"The Kamogawa Food Detectives" by Hisashi Kashiwai is a quick and very sweet book about food memories. I'm pretty sure everyone has a dish that they remember fondly from their past. What if there was a way of recreating it? Just a lovely book!

I was really intrigued by this book, with the promise of cats and food, what more could I want? Unfortunately it didn’t live up to expectations. It was a bit of an odd, disjointed concoction of mini stories all surrounding the hunt for the correct ingredients to make some long loved food. If you read it as a series of short stories it’s more appealing and I did enjoy the hunts to find obscure ingredients. The author is clearly a real foodie and that’s the books main appeal really. It’s short a short dip in dip out read, perfect for a train journey, but it lacks the depth and engagement of a novel.

Lovely book, just too much on the twee side. Nagare is something of a wunderkind when it comes to recreating dishes from memory. People visit the restaurant’s ‘detective agency’, managed by Nagare’s daughter, to tell her what they are wanting. Drowsy the cat is probably the most useless aspect of the story (though I am a cat worshipper)along with brief appearances of customers.

Easy read (YES I KNOW IT TOOK ME FOREVER BUT I JUST GOT MARRIED). Not taxing on the emotions unless you’re easily touched.

Thank you to @netgalley and @panmacmillan for this #arc of #thekamogawafooddetectives by #hisashikashiwai translated by #jessekirkwood

This book was billed as for fan of #beforethecoffeegetscold and I don't disagree.

Initially I nearly stopped reading as I thought it was an actual crime novel with maybe a retired detective come restaurant owner helping the police, I couldn't have been more wrong. Essentially the book is a collection of 'cases' where the father/chef/former detective seeks to recreate dishes that have been lost or forgotten.

As concepts go it initially appears too simplistic but as you read the outcome of each case, the real depth really comes to life. Experiences, history, emotions and countless other elements play a part in how and why we enjoy certain dishes and this book brings it to life massively.

My mouth watered all the time at the amazing food that was described and like with #beforethecoffeegetscold there is a good amount of wider information and characters to provide the reader with more than 'just' the cases.

I would agree with the comparisons and would compare this with #sweetbeanpaste and other instant classics too.

I became even more excited when I visited @emilybooksagency, as she confirms there are 8 books in this series!!! I do hope they continue to be translated for our reading pleasure! Check out @emilypublishing as her company seems to have a very good overview of future translated bestsellers it seems 😊

#honnomushi100 #reading #japanesefiction #translatedfiction #translatedjapaneseliterature #booksfromjapan #booklover #bookstagram #reading #translatedgems #japaneseauthor #translatedliterature #translatedjapanesefiction #books2023

A very sweet book about a father and daughter duo, who run a food detective agency from their little Kyoto based diner.

This book is essentially a love letter to Japanese cuisine, and the memories a very specific dish can hold. People travel to this diner, after reading an intriguing advert in a food magazine - but the advert is kept purposely vague so only the ones who are truly wanting their services seek them out.

It can get a little repetitive, as the chapter layout for each customer is very similar, with the same diner rules information repeated each time, but I still found it enjoyable, and each characters story had me interested. I also like that there’s nothing fantastical about it - simply a retired policeman, who’s knowledgable about food and willing to go out and track down the highly specific ingredients it takes to recreate a persons favoured dish.

I will say that if you’re not one for long descriptions of food - this is not the book for you. But if you’re a food lover, and want something cosy to curl up with, then Nagare and Koishi might have just what you’re looking for at their diner. It’s gentle, heart-warming, and will probably have you keen to go and make something filling and tasty to eat.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

Do not read this on an empty stomach!

A father-daughter duo run a culinary detective agency by recreating dishes for their customers. The details and background of ingredients and food were exquisite.

Such a fabulous little book - truly a comfort read.

