I LOVED this! What a refreshing read, so different from the usual thriller. It was full of intrigue and mystery, and I found the historical bits about kimonos fascinating. The narrator was also perfectly suited to the role.

One thing, I must caution people about references to the sickening scourge of dog-fighting, which is mentioned in parts. I found that upsetting, although it isn't mentioned in great detail and I believe the author tries to balance the horror of it with references to Matthew's nature.

A sparkling 4-stars!

Thanks to NetGalley, Brother Mockingbird, and Rebecca Copeland for my ARC.

The Kimono Tattoo is a mystery novel about an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan who transcribes Japanese literature to English. She is pulled into a murder mystery involving a vintage Kimono piece when she is asked to transcribe an upcoming novel with shocking similarities to current events.
Ruth is a divorced Japanese to English transcriber living in Kyoto when she’s suddenly asked to take on a new project. But the writing is at odds with what she knew about the author and suddenly a death in the book looks a lot like one in the news. With the help of some co-workers Ruth throws herself into solving this murder that involves battling families, kimonos, tattoos and organized crime.
Although I liked the amateur detective angle and learning more about Japan I’m not sure if I followed and grasped all the details about the families involved and the kimono. The motivation was a little murky for me and it took away from the overall mystery and realistic feel. I did enjoy how she involved all her friends in her crime solving and their enthusiasm although I did feel the romance was a little rushed and unnecessary.
Overall, this was an okay mystery and I enjoyed the cultural details about Japan and living in Kyoto. For me, the narration had to be sped up on the audiobook to make it a little more urgent but I also somehow lost some of the detail that would make the mystery of families behind the kimono a little more clear.
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly its worth highlighting this is currently an audible option on Netgallery
This was a bit of a tough book for me to land on a rating. I absolutely loved parts of the book and equally had issues which were a turn off for me. The ending however was satisfactory and meant I could give the book a healthy 3 stars.

What did I like?
The author does a brilliant job of infusing US and Japanese cultures, clearly considerable research, time and energy went into making the cultural references and attitudes on the money!
The MC was likable, that’s not always the case in these types of books. I was rooting for her throughout and kind of liked her personal development as the book went on
As previously mentioned, I think the ending was well landed. It didn’t have that helter skelter last 10 percent finale you sometimes get in thriller books but it slowly built up and kept me intrigued right up to the final pages

What didn’t work for me?
in truth I didn’t enjoy the structure in the first third of the book, it felt a bit "messy" to me personally. We jumped around a lot and it was a lot of loose threads which didn’t always add to the depth of the story
One of the worst things in a book for me is conveniences in the plot. This happened a few times, and just made me roll my eyes in frustration.
Repetition of the word Kimono, also become quite irksome by the end.

Despite the bits that didn’t work for me, this will be a good book for people who really enjoy this genre. I can certainly see it doing really well during the holidays and is the perfect aeroplane or pool side read. It won’t leave you with many lasting memories but it will scratch that reading itch when you have some downtime
Again and finally, Thank you NetGalley and Brother Mockingbird for this audio book. This book was available to purchase from 26 April, 2022

This was really really good I recommend this basically everybody I can’t wait to own my own copyThis was really really good I recommend this basically everybody I can’t wait to own my own copy

I enjoyed this audiobook.
Ruth lives in Japan. She translates Japanese novels into English. One day she gets an offer to translate a new novel by a famous author.
In the book, she finds a murderer that looks to be from. real life.
As she continues her translation, she discovers more clues to the murder.
I found many interesting Japanese rituals.
Thanks to Netgalley for this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this The Kimono Tattoo and was able to listen to the story via audiobook on my most recent trip out of town. Compelling story that draws you in from start to finish!

What secrets are hidden in the intricate tattoo adorning the body of a murdered woman?

In this mystery set in modern-day Japan, Ruth Bennett, an American who grew up in Japan, is engaged to translate a novel written by a mysterious character. After a woman with a tattoo of kimono fabric is found dead, it becomes clear that Ruth is embroiled in danger and a mystery that brings the past crashing into the present.

