City of Ice

Émile Cinq-Mars #1

by John Farrow

A college kid in a Santa Claus suit is tortured, murdered, and left hanging from a meat hook on Christmas Eve--a gift intended for one particular cop.
        
Reminiscent of Smilla's Sense of Snow, this gripping debut thriller set in bone-chilling midwinter Montreal features one of the most compelling new heroes to emerge in crime Sergeant-Detective Émile Cinq-Mars. A brilliant logician, an eccentric who follows his own rules, this old-style cop is beleaguered by the virulent crime wave that has engulfed his city. While political uncertainty over separatism has damaged Montreal's social and economic life, organized crime has been quick to take advantage. The Russian Mafia, rival motorcycle gangs, and infiltrators from the CIA are engaged in violent turf wars, while the police force--teeming with corruption--struggles to keep the city safe.
        
Even Cinq-Mars, whose stunning arrests have made him a local hero, appears to have been compromised. How has he managed to penetrate Montreal's criminal elite? Who are his informants and how do they acquire their vast knowledge? And who is the young female American operative he seems so desperate to save from the clutches of the mob?
        
Against the backdrop of events in today's headlines, John Farrow constructs a vivid tableau peopled with home-grown and international criminals, each fighting for a piece of this frozen city, where dynamite and chain saws have become the weapons of choice. Taut and timely, City of Ice dazzles with its complex plot and grittily realized characters; it's a suspense read that's difficult to put down, impossible to forget.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Canada, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

403 pages, Hardcover

First published May 11, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Farrow is the pen name of Trevor Ferguson, a Canadian writer who has written seventeen novels and four plays and has been named Canada's best novelist in both Books in Canada and the Toronto Star. Under the name John Farrow, he has written ten crime novels featuring Émile Cinq-Mars which have been highly acclaimed and popular around the world. He was raised in Montreal and lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The City of Ice is the first crime novel featuring Emile Cinq-Mars of the Montreal Police. I have the second 'Ice Lake' on my reading list. This is the 8th book in the series that I have read in 2020 which attests to how well-written and compelling I find them and how great a character John Farrow has created in Detective Emile Cinq-Mars.

It is important to note that the series is not in chronological order. Earlier books in the series, ' The Storm Murders trilogy' cover the time Emile is retired and is called in as a consultant on difficult cases. Then the gritty books go back in time to the 1970s when Emile was a young policeman and starting out building a successful career as a detective. His latest,' Lady Jail', takes place in 1994. In City of Ice, Emile is age 56. He lives in the countryside with his wife who raises horses and commutes to Montreal where he is stationed.

Emile Cinq-Mars has become my favourite fictional detective, bringing a human and philosophical touch to the stories. He is a man of strong moral fiber, a religious background, perceptive and empathetic. He notices clues that others have missed.

This was a riveting crime novel with a very complex plot comprising a number of threads. I did not find it as compelling as most of the subsequent books, but it was better than the majority of crime novels out there. In the beginning, I had difficulty recognizing Emile. He was being rude to his new partner who was a decent, hard-working policeman. Because he trusted no one this was the manner in which he reacted not only to suspects but also to fellow police officers. He was not showing the patience and serenity I admired in later books.

He is disliked by most of his colleagues who consider him righteous, detached, and a bully. They are jealous because it is known that Emile has a secret informant who phones him with information about what is happening inside certain criminal enterprises. Emile has no idea who is feeding him the knowledge. This has enabled him to solve some highly important crime cases such as car theft rings, drug deals, and white slave trafficking. This has raised his status as a leading detective and is resented by fellow detectives who lack this advantage. A young man is chosen by the mysterious informer to pass on some information to Emile, or so it seems. When he is tortured and murdered and replaced by a young woman as a mole inside a criminal syndicate, Emile is determined to save her life before she meets with the same fate.

Emile and his new partner are drawn into a twisted and winding labyrinth involving powerful rival biker gangs, luxury automobile theft and sales, the Mafia, ex KGB along with Russian criminals infiltrating the Montreal crime scene, dirty cops, and even the CIA.

During the tense and exciting action, we learn that Emile can draw on secret resources outside the Montreal police force. He also relies on devising elaborate schemes and intuitive thinking to end some complex criminal enterprises and syndicates. All the while, he and others are in extreme danger. Who will survive?

