Strange Pictures was such a unique and fascinating read. I’m not a huge fan of mystery novels, in part because I either find them too predictable or annoyed with the pacing/approach to letting the mystery unfold. However, I really liked how Uketsu pretty much drew the reader in and got them involved in trying to solve the mystery behind the meaning of an eerie illustration found in each chapter, then to find the thread that connected them all. I thought the way he approached the mysteriousness of the situation through drawings was particularly unique, especially the impact each left at the end of the chapter. It was especially satisfying to see how the pieces clicked together as the story progressed, along with feeling that uneasiness that came with each reveal.

I will say that I personally found the translation a bit stilted (though I don’t have any idea if this is simply Uketsu’s writing style or not), but it didn’t take away from the overall reading experience in the end.