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Strange Houses #2
Strange Buildings
From the bestselling author of Strange Houses and Strange Pictures comes a mesmerizing novel of eleven strange buildings and one terrible secret.
A lonely hut in the woods.
A murder house.
A hidden chamber.
A mysterious shrine.
A home in flames.
A nightmarish prison. . . .
After receiving multiple tips from his devoted readership, a writer fascinated by the occult put together eleven case files, each featuring its very own strange building. Each of the eleven structures in this book has a floor plan that conceals a disturbing architectural quirk: from disappearing rooms to apartments with no means of escape. Each buildings tells its own chilling story. And each is part of a grander puzzle. Look closely . . . and you'll see that everything is connected. All leading to a revelation so horrifying you won't want to believe it.
Millions of readers have become addicted to solving Uketsu's dark mysteries. Strange Buildings is the strangest, and darkest, of them all.
A lonely hut in the woods.
A murder house.
A hidden chamber.
A mysterious shrine.
A home in flames.
A nightmarish prison. . . .
After receiving multiple tips from his devoted readership, a writer fascinated by the occult put together eleven case files, each featuring its very own strange building. Each of the eleven structures in this book has a floor plan that conceals a disturbing architectural quirk: from disappearing rooms to apartments with no means of escape. Each buildings tells its own chilling story. And each is part of a grander puzzle. Look closely . . . and you'll see that everything is connected. All leading to a revelation so horrifying you won't want to believe it.
Millions of readers have become addicted to solving Uketsu's dark mysteries. Strange Buildings is the strangest, and darkest, of them all.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2023
1485 people are currently reading
12107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 890 reviews
March 3, 2026
The second installment of Strange Houses brings a very clever new mystery for the reader to work through. In this instance, there are 11 files containing 11 strange buildings. Each one brings something new to the table. The big question is, how are they all intertwined?
How these all came together was very clever, and while I was able to loosely see some of the connections, I was unable to see the whole picture until the author laid it out for me. Once all the pieces of the puzzle were laid out, it was amazing to see how intricately woven everything was.
What I really found helpful (since I’m not the brightest) was after the reader had the opportunity to review all 11 files, the resolution was explained by showing all the different pieces of evidence and how they tied together. My only quibble was some of this became a bit redundant as it would refer to certain aspects of the files multiple times. But I appreciated the little bit of redundancy in order to make sure I understood how everything tied together.
Strange Pictures will still be my favorite, but this one comes a close second. There is no need to read Strange Houses first, but a few characters are revisited, specifically the author’s architect friend, Kurihara. Fingers crossed there’s another installment on the horizon!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
How these all came together was very clever, and while I was able to loosely see some of the connections, I was unable to see the whole picture until the author laid it out for me. Once all the pieces of the puzzle were laid out, it was amazing to see how intricately woven everything was.
What I really found helpful (since I’m not the brightest) was after the reader had the opportunity to review all 11 files, the resolution was explained by showing all the different pieces of evidence and how they tied together. My only quibble was some of this became a bit redundant as it would refer to certain aspects of the files multiple times. But I appreciated the little bit of redundancy in order to make sure I understood how everything tied together.
Strange Pictures will still be my favorite, but this one comes a close second. There is no need to read Strange Houses first, but a few characters are revisited, specifically the author’s architect friend, Kurihara. Fingers crossed there’s another installment on the horizon!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
March 4, 2026
I have never been so addicted to any series of books as I am to these creepy architectural mysteries
March 12, 2026
Some books scare you with monsters.
Some scare you with killers.
Strange Buildings scares you with something far more unsettling: spaces.
Uketsu has this uncanny ability to make architecture feel alive—and not in a comforting way. From the very first eerie location, I knew this was not going to be a traditional mystery. This is a story built out of rooms, hallways, walls, and invisible lines that quietly whisper, something terrible happened here.
Each building in this book feels like its own haunted memory. A hut in the woods. A house that remembers violence. A prison that seems designed not just to hold bodies, but to crush minds. A home that burns not just with fire, but with buried guilt. Every chapter drops you into a new structure, and every structure feels like a fragment of a larger nightmare waiting to be assembled.
What makes this book so addictive is the way it treats the reader like a detective without ever saying so. You aren’t handed neat clues—you’re given blueprints, odd details, missing rooms, strange inconsistencies. And slowly, without realizing it, your brain starts to connect things. Why does this wall exist? Why does this corridor lead nowhere? Why does this space feel wrong?
