As lawyer Charlie Arglist prepares to leave Wichita, Kansas, with a suitcase full of stolen money, he revisits the scenes of his past--his angry ex...
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Jan 06, 2012
Knig-o-lass
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Reading this was a purely tactical choice to begin with. As in red alert, battle stations ready tactical warfare. Which best describes the cattle run on the London Underground where it is a no holds barred, take no prisoners, survival of fittest gladiator match twice a day. When wedged in the middle of this meat vice, headlocked under Big Bertha’s eau de Baconnaise infused armpit, trussed up like a Christmas turkey and that had BETTER be only an umbrella poking my ass, reading material has to
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Dec 24, 2009
Michael
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I didn't like this book.
I'm trying to figure out why I like so many Elmore Leonard but not this. The Ice Harvest has a plot typical of Leonard - a bunch of bad guys are after a big bag of money. In Leonard's books there's always at least one likable character, and the most evil people get their comeuppance. I didn't really like anyone in this book.
It is difficult to imagine John Cusack playing Charlie, and even more difficult to imagine Richard Russo writing the screenpl More...
I'm trying to figure out why I like so many Elmore Leonard but not this. The Ice Harvest has a plot typical of Leonard - a bunch of bad guys are after a big bag of money. In Leonard's books there's always at least one likable character, and the most evil people get their comeuppance. I didn't really like anyone in this book.
It is difficult to imagine John Cusack playing Charlie, and even more difficult to imagine Richard Russo writing the screenpl More...
Mar 19, 2010
Johnny
rated it: 
A quick, little immorality tale. I actually appreciate that Phillips makes no effort to make any of his character's likable, but rather just shows them for who they are. Because of it, even the slightest sign of humanity has weight.
My one gripe is that although we are told that the book is set in Wichita in 1979, you wouldn't know it from reading it. For most of the story, Charlie (our hero) drives through the city and its outskirts, but it might as well be set in Anchorage for al More...
My one gripe is that although we are told that the book is set in Wichita in 1979, you wouldn't know it from reading it. For most of the story, Charlie (our hero) drives through the city and its outskirts, but it might as well be set in Anchorage for al More...
Aug 24, 2011
M
rated it:
Charlie Arglist is a respected lawyer, trying to kill off a few hours on Christmas Eve before blowing town for good. As part owner of a few businesses of a sexual nature - and having run up a profitable under-the-table drug ring - Charlie and his partner Vic have cleaned out their stashes are are ready to fly. However, Charlie's bosses may be onto him, Vic might be looking to backstab him, and the sexy strip club girl is playing all sides against the middle. Billed as dark comedy, the book floun
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Mar 14, 2009
Sidney
rated it: 
A bleak yet frequently funny noir novel in the Jim Thompson or Gold Medal school. This is the book that became the basis for the John Cusak-Billy Bob Thorntan film.
It's a brisk, readable tale that follows failed lawyer Charlie Arglist on a farewell tour of 1979 Wichita as he contemplates an escape with money skimmed from his mobster boss.
We get a look at Charlie's spartan existence, failed relationship and desolate outlook before brutal twists send his plans awry and p More...
It's a brisk, readable tale that follows failed lawyer Charlie Arglist on a farewell tour of 1979 Wichita as he contemplates an escape with money skimmed from his mobster boss.
We get a look at Charlie's spartan existence, failed relationship and desolate outlook before brutal twists send his plans awry and p More...
Aug 29, 2008
Mary
rated it:
If you saw the movie, you'll know the book - except for the ending. I think the book's ending is better - darker, but better.
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Jan 24, 2012
Kevin Lynn
rated it: 
About as rural noir as it gets, and I love the sound of that, "rural noir". Fast. funny, dark and deliberate. The Ice Harvest delivers, in rich charasmatic characters, clever, hilarious dialouge, and a wrap up that completes the package. It's one you'll revisite again and again.
I also have the awsome good fortune of being invited by Phillips, to read from my latest release, Heartland Gothic, at Noir Bar in St Louis Feb 28th 2012. But that has nothing to do with my review. I'v More...
I also have the awsome good fortune of being invited by Phillips, to read from my latest release, Heartland Gothic, at Noir Bar in St Louis Feb 28th 2012. But that has nothing to do with my review. I'v More...
Jan 29, 2012
Willem
rated it:
Charlie Arglist, a crime lawyer in 1970s Kansas, tries to get out of town on Christmas Eve after stealing several million from a local bigshot he represents. But with the streets overflowing with snow, ice and lots of booze, it quickly becomes apparent Charlie has quite a few ties to cut before he can leave Wichita behind for good. It starts with strip joints and drunken ex-brothers in law who need to be taken home to their family and soon Arglist also finds cops and gangsters breathing down his
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May 19, 2008
J
rated it:
I like me a good down and dirty crime novel as much as I like just about any other read. No one is going to mistake Scott Phillips’ The Ice Harvest for great literature any time soon, and that’s a shame because books this enjoyable often get overlooked by the literati. This crime noir moves fast and straight out of the gate with profanity and nastiness. We meet Charlie Arglist, corrupt lawyer and sleazy club owner who spends Christmas Eve moving from strip club to crappy bar and back to another
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Mar 04, 2008
Abby
rated it:
I don't think I would have liked this book a year ago. I preferred my quirky books more lighthearted and less noir. Now, I like my quirky in any form--funny, brutal, dark, sad. And this book is all of the above.
