The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer

by Anthony Bruno

He was smart, merciless, and deadly. And it took someone just as tough to bring him down.
 
A mob contract killer known as “The Iceman” for hiding a body in an ice-cream truck freezer, Richard Kuklinski boasted a personal body count of more than a hundred victims. Using guns, knives, poison, ice picks, tire irons, baseball bats, and bombs, the family man from New Jersey killed for fun, for money, to cover up his own crimes, and to satisfy his inner rage. Law enforcement officials knew all about Kuklinski and had a list of his victims, but couldn’t get near him—until undercover agent Dominick Polifrone posed as a mobster and began a deadly game of cat and mouse.
 
In this harrowing true-crime account, Anthony Bruno delves into the mind of a cold-blooded killer, chronicling the Iceman’s grisly crimes and probing the bizarre dynamics of Agent Polifrone’s dangerous liaison with him. For as Polifrone carefully built up a case against Kuklinksi, he knew he was running out of time—because the Iceman was planning to kill him too.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Biography, Audiobook, History, Thriller

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Anthony Bruno is the author of the non-fiction books, THE ICEMAN: THE TRUE STORY OF A COLD-BLOODED KILLER and co-author of THE SEEKERS: A BOUNTY HUNTER'S STORY with Joshua Armstrong, which was nominated for an Edgar Award.

He is also the author of the crime novels SEVEN (based on the Brad Pitt-Morgan Freeman movie), BAD GUYS, BAD BLOOD, BAD LUCK, BAD BUSINESS, BAD MOON, BAD APPLE, DEVIL'S FOOD, DOUBLE ESPRESSO, and HOT FUDGE.

His coming-of-age novel, THE TEMPTATIONS OF ST. FRANK, and latest thriller, BLEEDERS, are ebook originals.

Reviews

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good one from the start. It gave insight into the rocky world of a mafia hitman & the life he led. It was enlightening, well-written, and straight to the point. Bruno gave just enough details about the crimes of the Iceman, his setup, & finally, his capture, so you never get bored. It was a great read!

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format Read: Audiobook free with Audible membership
Review: This was rather long and had interesting history as well as a lot of dull spots. Not my favorite true crime story, but still very informative.
Recommended For: Those who can’t get enough true crime.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've seen the Iceman Tapes, you've pretty much read this book. There was really no background, and it's almost verbatim, taken from the tapes. I was hoping for more in depth info of his other crimes, but if he didn't talk about them in the tapes, it's not in this book. There were vague mentions of other murders, but again, there were vague mentions on the tapes. I was enthralled, but I kept expecting more.

[Natalie iacovetto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not the perspective I was expecting but it wasn’t a bad book just did not meet my expectations.

[Horace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written account of the life and crimes of Richard Kuklinski. Bruno has a no nonsense conversational style that is well-suited to this kind of material. If the book has any failing it is simply that Bruno lacks the more distinctive touch of someone like Philip Carlo.

Nonetheless a strong true crime read that should appeal to those who have seen the film with Michael Shannon or the excellent HBO documentaries.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I take issue with any supposedly non-fiction book that attempts to tell me the details of conversations people had in secret when neither of them have been addressed during the writing of the book, or the private thoughts of someone who was not interviewed, or exactly what occurred in someone's head as they were dying. There is poetic license and then there is just blatant disregard for honesty.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true crime book, is one of the best written books I have ever read. It completely details the police investigation and arrest.

[Sonny Dyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read...chilling and dark. I need to actually go watch this movie, which I think I bought like 5 years ago. But for some reason I never watched it. I don't really see Michael Shannon as Richard Kuklinski, but he's such a deft actor that I'm sure he can pull it off.

If you like True Crime...give this mofo a spin.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s nothing wrong with this book, but if you want a more factual and in-depth book (and more interesting), read the Philip Carlo iceman book.
This reads like a fictional story rather than true crime. In comparison to the Carlo book this is a 2 star for me, but it is not a bad book so I’ve given it 3. It is just a glossed over version of the actual events.

[Marie Patlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well-written and super fascinating. The research and interviews were top-notch. And the testimony and daily life of the undercover agent were so interesting. I would read true crime by this author again anytime.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non-fiction book was written as a novel and kept my interest throughout.