And then it hits you:
These buildings aren’t just settings.
They’re evidence.
Uketsu’s storytelling is icy and methodical, but emotionally devastating beneath the surface. As the puzzle tightens, it becomes clear that something truly monstrous connects all of these places. Not a single villain—but a pattern. A human horror that spreads through design, intention, and silence.
By the time the truth begins to emerge, I didn’t want to believe it. Not because it was confusing—but because it was horrifying in a very real, very human way. This isn’t a book that screams at you. It watches you. It lets you put the pieces together. And when you finally see the full picture, it lingers.
Strange Buildings is the kind of mystery that leaves you staring at your ceiling afterward, thinking about walls, doors, and the things people try to hide behind them.
Dark. Clever. Disturbing. Completely unforgettable.
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for sharing this unique, puzzle-driven thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Some scare you with killers.
Strange Buildings scares you with something far more unsettling: spaces.
Uketsu has this uncanny ability to make architecture feel alive—and not in a comforting way. From the very first eerie location, I knew this was not going to be a traditional mystery. This is a story built out of rooms, hallways, walls, and invisible lines that quietly whisper, something terrible happened here.
Each building in this book feels like its own haunted memory. A hut in the woods. A house that remembers violence. A prison that seems designed not just to hold bodies, but to crush minds. A home that burns not just with fire, but with buried guilt. Every chapter drops you into a new structure, and every structure feels like a fragment of a larger nightmare waiting to be assembled.
What makes this book so addictive is the way it treats the reader like a detective without ever saying so. You aren’t handed neat clues—you’re given blueprints, odd details, missing rooms, strange inconsistencies. And slowly, without realizing it, your brain starts to connect things. Why does this wall exist? Why does this corridor lead nowhere? Why does this space feel wrong?
And then it hits you:
These buildings aren’t just settings.
They’re evidence.
Uketsu’s storytelling is icy and methodical, but emotionally devastating beneath the surface. As the puzzle tightens, it becomes clear that something truly monstrous connects all of these places. Not a single villain—but a pattern. A human horror that spreads through design, intention, and silence.
By the time the truth begins to emerge, I didn’t want to believe it. Not because it was confusing—but because it was horrifying in a very real, very human way. This isn’t a book that screams at you. It watches you. It lets you put the pieces together. And when you finally see the full picture, it lingers.
Strange Buildings is the kind of mystery that leaves you staring at your ceiling afterward, thinking about walls, doors, and the things people try to hide behind them.
Dark. Clever. Disturbing. Completely unforgettable.
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for sharing this unique, puzzle-driven thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
February 28, 2026
like the d*mbass i am, this book triggered me during certain parts. it’s definitely the darkest in my opinion.
thank you netgalley and harpervia for the ARC!
thank you netgalley and harpervia for the ARC!
February 18, 2026
what in the epstein files did i just read??
this was fantastic and deeply relevant. i need uketsu to move like the knives out movies and give me 14 more!!!
p.s. EAT THE RICH.
this was fantastic and deeply relevant. i need uketsu to move like the knives out movies and give me 14 more!!!
p.s. EAT THE RICH.
February 25, 2026
Gonna learn Japanese so I don’t have to wait for Uketsu books. Oh my god, these are so good.
March 14, 2026
Two stars might seem harsh, but I'm being completely rational with this one.
I had high hopes for Strange Buildings (again), and I'll admit it's slightly better than the first book in the series—at least it doesn't rely on a massive deus ex machina. But the convenience factor is still there, and I simply don't buy whatever deductions the author and his architect friend have cooked up anymore.
Yes, we get another cult story (because of course). And while there were moments that genuinely shocked me when the truth was finally revealed, getting there felt tedious. The creepiness that permeated his past two works? Completely absent here.
This leans more mystery than horror, but it lacks the excitement a good mystery needs because the deductions just... happen to land. Sure, the first attempt isn't always correct, but somehow the architect friend gets access to all 11 files and pieces everything together on the spot. Make it at least believable.
I'm not doubting that someone with high cognitive functioning could connect 11 cases—the connections themselves fit neatly enough. But we're never given reason to buy that this particular friend has that capability. We're not introduced to him that way. We're just expected to accept it.
If you can't deliver believability, at least give me suspense. I received neither.
So yes, two stars it is.
Further RTC.
