{"product_id":"strange-houses-9780063433151","title":"Strange Houses","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the bestselling author of the wildly inventive \u003cem\u003eStrange Pictures \u003c\/em\u003eand a phenomenon in Japan--unnatural layouts, trap doors, windowless rooms-- a sinister conspiracy is concealed within a house's warped and unsettling floor plans\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen a writer fascinated by the macabre is approached by an acquaintance, he finds himself investigating an eerie house for sale in Tokyo. At first, with its bright and spacious interior, it seems the perfect first home. But upon closer inspection, the building's floor plans reveal a mysterious \"dead space\" hidden between its walls. Seeking a second opinion, the writer shares the floor plans with his friend Kurihara, an architect, only to discover more unnerving details throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is the true purpose behind the house's disturbing design? And what happened to the former owners who disappeared without a trace? When a body suddenly appears and a young woman reaches out about a second house, it soon becomes clear that the writer and his friend may be in over their heads. Structured around a series of chilling floorplans, with \u003cem\u003eStrange Houses\u003c\/em\u003e, mystery-horror YouTube sensation Uketsu casts readers in the role of detective, inviting them to help map out the truth hidden within these puzzling floor plans . . . and the terrifying plot behind it all.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTranslated from the Japanese by Jim Rion\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUketsu:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUketsu\u003c\/strong\u003e is an enigmatic presence on YouTube and an author specializing in horror and mystery. He always appears in videos wearing a white mask and black body stocking, with his voice digitally distorted. His true identity is unknown. Both his novels \u003cem\u003eStrange Pictures\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eStrange Houses\u003c\/em\u003e (forthcoming from HarperVia ) were massive hits in Japan, where he lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRion, Jim:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003eJim Rion has lived in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan since 2004. He began professionally translating Japanese to English in 2015, primarily in cultural and travel fields. From 2018, he began working with local sake brewers on international expansion, and in 2022 Stone Bridge Press published his book Discovering Yamaguchi Sake, a guide to all the sake breweries in his home prefecture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe has published translations of two horror\/Cthlulhu mythos books with (now defunct) publisher Kurodahan Press, and from 2022 began working with Pushkin Vintage on translating Japanese crime and mystery fiction into English. The first work, \u003cem\u003eThe Devil's Flute Murders\u003c\/em\u003e by Yokomizo Seishi, was published in 2023. His translation of \u003cem\u003eStrange Pictures\u003c\/em\u003e by Japanese horror\/crime writer Uketsu, is scheduled for publication in January 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harpervia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51325386195218,"sku":"9780063433151","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9898c3a6-d929-41ef-b27e-224d84db4964.jpg?v=1748731398","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/strange-houses-9780063433151","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}