Welcome to the first review of 2022!
The first novel of January was about true crime! Last year I was gifted several true crime novels and loved learning about actual crimes committed. This year, I had the pleasure of reading about a mafia contract killer known as "The Ice Man".
The Ice Man: Confessions Of A Mafia Contract Killer
Born in April of 1935, the infamous "Ice Man" grew up to become one of the top hitmen for all seven East coast crime families in the United States. Richard Kuklinski's childhood was full of neglect and abuse from both his parents, contributing to his 'ice' exterior in adolescence and adulthood.
Kuklinski was a notorious contract killer, first employed by a member of the DeCavalCante crime family in New Jersey. Ruthless and methodical in his killing, the "Ice Man" went unnoticed by local and federal authorities for years as many cases went unsolved. Sammy the "the Bull" Gravano chose him for a partner to kill Paul Castellano. John Gotti hired Kuklinski to torture and kill his neighbor.
Torture, was indeed, one of the "Ice Man's" favorite part of being a hitman. Several of his victims were tortured in caves that housed rats. The 'mark', as he called them, would be left in the cave where the rats would eat their flesh and organs until nothing but the bones left behind. When proof of torture was required, Kuklinski often cut off a piece of the victim's body or recorded the rats knawing on the mark.
Believing to have killed over two hundred men, Kuklinski lived a double life as a hitman and a husband and father with three children. He was kind to children, held neighborhood parties, and lived a traditional lifestyle.
And the most interesting fact?
His family never suspected a thing.
Philip Carlo sat down with Richard Kuklinski while he was serving out his prison sentence and wrote a detailed account of his life. From childhood to his last murder, Carlo is able to capture the chilling details of the "Ice Man".
Carlo's writing makes the reader feel as if they are right there with Kuklinski as he plans out how he will capture and murder the mark. As the top mafia hitman, Kuklinski's reputation is captured through Carlo's detailed account of the major events in the killer's life.
To wrap up this review, I just want to say how interesting this was to read! My boyfriend is a major fan of true crime and the history of the mafia. This part of history is also becoming one of my favorite things to learn about. I hope you give this novel a chance!
5/5 stars.
Thank you for reading!
Until next time,
Riss Reviews
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Sources: All photos belong to their original owners, I do not own them.
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