***Audio ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.co.uk in return for an honest review **

I really enjoyed this book as not only do we have a crime thriller/mystery but we also learn so much about Japanese culture. In fact, I was intrigued as to where the author got this knowledge and did a quick google search and was really pleased to see that the author is a professor of Japanese language and literature.

The narrator was good and well paced; however the story felt like it moved at quite a slow pace in some places and didn't always draw me back in.

The books takes an angle I haven’t seen often: the life of an American expat in Japan, and this is where the book is strongest - looking at Japanese culture form a somewhat inside, somewhat outside angle. There is an obvious dedication to detail and appreciation of Japanese history and culture coming through in the narrative. Even as someone who did study Japanese culture at university I found myself leaning details I hadn’t known before.

The mystery is in comparison weaker than the history writing. I found it hard to connect to Ruth as a character, and couldn’t find myself caring as much as I should have. Some of the side characters were more interesting than Ruth herself.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, if more for the historical writing than the mystery or main character.

What a great audiobook! It's a bit dark and violent in spots but the mystery is good, the history is fascinating and the story absolutely draws you in! I really liked Ruth, our MC. She's a translater and has spent most of her life in Japan. She feels more at home there than anywhere else. She's translated a few books that have really fascinated her, one about Japanese kimonos - the history about them, the beautiful designs and the way they can tell a story. So when she receives word of translateing another book manuscript, this one for famous but mysterious author, she's intrigued and a bit excited. But the chapters, brutal and bloody, soon become reality and she's not sure why she's drawn in to this game.

The history was intermixed and so fascinating. The writing is fast-paced, I kept wanting to start the audio and keep going, wanting to know more and more. The narrator is good, not taking away from the story but adding to the experience. I really enjoyed this one.

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an audiobook ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

I really enjoyed the detail in this book; It was like being transported to Japan. Excellent narration as well. Several twists and turns, and overall a really thrilling read without being overdramatic or unrealistic.

A great thriller! I found that I was having trouble keeping up with all the different characters as the book progressed, but I really enjoyed the culture and history presented in this novel. I visited Japan a long time ago in summer, this book brought back some nice memories for me.

I am relatively new to audiobooks, and although I love the voice of Theresa Bakken narrating this story I think I would prefer to read the book. At times I was confused as to who was speaking.

Fast-paced and thrilling! I don’t usually go for audiobooks but I found that Theresa Bakken’s voice adds a lot to the story and fits the atmosphere perfectly. 5 stars!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* this was a wild read! hated having to put it down! would buy, recommend and reread!

Some books are just not made for the audio version, and this one was definitely of those. I had a lot of trouble with the narrator, I just couldn't get into it. She sounded almost depressed and it just didn't to anything for me.
When I read the blurb, the story seemed extremely compeling, but listening to the narration it just felt flat and I couldn't finish the audiobook. The worst part for me was understanding all the characters names, since most of them are japonese. It just made everything that much harder to get into the story. Maybe the printed version is better... Maybe, but I'm not very willing to give it a try. I can't recommend this one.

Ruth lives in Japan as a translator, but when she is asked to translate one of her favorite subjects she cannot refuse. Soon fiction turns into real life as the people in the book soon end up dead. Ruth must discover the dark and seedy side of Japan and its kimono to discover the truth and how she is involved.

This novel was a little 'stop and start' in the narrative; when one thing exciting happened it slowed down again. I also felt this novel left questions regarding characters and events and because of this, I did not enjoy it.

This novel had a clever narrative but it seemed to be long-winded and the author tried to make this too complex which was not needed.

Regarding the characters, I did enjoy them but the main character became irritating and I felt there were things she did that did not make sense or times she should have said and done something that she did not.

Overall I am glad I had this as an audiobook as I think I would have struggled to read this.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of The Kimono Tattoo. Although I am drawn to anything in Japanese culture, I unfortunately was somewhat disappointed on this one. I thought the narrator did a good job, the writing style of this mystery was I felt a little weak.

