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True Crime
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell finally tells the story that rivals all of the works that precede it: her own.
Patricia Cornwell is best known for her international bestselling thriller series about forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Every story comes from somewhere, and Scarpetta's began when Patricia Cornwell embedded herself in a morgue.
In this achingly honest memoir, Cornwell excavates her own life, detailing her traumatic childhood being raised by neglectful parents, her father abandoning the young family on Christmas day, her mother being institutionalized twice, an abusive foster family, and developing a parental relationship with evangelist Billy Graham’s wife Ruth. Cornwell depicts a harrowing hospitalization and near-death car accident. She unflinchingly shares overcoming obstacles that later gave her the ambition to become an award-winning police reporter. From there it was research in a medical examiner’s office that would turn into a full-time job. She would become a forensic expert and worldwide publishing phenomenon.
Cornwell leaves no stone unturned in this deeply candid account of her life, offering inspiring insight into what made her into the international sensation she is today.
Patricia Cornwell is best known for her international bestselling thriller series about forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Every story comes from somewhere, and Scarpetta's began when Patricia Cornwell embedded herself in a morgue.
In this achingly honest memoir, Cornwell excavates her own life, detailing her traumatic childhood being raised by neglectful parents, her father abandoning the young family on Christmas day, her mother being institutionalized twice, an abusive foster family, and developing a parental relationship with evangelist Billy Graham’s wife Ruth. Cornwell depicts a harrowing hospitalization and near-death car accident. She unflinchingly shares overcoming obstacles that later gave her the ambition to become an award-winning police reporter. From there it was research in a medical examiner’s office that would turn into a full-time job. She would become a forensic expert and worldwide publishing phenomenon.
Cornwell leaves no stone unturned in this deeply candid account of her life, offering inspiring insight into what made her into the international sensation she is today.
516 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Patricia Cornwell
137 books21.1k followersPatricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, in 1990 while working as a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. Postmortem, was the first bona fide forensic thriller. It paved the way for an explosion of entertainment featuring in all things forensic across film, television and literature.
Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cor...
https://twitter.com/1pcornwell
https://instagram.com/1pcornwell/
Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cor...
https://twitter.com/1pcornwell
https://instagram.com/1pcornwell/
Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 492 reviews
May 23, 2026
So messy. Overly detailed on earlier parts of her life that will, as written, mostly be of interest to die-hard fans and associates, full of name-dropping and showcasing her acquired wealth and connections, weird flexes on her writing, career, professional relationships, and mystical dreams, bizarre hobbyist interests such as Princess Diana’s death and Jack the Ripper’s identity (she has reportedly spent a $6 million of her own money investigating the latter?), and overall, it just felt off-putting at its worst and somewhat…disingenuous at its best.
Not enough time is spent on crime. There’s some interesting stuff, but it’s far outweighed by the personal parts. I’m mostly surprised that Cornwell actually has no formal training in forensics, she started working in the Office of the Medical Examiner as a technical writer and later, a computer analyst. (Congrats, marketing departments!) She joined a year after she started writing. Make of that what you will.
In all fairness, I was not a huge fan of the one Scarpetta book I read long ago, but I am interested in death and forensics and crime. There’s far less of that in this book than flying helicopters and calling up (mostly very east coast/DC-type) celebs or parental issues or various affairs or Escada jackets, so readers like me are clearly not the target audience for this venture.
Audio Notes: The author reading her own writing doesn’t do it in favors, either. Not terrible, but someone else would’ve elevated the material more. Holly Hunter might’ve been a good pick.
Related: a much better book if you're interested in what I'm interested in is Barbara Butcher's What the Dead Know. Butcher was a death investigator (Cornwell references her in this book), can write riveting non-fiction, and narrates her own book exceedingly well.