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Really enjoying this series. This is book #1 & one of the best of the bunch.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in the Emile Cinq-Mars, Montreal police detective, mystery/ thriller series. I think overall, it might try a bit hard, but that's really its only fault. The book is fast-paced, with many sub-plots and holds your interest. Cinq-Mars is a bit of a lone wolf in the Montreal police department, over the course of his career, he's been getting information from an unknown source that has helped him solve cases and move up in the police department. This story involves the Hell's Angels, the Russian mafia and maybe even the CIA and Cinq-Mars and his new partner, English speaking, Bill Mathers, must fight them and also bad cops within the police force. Not knowing who to trust, he tries to save a young woman, a mole in the Angels, from suffering the same fate as a previous mole. Cinq-Mars isn't necessarily likable, but he has strong beliefs in justice and being a good cop. The story moves along nicely, with the plot making more and more sense as the pieces fall together, the tension building at a steady pace. An excellent first thriller, Ice Lake is next in line.

[Noella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit is een boek waarbij ik dacht: ik had van in het begin de namen en rollen van de personages moeten opschrijven. Velen hebben immers bijnamen, schuilnamen, en er zijn zelfs twee mensen die dezelfde identiteit aannemen...Verder komt het ook voor dat een personage geïntroduceerd wordt, en je er dan 100 bladzijden of zo, niets meer van hoort, en die dan ineens weer opduikt, zodat ik moest nadenken: wie was dit nu weer?
Het verhaal zelf was wel spannend, maar voor mij een beetje te ingewikkeld om vlot te lezen.
Toch 3 sterren.

[Pooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime fiction is so not my genre, but picked it up at recent BookCrossing meeting. So, an adventure.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. A page-turner through and through. I think if I lived in Montreal or even had been there enough to know landmarks, it would have been even more goose-pimple raising.

A totally and scarily believable plot, fascinating characters. Although if being a police officer is anything like as it's made out to be in this story, I don't know who in their right mind would ever want to be one.

There were a couple of things that didn't quite ring true with me, or at least piqued my curiosity and seemed in the end unanswered.

1. Just why/how did Julia allow herself to get involved in this mess?
2. Why did Cinq-Mars care so much about saving her? She was young sure, but still an adult making her own choices and really, she chose to do bad things.

Those things aside, this was a darn good read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sgt-Det Emile Cinq-Mars is an exceptional member of the Montreal Urban Police. He works alone but has a much higher success rate than all his colleagues, due to his informants who tip him off to all types of crime. It transpires he receives valuable information unsolicited through telephone calls from an unknown informant.
Forced to partner with a younger English speaking officer, Cinq-Mars is impelled to unmask his source, when one of the young go-betweens used is brutally murdered with a personal message for Cinq-Mars attached to the body. He discovers that a young girl has been sent by his source on a dangerous undercover mission with a crime gang, and he must work fast to identify his source and the girl, before another innocent life is taken in his name.
The plot involves the CIA, biker gangs, the Russian mob and internal police corruption in a fast paced thriller. Set in Montreal in winter, it is extremely well written and I would heartily recommend.

[Beatrice Fowler Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

more like a 2.5. Might have rated it higher if it wasn’t the third 500+ page book I’ve read in a row and I just wanted to get on with my effing life. I need to read something easy now. Did enjoy that it was set in Montreal

[Paris (kerbytejas) · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Farrow is a new author for me as of the reading of City of Ice, but he is a fantastic addition to my reading library. I decided to start with his older works, which I found at an online used book store, before reading his current works. I wanted to meet his lead character Emile Cinq-Mars from the beginning, and am I glad I did. I’m also looking forward to completing the next book in the series; Ice Lake in the near future (sadly book 3 in the series River City is out of my price range and not in any of my libraries).

I really enjoyed the 1999 book City of Ice . The characters are complex, well written and very life like. The book weaves historical narrative on the Quebec/Montreal area, along with the everyday French/English animosity.

The primary threat in this story is rival biker gangs, wanting to take control (crime, law enforcement, government) in the Quebec area, and their associations with the mafia, and the Russians as supportive manpower in this endeavor.

