The Patricia Cornwell Book List

Patricia Cornwell Book List - The Kay Scarpetta Series In Order

The Scarpetta series in order written between 1990 and 1999

1. 

   Postmortem
   Postmortem is the first in Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series of books. A serial killer is on the loose and there is no pattern to his strikes except that they are always early on a Saturday morning. Three women are dead, strangled in their own bedroom. When Scarpetta, is awakened in the early hours of Saturday morning, she knows there is a fourth victim and fears there may be more to come unless she can find some new forensic eveidence to help stop the killer.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Postmortem Reviews US link
   Postmortem Reviews UK link
   

2. 

   Body of Evidence
   In this second book of the Scarpetta series Patricia Cornwell manages to keep suspense going throughout the book. The plot has lots of twists and turns leaving you guessing until the end! Definately a book you just can't put down!

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Body Of Evidence Reviews US link
   Body Of Evidence Reviews UK link

3. 

   All That Remains
   All That Remains is the third in the series about the medical investigator Dr Kay Scarpetta. Another serial killer is on the loose and Scarpetta investigates the series of murders of young couples.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   All That Remains US link
   All That Remains UK link

4. 

   Cruel and Unusual
   How can the murderer be a man who has just been executed?
   Yet the fingerprints suggest that the murderer was a man executed in the electric chair.. .. Scarpetta had already performed the post-mortem on him.. ..
   A riveting read by any description!

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Cruel And Unusual US link
   Cruel And Unusual UK link

5. 

   The Body Farm
   Possibly my favourite in Patricia Cornwell's Dr Kay Scarpetta series.
   The violent death of an 11-year-old girl sends shock waves through a sleepy little town. Dr Kay Scarpetta is called in to investigate, and seeks help through the at the Body Farm, a research facility that tests the decomposition of bodies.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   The Body Farm US link
   The Body Farm UK link
   

6. 

   From Potter's Field
   Examining a woman's body found in a snowy Central Park, Scarpetta realises that she has encountered the killer before. Scarpetta must find the killer before she becomes one of his victims too.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   From Potters Field US link
   From Potters Field UK link
   

7. 

   Cause of Death
   This seventh book in Corwell's Scarpetta series is by no means her best! I was a little disappointed with the book in which Kay is summoned to investigate a murder of a reporter, whose body was found underwater, on New Year's Eve. The story sees Lucy, Pete and Benton getting involved as further murders follow.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Cause Of Death US link
   Cause Of Death UK link
   

8. 

   Unnatural Exposure
   Unnatural Exposure has all the usual elements of a Kay Scarpetta story, forensic examinations, a ruthless killer and the usual characters, so any Scarpetta fan will enjoy it.
   The one thing I will say is that I found the ending to be rather rushed as though Cornwell only had a limited amount of time to finish the book!

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Unnatural Exposure US link
   Unnatural Exposure UK link
   

9. 

   Point of Origin
   Point Of Origin is one of those stories that keeps you turning the pages until you have finished the book. The forensic details are excellent as usual and the ending sees the demise of one of the main characters.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Point Of Origin US link
   Point Of Origin UK link
   

10. 

    Black Notice
    Scarpetta is still shocked by the loss of Benton Wesley. She is attempting to move forward, but she receives a letter from Benton, written before his death....

    Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
    Black Notice US link
    Black Notice UK link
    

Patricia Cornwell Book List - The Kay Scarpetta Series In Order - 2000 to Current

The Scarpetta series in order written between 2000 and Current

1. 

   The Last Precinct
   The Last Precinct is somewhat different to the series that has gone before it in that it picks up the plot within 24 hours of where the previous Scarpetta novel, "Black Notice", finished. You really need to have read "Black Notice" in order to follow the events in this novel.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Last Precinct Reviews US link
   Last Precinct Reviews UK link
   
   

2. 

   Blow Fly
   After resigning as Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner and the life threatening events in THE LAST PRECINCT, Blow Fly sees Kay Scarpetta abandoning her Richmond home and quietly living in Florida, trying to establish herself as a private forensic consultant...
   I found that the style of writing in this book was much different to the rest of the series, and the return of a previous character was perhaps stretching things a little bit too far.. Having said that it is still a book I didn't want to put down.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Blow Fly Reviews US link
   Blow Fly Reviews UK link
   
   

3. 