Not enough time is spent on crime. There’s some interesting stuff, but it’s far outweighed by the personal parts. I’m mostly surprised that Cornwell actually has no formal training in forensics, she started working in the Office of the Medical Examiner as a technical writer and later, a computer analyst. (Congrats, marketing departments!) She joined a year after she started writing. Make of that what you will.
In all fairness, I was not a huge fan of the one Scarpetta book I read long ago, but I am interested in death and forensics and crime. There’s far less of that in this book than flying helicopters and calling up (mostly very east coast/DC-type) celebs or parental issues or various affairs or Escada jackets, so readers like me are clearly not the target audience for this venture.
Audio Notes: The author reading her own writing doesn’t do it in favors, either. Not terrible, but someone else would’ve elevated the material more. Holly Hunter might’ve been a good pick.
Related: a much better book if you're interested in what I'm interested in is Barbara Butcher's What the Dead Know. Butcher was a death investigator (Cornwell references her in this book), can write riveting non-fiction, and narrates her own book exceedingly well.
April 11, 2026
As a committed fan of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series, I couldn't not read her memoir, even if I'm not a big fan of reading about a celebrity's early years and formation. It gives you a stronger sense of her background, reasons for writing, and the drama she unfortunately dealt with, but I also confirmed my general disinterest in non-fiction. Written well, that's not the issue. The catch, the link, the inherent need to turn the pages was missing. Perhaps if it focused on more of her adulthood, love life, marriages, and political drama, the sensational side of her life would draw us in more. But at the same time, why should she share that with us? That said, I balance my review and acknowledge it was a strong depiction of so much of her youth that we walk away really understanding who she is in later life.
May 10, 2026
I gave True Crime 5 stars not because it was polished or easy to sit with, but because it felt startlingly human.
This isn’t simply a memoir about crime writing or forensic science. It’s about what happens when brilliance, obsession, loneliness, ambition, and unresolved wounds all live inside the same woman. Patricia Cornwell writes with the same sharpness that shaped her fiction, but here the scalpel is turned inward.
What resonated most for me was the emotional architecture beneath the success; the hunger to prove oneself, the intensity of carrying vision, and the loneliness that can exist even inside achievement. There’s something deeply confronting about watching someone build an empire while simultaneously wrestling with fear, mistrust, identity, and the cost of living at full emotional volume.
I found myself less interested in the celebrity of Patricia Cornwell and more moved by the woman underneath it all; the child shaped by instability, the adult driven by relentless force, the human being trying to make meaning from chaos.
This memoir doesn’t ask to be liked. It asks to be witnessed.
And perhaps that’s why it stayed with me.
If you enjoy memoirs that are psychologically layered, emotionally raw, intelligent, and unafraid to reveal contradiction, this is worth reading. Especially for readers interested in the intersection between creativity, trauma, obsession, and identity.
Some books entertain you. Some books expose the machinery beneath a life.
This one does both.
This isn’t simply a memoir about crime writing or forensic science. It’s about what happens when brilliance, obsession, loneliness, ambition, and unresolved wounds all live inside the same woman. Patricia Cornwell writes with the same sharpness that shaped her fiction, but here the scalpel is turned inward.
What resonated most for me was the emotional architecture beneath the success; the hunger to prove oneself, the intensity of carrying vision, and the loneliness that can exist even inside achievement. There’s something deeply confronting about watching someone build an empire while simultaneously wrestling with fear, mistrust, identity, and the cost of living at full emotional volume.
I found myself less interested in the celebrity of Patricia Cornwell and more moved by the woman underneath it all; the child shaped by instability, the adult driven by relentless force, the human being trying to make meaning from chaos.
This memoir doesn’t ask to be liked. It asks to be witnessed.
And perhaps that’s why it stayed with me.
If you enjoy memoirs that are psychologically layered, emotionally raw, intelligent, and unafraid to reveal contradiction, this is worth reading. Especially for readers interested in the intersection between creativity, trauma, obsession, and identity.
Some books entertain you. Some books expose the machinery beneath a life.
