The Kamogawa Food Detectives

A Kamogawa Food Detectives Novel, Book 1

By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood - translator

Narrated by: Hanako Footman

The Kamogawa Food Detectives is the first book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese series, for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

What’s the one dish you’d do anything to taste just one more time?

Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner serves up deliciously extravagant meals. But that's not the main reason customers stop by . . .

The father-daughter duo are 'food detectives'. Through ingenious investigations, they are able to recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories—dishes that may well hold the keys to their forgotten past and future happiness. The restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to vanished moments, creating a present full of possibility.

A bestseller in Japan, The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a celebration of good company and the power of a delicious meal.

©2024 Hisashi Kashiwai and Jesse Kirkwood (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“The enduring strength of love [is] at the heart of this series opener. . . Takes care to illustrate food’s ability to preserve a culture across generations. . . The cozy, literary equivalent of a hearty stew on a cold day.” – Chicago Review of Books

“Kashiwai’s unique blend of seasonings is more than enough to transform each into a five-star-worthy dish. . . [A] warm memory blanket of nostalgia. Readers [will] eagerly devour each morsel of this miso soup for the soul. . . A nourishing collection of bite-sized stories with a hearty dash of savory flavor.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Outstanding. . . A culinary and cultural exploration of Japanese cuisine. . . The novel includes mouthwatering descriptions of food as well as a nuanced description of life in Japan. . . Readers will take delight in Kashiwai’s exquisite meals and the culinary history that accompanies them.” —Library Journal

“An early contender for my favorite book of the year. For anyone who loves magnificent food writing and great storytelling, this novel is a moving, beautiful, and impeccably detailed tribute to the power of a great meal.”—J. Ryan Stradal, New York Times bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest

“The ultimate cozy, and a glimpse into a world that is at once quieter, more ritualized and seemingly simpler than mine, and yet strangely familiar. I savored every word.”—KJ Dell’Antonia, author of The Chicken Sisters

Beautiful story

Great story and wonderful narration! Can't wait for the next book from this author ☺️

A different type of mystery book

if you are looking for a dish from your childhood, or past event, and are hoping to taste it "just once more" you need to contact the Kamogawa food detectives. but more than just recreating some version of the dish, Nagare (a retired detective) and his daughter track down everything from the ingredients used at that time in that region to walking the clients through memories of why this dish is so memorable. This book - with it's stories within a story - will bring you to tears at some of their memories or smiles from other patrons (and that cat). I cannot wait for the next one to come out.

A Beautiful Love Letter

This is a wonderful set of vignettes that transport you. You see, hear, smell, feel, taste, and experience everything through the beautifully written images. It paints a magical journey.

I wish they would create a cookbook from all these wonderful recipes!

Combines two of my favorite things

Blends some of my favorite things into one: Sherlock Holmes-style detective fiction, and Japanese culture. The imagery of the food will leave your mouth watering, so be aware of that beforehand!

Something unexpected about the narration, was that she speaks in a British accent. Not a criticism but I got used to it after a chapter or two.

Wonderful

I loved this cozy read! It’s very similar themes but a lovely feel good with cultural flourishes that just elevate it.

cute & cozy

This is a sweet collection of short stories revolving around personal history and culinary experience. I smiled.

Lovely stories!

I love all the stories which are well written and narrated. Looking forward to the next part.

Beyond Cozy and Fun!

Absolutely loved this book! It’s a very lighthearted and cozy collection of stories that meshes sensory nostalgia, Japanese cuisine and culture, and Poirot style detective work beautifully. Definitely give it a read if you’re foodie or if you enjoy seeing food in Ghibli films or in anime series like Delicious in Dungeon or Restaurant to Another World!

No drama but interesting about what customers crave from their pasts

hmm. Narrator has an english accent and british pronunciations of many words , and this is supposedly a Japanese story. But accurate as to accents and specific locations. Chapter stories kept me wondering "so what" as there was very little detective information revealed. No mysteries for me to ponder at any time. so my assessment is "boring."

A Real Treat

I often close a book wishing that there had been more character moments in the story, but this collection of cases is packed with them. If you want to collect clues and try to guess along with the detective, this might not be for you. If you live for the moment everyone comes together to make sense of the pieces, this is a satisfying read.