The Last Tea Bowl Thief

by Jonelle Patrick

F or three hundred years, a stolen  relic  passes from one fortune-seeker to the next,  indelibly altering the lives of those who possess it. 

In modern-day Tokyo, Robin Swann's life has sputtered to a stop. She's stuck in a dead-end job testing antiquities for an auction house, but her true love is poetry, not pottery. Her stalled dissertation sits on her laptop, unopened in months, and she has no one to confide in but her goldfish. 

On the other side of town, Nori Okuda sells rice bowls and tea cups to Tokyo restaurants, as her family has done for generations. But with her grandmother in the hospital, the family business is foundering. Nori knows if her luck doesn't change soon, she'll lose what little she has left. 

With nothing in common, Nori and Robin suddenly find their futures linked to an ancient, elusive tea bowl. Glimpses of the past set the stage as they hunt for the lost masterpiece, uncovering long-buried secrets in their wake. As they get closer to the truth--and the tea bowl--the women must choose between seizing their dreams or righting the terrible wrong that has poisoned its legacy for centuries.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Japan, Tea, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2020

About the author

Jonelle Patrick is the author of five novels set in Japan, and has been writing about Japanese culture and travel since she first moved to Tokyo in 2003. In addition to The Last Tea Bowl Thief and the Only In Tokyo mystery series, she produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and on her travel site, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.

She also teaches at writing workshops, appears as a panelist at Thrillerfest, and was the keynote speaker at the Arrow Rock Writing Workshop.

She’s a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Language Institute, she’s also a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. She divides her time between Tokyo and San Francisco.

Author website: https://jonellepatrick.com
Only In Japan blog: http://jonellepatrick.me
Monthly newsletter: https://japanagram.me
Facebook: JonellePatrickAuthor
Twitter: @jonellepatrick
Instagram: @jonellepatrick

Reviews

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Tea Bowl Thief starts in feudal Japan where we learn about a tea bowl named Hikitoru. The journey of this ceremonial piece and valuable work of art takes us from 1680 to modern day Tokyo.

In the present, Nori Okuda believes that a rare tea bowl, owned by her ill grandmother, is the key to solving their financial problems. Robin Swann is an American living in Japan. She is an art authentication specialist at an auction house and an expert on ancient pottery including the works of Yoshi Takamatsu. When Nori brings her tea bowl, Hikitouru, to the auction house to explore selling it, Robin immediately recognizes the Takamatsu treasure which has been missing since 1945. It is worth a fortune and when the experts see it, its provenance is called into question by several interested parties.

The book takes us back to when artist Yoshi Takamatsu was creating his work including the coveted Hikitoru. It is a fascinating look back in time. Author Jonelle Patrick has created a vivid step into the past as well as a compelling modern story about two very different women trying to succeed. A worthwhile blend of Historical Fiction and Modern Mystery.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and lovely novel with a dual timeline storytelling. In feudal Japan, blind potter Yoshi Takamatsu and his assistant navigate traditional samurai culture and spiritual philosophy which inspire the artistic creations of poetry and pottery.

In present-day Japan with its modern social mores and behaviors, American Robin Swann and Japanese Nori Okuda must overcome their cultural differences to uncover the provenance of a ceremonial tea bowl called Hikitoru by the master potter, and its cultural groundbreaking significance.

[Renae Lucas-Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of books set in Japan and this is one of the best. This story is beautifully-written and full of surprises, the characters are well-developed, and the dialogue is entertaining. I also love the way it’s set in three time periods: Feudal Japan, present-day Japan, and wartime Japan in 1945. This is crucial to the plot and it makes the story so much more interesting. If you’re looking for a captivating book that’s difficult to put down, this is the book to read.

My favourite chapters are those set in feudal Japan. Patrick’s writing style and her interpretation of Japanese everyday life at these points in the book are exceptional. Her portrayal of Japanese culture, history and traditions from 1680 to 1753 is fascinating and nothing felt contrived or stilted in any way. The title of the book is also integral to the story and sums it up perfectly.

You don’t need to know anything about Japan to appreciate this book but if you’ve been to Japan or if you live there you’re going to be very impressed by Patrick’s deep understanding of Japanese culture, pottery and ceramics, the art of the tea ceremony, classical poets, haiku poetry, Buddhism and its teachings, the pursuit of enlightenment, customs in Japan, and what it’s like to work for a Japanese company. Patrick must have done an incredible amount of research to complete this novel.

There’s also a lot of humour in the book. At times, Robin Swann, the art authentication specialist in the story, makes some hysterical observations on Japan and the difficulties Westerners face if they live in the Land of the Rising Sun. The way Robin is perceived by the Japanese characters in the book is also amusing.

