I really enjoyed this book, the way food was described was mouthwatering and made all the batter when hearing the stories behind the dish and what went into discovering it. Certainly a cozy comfort read that I will be revisiting.

Although it is a detective story, it is not quite the cozy crime that the reader might expect. Crimes are not solved here, old recipes and important fragments from the past are explored here, which makes a certain dish important to somebody.
The foods in these stories may not be anything very special, made from hard-to-find products, but what makes these dishes so special for this person is instead the emotional memories associated with these foods, smells, a certain time of day, forgotten traditions or even information that the eater has has no idea of until now.
This book works in two ways - you're hungry all the time (and you are looking for the location of the nearest Japanese kitchen on the Internet), and if you cry easily, then you will have tears in your eyes by the end of each episode.
A seriously enjoyable read (or rather listening, for me) that won't soon be forgotten.

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.

This book was exactly what I wanted. Cosy Japanese fiction (featuring a cat) with heart-warming stories about food. It was short story format and I think was possibly serialised in a magazine judging from the style of it, so it was a little repetitive in places, but that didn't take away from it at all.
There is a lot of delicious sounding food in this book so it's definitely not one to read when hungry! It had me drooling over descriptions of food that I wouldn't actually eat, it was so nicely described. The food detective part was interesting and well done, so it really felt like reading an actual detective story at times!

The main theme of this story though is family. It shows the tight family of the father and daughter doing the detectiving and also highlights family in some of the customer's story.

I took away from this book, warmth and cheerfulness and it was an absolute joy to listen to.

beyond cheesy. i like comfort-novels as much as the next reader but this was twee to the extent of being kind of unpleasant.

such a cute story. I was sad when it was over :(

The narrator was fantastic. I loved listening to this while walking on campus. Made me feel like I'm wearing fuzzy socks in the blasting Melbourne heat.

also, I miss my cats now thanks to this cover.

This is such a lovely idea. A father and daughter detective agency with a difference. They seek out the meals of your memories.
Sweet, endearing and brilliantly written. I would have liked just a little bit more story and a little less repetition but I inhaled it nonetheless the less. Brilliant idea! Don’t read when ur hungry 😋

The audio narrative was great.

Thank you to Nergalley and MacMillan UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

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 a very cozy read, also reminiscent of the 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series in vibes and a little bit of the setting.
I loved and enjoyed it a lot, especially the food aspect of it.
If there's anything I would've liked better, it is the fact that there were no actual detective scenes. I would've liked to see the whole mystery unravel rather than just being told after two weeks or so duration about how it happened.
Highly recommend to people looking for cozy books and BtCGC fans.

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.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives is such a heart-warming book. It is set in Kyoto, Japan where Nagare Kamogawa, a former police detective, and his daughter Koishi run a restaurant named after their surname. However, what's different about it is that it also has a side business, a food detective agency. Nagare uses his skills as a former detective to find specific dishes that hold a special place in the customer's heart and then uses his abilities as a chef to recreate them. Each chapter focuses on a different character and their story with the specific dish they ask him to look for and every single story was just incredible.

I can understand why some people say this book reminds them of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but to me, this one is in a league of its own. I love books about food and this has been the year of Japanese literature for me, so this was so tailored to my taste(buds).

I both listened to the audiobook and read it at the same time, and it was such an amazing experience. I loved the narrator, although I'll admit that in the first chapter all of the new Japanese characters' names confused me a bit, but, once you understand the dynamic, listening to it just enhances the experience.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!
I've heard this book is part of a series, so I hope the other ones get translated soon.

Set in Kyoto, Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare an ex-policeman, own a small restaurant down a secluded side street, but their main interest is their monthly project as Food Detectives; Transporting people to some of their most precious moments, through the art of cooking.

This is a sweet and cosy tale about a family restaurant, bringing people joy with food. Essentially a collection of short stories as 6 people’s food memories are rediscovered inbetween the day to day running of the restaurant. A wonderfully cute and wholesome tale to curl up with on a rainy day. I also learnt a lot of new Japanese ingredients! Whilst it was a sweet and wholesome concept, I didn’t really feel too invested because of the structure of the book, that being said it would be good if you want something to dip in and out of as it’s essentially a set of short stories.

The narrator is great and has a lovely reading style and clear soothing voice.

Thank you so much for letting me listen to this audiobook. I really liked these stories. There are so many lessons for life in them.

"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.

