An absolutely wonderful, heartwarming novella! Highly recommended for fans of Japanese fiction (and food) and the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. Just a warning: this book will make you hungry.

This was sweet and a definite change from the chaos of my normal reads. It was heart warming and innocent while still allowing for a good plot developing story.

If only there was more

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC In exchange for an honest review!

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai is the latest lovely Japanese bestseller to be translated into English. The story revolves around Koishi and Nagare, a father-daughter duo who run a special restaurant. Not only are they chefs who make delicious meals, they are also food detectives who solve food-related mysteries. This isn't an adventure-detective story a la Sherlock Holmes though. This is more of a slow-paced story for foodies and food-lovers.

Here is a mouth-watering excerpt from Chapter 1;

"Stewed arame and deep-fried tofu. Okara croquettes. Kikuna leaves dressed with sesame and miso. Kurama-style sardine. Hirosu tofu ball in broth. Pork belly simmered in Kyobancha tea. Fresh tofu curd with sour plum paste. Oh, and Korshi's ricebranpickled cucumbers."

Overall, The Kamogawa Food Detectives is an amazing slice-of-life novel that will is like a warm hug in book form. One highlight of this book are the mouth-watering descriptions of food. I definitely felt hungrier while reading this book, so I definitely recommend having snacks on hand or enjoying this book while on a full stomach. Otherwise, you will definitely be hankering for Japanese food.

Another highlight of this book is the slice-of-life story that made me feel warm inside. My favorite chapter was the one about the wife who wanted to find the recipe for the same type of tonkatsu that her husband used to make in his restaurant. That chapter comes after the middle of the book, and it made me feel all sorts of feelings. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of Japanese literature in translation, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

'I reckon we always meet the people we're supposed to meet. Which is why you ended up walking through that door.'

An enigmatic newspaper advert, with no details, leads the curious to the unremarkable Kamogawa Diner, where remarkable memories are re-created. Definitely in the vein of the 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series, or the recently published 'What You Are Looking for Is In The Library', this will appeal to all fans of cozy, comforting books that tend on the nostalgic and the re-capturing of moments in life which mean so much.

Here, the staff of the Kamogawa Diner can re-create a meal that has special importance: that final meal with a loved one, a lost chance for love, a childhood memory. With the barest of facts it is down to daughter Koishi and her widowed father Nagare to produce that food, and allow the customer to reach some point of closure.

Just a nice, warm book to curl up with. And there's a cat. Called Drowsy. So that's another box ticked. Definately a recommend. Somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Fans of Japanese-translated fiction such as ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ or cosy literature gather around. There’s a new book on the shelf to tick all your boxes – The Kamogawa Food Detectives. Written by Hisashi Kashiwai and translated into English by Jesse Kirkwood, The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a cosy read emphasising the power of food as it connects us to our past and our future.

They say don’t judge a book by its cover but in all honestly I picked this book due to the cute illustration of a cat. And I am so glad I did. The Kamogawa Food Detectives is an easy read, sharing tales of love, nostalgia, forgiveness and regret.

A comforting read, that was intriguing and gripping. It was definatley emotional in parts, however it was the type of read that gave me that warm and comforting feeling. Highly recommend.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives was a unique read made up of six different stories told by several customers and particular dishes from their pasts they looking for.

The storyline is unique, and the writing fluid. I loved the feeling of nostalgia and forgotten memories brought back to life through recipes the customers' loved ones used to make and the way Koishi and Nagare were able to help their customers heal.

Content Warnings: Death, Terminal Illness, Loss of a loved one, Death of a parent

Representations: https://trello.com/c/KcyEeqLR/88-the-kamogawa-food-detectives-1-the-kamogawa-food-detectives-by-hisashi-kashiwai

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well, now I'm incredibly hungry...

This is essentially multiple short stories about food. Long descriptions of incredibly delicious sounding food with a cute little backstory of each person who comes seeking out the hidden, unassuming little building with no signage.

Very much just a cute, light tale with bite-sized (hehe :3) stories guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Even through the sadder stories, hope and human kindness & connection through food shines through strongly. Mix that with loveable characters and well-written food descriptions and you have a book that I kept thinking about even after finishing!

I absolutely see this easily turned into a little tv show, each episode being a different person seeking their food. From my googling, I couldn't find any adaptation of it - though I did see it's a pretty lengthy series so please oh please translate more!

Thank you to Netgalley for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting cosy read , with a food perspective. Recommended.

If you are looking for a straightforward detective novel, this is not it. Instead, it’s is a charming series of what are almost loosely linked short stories with a Proustian emphasis on the memories that food invoke in us.

Some of the food 🍱 descriptions will have you salivating and heading to your nearest Japanese restaurant.

Although not plot-led, this is a sweet and heart-warming read that can be read in a single sitting.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this unique novel about a food detective agency. The original Japanese, translated in to English by Jesse Kirkwood.

A simple, short, but satisfying novel about the power of delicious food.

Have you ever had a dish from your past that you'd love to re-create one last time, but just can't get something right?

Perhaps a dish that a deceased parent used to make, or a dish from a memorable first date.

You perhaps know the basic ingredients, but find something lacking. Or perhaps you have all the ingredients but don't know how to get them to work together to create that perfect dish.

Well then, Koishi and Nagare Kamogawa are there to find and recreate them for you.

Owner and Daughter of the secretive Kamogawa Diner in Kyoto, only discoverable by those who take the time of find the diner, and attached agency.

The Kamogawa's don't advertise heavily. Kyoto is full of tourists at the best of times, and their diner is all about offering an authentic traditional experience, to those from their homeland that really need it...

But it seems that one mysterious advert is all they need, word of mouth, and friendship does the rest, and the Kamogawa diner becomes a hidden Kyoto gem.

