The Ice House

by John Connor

Carl Bowman is a killer. An assassin for hire whose latest assignment is to take out a ten-year-old girl. He doesn't know what she's done or why someone wants her dead. He just knows he has to kill her. But with the girl in his sights, Carl can't bring himself to pull the trigger. Instead he goes on the run, taking her with him.

In a small village in Southern Spain, Julia Martin's carefully constructed life is falling apart. Her husband and his mistress have been killed in an explosion in their home and her daughter, Rebecca, has disappeared. Julia has been fleeing the secrets of her past for over a decade and it seems they've finally caught up with her.

To get her daughter back, Julia must confront a truth she's spent years running from and call on someone she's done everything in her power to avoid.

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2015

About the author

John Connor is the pen name of Tom Winship. John Connor recently left his job as a barrister to write full time. During the fifteen years of his legal career he prosecuted numerous homicide cases in West Yorkshire and London. He advised the police in numerous proactive drugs and organised crime operations, many involving covert activity. He now lives in Brussels with his wife and two young children.

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

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carl is an assassin and his latest target is a 10 year old girl in Spain. Something doesn't feel right and he can't do as he's ordered. Then something unexpected happens taking the story in a new direction. While the premise was good, there was just something lacking and I didn't enjoy this as much as I expected to.

[Ann Chappe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea at all. Action action action but not a well crafted plot and really lifeless characters... I much prefer the detective stories!

[G.J. Minett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. John Connor gets better with every book and is now one of my favourites. Brilliantly crafted plot, sustained suspense and a climax that is really convincing. He's now on the must read list.

[Lisa Boehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very spine chilling it's a book I couldn't put down I strongly recommend not reading this book at night as it will keep you awake for hours . A very good author that knows what a thriller really needs

[Steven Lim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy it. It was overly descriptive, until I got bored... If it was to be made into a movie, it would have been ok I think.

[Jane Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable from the start

[Stuart Haining · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10 VFM 12%. Maybe lawyers can’t right good plots? But John Connor can certainly build the tension well - another enjoyable read only spoilt by a lacklustre plot and the fact I guessed most of the ending 40% through, won’t read again.

[Ericka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nakakahook yung umpisang part. Napapaturn ka talaga ng pages nang tuloy-tuloy, ganun ako nag-invest sa kanya.

Yung dulong part din, medyo predictable na dahil nalang din sa masyadong dominant na pagka-villain ng ugali nung antagonist dun sa story.

I liked siguro mga up until 70% of the book pero nung nalaman ko na kung sino ang mastermind at kung ano yung mga possible na mangyari next, doon na bumagal yung pagnanarrate sa story hanggang sa natapos ko nalang sya for the sake na matapos sya.

[ReadingTheDots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carl Bowman's job is to do what he's hired to do, kill! When he is on site, he finds he cannot kill ten-year-old Rebecca Martin. So, instead, he takes her away with him. Her home has exploded, and he wants to keep her safe until he can reunite her with her mother. But when he turns to family for help, he's left to figure out who is friend and who is foe.

John Connor has penned a fast-moving and intricately put together tale. One that begins by asking why would anyone want to kill a child? And, finally, how can anyone hate so much? This was a good read.

[Urszula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was fast moving, with interesting flashbacks to the past. I really liked Carl/Alex and his moral compass. From the start I thought his family especially his older brother were very fishy with the tendency for mafia like behaviour.

A little bit far fetched this story kept the reader interested and wanting to know who and especially why wants a young girl killed.

[Nikki Mcelman-doucette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately predictable with a disappointingly vague ending

[Dion · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10. Some promise, but just doesn't let you care enough for the characters somehow.

[Jane]

Ok but predictable. Very masculine.