Creepy image galore, Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is a comparable novel to Strange Pictures, where a collection of drawings becoming an integral part of the narrative. Strange Pictures goes one steps further with observation and deduction, uncovering hidden meanings through manipulation — if Rekulak's story is a horror/thriller, Uketsu's novel is more of a horror/detective fiction. This process of 'decoding' is my favorite aspect of the reading experience, especially with the accompanied illustration/info-graphic breaking down the solution.

The plot is much more interwoven than I initially anticipated (I thought it was a collection of short stories), so definitely keep the cast in check as even the seemingly irrelevant side characters become a critical point of view later on.

While I enjoy the brain teasers, as well as the intricacy of its plot line, my biggest gripe with Strange Pictures is the writing/translation, coming across very rudimentary and stilted. Especially with a story containing darker subject matters (such as domestic abuse), they lose a lot of their intended impact, because the reader is being 'told' of things, rather than having the event described in a visceral way, or acted out by emotive, compelling characters — a little bit like reading a plot breakdown rather than the actual novel.

From a creativity stand point, Strange Pictures is worthy of checking out for its well-executed gimmick, and the surprisingly complex plot. I just wish the writing is a little bit more layered and colorful to propel it as a solid favorite.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**