Strange Pictures, by Uketsu Review by Kyle Lybeck

A young woman is overjoyed at becoming a first-time mother. Her and her husband prepare for months, excitement mounts day after day, until the contractions finally start. Hours go by, to only have one come away breathing. A little baby is what is left to continue on the family name, but how exactly did the mother die? What dark secrets led to her not being there for her new baby, her husband? What she leaves behind are eerie pictures that tell a tale, but not one that is easily recognizable. Who can figure out the clues in order to finally bring justice?

This book was a recommendation from my neighbor who also enjoys horror. It is Japanese in origin by an extremely secretive author and has been translated into a multitude of languages. I had never heard of it, and I needed a palate cleanser, so I figured why not dive right in! It quickly ropes you into the story and brings you on an adventure of mystery and intrigue. While it is a novel in totality, it really is four novellas that all share a common past, that coalesce into a dark, disturbing tale. As the title suggests, there are pictures throughout that help bring the story to life. You start to become a sleuth yourself, wondering if you're figuring it out, before it's served up to you on a silver platter.

The pacing is very nice, the whole idea is fresh and fun, and overall I really enjoyed the style of how it was presented to the reader. If you're looking for something different, a quick read that's pretty fun to go through, I'd recommended this one.

Overall I'd give it an A, and I'm looking forward to the next book this author has coming out this year, Strange Houses.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Pictures

Written by Kyle Lybeck