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Strange Houses #1
Strange Houses
From the bestselling author of the wildly inventive Strange Pictures and phenomenon in Japan—unnatural layouts, trap doors, windowless rooms— a sinister conspiracy is concealed within a house’s warped and unsettling floor plans.
When a writer fascinated by the macabre is approached by an acquaintance, he finds himself investigating an eerie house for sale in Tokyo. At first, with its bright and spacious interior, it seems the perfect first home. But upon closer inspection, the building’s floor plans reveal a mysterious "dead space” hidden between its walls. Seeking a second opinion, the writer shares the floor plans with his friend Kurihara, an architect, only to discover more unnerving details throughout.
What is the true purpose behind the house’s disturbing design? And what happened to the former owners who disappeared without a trace? When a body suddenly appears and a young woman reaches out about a second house, it soon becomes clear that the writer and his friend may be in over their heads. Structured around a series of chilling floorplans, with Strange Houses, mystery-horror YouTube sensation Uketsu casts readers in the role of detective, inviting them to help map out the truth hidden within these puzzling floor plans . . . and the terrifying plot behind it all.
When a writer fascinated by the macabre is approached by an acquaintance, he finds himself investigating an eerie house for sale in Tokyo. At first, with its bright and spacious interior, it seems the perfect first home. But upon closer inspection, the building’s floor plans reveal a mysterious "dead space” hidden between its walls. Seeking a second opinion, the writer shares the floor plans with his friend Kurihara, an architect, only to discover more unnerving details throughout.
What is the true purpose behind the house’s disturbing design? And what happened to the former owners who disappeared without a trace? When a body suddenly appears and a young woman reaches out about a second house, it soon becomes clear that the writer and his friend may be in over their heads. Structured around a series of chilling floorplans, with Strange Houses, mystery-horror YouTube sensation Uketsu casts readers in the role of detective, inviting them to help map out the truth hidden within these puzzling floor plans . . . and the terrifying plot behind it all.
203 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,426 reviews
January 23, 2026
In just two books, Uketsu has established himself as one of the most innovative mystery writers in recent memory.
Diving into one of his books is a bit like jumping into freefall. You can never quite anticipate it and you never know where you're going to land. But the journey, short and brief though it may be, is sure to delight and exhilarate.
And so Strange Houses is just like that. We open into a discussion about the blueprint of a house. At first glace, it looks to be a lovely and charming home, but when you peer a little closer, certain features don't really make sense. Then the more you look, the more it seems the house is hiding something dark and maybe even a bit sinister.
I totally inhaled this. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Everyone talks about one-sit reads like we've all got unlimited, uninterrupted time at our fingertips. But with this book, you can actually read it in one go. I think I got through it in just under three hours, which is totally doable, if not in one continuous chunk, then at least over the course of a day.
What can I say, there's just something really fun about hunting for clues in pictures. Like, I know I'm an adult now and I should only be reading serious literature with words in it, but come on, who doesn't love pictures in their books? It totally harkens back to the carefree childhood days of Where's Waldo? and Hidden Objects.
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. The first half focused on the blueprints and the architecture of the houses, and it was really fun to follow along as the characters discussed and deciphered the meaning behind unusual features, coming to conclusions I should've seen, but somehow didn't.
The second half got a bit convoluted. There were so many characters, I had to flip back and forth a few times to make sure I got everything and everyone straight. And the explanations and reveals really tested my suspension of disbelief skills, possibly to a level heretofore unseen.
I'm looking at the ratings for this book, and I totally understand why they're a bit lower. But for me, I really didn't mind the wackiness. I already had to suspend my disbelief to read Uketsu in the first place. After all, no real person would hide sinister clues in pictures nor build houses in this way. So to even buy into the author's premise was already a leap, and I was happy to follow thereafter to wherever he took me.
I cut my teeth in mysteries with Agatha Christie, and while the two of them have very different styles, Uketsu and Christie both fully embraced the spirit of the genre. At its heart, a mystery is meant to be a puzzle, one where we the readers must don our detective caps, try to solve it for ourselves, and when we inevitably fail, marvel at the way it all comes together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Strange Pictures
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Diving into one of his books is a bit like jumping into freefall. You can never quite anticipate it and you never know where you're going to land. But the journey, short and brief though it may be, is sure to delight and exhilarate.
And so Strange Houses is just like that. We open into a discussion about the blueprint of a house. At first glace, it looks to be a lovely and charming home, but when you peer a little closer, certain features don't really make sense. Then the more you look, the more it seems the house is hiding something dark and maybe even a bit sinister.
I totally inhaled this. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Everyone talks about one-sit reads like we've all got unlimited, uninterrupted time at our fingertips. But with this book, you can actually read it in one go. I think I got through it in just under three hours, which is totally doable, if not in one continuous chunk, then at least over the course of a day.
What can I say, there's just something really fun about hunting for clues in pictures. Like, I know I'm an adult now and I should only be reading serious literature with words in it, but come on, who doesn't love pictures in their books? It totally harkens back to the carefree childhood days of Where's Waldo? and Hidden Objects.
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. The first half focused on the blueprints and the architecture of the houses, and it was really fun to follow along as the characters discussed and deciphered the meaning behind unusual features, coming to conclusions I should've seen, but somehow didn't.
The second half got a bit convoluted. There were so many characters, I had to flip back and forth a few times to make sure I got everything and everyone straight. And the explanations and reveals really tested my suspension of disbelief skills, possibly to a level heretofore unseen.
I'm looking at the ratings for this book, and I totally understand why they're a bit lower. But for me, I really didn't mind the wackiness. I already had to suspend my disbelief to read Uketsu in the first place. After all, no real person would hide sinister clues in pictures nor build houses in this way. So to even buy into the author's premise was already a leap, and I was happy to follow thereafter to wherever he took me.
I cut my teeth in mysteries with Agatha Christie, and while the two of them have very different styles, Uketsu and Christie both fully embraced the spirit of the genre. At its heart, a mystery is meant to be a puzzle, one where we the readers must don our detective caps, try to solve it for ourselves, and when we inevitably fail, marvel at the way it all comes together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Strange Pictures
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
January 20, 2026
After reading Strange Pictures by this same author, I know I could not miss reading his next work. Strange Houses is a horror mystery comprised of four parts about strange architecture homes with bizarre floor plans, hidden rooms, and disconcerting voids. The chapters proceed as conversations amongst the narrator, an architect friend, and various others connected to each of these odd structures.
The first three parts involve different houses; each house is more unsettling than the prior and ends with the revelation of a wealthy family's hidden dark secret. What Strange Houses was exceptional at doing is maintaining a consistent sense of slow dread. I dwelled on the thought, its descriptions of unnatural spaces so vivid I was peeking at my own walls and my sister can testify the way I have been muttering curses as I read, specifically during the last pages of the act because I was thoroughly gobsmacked by the possible conclusions. Truth was revealed but the mystery of the actual culprit remains...
