What do you think?
Rate this book
Jackie Swaitkowski #3
Ice Cap: A Mystery
A new addition to this fun, smartly-plotted series starring Jackie Swaitkowski, Hamptons lawyer to the rich and criminal
It’s the middle of the worst winter on record in the Hamptons, and Jackie Swaitkowski’s client, Franco Raffinni, is headed for a 1st degree murder rap. The case pulls her reluctantly back into her late-husband’s extended, and partly nutty family, entangles her in intrigue both criminal and romantic, and challenges her basic principles of right and wrong. Crazy weather, crazy artists, the uniquely close-knit and colorful Polish-American community in the East End of Long Island, organized crime and digital wizardry all play a role in a murder mystery that could only happen in the Hamptons.
It’s the middle of the worst winter on record in the Hamptons, and Jackie Swaitkowski’s client, Franco Raffinni, is headed for a 1st degree murder rap. The case pulls her reluctantly back into her late-husband’s extended, and partly nutty family, entangles her in intrigue both criminal and romantic, and challenges her basic principles of right and wrong. Crazy weather, crazy artists, the uniquely close-knit and colorful Polish-American community in the East End of Long Island, organized crime and digital wizardry all play a role in a murder mystery that could only happen in the Hamptons.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2012
4 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 12, 2019
It’s the middle of the worst winter on record in the Hamptons, and Jackie Swaitkowski’s client, Franco Raffinni, is headed for a 1st degree murder rap. The case pulls her reluctantly back into her late-husband’s extended, and partly nutty family, entangles her in intrigue both criminal and romantic, and challenges her basic principles of right and wrong. Crazy weather, crazy artists, the uniquely close-knit and colorful Polish-American community in the East End of Long Island, organized crime and digital wizardry all play a role in a murder mystery that could only happen in the Hamptons.
March 8, 2019
I chose this book to read during a snowy few days in Denver partly because it was set during a snow storm on Long Island. The book's setting was perfect: I enjoyed snuggling under a blanket inside, watching the snow fall outside, and reading about snow falling in other parts of the world. But overall, although I did finish the book, I didn't find the characters or plot very stimulating.
October 15, 2023
Never judge a book by its cover- I thought this was going to be a madcap mystery. Nope. A convoluted murder mystery set around Long Island amid the snowstorm of the century. I did not get the location descriptions as I don't know that area at all. All of the characters are very interesting. Jackie's friends and colleagues more so than her extended ex-in- laws.
December 10, 2017
Awful writing, boring characters, terrible mystery. I wanted to pick a random book up and just read it. After reading a super long novel, this seemed like a perfect easy read. It was anything but that.
January 27, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more in the series (and parallel series). It definitely reminds me of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series, but not quites as collected. Although I was constantly looking forward to picking this book back up, the ending fell short.
June 20, 2015
This is my first "Jackie Swaitkowski series" by Chris Knopf, and I enjoyed it though not the the point of urging it on ther readers. Ironically, it reverses the reactions I have to the Sam Acquillo series by Knopf. For "Jackie," this plot is meticulously constructed and it's fun to play along. There are enough clues that you might guess who did what. On the other hand, the wit and repartee and literary writing are far less well done here.
I don't bond to Jackie much as a protagonist, and actually enjoy her more in the "Sam: series. I also thought she read too much like a genderless or male character, but my wife assured me that Knopf had written a female character who seemed of that gender t a female reader. In general, the characters in this effort lack the verve and distinctiveness seen in the Sam Acquillo series, at least to me.
Some things bother me a bit in both series. Jackie, like Sam, has an alcohol problem. I have never seen a woman drink two full bottles of wine with a meal, but apparently Knopf can envision this. There is also the usual preoccupation with Ivy League or similar educational pedigrees. Franco, who is accused of murder, is a Duke graduate, but his dialogue is not on the level of a graduate if any college, really, and certainly not what one would expect from a highly selective place like Duke.
The book would benefit from a map of the Buczek property, though I realize that creates a plot issue. A family tree for the Buczeks etc. would also help. I had trouble keeping following where things were on the former farm, and who was related to whom.
