Philip CarloBesprekingen

Richard Kuklinski became an independent hit man for the Easr Coast Mafia. For 43 years he was a ruthless killer and devoted family man. He had no feelings for his victims, it was just a job.
Philip Carlo tells of his early unloved deprived childhood, his progression up the underworld chain to his intimate demise. His research into Richard's career is well done leaving minimal questions unanswered.
Richard was a planner, resourceful, patient, clever and lucky to last so long in an industry that has no trouble eliminating perceived problem people ie knew where the bodies were buried.
His drinking and gambling took most of his money, so what was it all for?

Couldn't finish this book. Read like it was written by a 16 yo. Also i don't believe half the stuff that was written. I was so looking forward to this book and it so disappointed me.

A fascinating look into the mind of a psychopath.

This was a fascinating book, mostly because the author has described everything as it happened, which I deem to be a very hard thing to do considering a) the subject and b) how much research he has put into this.

First, Richard Ramirez is a serial killer seldom witnessed. He was intelligent, driven by simple, yet complex desires, a Satanist and had a very deranged childhood, seemingly propelled by his family troubles, including a somewhat failed father and older brothers who were all involved in crime and drugs.

Add the facts that Ramirez was grown up near a nuclear bomb-testing ground and had some head-trauma at an early age, but that's not as interesting as the following, from the book:

Carlo: [...] Your cousin Mike had just returned from the Vietnam and he was stressed because of the war, from being in three tours of duty, and got into an argument one day with his wife and shot her and killed her. Could you tell us how that made you feel, to see that—and later on when you went back with your dad—

Ramirez: Well, yes it was—

Carlo: How old were you? Ten or eleven?

Ramirez: Thereabouts. I'm not sure, ten or eleven. I can't say for sure, I was probably eleven. It was a sunny day, I had been with Mike that day hanging out and...uh...he got to his house about 3 p.m.—I was with him. The incident happened...uh...he was arrested, taken to jail, His...Mike’s mother called my father and my mother a week or two later asking them if they would go into the house and get some things for them. I remember me and my father and my mother going. We parked the truck. Me and my father went inside not knowing what we would find—(Tape shuts off.)

Ramirez: It was the strangest experience. I mean being there after Jessie had been killed. The...the aura of it was still kind of like hanging in the air. It was...kind of mystical. I could still smell her blood. Sunlight was streaming into the room and you could see particles of dust in the golden beams of sunlight.

Carlo: What kind of effect did this all have on you, you think?

Ramirez: Strange. I mean to see something like that—the line between life and death right there in front of me. Intense. When she went down I saw it all in slow motion.

Carlo: He shot her in front of you, Richard?

Ramirez: Yes, me and my two cousins, his two kids, boys three and six.

Carlo: How close?

Ramirez: A few feet away.

Carlo: Your cousin Mike also killed—raped and killed, women over in ’Nam, didn’t he?

Ramirez: Yes.

Carlo: How do you know?

Ramirez: He told me all about it and I saw Polaroid photos he had.

Carlo: Please tell us about that, Richard.

Ramirez: He had a shoebox in his closet. It was filled with these Polaroid photographs of women and girls he took into the jungle and did.

Carlo: Did?

Ramirez: Raped and killed them. Sisters, even a family two daughters and the mother. He tore off their clothes and had them naked tied to a tree. In another one there they were dead. He cut off their heads.

Carlo: Did he rape them too?

Ramirez: Yeah, of course, while they were tied to the tree, all three of them, in front of each other.

Carlo: He told you this?

Ramirez: Yeah, told me all about it... exactly what he did. We used to go for joy rides all around El Paso, smoke pot, listen to the radio and he’d tell me what he did with the women.

Carlo: You know how many he raped and killed?

Ramirez: Over twenty for sure. He had photographs of diem. Young girls mostly; but all ages. They were the enemy; they were, you know, V.C., no one gave a fuck.

Carlo: What kind.. . what kind of effect did this have on you?

Ramirez: Heavy. I used to think about them, I mean all that.

Carlo: Sexually, Richard?

Ramirez: Fuck yeah, of course, sexually. It was all about sex.

Carlo: They were a turn on? The photographs?

