One day, a young man is told about a website from a fellow student in his paranormal club. At first, the website seems to be the mundane life of another young man and his new wife, both of them just starting out. A little over a year into the blog the blogger discovers that his wife is pregnant, elated the blog turns to discussions of the progression of her pregnancy, the prognosis is not good, the child is breach, but the blogger has home that mother and child will survive. Unfortunately, that is dashed away when, during an emergency C Section, the mother dies and his son lives. The young student is bereft for these strangers and so continues the blog but finds that there is something very wrong and very sinister happening in the bloggers life and he is determined to see the bloggers story to the end.

This was absolutely brilliantly done, told from multiple perspectives, and from different time frames, what seems like it could only end up being a disjointed mess at the beginning is a truly horrific tale of murder I genuinely could not put this down from the minute Sasaki and Kurihara piece together the hints in the blog until the twisted tale comes full circle I was kept on my toes. Even when I already knew who the killer was, the suspense is very much alive as it feels like they is no way they will be caught. What makes this even better is Uketsu *tells* the reader who the killer is, I didn't figure it out and honestly I probably wouldn't have, to be able to keep the suspense up after a reveal like that is simply amazing.

Unlike many other novels like this I didn't feel like that killer was especially evil either, it was more like their lack of emotions made them evil and that they consistently justified their actions to themselves by telling themselves they were doing it to protect someone else, when that was clearly not the case. The murderer was motivated from clear self-interest from beginning to end, and thats what truly made them evil.

I highly recommend this one. It's like no thriller/mystery I have read!

As always, thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for the eArc!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Strange Pictures is a short, sketch-like horror novel that packs a lot of general feelings of dread in a very short amount of space. I enjoyed seeing the way all the pieces fit together and the addition of pictures helped set the tone. At times, I felt the story was a little… forced, I suppose, in order to move the plot along, but Uketsu’s approach is so interesting I found I could set that aside in the name of ambitious endeavors. Haunting and satisfying, definitely a fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for the ARC.

A bit of context for this book: Uketsu is a Japanese YouTuber that got popular for short mystery puzzles, with the solution hidden inside a drawing. This book takes 9 drawings to tell four stories; three puzzles united by a fourth one for a larger narrative. The story with the blog/drawings by the pregnant wife was my favorite, it was the most impactful. Some of the logic didn't always add up to me, but it was overall an exciting read, and it was fun trying to figure out the truth in each of the pictures. It's definitely made me interested in watching Uketsu's YouTube videos for more puzzles.

Okay I really enjoyed this book! I read it on a flight in almost the whole sitting!
Would recommend this to anyone looking for a thrill

An interesting and fast-paced detective story here that made some unexpected moves and interwove the whole picture concept really well. The only problem was the writing was so simplistic as to be distracting, like "See Spot run" levels of prose over here. May be a translation thing but also might not be unless the translator made an active choice to take out all instances of described human feeling.

This is more of a 3.5er but due to this glaring issue I just can't tick it up to a 4. A good read though if you're looking for something quick but engaging.

My thanks to HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story is so expertly crafted that I actually gasped aloud when things started to make sense. The plot is mesmerizing and the characters are flawed but dynamic.

At first the graphics seem a little cite, but that apparent whimsy slowly burns into a brilliant dark mystery.

this a seemingly simple concept that turned into a suspenseful, twisting, psychological run through generations. I do wish the writing style was more detailed, but that could've also been a translation issue

I could not put this book down, I was pulled right in from the beginning. The twists kept me guessing right up to the end. Looking forward to more from this author.

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

Strange Pictures marks the English-language debut of the enigmatic Japanese author and YouTube sensation, Uketsu. Known for his macabre storytelling and mysterious online presence, Uketsu has crafted a novel that seamlessly blends elements of horror, mystery, and visual art to create an immersive and unsettling experience.

The novel is structured around a series of nine seemingly innocuous drawings, each serving as a focal point for interconnected stories that delve into the darker aspects of human nature and the supernatural. Uketsu challenges readers to uncover the hidden truths within each illustration, creating an interactive and engaging narrative that blurs the line between fiction and reality.

The narrative is divided into four chapters, each introducing new characters and scenarios that gradually reveal the overarching mystery. This structure not only maintains suspense but also allows for a multifaceted exploration of themes such as trauma, perception, and the power of art. The inclusion of the drawings enhances the storytelling, inviting readers to become active participants in deciphering the enigmatic clues embedded within the artwork.