   Trace
   Trace sees Scarpetta returning to her office in Richmond five years after being fired. This change of scene seems to reinvigorate the character, the Scarpetta of old comes through, and I found the book much more readable than the previous one.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Trace Reviews US link
   Trace Reviews UK link
   
   

4. 

   Predator
   REVIEWS
   'Totally compelling with lots of twists and turns.' WOMAN 'As ever the atmosphere is brooding, the tension highly spun and engaging, the psychology subtle and the wealth of anatomical detail enough to make any bloke hide behind the sofa.' THE TIMES 'This book is sensationally plotted, with a twist at the end that will leave you gasping for breath.' DAILY EXPRESS 'Dr Kay Scarpetta returns with another first-class forensic thriller that will definitely keep you guessing.' CRIME CONFIDENTIAL

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Predator Reviews US link
   Predator Reviews UK link
   
   

5. 

   Book of the Dead
   There are no doubt people who will find this book more readable than I did. Yes, I got through it but I found it a bit hard going at times.
   I have the next three books in the list but frankly I haven't been able to bring myself to read them. I don't like the change in writing style and I am left wondering if it is time for Cornwell to bring the curtain down on the Scarpetta series.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Book Of The Dead Reviews US link
   Book Of The Dead Reviews UK link
   
   

6. 

   Scarpetta
   As I previously mentioned, I do have this book but haven't read it yet...
   "Kay Scarpetta takes up an assignment in New York City, where the NYPD has asked her to examine an injured patient in a psychiatric ward. The handcuffed and chained patient, Oscar Bane, has specifically asked for her, and when she literally has her gloved hands on him, he begins to talk"

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Scarpetta Reviews US link
   Scarpetta Reviews UK link
   
   

7. 

   The Scarpetta Factor
   I'm not sure what to say, the reader reviews of The Scarpetta Factor are pretty mixed, opinion is divided between those who loved it and those who thought it was dreadful... I'm hardly inspired to pick up my copy and read it so that I can offer my opinion... maybe one of these days...

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   The Scarpetta Factor Reviews US link
   The Scarpetta Factor Reviews UK link
   
   

8. 

   Port Mortuary
   The overwhelming reader opinion is that this book is probably the worst yet in Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series.

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Port Mortuary Reviews US link
   Port Mortuary Reviews UK link
   
   

9. 

   Red Mist
   Patricia Cornwell's latest book in the Dr Kay Scarpetta series is Red Mist. I can't tell you what it is like because I haven't read it yet, but I will probably give in sometime soon and see for myself. The reviews of the 19th in Cornwell's Scarpetta series are very mixed, ranging from "Truly awful" to "The best forensic novel I've read for a long time" and "Back on the right track!".

   Read reviews from The Patricia Cornwell Book List:
   Red Mist Reviews US link
   Red Mist Reviews UK link
   
   

10. 

    The Bone Bed
    Patricia Cornwell's next book in the Dr Kay Scarpetta series, The Bone Bed, is due to be released later this year.

Patricia Cornwell Book List - Andy Brazil/Judy Hammer Series In Order

1. 

   Hornet's Nest
   Amazon Review
   "Patricia Cornwell turns from forensics to police procedures in her latest novel, Hornet's Nest. This book is less a thriller than a character study of the main characters: Judy Hammer, chief of police in Charlotte, North Carolina; Hammer's deputy, Virginia West; and Andy Brazil, a young reporter assigned to ride with the police as they go about their jobs."

2. 

   Southern Cross
   The second book in the Andy Brazil/Judy Hammer Series
   

   
   
   

3. 

   Isle of Dogs
   Oh dear, the reviews are really not good, a staggering 79% of readers on amazon only give this one star. It almost makes me want to buy it to see if I agree with them!

Patricia Cornwell Book List - At Risk/Win Garano Series

1. 
   

   At Risk
   It is a sure thing that a Patricia Cornwell novel will find its way into the best sellers list but At Risk is at best a little disappointing.

   
   
   

2. 

   The Front
   Cornwell's sequel to 'At Risk'.

Patricia Cornwell Book List - Non-fiction

1. A Time for Remembering: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham
2. Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham
3. Scarpetta's Winter Table
4. Food To Die For: Secrets From Kay Scarpetta's Kitchen
5. Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper -- Case Closed

Patricia Cornwell Book List - Children's Books

1. 

   Life's Little Fable