This one does both.
May 20, 2026
True Crime became more unbelievable to me the further I got into it. I went in expecting an interesting memoir from a writer whose earlier books I really enjoyed. But instead it often felt like Patricia Cornwell was trying to present herself as some major figure in law enforcement rather than what she actually is an author and journalist.
There were so many moments that made me roll my eyes. She speaks about affairs & relationships in ways that somehow paint herself as the victim, even when other peoples reactions seemed completely understandable. Then there are endless stories about bodyguards, stalkers, guns & how tough and prepared she is if anyone ever crosses her. She speaks of people coming to her for advice & for her to solve crimes as if she really is a detective. Associating with movie stars & presidents who needed her advice (interference) It all started to feel very dramatic and self-important.
The parts about carrying guns and warning people not to mess with her just came across as silly rather than impressive. By the time she started talking about being connected to the Diana and Dodi tragedy, dreams and Diana supposedly visiting her, I honestly started questioning her judgement a bit.
The whole memoir felt full of exaggeration & name dropping. Instead of coming away admiring Patricia Cornwell more, I actually finished the book liking her less. Which is disappointing because I genuinely loved the earlier Kay Scarpetta series books and expected something far more grounded and reflective.
There were so many moments that made me roll my eyes. She speaks about affairs & relationships in ways that somehow paint herself as the victim, even when other peoples reactions seemed completely understandable. Then there are endless stories about bodyguards, stalkers, guns & how tough and prepared she is if anyone ever crosses her. She speaks of people coming to her for advice & for her to solve crimes as if she really is a detective. Associating with movie stars & presidents who needed her advice (interference) It all started to feel very dramatic and self-important.
The parts about carrying guns and warning people not to mess with her just came across as silly rather than impressive. By the time she started talking about being connected to the Diana and Dodi tragedy, dreams and Diana supposedly visiting her, I honestly started questioning her judgement a bit.
The whole memoir felt full of exaggeration & name dropping. Instead of coming away admiring Patricia Cornwell more, I actually finished the book liking her less. Which is disappointing because I genuinely loved the earlier Kay Scarpetta series books and expected something far more grounded and reflective.
May 22, 2026
I have been reading Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta mystery/thriller novels for a long time. I remember discovering a deeply committed female Chief Medical Examiner that was like no other fictional detective or investigator I had read before. I believe it was Spring of 1990 when I bought a copy of “Postmortem” to take on vacation with me and I became so immersed in her hunt for a killer in Richmond, Virgina, that I skipped several of my planned activities because I was blown away by the use of forensics and psychological suspense that took me over like a fever.
I will never forget that awesome reading experience that made me an instant fan of Cornwell’s use of scientific investigation methods to catch a serial killer. And I have been reading her since then, which includes 29 published novels and a 30th due in January 2027. I have been there for the high moments and low moments during the various books, including professional challenges, personal loss, conflict and growth, and the core family members and friends that make up Scarpetta’s east coast-based cases.
I have even been there with the inconsistency in quality during several of the last six to eight books in the series. The good news is that the last one was pretty dang good, showing an improvement that I hope continues. And don’t get me started on the confusing and disappointing Amazon Prime series that should have been much better than it was. For me, it felt like the cast was let down by a weak script and complete misinterpretation of what endeared these characters to their fans. Enough of that. Let’s move on.
Now, in 2025, Patricial Cornwell has (finally) done what she thought she would never do, and that is publish an autobiography of her own life – “True Crime” – a personal memoir told from the author herself that offers an honest reflection on the influential moments in her life that led to her calling as a writer. It includes defining moments, personal experiences and relationships, and some just really interesting behind the scenes insights from one of the world’s bestselling authors. It also helps that she wrote her own autobiography as a college so that helps when it comes to remembering the details of her childhood memories.
