coriander in pho

This book, “Strange Houses”, is a part of a trilogy: Strange Houses, Strange Pictures, and Strange Buildings. I noticed that the “Strange Houses” book has been having more popularity than the other two, at least in Kinokuniya Suria KLCC, which perhaps due to this title was the debut title of the writer, Uketsu.

Uketsu is a writer, singer, and YouTube persona of unknown identity. They usually show themselves in black clothing with a white papier-mâché mask and have their voice changed. They usually talk about horrors and mysteries on their YouTube channel, so them writing thriller and mystery novels would be on point.

I still have a really limited experiences and views of Japanese thrillers and mystery literatures. So far, I have been reading the works by Hisashi Kashiwai (The Kamogawa Food Detective), Soji Shimada (The Tokyo Zodiac Murders), and Keigo Higashino (Newcomer). Hence, I wouldn’t say that J-mystery genre has always have a very specific style (I mean, I obviously need to read more to say that!), but I have been noticing how Japanese authors for this genre have been really good in building the suspense and eerie feelings. From what I see here, these Japanese works are layered in such a way that something as mundane in one’s daily life as eating a takeout soba would be followed by an in-depth discussion or surprising findings. I wonder if this is because Japan has honne and tatemae culture: What you see on the surface is rarely the truth. That kind of “you might not realize it yet…”-feeling between the pages rests uncomfortably in your mind.

I also found Uketsu’s way in writing interesting. Instead of using paragraphs or regular dialogues, it feels like reading a script as it’s using conversational-style.

As someone who enjoys details and descriptive language, this work feels… quick. In every sense. The good side, it makes this book a quick read. This conversationalist style reminds me of comics/manga, and I wonder if Uketsu is using this kind of style because their background as a YouTuber gives them a good understanding on how to keep their audience stays focused.

Throughout this novel, you would see the diagram of the houses in question, and I feel that it’s such a nice touch to have as it hammers down the puzzle aspect of this novel.

Now, about the plot/story. Was it bad? Not really, no. But the whole thing felt like being forced upon in such “solemn and ceremonial seriousness” and we, the readers, have to follow through. The plot felt “convenient”, quick for the sake of being quick, and there was not a lot of thinking going on in the side of the readers. It was all “a room without windows! Murder room!” or “the child did it! Obviously!” I mean, I got multiple theories in my head, thanks to CSI and Law & Order series, and perhaps we could have red herrings? Please, sir, may I have a crumb of red herrings? I’m clanking my imaginary empty tin can here for a couple more red herrings because WE NEED THE TWISTS AND TURNS FOR GOD SAKE.

The half part of the novel leading to the end got even more rushed with sudden mentions of dozens other characters, which reminds me of C-dramas where suddenly all other characters appeared by the end of the series. Such situation, ironically, made the latter part of the novel seemingly underwhelming because instead of actually staying on the course, I found myself went, “eh? Who’s this again?”

NOW! The resolution. I admit, I’m not a huge fan of it. Let’s just say that by the point we learned about the motives, I had to pull my eyes up from the book, look at the ceilings, and muttered a loud, “what?!”

This whole work, dare I say, reminds me of “The Kindaichi Case Files” manga. Creepy? Check. Eerie? Check. Guessing-games which, conveniently, turned out to be true all the time? Check. Slightly outlandish? Double checks. Also, I can’t believe I’m going to say or write this as this would be so offensive, coming from someone whose comfort movie is Tom Hanks “Da Vinci Code” but here we go, juvenile minds would love this work as it has a lot of glitz and glams (“oooo! Mysterious rooms!”, “creepy guy!”) but that’s it. At least that’s what I feel about “The Kindaichi Case Files” right now. It was great when I read them back in my high school era, but I might find them cringey now.

I still have two more books from Uketsu. Let’s see how it goes later. Some folks said that “Strange Pictures” is a tad better.