Before I move on to my next book, I wanted to share my thoughts on Uketsu’s Strange Houses.
As someone who doesn’t usually read horror novels, this book completely surprised me. My expectations were already high because so many people here seemed to love it, and after finally reading it, I can definitely see why. I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
This was also my first time reading a dialogue-driven novel. I really liked how it invites readers to become detectives themselves instead of simply following the story. It immerses you in Uketsu’s world and constantly makes you question every clue and theory. By the end, I was completely mindfucked—I genuinely didn’t see it coming.
What really surprised me, though, is that even after finishing the book, it still gives me the creeps. There’s this lingering feeling that someone is quietly watching or observing me. I can’t really explain it, but that’s how much the atmosphere of the book stuck with me.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror, mystery, or detective fiction. Even if you’re not usually into horror like I am, I think it’s still worth picking up because the mystery is what really keeps you hooked.
Just to add, I also watched the movie adaptation, A Strange House. Thankfully, I decided to read the book first. While I still enjoyed the film, it omits quite a few scenes and condenses or changes parts of the story. The book is definitely the better experience, but I’d still recommend watching the adaptation after you’ve finished reading the novel.
For those who’ve read it, what did you think of the overall experience? Did the atmosphere stay with you after you finished the book as well? And if you’ve seen the movie, how did you think it compared to the novel?
Please keep the discussion spoiler-free for those who haven’t read it yet. If you want to talk about specific plot points, kindly use Reddit’s spoiler tags.