I am not a big reader of non-fiction; preferring to escape into the world of fiction, especially mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction. I am lucky to have grown up during the eras in which several bestselling and influential writers were discovered and developed into favorites of mine, including Stephen King, Robert B. Parker, Tom Clancy, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, David Baldacci, Lee Child and of course Patricia Cornwell. One of the favorite things I love to see is when we get to peak behind the curtain and learn what influenced them to write, how they broke through to get published, and stories about their writing life and behind the scenes activities with their editors and contracts. I eat all of that up. For example, I loved Stephen King’s classic “On Writing” and enjoyed James Patterson’s “My Stories” as well as Lee Child’s “Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories”.
Now, having finished Cornwell’s “True Crime” I may have to mimic James Pattreson’s quote on the book cover enticing you to purchase it, this book “Could be the best book she’s ever written.” I realize that’s an awful strong statement to make, and the truth is that it’s absolutely true in my opinion. There were many things to like about this book, one that diverges dramatically from her fictional thrillers that move at breakneck speed and contain surprises throughout to the tragedies and successes of a really extraordinary life faced with unbelievable hardships and challenges that you never wish on anyone, even those who you might have a strong hate for.
What struck me most was the authentic open-book honesty that Cornwell shared in revealing her life – all of its painful and embarrassing moments, lessons learned the hard way, and some seriously emotional low points that are so raw and vulnerable. I was quite surprised by the honesty in telling her story in a way that at times is more shocking than anything that happens in her Scarpetta series. Cornwell examines her life much like a medical examiner that misses nothing in her assessment of the cause of death. I was not only surprised by her willingness to revealed more than I thought she would, but it strengthened my respect and awe for her as a writer. Honestly, I was surprised at the emotional connection I developed with her by reading this book.
She wrote this focused on her biography more than her writing, but it’s easy to see how one fed the other, often in more ways than I ever thought. Hers is a complex and fully experienced life, full of overcoming hardships, dysfunctional family relationships, and her criminal experiences.
Cornwell shares her traumatic childhood years, being raised with two brothers by disengaged parents experiencing their own inner mental and financial struggles, her father abandoning them on Christmas day to be with his secretary, her mother’s multiple breakdowns that required her being institutionalized and forcing Patricia to stay with a foster family that the mother that emotionally abused her. One of the only good things to come out of these experiences was that it led to develop a close relationship with evangelist Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth. These are serious and incredibly tough challenges, that when you read them, you are so immersed and emotionally connected to her story that the pages just flow by because you cannot wait to see what happens next. It’s literally a mesmerizing read, and one I just did not see coming. This is, without a doubt, one of the best books that I will read this year. Period.
You also see the events, activities, and personal characteristics that drive her to become involved with police reporting and being a crime beat journalist, her research in the local medical examiner’s office in which she had the perfect mentor to learn from, and how that led to her becoming a forensic expert, a successful mystery/thriller novelist, and a worldwide publishing phenomenon. The roots that led to her success are all there to appreciate.
I only have a few constructive comments. The primary one is that I wanted to hear more stories about her writing, how she created Scarpetta and her other family members, how she came up with the plotlines, how writing the books were like, her relationships with her editors and publishing companies, what it was like to build such a powerful brand and then return to the series after a five-year departure. But this book is focused more about her life and what made her the writer she became rather than the details of her writing life itself.
For example, about half of the book is focused on her childhood years. I selfishly wanted to focus more on her writing career and the untold stories from her publishing history, but by the time I was deeply immersed in her life story, everything was flowing and I found myself enjoying her story in the way she was telling it. Those writing stories showed up and satisfied me just fine, but I realized the magic in this book was how splendidly well she connected how the roots of her life and experiences led to her becoming the bestselling novelist that she has fully earned.
Overall, this was much more of a personal and fulfilling reading experience than I expected. I felt like Cornwell was sitting with me on a park bench, looking me in the eyes, and passing on valuable life lessons through important moments and experiences in her own life. It was her story, and she did so with impactful intent. It was authentically real, revealing, and left me reflecting on my own goals, accomplishments, and legacy that I am trying to create for myself and my family.