Although the premise is certainly thrilling in showing how Uketsu has masterfully written this genre by bridging horror with architectural narrative intrigue—the execution often strains plausibility as certain twists feel more overreached and shift in logic along the way. The story progressed in an overly convenient way, and I was disappointed when it turned into an occult-themed tale halfway through.
Early on, the characters jump to huge conclusions about the houses' secrets based on almost nothing, and somehow, their wild guesses turn out to be right every time. There are a million possibilities, but one glance at a floor plan got them immediately thought "yup, it's a murder house." It makes the whole mystery feel pointless because instead of figuring things out with them, I am just watching a script play out exactly as intended. Also, I think it is too far-fetched to speculate that a child would suddenly commit murder like it was a normal idea to come up with.
Comparatively, Uketsu’s earlier work, Strange Pictures wove its horrors through more nuanced character dynamics. Here, the focus on architecture comes at the expense of depth, reducing the cast to vehicles for exposition. With a more evocative style, the unsettling premise could have lingered in the mind like a true nightmare, rather than fading so quickly since this book decided to proceed with the conversational style.
Perhaps it is the expectation of his previous work but regardless, this book remains a boldly inventive read. The "sketch mystery" format feels fresh and immersive, and if you love speculative horror or unconventional narratives, it is still worth diving into (just don’t expect airtight logic). That said, even my frustrations would not stop me from continuing the hinted sequel. There is something undeniably compelling about Uketsu’s eerie storytelling that keeps me curious for more.
The first three parts involve different houses; each house is more unsettling than the prior and ends with the revelation of a wealthy family's hidden dark secret. What Strange Houses was exceptional at doing is maintaining a consistent sense of slow dread. I dwelled on the thought, its descriptions of unnatural spaces so vivid I was peeking at my own walls and my sister can testify the way I have been muttering curses as I read, specifically during the last pages of the act because I was thoroughly gobsmacked by the possible conclusions. Truth was revealed but the mystery of the actual culprit remains...
Although the premise is certainly thrilling in showing how Uketsu has masterfully written this genre by bridging horror with architectural narrative intrigue—the execution often strains plausibility as certain twists feel more overreached and shift in logic along the way. The story progressed in an overly convenient way, and I was disappointed when it turned into an occult-themed tale halfway through.
Early on, the characters jump to huge conclusions about the houses' secrets based on almost nothing, and somehow, their wild guesses turn out to be right every time. There are a million possibilities, but one glance at a floor plan got them immediately thought "yup, it's a murder house." It makes the whole mystery feel pointless because instead of figuring things out with them, I am just watching a script play out exactly as intended. Also, I think it is too far-fetched to speculate that a child would suddenly commit murder like it was a normal idea to come up with.
Comparatively, Uketsu’s earlier work, Strange Pictures wove its horrors through more nuanced character dynamics. Here, the focus on architecture comes at the expense of depth, reducing the cast to vehicles for exposition. With a more evocative style, the unsettling premise could have lingered in the mind like a true nightmare, rather than fading so quickly since this book decided to proceed with the conversational style.
Perhaps it is the expectation of his previous work but regardless, this book remains a boldly inventive read. The "sketch mystery" format feels fresh and immersive, and if you love speculative horror or unconventional narratives, it is still worth diving into (just don’t expect airtight logic). That said, even my frustrations would not stop me from continuing the hinted sequel. There is something undeniably compelling about Uketsu’s eerie storytelling that keeps me curious for more.
April 23, 2025
2.5 stars. I really enjoyed the first Uketsu book translated earlier this year, Strange Pictures. Strange Houses starts out feeling quite similar, it's funny how ominous Uketsu can make everyday things feel. But while this started out creepy, it very quickly became silly. Within just a few pages, two characters considering a floor plan come up with an extremely ridiculous theory, one that I looked at thinking "What the hell???" but then the book decides to run with this theory and play it all the way out. Ah well.
The plot, when it's all revealed, is extremely silly. But the book treats it with the utmost seriousness.
But the thing is, I still have enough fun with Uketsu's style that I happily breezed through the whole thing, even if I was shaking my head.
The plot, when it's all revealed, is extremely silly. But the book treats it with the utmost seriousness.
But the thing is, I still have enough fun with Uketsu's style that I happily breezed through the whole thing, even if I was shaking my head.
June 7, 2025
I enjoy reading books that make me wish the pages would never end, and this was definitely one of them. 😍
I picked up this book because I loved the author's previous work, "Strange Pictures".
This time, the author employs architecture and floor plans to craft the plot, adding a unique and intriguing twist to the mystery.
I especially enjoyed how Uketsu presents graphics alongside questions and answers from the protagonists. It adds a fun and interactive layer to the reading experience.
The author possesses a remarkable talent for explaining complex events in a clear and step-by-step manner, making the entire mystery easy to follow and understand.
The discussions and reasoning between the characters really make you think about possible outcomes and solutions.
If you enjoy light yet cleverly constructed crime stories, I highly recommend checking out his books.
I am also looking forward to his upcoming release, "Strange Buildings"! I guess so? 🤷♂️
I picked up this book because I loved the author's previous work, "Strange Pictures".
This time, the author employs architecture and floor plans to craft the plot, adding a unique and intriguing twist to the mystery.
I especially enjoyed how Uketsu presents graphics alongside questions and answers from the protagonists. It adds a fun and interactive layer to the reading experience.
The author possesses a remarkable talent for explaining complex events in a clear and step-by-step manner, making the entire mystery easy to follow and understand.
The discussions and reasoning between the characters really make you think about possible outcomes and solutions.
If you enjoy light yet cleverly constructed crime stories, I highly recommend checking out his books.
I am also looking forward to his upcoming release, "Strange Buildings"! I guess so? 🤷♂️
July 25, 2025
I can see how it all fits together, but...isn't it all a little far-fetched? It's so convoluted.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
If you are going to read only one Uketsu book, I urge you to read Strange Pictures.
This is one of the most proposterous plot lines ever to be created. This is not a "chilling mystery" (as proclaimed on the cover) so much as a macabre, completely unbelievable dark fairy tale. The gimmick of adding blueprints and hand-drawn sketches does not work here like it did in the author's first book. By my count, these images take up 62 of 189 pages in the book - many taking the majority or entirety of the page. Most of these are the exact same sketch but with a line added here or a circle there. Nothing about the pictures were actual clues but just visual depctions of the inline text. With nearly half of the book filled with visual aids, this essentially leaves the reader with an unpleasant short story that isn't a mystery at all and certainly not one that can be solved because logic does not exist within its pages.