Japan is not a setting I have read in modern fiction and is probably not one that most Westerners are familiar with, so I was interested to listen to this audiobook. Sadly, the desire to acquaint readers with the culture and environment of Japan, led to this book feeling in parts like a travel guide, not a novel. There was far too much unnecessary detail which neither furthered the plot, nor contributed to ‘showing not telling’ the story, and it could have done with a good edit to remove these unnecessary tour guide-isms and other filler. One detail I personally found amusing was references to ‘The Philosopher’s Path’, which every time made me think of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’.

As for the mystery, I will confess to getting a little bit lost regarding what was going on. There was some obvious foreshadowing of past events that would impact on the future, but the story was not helped by adding an additional mystery plot twist well past the 50% mark of the book and ultimately, I didn’t really believe why people had done what they had done, or how they could have realistically got away with it.

Part of my confusion may have derived from the audio narration. Theresa Bakken, the narrator, sounded the same for every character, whether male or female, Japanese or American. Her voice was not distinct enough and to me all the characters, even the Americans, sounded like they had a Japanese lilt. I think it would have been easier to follow the story if the characters sounded different. Perhaps with a different narrator, or a cast of narrators, this book would have sounded more engaging.

I think that for people unfamiliar with Japanese words and names, this book may work better in the written format so that the reader can see the names, absorb them, and differentiate the characters.

Overall, I would not recommend this audiobook, I would suggest if anyone wanted to try it, they read it instead
Content warnings: there are themes of domestic violence, neonatal death and hangings.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this audiobook. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I tend to read mysteries, but this style was a different type of mystery read for me. I enjoyed how it blended Japanese culture with mystery. By the end, this book had me earning for more realistic mystery style books. I will definitely be checking out more from this author!! The audiobook narration was fantastic as well.

3.5 Stars

If you're looking to be immersed in Japan, this is the book for you! You'll be exposed to traditional dances, the art of choosing kimonos, and walking through the city streets. This almost could have been a historical fiction novel due to the vivid descriptions and observations made by the main character.

My lower rating is due to the slight disjointed feeling while reading this book. Around the 60% mark, the book's revengeful villain comes forth and completely alters the main character's focus and therefore the direction the novel takes. All of the pieces come together in the end, but I feel if there was a stronger lead up in the beginning, it may not have felt so disjointed.

Ruth lives in Kyoto, Japan. She translates Japanese novels into English. One day, a mysterious woman appears at Ruth’s doorstep with an offer to translate a new novel by a famous author. The offer is so good Ruth cannot refuse. As Ruth begins her translation, she finds that the book is eerily similar to a real-life murder. The novel contains clues to this real-life mystery. Ruth soon finds out that she was selected as a translator for a more personal reason. As she continues her translation, she discovers more clues to how the mystery relates to her own life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Rebecca Copeland’s descriptions of Kyoto were so vivid that I felt like I was there in Japan. I really enjoyed the Japanese history inserted throughout the novel. I found the details about kimono design especially intriguing. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat while immersing you in a rich new culture, I highly recommend this book! The audiobook was very enjoyable and helped me picture the city of Kyoto in my mind as I listened. I can’t wait to read more by Rebecca Copeland!

The Kimono Tattoo is easy to get lost in. The story of a Japanese translator of American lineage and Japanese rearing, Ruth finds herself suddenly embroiled in a mystery involving a tattoo, a scrap of ancient kimono, and revenge.

I'd classify the story on the cozier side of mystery/thriller. There are some thrilling passages here: narrow escapes and daring feats, but they act more as punctuation between Ruth's daily life, musings, and her own investigation. Knowing that, there's a lot of enjoyment to be gained from this story. Side characters are finely drawn and intriguing. Kyoto, explored through a resident's experience, is interesting. And I have to commend the author for adhering word-perfectly to the adage known as Chekhov's gun, giving the reader a sense of total satisfaction.

The one major qualm I had with the narrative was the main character herself. Putting aside the dissonance felt by wondering whether this story would have been better as an own voices narrative rather than told from the perspective of a red-headed American missionary's daughter and knowing that that would be a different story entirely, I found the MC a bit... dull. When contrasted with the cast of Kyoto residents around her, she was more of a neutral observer than an active, interesting person. Of course, the tabula rasa of it all means that the reader can more easily step into Ruth's first-person perspective shoes and simply enjoy the ride.

This was an interesting book with.a lot of twists and turns. I enjoyed listening to it and was drawn into the mystery of it all. I did find that it jumped around a bit from one obsession to another without a smooth transition between them.

