The Bobby Gold Stories

Anthony Bourdain's linked crime stories follow Bobby Gold, a former drug dealer turned nightclub bouncer and enforcer. After serving time in prison, Bobby works as muscle for the mob-connected owner of a New York club. When he falls for Nikki, a hot-tempered chef, he begins to dream of escaping his violent life. Published in 2001, the book draws on Bourdain's knowledge of restaurant kitchens and New York's underworld.