I had high hopes for Strange Buildings (again), and I'll admit it's slightly better than the first book in the series—at least it doesn't rely on a massive deus ex machina. But the convenience factor is still there, and I simply don't buy whatever deductions the author and his architect friend have cooked up anymore.
Yes, we get another cult story (because of course). And while there were moments that genuinely shocked me when the truth was finally revealed, getting there felt tedious. The creepiness that permeated his past two works? Completely absent here.
This leans more mystery than horror, but it lacks the excitement a good mystery needs because the deductions just... happen to land. Sure, the first attempt isn't always correct, but somehow the architect friend gets access to all 11 files and pieces everything together on the spot. Make it at least believable.
I'm not doubting that someone with high cognitive functioning could connect 11 cases—the connections themselves fit neatly enough. But we're never given reason to buy that this particular friend has that capability. We're not introduced to him that way. We're just expected to accept it.
If you can't deliver believability, at least give me suspense. I received neither.
So yes, two stars it is.
Further RTC.
July 23, 2024
ยังจำความรู้สึกตอนอ่าน ‘บ้านวิกลคนประหลาด’ เล่มแรก (สนพ.bibli) ได้ดี สนุกมาก มีอะไรให้ตื่นเต้นและน่าติดตามตลอด ต่อมาก็มี ‘ภาพวาดปริศนากับการตามหาฆาตกร‘ (สนพ.prism) ตีพิมพ์ออกมา ทวีความสนุกเข้าไปอีก เลยปักธงขอเป็นแฟนหนังสือของคุณอุเก็ทสึนับตั้งแต่บัดนั้นมา 55555
พอมาถึงคราว ’บ้านวิกลคนประหลาด 2‘ เราก็ย่อมไม่พลาดอยู่แล้ว แม้เล่มสองจะหนากว่าเล่มแรกมากโข แต่ก็ยังคงความสนุกความน่าตื่นเต้นได้เหมือนเดิมเป๊ะๆ คือจะหนาก็หนาไปเถอะ ชั้นก็อ่านจบภายในวันเดียวอยู่ดี 55555555
สำหรับ ‘บ้านวิกลคนประหลาด 2’ ยังคงเป็นหนังสือที่ว่าด้วยเรื่องผังบ้านประหลาดเช่นเดิม แต่คราวนี้เป็นผังบ้านที่ซอยย่อยๆ ออกเป็น 11 ผัง และแต่ละผังก็มีเรื่องราวเป็นของตัวเอง คล้ายๆ กับได้อ่านเรื่องสั้น 11 เรื่องนั่นแหละ
แต่งานคุณอุเก็ทสึน่ะ จะมาแค่เล่าเรื่องผังบ้านประหลาด 11 ผังแค่นั้นคงไม่ใช่เนอะ คือคุณเค้าเล่นหย่อนเบาะแสและคำใบ้รายทางตามแต่ละผังละเรื่องเลยค่ะ พออ่านไปสักพัก เราจะเริ่มเห็นจุดเชื่อมโยงบางอย่างอันนำไปสู่ปริศนาฆาตกรรมหรือความจริงที่ซ่อนเร้นอยู่เบื้องหลังผังบ้าน รวมไปถึงการแง้มประตูสู่จิตใจอันต่ำตมของมนุษย์ผู้สรรสร้างผังบ้าน และเรื่องราวอัรนแสนเศร้าของผู้อาศัยในผังบ้านประหลาดนั้นด้วย