Thank you, Patricia Cornwell, for being so willing to sharing such an honest and candid memoir that is truly insightful and inspiring to me on deeply personal level.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. If you are a Cornwell reader, get your hands on it. If you’re not, don’t let that stop you. This is a must read.
I will never forget that awesome reading experience that made me an instant fan of Cornwell’s use of scientific investigation methods to catch a serial killer. And I have been reading her since then, which includes 29 published novels and a 30th due in January 2027. I have been there for the high moments and low moments during the various books, including professional challenges, personal loss, conflict and growth, and the core family members and friends that make up Scarpetta’s east coast-based cases.
I have even been there with the inconsistency in quality during several of the last six to eight books in the series. The good news is that the last one was pretty dang good, showing an improvement that I hope continues. And don’t get me started on the confusing and disappointing Amazon Prime series that should have been much better than it was. For me, it felt like the cast was let down by a weak script and complete misinterpretation of what endeared these characters to their fans. Enough of that. Let’s move on.
Now, in 2025, Patricial Cornwell has (finally) done what she thought she would never do, and that is publish an autobiography of her own life – “True Crime” – a personal memoir told from the author herself that offers an honest reflection on the influential moments in her life that led to her calling as a writer. It includes defining moments, personal experiences and relationships, and some just really interesting behind the scenes insights from one of the world’s bestselling authors. It also helps that she wrote her own autobiography as a college so that helps when it comes to remembering the details of her childhood memories.
I am not a big reader of non-fiction; preferring to escape into the world of fiction, especially mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction. I am lucky to have grown up during the eras in which several bestselling and influential writers were discovered and developed into favorites of mine, including Stephen King, Robert B. Parker, Tom Clancy, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, David Baldacci, Lee Child and of course Patricia Cornwell. One of the favorite things I love to see is when we get to peak behind the curtain and learn what influenced them to write, how they broke through to get published, and stories about their writing life and behind the scenes activities with their editors and contracts. I eat all of that up. For example, I loved Stephen King’s classic “On Writing” and enjoyed James Patterson’s “My Stories” as well as Lee Child’s “Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories”.
Now, having finished Cornwell’s “True Crime” I may have to mimic James Pattreson’s quote on the book cover enticing you to purchase it, this book “Could be the best book she’s ever written.” I realize that’s an awful strong statement to make, and the truth is that it’s absolutely true in my opinion. There were many things to like about this book, one that diverges dramatically from her fictional thrillers that move at breakneck speed and contain surprises throughout to the tragedies and successes of a really extraordinary life faced with unbelievable hardships and challenges that you never wish on anyone, even those who you might have a strong hate for.
What struck me most was the authentic open-book honesty that Cornwell shared in revealing her life – all of its painful and embarrassing moments, lessons learned the hard way, and some seriously emotional low points that are so raw and vulnerable. I was quite surprised by the honesty in telling her story in a way that at times is more shocking than anything that happens in her Scarpetta series. Cornwell examines her life much like a medical examiner that misses nothing in her assessment of the cause of death. I was not only surprised by her willingness to revealed more than I thought she would, but it strengthened my respect and awe for her as a writer. Honestly, I was surprised at the emotional connection I developed with her by reading this book.
She wrote this focused on her biography more than her writing, but it’s easy to see how one fed the other, often in more ways than I ever thought. Hers is a complex and fully experienced life, full of overcoming hardships, dysfunctional family relationships, and her criminal experiences.