This is not a typical detective story. The action centers on a small building in Kyoto that houses the combined offices of a restaurant and detective agency. Nagare Kamogawa and his daughter, Koishi undertake the various challenges presented to them by their clients.
Their patrons come to the agency to seek out the dishes of the past that, in one way or another have impacted their lives. Koishi invites them to tell their story and asks them to return in two week's time so that her father, Nagare can research and prepare the dish.
This is a gentle, heartwarming tale of a compassionate and philosophical detective who knows as much about human nature as he does about detective work.
Through the medium of his cooking, Nagare allows his patrons to experience once more something they thought was lost forever.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives was such a delightful read. The novel follows Koishi and her father Nagare, who run a small local restaurant. Within this restaurant, they have a detective agency in which they recreate meals from customer's pasts. Six different experiences are featured, almost written like short stories with a slight repetitive nature to these stories, which is somewhat comforting.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a really lovely fantasy with some interesting stories featuring ideas of love, death, grief, and the importance of memories. Not only did we get an insight into the six backgrounds of featured customers, but also how Koishi and Nagare's story has developed through time, with the additional character of Koishi's mother almost interwined.

This book was absolutely lovely. Four stars for being delightful, cosy and an overall lovely, quick read. However, it didn't have that ultimate spark to be five stars. Would definitely recommend for those cosy nights.

Imagine the dish that beckons your senses, the one you'd move mountains to savor once more. Amidst the tranquility of a Kyoto backstreet, a hidden gem emerges – the Kamogawa Diner. Within its cozy confines, Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare orchestrate culinary wonders that extend far beyond the plate. Beyond the exquisite meals, the diner's true enchantment lies in an unexpected role: that of 'food detectives'.

Together, this father-daughter team employs ingenious techniques to embark on gastronomic investigations, delving into patrons' pasts. With remarkable skill, they resurrect dishes that hold within them the potential to unlock forgotten memories and pave the path to future joy.

This narrative voyage traverses the realms of belief, value, custom, practice, and societal institutions, offering profound insights. Through the author's deft prose, readers gain a deeper understanding of the diverse ways in which individuals from varied cultural backgrounds navigate existence, thoughts, and interactions. The pages are a testament to the splendor of human culture, kindling a greater appreciation for its myriad forms. This book, a beacon of knowledge and empathy, fosters understanding and nurtures a sense of interconnectedness among individuals of diverse origins.

While the eBook delivers a captivating narrative, there is room for enhancement in user experience. The integration of navigational chapter links, refinement in word spacing for seamless reading, and the embrace of an evocative cover design would metamorphose the eBook's presentation from a document-like façade into a portal inviting readers into a world of enchanting storytelling. It is with the consideration of these aspects that a minor deduction from my rating is deemed warranted.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Kamogawa food detectives is so wholesome! I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

This lovely book is more like six loosely connected short stories. A single line advertisement in a gourmet magazine directs people to a restaurant in Kyoto where a former detective and his daughter track down dishes from their customers’ pasts to recreate them. This brings back memories, helps people come to terms with grief and deal with unresolved wishes. It’s absolutely lovely, so sweet and so cosy.

The star of this book is the food! the descriptions are so mouth watering and I loved how the food was tailored to the seasons. The back stories to the dishes really helped you get a sense of the characters they were for very quickly. All of the dishes were less about the food themselves and more about the people they were originally experienced with. The food was a way of reconnecting with people who were gone or ill.

The father and daughter dynamic works so well in this book and is a very caring relationship. I’d love to visit this restaurant it’s so charming!

This is an absolutely beautiful, enthralling novel. It has the feel of a familiar pair of slippers after a long day. Superb.

I was a huge fan of Before The Coffee Gets Cold so as soon as I heard of this book I knew I absolutely had to read it and it doesn't disappoint. Leading us through the emotional histories of several characters by their connection to food, it brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. I only wish there could have been more!

The Kamogawa food detectives is a short, heart-warming and fun book that follows Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare who run their food detective agency from their quiet backstreet restaurant. The pair use their detective skills to recreate dishes from their customers pasts that help unlock forgotten memories and future happiness. This is full of interesting characters and delicious dishes and if you loved Before The Coffee Gets Cold, I highly recommend this super cosy read.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives centres on The Kamogawa Diner, a restaurant that specialises in creating dishes from their customers' pasts - dishes that may unlock forgotten memories, and enable the recipient to have a happier future.

Before I start on reviewing the content of the book, I'd just like to shout out Jesse Kirkwood for their translating work. This book was excellently written throughout, a truly excellent translation.

