diff --git a/spyc.yaml b/spyc.yaml
index 489f28c..252bf18 100644
--- a/spyc.yaml
+++ b/spyc.yaml
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ morelesskey: "<value>"
 
 array_of_zero: [0]
 sophisticated_array_of_zero: {rx: {tx: [0]} }
+key_value_str_json_map: {"rx": {"tx": ["fx", "sx"]}, "ab": {"cd":"de"} }
+key_value_str_json_list: [{"rx": {"tx": ["fx", "sx"]}}, {"ab": {"cd":"de"}}]
 
 switches:
   - { row: 0, col: 0, func: {tx: [0, 1]} }
diff --git a/src/Spyc.php b/src/Spyc.php
index fd2c38c..bc8a889 100644
--- a/src/Spyc.php
+++ b/src/Spyc.php
@@ -1063,10 +1063,21 @@ private function returnKeyValuePair ($line) {
         $key     = trim(array_shift($explode));
         $value   = trim(implode(': ', $explode));
         $this->checkKeysInValue($value);
+      // Other methods currently don't parse valid json maps or arrays of maps correctly
+        if ( str_starts_with( $value, '[{' ) || str_starts_with( $value, '{"' ) ) {
+          $decoded = json_decode( preg_replace( '/^.*?:\s*/', '', $line ), true );
+          if ($decoded !== null || (json_last_error() === JSON_ERROR_NONE && $decoded === null)) {
+            // Accept null as valid JSON value, but only if no error occurred
+            $value = $decoded;
+          }
+          // Otherwise, leave $value as-is (fallback to original string)
+        }
       }
       // Set the type of the value.  Int, string, etc
-      $value = $this->_toType($value);
-      if ($key === '0') $key = '__!YAMLZero';
+      if ( ! is_array( $value ) ) {
+        $value = $this->_toType($value);
+        if ($key === '0') $key = '__!YAMLZero';
+      }
       $array[$key] = $value;
     } else {
       $array = array ($line);