The book is action filled, violent, and thought provoking. From the get-go you know who the bad guys are, just not all of them and which side they’re associated with, it’s a who dun-it , and why they do that in some sections of the plot. Woven throughout the story are the everyday life of Emile, his wife, his new partner, and his peers. Emile Cinq-Mars’ life is not an easy one, he trusts no one, is disliked by most of this peers, and is seen as a bigger than life character on the streets. Emile seemed like a bit of a Columbo character to me, always looking at all the angles, the clues and how the puzzle pieces fit together.

The book is lengthy, slow at times, the plot is complex but well written, and I don’t recall any unsatisfied loose ends at its conclusion.

[Grada (BoekenTrol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A catchy, exciting book. It took me a while to finish it, because it was my bedtime read.
Many storylines, many characters, but those are the thrillers that I love the most.
Interesting and fascinating, full of intrigues, conspiracies, bad agents, good burgers, a hint of CIA and Hells Angels, an excellent mix of ingredients.

[Maria Civita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters came to life. Very well written-a sad story about the harm that can be done by gangs who seek power at any cost. So scary how they can manipulate ordinary people into becoming corrupt
How naive are we when it comes to gangs controlling our streets

[Marc Leroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is based on the audio version of this book, which I first read many, many years ago.
First a disclaimer: I lived in the Montreal area for years, and listening to Steve Scherf read John Farrow’s “City of Ice” brings back a lot of memories. Eating at Ben’s, trying to navigate the streets near McGill in the winter (or sometimes even the summer) brings back many fond memories.
And another disclaimer: Jon Farrow has been one of my favorite authors with his “City” series, and Steve Scherf is my favorite audio-book narrator.
This is Farrow’s (pseudonym for Canadian author Trevor Ferguson) first book in his series featuring g Montreal Detective Émile Cinq-Mars, a detective in the Montreal Urban Community Police Department. The book revolves around the biker wars that occurred in the 1980’s and the line the Police straddled between letting the bikers eliminate themselves and keeping order. The catalyst is the murder of a young child, caught in the wrong place when a car bomb exploded during the biker war, an event that did happen.
Cinq-Mars, literally translated as “March the Fifth” is an honest cop in a corrupt police department, whose survival in the police force is by the sheer volume of high profile, very public, arrests he makes. His partner, the man he is mentoring, is a young Anglophone who loves Montreal as much, perhaps more, than Cinq-Mars, and together they form a team that stands out in the Montreal police. Their relationship is one that is familiar to many Francophone and Anglophones who worked together in Montreal, outwardly joking about their respective cultures, but for the most part, just working together. This is a good representation of Canadian diversity and culture at its best.
The book itself starts a bit slow, then builds to the point where I was regretting that this was an audio book; I actually found myself sitting in my driveway listening to it until my wife eventually came to find out why I wasn’t going inside.
The narration was what I expected from Scherf. The pace was good and the voices as fantastic as always.
If you like police procedurals or thrillers, if you like books based on real events, if you want some insight into the “Two Solitudes” of Quebec or the multicultural aspects of a cosmopolitan city like Montreal, then this is a fantastic book. If you want to hear a first class audio book, then this is a must.

[Heather Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I'm staying in Hudson, just outside Montreal where this book is placed, I found this book to be particularly interesting (OK, that's pretty much why I chose it).

It's a mystery, a thriller, and a gritty, gravelly, trip down some pretty dark paths. Gang warfare, murder, loyalty and betrayal, questionable ethics, and terrible choices with no good answer are what you'll find here. It's not so much a good vs evil book, as it is a book about the areas of grey that come with every choice we make, even when it seems like the right choice. I found it quite intriguing, and the action was exciting too, so I pretty much plowed through the book.

Recommended for fans of hard-boiled detective mysteries, crime thrillers, and the dark side of Montreal.

[Mark Geisthardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in Farrow's Emile Cinq-Mars series of books. I found book two in a free library and read that and having enjoyed it so much had to go back and find book one. He didn't disappoint me with this one. It's both mystery and thriller and a very fun quick read!

[Karalee Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in John Farrow’s Émile Cinq-Mars series. The author does an excellent job of describing winter in Montreal. So many authors like to set their books in winter, but have no idea what it’s actually like in these northern climes. I read a lot of British novels, and always have to snort at their descriptions of life in the snow zone.