Ramirez: Yes, very much so.

Carlo: Do you think seeing those pictures helped you walk the road you eventually traveled?

Ramirez: It’s hard to say. I’m not blaming my cousin for anything; I want that clear. This just happened.

Carlo: He also taught you about jungle warfare, guerilla fighting; how to kill people, correct?

Ramirez: Yes, he did. How to use a knife, where to shoot someone. How to be invisible at night... the whole enchilada.

Carlo: Invisible, how?

Ramirez: Wear all black, even shoes and socks, with a black hat with the brim pulled down to cover your face so the light can reflect off it. Avoiding the reflection of light, that's the key.

Carlo: Interesting.

Ramirez: For me it was all very interesting...I was already stealing, I mean getting into people's houses at night and stealing things and all that helped.

Carlo: Did he teach you how to shoot?

Ramirez: No. My Dad did. But my cousin told me where to hit someone for the maximum effect.

Carlo: Where?

Ramirez: The head, of course.

Carlo: Any particular spot?

Ramirez: Above the ear.

Carlo: And the knife, I mean what is the best place to use it?

Ramirez: Across the throat. It's called a stab/slash wound. That is you drive the point into the side of the neck then pull it across the throat. That cuts both the windpipe and the arteries, always lethal.

Carlo: I see. (Tape shuts off.)

The book is strong in the sense that it deals with a lot of details. While the court goings-on made me restless they were detailed enough to break out the innards of Ramirez's defense team's inadequacies, Ramirez's unwillingness to admit guilt and his slew of admirers in the court-room, surrounded by the victims' families and friends. All very strange.

The strangest of all is Ramirez, though; he killed seemingly indiscriminately to please Satan. As he did, he acted savagely. Afterwards, he behaved differently. In jail, he turned nice and courteous (mostly). Today he thrives on writing with people and selling drawings with satanic motifs on them, having married one of his suitors and biggest defenders.

The book made me cry and feel completely sick at times, as the first part describes his crimes and deeds in large. His family's involvement and bereft is described in great detail too, actually painting a picture of a very versatile man, a person and - thankfully - an individual, not a Monster.

All in all: brilliant research, but I still wonder what separates "criminalist" and "criminologist" in Carlo's world.

un libro muy muy muy bueno. es impresionante la manera en la cual te enganchas, es muy facil de leer y sin embargo es uno de los libros mas tristes, aterradorers, impactantes, sordidos y oscuros que he podido leer. especialmente cuando te das cuenta que lo que estas leyendo, no es ficción.

I loved how accurate this book was. I usually get bored very easily if there are lots of information but it was not the case right now (besides the trial part which was very boring). The crime details were keeping me interested and also made me feel uncomfortable sometimes. I always thought that serial killers are interesting but never tried to get to know them better. Now that I did, I should continue.

This is the true story of Richard Ramirez aka the Night Stalker who terrorised California in the mid 1980's he snuck into peoples houses when they were sleeping raped, tortured and killed them.
Books in 4 parts 1st part is the crimes, 2nd part is his childhood,3rd part Capture/Court case, 4th part Conviction Aftermath.
My only fault with this book is there is to much detail regarding the court case, which I got a bit bored with.
Overall though a well written and researched book.
p.s Richard Ramirez was a horrible person.

the story of the late Richard Ramirez of his crimes and how he was captured and his court trial and his followers a very weird person and feared by many until he was captured a lot of people in California never felt safe until the night stalker was arrested and put in jail on death row where he died last year without being exected.

4.5 stars. Very good book.
I don't know what it is with Mister Carlo but he has a gift to make the meanest people seem human. He shows us not only the negative sides but also some of the good. That was the case with Richard Ramirez and now with Richard Kuklinski.
I thought I would not like Mafia books but this book proved me wrong. These guys are so cruel. Sometimes it was even for me, an avid true crime reader hard to swallow. (oops no point intended) ;)

A man kills Catholic priests in New York and Italy in revenge for his childhood sexual abuse and in retaliation for the church's protection of molesters.

This was an excellent book. It is about a very prolific serial killer and it contains thrills and action than the average fiction crime book. It really is an amazing story and the writing captures that. Richard Kuklinski is less interesting in some respects than other serial killers because he's quite sane, but I still enjoyed it.

