The Ice Man

Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer

By: Philip Carlo

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 19 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Richard "The Ice Man" Kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on The Sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in American history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. Now, after 240 hours of face-to-face interviews with Kuklinski and his wife and daughters, author Philip Carlo tells his extraordinary story.

Kuklinski was Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's partner in the killing of Paul Castellano at Spark's Steakhouse. John Gotti hired him to kill the neighbor who accidentally ran over his child. For an additional price, he would make victims suffer; he conducted this sadistic business with cold-hearted intensity, never disappointing his customers. By his own estimate, he killed over 200 men, taking enormous pride in his variety and ferocity of technique.

Kuklinski's story, once known, captivated the public and became the subject of three HBO documentaries about which the New York Times raved, "Few viewers are ever likely to forget this thoroughly chilling portrait. As for possible movie competition, it would work on the level of The Silence of the Lambs."

©2006 Philip Carlo (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Good as an omnibus resource on Kuklinski, this is a fine entry in the burgeoning field of works tracing the decline of the traditional organized crime families and their once impenetrable structures." (Booklist)

Great book. Definitely recommend.

Great narration, a lot of information I didn't even know about the Iceman. Very good book.

The Terror of Macabe Mafia Executions

Ice Man is the true story of a Mafia executioner, a good husband, and a good father. His sadistical homicidal history makes the Nazi Regime or Jeffrey Dahmer seem civil.

Pay your debts to the Mafia or die a horrible death at the hands of the Ice Man.

He is believed to have tortured and murdered over 100 Mafia targets.

a really bad dude

Philip Carlo assembled some terrific research to give us a very up-close look at this killer. Combined with the fine narration of Michael Prichard, the story is riviting.
At the end of the book is an audio interview with Ice Man, which I found not at all interesting.

Million star book

I absolutely loved everything about this book!! So many people I want to share it with. If you are at all intrigued with ttue crime don't pass this one up.

so much better than anything you've watched

I LOVED THIS! Better than any HBO documentary or movie you've seen. Read/listen to this book. It goes into so much of his history and really gives you a feeling of his perspective. I'm actually going to start listening again right now.

Terrifying

This is the story of Richard Kuklinski, the Mafia hitman who has had shot, poisoned and tortured over a hundred people. He's a disturbing character, and this is a story of his life, portraying him not as a scary monster, but as an unhinged human being.

Entertaining but disgusting account of a killer

A good look into the life of a stone cold murderer. I never once got bored listening and was amazed that someone could be so cold and unapologetic regarding murder. The only problem that I had with the story was the glorification given to Richard and his so called morals about who he would kill.

Awesome. Engaging. Amazing.

I enjoyed every minute of the book. Carlo tells the story in vivid detail, with an objective POV. The narration is good. The story would be unbelievable, if it wasn't true. Absolutely worth the time and money.

Awesome gritty truth

Loved this one it was very insightful I found myself agreeing who the bad people really are

Richie

Whoa this audiobook rocks! The Iceman in full effect. Hurt people hurt people. The Devil.