Philip Carlo was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York. Since an early age, he was involved in gang activity. He was shot and wounded in a gang war. The Website of Philip Carlo

Carlo suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and is bound to a wheelchair and respirator, but retains his ability to speak normally for the time being.

Despite his illness, in early November 2009, Carlo was able to appear on Shovio's Talk Back TV, to take questions about his research.

Non-fiction:

• The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez (1996) ISBN 1-57566-030-X
• The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer (2006) ISBN 0-312-34928-9
• Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss William Morrow (2008) ISBN 978-0061429842
• The Butcher: Anatomy of a Mafia Psychopath William Morrow (2009) ISBN 978-0-06-174465-5

Novels:

• Stolen Flower. (1988) ISBN 0-525-24484-0
• Predators and Prayers. (2005) ISBN 0-8439-5576-7
• Smiling Wolf. (2006) ISBN 0-8439-5678-X