The Ice Man by Philip Carlo
June 1st, 2008Title: The Ice Man
Author: Philip Carlo
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (2007)
Horrifying.
That is really the only good way to describe The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer by Philip Carlo. The book itself isn’t horrifying…in fact it is fantastically written. What is horrifying is Richard Kuklinski and the things he did during his lifetime.
You see…Richard Kuklinski was a Mafia hitman. He killed people for money. He also killed people because they upset him in some manner, like flipping him the bird while driving. The middle finger was a particularly terrible affront to Kuklinski…one that would likely earn you the death penalty. But those killings aren’t where he made his mark on the world. Richard “The Ice Man” Kuklinski is known as one of the most dangerous mob related people ever. I say mob related because he was Polish, and you can’t officially join the Mafia unless you are Italian. You can still work as a hired killer though apparently.
Kuklinski was a giant (literally at 6’5″ 280lbs) psychopathic, sociopathic, anti-social, paranoid person. He had the classic serial killer upbringing: hyper-abusive parents, picked on by local bullies, enjoyed torturing animals…etc. His home life was so abusive that his father actually killed Richard’s brother by beating him. So obviously there was no love in his house, or anywhere throughout his childhood. This, combined with his genetic disposition for violence and personality flaws, turned him into one of the most prolific killers ever. Kuklinski killed over 200 people during his life, most of them mob/organized crime related. His lack of conscience and inability to feel remorse meant that he was a perfect killer. He could “go see somebody”, torture (if that’s what the client wanted), kill, and dispose of the body with no second thoughts.
In fact, he had a family and loved them dearly. Actually, I don’t know that he had the capacity to love. But he cared for them quite a bit. His home life was like Jekyll & Hyde though: sometimes he would be the most caring, thoughtful person around. Other times he would go on a rampage, destroying furniture and beating his wife. He never harmed his children, however. In fact, he would kill people for abusing children. He was a regular vigilante.
This book is amazingly interesting and I couldn’t put it down. To read the stories that this man told were shocking. Carlo does a pretty good job of not being too explicit though. There are a few stories that are especially bad…but otherwise it’s OK.
I (like a lot of other people) am interested in serial killers and why they do what they do. For some reason they are really interesting to people. I’m sure there are plenty of psyche people who could explain why. Kuklinski is one of the ultimate serial killers, and therefore, garners a lot of attention. That he did all of this while leading a relatively normal family life only furthers the intrigue.
Three HBO documentaries of Kuklinski were filmed while he was in prison. I have seen one of them and it’s pretty riveting stuff. It’s actually frightening to watch him cavalierly describe taking another man’s life. Sometimes he gets mad and glares at the interviewer…which is a haunting view for that person I’m sure.
I very highly recommend this book to anyone interested in True Crime, serial killers, or the Mafia. Be prepared though.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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June 1st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
What a review! I enjoy books like this and will on the lookout for it.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
This sounds pretty interesting. One thing…I don’t think there is any evidence of a genetic predisposition to violence. It seems from your description that he was trained to be violent. Any way, it sounds like an good read.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
hmmm….nature or nurture?
Or maybe both?!?
June 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I think it’s fair to point out that while he almost certainly was a sociopath, I think he was also a pathological liar. Many of those mob figures he claimed to work for (e.g. Roy Demeo’s crew) never heard of him. His involvement with Hoffa’s death is widely ridiculed, Galante’s also and so on and so on. His documented interviews also contain many inconsitences.
I believe he was convicted of five murders – I reckon many of the others he layed claim to were an attempt by him to create a monster of himself to feed to the media-machine. After all, what else did he have……..
June 25th, 2008 at 5:15 am
i have read this book and it is truly riveting,could not put the thing down,well written and very descriptive…a real insight into the criminal mind..
what a scary man
July 10th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Kuklinski demonstrates great self restraint with an emotional subject in the movie. He is balancing his desire to come clean with his desire not to say too much and get killed himself and his desire not to give neurotics like those above an over ample supply of reasons to question his sanity. Soldiers kill people all the time and sleep quite well so long as they believe they were performing a service to others. Kuklinski was a great family man and protected them from what he was doing; not that that excuses him, but he is no nut case.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
While I agree with you John that he demonstrated self restraint during the filming…that just seems more creepy to me.
Also…in no way was Kuklinski a great family man. Anyone who constantly beats their wife…while emotionally scarring their children is not a great family man!
