Title: Strange Houses
Author: Uketsu
Year Published: 2021
Genre: Mystery/Horror/Speculative
Setting: Japan
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strange Houses: A Blurb
When a writer is approached by a friend with a floor plan of a house with strange dead spaces, he takes it to his architect friend to figure out why they exist. Together, they delve into the floor plan and find more peculiarities that hint at something sinister. As more clues and surprises arise, they find themselves chasing the terrifying truth behind these strange houses.
My Thoughts
My version of Strange Houses was an extremely short read at just under 100 pages, so I sailed through it and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story had a more experimental format with interview-style dialogue and images of floor plans, and it worked really well. It was immersive as a reader, and I also appreciated the fact that they didn’t make you flip back to the original page with the floor plan on it when discussing a mysterious aspect of a house. Considering my version was digital, it would have been a pain.
The story itself had me intrigued. I won’t write too much because I don’t want to spoil it, but it was a well-crafted horror/mystery that had me guessing until the end. If you enjoy stories that draw you in and are more multimedia-style, you’ll love this. There’s definitely some horror and creepy aspects, but the mystery and desire to get to the heart of it is at the center, so I wouldn’t say that it’s overwhelming for more squeamish readers.
The Translation
If you’ve read my posts on writing in a different language, learning different languages, or appreciating the role a translator plays in transforming a text, you’ll know that it’s something that I am fascinated by and highly respect. The translator for this text, Jim Rion, added a quick note at the end about the translation. He said that it was essentially a translator’s dream because of how straightforward the original Japanese was. He also gave some context on the faceless creator of the book, which definitely added to its intrigue. This look behind the curtain was extremely interesting, and it was a great reminder of the important role of translators!
A Final Word
I know this review of Strange Houses doesn’t share much about the content, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I’d definitely recommend this short, straightforward read to anyone who enjoys mysteries. With its unique storytelling style and creepy twists, it’s sure to delight!
Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts!
