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bryn_thebookworm 's review for:

Strange Houses by Uketsu
3.25

I read Strange Pictures a few months ago and had so much fun with the unique format, so l was super excited to dive into Uketsu's newest novel. This book follows a similar structure, using floor plans, family trees, and lists to aid in the storytelling. It makes the mystery more interactive and easier to follow.

In Strange Houses, a writer and an architect find themselves trying to make sense of the very odd floor plan of a house that their friend is looking to buy. That friend decides against buying the home when the body of a missing man is suddenly discovered in the very same neighborhood. This leads the writer and architect down a rabbit hole that somehow has them solving a very twisted mystery.

While I enjoyed reading this book, I didn't think it was as strong as its predecessor. The ending would have been more impactful if the author included another family tree when introducing new family history that I found difficult to trace. The unique storytelling technique carried me through most of the mystery but then dropped me to fend for myself just when it mattered most.