Cornwell shares her traumatic childhood years, being raised with two brothers by disengaged parents experiencing their own inner mental and financial struggles, her father abandoning them on Christmas day to be with his secretary, her mother’s multiple breakdowns that required her being institutionalized and forcing Patricia to stay with a foster family that the mother that emotionally abused her. One of the only good things to come out of these experiences was that it led to develop a close relationship with evangelist Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth. These are serious and incredibly tough challenges, that when you read them, you are so immersed and emotionally connected to her story that the pages just flow by because you cannot wait to see what happens next. It’s literally a mesmerizing read, and one I just did not see coming. This is, without a doubt, one of the best books that I will read this year. Period.
You also see the events, activities, and personal characteristics that drive her to become involved with police reporting and being a crime beat journalist, her research in the local medical examiner’s office in which she had the perfect mentor to learn from, and how that led to her becoming a forensic expert, a successful mystery/thriller novelist, and a worldwide publishing phenomenon. The roots that led to her success are all there to appreciate.
I only have a few constructive comments. The primary one is that I wanted to hear more stories about her writing, how she created Scarpetta and her other family members, how she came up with the plotlines, how writing the books were like, her relationships with her editors and publishing companies, what it was like to build such a powerful brand and then return to the series after a five-year departure. But this book is focused more about her life and what made her the writer she became rather than the details of her writing life itself.
For example, about half of the book is focused on her childhood years. I selfishly wanted to focus more on her writing career and the untold stories from her publishing history, but by the time I was deeply immersed in her life story, everything was flowing and I found myself enjoying her story in the way she was telling it. Those writing stories showed up and satisfied me just fine, but I realized the magic in this book was how splendidly well she connected how the roots of her life and experiences led to her becoming the bestselling novelist that she has fully earned.
Overall, this was much more of a personal and fulfilling reading experience than I expected. I felt like Cornwell was sitting with me on a park bench, looking me in the eyes, and passing on valuable life lessons through important moments and experiences in her own life. It was her story, and she did so with impactful intent. It was authentically real, revealing, and left me reflecting on my own goals, accomplishments, and legacy that I am trying to create for myself and my family.
Thank you, Patricia Cornwell, for being so willing to sharing such an honest and candid memoir that is truly insightful and inspiring to me on deeply personal level.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. If you are a Cornwell reader, get your hands on it. If you’re not, don’t let that stop you. This is a must read.
May 7, 2026
I hesitate to write a review at all. I have been reading the Kay Scarpetta books since the 90s and I was looking forward to this memoir. The story is heavily focused on her childhood, teen and college years. There is a big focus on her close relationship with Ruth Graham, which I'm still confused about. She also highlights her friendship with the Bush family, mentioning being close enough to be invited for stays with them and Barbara Bush even taking her to look for homes close to theirs but getting very angry at George for rubbing up against Patsy from behind. I felt like a child was telling most of these stories. Several times I got the ick pretty bad. I honestly wish I hadn't read this. I also didn't realize until reading this that she had no training in science or forensics.
August 4, 2026
As a longtime reader of Patricia Cornwell’s work, particularly her Kay Scarpetta novels, I was eager to learn more about the woman behind the bestselling forensic mysteries. This memoir proved to be both an engaging personal account and a fascinating look at the experiences that helped shape one of crime fiction’s most iconic characters.
Memoirs are challenging undertakings for both author and reader. The writer must decide how much of themselves to reveal, while the reader hopes to gain genuine insight into the person behind the public image. Cornwell succeeds by offering an unflinching examination of her life, sharing painful memories of a turbulent childhood, family instability, abandonment, difficult relationships, and personal setbacks. Her willingness to discuss these experiences openly gives the book a sense of authenticity that is difficult to ignore.
What interested me most was seeing how these life experiences influenced her development as a writer. Cornwell traces her path from award-winning police reporter to researcher in a medical examiner’s office, eventually becoming the internationally celebrated author readers know today. Fans of the Scarpetta series will especially appreciate the behind-the-scenes stories that reveal how the character evolved from a simple idea into one of the most recognizable figures in modern crime fiction. Learning about Cornwell’s time spent in morgues and forensic settings provided a deeper appreciation for the realism that has long distinguished her novels.