I don't want to say anymore, for risk of spoiling this wonderful book. It is beautifully written, and I would like to read more from this author ... Oh, and it really made me want to go back to Japan!!

Curious selection of stories of six people who want to find a meal from their past by visiting an unobtrusive restaurant. The daughter takes the scant details and her father tracks down the request and about 2 weeks later recreates said dish for the client.

It gave me an insight into eating etiquette in Japan, different dishes and some of the regions which I liked. However, it did become a little repetitive when each client found the restaurant, ate whatever dish they had on the first visit, filled out their details and a vague description of their food memory and the father never struggling to find and recreate it.

Wish it had followed the father as he visited the places to find the dishes rather than just a summary when the client returned.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

I rarely enjoy translated books because many of them are translated by people for whom English is a second language, and the result is invariably a bit stilted. This, though, was extremely well translated and the prose flowed very fluidly.

However, I struggled a bit with the actual story. A father-and-daughter detective duo…food-detective duo, in fact…try to recreate dishes for their customers for whom a dish from their pasts is sentimentally significant.

Each of the six chapters focusses on a different client. Whilst each has a different memory and reason for recapturing the essence of the pertinent dish, the format of each chapter was the same. I found this a little tedious and repetitive. Maybe it's because I don't understand the Japanese food culture, but the endless description of every food that went into the dishes (do onions from different areas really matter? An onion is an onion to me).

It was quite a departure from my usual diet of crime thrillers, but it didn't really grab me. I was actually quite glad it was a short book. If you live to eat rather than, like me, eat to live, I reckon you'll find this a treat.

Perfect autumnal/winter read. I loved every second of it and am going to purchase a copy so i can show my friends and read it again.

"The Kamogawa Food Detectives" by Hisashi Kashiwai is a delectable mystery novel that blends culinary delights with amateur sleuthing, creating a unique and delightful reading experience. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Kyoto's Kamogawa River, the story follows the adventures of a group of passionate foodies who become unlikely detectives.

Kashiwai's narrative is brimming with vivid descriptions of Japanese cuisine and culture, making it a treat for both mystery enthusiasts and food lovers. The characters are charmingly quirky, and their love for food is infectious. As they unravel mysteries surrounding local eateries and their owners, readers are drawn into a world of gastronomic discoveries and unexpected revelations.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to intertwine the joys of food exploration with the suspense of solving mysteries. The plot is well-crafted, with twists and turns that keep you engaged from start to finish.

"The Kamogawa Food Detectives" is a delightful, cozy mystery that will satisfy both your literary and culinary cravings. Kashiwai's writing is a testament to his deep appreciation for food and storytelling, and it's a must-read for anyone who enjoys a blend of delectable dishes and a good puzzle.

Rating: 3.5⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️

Kamogawa Diner runs a food detective agency where duo Nagare and Koishi hunt down dishes from a customer’s past so they can taste those dishes again. From the widower looking for a specific noodle dish that his wife used to cook, to a first love's beef stew, the restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to the past and a way to a more contented future.

I quite enjoyed this book. I wanted to read it as I seen the comparison to Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, which I really liked so I knew I had I check this one out. It was such a cosy read, which made my mouth water with the stunning descriptions of the food. I do wish that we got to know the characters a bit more as it did feel very surface level and they all did sound interesting.

There is quite a lot of repetition in here, which I guess is expected since they have to go through the same kind of things with the characters, like the rules, set menu, the corridor, form to fill out to investigate the dish etc. I also wish it went more into detail about the detective aspect like how do they find out all of this information, instead of being only told the information they've found out. I think it would have been better to have some POV from Nagare when he's doing the detective work for the recreation of customers dishes, so then you're told how he's found all this information out.

⚠️ CWs: derogatory language, dementia, death, terminal illness; mentions death, alcohol use ⚠️

If you like Japanese fiction , you will love this book. We follow father and daughter who run a restaurant that is tucked away in a side street with no signage. People come to the restaurant to eat the wonderful food . It is also a food detective agency where you can go and find a recipe that can be recreated from your past. Each chapter is a different dish that’s been found by the agency. I learnt a lot about Japanese food and drink , and a lot about the culture.. It is a gentle calm read that could be read in one sitting. There is a wonderful relationship between the father and daughter , the mother has passed away but they still include her. They feel for their clients and none leave disappointed. A cosy comforting read where there is little to dislike.

A comforting and mouthwatering read that made me wonder what dish I'd want the duo to cook for me. I really loved how food was linked with memory, much like in real life. I'll definitely pick up the next book in the series when it's translated.

While there are ever more whimsical Japanese stories out there I did feel that this one added something new and different to the genre. I loved the almost Agatha Christie-esque solving of the culinary mysteries and found my mouth watering at many of them. The stories behind the dishes and memories were also captivating - this may be one of my top reads of the year.

I really enjoyed this short novel, which could be a collection of short stories as each chapter is so self-contained. Despite each section following a set structure, the stories in themselves are are varied and different that the repetitive structure does not hinder the pleasure of reading this book.

This book is both a book for foodies, which will leave the reader wishing that the book came with each dish described so you could sample them as you read as well as a quirky detective tale as there is pleasure in discovering how Nagare, our detective, figures out how to recreate each of the characters dishes. The book is also very rich in Japanese culture in a quite subtle way: weaving in details and descriptions that transport you to Kyoto and make you want to visit.

The only small negative or criticism would be the prominence of the cat on the cover, when the cat is very much a minor detail of the book that could easily be cut out without it having an impact on the narrative. It very much feels plonked in for the sole purpose of riding the wave of the Japanese cat book trend. So slightly gimmicky. But apart from that, a quick, very uplifting, mouth-watering and nostalgic book.