I don't bond to Jackie much as a protagonist, and actually enjoy her more in the "Sam: series. I also thought she read too much like a genderless or male character, but my wife assured me that Knopf had written a female character who seemed of that gender t a female reader. In general, the characters in this effort lack the verve and distinctiveness seen in the Sam Acquillo series, at least to me.
Some things bother me a bit in both series. Jackie, like Sam, has an alcohol problem. I have never seen a woman drink two full bottles of wine with a meal, but apparently Knopf can envision this. There is also the usual preoccupation with Ivy League or similar educational pedigrees. Franco, who is accused of murder, is a Duke graduate, but his dialogue is not on the level of a graduate if any college, really, and certainly not what one would expect from a highly selective place like Duke.
The book would benefit from a map of the Buczek property, though I realize that creates a plot issue. A family tree for the Buczeks etc. would also help. I had trouble keeping following where things were on the former farm, and who was related to whom.
March 22, 2012
Jackie Swaitkowski is an attorney practicing law in the Hamptons of Long Island. Her client is accused of murdering her late husband’s uncle … and nobody wants to believe her client’s innocent.
The worst winter on record dumps endless snow on the Hamptons, which hampers our heroine’s attempts to discover who really committed the murder. Of course, Jackie’s the only person who believes Franco Raffinni is innocent and she really has to work at it. Also hampering her efforts to solve the mystery are members of her husband’s family and the Polish-American community in which they live, the victim’s widow, and emissaries of a local mob boss whose visits become increasingly more threatening and violent.
As a former resident of Long Island, I found myself skimming over the numerous references to the Hamptons; however, Jackie’s clever, witty, and entertaining personality MORE than made up for that minor flaw and I certainly didn’t skim anywhere else! I laughed out loud numerous times as I read this book in one sitting. Knopf does an excellent job writing from the perspective of his female character and I’ll be checking out more of Jackie’s adventures.
You shouldn’t miss this one.
The worst winter on record dumps endless snow on the Hamptons, which hampers our heroine’s attempts to discover who really committed the murder. Of course, Jackie’s the only person who believes Franco Raffinni is innocent and she really has to work at it. Also hampering her efforts to solve the mystery are members of her husband’s family and the Polish-American community in which they live, the victim’s widow, and emissaries of a local mob boss whose visits become increasingly more threatening and violent.
As a former resident of Long Island, I found myself skimming over the numerous references to the Hamptons; however, Jackie’s clever, witty, and entertaining personality MORE than made up for that minor flaw and I certainly didn’t skim anywhere else! I laughed out loud numerous times as I read this book in one sitting. Knopf does an excellent job writing from the perspective of his female character and I’ll be checking out more of Jackie’s adventures.
You shouldn’t miss this one.
March 22, 2012
Jackie Swaitkowski is an attorney practicing law in the Hamptons of Long Island. Her client is accused of murdering her late husband’s uncle … and nobody wants to believe her client’s innocent.
The worst winter on record dumps endless snow on the Hamptons, which hampers our heroine’s attempts to discover who really committed the murder. Of course, Jackie’s the only person who believes Franco Raffinni is innocent and she really has to work at it. Also hampering her efforts to solve the mystery are members of her husband’s family and the Polish-American community in which they live, the victim’s widow, and emissaries of a local mob boss whose visits become increasingly more threatening and violent.
As a former resident of Long Island, I found myself skimming over the numerous references to the Hamptons; however, Jackie’s clever, witty, and entertaining personality MORE than made up for that minor flaw and I certainly didn’t skim anywhere else! I laughed out loud numerous times as I read this book in one sitting. Knopf does an excellent job writing from the perspective of his female character and I’ll be checking out more of Jackie’s adventures.
You shouldn’t miss this one.
The worst winter on record dumps endless snow on the Hamptons, which hampers our heroine’s attempts to discover who really committed the murder. Of course, Jackie’s the only person who believes Franco Raffinni is innocent and she really has to work at it. Also hampering her efforts to solve the mystery are members of her husband’s family and the Polish-American community in which they live, the victim’s widow, and emissaries of a local mob boss whose visits become increasingly more threatening and violent.