**The following are NOT spoilers***
Imagine calling your friend, who is a master gardener, to ask his advice about a bizarre patch of land on your property where nothing will grow. Your friend considers your plight and suggests that he knows PRECISELY why nothing will grow in this one patch - it is because that is where the previous landowners brought the captured unicorns and did blood sacrifices to appease their ancestors and grant them favor in the afterlife. Then imagine that, instead of telling your friend to stop eating weird mushrooms and seek psychiatric help, you say to him, "Oh my goodness? Really? Well unicorn sacrifices make total sense to me!" Then everyone draws a bunch of pictures of the garden and by the end, unicorn sacrifices are one of the most plausible parts of the story.
If that sounds like a fun time then this is your book!
After enjoying Strange Pictures, this book felt like I was being punked.
It is a very fast read and it's definitely weird. That's about all I can say in its favor.
I won't get fooled again. 1 star.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
If you are going to read only one Uketsu book, I urge you to read Strange Pictures.
This is one of the most proposterous plot lines ever to be created. This is not a "chilling mystery" (as proclaimed on the cover) so much as a macabre, completely unbelievable dark fairy tale. The gimmick of adding blueprints and hand-drawn sketches does not work here like it did in the author's first book. By my count, these images take up 62 of 189 pages in the book - many taking the majority or entirety of the page. Most of these are the exact same sketch but with a line added here or a circle there. Nothing about the pictures were actual clues but just visual depctions of the inline text. With nearly half of the book filled with visual aids, this essentially leaves the reader with an unpleasant short story that isn't a mystery at all and certainly not one that can be solved because logic does not exist within its pages.
**The following are NOT spoilers***
Imagine calling your friend, who is a master gardener, to ask his advice about a bizarre patch of land on your property where nothing will grow. Your friend considers your plight and suggests that he knows PRECISELY why nothing will grow in this one patch - it is because that is where the previous landowners brought the captured unicorns and did blood sacrifices to appease their ancestors and grant them favor in the afterlife. Then imagine that, instead of telling your friend to stop eating weird mushrooms and seek psychiatric help, you say to him, "Oh my goodness? Really? Well unicorn sacrifices make total sense to me!" Then everyone draws a bunch of pictures of the garden and by the end, unicorn sacrifices are one of the most plausible parts of the story.
If that sounds like a fun time then this is your book!
After enjoying Strange Pictures, this book felt like I was being punked.
It is a very fast read and it's definitely weird. That's about all I can say in its favor.
I won't get fooled again. 1 star.
August 14, 2025
Insanely far-fetched, gimmicky, and convoluted. I’ll prob read the other one too though lol.
April 21, 2025
this was literally one of the worst things i've ever read
January 19, 2022
Well my friends, that was a wild, crazy ride. Unfortunately, there were absolutely no ghosties in this book. No strange figures or occurrences, except what comes with, er, paranoia and gullibility. A fairy tale for our age.
The “author” is set on a hunt by his friend “Yanagioka” who casually mentions wanting to buy a house and oh-so-casually asks if our author, “an expert in the occult”, could look at the floorplan of the house he’s planning to buy and give him feedback.
Honestly, Yanagioka could’ve asked me and I could’ve come up with the same answer without taking even a day: don’t buy this house. It’s a shitty house. Never, ever take a house where you have to go through someone else’s bedroom to get to your bedroom.
Instead author brings the matter to his architect friend Kurihara, who for some reason jumps into a wild theory about a killer child who is forced to murther. Certainly there’s no proof of this, but Kurihara brings up enough points that author once more gets in touch with his friend Yanagioka to advise him to skip this one.
Yanagioka’s way ahead of him, though – when he calls, Yanagioka is all like, “Oh, no, I’m not going to buy it,” and when author asks why, Yanagioka is all “WELL THEY FOUND A DEAD BODY NEAR THERE!” Honestly, Yanagioka, there are dead bodies everywhere. Get a grip, girlfriend.
Our author, thinking that this is the end of it, writes up a quick article about the strange house to make a quick buck. Then after the article is published, he receives an email from a woman calling herself MIYAE Yuzuki, claiming to have more information about the strange house in Tokyo.
I’m just deeply disappointed that there were no ghosts. Also, hilarious that there was so much discussion of the floor plans of doom.
The “author” is set on a hunt by his friend “Yanagioka” who casually mentions wanting to buy a house and oh-so-casually asks if our author, “an expert in the occult”, could look at the floorplan of the house he’s planning to buy and give him feedback.
Honestly, Yanagioka could’ve asked me and I could’ve come up with the same answer without taking even a day: don’t buy this house. It’s a shitty house. Never, ever take a house where you have to go through someone else’s bedroom to get to your bedroom.
Instead author brings the matter to his architect friend Kurihara, who for some reason jumps into a wild theory about a killer child who is forced to murther. Certainly there’s no proof of this, but Kurihara brings up enough points that author once more gets in touch with his friend Yanagioka to advise him to skip this one.
Yanagioka’s way ahead of him, though – when he calls, Yanagioka is all like, “Oh, no, I’m not going to buy it,” and when author asks why, Yanagioka is all “WELL THEY FOUND A DEAD BODY NEAR THERE!” Honestly, Yanagioka, there are dead bodies everywhere. Get a grip, girlfriend.
Our author, thinking that this is the end of it, writes up a quick article about the strange house to make a quick buck. Then after the article is published, he receives an email from a woman calling herself MIYAE Yuzuki, claiming to have more information about the strange house in Tokyo.
I’m just deeply disappointed that there were no ghosts. Also, hilarious that there was so much discussion of the floor plans of doom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2025
Had the BEST time buddy reading this with my friend, Amy. Then we pushed it on so many other friends, who had an equally wild ride with it.
We're all buddy reading the author's other book, Strange Pictures, on Patreon July 23rd. So we can all see if we can figure out the mystery before it's revealed.
We're all buddy reading the author's other book, Strange Pictures, on Patreon July 23rd. So we can all see if we can figure out the mystery before it's revealed.
March 31, 2026
4.5: I actually only picked this up because the floor plan on the Kindle edition cover looks exactly like one side of my ground floor 😅 considering the bad luck I’ve had with this stupid house, reading a horror about houses probably wasn’t the smartest move I’ve ever made.
Anyway.
On the very first page we get another floor plan.
Guys, I missed so much. I stared at it forever and was just like… hmm, I guess that’s a bit of a weird flow? Not sure how I feel about walking through a room to get to another room… the toilet’s in the dining room?? That seems weird, guests just sitting there 3 feet away separated by a flimsy wall while someone’s using the facilities?
I am stupid.
I was trying to do something else when I started this. Genuinely thought I’d read like one chapter and put it down. Nope. Couldn’t. Every time I stopped I immediately picked it back up. It’s SO addictive.
There are definitely some big leaps in logic though. Like everyone in this book is doing Olympic-level mental gymnastics on the tiniest crumbs of information. The whole thing kicks off because the MC’s friend is house hunting and notices a tiny bit of dead space in a kitchen and suddenly everyone’s like “THIS HOUSE IS EVIL.” It’s a stretch. A big one. But also entertaining as hell.