เรายังพบกับนักเขียนอิสระผู้เชี่ยวชาญเรื่องลี้ลับท่านเดิม เธอจะเป็นตัวละครหลักในการดำเนินเรื่องและสืบสวนหาเบาะแสต่างๆ จะเป็นครนชวนเรามานั่งอ่านเอกสารเกี่ยวกับผังบ้านทั้ง 11 แห่ง และพาเราไปพบกับตัวละครที่เกี่ยวข้องอีกมากมายจนสมองจดจำชื่อไม่หวาดไม่ไหว ก่อนจะปิดท้ายด้วยการนำข้อมูลและเบาะแสทุกสิ่งอย่างมาวิเคราะห์และตีแผ่ไปพร้อมๆ กับ ‘คุณคุริฮาระ‘ คู่หูสถาปนิกคนเดิมจากเล่มแรก
พอมาถึงคราว ’บ้านวิกลคนประหลาด 2‘ เราก็ย่อมไม่พลาดอยู่แล้ว แม้เล่มสองจะหนากว่าเล่มแรกมากโข แต่ก็ยังคงความสนุกความน่าตื่นเต้นได้เหมือนเดิมเป๊ะๆ คือจะหนาก็หนาไปเถอะ ชั้นก็อ่านจบภายในวันเดียวอยู่ดี 55555555
สำหรับ ‘บ้านวิกลคนประหลาด 2’ ยังคงเป็นหนังสือที่ว่าด้วยเรื่องผังบ้านประหลาดเช่นเดิม แต่คราวนี้เป็นผังบ้านที่ซอยย่อยๆ ออกเป็น 11 ผัง และแต่ละผังก็มีเรื่องราวเป็นของตัวเอง คล้ายๆ กับได้อ่านเรื่องสั้น 11 เรื่องนั่นแหละ
แต่งานคุณอุเก็ทสึน่ะ จะมาแค่เล่าเรื่องผังบ้านประหลาด 11 ผังแค่นั้นคงไม่ใช่เนอะ คือคุณเค้าเล่นหย่อนเบาะแสและคำใบ้รายทางตามแต่ละผังละเรื่องเลยค่ะ พออ่านไปสักพัก เราจะเริ่มเห็นจุดเชื่อมโยงบางอย่างอันนำไปสู่ปริศนาฆาตกรรมหรือความจริงที่ซ่อนเร้นอยู่เบื้องหลังผังบ้าน รวมไปถึงการแง้มประตูสู่จิตใจอันต่ำตมของมนุษย์ผู้สรรสร้างผังบ้าน และเรื่องราวอัรนแสนเศร้าของผู้อาศัยในผังบ้านประหลาดนั้นด้วย
เรายังพบกับนักเขียนอิสระผู้เชี่ยวชาญเรื่องลี้ลับท่านเดิม เธอจะเป็นตัวละครหลักในการดำเนินเรื่องและสืบสวนหาเบาะแสต่างๆ จะเป็นครนชวนเรามานั่งอ่านเอกสารเกี่ยวกับผังบ้านทั้ง 11 แห่ง และพาเราไปพบกับตัวละครที่เกี่ยวข้องอีกมากมายจนสมองจดจำชื่อไม่หวาดไม่ไหว ก่อนจะปิดท้ายด้วยการนำข้อมูลและเบาะแสทุกสิ่งอย่างมาวิเคราะห์และตีแผ่ไปพร้อมๆ กับ ‘คุณคุริฮาระ‘ คู่หูสถาปนิกคนเดิมจากเล่มแรก
August 21, 2024
บ้านวิกลคนประหลาด 2 - ภาคต่อของซีรีส์บ้านวิกล โดยภาคนี้มีผังบ้านเพิ่มขึ้นมากถึง 11 หลัง และมีจุดเชื่อมโยงกันทั้งหมด จากที่อ่านภาคแรกมาก็รู้สึกว่ามันเวอร์พอสมควร หาความสมเหตุสมผลไม่ค่อยได้ หรือความสามารถของสถาปนิกอย่างคุริฮาระก็เก่งยิ่งกว่าโคนัน ตอนอ่านภาคแรกก็คิดซะว่าเป็นบันเทิงคดีก็แล้วกัน - พอมาภาค 2 ผมคิดว่าบรรยากาศคงจะเหมือนกับภาคแรกละมั้ง แต่ที่ไหนได้ ผิดคาดเเหะ สนุกกว่าเฉยเลย และการแสดงสมมติฐานของคุริฮาระก็ล่อไป 1/3 ของเล่มเลยทีเดียว
มันสนุกกว่าตรงที่มันมีความสมเหตุสมผลมากขึ้นระหว่างเหตุที่ต้องสร้างบ้านกับผลพวงที่ตามมา โดยเริ่มจากสังคมที่บิดเบี้ยว การเมืองที่ไม่มั่นคง เศรษฐกิจที่ไม่แน่นอน ส่งผลให้เกิดความสั่นคลอนภายในจิตใจของมนุษย์ เมื่อจิตใจของมนุษย์ไม่มั่นคงก็นำมา���ู่การเข้ารีตหรือเข้าลัทธิประหลาดเพื่อเยียวยาหัวใจในวันที่ไม่สมหวัง การสร้างบ้านก็เหมือนกับการสร้างตามความเชื่อ ความเชื่อที่ไม่มั่นคงส่งผลให้แบบบ้านนั้นออกมาประหลาด พอบ้านประหลาดก็ส่งผลต่อจิตใจของผู้อยู่อาศัยให้วิกลไปด้วยเช่นกัน