August 19th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I agree with 4. MIke Cunningham: many of his tales were a bit too tall for me to believe. Probably many of his stories have elements of truth, but that’s the mark of a good liar/ embellish-er.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Interesting read, total nonsense though.
The man was a small time crook and a
psychopathic bully.
Any research into his tales would prove him to be a fantasist. As for being on talking terms with mafia bosses, I don’t think so. I can’t believe that anyone would take him seriously.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:08 am
I have mixed feelings towards Kuklinski. I watched his HBO interviews and really felt this sorrow for him. Especially over the tears. That was very moving to see a man of such horror and gore be so vulnerable for the world to see. Maybe he did want sympathy from the world and it was an act but for me it still showed him as human. The book I found in London while travelling and I enjoyed reading it. However a bit repetitive and yes at times unbelievable. No one will ever know the extent of the truth but that’s what makes it a good story. The total outrageousness of it all. I would have preferred a book in first person. Something about the words coming from their own minds chills me more. Either way a brilliant story and a good read.
November 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I’ve read several books on Kuklinski now and quite afew stories on crimelibary.com. The few things that Philip Carlo’s book leaves out is the fact that during his time in prison Kuklinski gave the Police information on several bodies which was too accurate for him to have atleast been there. Eventhough Kuklinski was never charged with any of these deaths due to lack of evidence its obvious they were his victims. But in my opinion quite afew of his confession’s were either complete fantasy or fabication’s of the truth. Either way the man was a phsycopath.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I absolutely loved this book and couldnt put it ddown i will actually be writing a long essay for my psychology class we all know he had alot of pychological problems
February 6th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Have no doubts folks , Richard , was made into what he was by his cruel and brutal father , Carol .
He was taught to have no feelings towards people , to not care about the suffering of others by a sadist father and a mother who showed him no caring .
Though his acts of murder should not be forgiven , as they seem to be many , we also have to take into account that he was not equipped by his parents to deal with his negative anger so he found his relief in the killing of others .
It is sad that there are such people in our world .
March 25th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
its crazy how he killed like he did i give him props for that but it still isnt right you can blame it on his parents
September 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
a hit is a hit.
September 6th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
he reminds me of me but I’m only 17 and I can’t be a hit man right now. He was a baby boomer. I was born in 91′. I’m at a lame college right now but when I graduate I plan on becoming a hired contractor for the CIA. He could’ve joined with his skills. He reminds me also of Niko Bellic from GTA IV. Both hired guns. Both sociopaths from European origins, but one of them is fictional. The Polack and the Balkan sociopath!
September 14th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Richard Kuklinski is a complete liar – top man for Roy Demeo? In his dreams. Killer of Paul Castellano and Billoti…hahahahahahaha!! Shooting Carmine Glante with a Magnum? The Autopsy said a Shotgun – Kuklinski was a fool no more no less. He killed at most 7 people and he did that poorly, because he was caught for them – He was a woman beating, insecure fool that was so insecure that when he realised he was in prison forever he tried to seek attention from his crimes by fabricating that he was respected by the mafia – his book is so bad, it’s laughable – I would say Carlo is a fool, but his second book, Gaspipe is a good read.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:07 am
Kuklinski was narcissistic, sociopathic and a pathological liar. He was a little man (figurativly, not literally)who wanted nothing more then his fifteen minutes of fame…sounds like a typical american. The idea that Anonymous(sept. 6, 09 @ 9:22 pm)could be a CIA agent says everything I need to know about that country, and then I thank God I don’t live there with all the other Kuklinski’s and Anonymous’.(no jam to use you’re real name, huh? figures)
May 12th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
R. Bender is a real jerk. Sounds like a typical American??
Let me tell you something, Kuklinski is not the typical American. The typical American would take offense to your predisposed hate though.
What is it? Envy? Jealousy? I don’t know where you call home, but I can assure you I don’t waste precious moments of my life hating your nation.
Richard Kuklinski, despite being repugnant in many ways was not a little man. You are a little man we “thank God” you’re not here!
You punk.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:50 am
I’ve read both ice man and the casso book. I liked them both but dont like the way carlo tries to make these guys look nice and family oriented, he does it more with the casso book, its not objective at all, probably cuz casso was a family friend, but still it kind of ruins the book. its like trying to a put a a nice side to a deranged serial killer, its like carlo is casso’s groupie the way he wrote the book.