos compañeros de clase comparten impresiones sobre un extraño blog donde un hombre llamado Kenta relata el día a día junto a su pareja. Sin embargo, las entradas del blog cada vez son más raras, y lo que las hacen más perturbadoras aún son los extraños dibujos que este muestra. Lo que empieza como un simple juego de investigación entre dos compañeros de clase para pasar el rato, acaba destapando una violenta realidad. ¿Se puede descubrir como es una persona a través de un dibujo? ¿Se puede adivinar si la persona que lo ha dibujado ha cometido un crimen?
No me gustaría decir mucho de “Strange Pictures”, ya que la gran parte de su encanto reside en ir a ciegas con él. Así que, dejando la trama y como esta se desenvuelve a un lado, debo decir que me ha parecido un thriller muy personal, no tanto en su trama, aunque me ha gustado mucho, sino en su forma de ser contada. Ya de por sí, lo que más me suele gustar de los autores asiáticos a la hora de escribir thriller, más que la historia en sí, suele ser su peculiar forma de contarla, y en el caso de “Strange Pictures” debo decir que no había leído nada ni remotamente parecido hasta ahora.
El tema de los dibujos me ha parecido muy original, y me he pasado ratos interminables examinando yo mismo los dibujos tratando de encontrar sus secretos, de conseguir desentrañar el misterio que estos guardaban a la vez que sus personajes o incluso antes. Me ha resultado muy estimulante leer un thriller que se sale de lo habitual y añade un elemento nuevo. Y desde luego que lo más interesante que tiene la obra de Uketsu es esto, esa peculiar manera de darle forma a la historia, es cierto que el contenido está muy bien y me ha gustado, pero la estructura es la que me ha resultado adictiva.
¿Es una obra para todo el mundo? Pues no lo sé, quizás no. Lo que sí que creo es que es necesario que al lector le apetezca entrar en la historia que le propone el autor, no solo en calidad de lector, sino también investigando al mismo tiempo que sus personajes estos extraños dibujos mientras avanza la trama. Si entras en ella, la vas a disfrutar seguro porque es una obra que se lee en un rato, que es muy entretenida y que engancha con ese peculiar elemento nuevo. Si no consigues entrar en el formato y participar activamente en el descubrimiento del misterio, quizás no te diga mucho.
Por otra parte, aconsejaría dos cosas a
todo aquel que quiera acercarse a esta obra, la primera es que no se haga ideas preconcebidas. No es la primera vez que veo que obras de suspense asiáticas que se convierten en fenómenos, decepcionan a parte del público occidental, porque este se crea unas expectativas propias y luego se frustra cuando estas no se cumplen a su gusto. Y la segunda es la de siempre, estamos ante una novela de suspense oriental, no occidental. Los elementos y tempos occidentales habrá que dejarlos para las obras occidentales, ¿no? Digo yo, vaya. Ya tengo ganas de leer la siguiente obra de Uketsu que sale en julio, la pienso devorar.
No me gustaría decir mucho de “Strange Pictures”, ya que la gran parte de su encanto reside en ir a ciegas con él. Así que, dejando la trama y como esta se desenvuelve a un lado, debo decir que me ha parecido un thriller muy personal, no tanto en su trama, aunque me ha gustado mucho, sino en su forma de ser contada. Ya de por sí, lo que más me suele gustar de los autores asiáticos a la hora de escribir thriller, más que la historia en sí, suele ser su peculiar forma de contarla, y en el caso de “Strange Pictures” debo decir que no había leído nada ni remotamente parecido hasta ahora.
El tema de los dibujos me ha parecido muy original, y me he pasado ratos interminables examinando yo mismo los dibujos tratando de encontrar sus secretos, de conseguir desentrañar el misterio que estos guardaban a la vez que sus personajes o incluso antes. Me ha resultado muy estimulante leer un thriller que se sale de lo habitual y añade un elemento nuevo. Y desde luego que lo más interesante que tiene la obra de Uketsu es esto, esa peculiar manera de darle forma a la historia, es cierto que el contenido está muy bien y me ha gustado, pero la estructura es la que me ha resultado adictiva.
¿Es una obra para todo el mundo? Pues no lo sé, quizás no. Lo que sí que creo es que es necesario que al lector le apetezca entrar en la historia que le propone el autor, no solo en calidad de lector, sino también investigando al mismo tiempo que sus personajes estos extraños dibujos mientras avanza la trama. Si entras en ella, la vas a disfrutar seguro porque es una obra que se lee en un rato, que es muy entretenida y que engancha con ese peculiar elemento nuevo. Si no consigues entrar en el formato y participar activamente en el descubrimiento del misterio, quizás no te diga mucho.
Por otra parte, aconsejaría dos cosas a
todo aquel que quiera acercarse a esta obra, la primera es que no se haga ideas preconcebidas. No es la primera vez que veo que obras de suspense asiáticas que se convierten en fenómenos, decepcionan a parte del público occidental, porque este se crea unas expectativas propias y luego se frustra cuando estas no se cumplen a su gusto. Y la segunda es la de siempre, estamos ante una novela de suspense oriental, no occidental. Los elementos y tempos occidentales habrá que dejarlos para las obras occidentales, ¿no? Digo yo, vaya. Ya tengo ganas de leer la siguiente obra de Uketsu que sale en julio, la pienso devorar.
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July 6, 2025Bdb kryminał!
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