อีกประเด็นเลยคือ "บ้านโคลนนิ่ง" ผมชอบประเด็นนี้มาก ทุกวันนี้หมู่บ้านจัดสรรมีเยอะมากในประเทศไทย ถ้าสมมติว่ามีบริษัททำบ้านออกแบบแปลนบ้านประหลาดแล้วนำไปใช้สัก 100 หลังล่ะ จะน่ากลัวขนาดไหน ประเด็นนี้เลยน่าสนใจ ในเรืองลัทธิประหลาดในสังคมไทยเรามีลัทธิมากมาย สะท้อนให้เห็นถึงความไม่มั่นคงทางการเมืองที่ส่งผลกระทบต่อจิตใจเช่นกัน ขณะที่บ้านไม่ได้ประหลาด แต่ก็อาจมีคนวิกลอยู่ในบ้านก็ได้
สุดท้ายนี้ ชอบการเล่นมุกนี้มาก "บ้านวิกลคนอุบาท" เออ ... ใช้ได้เหมือนกันนะ เป็นแบบ Japanese weird story
มันสนุกกว่าตรงที่มันมีความสมเหตุสมผลมากขึ้นระหว่างเหตุที่ต้องสร้างบ้านกับผลพวงที่ตามมา โดยเริ่มจากสังคมที่บิดเบี้ยว การเมืองที่ไม่มั่นคง เศรษฐกิจที่ไม่แน่นอน ส่งผลให้เกิดความสั่นคลอนภายในจิตใจของมนุษย์ เมื่อจิตใจของมนุษย์ไม่มั่นคงก็นำมา���ู่การเข้ารีตหรือเข้าลัทธิประหลาดเพื่อเยียวยาหัวใจในวันที่ไม่สมหวัง การสร้างบ้านก็เหมือนกับการสร้างตามความเชื่อ ความเชื่อที่ไม่มั่นคงส่งผลให้แบบบ้านนั้นออกมาประหลาด พอบ้านประหลาดก็ส่งผลต่อจิตใจของผู้อยู่อาศัยให้วิกลไปด้วยเช่นกัน
อีกประเด็นเลยคือ "บ้านโคลนนิ่ง" ผมชอบประเด็นนี้มาก ทุกวันนี้หมู่บ้านจัดสรรมีเยอะมากในประเทศไทย ถ้าสมมติว่ามีบริษัททำบ้านออกแบบแปลนบ้านประหลาดแล้วนำไปใช้สัก 100 หลังล่ะ จะน่ากลัวขนาดไหน ประเด็นนี้เลยน่าสนใจ ในเรืองลัทธิประหลาดในสังคมไทยเรามีลัทธิมากมาย สะท้อนให้เห็นถึงความไม่มั่นคงทางการเมืองที่ส่งผลกระทบต่อจิตใจเช่นกัน ขณะที่บ้านไม่ได้ประหลาด แต่ก็อาจมีคนวิกลอยู่ในบ้านก็ได้
สุดท้ายนี้ ชอบการเล่นมุกนี้มาก "บ้านวิกลคนอุบาท" เออ ... ใช้ได้เหมือนกันนะ เป็นแบบ Japanese weird story
November 10, 2024
ชอบเล่มนี้ ภาคนี้ มาก อ่านไปสามบทแรกก็ งง ว่าทำไมเป็นเรื่องสั้นคนละเรื่องกัน ที่ไหนได้ ทุกอย่างเชื่อมโยง ลงตัวลงล็อคไปหมด น่าประทับใจ ทุกอย่างจบตามสไตล์อุเก็ตสึ ขมขื่นรันทดใจ
March 2, 2026
🌟🌟🌟✨/5
Uketsu's 'Strange Buildings' is his most expansive mystery novel yet, and just as addictive as his other two. I got this as a treat for myself after finishing my exams and predictably devoured it in a single sitting.
In the first half, the narrator introduces us to 11 files: interviews, excerpts from books and newspapers, and journal entries about horrifying events that, on the surface, don't seem connected in any way. All of them have some sort of building playing a role in whatever transpired. In the second half, the narrator and his friend analyze this collection of facts and somehow put the whole story together by drawing some satisfyingly shocking and some entirely too outlandish conclusions (more on that later).