But I kind of wish they were wrong more often. Like they jump to the wildest conclusions and somehow they’re always right?? I would’ve loved a bit more doubt and more misreads in their deductions. Instead they're all like, "oh the bin is over there? I keep mine over here. That can only mean one thing... murder!"
Still, I respect the dedication because somehow they’re all more observant than me because I missed the WINDOWLESS ROOMS.
Again, stupid.
You definitely have to suspend your disbelief. I kept thinking, are surveyors not a thing in Japan?? because surely SOMEONE would’ve clocked this?? but then the book actually kind of anticipates that thought and addresses it later which I did appreciate.
Okay fine. I guess.
This honestly reminded me of playing Ace Attorney games. The book’s made up of conversations, interviews, floor plans, drawings, notes, letters, real estate listings… basically everything except a normal narrative structure, but it WORKS. It’s disjointed, like you never fully settle into it, which adds to the creepiness. It really felt like a game. You’re zooming in on drawings like “THIS DETAIL MEANS SOMETHING I JUST KNOW IT 🔍” and then later it's like, oooh that thing did matter.
The mystery isn’t solved through action either, it’s just fragments. Bits of information and vague paper trails. You’re assembling it yourself and spiralling slightly as you go.
I loved that.
I also loved all the different houses and how each one feels like its own little nightmare puzzle. It’s one of the best parts how you're just slowly uncovering how wrong each layout is. By the second floor plan I was prepared and knew (more or less) what to look for.
And the floor plans aren’t just a gimmick either. They’re basically the whole point. Like characters in their own right.
Some of the logic is questionable to say the least. One of the characters even points this out: “I can see how it all fits together, but isn’t it all a little far-fetched?”
Yes. Yes it is.
The writing's also super sparse and cold in a way that actually works. It just presents things without fluff. There’s no emotion, just… here’s the facts, good luck. And that makes it even more unsettling.
And then the ending just kind of goes OFF. Like we start grounded-ish and then suddenly we’re deep in curse territory and I’m just sitting there like… wait what happened?? It basically goes from Ace Attorney to American Horror Story with no warning label.
It gets pretty messy toward the end. It goes from creepy architectural detective mode into long explanations about curses and time lines and lore dumps and my brain started drifting a bit.
The story going off the rails in the last 20% is the main reason for a 4.5 instead of a 5.
The characters aren’t really characters tbh. They’re more like mouthpieces for theories. They're there to serve one purpose - uncovering the chaos. I don’t mind it because this is not a character-driven story at all, but don’t expect emotional depth or arcs or anything, they’re basically there to point at walls and go “hm suspicious.”
Overall, I loved it. One of the most interesting horror/mystery setups I’ve read in ages.
Anyway.
On the very first page we get another floor plan.
“At first glance, it probably looks totally normal, like a house anyone might live in. But if you look very closely, you might notice things here and there that seem somehow… off.”
Guys, I missed so much. I stared at it forever and was just like… hmm, I guess that’s a bit of a weird flow? Not sure how I feel about walking through a room to get to another room… the toilet’s in the dining room?? That seems weird, guests just sitting there 3 feet away separated by a flimsy wall while someone’s using the facilities?
I am stupid.
I was trying to do something else when I started this. Genuinely thought I’d read like one chapter and put it down. Nope. Couldn’t. Every time I stopped I immediately picked it back up. It’s SO addictive.
There are definitely some big leaps in logic though. Like everyone in this book is doing Olympic-level mental gymnastics on the tiniest crumbs of information. The whole thing kicks off because the MC’s friend is house hunting and notices a tiny bit of dead space in a kitchen and suddenly everyone’s like “THIS HOUSE IS EVIL.” It’s a stretch. A big one. But also entertaining as hell.
But I kind of wish they were wrong more often. Like they jump to the wildest conclusions and somehow they’re always right?? I would’ve loved a bit more doubt and more misreads in their deductions. Instead they're all like, "oh the bin is over there? I keep mine over here. That can only mean one thing... murder!"
Still, I respect the dedication because somehow they’re all more observant than me because I missed the WINDOWLESS ROOMS.
Again, stupid.
You definitely have to suspend your disbelief. I kept thinking, are surveyors not a thing in Japan?? because surely SOMEONE would’ve clocked this?? but then the book actually kind of anticipates that thought and addresses it later which I did appreciate.
“They would have had a professional inspection before the house went up for sale. If it cleared the inspection, at the very least there can’t have been any visible evidence. Nothing obvious like traces of blood or anything. And they’d have sealed up the passage, I bet.”
Okay fine. I guess.
This honestly reminded me of playing Ace Attorney games. The book’s made up of conversations, interviews, floor plans, drawings, notes, letters, real estate listings… basically everything except a normal narrative structure, but it WORKS. It’s disjointed, like you never fully settle into it, which adds to the creepiness. It really felt like a game. You’re zooming in on drawings like “THIS DETAIL MEANS SOMETHING I JUST KNOW IT 🔍” and then later it's like, oooh that thing did matter.
The mystery isn’t solved through action either, it’s just fragments. Bits of information and vague paper trails. You’re assembling it yourself and spiralling slightly as you go.
I loved that.
I also loved all the different houses and how each one feels like its own little nightmare puzzle. It’s one of the best parts how you're just slowly uncovering how wrong each layout is. By the second floor plan I was prepared and knew (more or less) what to look for.
And the floor plans aren’t just a gimmick either. They’re basically the whole point. Like characters in their own right.
Some of the logic is questionable to say the least. One of the characters even points this out: “I can see how it all fits together, but isn’t it all a little far-fetched?”
Yes. Yes it is.
The writing's also super sparse and cold in a way that actually works. It just presents things without fluff. There’s no emotion, just… here’s the facts, good luck. And that makes it even more unsettling.
And then the ending just kind of goes OFF. Like we start grounded-ish and then suddenly we’re deep in curse territory and I’m just sitting there like… wait what happened?? It basically goes from Ace Attorney to American Horror Story with no warning label.
It gets pretty messy toward the end. It goes from creepy architectural detective mode into long explanations about curses and time lines and lore dumps and my brain started drifting a bit.
The story going off the rails in the last 20% is the main reason for a 4.5 instead of a 5.
The characters aren’t really characters tbh. They’re more like mouthpieces for theories. They're there to serve one purpose - uncovering the chaos. I don’t mind it because this is not a character-driven story at all, but don’t expect emotional depth or arcs or anything, they’re basically there to point at walls and go “hm suspicious.”
Overall, I loved it. One of the most interesting horror/mystery setups I’ve read in ages.
