The Chef's Apprentice: A Novel

I read this book several years ago when it was published as “The Book of Unholy Mischief”. Loved it then & loved it again this time. It’s available in Kindle but only available as used in published books. Very well worth the effort, whichever method you choose. The book dealer was timely in shipment & the condition is very good. Print is quite small, however.

Luciano, a street urchin in late 1500's Venice is pulled from the streets by the chef of the Doge. Instead of being punished, or merely offered a meal, he is made an apprentice. In addition to his tasks in the kitchen, he passes information from the dining room back to the chef, and much intrigue is happening within the palace, including poisonings. Throughout the country, the search is on for a mysterious book, thought to contain the secrets to immortality and power. As the book progresses, it is clear that our chef is more than he appears and is teaching Luciano more than recipes. Luciano is amazed at what the chef's recipes can do, and begins to think that he has secret knowledge and possibly mystical ingredients. As a young boy, he sometimes lets his own needs get him into trouble, for example by bragging to his friend or by falling for a novice at the convent. Things become frightening as the searchers descend in a hunt for the book and lives are at stake. This is a wonderful, atmospheric tale with a hint of mystery and the mystical.

Beware!!! The Chef's Apprentice, The Book of Unholy Mischief AND Bones of the Dead are all the same story!!! WHO DOES THAT?!?!?!? Chef's Apprentice was a nice, relaxing summertime read...and I'm returning Bones of the Dead in the morning.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I became spellbound by the story and history. The characters are shown to have tremendous depth and understanding about life and it's experiences. Luciano learned his lessons well, taught by a master.

well written dissapointing ending!!!

If you like historical fiction and a bit of mystery, then this is the book for you.A nice light tale that speeds along at a good pace, with a bit of hidden depth.Set in Venice in the middle ages - the underlying theme is still relevant today.Highly recommended.

I really wanted to like this book. I love history and character based stories but I read and read, always waiting to figure out what the point of the book might be. In the very last ten percent it got better and became endearing, but it took a long time to get there.

I picked this up because of the setting as I was traveling to Venice. I loved the historical setting and trying to understand Venice's history.

A very interesting idea. Very entertaining and well written.