I enjoyed the first half more than the second. It's definitely weird that the characters suddenly jump to wild conclusions based on floor plans or someone's recollection of a hazy childhood memory of an event that took place years ago, but I admit there's a lot of creativity involved in crafting these stories. 'Strange Buildings' was especially fun because of the eleven events that were quite different from one another but intriguing in their own way. I hesitate to use the term 'interactive mystery' because it implies that the reader can put the story together upon closely examining the many threads involved, which is pretty much impossible here. However, the book has a lot of illustrations of floor plans which made it all the more fun and easy to visualize what was going on. These stories are from different timelines and feature structures built for various purposes that may just have something in common after all...
I have mixed feelings about the second half. On the one hand, I loved how everything came together in a (mostly) satisfying way. Uketsu did an amazing job at connecting the stories together. On the other hand, I wasn't the biggest fan of the way these conclusions were derived. Am I supposed to believe that the narrator's friend put together an elaborate narrative based on a collection of facts? Overall, I liked the story itself, but had mixed feelings about how it was presented.
Uketsu's stories are wild rides and extremely fun if you have the right expectations in mind. For reasons I can't quite put into words, 'Strange Pictures' was genuinely creepy and scared the hell out of me. For that reason alone, it still remains my favourite of Uketsu's works. The best and the worst thing about his books is that you can finish them in a single sitting. This means that I'll have to wait for quite a long time for the next one, but I'm so glad there's another coming soon. Can't wait to read 'Strange Maps' whenever it comes out!
Uketsu's 'Strange Buildings' is his most expansive mystery novel yet, and just as addictive as his other two. I got this as a treat for myself after finishing my exams and predictably devoured it in a single sitting.
In the first half, the narrator introduces us to 11 files: interviews, excerpts from books and newspapers, and journal entries about horrifying events that, on the surface, don't seem connected in any way. All of them have some sort of building playing a role in whatever transpired. In the second half, the narrator and his friend analyze this collection of facts and somehow put the whole story together by drawing some satisfyingly shocking and some entirely too outlandish conclusions (more on that later).
I enjoyed the first half more than the second. It's definitely weird that the characters suddenly jump to wild conclusions based on floor plans or someone's recollection of a hazy childhood memory of an event that took place years ago, but I admit there's a lot of creativity involved in crafting these stories. 'Strange Buildings' was especially fun because of the eleven events that were quite different from one another but intriguing in their own way. I hesitate to use the term 'interactive mystery' because it implies that the reader can put the story together upon closely examining the many threads involved, which is pretty much impossible here. However, the book has a lot of illustrations of floor plans which made it all the more fun and easy to visualize what was going on. These stories are from different timelines and feature structures built for various purposes that may just have something in common after all...
I have mixed feelings about the second half. On the one hand, I loved how everything came together in a (mostly) satisfying way. Uketsu did an amazing job at connecting the stories together. On the other hand, I wasn't the biggest fan of the way these conclusions were derived. Am I supposed to believe that the narrator's friend put together an elaborate narrative based on a collection of facts? Overall, I liked the story itself, but had mixed feelings about how it was presented.
Uketsu's stories are wild rides and extremely fun if you have the right expectations in mind. For reasons I can't quite put into words, 'Strange Pictures' was genuinely creepy and scared the hell out of me. For that reason alone, it still remains my favourite of Uketsu's works. The best and the worst thing about his books is that you can finish them in a single sitting. This means that I'll have to wait for quite a long time for the next one, but I'm so glad there's another coming soon. Can't wait to read 'Strange Maps' whenever it comes out!
February 28, 2026
Amended from 2/5 to 1/5 after further reflection.
TL;DR: The mystery is mediocre, and the story features the abuse of women and children without any critical lens.
TL;DR: The mystery is mediocre, and the story features the abuse of women and children without any critical lens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
3.75 stars
I love Uketsu’s books because they are always so entertaining and clever. With this novel, I enjoyed trying to figure out how each building was tied together. It felt like solving a puzzle and piece by piece I began to understand more of what was going on. By the midway point it becomes clear what the common thread is, but the motivation behind it doesn’t come into focus until later.
In usual Uketsu fashion, we get a few surprising and messed up reveals at the end. It concludes on quite a bleak note, but everything is answered by the time the story wraps up. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it’s definitely my least favorite of the three books I’ve read from him because the overarching story wasn’t quite as strong as the others.
I love Uketsu’s books because they are always so entertaining and clever. With this novel, I enjoyed trying to figure out how each building was tied together. It felt like solving a puzzle and piece by piece I began to understand more of what was going on. By the midway point it becomes clear what the common thread is, but the motivation behind it doesn’t come into focus until later.
