Strange Houses by Uketsu
⋅⊱ ༓ ⊰⋅ Strange Houses ⋅⊱ ༓ ⊰⋅
Uketsu
03.07.2025
Pushkin Press
A Japanese Translated Fiction
Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Horror Fiction
Content Warning: this title contains some graphic details of death/murder.
Disclaimer: these thoughts are entirely my own, based on my reading experience, and is no reflection of whether or not this title should be read. Thus, I try to keep my writing fair and constructive, and reveal my personal rating at the end. I always enjoy reading the varying thoughts of other readers because we all experience books differently - which is just so wonderful! So please feel free to leave a comment at the end.
Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers.
✨ BOOK SYNOPSIS 📖
Strange Houses presents an ever twisting puzzle to solve by examining a series of mysterious and chilling floor-plans for clues.
A sinister hidden room.
A dead space between two walls.
A sealed cellar.
And a child's face glimpsing out of a window.
All of which the narrator, a freelance writer, is fixated on solving the mystery of. Surmising and proving how they are interlinked, and what the sinister truth is beneath the surface.
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✨ MY REVIEW 🤔
I can’t put into words just how excited I was to collect Uketsu’s newest publication after the phenomenal experience that was Strange Pictures.
Uketsu does not waste any time when it comes to setting up the story, drawing us as the reader into a seemingly gruelling mystery to solve.
There are elements of horror and with it a series of floor-plans to help piece together a story of a greater depth - and with it greater stakes. Why is there the existence of these few houses, each with peculiar a floor-plan and an absence of windows?
Strange Houses is mostly from the perspective of a freelance writer, who starts his investigation following an enquiry from a friend. An interesting narrator who asks all of the gripping and loaded questions a reader might have, whilst also putting himself on the line to get the desired answers.
It is here that I must admit, following the events of Strange Pictures, that I feared for the narrators survival to the end. The answer of which I will not reveal, to leave some thrilling suspense for any future readers of this title. This fear in itself contributed to the element of suspense experienced throughout, and given that it is considered a shorter novel, Uketsu certainly packed a lot into its pages. Intrigue, suspense, horror, mystery, empathy… the list goes on.
As I bring this review to a close I will now disclose that I didn’t come away feeling as strongly for Strange Houses as I did for Strange Pictures, but it is a brilliantly thrilling mystery in it’s own right. Questions were answered, and there remained a few mysteries for the readers interpretation, come the end of Strange Houses. It is gripping, thrilling, and kept me guessing - and suspecting - what might be amiss with not only the houses, but also a certain aiding character.
As with Strange Pictures, I have been left yearning for more, and excited for what is to come next from Uketsu.
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I’d like to wrap up this entry by thanking you for taking the time to read my review of Strange Houses. If you have read this title I would love to share in your own experience in the comments below.
Alike with Strange Pictures, Uketsu cleverly uses the art of illustrated floor-plans to create a mystery solving experience. One that the reader can attempt to solve, if they so wish to, whilst experiencing the story. If you have not read Strange Houses yet - or Strange Pictures - I couldn’t recommend it more.
✨ RATING 📣
4/5
✨ COMPLETION DATE 🗓️
07.08.2025