[Tamina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an insightful and interesting read and tbh crazy as hell. Honestly insane he wasn’t caught for so long. Parts of the story were a bit repetitive but otherwise I really enjoyed this

[Jack Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew a lot about the life of "The Iceman" so it was great to read this and expand my knowledge even further. Well written and narrated. I think it would be a compelling and enjoyable read even if you weren't a big fan of true crime or the man himself.

[MaKensie Tully · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audible was perfect, accents and all. It listens like a movie, I often forgot it was a book. The ins and outs of a mafia hit man and the cop that goes undercover to catch him. It also goes into the psychology of the killers mind and childhood. Definitely a fascinating read

[Jarrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told and thorough. The part about how they setup and captured Rich is fantastic and the narrator of the audible edition is really good.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoiler Alerts* Excellent read. I have seen the HBO Iceman series so was already familiar with some of this story. Anthony Bruno did a great job of taking us through Kulkinski's progression as he transformed from being a mafia hitman to someone who killed for fun, for money, to satisfy his inner rage, and to cover up his own crimes. If someone made him mad because of a comment that was made, it was more than likely that, Kulkinski would murder him. Bruno took us through the whole story of Kulkinski's crimes and the downright weird relationship between Kulkinski and Dominick Polifrone, the undercover agent who spent over a year and a half building a case against Kulkinski.

It was a well written book, about an intriguing man who had not emotional response to having done harm to so many people. The only time he showed any emotion was when he talked about his family. It is scary to think that this man was once out on the street walking free in the community. It also makes you wonder how many more there are like him out there. I highly recommend this book

[Frank Schwertfeger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the twice over the past twenty years. The first time it was ok to read, but it left a lot of questions. It does not go very deep into the case.
At the end of the book I felt myself both times left with the impression, that the author just repeats what the actors of the case want to make him belief.
I am of opinion that Kuklinski invented his mafia connections (i.e. the Roy DeMeo line) to make himself seem more important. The cases he was convicted of seem to be slutty work compared to the superkiller skills you read about elsewhere in the book. As if you read about two killers in one person (the ultra-professional contract killer, who was never caught, because he was so good at what he did, and on the other side, the average, greedy killer, who kills persons so near to him that in real life it wouldn't take a Sherlock Holmes to know who the main suspect was).
In summing up I'd say: good average stuff, interesting story, but to much working with cliches.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched the Iceman Tapes in a Forensic Psychology class and was completely enthralled with the story. Kuklinski's laid-back manner and attention to detail in his killings made him unique compared to the other cases we studied and so, tired of hearing me talk about him, a friend of mine gifted me this book! I wanted to love this book so much, and there were certainly sections that I did (hence the 4 stars) but overall, the Iceman Tapes outshine the book. In the tapes there is no dramatization, just raw facts that I think that add to the utter horror of each description as you mentally picture Kuklinski's actions. I would recommend this book to someone that enjoys "real crime" novels, but overall save your time and let Kuklinski chill your bones in the Iceman Tapes.

[Luke Ahearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me likely

Me likely Me likely Me likely
Me likely Me likely Me likely
Me likely Me likely Me likely
Me likely Me likely Me likely
Me likely Me likely Me likely
I really do like a lot.

[Michelle Koval-diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Chilling.

[Bob O'G · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Iceman reads much more like a crime novel than it does a work of nonfiction. The prose and dialogue is very common to that of other crime thrillers. However, being a true story, I was impressed with how fast moving the book was. Bruno's book on Richard Kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by FBI agent Dom Polifrone and his infiltration of the Iceman killer. Readers expecting insight into the mind of Kuklinski, a man who claims to have murdered over one hundred people, will likely be disappointed. There are some slight references to some of the murders he committed outside of the realm of Polifrone's investigation, however those references are not always grounded in proof. There is actually quite a bit of evidence that seems to show that Kuklinski made up a good deal of his notoriety simply for the sake of notoriety.