A mysterious story about a translator and an author long believed dead. The books was like I wanted it to be. The mystery element was that complicated and appeared not that solvable. I believe it was a little predictable and I wanted a little more elaboration on the romance and what happened to the protagonist's family after the excuse of police.

Oh man this was a ride! I loved the story and the way it told! It’s such an interesting idea - hiding messages in places no one would expect, making a giant puzzle to solve your own murder? It was really great.

There was a lot going on though. I did find it hard to keep up with here and there because of that. Then the ending was such a huge eye roll for me. I mean really? That’s how we’re gonna end it?

I received the audio from NetGalley and I really liked the narration. It fit the story well and kept me interested throughout.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Many thanks to Netgalley, Brother Mockingbird and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me on a chokehold. Rich and vibrant in culture and a completely atmospheric thriller, which is how I would describe this book.

Ruth is a 40 year old American woman, who has recently moved back to Japan, where she grew up, after a painful divorce from a cheating husband and being denied tenure for the academic position she worked blood and bone for. Having always considered Japan her actual home, she is trying get a better grip of her life, which she feels is slowly slipping away.

Ruth is a skilled translator fluent in Japanese language, customs, and culture, especially Kimono's. Having previously translated a best seller novel called the 'Kimono Killer', a mystery woman approaches Ruth to translate chapters of a new book written by one of her favourite and revered authors whom everyone had previously believed to be dead.

The story within the pages she receives ends up being the descriptions of gruesome murders that are happening as and when she is reading the pages. The story takes a swift and dangerous turn from here keeping you on the edge of the seat while Ruth tries to unravel this mystery all the trying to figure out how this is connected to her and her past.

The narrator was brilliant and the intonation and breathe control helped in keeping me, as a listener on edge.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story even though I was slightly underwhelmed by the end. The depth of knowledge on Kimonos and the Japanese culture and the insight we get through the book is brilliant. We meet all kinds of characters overthinkers, indifferent, happy-go-lucky, proprietarians, cruel and vile, all in here folks.

I would have loved the book more, if we actually did get to hear the characters speaking in Japanese, like occasional dialogues. The whole story being in the POV of an American woman fluent in Japanese, it felt like we are listening to the translations of the conversations from her mind.

The story is engaging, ad very original and did require me to be more present and concentrate as there are chances of missing minute elements. There were various off shoots from the story, some of which I do not feel like have been resolved. The pace was fast and perfect, and the narrator delivered perfectly.

In Rebecca Copeland's The Kimono Tattoo, a mysterious woman shows up at Ruth's house to ask her to translate a novel. She knows that she shouldn't take on the commission because her day job at the translation agency prohibits moonlighting, but the woman won't take no for an answer, and Ruth is eager to do literary translation again. But when the events in the novel start to come true, Ruth finds herself entangled not only in the family drama of a longstanding, local kimono business but also in the mysterious goings-on in the underworld of Kyoto. To get to the bottom of this mystery, however, she needs to face events from her own past, growing up as a child of missionaries in Japan. The streets of Kyoto come to life--from the traditional Philosopher's Path to the modern roads by Kyoto Zoo--and Ruth is willing to follow all of them to find justice for her family.

An intriguing and solid mystery rich with culture and a sense of place.

Ruth Bennett is flattered and surprised when the assistant to a well-known Japanese novelist approaches her to do the English translation of his latest novel. She's pleased because she's been mired in months of tedious and mundane translation work, and she yearns to do something more interesting and substantial. However, she's also very surprised because the author was declared dead years ago! That surprise turns to shock when the dark events of the novel eerily echo those happening in real life – events involving the remaining members of the author's estranged family in Kyoto.

The Kimono Tattoo was an excellent puzzler, rich with the sense of Japanese culture and the moody, atmospheric setting of Kyoto. I was fascinated by the discussion of kimonos integral to the plot.

Ruth Bennett is a likable protagonist. The author developed an intriguing backstory for her, and I was immediately drawn to her. She melded so well into her life in Japan – more comfortable in Japan than in the U.S. I liked how Ruth pointed out the differences in customs and personal interactions between her native country and Japan.

She has a variety of friends, acquaintances, and coworkers who are introduced and pulled into her search for answers. I loved how they came from such different areas of Kyoto life, but all formed a wonderful group as the story progressed.