The memoir is structured through short, accessible chapters that keep the narrative moving at a brisk pace. Cornwell balances personal revelations with professional milestones, creating a portrait that feels candid without becoming self-indulgent. While some sections resonated more strongly than others, the overall journey was compelling and insightful.
This is a strong memoir that offers both inspiration and perspective. It deepened my appreciation for Patricia Cornwell’s work and gave me a better understanding of the challenges, triumphs, and experiences that shaped her career. She is blunt and revealing about some people who impacted her life, famous in their own right. This will surely be of interest to the attentive and curious reader. Those who enjoy her novels—or who are curious about the lives of successful authors—will find much to appreciate here. If more writers I admire were willing to share their stories with this level of honesty, I would gladly pick up their memoirs as well.
Kudos, Madam Cornwell, for a wonderful look into your life and how Scarpetta grew out of those experiences.
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Memoirs are challenging undertakings for both author and reader. The writer must decide how much of themselves to reveal, while the reader hopes to gain genuine insight into the person behind the public image. Cornwell succeeds by offering an unflinching examination of her life, sharing painful memories of a turbulent childhood, family instability, abandonment, difficult relationships, and personal setbacks. Her willingness to discuss these experiences openly gives the book a sense of authenticity that is difficult to ignore.
What interested me most was seeing how these life experiences influenced her development as a writer. Cornwell traces her path from award-winning police reporter to researcher in a medical examiner’s office, eventually becoming the internationally celebrated author readers know today. Fans of the Scarpetta series will especially appreciate the behind-the-scenes stories that reveal how the character evolved from a simple idea into one of the most recognizable figures in modern crime fiction. Learning about Cornwell’s time spent in morgues and forensic settings provided a deeper appreciation for the realism that has long distinguished her novels.
The memoir is structured through short, accessible chapters that keep the narrative moving at a brisk pace. Cornwell balances personal revelations with professional milestones, creating a portrait that feels candid without becoming self-indulgent. While some sections resonated more strongly than others, the overall journey was compelling and insightful.
This is a strong memoir that offers both inspiration and perspective. It deepened my appreciation for Patricia Cornwell’s work and gave me a better understanding of the challenges, triumphs, and experiences that shaped her career. She is blunt and revealing about some people who impacted her life, famous in their own right. This will surely be of interest to the attentive and curious reader. Those who enjoy her novels—or who are curious about the lives of successful authors—will find much to appreciate here. If more writers I admire were willing to share their stories with this level of honesty, I would gladly pick up their memoirs as well.
Kudos, Madam Cornwell, for a wonderful look into your life and how Scarpetta grew out of those experiences.
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May 13, 2026
Cornwell has had a very interesting life, including an unstable childhood, but after 100 pages of this book we were still in...second grade. It took almost another hundred pages to get to high school. I question the level of detail she has for so many of these memories before the age of five.
Past high school, the book feels rushed and incomplete. There are several non-sequiturs where Cornwell just abruptly switches topics. It is rambling, and feels more like bragging/name dropping than anything else. I did really enjoy hearing about all the work that went into the research for her novels. However, while she is great about letting you know what model car she buys and what square footage her house is, there are some pretty important things that are just mentioned in passing because someone famous sent her a card or something when it happened.
Past high school, the book feels rushed and incomplete. There are several non-sequiturs where Cornwell just abruptly switches topics. It is rambling, and feels more like bragging/name dropping than anything else. I did really enjoy hearing about all the work that went into the research for her novels. However, while she is great about letting you know what model car she buys and what square footage her house is, there are some pretty important things that are just mentioned in passing because someone famous sent her a card or something when it happened.
