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)

Totally captivating and intriguing book!

If you could sum up The Ice Man in three words, what would they be?

Gripping, disturbing, and jaw dropping.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Hearing the candid stories of how Richard Kuklinski executed (pun intended ) some of the killings, the pride he took in carrying out the contract, and how he'd be requested to "make 'em suffer" is captivating and at times shocking.

Which character – as performed by Michael Prichard – was your favorite?

Richard Kuklinski, obviously, was my favorite character. Despite all of the killings and how evil and angry he could be, the biography also paints a picture that draws me into Richard, finding him to be quite likeable, which was unexpected for me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I wanted to listen to it over time, absorbing the magnitude of all that the book entailed.

Any additional comments?

I really, really loved this book! I know it's graphic and sometimes hard to listen to, but it is the true story of one man's life and the circumstances that made him become the person he did. Richard's stories are very candid. I was intrigued throughout the entire book and couldn't get enough of it.

Interesting and apparently true.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ice Man to be better than the print version?

The audio is by far batter because the actions of the main character feels more real when spoken than when read. This appears to be a true story of a very violent, sadistic psychopath. The author appears to empathize and even justify the actions of the killer. This may be because in his corrupt, mob centered world only death controls, never reason. His family life is juxtaposed against the violence of his "Job" which makes the book very interesting.

What other book might you compare The Ice Man to and why?

None come to mind.

If you could give The Ice Man a new subtitle, what would it be?

Psychopath gets a job with the Mob.

Any additional comments?

This appears to be a true story of a very violent, sadistic psychopath. The author appears to empathize and even justify the actions of the killer. This may be because in his corrupt, mob centered world only death controls, never reason.

a really REALLY sick book!!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Ice Man the most enjoyable?

the detail when killing his victims

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

you feel like your standing right there as he kills every sick puppy out there

Which scene was your favorite?

when he tore the rape guys testicles off with his bare hands

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it shocked me @ times & made me laugh & cry

Any additional comments?

if your looking for a book about detailed murders then THIS IS THE BOOK. great GREAT job with the narration

Great book

Great book, I have always enjoyed this narrator, I have heard him many times on other books and he always does a great job. highly recommended

great book,

this book shows how a catholic cop with an attitude took this hero off the streets. the life story of Richard is very detailed and tells why he did what he did. The children he saved from sick sadistic scum bags! The rats he kept fed in the name of street justice. he disposed of Rapist of young kids, drug dealers, bad criminals, etc. All this from a loving family man and decon of his church. shows how the police and one of Richards so called friends did the set up to bust him. How the media drama as they do today, can make a good thing into bad drama. a crooked court room, and set him up for multiple life sentences from hear say of criminals and a female crack head. it is a must have book!!!!!!!

I don't know why I enjoy this stuff

I guess it's the fascination of how the hell people can do this kind of thing and still look themselves in the eye every day.

Good book

ReallyEnjoyed the book Richard was really something I’m glad this book was wrote thumbs up

mafia

the writer and narrator made you. feel like you were over the shoulders of the people watching what they did.

Good, fascinating, but terribly repetitive

I really enjoyed listening to this. It is a good reading by the narrator. Gripping description of this killer's life, personna, psyche. Provides, as an aside, a gloss over of modern NY/NJ mafia history. I would recommend it. You just better have a strong stomach. Some gruesome passages. Overall it makes me want to find and watch the HBO documentaries that are discussed at the end (i.e. wanting more).

BUT, the book's editor should be fired. I don't know how many times the writer repeated the same phrase or theme. We know, we get it ('it' could be one of 20 points that are seriously repeated 50x each)

The most disturbing book I have ever read

This audiobook is very, very graphic. It's a story that, as a father, I found to be so brutal that I may not ever listen to it again.
I shakes me deeply that a person like Richard Kuklinski ever walked this earth. His story is filled with such violence from the moment he entered this world that it was probably his destiny to be a merciless butcher.
The book is well written and narrated but you have been warned, it is utterly bleak and as close as you may ever want to come to staring in the face of souless killer.