Leading on from that, the first thing I noticed about this book is how delicately written it is - I find this a lot with Japanese literature and its something I adore. Where books written in the west would barrel in and bombard you with details, Japanese literature is far more subtle; drip feeding you information as and when it's deemed necessary.

This book reminds me of 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold', in that it's centred around a specific place that creates magic for their customers. The style of writing also feels similar to me, which is probably why I love it so much. The Kamogawa Diner wasn't outwardly magical, but it gave off such magical vibes, I really enjoyed it.

Although we only see each character for a brief period of time, I feel that we learn a lot about them through their memories and the recreation of the dish they've requested, meaning I felt a connection to all of them. I often found myself rooting for the characters and willing them to find the happy ending they were each searching for. Some of them seemed gruff at the start and opened up once they found what they were looking for, which I found a really nice touch.

I also adore that, as in much Japanese literature, a cat features. Drowsy is a little sweetheart and deserves the world<3 the only downside to this book is that some parts felt repetitive; ie how the conversations went with different customers, or whenever they spoke about how inconspicuous the restaurant was. I still adored it, I just felt that some points were driven home to excess.

Overall, I would recommend this book to you all. Whether you've never read any Japanese literature, or you read it everyday, I think you'll appreciate the beauty between The Kamogawa Food Detectives' pages. It also only took me 2hrs to read so its a short, snappy read that feels like a beautiful pallate cleanser<3

At first I was intrigued by the premise of "The Kamogawa Food Detectives". I imagined it like a novel version of "My First Popsicle" essay collection, in which certain meals bring memories and associations that are fun to explore.

Sadly, "The Kamogawa Food Detectives" felt to me more like a children's book than a fiction meant for adults. It was simple, clean and repetitive after a while. Also the cover chosen for the English edition of this novel resembles the style of illustrations usually reserved for kids.

The parts that in my opinion could have been the most interesting and intriguing--the investigations in search of particular and meaningful flavours--were simply narrated by one of the characters as the chapter progressed, so the action never left the restaurant or it's nearest surroundings. Yes, description of the food were very sensual, but the execution of the plot lacked certain narrative maturity.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai.

Tucked away in a quiet street in Kyoto, Nagare and his daughter Koishi run the The Kamogawa Food Detective Agency and restaurant. They offer a very specialised service, where they will recreate dishes from people’s past that are steeped in happy memories for them.

The stories are beautiful and incredibly touching. I also found the description of all the food dishes appetising - You will salivate reading them.

The book also made me quite nostalgic and think of special memories and meals shared with special people over the course of my life. I only wish I could visit The Kamogawa Food Detectives…..

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan Macmillan, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives follow father and daughter, Nagare and Koishi, as they track down dishes for their customers. The Kamogawa Diner is an unassuming building only advertised by a single line in a gourmet food magazine. You have to really want to find a dish if you're going to find the diner! I adored the descriptions of the food that they served and did a lot of google image searches to help picture some of the native Japanese ingredients. The diners were all interesting in their own ways and the stories behind their dishes were heartwarming. This book was uncomplicated and a real comfort read. If you enjoyed Before The Coffee Goes Cold then you'll love The Kamogawa Food Detectives.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this newly translated book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Pan MacMillan for the advance copy in exchange for honest review.

The Kamogawa food detectives follows Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare who run their food detective agency from their quiet backstreet restaurant. The pair use their detective skills to recreate dishes from their customers pasts that help unlock forgotten memories and future happiness.

This is a short book that I consumed in one day, it reminded me of Before the coffee gets cold so if you like that you will definitely like this one, The book contains lots of descriptions of Japanese food and follows 6 characters who are looking to recreate and taste special dishes from their past with the help of Koishi & Nagare.

I found the book easy to read, heartwarming and cosy, a hug in a book.

I think my expectations were high when I started this book because it didn't meet any. I don't know if it is the translation or the style of the story but I was expecting something a little bit more magical and I didn't find it. Is a short book but it took me a while to get through.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc of this book.

The kamogawa food detectives follows Nagare and Koishi, a father daughter duo who help people seek out food dishes from their past.

This is such a charming little book, from the way the restaurant is set up to look run down so people who do go in really have to want to go in to the stories full of emotion and closure.

If you loved before the coffee gets cold you'll love this book too. It is a comfort read through and through.