August 19, 2025
Esta es una reseña del tipo “ya me lo leo yo para que no te lo tengas que leer tú”. Que horror de libro. Mira que ya iba preparada porque ya había leído el primer libro del autor (al que califiqué generosamente con 3⭐️ pese a que en realidad no merecía mucho aplauso). Aún así decidí arriesgar con el segundo, porque todo el mundo decía que vaya maravilla y JesusporDios, donde está la maravilla esa, oiga. Toda la historia se sustenta sobre unas suposiciones de un arquitecto que hace sorprendentes deducciones simplemente con ver los extraños planos de una casa (luego de varias). No quiero contar mas por no hacer spoiler (aunque quizá os haría un favor), pero en definitiva, podéis pasar de largo perfectamente de este libro. Historia inverosímil y sin pies ni cabeza, narración inexistente basada en absurdos diálogos… Lo único bueno es que es muy corta y en poco tiempo puedes terminarla y ver que el final no ha merecido en absoluto la pena el esfuerzo. Por supuesto, no puedo recomendar para nada este truñperdón libro.
July 9, 2025
This had so many fascinatingly creepy parts, and I was locked in until the last chapter, which is where things kinda fizzled out for me, but I enjoyed it and I prefer this one to Strange Pictures. Regardless, uketsu is such a talented and creative author.
November 2, 2025
Dark family secrets are the theme to this ominous ‘whodunnit’ in which you, the reader are a participant.
Strange Houses by Uketsu, is written in the same vain as Strange Pictures, a face paced interactive Japanese mystery novel that I couldn’t put down.
A unique and innovative perspective places the reader and author side by side dissecting subtle clues found in sets of blueprints. Reality unfolds like origami, leading to unimaginable discoveries.
It is peculiar and at times cringeworthy …
I LOVED IT!!
Strange Houses by Uketsu, is written in the same vain as Strange Pictures, a face paced interactive Japanese mystery novel that I couldn’t put down.
A unique and innovative perspective places the reader and author side by side dissecting subtle clues found in sets of blueprints. Reality unfolds like origami, leading to unimaginable discoveries.
It is peculiar and at times cringeworthy …
I LOVED IT!!
July 4, 2025
I'm officially addicted to Uketsu books. As with Strange Pictures, I read this in one day – they're such fun, twisted mysteries.
Please somebody give me Strange Buildings . . .
Please somebody give me Strange Buildings . . .
June 17, 2025
Another bestselling novel from deliberately-enigmatic Japanese author and YouTube celebrity known only as Uketsu. Uketsu’s novel plays with genre conventions blending elements of popular Japanese locked-room mysteries with tropes associated with haunted house narratives. The style’s direct, matter-of-fact even, but the plot itself is quite convoluted demanding the reader’s full attention. The story’s based on a script for a short video* streamed on Uketsu’s online channel in which he appeared in his trademark all-encompassing black outfit and white mask. The video is presented as a live action background check on a bizarre house a friend’s interested in purchasing. The novel builds on this scenario but expands its scope.
A freelance writer who makes his living chronicling instances of the macabre conducts a similar investigation. His friend Yanoaka is having second thoughts about buying a particular house. At first it seemed the ideal family home but he’s baffled by its odd layout. He’s particularly unsettled by a seemingly inaccessible void shown in the house’s floorplan. The freelancer approaches architect Kurihara who has an outlandish theory about the rationale for the house’s design. When a body is found nearby, Kurihara’s theory starts to sound disturbingly plausible. Then another house, with similar features, comes to the freelancer’s attention.
Uketsu’s narrative delves into family secrets, folklore and ritualistic killings that wouldn't be out of place in a Poe story and, like many of Poe’s pieces, the denouement is equally preposterous. Far less sophisticated than Strange Pictures - there’s little to no character development - but still surprisingly gripping and fairly entertaining. Translated by Jim Rion.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Pushkin Vertigo for an ARC
*A STRANGE HOUSE～Mysterious Story of Real Estate - Uketsu YouTube channel, Japanese with Eng Sub
A freelance writer who makes his living chronicling instances of the macabre conducts a similar investigation. His friend Yanoaka is having second thoughts about buying a particular house. At first it seemed the ideal family home but he’s baffled by its odd layout. He’s particularly unsettled by a seemingly inaccessible void shown in the house’s floorplan. The freelancer approaches architect Kurihara who has an outlandish theory about the rationale for the house’s design. When a body is found nearby, Kurihara’s theory starts to sound disturbingly plausible. Then another house, with similar features, comes to the freelancer’s attention.
Uketsu’s narrative delves into family secrets, folklore and ritualistic killings that wouldn't be out of place in a Poe story and, like many of Poe’s pieces, the denouement is equally preposterous. Far less sophisticated than Strange Pictures - there’s little to no character development - but still surprisingly gripping and fairly entertaining. Translated by Jim Rion.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Pushkin Vertigo for an ARC
*A STRANGE HOUSE～Mysterious Story of Real Estate - Uketsu YouTube channel, Japanese with Eng Sub
December 27, 2025
Picked Strange Houses up in a bookstore and finished it four hours later. This is an absolutely fantastic mystery. The floor plans give you a fantastic template from which you can figure out plenty of the mystery. But you won’t! Just truly epic.
While it’s not a particularly character driven mystery, the twists and turns are excellent, and I was very glad to have read it.
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While it’s not a particularly character driven mystery, the twists and turns are excellent, and I was very glad to have read it.
TikTok | Substack | Instagram | Youtube | Spotify | About |
December 17, 2025
read that book in less than 2 hours and got the exactly feeling they described about a chill of something in my house. damn.