Although this book isn't without flaws (the excessive amount of characters, the somewhat disbelievable dialogue from time to time, the unanswered statement about the cops being 'one of theirs', and Charlie's extreme amount of alcohol in one night without showing many signs of More...
Although this book isn't without flaws (the excessive amount of characters, the somewhat disbelievable dialogue from time to time, the unanswered statement about the cops being 'one of theirs', and Charlie's extreme amount of alcohol in one night without showing many signs of More...
Aug 13, 2010
Jmrathbone
rated it:
The Ice Harvest is a very short novel, and about halfway through I asked my husband (who had already read it) if there was more to it than Christmas Eve drunks, strip joints, and sex. He advised me to keep reading, and I am glad I did. The last part of the book was much more interesting. I thought I had the ending figured out, but I didn’t. No one can imagine this ending except the talented author, Scott Phillips, who wrote the story. I will read the sequel.
Dec 31, 2011
Ed
rated it:
A nasty, ripe little Christmas noir, THE ICE HARVEST is in the rich vein of Charles Willeford and Harry Crews. Charlie Arglist is a corrpt attorney who's embezzled a satchel of money from his employer and plans to skip town on Christmas Eve. Of course, things don't call as planned, and unravel fast. This fast-paced, short novel reminds me of the best from the Gold Medal Books imprint. Lots of dark humor and pratfalls included. Enjoy it.
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Feb 03, 2012
Cynthia
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This book is not for everyone. It's dark, violent and disturbing. However, it is positively intriguing and horrifying in a 'can't look away from that train wreck' kind of way. The plot moves at a rather leisurely pace, quietly setting up what turns out to be a jaw dropping set of events. The story is told in a very neutral way, which gives the violence the ability to knock the wind out of the reader. The conclusion is surreal, dark humor at its best and worst.
Apr 16, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
I remember seeing the movie, but remembered very little about it. I remembered it was kind of funny, in a dark humor kind of way. It really took me awhile to get into it because of the in-depth description of the strip club. But, when a book comes in at about 200 pages, it's easy to keep truckin' through it. The characters are one-dimensional and it's just a hard boiled crime novel, in all its gritty glory.
I really did love the scene with Charlie's drunk brother-in-law. The brot More...
I really did love the scene with Charlie's drunk brother-in-law. The brot More...
Nov 11, 2011
"[A] funny, craftily malevolent first novel, an ice-pick-sharp crime story that sustains its film noir energy all the way to an outrageous whammy of an ending." - New York Times
Listen to The Ice Harvest on your smartphone.
Listen to The Ice Harvest on your smartphone.
Jul 07, 2011
Helen
rated it:
I read this novel in one evening. I enjoyed it but I believe some of that came from living in Wichita for a time so I was trying to pinpoint what area of town the author was describing. The characters were fleshed out without too many words, which I felt added to the story.
Apr 21, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
I got through this book in about a week and absolutely loved it. It's a short read, about 2oo pages, but it has you hooked from start to finish. It's very fast paced. It feels like you're thrown into the middle of a story and have to quickly piece the puzzle together as you go along, but that's part of why the book is so good. It’s bleak and violent and scummy, and very noir. I thought the ending was a perfect round of f to the tale, and was disappointed to hear the movie has a different ending.
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Jul 24, 2010
Dale
rated it:
This is a novel of a good plan blown to hell, and one damn thing after another over the course of a very long Christmas Eve.
May 25, 2011
Babete
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Tudo se passa numa noite de uma forma alucinante e violenta que faz lembrar os velhos policiais negros. Extraordinário! ( Colheita de Assassinos )
Feb 14, 2011
Sonia
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The Ice Harvest was funny and quirky. It is a good read for a rainy day. I got a little confused in p laces, but once the plot was clear, it got better. The movie portrayed it well with less confusion.
Mar 10, 2009
MaryAnn
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HATED IT! Gratuitous vulgarity, not even an interesting story line. I had to start another book right away to get that one out of my brain. YUCK!
Oct 30, 2008
Alb
rated it:
Extremely entertaining as an audio book. The night structure and decent writing kept me engage and I will admit I sat in the garage for a second or two longer on a couple occasions to find out how Charlie would get out of one jamb or another. The ending is ridiculous and fairly well forecasted but fits in with rest of the story. If you have a long drive over the holidays, and need something to help the miles go by faster I recommend this harmless, entertaining romp into small town, small time mo
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Sep 18, 2010
Paul
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 07, 2012
nathaniel
rated it:
Almost all parts of the movie were better than the book. THe actors brought a lot to the material.
