Strange Houses by Uketsu review

About The Book

Book: Strange Houses
Author: Uketsu translated by Jim Rion
Standalone or Series: Book 2 in the Strange series
Publisher: Pushkin
Publication Date (UK): 3rd July 2025

My Review

Earlier this year I absolutely loved Strange Pictures, so I was thrilled to learn that Uketsu would soon have another of his books translated into English by Jim Rion.

Uketsu inserts himself as a freelance horror author into the book, which he opens by informing us that due to his career people often regale him with their odd tales.

The latest of which is told by a friend about to purchase their first home, who reaches out to the author due to being unsettled by a mysterious dead space that appears on the floor plan of their prospective home. Intrigued, the author then reaches out to architect Kurihara (who is also a character in Strange Pictures too) to help investigate what could be the reason behind this.

Just as his previous book wove together different drawings and tales that all ended up being interconnected, Strange Houses soon too introduces us to further houses and floor plans. This gives the reader a chance to uncover if they are linked together, how and why.

I do think Strange Pictures is the stronger of the two, however that being said I did still really enjoy the exploration of the floor plans as their secrets became revealed and the Japanese setting.