The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
by Philip Carlo
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 189)
Read in January, 2006
This is a really great read that sucks you in, and you can't put it down, and you feel really weird about not wanting to put it down, and you feel ashamed for being so interested in this serial killer.
What's interesting about the killer is that he killed more than 200 people and HIS WIFE AND TWO KIDS HAD NO IDEA HE WAS A MURDERER!
i know!
The killer's name is Richard Kuklinski, and he grew up in New Jersey. He had a shitty childhood and he grew up and killed tons of people. He didn't j...more
What's interesting about the killer is that he killed more than 200 people and HIS WIFE AND TWO KIDS HAD NO IDEA HE WAS A MURDERER!
i know!
The killer's name is Richard Kuklinski, and he grew up in New Jersey. He had a shitty childhood and he grew up and killed tons of people. He didn't j...more
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I got the book because of the HBO interview with this guy. He had a similar dark sense of humor as me and thought this guy might have been interesting to read about. He was, but he was far more horrible a guy than I thought and a hypocrite in that he wouldn't kill women or children, yet beat his wife regularly and his children lived in fear of him. I guess what more could I expect from a sociopath? It was interesting seeing that somewhere there was a thread of humanity in him, but growing up...more
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Read in January, 2008
This is a good read. Its quick and keeps you interested. The only reason I didn't rate it higher is because of the author. If it was not a true story I probably wouldn't have gotten through the whole thing. Its the validity of this actual person doing these horrific things that make it worth while. I just wasnt into the authors writing style. He was very repetitive, sometimes stating the same fact two or three times even on just one page. It was almost as though he was constantly reminding the r...more
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If you're into Mafia stories or just true crime stories in general then this is definetly a book you should check out. This book tells the story of Richard Kuklinksi who was perhaps one of the most disturbed individuals who ever lived. This man started out as a serial killer but then he crossed paths with guys who were in the Mafia. Since he had previously been killing just for his own personal enjoyment, the Mafia guys started offering him contracts to kill and he began to make his living from ...more
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I think a lot of this book is one big made up story. Obviously Richard Kuklinski is a total nut job who has murdered a lot of people. He claims to have been one of the shooters in the Paul Castallono murder but Sammy the Bull named all the shooters he hired in court and Richard wasen't one of them. Richard also states that he killed Roy Demeo but Anthony Casso stated in his book that he hired two people from Demeos crew to do the job. I think Richard Kuklinski has trouble knowing what is rea...more
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Read in September, 2008
This book is abouta man who murdered over 200 people, some of them gruesomely. So, I'm a bit ashamed to admit I really liked this book. I was able to read it without gagging on the gruesomeness of some of the murders, RATS!! I'll give the author's writing credit for this (and not the fact that I've been desensitized by TV shows such as CSI & Criminal Minds). His retelling of the murders seems to really capture Richard's non-chalant attitude of killing, making the details bareable. Richa...more
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Read in June, 2007
Our exchange family left this book behind so one day I picked it up and started reading. The Mafia has always fascinated me, and so it is quite interesting but I finally had to put it down for awhile and read something else because there was getting to be one to many murders - like on every page. I finally finished it after giving it a break - I was glad to be done. It was interesting to learn about the mentality of a contract killer, however I don't think I will be reading similar books for ...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
true crime readers, horror/suspense fans
This is a true crime page-turner. I gave it only three because I didn't care for the author's writing style, and found his descriptions to be mediocre at times. The book is about Richard Kuklinski-probably the most infamous contract killer in the history of organized crime. This guy shot, stabbed, poisoned, dismembered and froze people. He also fed them to rats. Alive.
Get past the rough writing, and it's a train wreck you can't stop staring at.
Get past the rough writing, and it's a train wreck you can't stop staring at.
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Ok, so I'm a sick human being with a fascination with the terminally insane. Remember the HBO documentary about the mob connected serial killer? Well, this provides much more information and more grisly details. The book contained a lot of fillers and repeat information, but overall the story of this contract serial killer is freakishly entertaining. Is it possible to sympathize with a social degenerate? Find out for yourself!
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Read in September, 2008
If I were to judge just the writing, it would be two stars, but the story of this man's life is so compelling, that it mostly trumps the awful mechanics.
One thing that annoyed me throughout the book was how Carlo refers to the mob hit men, and Kuklinski in particular, as 'serial killers,' when he should know better (having written a book on a real serial killer - Richard Ramirez).
One thing that annoyed me throughout the book was how Carlo refers to the mob hit men, and Kuklinski in particular, as 'serial killers,' when he should know better (having written a book on a real serial killer - Richard Ramirez).
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Richard Kulklinski did unimaginable things to people and actually sought pleasure in finding creative techniques to torture and kill people. normally i couldn't digest such a gruesome story, but was sucked in. there is a big element of nature versus nuture and one can argue you can be raised to be a cold blooded killer...
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Great book. It's interesting to see how messed up some people can be. I learned maybe a little more than I probably would have liked about how creative some one can be when it comes to dishing out pain on others. It does drag a little near the end, but still very good. DO NOT READ if you're squeemish or sensitive.
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recommends it for:
true crime fans
I loved Richard Kuklinski. There are parts of it that make you laugh, then you think to yourself, "Good God I can't believe that's funny to me." I don't know, probably not the best guy to think is funny or not think of in a horrible way, but I'd chill with him.
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Read in January, 2007
Picked this up after watching a documentary/interviews Richard Kuklinski. There were major differences to the stories Kuklinski told in the documentary vs. the book. Started to feel I couldn't trust much of it and put it down.
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Read in July, 2008
Not my typical sort of book. At all. Extremely scary true account of a hit-man. Horrific page turner that I wish I hadn't read, but if you're into horrific and graphic true stories, this one is certainly good.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone interested in true crime, especially mob related.
Richard Kuklinski is absolute proof that both genetics and the way we treat our children determines the type of person they become. Richard was an absolute monster but his life is such a captivating read.
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An excellent but violent novel. Gives a psychological view into the inner workings of the mind of a man without a conscience. Interesting psychological profilings of his family also.
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This is a hard core cold-blooded biography of a contract killer. It describes the cold, hard, calculating, and completely detached nature of a real hitman. Its a chilling read.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in May, 2008
Great book about one if not the most famous contract killer in the modern time. It probably didn't need to be as long as it was but all in all it was good book.
B
B
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Read in December, 2007
This book gives incredible insight into the mind of a mafia hitman who just may be one of the most prolific serial killers that you may have never heard of.
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