The Book Report #116

Episode #115

Strange Houses By Uketsu

The Book

Pushkin Press first published the book in 2025. The English translation of this story was arranged with Asuka Shinsha, Inc., through the Japan UNI Agency, Inc., Japan.

Jim Rion, translate this book into English.

My copy is a first edition print. It has 208 pages with advertisements for upcoming books by the author and by the company that published this book.

I also used a digital copy when not at home.

What Did I Think?

The story is set around a journalist, his friend and a liar. Uketsu is the author, narrator and journalist of the story. We follow the journalist’s search for a story when he comes across an idea from his friend, Yanaoka, who was looking for a new home. Weird floor plans. He comes across such a home from which the family has disappeared and calls on the help of his friend, who is an architect, and they analyse the layout of the homes.

This is what throws me a bit. His friend Kurihara automatically assumes that the home is a murder house. It’s not; let’s investigate a little more. Is there any other use for odd-shaped rooms? No. It’s a murder house. The story is made to lead in that direction, but the straight away assumption is unrealistic even in fiction.

Yuzuki Katabuchi lies to get close to the narrator and uses him to get in touch with her family, who we find out have a history of murder going back decades.

We find out the history of the family and the reason for the murders, and it is weak.

The speech style is set as a transcript as if the narrator were recording all of the interactions with everyone he talks to. Which would have been a good idea, as he is writing a story about everything that is going on.

As much as I tried, I couldn’t get behind the story. There doesn’t seem to be much substance behind it. I understood the basics of what he was trying to do, but the end result was my conclusion. MEH!

Would I Recommend?

For myself, no. If you are looking for something a bit weird, then yes, why not? But do not expect a great story. It is okay but nothing to write home about.

But please give this a go.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA and Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/USA, Barnes & Noble, or eBay UK/USA.

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.