Durante más de cuarenta años, Richard Kuklinski, «el Hombre de Hielo», vivió una doble vida que superó con creces lo que se puede ver en Los Soprano. Aunque se había convertido en uno de los asesinos profesionales más temibles de la historia de los Estados Unidos, no dejaba de invitar a sus vecinos a alegres barbacoas en un barrio residencial de Nueva Jersey.

Richard Kuklinski participó, bajo las órdenes de Sammy Gravano, «el Toro», en la ejecución de Paul Castellano en el restaurante Sparks. John Gotti lo contrató para que matara a un vecino suyo que había atropellado a su hijo accidentalmente. También desempeñó un papel activo en la muerte de Jimmy Hoffa.

Kuklinski cobraba un suplemento cuando le encargaban que hiciera sufrir a sus víctimas. Realizaba este sádico trabajo con dedicación y con fría eficiencia, sin dejar descontentos a sus clientes jamás.

Según sus propios cálculos, mató a más de doscientas personas, y se enorgullecía de su astucia y de la variedad y contundencia de las técnicas que empleaba. Además, Kuklinski viajó para matar por los Estados Unidos y en otras partes del mundo, como Europa y América del Sur. Mientras tanto, se casó y tuvo tres hijos, a los que envió a una escuela católica.

Su hija padecía una enfermedad por la que tenía que estar ingresada con frecuencia en hospitales infantiles, donde el padre se ganó una buena reputación por su dedicación como padre y por el cariño y las atenciones que prestaba a los demás niños.

Su familia no sospechó nada jamás. Desde prisión, Kuklinski accedió conceder una serie de entrevistas.

Quite the life this killer has lead. When you hear all the different ways and how he killed it is horrifying yet interesting. Phillip Carlo really does a good job getting into the feelings(if he had any) and the stories Richard had to tell

Well Done

Very good book. I was enthralled. He lived quite the interesting life. From interview monsters such as the night stalker to getting molested as a child. Then having to face ALS seems like to much. I really felt for him but his outlook was outstanding. I hope he is running where ever he is

A tad far-fetched. Not sure how we're supposed to believe this is true... there's no proof offered for any of it and it sounds just like a sociopath's wetdream... so that's probably what it is...

I'm sure Richard was a bad guy, but don't go trying to tell me he murdered 50 street people in the mid-fifties and nobody noticed? yeah, uh-huh... sure... he definitely fantasized about all that... doing it? Nah, that's probably more on the fiction side...

This is supposed to be a biography, so even if you accept all the "facts" without any evidence you'll still be wondering why on earth the author felt it important to mention what Richard ate for Christmas dinner (no, seriously, he listed all the food items served at dinner, several times... like it's significant? I don't think it's realistic in an biography to itemize what anyone ate 30 years before.)

Sigh... all that being said, it's quite an interesting, albeit unbelievable, look at what a serial killer might be like. Treat it like fiction and it's quite entertaining, treat it like truth and you'll have to be very good at suspending disbelief.

I'd have given it 4 stars (as a fictional story) If it had been better edited- I really didn't need to be reminded every chapter that Richard had a bad temper, or that he knew how to use poisons, etc... tell me stuff once or twice throughout the book, fine... but after the 8th time, it is a bit much.

As a little insight into mob goings-on, it is kind of interesting... is it true? No idea.

The Ice Man reveals one of the most dangerous contract killer in history, killing some over 200 people, effectively earning his nickname, Ice Man for his uncanny ability to kill, yet fell nothing. No remose, no regret. Avoiding arrest for over two decades, he finally met his fate. An absolute must read for many with some highly disturbing scenes.

Summer of 1985 in Los Angeles was a summer of terror. Richard Ramirez committed numerous break-ins leaving in his wake 13 dead bodies and many more shattered lives. He was a completely different kind of serial killer.

From the back of the book: The classic account of one of the world’s most feared serial killers.