I'd recommend this book to crime enthusiasts only. I did not find The Iceman to be a gripping procedural nor did I learn enough about to Kuklinski to justify the short time spent reading it. The most disturbing sequence in the book is when Kuklinski poisons an associates hamburger with cyanide, and then he and another man watch the man writhe around on the floor in anguish while they laugh. It was one of the only real insightful moments in the book. Kuklinski himself comes off a bit like a neanderthal. He was essentially convicted because he flapped his lips in a very careless way to a man he barely knew (who happened to be an undercover agent). A mastermind, he was not. At least not in this version.

[Daniel Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer" by Anthony Bruno is a riveting true crime biography that chronicles the life of Richard Kuklinski, one of the most notorious contract killers in American history. Kuklinski, nicknamed "The Iceman" due to his methodical and emotionless demeanor, claimed to have murdered over 100 people during his criminal career.

Anthony Bruno's book delves deep into Kuklinski's troubled childhood, his descent into a life of crime, and his chilling methods of murder. Drawing from interviews with Kuklinski himself, as well as law enforcement officials and family members, Bruno provides a comprehensive and often disturbing account of Kuklinski's life and crimes.

Throughout the book, Bruno explores the psychology of a killer like Kuklinski, examining the factors that may have contributed to his violent behavior and his ability to compartmentalize his actions. He also delves into the intricacies of Kuklinski's criminal enterprises, including his relationships with organized crime figures and his methods of disposing of bodies.

"The Iceman" is praised for its gripping storytelling and its ability to provide insight into the mind of a killer. Bruno's meticulous research and attention to detail make for a compelling read, offering readers a glimpse into the dark and twisted world of Richard Kuklinski. Overall, the book is a must-read for true crime aficionados and anyone interested in the psychology of serial killers.

[Matt Boak · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a trashy story about trashy people told in a trashy way; the narrative style reminded me of the sort of over-dramatised fiction articles you sometimes find in men’s lifestyle magazines that come across as if they were written by a 15 y/o boy.

Given this is a book about mafia-connected criminals, it’s probably fair to expect a decent degree of trash. The story itself focuses mainly on the efforts to catch Kuklinski with dramatised scenes recounting the setting of the murders for which he was convicted. All in all, at that point it’s a 3/5 read.

However I knocked another star off for its massive over-egging of his crimes in general. Once imprisoned, Kuklinski started “confessing” to dozens of additional murders, including the likes of Paul Castellano and Carmine Galante whom pretty much everyone out there knows he could have had nothing to do with.

When you understand the wider context and that he may well have been quite a low level criminal who just killed his crew to stop them grassing on him, and then tried to raise his profile once he knew there was no chance of getting out of prison, it sets the whole book in a different light.

If you want a proper mob story, I strongly recommend Mob Boss - the story of Little Al D’Arco. Incredible tale of a proper mob figure, brilliantly told without the over dramatic prose.

[Fred · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more about the undercover investigation of the Iceman. A lot of the conversations are "you got the stuff?" "not yet. you got the coke?" "no. you got the cyanide?" "no". I understand an investigation like this would be a lot of back and forth, them doing this strange dance to get information on one another, but so much of it became filler.

What is also filler is just letting Richard Kuklinski go on about all these killings. A majority of them don't have any proof, like him saying he worked for and killed Roy DeMeo. It's not as bad as the Carlo book, where Kuklinski is a superhero hitman. Instead this book turns Mr. Softee into the superhero hitman who uses RC cars with explosives and travels the world with Kuklinski doing hits. This isn't to say this book doesn't include a whole chapter of just taking Kuklinski's word for a whole heap of murders.

From his Wikipedia: "In 2006, Paul Smith, a member of the task force involved in arresting Kuklinski – and later a supervisor of the organized crime division of the New Jersey Attorney General's office – said: "I checked every one of the murders Kuklinski said he committed, and not one was true.""

I do need to say the beginning with Kuklinski's first kill when he was a kid (maybe not factual) is a compelling read.

[Mitchell St.John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the audiobook on this one. This may be closer to a 3.5, but I'm rounding down. I really enjoyed this book, but it feels like the author took a lot of creative license and I don't really trust that things occured as they're depicted. Still, I enjoyed this book more than the books I've rated 3. With nonfiction books, there's always a struggle between inundating us with sources for credibility and letting the story flow freely without getting bogged down with evidence. This book leans towards the latter.

