Book Review: 'The Kamogawa Food Detectives' by Hisashi Kashiwai

✰✰✰✰ There's a little diner in Kyoto that's well-known, but a little hard to find. Through word of mouth, customers come to the diner in search of a rare treat. Run by a father-daughter duo, the Kamogawa Diner features delicious food. Yet, sometimes a customer is longing for something not on the menu. That's where Koishi Kamogawa and her father come in. If you are feeling nostalgic for a taste of the past, these detectives are in the business of tracking down the ingredients and (hopefully) recreating the dish. Sounds easy enough. Or is it? Sometimes the search for lost recipes is trickier than it sounds.

The Bottom Line: This book is divided up into the search for six lost recipes. From Nabeyaki-Udon to Tonkatsu to Nikujaga, my mouth was watering. Each search is like a short mystery strung together in the overall story of a father and daughter and their daily lives. This is an easy, relaxing read. Although I do wish recipes had been included, this book is enthusiastically recommended for mystery buffs and foodies. This is the first in a series, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading the second installment.

Details: The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai & translated by Jesse Kirkwood. Hardcover published by  G. P. Putnam's Sons in 2023. 208 p. ISBN: 978-0-593-71771-4