Strange Buildings

Japanese author Uketsu is certainly an enigma. Nobody knows who he really is and when you do get to see him - his face is obscured by a white mask, and he is clothed in black.  This has not stopped him from writing some of the most exciting crime novels to recently come out of Japan.

In his latest offering - Strange Buildings [a follow up to his Strange Pictures and Strange Houses] the plot revolves around eleven buildings; each with its own distorted floor plan and creepy history. Each house is a disconcerting architectural oddity complete with its own unique story and being part of a larger conundrum.

This is a subtle and unsettling story that will make you look at buildings, and structures from a parallax view. The buildings are not only settings but also evidence that forces the reader to explore, akin to a detective’s investigation. The disturbing premise and surreal connectivity make Strange Buildings not only intriguing, but thoroughly atmospheric. The novel also contains visuals which help reveal the horror element without overwhelming the main thrust of the narrative.

Uketsu’s work is distinctive because it merges accessibility with depth of theme and smart puzzling mysteries that are obscure until the very end. 

A cult author in the making, from the cloaked anonymity of YouTube.