October 27, 2022
ไม่ว่าคุณจะเป็นนักสืบชื่อดังสำนักไหน เป็นตำรวจฝีมือดีหรืออดีตเอฟบีไอ ก็บอกเลยว่าคุณสู้อิตาคุณพี่สถาปนิกในเรื่องนี้ไม่ได้หรอกค่ะ เชอร์ล็อกก็ทำไม่ได้ โคนันเหรออย่าหวัง เพราะฮีเดาเก่งมากกกกกกกกแบบบียอนด์ แบบเว่อ เหลือจะเชื่อ เล่าเป็นช่องเป็นฉากเหมือนเป็นคนสร้างเรื่องทั้งหมดขึ้นมาเอง (นี่ถึงขั้นระแวงว่าพี่คนนี้เค้ามีเงื่อนงำไรปะวะ) เซอร์เรียลจัดๆ แต่ชอบมากนะ รู้สึกว่ามันลงตัวกับเรื่องพอดี ถ้าสืบแบบค่อยๆ ไขปริศนา ผิดไปแล้ว 5 ถูกแค่ 1 งี้ เล่มคงหนาและใช้เวลานานมากในการเล่าแต่ละดีเทล แปลนบ้าน 3 หลัง ปมในอดีต ครอบครัวในปัจจุบัน (ซึ่งอ่านไปอาจจะเบื่อ) เราเลยชอบความเฉลยเร็ว เดินเรื่องเร็ว ไปต่อเร็วแบบนี้แหละ เหมาะกับวิธีการเขียนแบบเน้นบทสนทนาในเล่มด้วย
เรื่องมันไม่มีผีปีศาจอะไรเลย แต่นี่เป็นเล่มที่เราอ่านตอนกลางคืนแล้วเสียวสันหลังแว้บๆ แบบเออ วางดีกว่า ขอเปลี่ยนเล่มก่อนนะ 5555 ซึ่งดีมาก บรรยากาศมันชวนขนลุกดี เพราะสำหรับเรา คนน่ากลัวกว่าผีล้านเท่า และเรื่องนี้คนแม่งจิตมากกกก แบบคุรพี่ไม่มีวิจารณญาณใดๆ กันเลยหร้ออออ ทำทำมาย ทำเพื่อครายยยยยยย เข้าใจแต่ก็ไม่เข้าใจ แต่ก็ยอมรับได้นะ จิตใจมนุษย์ยากแท้หยั่งถึงอยู่แล้ว แก้ปัญหาเรื่องเล็กๆ ด้วยการทำสิ่งที่ยิ่งใหญ่ไปเรยสิคะ (และคนเชื่อคนทำตามแม่งก็บ้า)
ส่วนตัวว่าตอนจบพีคจัดๆ plot twist ได้สมฐานิยายสืบสวนนะ อ่านถึงหน้าสุดท้ายแล้วหงายหลังตึงงงง แบบเคร นี่คือปลายเปิดแบบไม่เปิด เพราะคำพูดคุณพี่สถาปนิกเชื่อถือได้เสมอ ฮีเดาถูกทุกอย่างอยู่แล้วนี่ อันนี้ก็คง… 🥲
เรื่องมันไม่มีผีปีศาจอะไรเลย แต่นี่เป็นเล่มที่เราอ่านตอนกลางคืนแล้วเสียวสันหลังแว้บๆ แบบเออ วางดีกว่า ขอเปลี่ยนเล่มก่อนนะ 5555 ซึ่งดีมาก บรรยากาศมันชวนขนลุกดี เพราะสำหรับเรา คนน่ากลัวกว่าผีล้านเท่า และเรื่องนี้คนแม่งจิตมากกกก แบบคุรพี่ไม่มีวิจารณญาณใดๆ กันเลยหร้ออออ ทำทำมาย ทำเพื่อครายยยยยยย เข้าใจแต่ก็ไม่เข้าใจ แต่ก็ยอมรับได้นะ จิตใจมนุษย์ยากแท้หยั่งถึงอยู่แล้ว แก้ปัญหาเรื่องเล็กๆ ด้วยการทำสิ่งที่ยิ่งใหญ่ไปเรยสิคะ (และคนเชื่อคนทำตามแม่งก็บ้า)
ส่วนตัวว่าตอนจบพีคจัดๆ plot twist ได้สมฐานิยายสืบสวนนะ อ่านถึงหน้าสุดท้ายแล้วหงายหลังตึงงงง แบบเคร นี่คือปลายเปิดแบบไม่เปิด เพราะคำพูดคุณพี่สถาปนิกเชื่อถือได้เสมอ ฮีเดาถูกทุกอย่างอยู่แล้วนี่ อันนี้ก็คง… 🥲
September 1, 2024
I wanna know what kind of drug the author was on while writing this.
July 25, 2023
2.5
Ngôi Nhà Kỳ Quái mở đầu với nhân vật "tôi" được người quen nhờ vả xem qua bản thiết kế ngôi nhà mà người quen đó đang dự định mua. Thông qua bản thiết kế, sơ đồ kiến trúc của ngôi nhà đã chỉ ra nhiều điểm bất thường, cũng chính những điểm bất thường của "ngôi nhà kỳ quái" kia dần đưa nhân vật chính đến với những sự thật sâu xa hơn những gì anh ta đã nghĩ.
Sơ đồ ngôi nhà
Ngay từ những phần đầu Ngôi Nhà Kỳ Quái đã cuốn hút mình, thông qua các màn đối thoại của "tôi" cùng với sự trợ giúp của một người bạn khác am hiểu về kiến trúc và thích sách Trinh thám, mở ra những chi tiết bất hợp lý của ngôi nhà, cùng với những suy đoán về động cơ của các thiết kế đó. Sau đó nhân vật chính lại kết nối một sự kiện của một ngôi nhà khác cũng kỳ lạ như ngôi nhà hiện tại.
Cuốn sách có lối viết không dài dòng và có thể hoàn thành trong thời gian ngắn, nhưng quả thực Ngôi Nhà Kỳ Quái lại ngắn nên không đủ chiều sâu để khai thác thêm nhiều yếu tố khác. Tác giả Uketsu vốn chuyên viêt và đăng tải tác phẩm lên internet, lúc đọc Ngôi Nhà Kỳ Quái mình nhận rõ cách viết rất "mạng" đọc đôi lúc thây gượng.
Phần đầu đã khiến mình hi vọng Ngôi Nhà Kỳ Quái sẽ là tác phẩm Trinh thám đáng mong đợi, nhưng chủ yếu là mystery, các phần suy luận chỉ là đối thoại, cái cách vụ việc được sáng tỏ gây thất vọng cho mình. Dù mình thực sự thích cách tác giả khai thác bi kịch, sự cuồng tín của một gia tộc sau đó.
June 3, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Strange Houses is the second book translated into English by a Japanese author who goes by the name Uketsu. I really enjoyed Strange Pictures, so I was eager to figure out the mystery of Strange Houses.
The book follows a similar format with a type of questioning and answering by the characters in order to puzzle together a series of murders through odd blueprints. Unfortunately, the translation does come off a bit stilted in this one. While much shorter than Strange Pictures, I didn’t find the mystery as compelling as the first. I also had trouble distinguishing the characters from each other in the final reveal, as there are so many of them with similar names!
While Strange Houses is an intriguing short mystery, it just didn’t engage me as much as the first book.
3.25/5 stars rounded down
Note: “Uketsu’s real name and identity are unknown. He only ever appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. His innovative mysteries challenge readers to discover the hidden clues in a series of sinister drawings.”
Expected publication date: 6/3/25
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the ARC of Strange Houses in exchange for an honest review.
Strange Houses is the second book translated into English by a Japanese author who goes by the name Uketsu. I really enjoyed Strange Pictures, so I was eager to figure out the mystery of Strange Houses.
The book follows a similar format with a type of questioning and answering by the characters in order to puzzle together a series of murders through odd blueprints. Unfortunately, the translation does come off a bit stilted in this one. While much shorter than Strange Pictures, I didn’t find the mystery as compelling as the first. I also had trouble distinguishing the characters from each other in the final reveal, as there are so many of them with similar names!
