Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a very unique novel which I cannot compare to anything else I have read.

The novel is split into 4 chapters, in which a picture or selection of pictures are analysed to reveal the answer to an ongoing mystery. This was expertly crafted and special, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was trying to analyse the pictures myself to see if I could guess what the answers could be!

Overall a really fun novel, solid 4 stars!

This was suuuuch an interesting concept, I had never read anything like this. I really enjoyed the first chapter, and then I thought they were a short story collection. BUT WHEN I REALISED EVERYTHING WAS CONNECTED? I was seated. It was so creepy and spooky and I could have read another thousand pages of this!

A collection of mysteries focused around drawings, each with clues to decipher to build a bigger picture, is the theme of this horror/crime novel. I got Hidden Pictures (Jason Rekulak) vibes when reading the synopsis for this one, and having enjoyed the former, I knew I had to read this.

I found this a compelling novel and enjoyed the premise of short stories connecting together. The images were intriguing and I was keen to work out the puzzles and clues within the pictures. Some of the short stories I preferred more to the others, however I understood how all were relevant to build the complex, clever finale. I have to admit that I did lose track of the characters at times as there are quite a few involved.

The way the story is written was more of a description of the mystery and came across as overly discussed and repetitive at times. Although, this may be due to the translation. This was a creative, unique horror story overall, with a creepy atmosphere, and I would read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Strange Pictures by Uketsu is a quick yet captivating read, perfect for consuming in a single sitting. The story delivers moments of profound emotional impact and unsettling fear, immersing readers in a hauntingly memorable atmosphere. However, while the narrative succeeds in building tension, the creeping, dread-filled elements that promise to linger in the mind feel underdeveloped, leaving room for a richer, more chilling experience. Despite this, the book remains an engaging and enjoyable read, showcasing Uketsu's talent for crafting suspenseful and impactful stories.

Uketsu did it again.

When I first read his work, I wasn't able to put it down, desperated to know more and reach the end. I remember how I was quite terrified to the point of having goosebumps because I was so captivated by the narrative. And while I was reading this book, I felt the same.

Strange Pictures is a story of bunch of strange pictures drawn by certain people in certain situations. From a child, to an art teacher, to a mother, all the pictures have dark secret lurking behind them. I found myself analyzing every picture to find clues.

The whole thing is like a puzzle. I just loved the way it fits perfectly at the end making the whole thing made sense and give the satisfaction of solving a mystery. The story also highlighted quite a lot to motherhood and how far it would take for someone to embodied the title of being a mother. It also dealt with trauma that tore me into two. But what I liked the most is that this mystery is resolved, that it was a completed mystery fiction that left its readers with little to none disatisfaction.

Strange Pictures is a novel that I don't think could be put down easily. You always wanted to know more, to know what it is those pictures were telling you. It's a mystery novel with a touched of horror, trauma, and brutal honesty that could make you wonder.

Big thanks for Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Strange Pictures is a combination of two of my favourite things - creepy drawings used as a horror trope, and the opportunity to play detective. Split into several short stories, each of Uketsu’s mysteries is based around an unsettling picture which contains all of the clues you need to be able to solve the puzzle of that particular story. The result of this, is that for the most part, you don't feel like you're reading a novel - it feels more like you are taking part in an interactive murder mystery.

The structure was very unique and I loved the way that there were strands linking the stories together rather than them being a collection of unconnected short stories. It was such an addictive read and it was very easy to get completely immersed in this bizarre 'universe' the author has created. Despite it's unusual style, there were some really unnerving moments and an underlying sense of unease running throughout the entire book.

This is the perfect choice if, like me, you are a fan of epistolary crime novels as the pictures and diagrams break up the narrative and then gives the reader a chance to use those 'little grey cells' to solve the murderers identity or a mystery left behind at in the form of a drawing. Overall Strange Pictures is a quirky, clever and undeniably entertaining novel.

The book is written as a series of loosely connected short stories, each presented from the perspective of a different character. The stories are also connected by strange pictures (drumroll) that seem to have a deeper meaning than the surface seems to imply. About mid way through we realise some crime was committed, and as the stories start coalescing we discover who the murderer was and why.

Like many other crime thrillers from Japan (at least those that I happened to have read) this one too comes across as overly mechanical. The clues and the mathematical equation of murder are the focus of attention. Character development, atmosphere, and plainly the soul of the story are conspiciously missing.

So what we end up with, as a result, is an interesting puzzle, completely devoid of substance or literary worth.

There are for sure readers who will find the book interesting and enjoyable. I, however, look for more in a book - I aspire to be transported to a different world, learn new things, and meet new people. This book did not deliver on these aspects.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This debut novel from the Japanese horror/mystery YouTuber Uketsu provides something different from traditional Japanese murder mystery novels by heavily focusing on pictures and imagery to create technical and psychological puzzles linked to the narrative. Examples include a psychological analysis of a child’s drawing, a puzzle hidden within a series of seemingly unconnected images or a enigmatic drawing found on the body of a murder victim. The author also utilises diagrams such as maps, visual timelines and other technical diagrams to present clues and explain the mystery making the narrative feel fresh and engaging and reminded me of the little diagrams you see in mystery visual novel video games such as the Ace Attorney series.

