Uketsu Books In Order

Publication Order of Strange Houses Books

Publication Order of Strange Pictures (Manga) Books

Publication Order of The Strange House (Manga) Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Uketsu

Uketsu makes videos on YouTube and writes horror and mystery novels, though nobody knows who he really is. He lives and works in Japan, creating short films that feel strange and dreamlike while also publishing books that keep readers guessing. His identity stays hidden, but that does not stop people from enjoying the clever worlds he builds on the page and on the screen.

As a writer, Uketsu has a real knack for making characters feel like people you might actually know. He pays close attention to how his protagonists think and act, which makes them easy to root for even when the story gets a little creepy. Readers often say his books are hard to put down because he knows exactly how to turn a simple idea into something that pulls you along. His talent for keeping a story clear and exciting is one of the main reasons so many people pick up his work.

What also makes Uketsu stand out is how he uses drawings and diagrams as part of the story itself. The images are not just extra decoration; they matter to what is happening in the book. In 2024, three of his titles landed on Japan’s list of top ten bestselling fiction books, which shows how much readers enjoy his approach. He keeps everything direct and upbeat, even when the subject matter turns a little dark, and that balance is hard to pull off.

Uketsu shows no sign of slowing down, so there is plenty more to look forward to from him. He keeps making short films and writing books at a steady pace, always trying new ideas without losing his style. Since his work continues to sell well and reach new readers, it is safe to expect more strange stories and clever pictures down the road. Fans can stay curious, because Uketsu likely has a lot left to share.

Early and Personal Life

Uketsu grew up in two different places, first in Surrey in the United Kingdom and later in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo. His parents split up when he was still young, which meant his childhood had some changes that many kids go through. He does not talk much about those early years, but he has said that he kept rabbits as pets, which is a small and friendly detail about his home life.

He got his start online by making short videos that felt a little strange, where ordinary things looked slightly off or twisted in a quiet way. Those videos caught people’s attention because they were simple but weird in a fun sense, not because they were loud or scary. Over time, that same kind of thinking moved into his writing, where he started building stories that feel like puzzles with a gentle creepy side.

As an author, Uketsu has grown by pulling from hobbies like making music on guitar, piano, and drums. Only about thirty people in the whole world know who he really is, including his family, his publisher, and some coworkers. He keeps his face hidden with a white mask and a black bodysuit, but that seems to free him up to focus on what he loves most, which is telling strange and clever stories.

Writing Career

Uketsu started his writing career with novels that all share a similar word in their titles. He published “Strange Pictures” in 2025, followed by “Strange Houses” later that same year. In 2026, he released “Strange Buildings,” which continued his habit of looking at ordinary things through a slightly odd lens.

His work has started to get attention outside of Japan as well. In 2026, “Strange Pictures” was nominated for a British Book Award in the Fiction Book of the Year category. Uketsu is still writing, so there will likely be more strange titles and more award nominations to come in the future.

Strange Pictures

HarperVia first released “Strange Pictures” on October 20, 2022. The horror mystery thriller was written by Uketsu and translated into English by Jim Rion. This edition came out through the HarperVia imprint, which is part of HarperCollins Publishers.

Uketsu builds this book around nine simple drawings that look like a child might have made them. Each picture holds a hidden puzzle, such as a pregnant woman’s blog sketches that carry a quiet warning or a child’s drawing of a house with a secret message inside. One sketch even comes from a murder victim in his final moments, which then pulls an amateur detective into a strange and unsettling path. All of these images connect to a larger mystery, and readers are asked to put the pieces together as the story moves forward.

Anyone who picks up this book will likely enjoy how the simple pictures slowly reveal hidden puzzles. Each drawing feels like a small mystery waiting to be solved, which keeps the pages turning. The story does not spell everything out, so the reader gets to feel clever along the way. It is a fun and thoughtful read for anyone who likes quiet surprises.

Strange Buildings

Pushkin Vertigo published “Strange Buildings” on December 15, 2023. The horror mystery thriller was written by Uketsu and translated by Jim Rion. It is the second book in the “Strange Houses” series.

Here Uketsu gives readers a fresh puzzle to solve, built around eleven strange buildings that all hide one common secret. The lineup includes a quiet hut deep in the woods, a house tied to a killing, a room no one is supposed to find, a shrine without a clear purpose, a home going up in flames, and a prison that feels like a bad dream. Every one of these places has its own creepy tale, and each small story links up to form a bigger riddle that becomes clearer page by page. When the last piece finally slides into place, the truth hits hard and unexpected, so most readers find it tough to set the book down before reaching that point.

Readers new to this book will enjoy how each building holds its own small mystery. Putting the pieces together feels like solving a fun puzzle with a dark twist. The story moves at a good pace and never gets boring. It is a solid pick for anyone who likes strange places and hidden clues.