In short, this story is a joy to read. If you buy the book you won’t be disappointed.

[Nerd Girl Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about the history of a tea bowl.

I really enjoyed the parts of the story that took place in the past. The mystery surrounding the tea bowl and its maker was fascinating to me. The culture and traditions in this book are both sad and beautiful. I found it hard to put down. I needed to know what became of the tea bowl. The writing and the storytelling style was great. The characters were so different and really brought the story together. The ending surprised me, which is a good thing.

This was a wonderful read that I really enjoyed. This is my first Jonelle Patrick book and I enjoyed her writing style. I will look for other books by her. I give this 4 stars.

[Rajasree Jayaram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book on an impulse because the cover and title caught my eye, and it was way better than I expected. I was able to appreciate the multiple timelines, and Yoshi's story was sad but also uplifting. Saburo, although initially being rather spoilt and selfish, later grows into a better individual because of his the potter and his teachings. I know very little of Japan and its culture and this book provided fascinating insight. I'm growing to appreciate historical mysteries and I'm thinking to read The Lost Jewels next.

[Nicole Darrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the history alongside the present mystery was compelling and interesting.

[Joely Gutjahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know much about Buddhism or Japanese culture, so it was interesting to learn a bit more about both! I really enjoyed some chapters being written from the perspective of the 1600s/1700s working in conjunction with the present day story. I think the book also makes you ask questions about art, value, survival, desires, and the meaning of life! I enjoyed this book a lot!

[Diana Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Very well written.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this not knowing what to expect. I’m so glad I did! It’s an excellent book, takes place in 18th century and modern day Japan. I always love reading a book that teaches me something.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Tea Bowl Thief follows a tea bowl named Hikitoru and the many people who's lives are tied together because of it.
The book contains a thrilling narrative that drives us to keep reading. Part Historical Drama, part Mystery and part Crime, Jonelle Patrick's expertly weaves the story together. There are many loveable characters that we learn of while reading, switching perspectives to reveal their experiences and involvement in the crime riddled past of Hikitoru the tea bowl.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clifford recommend this book to me, and since I can’t resist a book with the word “tea” in the title, I started reading it as soon as possible!

The Last Tea Bowl Thief is a novel centered around a remarkable tea bowl known as “yabo”. The book alternates between the past, where we find out how yabo was stolen (twice!) and the present, as Nori brings the bowl to the auction house where Robin works as a way to raise money to support her and her comatose grandmother. There’s a bit of plot tension from the fact that the tea bowl keeps getting stolen, as you may expect.

As with any dual-timeline story, there is a timeline I like better and it’s probably not a surprise that it’s the story set in the past. Apart from my liking of historical fiction, I also liked the stories and ideas explored in that subplot a lot better. In the 17th Century, yabo was made by a talented but blind potter (Yakibo) who is trying to get rid of his worldly attachments. In order to prevent a piece of art from being destroyed, and in order to advance his standing in court, a poet steals the bowl and brings it to his lord.

It’s a pretty interesting question that’s raised: what right does an artist have to destroy their own work? Is there a greater obligation towards society to preserve art, or is the most important thing the artist’s wishes? The book falls firmly on the latter half but I wish that this theme was explored a bit more fully in the novel instead of just being raised and then dropped. Personally, I think the answer is going to depend on whether you prize the right of the individual over the group or vice versa.

As for the characters in the present, I’m afraid I didn’t quite like them. Nori is supposed to be doing this to pay for her grandmother’s hospital fees, but she jumps straight into selling a bowl that she knows her grandmother doesn’t want sold instead of … calling up people who owe them money? I would have thought that calling in debts owed to you would be the first step in making sure you have enough money. Robin, despite being fluent in Japanese (as the book makes it very clear), will still use her foreigner status to deliberately ignore body language/social behaviour, which is really why the image of “foreigners cannot adapt to Japanese society” never goes away. Okay, Robin’s behaviour is mostly a pet peeve since I used to live in Japan, but basically I didn’t really connect to the two protagonists in the present-day timeline.

Overall, this is an interesting story about how tea bowls can be more than a vessel for drinking tea, and how our attachments to things or ideals drive us along the path of life.

This review was first posted at Eustea Reads

[David Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple man,
content to breakfast with the morning glories—
this is who I am.
—Basho

The best books make you seek to read other books. I discovered Basho in this book and now I must read Haiku!

This will probably be the best book I read this year.

It is a mystery and, unlike most mysteries, the author does not hide the clues. That allows the reader to enjoy figuring things out on their own rather than waiting for the big reveal. There are surprises, but honest surprises.

Now, will I be able to find the other books by Jonelle Patrick?

