Recs if you like Strange Houses...

my favourite genre, these books are so much fun and more and more are being added all the time If anyone has any questions about any book I will try to help. I have read most of them and have reference books on the history of Japanese crime fiction.

I’ve seen lists, but not one strictly about Ergodic/odd formatting where it’s vital to read the e/physical because of the formatting and/or text —non inclusive of illustrated versions, and just adding non-vital images, etc.

These are the books where if you don’t read the physical (maybe the ebook) you’re MISSING something VITAL to the experience.

I often read audiobooks and don’t know I’m missing out 🫠

PLS recommend W/ explanation (& avoid spoilers) & feel free to argue cases!!

Examples & notes in comments!!!

While my first list is great ( Japanese crime novels.)!! It’s very long and I want to highlight the weird and unconventional murder mysteries that Japan produces. With weird settings, formats and or supernatural elements. Plus looking at future releases there is a few more coming out at the end of the year which I will add closer to the date.
I found zombie apocalypse murder mystery!

books that feel like the backrooms: unsettling and horrifying liminal spaces. Open to more recs that fit this description.

This includes book that have either mystery or thrillers as a primary or secondary genre. If you have recommendations to add please comment and I'll happily add them 💕

I can't be the only one who want to remember all the books without jumping around in a video, right?

Because Milo winter isn't the first to do so! Books and novels with illustrations have always existed! And I love seeing art peppered in through out a novel to get the extra boost as a reader. So here are novels with pretty illustrations in case you want that extra pizzazz in your books.

short books around 200 pages or less that you can easily read in one sitting! for those who just want a quick read or those trying to hit their reading goals ! i tried to include a variety of genres including lit fic, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, thriller, etc.

For when you need a quick horror fix

weird books with weird characters and weird plots. sometimes you'll laugh over whatever the hell just happened. sometimes you'll be freaked out over the unexplainable. some are... hair raising. definitely will make the average reader go "what the hell...?" pls proceed with a open mind and get ready for whatever that happens, you're in for a wild ride

Mystery Thriller titles that were originally in Japanese but have been translated into English.

books that shayne topp from smosh has read in 2025 (ones that he talked about or posted on social media at the end of the year)

Essential Japanese novels and short fiction, past and present.

Translated fiction

what gab smolders read in 2025 as per her book talk video! horror + in tier order from most to least liked by her:

★ S TIER: from "night shoot" to "old country"

★ A TIER: from "what stalks the deep" to "listen to your sister"

★ B TIER: from "the long walk" to "the gathering"

★ C TIER: from "banquet for the damned" to "model home"

★ D TIER: from "3 streets" to "my darling dreadful thing"

★ F TIER: from "basilisk" to "survivor song"

the house is haunted… or maybe not? but there are voices coming from the walls and bodies in the floorboards… or aren’t there? who knows!

This list features books with nontraditional forms, structures, and narratives.

Feel free to recommend more! :)

Delicious bone-chilling or depressing works from ingenious Japanese Mangaka featuring me trying not to fill this list with my king, Junji Ito 🫦

it's not a haunted house, it's a haunted HOME. if you enjoyed monster house as a kid or, like me, still enjoy it as an adult, here are some books about homes that aren't so cozy! feel free to give your own recs to add