Uketsu's prose is both evocative and concise, effectively building tension and a sense of unease that lingers throughout the novel. The translation by Jim Rion preserves the atmospheric quality of the original text, making it accessible to a broader audience without losing the nuances that contribute to its haunting effect.

For those seeking a thought-provoking and immersive read that combines the psychological depth of a thriller with the eerie ambiance of horror, Strange Pictures is a compelling addition to contemporary literature.

An interesting mystery told from many different perspectives, and involving odd drawings that are more sinister than they initially appear.

I have decided that I am very much not a fan of the connected short story format. This one is called Strange Pictures, but really the only strange pictures in this book were in the first story- the rest are just immature looking flowcharts and diagrams. I did really enjoy how your perception of different characters keeps getting challenged and changed when you meet the same character through different character's eyes.

While I immediately got sucked into the blog posts of the first story, I found the rest of it poorly written (or perhaps poorly translated?) I'm tired of the "Sherlock" style deductive reasoning and the way the character revealed the details in this one felt very amateur. Points for the eerie art though.

The second story was wild- and twisty. I did enjoy how it tied into the first and it led to me wanting to know more.

Story three- was extremely frustrating. The author kept repeating huge chunks/ paragraphs from pervious pages. I read it already- I really don't need the whole page copy and pasted a second time- thanks. This story would've been half as long if you took out all the unnecessary repetition.

The last story/chapter- was a really long winded summary (with some extra details) of the previous three stories and honestly could've been the whole book. It felt really long, this whole book felt really long which isn't great considering it's less than 300 pages.

All in all I was disappointed with this one- quite a bummer.

I was not expecting that kind of ending and intersecting of the stories!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC and HarperVia for the DRC!

I started this reading the ebook copy and couldn't really get into the first story story as much (but loved the inclusion of the drawings). The audiobook reeled me in immediately and I found the story easier to follow along.

It definitely wasn't horror horror, but I liked the avenue the story went. It's truly terrifying the things people are capable of, how they change, and how easy it is for people to get away with murder. Also the analyzation of the child's drawing was so cool and made me want to look at drawings differently.

[ The fact that Iwata ended up passing away the same way his mentor did is crazy and surely added some darkness to the story. (hide spoiler)]

I believe there's a prequel/sequel or more in this realm by the author so I'm for sure on the lookout for more to read. Solid 4 stars.

This was such a great read! I really enjoyed Uketsu's writing and storytelling style. The way the stories are presented and come together were done so well. Very excited to read anything else by this author! Will recommend for quick reads, horror, thriller, and mystery readers for sure!

I've never read a book like this before! Mysterious and unsettling, it hooked me right away. I'm a newbie to the world of Japanese horror/mystery but this made me incredibly eager to read more

This is a "horror" book but it's strange... it's not particularly scary but definitely jarring.

"Strange Pictures" has some creepy/dark aspects, but overall what's most fascinating about it is how each little story is connected to another. I really enjoyed that, but sometimes it almost felt like a math problem more than a story.

Either way it's very unique and is worth a read. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of "Strange Pictures"!

this is a DEEEEEEPLY weird, at times horrifying and just INCREDIBLE read. the translator did an AMAZING job as well and would love to find their credits a bit easier but holy shit!

I loved this book so much. The way that Uketsu tells this story is refreshingly unique and keeps the reader wanting.

This book was a ride I was not expecting but so glad I took! A series of four stories each center around a sketch (several of which are highlighted on the cover of the book). These sketches each drive at something sinister and connect to the larger story. In the first story, two students analyze a blog with a mysterious message. The second story focuses on the disappearance of a young boy. In the third story, a brutal murder remains unsolved years later. And in the final story, everything is connected together.

This book was instantly mysterious and drew me in and refused to let me go. If I didn't have kids I would have finished this in one sitting. I was impressed by the incorporation of the drawings as they were not a gimmick but instead integral to the ultimate solution. I wouldn't exactly classify this book as horror, but it was most certainly suspenseful and mysterious. The author themselves is a mysterious character, as they have never revealed their face or voice despite being a popular YouTube personality in Japan.

The whole book is a complex puzzle and it was an absolute thrill to work through. There was not any overly descriptive scenes that could put people off, though definitely some disturbing situations. I cannot recommend this enough!

*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*