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Name: Amazon.com: Bone in the Throat: 9781582341026: Anthony Bourdain: Books
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Rating: 4.4 (1229 reviews)

Anthony Bourdain

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Bone in the Throat Paperback – September 18, 2000

by Anthony Bourdain (Author)

1,229 ratings

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The acclaimed first novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Kitchen Confidential and host of Parts Unknown on CNN. A wildly funny, irreverent tale of murder, mayhem, and the mob.

When up-and-coming chef Tommy Pagana settles for a less than glamorous stint at his uncle's restaurant in Manhattan's Little Italy, he unwittingly finds himself a partner in big-time crime. And when the mob decides to use the kitchen for a murder, nothing Tommy learned in cooking school has prepared him for what happens next.

With the FBI on one side, and his eccentric wise-guy superiors on the other, Tommy has to struggle to do right by his conscience, and to avoid getting killed in the meantime.

In the vein of Prizzi's Honor, Bone in the Throat is a thrilling Mafia caper laced with entertaining characters and wry humor. This first novel is a must-have for fans of Anthony Bourdain's nonfiction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A prodigiously self-assured first novel... the author's comic vision goes beyond original. It is deliciously depraved." -- The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Anthony Bourdain was the bestselling author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and the author of the novels: Bone in the Throat, The Bobby Gold Stories and Gone Bamboo. His work appeared in the New York Times, the New Yorker and Food Arts magazine. He was the host of the international CNN television series Parts Unknown.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA; Later prt. edition (September 18, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1582341028
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1582341026
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.85 x 8.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #131,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #247 in Lawyers & Criminals Humor
- #396 in Dark Humor
- #1,195 in Cozy Culinary Mysteries

Customer Reviews:
1,229 ratings

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Anthony Bourdain

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Anthony Bourdain was the author of the novels Bone in the Throat and Gone Bamboo, the memoir A Cook’s Tour, and the New York Times bestsellers Kitchen Confidential, Medium Raw, Appetites and World Travel. His work appeared in the New York Times and the New Yorker. He was the host of the popular television shows No Reservations and Parts Unknown. Bourdain died in June 2018.

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1,229 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book riveting and entertaining, describing it as a good escapism story of the Mafia with believable characters. The writing style receives mixed reactions, though many find it well written. Customers appreciate the wit, with one noting the sardonic humor, and another highlighting how it's peppered with Bourdain's experiences in the kitchen.

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Readability Story quality Wit Enjoyment Character development Taste Chef content Writing style

59 customers mention "Readability"55 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as riveting, entertaining, and a must-read.

"...Lots of fun, they hold up to repeat readings." Read more

"...Thoroughly enjoyed the read and recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed Bourdain’s writing." Read more

"...Who knew he could write fiction, too. The book is a real page-turner. It's even better if you were ever professional cook. I'm..." Read more

"Big fan of Anthony Bourdain. Miss him terribly. This is a fine and entertaining book...." Read more

37 customers mention "Story quality"29 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a compelling and excellent thriller that serves as great escapism about the Mafia, with one customer noting it's a fast-paced romp.

"...Both are great crime fiction. It is a shame that we don't have Anthony around to write anymore...." Read more

"...Wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s an easy read, fast paced mob thriller with ties to restaurants and drug use, surprise!..." Read more

"...the characters are good and so is the plot. this is def a crime fiction that i'll be reading again...." Read more

"...Came across it and had to buy it. The story is solid and you have to hand it to the talented Bourdain as he used his kitchen skills into a mob..." Read more

21 customers mention "Wit"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book witty and hilarious, with one customer particularly appreciating the author's sentence structure and choice of words.

"...They are outrageous and hilarious at the same time. A little autobiographical, too, as I see a lot of Tony in his characters...." Read more

"...'em all -- and you should read all of Bourdain's witty, smart, sharp little novels. But this one really has the best of his styling all wrapped up...." Read more

"...'s New York--dark, gritty, often desperate, but with a distinctive hint of macabre humor that fans of "No Reservations" or "A Cook's Tour" will..." Read more

"...His writing is direct and understated, no hyperbole, no "creative writing" attempts...." Read more

20 customers mention "Enjoyment"17 positive3 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one mentioning it's fun for foodies.

"Well written from the imagination of a legendary person. Entertaining to the last page." Read more

"...Miss him terribly. This is a fine and entertaining book...." Read more

"...Bone in the Throat" is a divertingly fun romp through Tony's New York--dark, gritty, often desperate, but with a distinctive hint of macabre humor..." Read more

"This is a fun and lighthearted crime thriller...." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"14 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them believable, with one customer noting how the mob characters ring true to life.

"...the characters are good and so is the plot. this is def a crime fiction that i'll be reading again...." Read more

"Enjoyed the book so much. Mob characters had the ring of truth, restaurant and most all of it's cast of characters clearly true to life...." Read more

"...His characters are believable and 3 dimensional. The editing leaves a lot to be desired...." Read more

"...The writing is clear. The characters come to life. A few scenes stay with me more than a year after finishing it." Read more

11 customers mention "Taste"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's approach to food, with one noting its nice seasoning with tales of cooking, while others appreciate its mobster theme.

"...The atmosphere, the food, the violence, and most of all the humor –– of a culture perched between appreciating the great and glorious sensuality of..." Read more

"...Good food must be honest the same way that good authors, even fiction authors must be honest...." Read more

"This novel sustained my interest and provoked hunger for another dish...." Read more

"...Riddled with Bourdain sarcasm and his love of kitchen knives. This book pairs well with a glass of Kettle One on the rocks." Read more

10 customers mention "Chef content"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the chef content in the book, with one review noting how it's peppered with kitchen experiences and restaurant management details, while another mentions the author's true grasp of underworld lingo.

"...They are outrageous and hilarious at the same time. A little autobiographical, too, as I see a lot of Tony in his characters...." Read more

"...The book is a real page-turner. It's even better if you were ever professional cook. I'm halfway through Gone Bamboo, and it's just as good...." Read more

"...I like that there is lots of food/cooking/chef stuff and references in the book. I'm excited to finish it :)" Read more

"...I like the fact of how he incorporates the restaurant business and chefdom in his story telling...." Read more

39 customers mention "Writing style"26 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book.

"...Wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s an easy read, fast paced mob thriller with ties to restaurants and drug use, surprise!..." Read more

"Well written from the imagination of a legendary person. Entertaining to the last page." Read more

"...It's set in a mobbed up restaurant in New York City. The language is a tad rough for the genteel set, but perfect for the story...." Read more

"...His detailed descriptions of artfully prepared meals and the simple joy of cooking are interspersed with the harsh truth of a junkie's struggle to..." Read more

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Mike Wolf
You want a mash-up of Kitchen Confidential, Godfather and Pulp fiction?
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
Verified Purchase

I made the mistake of reading Gone Bamboo first, which is the sequel to Bone in the Throat. Both are great crime fiction. It is a shame that we don't have Anthony around to write anymore. He is a talented author with a distinct take on the genre. They are outrageous and hilarious at the same time. A little autobiographical, too, as I see a lot of Tony in his characters. Lots of fun, they hold up to repeat readings.

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2 people found this helpful

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Jason Stritter
Bourdain fiction?
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
I was unaware Bourdain had published fiction until I got this book the other day. Wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s an easy read, fast paced mob thriller with ties to restaurants and drug use, surprise! Thoroughly enjoyed the read and recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed Bourdain’s writing.

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Lenora G.
Got Bones?
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2013
Verified Purchase
Bone in the Throat -by Anthony Bourdain

Mystery
372 KB / 304 pages
Footnotes/Endnotes: No
Illustrations: No
Suitable for eReaders: Yes
4 Stars

Murder mysteries are not my usual genre when I reach for fiction; however, I'd just finished reading Kitchen Confidential and enjoyed it, so added Bone in the Throat to my Kindle. While it's not the story I would have given to my Sunday School Teacher as a child, it is a story I'd have shared with my Drill Instructor.

This is his first novel and I think he did a pretty good job. It's set in a mobbed up restaurant in New York City. The language is a tad rough for the genteel set, but perfect for the story. I gave it 4 stars more for the publisher than the author. When it was translated from paper to electrons, a lot of formatting was lost, quotation marks dropped, the symbol for the British Pound found it's way into the story as a double, lower case 'l', nothing serious, but enough times (once is too much) to be irritating and cost points - for the publisher, not the author!

If you are a lover of metaphor, don't bother with this one. Bourdain tells the story straight out, with no creative flowery stuff. When he talks about the sex, it's straight out about the sex. When he talks about the murder it's well described in a few words, not drug out for paragraphs and pages. If the 'F' word offends thee, don't read this. But, do get a life.

Tommy is the sous-chef at the Dreadnought Restaurant. His dad disappeared when he was a kid (assumed mob hit) and his uncle, a wannabee Wise Guy, takes him under his wing and helps his sister, Tommy's mother, raise him. Tommy wants nothing to do with the mob or his uncle, he wants to be a chef, and avoids his uncle as much as possible. But Uncle Sal is, after all, family. And then Uncle Sal needs Tommy to do a favor for him, payback for the help, a simple favor that won't get him in trouble or cause him grief. Yeah. Right.

Tommy and his drugged out boss, the Chef, are now caught in the midst of an FBI operation, drug rehab and threats, Mob mentality, and, well, for a fun read, pick up the book. As stated above, this book does not fall into my usual fiction genre, and until I finished the last chapter, I wasn't sure I'd pick up another Bourdain novel, but I will.

Oh, and if you don't recognize at least one of the Mob Guys, you need to read or watch more news!

3 Feb 13
Addendum: I received a new Kindle Fire, and all of the formatting issues mentioned above are gone. I rated it 4 stars because of the formatting issues, and now change it to 5 stars. BUT, if you read on an older Kindle, you may encounter the same issues.

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Gary Gentry
good book
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
I admired Bourdine's tv shows and his books about the restaurant business. Who knew he could write
fiction, too. The book is a real page-turner. It's even better if you were ever professional cook. I'm
halfway through Gone Bamboo, and it's just as good. It took me awhile to snap to the fact that it's a
continuation of Bone in the Throat. I don't believe in the suicide conclusion. I just read a book discussing
that idea- Reflections on the death of Anthony Bourdain by Suicide???- by Normahelena (not a mis-
print.) I think it was a Jeffery Epstein-like suicide.

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A. Reed
surprisingly entertaining..
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2011
Verified Purchase
haven't finished the book, just a few more chapters left.
i just wanted to say that so far i am surprisingly entertained. the characters are good and so is the plot. this is def a crime fiction that i'll be reading again.

one thing that's annoying the crap out of me are the typos. it's ridiculous how bad they are. & i'm not talking about big words, i'm talking about words like THE. i thought spell check was a MUST when it came to these books.

anyways other than that, i'm enjoying the book.

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Alex C
Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
Well written from the imagination of a legendary person. Entertaining to the last page.

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2 people found this helpful

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S. L. Danis
Great book! Lots of printing errors however
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
Big fan of Anthony Bourdain. Miss him terribly. This is a fine and entertaining book. There are a lot of spelling errors some of which can't even be made into a word, words separated into 2 parts or more. Not misspelled by the author but in the transfer to digital

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Biggest Fan
The Best of the Bourdain novels
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
I love 'em all -- and you should read all of Bourdain's witty, smart, sharp little novels. But this one really has the best of his styling all wrapped up. The atmosphere, the food, the violence, and most of all the humor –– of a culture perched between appreciating the great and glorious sensuality of life, while not appreciating life, itself.

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7 people found this helpful

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Mrsgochay
I had no idea!
Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2020
Verified Purchase

Great story. Well writen. I had no idea AB wrote fiction as well. What a guy. What a loss. The world is a poorer place without his enormous talent.

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Kirsty gibson
Great holiday red
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2019
Verified Purchase
Entertaining, believable story with a realistic picture of the life of a chef and addict. Food takes the starring role.

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Mario
Buen producto
Reviewed in Mexico on April 29, 2018
Verified Purchase
Llegó antes de tiempo y no perfectas condiciones. Cien por ciento recomendable. A a a a a a a a

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Prud'homme Fabrice
Bon
Reviewed in France on September 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Très bon livre,je le conseille à tout le monde..et surtout aux cuisinier.
Kichen confidential et aussi un très bon livre de bourdain

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Zita
Tony at his finest
Reviewed in the Netherlands on April 5, 2025
Verified Purchase
I love Tony and this is one of his short novels. All about the mobsters and a rebel cook affiliated with them. Here and there he throws in a recipe :)) I re-read it couple of times, it has a great atmosphere.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I had no idea!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great holiday red

5.0 out of 5 stars Buen producto

5.0 out of 5 stars Bon

5.0 out of 5 stars Tony at his finest

I had no idea!

Great holiday red

Buen producto

Bon

Tony at his finest