So interesting and beautifully written. The stories were deep and lovingly crafted, definitely a great representative for this type of Japanese fiction, more gentle and less gloomy.

Absolutely perfect. I adored this book, the characters and of course Drowsy. I find Japanese slice of life style books so interesting and lovely, it was a total joy to read from start to finish.

Loved this book. Really cosy and interesting. I'm loving these translated works recently- very easy to read and great for getting you out of a reading slump.

Oh how I loved this book! It had all the feels that I adore from this kind of translated story telling! I cannot get enough of these books and just love to settle down and fall into the story! I will be recommending this to my pupils who love these sorts of stories!

I found this book to be adorable, I definitely will add it to my list of comfort reads. The cover initially caught my eye, and the stories inside kept my attention well.

If you want a heartwarming read that’s filled with mouthwatering descriptions of Japanese dishes with a hint of mystery - this book is for you.

Koishi and her dad, Nagare, run a restaurant together called The Kawogawa Diner which isnt on any maps and has no sign. In the back they offer a detective service which specializes in finding lost or forgotten recipes that bring back precious memories.

Customers find the mysterious restaurant by following an ad with no address in a food magazine - but according to Nagare, fate is what leads them there.

They solve 6 customers culinary mysteries, rediscovering tastes, flavours, armomas which help them relive precious memories with friends, lovers and family.

Like a lot of Japanese translated fiction it’s really bittersweet. If you enjoyed books like Before the Coffee Get Cold, and What You’re Looking for is in the Library, you will love this one.

The cat on the cover is called Dusty, and I can’t wait to read book 2 in this series, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, out on Oct 3rd! Thanks for the copy

With thanks to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to review The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Firstly The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a brilliant book, that I couldn't put down. It took seconds to get into and by the end of it you felt that you had known Koishi and her father and of course not forgetting Drowsy the cat.

Secondly, I've never felt so hungry whilst reading a book, every recipe sounded so nice.

Go and read this really amazing book.

A lovely gentle paced book with great main characters. I loved the individual stories and learning about Japanese foods. Recommended.

The book follows a father - daughter duo, he a retired police detective, she a budding chef, who run an unassuming restaurant with additional food detective service.

They advertise, discreetly, so only those who are truly in need of their services ever find them.

The diners who come are all craving a meal from their past. Something from a long-gone loved one, or a dish they remember fondly from a happier youth.
The flavours they’ve tried and tried but just can’t recreate.

Nagare and Koishi make it their business to recreate those dishes, as accurately as possible.

There is a beauty in the simplicity of this book, and it is a strong reminder of the emotional power of cooking and food, and the connections it has to memory.

Very similar in style to Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I enjoyed it but it’s not my favourite type of book.

I am eagerly awaiting book two of this charming and engaging series. Beautifully written. Readers who have enjoyed Toshikazu Kawaguchi's novels, such as Before the Coffee Gets Cold will really enjoy Kashiwai's writing. He has an easy style, that is light and warm, it draws you in which in turn feels like you are in good company as you read.

The story is easy to follow, with not too many characters to keep track of. I love the concept of the book, the main characters run a restaurant which specialises in recreating the dish/dishes that are most significant and memorable to their customers- some of these dishes have been lost, forgotten or cannot be attained due to a restaurant closing/a relative passing etc. They call themselves food detectives and a are a father and daughter team. Given the importance of food for belonging and comfort, it is an easy concept to empathise with and therefore makes for a very interesting read.

As you read, you travel through the seasons and through places, time, peoples memories, stories and more. Very nostalgic, it is the perfect book to get lost in. Just don't read it when you are very hungry!

I have read several books written by Japanese authors and they are usually delightful reads. This was no exception.

Koishi Kamagawa and her father Nagare run a restaurant with a difference. Their restaurant is also a detective business, advertising to people that want to recreate a dish from the past.

Through recreating the dishes, old memories are reawakened and the customer invariably learns something about themselves.

Koishi and Nagare go to great lengths to be authentic in their search and come across as warm and genuine people.

This is an enjoyable story and I would be happy to read more books by Hisashi Kashiwai.

I received a free ARC of this book via Pan Macmillan and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Multiple short cases with the dad and daughter duo and revolving around families and food. I really enjoyed this book and how the chapters were spilt between a person coming to the place with a case and enjoying the food then their request to the next chapter being the meal and the story around it.

Absolutely loved it!
Did give me Before The Coffee Gets Cold / Sweet Bean Paste vibes. As usual, very calming and a pleasure to read!

The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a delightful and engaging read that combines the best elements of culinary fiction and mystery. Hisashi Kashiwai's evocative writing, charming characters, and clever plotting make this novel a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good culinary mystery with a side of friendship and adventure.

I adored this book. So sweet and heartwarming, just a wonderfully wholesome read. The collection of wonderful characters and the atmospheric setting of the restaurant makes you feel at home.

Just beautiful.
I so enjoyed this simple yet compelling story, I found myself repeating the Japanese names, dishes and places, such a poetic language.
A simple yet well thought out story, Nagare a chef who searches out dishes requested by clients and also guides them in their quests. Koishi is Nagare's daughter, she works in the diner and helps with the cooking, they have a shrine to Nagare's wife and put offerings on it. The diner is hidden away and the only advert for it is in a Gourmet magazine, which does not give the address.
The casual attitude to money is that customers pay what they feel is appropriate.
The descriptions of the food are truly mouth watering, I feel I need to make a list of all the dishes and try them for myself.
Thank you NetGalley and Hisashi for this superb ARC.

I ended up buying the audiobook in the hopes that this would work better than reading digitally, but neither format made this book my cup of tea. I apparently need a bit of murder in my detective fiction!

This is just a wonderful book. It's wholesome, it's entertaining, and it's well crafted. I ended up buying a copy for my wife, who in turn bought another for her mother. Simply a little gem.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, Mantle for providing an advance reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a cozy book about a father-daughter duo who recreate dishes asked by customers through detective work. Each chapter is about a certain food item they create for their clients. The descriptions were mouthwatering. It was good to read about several Japanese dishes and how they're made.

The plot felt quite slow and it was a pity I couldn't bring myself to care much about the characters. I felt that the translation was a bit too bland for this book. This book works well as a train read or a picnic read. I was expecting something more fleshed out than this. Overall, it's not a bad book. Fans of cozy books, check this one out.