In usual Uketsu fashion, we get a few surprising and messed up reveals at the end. It concludes on quite a bleak note, but everything is answered by the time the story wraps up. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it’s definitely my least favorite of the three books I’ve read from him because the overarching story wasn’t quite as strong as the others.
March 10, 2026
5 stars, no notes. Love everything this author writes. Please keep writing more of these ❤️
March 8, 2026
5 stars ⭐️ this is the best book this author has published! I hope to see more of their work in the future. This was crazy, appropriately dark, and the drawings in the book added so much depth 🫣
I HIGHLY recommend (obviously read Strange Houses and Strange Pictures first ‼️)
I HIGHLY recommend (obviously read Strange Houses and Strange Pictures first ‼️)
October 25, 2025
Leitura ⭐⭐⭐⭐🦾🦿 (quatro estrelas, uma prótese de braço esquerdo e perna direita)
Não precisa ler o primeiro livro para ler esse, são a mesma temática, mas não são necessariamente conectados.
A cada documento que eu lia (são 11 no total), as histórias iam se encaixando e ao final, as teorias que vão se formando surpreendem e envolvem o leitor nessa história de vingança, culpa e redenção.
Recomendo demais esta leitura se você gosta de mistério e cultura japonesa.
Acredito que eu teria suspeitado de coisas mais cedo se eu soubesse mais sobre a geografia e cultura do Japão, mas o livro explica tão bem, que eu não senti falta do conhecimento prévio.
Não precisa ler o primeiro livro para ler esse, são a mesma temática, mas não são necessariamente conectados.
A cada documento que eu lia (são 11 no total), as histórias iam se encaixando e ao final, as teorias que vão se formando surpreendem e envolvem o leitor nessa história de vingança, culpa e redenção.
Recomendo demais esta leitura se você gosta de mistério e cultura japonesa.
Acredito que eu teria suspeitado de coisas mais cedo se eu soubesse mais sobre a geografia e cultura do Japão, mas o livro explica tão bem, que eu não senti falta do conhecimento prévio.
August 9, 2024
สนุกอ่านง่ายดี ชอบเหตุผลมากกว่าเล่มแรกเยอะเลย ตอนเล่าเรื่อง11บ้านไม่มีอารัมภบทเกริ่นเรื่องเยอะ ชอบมากเดินเรื่องฉับไว มีจุดเชื่อมโยงให้เห็นตลอดทุกบทถ้าอ่านและสังเกตดีๆจะพอเดาเรื่องได้ แต่คงจะคาดไม่ถึงกับบทสรุปจริงๆ
แต่เราไม่ชอบบทวิเคราะห์ย้อนเรื่องเยอะจัง เปลืองหลายหน้ากระดาษเลย เล่มควรจะกระชับบางกว่านี้ แต่ก็เข้าใจอ่ะนะว่าคงอยากให้ผู้อ่านทบทวนพร้อมผู้วิเคราะห์กันอีกรอบ แต่จะทวนเยอะไปไหนหนิ
แต่เราไม่ชอบบทวิเคราะห์ย้อนเรื่องเยอะจัง เปลืองหลายหน้ากระดาษเลย เล่มควรจะกระชับบางกว่านี้ แต่ก็เข้าใจอ่ะนะว่าคงอยากให้ผู้อ่านทบทวนพร้อมผู้วิเคราะห์กันอีกรอบ แต่จะทวนเยอะไปไหนหนิ
Did not finish
October 17, 2025dnf 30% um livro sobre casas que fala sobre mts casas q eu nao poderia me importar menos
March 12, 2026
these people need psychological help. the men deserved way worse than they got. also, idk if this author knows how to write male or female characters with consistent depth. i'm sitting here for the third installment of this series featuring sex crimes with little to no critical analysis through the selected medium.
anyways, if you love twisty stories, abrupt endings and grappling with unresolved triggers then this is for you.
[3🌟 for now]
anyways, if you love twisty stories, abrupt endings and grappling with unresolved triggers then this is for you.
[3🌟 for now]
January 23, 2026
Ops! The 11 stories were 5 stars, the final chapter was 2 stars at best.
Maybe Uketsu started watching Turkish dramas? It was all too ridiculous and melodramatic for my taste. Adored the structure and tone of voice as always though, but I really really got so bored with the final chapter where the puzzle is put together 😭
The info dumps and repetitions are insane, and I say this as someone who HAAAAATES when people criticize repetition in Japanese books cause they don’t get that the language per se is like that. Still, the last chapter was too much, we didn’t need to re-read every single story and dialogue 300 times!
