Book Review : The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Book Name:The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Author:Hisashi Kashiwai

Publisher: Mantle

Genre: Fiction 

Format: Paperback/Kindle

Print length: 157 pages 

Rating:4/5

                                                          

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai is a heartwarming fiction novel full of nostalgia and mystery and the best part is the recreation of food memory. It is translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood.

Book Blurb On Amazon

The Kamogawa Food Detectives, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is the first book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese sleuthing 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 treats its customers to wonderfully extravagant meals. But that's not the main reason to stop by . . .

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

From the widower looking for a specific noodle dish that his wife used to cook, to a first love's beef stew, the restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to the past – and a way to a more contented future.

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

Review

This book, flavored with nostalgia and warmth of food memories that bridge the gap between the present and past, evoking emotional attachment with specific foods, explores the themes of mystery, love, rejuvenation, and connectedness. It depicts the rich culture of Japan and its cuisines that will entice the reader's taste buds.

The plot is in episodic format, where the author narrates six distinct stories of different characters with two central characters who play the role of detectives. Though each tale comes with its essence of love and nostalgia towards a loved one or one's memory, the readers will connect with each character. The Detective on duty and his daughter were determined to recreate each dish for their clients, who found them through a vague advertisement in a Food Magazine. The narrative was smooth and explanatory, with precise details of everything needed to let readers smell the food flavors and picture the scenes where the investigator would travel to find clues about the food he had to recreate.

Readers will enjoy each narrative due to its vivid and engaging character development. They will feel at home by noticing the bond of the father-daughter duo and may feel jealous at times because of their beautiful bond and craving to share a similar bond with their parents in this generation. Also, the daughter, a youngster, may inspire the readers with her confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism. 

The narratives delve into personal struggles, memories, past wounds, regret, and healing. The picturesque narration and flavourful context of food will let readers taste and smell food from the book. Even if you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, the vivid description of the dishes will make readers crave the meals.

The writing style of the author is evocative and thoughtful. In each narrative, the characters have to picture their memories, which at times appeared vague due to the challenge of remembering the past of younger memories. The author ensured to spill enough information to keep the readers glued to the book until the mystery unfolded.

The repetitiveness of the pattern may deter some readers, yet the engaging character development and emotional depth will leave readers in pleasure. Readers who wish to explore Japanese culture and cuisines would enjoy this heart-warming read.

Buy it from Amazon - The Kamogawa Food Detectives

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