Though at first it seems to be a collection of short stories, it quickly becomes obvious that these chapters link together to form an overall narrative. Each section has a unique feel which puts a different spin on the mystery including an investigation into a mysterious blog which felt like a creepypasta, a family drama featuring a mysterious stalker which was redolent of the Japanese psychological horror film Door (1988) and a cold case journalistic investigation. The shifting style of the individual sections made the novel stand out from typical crime stories, as the tone shifted into horror and thriller territory at times with a few tense and graphic moments. The modern creepypasta-adjacent feel of the narrative and the use of a series of vignettes to create an overarching plot reminded me of Penpal by Dathan Auerbach.

I wouldn’t necessarily describe the mystery as ‘fair play’ in the traditional sense, but there are certainly puzzles throughout the narrative that are possible to solve even if they are incredibly technical and devious. For readers who like to solve as they go, this novel can certainly provide a challenge. A dramatis personae was likely omitted to avoid spoilers, so any readers wishing the untangle the narrative for themselves may wish to make note of character names and any key dates as they go along.

Typical for Japanese mystery fiction, the prose is stripped back and functional, though the quality of the translation by Jim Roan is excellent. There was also a little repetition at times where earlier sections were repeated as evidence, though this was used sparingly and necessary to tie the overarching narrative together.

There is a very short introduction giving some background on Uketsu and their videos. However, given that the videos are only available in Japanese, the inclusion of more information on the type of content that they produce would have been a nice bonus.

Overall, Strange Pictures is a unique, innovative and engaging mystery novel which provides something different from Japanese crime currently available in translation. Recommended for any mystery fans looking for something modern that deviates from traditional crime stories or looking to try something with more of a horror or creepypasta inflection.

This was indeed a strange book, the pictures and stories weren't quite what I anticipated and I feel something was maybe lost in translation of the phenomenon this author seems to be in his native country. However I did enjoy their twisty narratives. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
thank you #strangepictures#netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

This was such a fantastic and enjoyable book. I loved following the mysteries hidden in the pictures and uncovering the dark secrets of the characters along the way. The narrative is really well written and propels you through the thrilling story. This is such an ingenious and unique idea for a book, I just absolutely loved it. I hope Uketsu publishes something similar in the future!

4.5 out of 5

There are only a few books I've recently read that live up to their title. Strange Pictures is pretty much of the Ronseal of books, it does exactly what it says on the cover. It's a book about some strange pictures.

In four chapters we follow a series of examinations surrounding said pictures and how they reveal either murders and/or murderers. Each chapter focuses on a different picture or set of pictures making for an unusual murder mystery with a different emphasis each chapter.

The story is interesting and, surprisingly, isn't eclipsed by the pictures. The story and pictures are true complements to each other. There are times, though, where the logic could give way to true absurdity but thankfully Uketsu manages to keep things mostly grounded. Some chapters are stronger than others but each comes to a satisfying conclusion while still coaxing you unto to the next one.

There is an interconnectedness to the story but it is best knowing little about those connections as even slight spoilers could ruin the enjoyment of this unique book.

My biggest issue with my experience is in the formatting of the ARC. I've never had a great experience with ARC formatting but I feel a printed copy of this book would make for a more enjoyable read as the pictures aren't inkeeping with the pages. (I think a physical copy may be a truly superior experience for this book over digital but that is only personal speculation at the moment.)

It is good that this book has been translated and it is likely to influence many other new writers. An interesting read that succeeds almost all the time and will likely be one I'll read again in the future.

I completely devoured this book in a day. The author has brilliantly written the plot it was like a riddle that I couldn't solve . I thank netgalley and pushkinpress for the eARC.

Strange Pictures was... well... strange. A who-and-why-dunnit unlike anything else I have ever read, I was expecting a truly unsettling mystery, shot through with intrigue, racing inexorably toward a thrilling climax. Instead, I found an occasionally creepy mystery novel, which named its own frustrations, and shifted between narrators with a sometimes confusing rapidity. Whilst I suspect this might be stronger in its original Japanese (sometimes you just know), Strange Pictures had some clever twists amongst its meta and far-fetched plot-lines, and came together in unpredictable but intriguing ways.

Now, I am not one who is usually creeped out by horror novels, let alone thrillers, so I'm not exactly an expert witness when it comes to scare-factor! And (so as not to spoil the story,) I am not going to talk about any of the specifics in this review... so where does that leave us?

Let's start at the top. Strange Pictures opens by explaining its premise, that the pictures, included through out, can help us understand the mysteries of this story. It's unique. and it's not poorly done. The pictures are well rendered, even in my e-copy, and their arrangement and ordering has been considered from the first.

