I got through Strange Houses in two sittings, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how gripping it is… Proceed with caution however, don’t go in thinking it’s an easy read. It’s short, yes, but it really demands your sustained attention. Blink, skim, or zone out for a page and you’ll likely find yourself scrambling to piece things back together by the end.
This is the first instalment of Uketsu’s series (with a fourth, Strange Maps, on the way), and structurally it’s one of the most interesting thrillers I’ve picked up in a while. The story unfolds through dialogue, letters, news articles, and most notably, floor plans, which end up being central to the mystery rather than just a gimmick. It forces you to read differently, to actually look at the space and think about how it’s being used, before revealing elements of the mystery, which I felt adds a really immersive layer to the whole thing.
What I found most compelling was the constant sense of doubt. Each character feels slightly off, their motives never fully clear, and even the narrator turns out to be a somewhat unreliable guide. You’re always left questioning what you’re being told, which keeps the tension ticking along nicely throughout.
That said, the ending didn’t quite hit for me; out of the three books, it’s definitely the weakest in terms of payoff. There’s a really strong build-up of tension, but then everything is revealed very quickly in the final two chapters, almost in a rush. It feels a bit like the book spends all its time setting up something great and then speeds through the conclusion somewhat anticlimactically. The later books seem to handle this much better, with more staggered reveals that make everything land a bit more effectively.
Even with the rushed ending, I’d still say this is a must-read for horror and thriller fans. The format alone makes it stand out, and the fact I flew through it as quickly as I did says a lot about Uketsu’s writing style. It’s a really strong, slightly experimental start to a series that I think only improves as it goes.