Pushkin Vertigo snaps up Uketsu's 'deliciously creepy' Strange Buildings

Pushkin Vertigo, an imprint of Pushkin Press, has acquired a third title by Uketsu, the author of Strange Pictures (Pushkin Vertigo).

Editorial director Daniel Seton bought world English rights to Strange Buildings from Kenny Okuyama at Japan Uni Agency. Translated by Jim Rion, the book will be published on 26th February 2026.

Pushkin rights director Ruth Logan sold US rights to Harper Via, which also publishes the author’s previous works.

"In Strange Buildings, Uketsu continues to deliver his unique blend of text and images to conjure a chilling, uneasy read," the synopsis says. "Eleven strange buildings are presented – a lonely hut in the woods, a mysterious shrine, a home in flames – each one part of a puzzle. As the reader progresses, they will realise that everything is connected, leading to a horrifying revelation that defies belief."

Seton said: "Uketsu’s eerie mysteries have captivated hundreds of thousand of readers in the UK already and continue to win more new fans by the day. Those fans are in for a real treat with Strange Buildings, which is fiendishly clever, deliciously creepy and utterly enjoyable. I can’t wait to watch it work its strange magic in 2026."

Bea Carvalho, Head of Books at Waterstones, added: "Spreading the creepy joy of Uketsu’s books has been one of the bookselling highlights of 2025, and we are thrilled to have Strange Pictures on the shortlist for Waterstones Book of the Year. Strange Pictures has been a true word of mouth phenomenon, defining a new genre and bringing something completely original to our fiction sections."

Carvalho added: "Strange Houses further established Uketsu as a new brand to be seriously excited about, and we can’t wait to extend the readership of these brilliant, terrifying books with the arrival of Strange Buildings. These books have inspired such creativity and fun in our bookshops, it has been a pleasure to collaborate with Pushkin on making them bestsellers."