The story was interesting, especially in the aftermath of last February’s “Freedom Convoy” (aka the Flu Trux Clan) in Canada, which saw some malignant forces struggling to overthrow majority choices and get their hands on power – in this novel’s instance, rival biker gangs, the Mafia, Russian Gangsters and of course the CIA. The scenario was complex and rather frightening. However, the main character, Émile Cinq-Mars, didn’t strike me as being best suited to resolve the crisis. He was too erratic emotionally, filled with rage one minute and benignly philosophical the next, and everything in between. He also seemed to consider himself above the law, which I often find to be problematic. I dunno, I think this was Mr. Farrow’s first published novel, and I may have to read another to see if he manages to center his character.

Incidentally, Cinq-Mars (March 5) is National Cheese Doodle Day in the USA.

[Sorcha · Rating 3 out of 5]

crosses, double-crosses and triple-crosses in Montreal, where the Hells Angels and the Mafia are teaming up with the Russians to carve up the underworld whilst betraying each other. Meanwhile Cinq-Mars from City police is working almost on his own and to his own version of the rules to control the investigation of various murders. He has to juggle corruption from within, dirty cops, CIA infiltrating the Hells Angels, betrayals and negotiations on all sides, whilst getting older.[return][return]Had difficulty with Cinq-Marns, and part of it was the author's way of referring to him - throughout the book his moniker changed, from the familiar "Emile", through Cinq-Mars right up to Sergeant-Detective Cinq Mars. It was as if the author either went through waves of linking/being comfortable with his creation, to not knowing/linking him very much (similar to Cornwell suddenly changing from "Kay" to "Scarpetta" part way through her series).[return]Overall, reasonable book, lot of strings to be pulled together, a modicum of violence.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a long story but I was interested enough in the characters and the turning plot that I carried on. Somehow the length helps with the feeling of reality by letting you know that police cases are often not solved in the blink of an eye. The whole matter of the information phoned to Emile is somewhat disturbing, as is his willing and unquestioning use of the information. I think I would read others in this series, although I think I like Louise Penny's series better, even if they are less realistic. One thing that is extremely well done in this novel is the playing of French against Anglo, the use and misuse of language, what we always used to call the Two Solitudes. I wonder if that division will ever completely disappear. Probably not.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a murder-mystery type book that is set in Montreal, Quebec. The story follows Detective Emile Cinq-Mars as he investigates a murder that leads him to the Hell's Angels, the Russian Mafia, and the CIA.

I used to love reading cop/lawyer/crime books, so this was a delightful change of pace. The characters are believable, and enjoyable. The plot is quick and suspenseful. I flew through the book, picking it up at every chance.

I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy this type of thriller.

[Scotchneat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written before "River City" (which is actually a prequel to this one and getting a lot of buzz these days), Cinq-Mars has an Anglais partner not by choice, and someone sending him messages with dead bodies. Then there's a young woman, little girl lost, who thinks playing at spies will give meaning to her life, but she may end up somewhere she can't come back from.

Since I read "River City" first, I knew to expect insightful historical narrative alongside a good mystery and Farrow delivered.

I'm very happy that Farrow is getting his due. Really good writer.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Farrow great. Although elements of the history of Montreal come in to play they don't in any way detract from the mystery. The whole story surrounds the biker wars that took place here and the book is touchingly dedicated to the 12 year old boy who was killed accidentally by a car bomb that was exploded by the bikers. Again. I found Farrow's style of writing very readable and enjoyed the story. There was however, a gap in the story line about how and when Cinq Mars joined an elite squad.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

To begin with I found this slow going, but my perseverance was rewarded by a compelling and intriguing thriller. The pace was excellent, with plenty going on to keep me interested but without the unrealistic relentless bam-bam-bam that many popular thriller writers tend to resort to.

As a result the surprises and twists were genuinely gripping, and the characters were well moulded and engaging. It was also great to learn a bit about the origin, history and culture of the city of Montreal rather than it forming an arbitrary backdrop to the story.

[Dianne Laheurte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to do a re-read of all of Trevor Ferguson aka John Farrow's Detective Emile Cinq-Mars novels, beginning with City of Ice, first published in 1999.