As a former resident of Long Island, I found myself skimming over the numerous references to the Hamptons; however, Jackie’s clever, witty, and entertaining personality MORE than made up for that minor flaw and I certainly didn’t skim anywhere else! I laughed out loud numerous times as I read this book in one sitting. Knopf does an excellent job writing from the perspective of his female character and I’ll be checking out more of Jackie’s adventures.
You shouldn’t miss this one.
June 10, 2012
In attorney Jackie Swaitkowski, Chris Knopf has created one of the most believable and engaging heroines in crime fiction. Jackie is strong, stubborn, and feisty without being masculine or abrasive. Her ability to do a cynical job without cynicism is admirable, and her optimistic belief in human nature endearing. When a distant relation by marriage is murdered and a client of Jackie’s the prime suspect, Jackie is torn between her loyalty to family and her duty to a client whose innocence she is beginning to doubt. As expected, her investigation leads her into danger, but it also leads her to come to terms with her own vulnerabilities and the emotional shell that both protects and imprisons her. Those familiar with Knopf’s popular Sam Aquillo series will recognize old friends Sam, Eddie, Burton, and Harry, but from a fresh new perspective. ICE CAP is an enjoyable and finely crafted mystery, one you won’t want to miss.
November 5, 2013
Former Hamptons real estate (and now criminal defense) lawyer Jackie Swaitkowski can be a nerve-racking companion at times. Even Jackie admits to a “head so full of noise” (p157) that it practically has an FCC broadcast wavelength. In ICE CAP, familiar characters like cabinetmaker/sleuth Sam Acquillo and “freelance logistics expert” Harry Goodlander share the stage with Jackie and interesting new female originals with names like “UB45JK” and “Dayna Red.” Plotwise, it’s the worst winter on record in the Hamptons, and Jackie Swaitkowski’s hapless client, Franco Raffinni, is headed for a murder conviction unless she can burrow underneath tons of snowfall and obfuscating testimony to the truth. The distinguishing feature of this Chris Knopf mystery isn’t so much the mystery as the unexpected snow-bound setting. It’s worth reading just for the battle between two trucks outfitted with snow plows, charging each other like two diesel-fueled triceratopses.
April 28, 2016
this is the jackie series of the sam and eddie books. she is the lawyer who is now dealing in criminal cases.
there is the worst snowstorm and she goes to a house where a dead body is found in the snow. she uncovers what really happened and that there is a bunker under the snow covered hill with stolen cars in it. she finds it thru the satellite photos from the program her computer geek friend gave her. i would love to have access to the data bases she has!
her friend harry and sam are both in this book, tho not enough eddie the dog!
there is the worst snowstorm and she goes to a house where a dead body is found in the snow. she uncovers what really happened and that there is a bunker under the snow covered hill with stolen cars in it. she finds it thru the satellite photos from the program her computer geek friend gave her. i would love to have access to the data bases she has!
her friend harry and sam are both in this book, tho not enough eddie the dog!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2012
I read this along with my 13 year old nephew for his summer reading project. I made him read two chapters a day and quizzed him on the chapter's contents. It was a light, fun book with a pretty decent mystery at its core. It kept me engrossed throughout the reading although there were no surprises at the end. A good beach read.
June 26, 2012
I finished this, but I am not sure why. I didn't connect with the characters, I figured out the villian right away and I really thought the main character was too obviously a female written from a male point of view.
September 13, 2012
This is a well-told attorney as PI novel that avoids going into court and most of the other legal stuff that usually weighs down books like this.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...
July 8, 2012
I like Jackie. She's smart, but sometimes a bit too obsessive almost to the point of being self-destructive. Still, it's an amusing read.
February 15, 2013
A fun read
March 10, 2013
I like this series. I like the Sam Acquillo one a little bit better, but this one is pretty good as well.
April 12, 2013
Fun mystery. Good characters, interesting story. Enjoyed this book.
January 15, 2016
Great, really fun book!
August 8, 2012
Had trouble with her wording but after a few drinks, nadda problem. :)
November 13, 2012
I cannot be dispassionate. I love Jackie and Harry and Sam and Eddie...blah blah blah
April 6, 2013
an enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews