Imagine finding a good, affordable place and house that seems perfect for your family–until you discover the dark, mysterious past behind these walls. Would you still take the chance to buy it?
In Strange Houses by Uketsu is not the typical horror or mystery book I expected. Instead of relying only on ghosts, jump scares, or monsters, the story creates suspense through something surprisingly ordinary: the floor plan of a houses.
How I got this item: Just a little background on how I discovered this book: it was recommended by my aunt. I saw the cover, “Strange Houses,” which already caught my attention; it’s described as a “chilling Japanese Mystery Sensation”, and yes, I read the book based on its cover. Then I asked my aunt to spoil me about the plot, but she refused. Instead, she told me to read it, and it was so short that I’d enjoy it. Fortunately, she was right; I enjoyed reading it to the point that I couldn’t stop reading it till the end.
Keep reading this review and see if you’ll be interested too.
My Review
Strange Houses by Uketsu is not the typical horror or mystery book I expected. The story begins with a strange architectural layout that contains details that seem small at first but become increasingly disturbing the more the characters investigate them. Hidden spaces, unusual room placements, and other strange details make you wonder, “What is the purpose of these spaces?” What appears to be ordinary houses turns into something much more sinister. The concept immediately caught my attention.
I enjoyed the unique storytelling style of the book. The book consists of less than 200 pages. It includes pictures and diagrams of the structure of the floor plans, making readers feel like they are part of the investigation. Instead of narrating what is happening, the illustrations help me, as a reader, to visualize and understand what is wrong before the characters explain it. The mystery becomes more interactive, which makes the reading experience more interesting and engaging. It also uses scripted and conversational dialogues, and back-and-forth questions between the narrator and characters.
However, I feel like the plot feels like it’s too complicated and unrealistic because some parts discuss the family history behind its all of which are questionable revelations. I didn’t expect the plot twist to be unpredictable, but somehow questionable whether it is really possible to happen.
| PROS | CONS |
| Unique mystery concept centered on house floor plans | Some theories and revelations may feel unrealistic to certain readers |
| Makes the reader feel involved in solving the mystery | The plot can become complicated |
| Combines mystery and psychological suspense through visual illustrations | The book may not be for everyone |
| Easy and relatively quick to read | Cliffhanger ending |
Overall, I think Strange Houses is an interesting book for people who enjoy mystery, suspense, and horror. And I would definitely recommend this book to others. If you enjoy Japanese mysteries, psychological horror, puzzles, and stories that make you question ordinary things, Strange Houses is definitely worth reading. Just don’t be surprised if you start looking at the layout of your own house a little differently afterward.