Then the characters, Uketsu is a master of interiority. Most of this book is inside people's heads. What they see. What they feel. What they know. And yet the world feels expansive. The web of intrigue seems to spiral out far beyond the view not just of us, the reader, but whomever we are living inside of, and that is addressed. We are reassured that our confusion is allowed, and brought to understanding alongside our host, through clues and interactions.

And finally, the overall... Overall, this book could have been stronger. I wanted to be creeped out. I wanted to be thrilled! But it had strengths, moments of profound impact and creeping fear in an otherwise mysterious and engaging story. 3 stars.

Interesting concept.
I was very hopeful about and excited for picking up this book.
It fell flat for me. The drawings were not what I thought they would be, but moreover, the story is not to my liking.
Hope the others find more thrill in it.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is a mix between light thriller, mystery and also kind of literary fiction. You have to keep up with your brain to make the connections between the stories but it is a lot of fun. I really enjoy this authors works but I see many similarities in trope choices and since I am also currrently reading the manga adaptation of 'strange house' in the Japanese original and am up to date, I must say it probably took a bit away since some things are just too close. But I am very happy to have found that we have a reappearing character from 'strange house' and that even though the manga adaptation of 'strange pictures' and 'strange house' are by different Japanese publishers and artists, they kept the character design similar.

Overall this is a super fast read and it reminded me somehwat of 'Confessions' by Kanae Minato except you don't have any repetitions until the end reveal.

4/5

In some ways this felt like a classic Japanese mystery/crime read. But then in others it felt completely new and unique. I enjoyed the classic Japanese style of writing and the slow build that we often find in translated fiction, and then I especially loved the addition of the pictures and puzzle-like element to the mystery.

The story was very far fetched, and I had to look past that and just take the story at face value. But overall I enjoyed it as a work of fiction and a fun crime thriller. Not particularly scary so I wouldn't call it horror, but absolutely a chilling read.

I really wanted to love this, the idea of horror stories based around creepy drawings just makes so much sense, but i just didn't like them. I didn't find them as creepy as i'd hoped and a lot of the stories just seemed to end without finishing the story properly.

I can genuinely say that I've never read anything like this book. It kept me engaged and curious throughout. The images plagued my thoughts and I found myself wondering what it all meant if I had to put the book down. I think this book is brilliant and I loved the interconnecting chapters and piecing the story together. I think this book is brilliant and a must read for any thriller or translated fiction fan.

This was eerie and so so clever! At first take, it looks like a series of short stories that seemingly have no connection. However, the connection soon becomes clear and I was gobsmacked. It is basically a full circle moment! The images included really made the story feel that much more intense and creepy. I was hooked.
This is definitely a perfect book for spooky season.

Cult Japanese author Uketsu’s ‘sketch novel’ features a wealth of eerie, unsettling scenes but it’s much closer to crime than horror, an intricate murder mystery with an unusual structure. The majority of the book operates like a puzzle. There are no easily distinguished unifying characters. No detective, amateur or otherwise, to guide readers through Uketsu’s maze. Instead, readers have to figure out how disparate pieces might fit together, although Uketsu’s narrative slowly builds towards a big reveal finale. Loosely connecting the novel’s different sections are themes of perspective and interpretation, an emphasis on the attitudes, and viewpoints that might dictate how we understand our everyday world - and the tendency to force fragments into some semblance of a coherent whole.

Images are key to Uketsu’s approach here, which draws on the concept of child therapists using patients’ drawings to understand their likely state of mind. This idea is introduced at the start via a lecture given by a child psychologist. The psychologist talks her students through her process, aided by a crude drawing made by a former patient, a matricidal killer dubbed Little Girl A. The psychologist explains how her reading of Little Girl A’s pictures became instrumental in dictating Little Girl A’s treatment and her identification as a candidate for rehabilitation and eventual release.

This chapter’s followed by a series of seemingly disconnected episodes, featuring a succession of characters and crimes - from suspicious deaths to obvious murders. The shift from one section to another sometimes so abrupt it felt like the verbal equivalent of a jump cut. His narrative’s highly visual qualities are in keeping with Uketsu’s background as a Youtuber who made his name through a series of eccentric videos. He wants his fiction to appeal to audiences who rarely read as well as those who do. The extensive illustrations incorporate numerous diagrams as well as charts highlighting potential plot developments. These suggest Uketsu’s deliberately blending conventions from locked-room style Golden Age mysteries with aspects of manga: Uketsu’s stated influences are contemporary Japanese crime writers like Honobu Yonezawa, he’s also a fan of Holmes and Watson.

There were moments when Uketsu’s concept felt a bit contrived and gimmicky but, for the most part, this was a gripping, entertaining experience, laced with striking twists and turns – whenever I worked out a possible link between one crime and another, I felt surprisingly smug. The only remaining enigma was Uketsu himself, apart from his pseudonym and gender almost nothing’s known about him. A bestselling author in Japan, Uketsu’s core readers are women between 30 and 50; often referred to as the Edogawa Ranpo of the Internet, Uketsu digitally disguises his voice and never appears without his trademark white mask and all-encompassing, black body suit. Translated by Jim Rion.