Marissa Piesman

Marissa Piesman (est. birth – 1951 in New York City) - an American attorney and mystery novelist, best known for creating the humorous Nina Fischman mystery series (6 volumes). Nina is a Bronx-raised Jewish legal aid lawyer living on the Upper West Side of New York. The books frequently explore the specific anxieties of 30-something single Jewish women in the 1980s and 90s, particularly regarding dating and family expectations.

A recurring theme is Nina’s relationship with her mother, Ida, which involves traditional “guilt-inducing” dynamics common in Jewish-American literature. In Heading Uptown, Nina provides caustic commentary on the affluent Jewish communities of Great Neck, Long Island, and their consumer-driven lifestyle. She occasionally reflects on the differences between American Jewish identity and Israeli personality traits, noting the “cocky” and “direct” nature of Israelis she encounters. 

Unorthodox Practices (1989): Sets the tone for the series’ focus on NYC real estate and urban Jewish life.

Heading Uptown (1993): Features Nina acting as an executor for her mother’s friend, leading to a deep dive into suburban Jewish social structures.

Survival Instincts (1994): Highlights the tension between Nina’s legal mind and her “Jewish female angst”. [Google/AI]

Piesman, Marissa, (Unorthodox Practices [Nina Fischman #1, Pocket Books, mass market pb, 1989]) 978-0671673154 [pb, Pocket Books, 2004] 978-1416506928 [pb, Felony & Mayhem Press, 2005] 978-1933397191

Piesman, Marissa, (Heading Uptown [Nina Fischman #2, Delacorte Press]) [hc, 1993] 978-0385305372 [mass market pb, 1994] 978-0440211617 [pb, 2008] 978-1934609101

Piesman, Marissa, (Personal Effects [Nina Fischman #3, Felony & Mayhem Press] [pb, 1991] 978-1933397764 [mass market pb, 2007] 978-0671742751

Piesman, Marissa, (Close Quarters [Nina Fischman #4]) [hc, Delacorte, 1994] 978-0385305389 [pb, Dell, 1995] 978-0440211624

Piesman, Marissa, (Alternate Sides [Nina Fischman #5]) [hc, Delacorte, 1995] 978-0385313551 [mass market pb, Dell, 1996] 978-0440222408

Piesman, Marissa, (Survival Instincts [Nina Fischman #6]) [hc, Delacorte, 1997] 978-0385313582 [mass market pb, Dell, 1997] 978-0440224532