Biography

Author

Jim Fusilli

Jim Fusilli is the author of nine novels including THE MAYOR OF POLK STREET and its predecessor NARROWS GATE, which George Pelecanos called “equal parts Ellroy, Puzo and Scorsese” and Mystery Scene magazine said “must be ranked among the half-dozen most memorable novels about the Mob.”  The Narrows Gate setting is based loosely on Hoboken, New Jersey, where Jim was born.  

Jim’s debut novel CLOSING TIME was the last work of fiction set in New York City published prior to the 9/11 attacks. The following year, his A WELL-KNOWN SECRET addressed the impact of 9/11 on the residents of lower Manhattan.

Subsequent novels include TRIBECA BLUES and HARD, HARD CITY which Mystery Ink magazine named its 2014 Novel of the Year. CLOSING TIME, A WELL-KNOWN SECRET and TRIBECA BLUES were reissued by Open Road Media in October 2018. Lawrence Block provided a new foreword for CLOSING TIME.

Jim has published many short stories that have appeared in a variety of magazines as well as anthologies edited by Lee Child, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman and other masters of the mystery genre.  He edited and contributed to the anthologies “The Chopin Manuscript” and “The Copper Bracelet.”  His “Chellini’s Solution” was included in an edition of the Best American Mystery Stories and his “Digby, Attorney at Law” was nominated for the Edgar and Macavity awards.  The novel “Narrows Gate” was nominated for a Macavity in the Best Historical Fiction category.

The former Rock & Pop Critic of The Wall Street Journal and occasional contributor to National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” Jim is the author of two books of non-fiction, both related to popular music.  PET SOUNDS is his tribute to Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys’ classic album.  It was translated for a Japanese language edition by Haruki Murakami.

Combining his interests, Jim edited and contributed a chapter to CRIME + MUSIC: 20 STORIES OF MUSIC-THEMED NOIR, published in 2017.

His novel for young adults MARLEY Z AND THE BLOODSTAINED VIOLIN was published by Dutton Juvenile.

Jim is married to the former Diane Holuk, a global communications executive. They currently reside in Washington, D.C., where Jim is at work on a novel set during the Truman administration.