Set in Montreal during the cold winter months, Det. Cinq-Mars is investigating murders and corruption between motorcycle gang wars and international and internal meddling from both the good guys and the bad. Hang onto your hat/toque, as you're in for a ride!

Still one of my favorite series and authors, as Trevor Ferguson, and/or John Farrow!!!

[Travis Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read (and liked) Gorky Park than this is a book for you. Farrow writes a great murder mystery full of cops, bikers, and spies. The detail in this book is just great. If you've ever been to Montreal in January than you can literally feel the damp and cold as you turn the pages. Farrow brings the city alive in all its glory, and underbelly. A great mystery that you probably won't figure out until the end. I deffinetely reccomend this book. Finally, a really good Canadian murder mystery.

[Margaret Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inasmuch as this extraordinary thriller set in my home city, Montreal,has a brilliantly executed plot with believable characters, it is also an unflinching look at police work,the moral quandaries it presents and significant choices each officer must make.The main character, Detective Emile Cinq-Mars,protagonist,serves as the story's moral compass, as he takes on the Hells's Angels. A remarkable read!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.junkboattravels.blogspot.c...

The attention to details of Montreal streets and landmarks brought me right back to growing up there.
A good book, a little long and dragged a bit in the middle, but certainly enjoyable.
The playing of English against French was very real and references to the differences in language was handled very truthfully.

[Kay Palkhivala · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author for me, but plan to read his other books. Police procedural, very focused on gangs, not too violent. Interesting main detective, Emile Cinq-Mars. Very good recreation of the Montreal setting, including getting the French-English interaction right. Other mystery writers (Kathy Reichs, Louise Penny) just use French as decoration and write as if everything is happening in English, off-putting.

[Arwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent Police thriller set in Montreal. The characters are well thought out and credible (except maybe for the intrepid girl 'mole') and the book, apart from plenty of action and lots of twists and turns, also gives considerable insight into police work, and the reasons for and consequences of corruption - without being boring or pedantic.
Recommended.

[Stephanie]

It has been a while since I read this book, and I leant it out never to see it again. I would like to read it again, as I always seem to catch more 2nd or 3rd time around. I will have to pick it up from the library.
What I do remember is the feeling it gave me. It really hooked me in, I definitely couldn't put this one down.

[Greg McClay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about a book called 'City of Ice' that I just wanted to read it. Solid lead character and decent story, I like it most for the ambiance more than anything.

[Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read this book. Early on I switched from print to e because the hardcover was huge. I normally don’t go for plot-heavy books and City of Ice is thick with plot points and a big cast of characters. I would recommend consuming it in a few large chunks instead of piecemeal like I did.

Its scope is beyond a standard police procedural. The complex chess match of a story is brilliantly achieved with a suspenseful structure, inside a city presented as a major character. Conversations are full of maneuvers, some of which I had to read twice to catch fleeting explanations of a character's shifting strategy. It’s terrifically paced and the players are complicated enough to be interesting.

Emile Cinq-Mars is virtually Georges Simenon’s Maigret — I could only picture Emile as the great Bruno Cremer who played Maigret on French TV for decades. Maigret is of high police rank while Cinq-Mars rides on a quasi-mythical reputation not of his choosing or design, but which he takes advantage of to obtain justice. This, his horse-trading sideline and his expounded philosophy make him more complex than Maigret, but in intellect, insight, moral fortitude, temperament, physicality, gravitas and wedded bliss they are twinned. (Former tobacco addict Cinq-Mars savours second-hand smoke while Maigret remained hooked on his pipe.)

I enjoyed this complicated novel very much, and not least it deepened my knowledge of wonderful Montréal. I'll probably read the next in the series someday. But for now I’m relieved to be starting a Penelope Lively about a few people in a small town having awkward social encounters.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t even sort of like this. I read the first 100 pages and almost stopped, but ended up skimming the rest. I wanted to read it for all the Montreal culture. It had some really good snippets on the city, but not enough to get me through a 450+ page book pleasantly. This was really a crime-gang story and it wasn’t interesting to me. But I read it. I can’t imagine reading more in this series.

I’m also tuned off by the age gap between the protagonist and his wife (seems like wishful thinking on the author’s part). And I also thought he did a terrible job of writing the female college student — it wasn’t even somewhat believable.