Translated from the Japanese by Jim Rion.
Published in paperback 26th February 2026 by Pushkin Vertigo.
From the cover of the book:
The addictive mystery taking the world by storm, from the author of Strange Pictures.
Eleven strange buildings. One terrible secret.
A lonely hut in the woods.
A hidden chamber.
A mysterious shrine.
A home in flames.
A nightmarish prison...
Each of the buildings in this book tells a chilling story. Each one is part of a puzzle.
Look closely... and you'll see that everything is connected.
All leading to a revelation so horrifying you won't want to believe it.
Millions of readers have become addicted to solving Uketsu's dark mysteries.
Strange Buildings is the strangest, and darkest, so far.
***********
Following the publication of Strange Houses, our unnamed author is contacted by a number of people who believe they have similarly odd experiences with weird properties.
The author decides to investigate eleven of these buildings, looking into the strange events associated with them. What he does not expect to find is there is a connection between them all. Each is part of a puzzle that reveals a horrifying truth...
I was introduced to the weird and wonderful world of Uketsu, the mysterious best-selling Japanese phenomenon, through the mesmerising Strange Pictures - and I was very keen to explore more of their unsettling literary riddles!
Like Strange Pictures, this book contains a series of linked stories - this time around eleven buildings associated with dark deeds. The book largely follows the format of transcripts of interviews between the author and interested parties, supplemented with drawings, articles and stories that delve into peculiar goings on - mostly around murder, suicide, and bizarre rituals. The truth behind each one is a mystery, but the author is determined to track down clues which will reveal what has really gone on in each case, no matter how obscure the facts.
At the conclusion on the book, the author co-opts the help of their architectural draughtman friend Kurihara (who proved to be of great assistance in Strange Houses), as they sift through all the information gathered about the eleven cases, and make their deductions.
Uketsu is a delight for those who enjoy logic puzzles, particularly when it comes to the deductive process towards the end of the book. Having read Strange Pictures, I was armed to look out for enlightening clues whilst the story unfolded - and was pleased to have spotted many of them. However, the Uketsu magic comes into its own when each case comes under the scrutinising attention of Kurihara, and he details the connecting facts. All the little twists and turns in the eerie tales then give up their dark secrets... and the shocking truth is exposed.
Every single element of this book comes together to produce an ingenious novel that is utterly absorbing from the first page to the last - and really tests your inner detective. Somehow, Uketsu distils so many things I love about Japanese mysteries into their books, and then blows your mind with a fresh twist that I am absolutely here for. More please!
Strange Buildings is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Pushkin Vertigo for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Uketsu is an enigmatic Youtuber and author, specializing in horror and mystery, who has exploded onto the literary scene in Japan and around the world, becoming an international bestseller. He only ever appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. His true identity is unknown.
Strange Pictures and Strange Houses are also available from Pushkin Vertigo.
About the translator:
Jim Rion is an American translator and writer living in the beautiful western Japan prefecture of Yamaguchi with his wife, son, and cats of unusual size. His translations for Pushkin Press include The Devil's Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo and The Ark by Haruo Yuki, as well as Strange Pictures and Strange Houses by Uketsu.
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