Philip Carlo divides the account into 4 parts labeled books, “The Hunted and the Hunters”, “Richie”, “Capture”, “The Trial”, an Epilogue and “special Update of the Tenth-Anniversary Edition”. First is a consideration the crimes, then an account of Ramirez’ childhood, the events leading up to his crimes, how he was captured, a very comprehensive reporting of his trial (58 felony charges) that is detailed but fascinating, never boring. In the Epilogue he reports on Ramirez wedding and the women that have become fascinated with him. The special update contains a transcript of an interview Carlo had with Ramirez on death row.

In the last paragraph I said that the trial coverage was fascinating never boring, that could be said about the entire book. Carlo had done his research and the reporting is detailed, but not overly done. Enough information is given to understand the crimes and the perpetrator, but not so much that it is boring and repetitious. It is a long, thick book (592 pages) but it needs to be because of the extent of the crimes and the trial.

I would recommend this book to true crime fans.

True Crime, Non-fiction
Page count: 592
Stars: 4
Copyright: 1996

was a amazing story of a stone killer who even considered he may have to had killed his own family if he had too!

Interesting tale of a mafia killer named Tommy Pitera, and how he was bullied throughout his school days until he took up karate and learned to defend himself. He had the voice of a girl and the fighting instincts of a Navy Seal.

He was responsible for killing and burying about 60 people. Some were marked for death by the mob and some others he whacked just because they pissed him off in one way or another.

Unrepentant to the end he is apparently still setting in prison. Without the work of Jim Hunt, it is unlikely he would have ever seen the inside of a cell. Several of his mob associates ultimately turned and provided evidence to the DEA that led to his arrest and conviction.

This is the story of Tommy 'Karate' Pitera, a made man in the Bonanno mafia family and brutal killer. As far as it goes, this is a fascinating story about the criminal underworld, and one that I wish had been written by a skilled author. What was so disappointing was the writing - Carlo has a style that is all choppy sentences breathless with excitement: "They were moving at 200 miles an hour", "This was a fire-breathing dragon..." and the like, which becomes irritating to read after a couple of pages. Amaturishly written, but seemingly well researched with information from DEA files, this book can be skipped without any regret.

A New York city PI chases a vampire cult leader through the underbelly of New York. Hard to put down. Rough like James Lee Burke with poetic drifts of snow throughout.

It was difficult at times to remember that this was indeed a true story, what this man did to others was shocking, which was made worse by the fact that he showed no signs of emotion for what he did. It did however not surprise me why he became the ice cold killer he was, his childhood moulded him for his career in blood, never knowing anything except violence.½

First let me tell you I am not a fan of horror, gore, blood, or murder. In fact, it repulses me to the highest degree possible. However, Philip Carlo had a remarkable ability to draw me into the mind of a mass murderer, Richard Kuklinski. It was not hard to begin to understand the origins of his anger and motivations that eventually led him to a successful life of crime.

A lot of the book focuses on his early childhood, which is a horror story for any child to face. I think somewhere along the line the Ice Man lost his ability to care about others.

Once the author Philip Carlo begins to describe the murders you will have a hard time putting the book down. As Mr. Carlo says, Richard Kuklinski had a Ph.D. in murder. The methods were so horrible, disgusting, and unthinkable I began to wonder if Richard had been raised by a normal family if his talents might have been used for good. Richard certainly had a very high intelligence, (his son's IQ tested at >170). It's scary how such an intelligent person could use their mind for bad. Deep down inside though a glimpse of who he could have been surfaces but he traps that good person safely inside the loving family he created. Outside of the family he's been compared to the devil himself. What is also interesting is that although he is a mass murderer, he was faithful to his wife in the extreme, by some considered a sexual prude, and he never did drugs.

I think Philip Carlo did a great service to any field that studies serial killers and mass murderers. His in-depth interviews with Richard let us reach inside the mind of a mass murderer at a safe distance. I can understand some people being upset that Richard was given any attention or spotlight in the creation of this book, but since he's now deceased the work lives on helping the public as well as pyschologists and investigators to deepen their understanding of the creation of a mass murderer.

I hope to see Philip Carlo write more biographies in the future. He is a very talented writer who enabled The Ice Man to read more like a true crime novel. This is the first long book I've ever read in just three days.

Thing is, even though I purchased the book months ago, I never really got around to finishing it.
About halfway through-more when I do finish it.½