A lovely tale following a father and daughter detective team who strive to help people recreate their all time favourite meal. Shining a light on each of their clients individual stories, this also is a lovely look at an adult daughter and father's relationship.

Similar in style, pacing and feeling to the Before the Coffee gets cold stories. I loved how the author focused on the emotions that food can create in us. The care and attention that the father and daughter team put into both finding the recipe for the desired dishes, as well as obtaining the background of the dishes' stories, was lovely and at times had me trying to guess what they would be.

Touching and making me think about what dish I would ask them to create if I could, I would love to have reason to make another visit to the cafe soon.

I visited Japan recently and have really got to understand the culture, the kindness, wellbeing and nurturing of the Japanese culture. Loved this book, almost magical and conjured up aromas of food and dishes. It was like some little short stories in one place, the Kamogawa Resutarant in Kyoto, where the father and daughter owners have become food deceives. The attention to details even down to the ceramics and china bowls was amazing. Wasn't just about the food and the preparation but the serving of it and pleasure it brought to the restaurant owners, plus the back stories. A lovely book that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hisashi Kashiwai for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I love this audiobook. It was a nice cozy read about food. Perfect read for the weather changing. I couldn't stop listening. I will be picking up more book by the author.

‘Kamogawa Diner  –  Kamogawa Detective Agency  –  We Find Your Food. - advert, ‘Gourmet Monthly’”

My thanks to Macmillan U.K. Audio Mantle for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The Kamogawa Food Detectives’ by Hisashi Kashiwai. It is translated from the Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood. The audiobook is narrated by Hanako Footman.

What a mouth-watering delight this little book was! I was so pleased to see that ‘The Kamogawa Food Detectives’ is the first book in a Japanese sleuthing series. It’s not crimes that are being solved in this delightful cosy mystery but lost dishes.

Located in a quiet backstreet in Kyoto is a very special restaurant. The Kamogawa Diner is run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare. Its customers are treated to wonderfully extravagant meals, though some customers stop by for another reason. 

The father-daughter duo have started advertising their services in Gourmet Monthly as 'food detectives'. Through ingenious investigations, they are capable of recreating dishes from their customers' pasts – dishes that may well hold the keys to unlocking their forgotten memories and possibly a path to a more contented future.

This is made up of what is essentially six linked short stories, each one focused on a customer’s request for a specific dish.

I definitely can see this book appealing to readers who enjoy the ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ series. It is quite whimsical and proved a quick, easy read.

With respect to the audiobook, British-Japanese actor Hanako Footman has narrated a number of audiobook titles in recent years, including a few translated from the Japanese. She has a lovely, clear voice that was a pleasure to listen to.

Overall, ‘The Kamogawa Food Detectives’ was a charming, cosy read. However, I will warn that the yummy descriptions of dishes can lead to tummy rumblings. I hope that the publishers will be making other books in the series available to English readers.

I love it when I take a chance on a book I might not have read and have such an enjoyable experience, especially because I actually didn’t read the title properly and discovered that this was a very different book from what I had imagined, but in the best way. The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a lovely book it explores the relationship between food, memory, and feelings in a light-hearted and comforting way.

It is a little formulaic, the book is made up of six stories and each story is played out in the same way just with a different customer and dish that they are looking for. With each story as well as exploring the background of the person and their chosen dish, we also get a deeper look into the lives of the food detectives Koishi and her father, Nagare.

Whilst its structure is repetitive there is something that I found calming about it, I liked that after the first customer I knew what they were going to experience. This meant I could be immersed in the story of what food they wanted recreated and why it was important to them and then what Nagare learned about them when he made the dish.

It was interesting going on a journey into the past of each character but special mention has to go to Drowsy the cat who was a lovely addition to the end of each chapter.

The narration by Hanako Footman is wonderful but I must warn you it is dangerous to listen to this without some good food to hand, all the luscious descriptions of the ingredients had me craving things I wouldn’t normally want to eat. To be honest the descriptions of some of the different places in Japan also had me entranced, for such a succinct story it was utterly charming.

I’m glad I was drawn to this story and that it was such a cosy and joyful experience, if you are looking for something short, sweet and heart-warming then The Kamogawa Food Detectives is for you.

I don't really want to slate this Audio book as it was an OK listen just not my type of story
An ex detective and his daughter run a restaurant but behind the scenes they run a detective agency
Not your usual detectives as these track down and recreate peoples favourite recipe from possible their childhood or one they tasted years ago but have never been able to get the same meal as good as that one
Its a bit too sweet for my tastes if you pardon the pun