The author states in the preface that all quotations are pulled from existing evidence. I think that adds up, but the book also goes into detail about every thought held by every person at every moment. Saying the quotes are dutifully sourced is a bit of a cheap trick since he intentionally avoids saying whether the thoughts were taken from actual testimony of the people involved. The book gives exact thoughts and motivations for everything the Iceman does, and yet the author states at the end of the book that the Iceman remained mum about many things after being caught. I believe the thoughts were likely imagined, possibly educated guesses. As a result the book reads easily, and is very entertaining, but I kept in mind that I was likely reading a combination of fact and fiction.

In the end, I got past the loose use of sources here, but I will admit I felt a little icky about it. I really enjoyed this book, however, and an exact retelling with only sources would likely be less entertaining.

The story is great, well written, and the narrator has a perfect hard boiled crime voice that fits the writing style. The Iceman is pretty unique as a serial killer who seemingly enjoyed killing but usually killed to serve some purpose. It's the story of someone who saw murder as a means of living, a perfectly normal way of dealing with things in his life. I don't know if I've read about someone with this exact mindset and it's pretty fascinating. The detective work reads like the typical story of stings and informants. I enjoyed these parts, but the really interesting thing here is getting in the Iceman's head. It's a quick, entertaining read that really hit the spot for me.

[Ebb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting story of an NJ serial killer. I had not ever heard of The Iceman but it was a crazy story of a very confident man who found a way to remove almost every bothersome person he came across through murder. I do recommend the book because the story itself is fascinating however, the book read a bit too much like fiction for my taste. The issue I had is that it often didn't feel fact-based because the narrative would often describe the internal thoughts and feelings of victims when there is no witness to these moments. One part in particular describes one of the victims inner thoughts while they were alone in a motel room shortly before their murder. The author took a few liberties when describing scenes such as this, which is why I had to dock it a couple of stars.

[Jeff Beeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The family man who was a hit man

This well researched true crime work is fascinating in revealing portions of the personality of Richard Kuklinski, married and a father of three children in suburban NJ, who also happens to practice his profession of killing people.
Very readable, the book outlines the quirks of the hit man, his seemingly loving relationship with his children, while paradoxically describing the heinously cruel manner of his murders. His miserable spouse fears his dark side yet does not know how he makes his living. She lives as a captive in a very nice externally viewed lifestyle while suffering the periodic abuse of her “family man” husband. An interesting tale, well told.

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my humble opinion, I think this book felt too fictitious. When going through it, it felt like I’m reading another mystery novel. Although I did appreciate it as it didn’t make me think a lot as my head automatically assumed it was fiction. The biography was well-written and showed us how much an undercover job takes a toll on the cop. This book is for the people who can’t stomach the gore part of true crime. I wanted more gory details of his killings instead of the whole catching him ordeal. Also Lenny ( the store owner) deserves credit. He basically gave the okay on Dom (the undercover cop) and only then Richie/The iceman trusted him. Good thing they caught him🫡

[Anita Horan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this biography. The writing style is unique, it almost fictionalises the settings, a perfect blend of describing The Iceman's life through the eyes of the police, then going inside the everyday activities and thoughts of The Iceman from his perspective.

The narration is downplayed and excellent. I couldn't help but think of Tony Soprano when listening to the almost whispered interpretation of The Iceman's voice.

A little gruesome in parts, but he is serial killer. Interesting to learn how the police work with undercover agents too.

[Brad Lockey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this on 4 long walks last week and it made me laugh how I would walk by strangers, smile, wave, pat their dog on the head, etc...; all while I was listening to this sadistic book about a twisted mob hitman.
Seriously though, this book kept my interest along the way and was a great chronology of events up to the apprehension of Richard Kuklinksi, AKA, The Iceman.
Now, hence the name, this dude was Cold (note that capital "C").
The other cool thing was that this was narrated by Bronson Pinchot ... none other than Balki Bartokomous from Perfect Strangers.