All is not well at the Dreadnought Grill. The chef has a smack habit, the owner has been set up by the FBI and in the midst of this, the sous-chef Tommy is just trying to do his job.

As depraved as it is hilarious, Anthony Bourdain's first novel is street smart and spiced with drugged-up savvy, foul-mouthed feds and salty mob speak.

With a cast of unforgettables like the hitman who covers himself in clingfilm to avoid leaving fingerprints and a plot with more twists than a plate of spaghetti, Bone in the Throat rocks through the streets of Manhattan at a blistering pace.

"A superb tale of violence and backbiting set in the seething testosterone-heavy company of a crew of New York cooks, and simply towers head, shoulders and upper torso above everything else" - * GQ *

"Gangster fiction to feast on" - * Independent *

"Wonderful fun, a perfect book to read at the beach" - * New York Times Book Review *

"A recipe for a very good read" - * Sunday Telegraph *

"Sharp, funny . . . if it's gangster rap you want to read then Bourdain is your man" - * Express *

"The snappy wise-guy dialogue is as sharp as the kitchen implements Bourdain puts to grisly use . . . The result is a saucy, spicy caper that slips down as easy as a sidewalk hotdog" - * Observer Review *

"A recipe for a plot that is delicious and hilarious" - * The Times *

"Coming on like a cross between Nick Tosches and The Sopranos, chef Anthony Bourdain proves himself as adept with a pen as he is with the knife - no reservations" - * Guardian Review *