While Strange Houses is an intriguing short mystery, it just didn’t engage me as much as the first book.
3.25/5 stars rounded down
Note: “Uketsu’s real name and identity are unknown. He only ever appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. His innovative mysteries challenge readers to discover the hidden clues in a series of sinister drawings.”
Expected publication date: 6/3/25
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the ARC of Strange Houses in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2023
Pernah nggak teracuni diskusi buku dan racunnya ternyata cocok?
Waktu @bukugpu @fiksigpu buka pre-order Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh, aku nggak begitu penasaran. Nama penulisnya juga asing buatku. Pokoknya, cuma jadi informasi selintas lalu.
Hingga akhirnya aku iseng ikutan ZOOM promosi Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh ini. Selama kurang lebih satu jam, ketiga narasumber (salah satunya adalah Ci Hetih), sukses bikin aku segera melakukan pembelian begitu acara selesai.
Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh sukses bikin aku menunda waktu tidur. Bukan karena bukunya yang tipis. It is 220 pages long. Tapi karena cerita di dalamnya yang bikin aku ngerasa, "Nanggung amat!"
Mengutip katanya Ci Hetih, buku ini menceritakan obrolan dua bapak-bapak yang mencoba mengases sebuah rumah yang dijual. Obrolan ala kadarnya ini berubah menjadi sesuatu yang seru setelah para tokoh mengamati denah bangunan secara lebih saksama.
Benar-benar sebuah rumah yang aneh.
Spekulasi dan asumsi pun bermunculan. Mendorong tokoh utama menggali lebih dalam. "Yang benar saja? Masa ada asumsi demikian sih?"
Siapa sangka, penemuannya dengan orang-orang terkait rumah tersebut membuat aku cukup tercengang 😱
Benar kata kak Faira dalam ZOOM promosi itu, mereka yang doyan cerita ala Kindaichi akan cocok dengan buku ini.
Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh dibawakan dengan cara yang unik. Plotnya juga bergerak dengan pas--tidak terlalu cepat & tidak terlalu lambat. Membuatku nyaman untuk membabatnya hingga tengah malam.
Untuk kamu yang mencari bacaan dengan aura horor, mistis, ngeri, mungkin bisa mencoba baca Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh.
Aku sih tidak menyesal sama sekali memotong jam tidurku menjadi kurang dari 6 jam 🤣
Waktu @bukugpu @fiksigpu buka pre-order Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh, aku nggak begitu penasaran. Nama penulisnya juga asing buatku. Pokoknya, cuma jadi informasi selintas lalu.
Hingga akhirnya aku iseng ikutan ZOOM promosi Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh ini. Selama kurang lebih satu jam, ketiga narasumber (salah satunya adalah Ci Hetih), sukses bikin aku segera melakukan pembelian begitu acara selesai.
Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh sukses bikin aku menunda waktu tidur. Bukan karena bukunya yang tipis. It is 220 pages long. Tapi karena cerita di dalamnya yang bikin aku ngerasa, "Nanggung amat!"
Mengutip katanya Ci Hetih, buku ini menceritakan obrolan dua bapak-bapak yang mencoba mengases sebuah rumah yang dijual. Obrolan ala kadarnya ini berubah menjadi sesuatu yang seru setelah para tokoh mengamati denah bangunan secara lebih saksama.
Benar-benar sebuah rumah yang aneh.
Spekulasi dan asumsi pun bermunculan. Mendorong tokoh utama menggali lebih dalam. "Yang benar saja? Masa ada asumsi demikian sih?"
Siapa sangka, penemuannya dengan orang-orang terkait rumah tersebut membuat aku cukup tercengang 😱
Benar kata kak Faira dalam ZOOM promosi itu, mereka yang doyan cerita ala Kindaichi akan cocok dengan buku ini.
Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh dibawakan dengan cara yang unik. Plotnya juga bergerak dengan pas--tidak terlalu cepat & tidak terlalu lambat. Membuatku nyaman untuk membabatnya hingga tengah malam.
Untuk kamu yang mencari bacaan dengan aura horor, mistis, ngeri, mungkin bisa mencoba baca Teka-Teki Rumah Aneh.
Aku sih tidak menyesal sama sekali memotong jam tidurku menjadi kurang dari 6 jam 🤣
March 9, 2026
Having read "strange pictures" a few weeks ago, and thoroughly enjoying it, I was really looking forward to reading the follow up. It sounded extremely intriguing but I had noticed that the reviews weren't as kind as with his debut novel.
I have to say I was very disappointed. The plot is over the top to such an extent that it makes no sense. The intrigue slowly fades away and you're left with a plot that goes nowhere fast and results in constantly shaking your head in disbelief and frustration.
I finished the book in about 90 minutes and I'm really hoping that Uketsu's third novel is similar to the first as this was far too convoluted.
I have to say I was very disappointed. The plot is over the top to such an extent that it makes no sense. The intrigue slowly fades away and you're left with a plot that goes nowhere fast and results in constantly shaking your head in disbelief and frustration.
I finished the book in about 90 minutes and I'm really hoping that Uketsu's third novel is similar to the first as this was far too convoluted.
November 13, 2025
Addictive, I absolutely inhaled this in one reading sitting. Through dark twists and turns and interesting floorplans we discover a dark secret
It was such a perfect coincidence, as if the Devil had set it up for me.
Very propulsive, if maybe a bit more clinical than Strange Pictures. I really enjoyed the way the mystery is unveiled and I think the link with the ancient and creepy tradition of Mabiki, where kids are terminated to keep the family line clear or reduce the mouths to be fed, quite chilling.
Off course I also agree with this statement by the narrators(I can see how it all fits together, but… isn’t it all a little far-fetched? It’s so convoluted) yet I was fully invested and loved the twist at the end.
It was such a perfect coincidence, as if the Devil had set it up for me.
Very propulsive, if maybe a bit more clinical than Strange Pictures. I really enjoyed the way the mystery is unveiled and I think the link with the ancient and creepy tradition of Mabiki, where kids are terminated to keep the family line clear or reduce the mouths to be fed, quite chilling.
Off course I also agree with this statement by the narrators(I can see how it all fits together, but… isn’t it all a little far-fetched? It’s so convoluted) yet I was fully invested and loved the twist at the end.
August 24, 2025
2.5 I was quickly bored with the back and forth discussions on what the possible mystery was. There was a long waiting list at my library for this book, so when I finally had a chance to read it I expected much more. Yawn.
September 30, 2025
I was excited to read this one. Look at the cover! I thought it would be a creepy, quirky mystery. I guess it was, but for me, waaaaay too over-the-top. I don’t even know how to review this one.
The author, a writer of macabre stories, is contacted by a friend who was house hunting for the ideal home for their young family. The floor plans were sent to the author for advice. The author then contacted another friend. Together they try to figure out the puzzle of this house.