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sorry it took me so long to review this. I read it while deeply into NaNoWriMo, so taking the time from my own writing seemed impossible. But finally, here I am!

I love Jonelle Patrick's writing. I always find myself drawn in by her characters and the virtual travel to Japan. I am not much into mysteries because most involve murder and finding who did the murdering. This mystery goes histories deep, and it is to find what happened to the tea bowls and the artist who made them. My way of describing this story sounds rather boring. The author makes this an adventure in two parts of Japan's history. All the characters seem real and in the now with the reader. Best of all, in this book, there is no murder, even though in war times. Meanwhile, we learn a little about modern Japan while being taught about people's rituals and beliefs from three different generations of Japan.

I was sad to leave the book in the end. As always, I want to know more. Don't worry. You feel secure by the ending. Our main character, who has had to research the feudal and WWII Japans, grabs your heart as she tries to keep family and soul together.

Great job with something quite different in this genre Ms. Patrick!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author never attended graduate school, and it shows in her ridiculous plot point that one of the contemporary characters went to graduate school to study literature but ends up studying old ceramics. You apply to graduate school and are admitted specifically for the degree you want to achieve, and the department of literature wouldn’t have any courses on art history or material culture or archeology, so for her to just “drift” from literature to pottery makes no sense at all. The author also has missed the news that jobs for humanities and social sciences professors evaporated in the 2008 economic crash and never came back, and thinks that publishing one interesting article will be enough to get you a job at a four-year university with graduate students of your own. But I suppose we must remember that only about 2% of the U.S. population has a PhD, therefore few people know how the system works.

I also found the plot point of someone oversleeping whose business apparently heavily relies on being open early to be an unlikely element. Not only would your body be used to waking up early and wake you up naturally, but if your livelihood depends on it, you set an alarm. That’s weak writing, and something else should have been written in to make it believable. Even something as simple as a short electrical outage during the night which canceled her plug-in electric alarm clock would have been a better excuse (though don’t young people use alarms on their phones that can’t be hurt by outages?).

I’ve tried to find reviews in Goodreads or elsewhere that cover the author’s handling of Buddhism and life as a foreigner in Japan. From what I can tell, she took liberties with how she described Buddhist philosophy, but my brief searching didn’t reveal that she had offended anyone. Only once does a character state that it was bizarre for a monk’s to represent attachment to worldly things in physical objects and then break them as a sign that he had achieved detachment. I wish I could find more information, such as a review written by a Japanese Buddhist. In comparison, I certainly had the feeling that the cultural and linguistic misunderstandings in the book between an American woman and the Japanese she interacted with were based on the author’s personal experiences.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. The story is engaging and suspenseful and the characters are very well written. I will definitely read more of this author's work.

For three hundred years, a stolen relic passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, indelibly altering the lives of those who possess it.

In modern-day Tokyo, Robin Swann’s life has sputtered to a stop. She’s stuck in a dead-end job testing antiquities for an auction house, but her true love is poetry, not pottery. Her stalled dissertation sits on her laptop, unopened in months, and she has no one to confide in but her goldfish.

On the other side of town, Nori Okuda sells rice bowls and tea cups to Tokyo restaurants, as her family has done for generations. But with her grandmother in the hospital, the family business is foundering. Nori knows if her luck doesn’t change soon, she’ll lose what little she has left.

With nothing in common, Nori and Robin suddenly find their futures inextricably linked to an ancient, elusive tea bowl. Glimpses of the past set the stage as they hunt for the lost masterpiece, uncovering long-buried secrets in their wake. As they get closer to the truth—and the tea bowl—the women must choose between seizing their dreams or righting the terrible wrong that has poisoned its legacy for centuries

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a historical novel fan because when done well (and this one is!) I'm taken to times and places that I usually know nothing about. In this case Jonelle takes us not only back to feudal times, but also to present day Japan and to the lives of a young Japanese woman trying to save a family business, and an American woman living in Japan wanting to pursue her passion, but stuck in another pursuit. A beautiful hand-crafted tea bowl and a searching poet tie it all together.
Besides an interesting story line and beautiful descriptions, there are a number of little touches that I so appreciated...illustrations of all the things used in a tea ceremony, authors notes that told me what is "real" and what is fiction, and a list of characters and Japanese phrases. What struck me most was an ending that reminded me of the role of beauty in our daily lives followed by a personal note from the author to me, the reader. Thank you Jonelle!
P.S. I hope your next book is about the poet.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Tea Bowl Thief is a deeply original story and an engrossing read.

I just put down “The Last Tea Bowl Thief” and I was sorry to reach the end. Her descriptions put me right into the story and the characters were rich and intriguing. Plus her skillful weaving together of three eras was flawless and kept me turning the pages.

