A book this innovative and different needs a unique review format to match:
“Scott, even YOU will like this book.”
“Why, are there pictures?”
“There are pictures! And murder!”
Such was the conversation between this reviewer and her husband with respect to Uketsu’s Strange Pictures, which will appeal to fans of G.T. Karber’s Murdle. A bit shy, Uketsu only ever appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. Here he is:
Oops. No, not that guy. He’s this guy:
Uketsu has 1.5 million YouTube followers, and before you go down the rabbit hole of those videos, consider ordering the physical copy of Strange Pictures. It is an experience, and one best had with the actual book in hand because you might want to flip backward to re-review the drawings that serve as the book’s clues.
In essence, Strange Pictures is a collection of stories that at first seem unconnected, some presenting “mini-mysteries” that are solved by the participating characters via clues from drawings. A missing child’s drawing is used to find him. A sketch of a mountaintop provides insight into a slain hiker’s demise. Blog post drawings hint at a character’s fate. Standing individually, the stories are plenty interesting and macabre; but it doesn’t take long for them to reveal themselves as part of a larger narrative. Who are these characters, and where do their stories intersect? By the end, you’ll know.
Strange Pictures was translated from the original Japanese edition, but this doesn’t detract from the read. Uketsu’s unique format will intrigue non-readers while being refreshing to those who tear through stacks of thrillers and mysteries.
Lauded as “the Japanese mystery-horror sensation,” Uketsu’s Strange Pictures is an out-of-the box must-read for any mystery fan.
Sarah Reida only reviews books she overall recommends. A writer of dark comedy thrillers, she is in the process of revising her sophomore novel. Her debut, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