I requested an advance copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I am grateful to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. There were elements of this audiobook that I absolutely loved - I learned a lot about kimonos that I didn't know before. The idea that someone would be asked to translate a novel and to then find that the events within the novel were happening in real life really appealed to me too. I also thought that he unpicking of the relationships between the different people was very clever. However, in hindsight I wish I had not chosen this as an audiobook and had instead tried this as a novel. The audiobook lasts approximately 10 hours - and I really struggled to maintain concentration. There were times when I couldn't help but wish the author had not provided such lengthy detail of information that wasn't strictly necessary to progress the story ie details of the routes Ruth Bennett takes to get from a to b - it really felt like this was a book where some judicious pruning might have made this a more enjoyable read/listen. I also couldn't help but think I would have preferred this if it hadn't been quite so lengthy and complicated. I would put this book at a 3.5 rounded down to a 3 because it just felt a bit too long as an audiobook for me and as a result I struggled in the end to finish it

I love novels with this setting so was drawn to The Kimono Tattoo. At times, this felt almost as this was written as a memoir which speaks of the author's ability to bring their own experience into the book. Alongside that, the story itself kept my interest with a satisfying end. I'd read more of Copeland's work in the future and hope that Ruth will return in other books.

Thanks #netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. This book was interesting from a historical perspective and from the current day mysterious circumstances in the book. Highly recommend.

This book used the mystique of eastern Asia culture to pull you into a world of deceit and kayos. Truly setting it apart from all other mysteries I have enjoyed. Rebecca Copeland’s Kimono Tattoo also attributed to me finding ever stolen moment possible to continue to listen to her audio masterpiece so that I could find out what happened next in her hidden mild family saga.
The many layers of the story caused me to feel real emotion for the main character Ruth as she attempts to translate her work.
I gave this book a five-star rating because in the beginning I thought I would hate it. I kept waiting for the good part then all of a sudden, the story within began to unfold and I could not put it down.

This was an interesting listen and I really enjoyed learning more about the Japanese culture. I did get a bit confused in places as there are so many subplots and it also felt overly long. I think I would have found the physical book more enjoyable.

It was the title and the book cover that led me to request <b>The Kimono Tattoo</b> by Rebecca Copeland. Ruth Bennett is an American expat living in Japan and working as a translator. When she is asked by a mysterious woman to translate a book by a famous author who hasn't been heard from in years, she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery with the story she is translating blurring with real life events.

The details throughout this novel make it clear that Rebecca Copeland is very familiar with Japanese culture and tradition. The writing was lovely and very descriptive especially when it came to the descriptions and information provided about kimonos and daily life in Kyoto, but while I enjoy descriptive writing, at times it felt like a little too much especially when the descriptions did not add to the story itself.

I struggled with Ruth's naïveté throughout the story as well as some of the dialogue between the characters which felt unnatural. Also, there is a reveal somewhere near the middle of the book that was done in traditional Scooby Doo fashion which is probably my least favorite way to get information. I also was not a fan of the narration which made it hard to tell who was actually speaking. I actually think I may have enjoyed it a bit more if I had read it versus listening to it. Overall, I enjoyed the primary mystery itself and was always intrigued to see how it would end. 3 stars.

When I saw this on Netgalley, I was immediate intrigued. Isn’t kimono like a large piece of clothing and the thought of someone tattooing a kimono on their body is interesting to me. I was thinking what the reason could be. I requested the audiobook and started listening June and I’ve just finished. I wasn’t connecting with the characters, the protagonist mostly. I could say I was not hooked from the beginning that I put it down a lot of times before finally deciding to finish it. The story is not bad, it’s actually really good. It’s twisted, has a main plot and a lot of other subplots. Maybe it would have been better if I read it myself than listening to the audiobook so I might try that and make another review. What I love about the book is the brush on history of the kimono industry, a glimpse of Kyoto from the book and the culture of the Japanese.

This book was very interesting and I loved learning about Japanese culture in general and the kimono in specific. This was a good story but felt a little slow and drawn out. I would also like more of a finished ending regarding her brother and what happened there. Overall a good book and I am glad I read it. I love learning about other cultures and countries!

#TheKimonoTattoo
#NetGalley

The title and cover appealed to me. I proudly judge a book by its cover. If in doubt, can't read the synopsis choose a cover. I've been disappointed only a few times out of hundreds. Copeland's synopsis, cover and title called my name. I had the audiobook and was fine with narrator Theresa Bakken.

I started this, stopped, reread the synopsis, and tried again. The second time I was a little more cued in. The book ran long for me. I enjoyed the history of the Kimono and references to Japanese culture. However, the mysteries within the story were too many and too convoluted. The ending felt rushed. And, I didn't understand it.

This is a rare instance where I would have preferred the physical book to read along with the narration, as well as make notes. Should I find an inexpensive copy, I will pick it up.

Thank you NetGalley and Brother Mockingbird for allowing me to read and review The Kimono Tattoo.