Her deep knowledge of Japanese culture is impressive and lent a lot of credibility to the story and characters.

And you gotta love Robin—a sweet fish out of water!

I enjoyed her “Only In Tokyo” series but this book is her best one yet.

I fell across Jonelle’s Tokyo blog when I was researching a trip to Japan and it was invaluable. I had a much greater understanding of the culture and her blogs sent us to some amazing places. It’s worth it to sign up for it. And don’t miss her Tokyo guide.

[Kim Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure to be immersed in Japanese culture past and present through a clever mystery with not one but two appealing heroines. Jonelle Patrick jumps effortlessly from the present back to the era of the samurai and then forward to the terrible time after the Tokyo fire-bombings, connecting it all through the history of a mysteriously missing treasure, a famous bowl used in tea ceremonies. The central characters are both young women: a Japanese pottery seller whose shop has been in her family for generations and an American scholar who speaks fluent Japanese but still has to control her frustration at the many differences between US and Japanese culture. Particularly fun for readers who have visited Japan, but a great read for anyone who likes to be entertained, amused, intrigued and informed all at the same time.

[Gary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love my mysteries to be neatly resolved. Neatly tied up by the end, in a neat bow. This book was gift wrapping. A tough beginning for me as the story kept shifting back and forth between several times and locations. However, about half way through, it was fine. I found my rhythm. Having been to Japan several times for extended periods, on business, this book pleasantly added to my own knowledge and experiences. It must have been a very difficult book to weave together for the author. I loved the characters, the setting and many things I learned along the way. This had to take a great deal of in-depth research in several areas. A tremendous amount of work for the author.

[Jim Bogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book about the creation and eventual fate of a tea bowl we move from feudal Japan to Tokyo in both early 1945 and today. An indigent shopkeeper needs money to pay bills and help her hospitalized grandmother. She finds a secreted tea bowl and takes it for appraisal. It is old, and expensive, but is it stolen?
Then we move back to look at the bowl’s history. This is slow at first. I several times put the book down, wondering about whether it was worth the effort. But as the characters come to life the story pulls the reader in, rooting for the people who treasure it and the bowl itself.
Stick with it, it becomes a fine read.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was literally glued to this mystery, thanks to Patrick's impressive knowledge of Japanese culture and history. It's a truly suspenseful story about a centuries old stolen tea bowl, full of delightful twists and intrigue. I especially loved the somewhat bumpy but still touching relationship between the two female characters, one American, one Japanese.  I don't often give book recommendations but I had to speak up about this delightful read!

[Heidi Seaborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this books to everyone on my Christmas list. Everyone raved. Why? Because it is the mystery that you not only can't put down, but when you are finally forced to at the end, you go back and re-read sections. Or maybe the whole thing. It's the kind of book that entertains you while making you smarter about the world. I felt like I'd gotten a master's degree in Japanese culture and history from eating the best sushi on earth. That kind of pleasure and gain. That kind of book!

[Ellen McElhinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to see Jonelle Patrick had published a new Japanese mystery book right before Christmas. A perfect gift for my 17 year old granddaughter who has enjoyed all of her previous mysteries. They have opened her eyes to the complicated, subtle, interesting culture of Japan. I love the books too- we’ve had great discussions about all of them.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, utterly. How not to love such a twisty, time-traveling tale?

I don't want to give any details--it would spoil the surprise. I will say that at many points I was teetering on the edge of my seat, ready to weep at the sad luck of the three main characters whose tales alternated through the story.

Loved it.

[Marla Petal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went on a books ‘set in Japan’ spree before recent trip, and resisted many by the non-Japanese authors - but this one was my favorite of the exceptions. It’s on the bookshelf in my mind, right next to my 5-star rated ‘The Hare with Amber Eyes’, as the subject of attachments to beautiful Japanese objects is very close to my heart. Audiobook is well done.

[Mary MacLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great read and a unique story. The only thing I can’t reconcile is that the 1945 theft of the tea bowl is canceled out because it was stolen in the 1700s. Stealing is stealing. It would have been justified better on the basis of wartime desperation.

[Susan Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this. So fast moving, with the zinging between times and points of view. Every time I was going to put it down, I simply had to read one more vignette.

Such different perspectives on the tea bowl. In a caper story!

[Amy Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This was the most interesting book that I have read in a long time. This writer made you feel like you were actually there walking along with the characters. You feel their emotions. Well written and different that all others. I highly recommend.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The historical storyline, then the present day - in the beginning wondering how these stories would all link together. Great read, will read more from this author.

[Jurga Bajoriuniene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book! Highly recommended for anyone interested in the culture of Japan, the art of tea ceremony and zen spirit. That is not the book that you read - this is the book that you live!