The mystery immediately gets crazy when he comes up with the wildest (WILDEST!) idea that no normal people would have thought of. Ever. So it goes from there, from insane to asinine.
The floor plan of the house was ridiculous, anyway, so it was far from ideal. Why it was even a consideration for the possible buyer was beyond me.
The creepiest part of this book was the way it made my eyes roll back in my head. I’m sure I looked scary. It was a quick read, but I doubt I’ll be reading more from this “strange author”.
The author, a writer of macabre stories, is contacted by a friend who was house hunting for the ideal home for their young family. The floor plans were sent to the author for advice. The author then contacted another friend. Together they try to figure out the puzzle of this house.
The mystery immediately gets crazy when he comes up with the wildest (WILDEST!) idea that no normal people would have thought of. Ever. So it goes from there, from insane to asinine.
The floor plan of the house was ridiculous, anyway, so it was far from ideal. Why it was even a consideration for the possible buyer was beyond me.
The creepiest part of this book was the way it made my eyes roll back in my head. I’m sure I looked scary. It was a quick read, but I doubt I’ll be reading more from this “strange author”.
January 16, 2026
‘This is the floor plan of a certain house. Do you see anything strange about it?’ 🏠
Well….that was STRANGE 🤨
After just finishing this book, I was lost for words. It did not conclude how I expected…
Strange Houses is an intricate puzzle. It all begins with a family mystery that becomes more and more complex and convoluted as the storyline develops.
There were a few things I loved about this book:
- POV of a journalist, Kurihara
- Back and forth conversations the journalist had with various characters
- I found journalist style writing to be very interesting and captivating
- It was fun to read despite the bone-chilling tone (1st half)
- The use of floor plan images throughout the book
HOWEVER, despite a very promising first half, this book took a MAJOR nose dive. What started off as a clever, chilly hypothesis quickly turned into a very complex, and quite honestly, insane, generations long mystery…what I thought would come to be a interesting and ingenious conclusion was not the case.
The floor plan drawings were quickly swapped for a lengthy dialogue about a long and dark historical family curse. In other words, the fun and excitement of the investigation was over, replaced by a dragged out conversation. I have to say I was quite disappointed after such a promising beginning but hey, you can’t win them all, and this just wasn’t my thing.
Overall, this book definitely has a lot going for it and 3 stars 🌟 is still a decent review but in the end, it just didn’t hit the mark for me personally.
3 🌟🌟🌟
Well….that was STRANGE 🤨
After just finishing this book, I was lost for words. It did not conclude how I expected…
Strange Houses is an intricate puzzle. It all begins with a family mystery that becomes more and more complex and convoluted as the storyline develops.
There were a few things I loved about this book:
- POV of a journalist, Kurihara
- Back and forth conversations the journalist had with various characters
- I found journalist style writing to be very interesting and captivating
- It was fun to read despite the bone-chilling tone (1st half)
- The use of floor plan images throughout the book
HOWEVER, despite a very promising first half, this book took a MAJOR nose dive. What started off as a clever, chilly hypothesis quickly turned into a very complex, and quite honestly, insane, generations long mystery…what I thought would come to be a interesting and ingenious conclusion was not the case.
The floor plan drawings were quickly swapped for a lengthy dialogue about a long and dark historical family curse. In other words, the fun and excitement of the investigation was over, replaced by a dragged out conversation. I have to say I was quite disappointed after such a promising beginning but hey, you can’t win them all, and this just wasn’t my thing.
Overall, this book definitely has a lot going for it and 3 stars 🌟 is still a decent review but in the end, it just didn’t hit the mark for me personally.
3 🌟🌟🌟
September 29, 2025
Literally everyone in this book jumping to the most batshit insane conclusions:
October 5, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
October 24, 2025
4.25 stars
An insidious familial mystery, I had a lot of fun with Uketsu’s previous work Strange Pictures—particularly the way illustrations and diagrams were an integral part of the storytelling, rather than being relegated to superfluous, mood-building art. So I was eagerly awaiting the Western translation of his follow-up, Strange Houses, and I have to say—this one is even more up my alley!
My affinity for Strange Houses is perhaps partially personal. As someone who studied architecture, I’ve always found floor plans fascinating—constructed in objective lines and symbols, stripped of personality, and viewed from a godlike, all-seeing perspective far removed from actual human experience. There’s something inherently ominous and eerily utilitarian about them. Strange Pictures leans into that feeling—by simply adding or removing lines from a drawing, the space transforms, revealing hidden rooms and pathways for the perpetrator to commit their crimes.
Narratively, Strange Houses is much more streamlined, presented as a singular storyline rather than the fractured-yet-interconnected anthology format of Strange Pictures (which I found unnecessarily convoluted). If I were to nitpick, while the reveal in Strange Houses lands thematically, it’s so deeply rooted in generational family ties that the sheer effort of tracking how everyone is related—especially with all the Japanese names—slightly dulls the impact of the climax. It’s ironically the one case where a family tree diagram would’ve been useful (laugh)! Lastly, the resolution remains fairly open-ended (even the novel itself points out that some questions are still unanswered). While I personally enjoy this kind of ambiguous closure, I know it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Overall, Strange Houses is another strong entry in Uketsu’s unique mixed-media mystery catalog. I believe there’s already a sequel out in Japanese—here’s hoping the publisher brings it to translation soon!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An insidious familial mystery, I had a lot of fun with Uketsu’s previous work Strange Pictures—particularly the way illustrations and diagrams were an integral part of the storytelling, rather than being relegated to superfluous, mood-building art. So I was eagerly awaiting the Western translation of his follow-up, Strange Houses, and I have to say—this one is even more up my alley!
My affinity for Strange Houses is perhaps partially personal. As someone who studied architecture, I’ve always found floor plans fascinating—constructed in objective lines and symbols, stripped of personality, and viewed from a godlike, all-seeing perspective far removed from actual human experience. There’s something inherently ominous and eerily utilitarian about them. Strange Pictures leans into that feeling—by simply adding or removing lines from a drawing, the space transforms, revealing hidden rooms and pathways for the perpetrator to commit their crimes.
Narratively, Strange Houses is much more streamlined, presented as a singular storyline rather than the fractured-yet-interconnected anthology format of Strange Pictures (which I found unnecessarily convoluted). If I were to nitpick, while the reveal in Strange Houses lands thematically, it’s so deeply rooted in generational family ties that the sheer effort of tracking how everyone is related—especially with all the Japanese names—slightly dulls the impact of the climax. It’s ironically the one case where a family tree diagram would’ve been useful (laugh)! Lastly, the resolution remains fairly open-ended (even the novel itself points out that some questions are still unanswered). While I personally enjoy this kind of ambiguous closure, I know it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Overall, Strange Houses is another strong entry in Uketsu’s unique mixed-media mystery catalog. I believe there’s already a sequel out in Japanese—here’s hoping the publisher brings it to translation soon!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
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