The story is not all peace and beauty and kimonos, though. The Kimono Tattoo is a pretty dark murder mystery, and the author shows what's lurking in the shadow. Some of the findings are grim and deal with tough subjects. Ruth gets in some situations that put me on the edge of my seat.

I listened to the audiobook edition of the book and enjoyed the narrator's performance immensely. Theresa Bakken's pace, pronunciation, and inflections were just right, and her variations in voice to represent different characters were subtle yet very effective. I found myself looking for errands to run (to listen in the car) despite the price of gas at the moment.

I recommend THE KIMONO TATTOO to readers who would enjoy a good, solid, exciting mystery set in modern-day Japan.

3.5 out of 4 stars

Ruth has always felt she belonged in Japan. Even though her red hair and foreigner looks distinguish her from everyone else. As a skilled Japanese translator, it’s sometimes even harder to fit in. Who would expect an American girl to speak the language so fluently?

When Ruth is offered a translation job that pays exceedingly well, she feels a pull to accept the offer. Yet the translation “story” quickly begins to mirror real life murders that appear on the news. A woman found dead covered in tattoos like a kimono? The details are too hauntingly familiar to be a coincidence. An easy translation job soon changes into a complex mystery full of murder, deceit, and danger.

Can Ruth discover the truth behind the murders and reveal the killer?

~~
The Kimono Tattoo is equal parts mystery and story, woven together into a fast paced read!

I read this book as an audiobook, and I very much enjoyed it! The story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

~~

While I did enjoy this book, I felt there were definitely some inaccuracies. Ruth is constantly described as a fluent Japanese speaker. She also self-proclaims several times that she feels she is more in tune with the Japanese culture than lots of her Japanese friends. While this seems truthful during certain parts of the book, there are other parts where Ruth seems oblivious to certain customs or knowledge I would imagine would be very common.

During some parts of the book, I found myself annoyed at Ruth and her lack of this self-proclaimed knowledge. She was not as aware as she thought she was.

I also wish there was more development of some of her characters. I would have loved to see her friends appear more throughout the book.

On the other hand, I found myself loving the beautiful descriptions of dance and kimono. The author did a beautiful job of writing descriptions. The story and mystery were also very well written.

Overall, I rather enjoyed this book. While it wasn’t perfect, the storyline was very interesting and engaging.


Thank you to Netgalley and the author Rebecca Copeland for an audiobook copy of this book for an honest review.

I received the ARC copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review .

Please look for the blurb of the book elsewhere here are only my thoughts.

I requested the book because i love thrillers, crime novels and Japan. I’m not an expert on any of the subjects just a fan, and perhaps that’s why I had a hard time with this book, as it’s quite repetitive, the word kimono appears many but many times, and also how much praise Ruth gets as “your japanese is amazing, you are more Japanese than the Japanese, you speak Japanese?….” Those phrases can add to the atmosphere of the book but they became a bit too much that I thought it got on the way of the story.

While I definitely enjoy how the story unravels, and for the most part I was engaged with the story, I just couldn’t enjoy the book as much as I had the audio version and the narrator didn’t pronounce the Japanese words correctly and it felt a little robotic that I had to go back and check that it was an actual person reading the book rather than an “automatic” this perhaps has nothing to do with the voice actor, but with the editing.

Our main character, Ruth, is not very likeable, she’s smart and naive at the same time, while people is telling her how much knowledge she has on Japanese culture, she seems not to actually know much of her “current” times, she lives in a bubble stock in the past. I didn’t know when was the action taking place, was it the 90’s or later??? The stereotypes of the Japanese and American culture bothered me, as I hoped this wouldn’t be the case as the author is a translator herself.

I would recommend this book to any “westerner” wanting to read about Japan, from the point of view of an American, stay away if you are Japanese or love Japanese culture as this would disappoint.
2.5 stars

This book started off strong, but by the end, I was not as interested. We follow Ruth, as she is asked to translate a novel under mysterious circumstances. When a gruesome death in the novel happens in real life, Ruth decides to investigate. The mystery part of the book started off well enough, but then it tried to do too much. About halfway through, another mystery was introduced, but it did not flow well with the first one. I had no idea what the end goal was. There were too many threads to follow, and it left me feeling confused. However, I did really enjoy learning about the history and culture surrounding kimonos, and the way that information was weaved naturally throughout the whole book.