I liked Uketsu’s first book, Strange Pictures, and I liked the idea behind their work. Having said that, the second book, Strange Houses, is a stronger, more cohesive effort.

The Author, and a friend find themselves caught up in a mystery when the floor plan of a house they come across seems to suggest some horrifying history to those that live within the walls. And with the discovery of a dismembered body, the pair may have stumbled upon something truly horrifying.

The floor plans of this mysterious house are shared throughout the book, allowing for the reader to be guided through the strangeness that seems to be held between the walls. A mystery that suggests murder most foul and dark family secrets.

As the pair investigate they are contacted by someone who claims to the widow of another murder victim. She shares another floor plan, and when connections are made, a dark, expansive mystery is slowly, inexorably drawn into the light.

Entertaining and engaging, there would be a few things I would change but overall, I really liked this one. The author and his friend have a theory right from the off that matches all the facts. There are no real red herrings in the story, we are simply along for the ride as the story reveals itself.

I did like it.

I like the use of the diagrams. The reader can peruse and look at them at their leisure, perhaps discovering the truth before it is revealed in the next sentence. And I think that was the only drawback I had to the story, it rushes too quickly to the truth, not quite letting the reader interact with the story as much as it could.

I really enjoyed pouring over the floor plans, looking for glimpses of truth among the lines, seeing the mystery revealed as you, as the reader, see the oddities of the floor plans.

It’s all a lot of fun. I just think the conclusions are reached too quickly, there’s not enough mystery to it. But the last chapter, the one where all truth is revealed, is a real banger.

Both of Uketsu’s books are fascinating reads, and are worth digging into, but Strange Pictures is definitely the stronger of the two. I’d be curious about what they would do with another book. And while both stories claim to be mysteries, tinged with horror, I would love to see a full on horror novel penned by Uketsu using more hand drawn pictures.

Interesting reads.