I’ll still always support Uketsu but that’s my least favorite of the 3!
Maybe Uketsu started watching Turkish dramas? It was all too ridiculous and melodramatic for my taste. Adored the structure and tone of voice as always though, but I really really got so bored with the final chapter where the puzzle is put together 😭
The info dumps and repetitions are insane, and I say this as someone who HAAAAATES when people criticize repetition in Japanese books cause they don’t get that the language per se is like that. Still, the last chapter was too much, we didn’t need to re-read every single story and dialogue 300 times!
I’ll still always support Uketsu but that’s my least favorite of the 3!
February 20, 2026
rating: 3⭐️
don’t you hate it when your most anticipated read turns out to be the most disappointing one 😭😭 this tried so hard to replicate strange houses but it was ten times more convoluted and ten times less rewarding. all that build-up really didn’t lead to anything worth gasping over. should have just kept it short and sweet 🤷♀️
don’t you hate it when your most anticipated read turns out to be the most disappointing one 😭😭 this tried so hard to replicate strange houses but it was ten times more convoluted and ten times less rewarding. all that build-up really didn’t lead to anything worth gasping over. should have just kept it short and sweet 🤷♀️
October 29, 2025
Gostei bastante da leitura, as leituras dos livros dele são sempre gostosas, rápidas por serem muito dinâmicas e intrigantes. Algumas das histórias são um pouco pesadas e cruéis, mais do que o dos outros livros, mas o livro é bom. As coisas se amarram bem e são bem explicadas e, apesar de as reviravoltas serem um pouco absurdas, achei as desse livro mais plausíveis e explicadas do que nos livros anteriores. A coisa que mais me incomodou mais foi a retratação da mulher, que segue a regra dos livros anteriores e a tendência de mostrar o pior das pessoas. É esperado, dentro do gênero, mas estou um pouco cansada de como o autor costuma fazer a dinâmica. Ainda assim, livro sólido, que vale a leitura.
December 29, 2024
Mọi chuyện sẽ rất trôi cho đến khi cú twist khiên cưỡng ở cuối sách xảy ra.
February 28, 2026
These books are so addictive.
I admit though that this is weaker than Uketsu’s previous books narrative/spooky-wise, but weirdly relevant to current times. Strange Houses felt more tense and spooky, this one didn’t have the same haunting feel for me. Especially the ending, felt way more abrupt than usual, but upon stewing on this, perhaps may have been intentional - I just like the more reflective endings of his other novels better. Either way I’ll keep reading them.
I admit though that this is weaker than Uketsu’s previous books narrative/spooky-wise, but weirdly relevant to current times. Strange Houses felt more tense and spooky, this one didn’t have the same haunting feel for me. Especially the ending, felt way more abrupt than usual, but upon stewing on this, perhaps may have been intentional - I just like the more reflective endings of his other novels better. Either way I’ll keep reading them.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Pushkin Press for sending me an arc ❤️ This was one of my most anticipated books of 2026 after LOVING Strange Pictures last years.
This is my second favourite Uketsu book by far, there's just something so addictive about the writing that you don't want to stop once you've started.
I love playing detective and the mixed media is always so fun 😁
This is my second favourite Uketsu book by far, there's just something so addictive about the writing that you don't want to stop once you've started.
I love playing detective and the mixed media is always so fun 😁
September 23, 2024
ยังไม่ได้อ่านเล่ม 1 ค่ะแต่ข้ามมาอ่านเล่มสอง คือสนุก แบบบ้านที่มีความประหลาด แต่สุดท้ายเรื่องกลับเชื่อมโยงกันได้ดี อ่านไปลุ้นไป ดำเนินเรื่องได้ดี ไม่สับสน
Want to read
November 8, 2024My review for book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
More to come.
More to come.
April 25, 2025
แรกๆสนุกตอนเล่า 11 เรื่องสั้นๆ จริงๆจบแค่นั้นผมว่า 4/5 เลย แต่ พอเข้าช่วงเฉลย รู้สึกเกินจริงไปไกล บังเอิญเยอะเกิน หาจุดเชื่อมโยงกันได้แบบเวอร์ๆ
November 6, 2025
Gostei mais do que o primeiro mas meu deus como repete explicação
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