Strange Cases Review

Summary: A rakish law student inherits his late mother's practice-and its beastly secrets-in this sumptuous gothic graphic-novel debut from Riotbones, perfect for fans of James Tynion IV and paranormal crime dramas.

In the wake of his attorney mother's sudden death, dutiful law student Jude Aguilar returns to the town of Lazaro to take over her practice-but the only thing stranger than the peculiar cases she left behind are the clients themselves.

As the cases unfold, Jude uncovers a tapestry of family secrets and local monsters. Can he save Lazaro, his mother's legacy, and himself before it all goes up in flames?

PROS:

• The illustrations are breathtaking and fits perfectly with the story! Absolute 10 out of

• in my opinion.

• The artwork immediately established the mood and ambiance, making me feel as though I were in a gothic story from the 1800s.

• The cover alone sold me.

  • Explores Philippine folklore!

  • Anti-colonial messages.

  • The main character Jude. I LOVED him!

  • It's from a new adult debut from queer creater Riotbones.

    
    

CONS:

• I wish it had been longer and delved deeper into some of the cases. They were incredibly intriguing. The pacing was the main issue, as the courtroom scenes felt rushed. I was left wanting more detail and expansion.

IN CONCLUSION:

If you enjoy gothic or paranormal tales, I highly recommend giving this a look. The artwork itself makes it worthwhile! I'm eager to add the physical copy to the gothic section of my bookshelf. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and RiotBones for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can pre-order now or wait to get your hands on Strange Cases on October 13th, 2026.