May 28, 2026
I expected something like Scarpetta thrillers. Instead, TRUE CRIME: A MEMOIR by Patricia Cornwell turned out to be an author's intimate exploration of her roots. Typical psychologists often ask what your relationships with your parents were, how your childhood went, or if there were any drastic events in your childhood. Patricia Cornwells dwells for a long time on the years that shaped her, leaving only 4 h (out of 15 h of the audiobook) to the period of her fame. The story is slow-paced and reflective, with detailed descriptions of her family and the people she met along the way.
I'd say the main audience of the memoir should have been the author's loved ones.
I'd say the main audience of the memoir should have been the author's loved ones.
May 17, 2026
Really disappointing. DNF
May 17, 2026
What stood out most to me in True Crime was Patricia Cornwell’s unusual connection to Ruth Graham. The contrast is striking; Cornwell spends much of the memoir immersed in obsession, ego, and personal vindication, while Ruth Graham represented humility, grace, and deep faith. Their relationship feels oddly central to the book, almost as if Cornwell is searching for grounding through someone whose worldview is completely different from her own.
June 17, 2026
I was highly disappointed in this book. The first half of her book was filled with the story of her sad childhood, which truly was sad, but did not need 50% of the book dedicated to it. The second half was full of bragging and name dropping about what she owned, who she knew, how much money she was paid for books. Things that I found very off putting.
She lived in my city of Richmond, Virginia and I do remember quite well the Southside Strangler. It was a scary time. My supervisor at work was on the jury as was the wife of my husband’s supervisor. I feel like she got a lot of information on that case from our local news and newspapers because much of what she wrote practically mirrors the words of the reporters. I kept all the papers from the case to give to my supervisor when she got back to work, but she said she already had them, plus she knew first hand about it from being on the jury. Reading those papers back again it’s like reading Cornwell’s Post Mortem.
I felt the same way about What Remains. It was like reading about the Colonial Parkway killings in Williamsburg VA, with a little bit of politics thrown in. It’s like Cornwell could not come up with original material so regurgitated crimes that happened in Virginia with a little bit of a twist thrown in.
And the whole Jack the Ripper and Princess Diana. Her “in depth” investigation of how Diana died was what everyone already knew. It was not a huge secret conspiracy that Cornwell wanted it to be. And for her to conclude that Diana may have lived if she had worn a seat belt is highly speculative. And she spent $4 million of her own money to write her Jack the Ripper story and it was not worth the paper it was printed on.
She also spent a lot of time talking about Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham. She droned on far too much about her and how important she was too her and how she knew Ruth was dying the last time she visited her in December 2016, but said she just did not have the time to visit her again before she died…. In June 2017….Six months later. For someone bragging about how she flew her helicopter anywhere she wanted at the spur of the moment it’s hard to believe in six months she could not have visited the woman she claims was the most inspiring woman in her life. I guess she was not as inspiring once she married the “most beautiful, intelligent woman” her wife Staci who I guess took up too much time to bother visiting her dying friend.
Let’s face it, Patricia Cornwell is her own biggest fan. And she is not shy about telling you how great she is. (Insert 🙄 here.)
I was a longtime fan of Cornwell’s and have read most all her books. The last one was awful for me , Sharp Force, and I put a huge DNF on it. The Scarpetta TV Series was terrible and I gave up after three episodes. It was terribly cast and I will not waste anymore time on it.
I got this digital copy of this book at my public library. I was the First one on the waiting list before it became available to the public. I will be returning it today feeling like I wasted an afternoon that I could have used to continue my rewatch of Bates Motel.
I’m not even sure if I will ever read another Cornwell book again. She just bores me, now.
*And I did return my digital copy back to my library and no surprise, there were No Holds Waiting on it. I used to wait months for her earlier books. Says a lot about how far she has fallen.
She lived in my city of Richmond, Virginia and I do remember quite well the Southside Strangler. It was a scary time. My supervisor at work was on the jury as was the wife of my husband’s supervisor. I feel like she got a lot of information on that case from our local news and newspapers because much of what she wrote practically mirrors the words of the reporters. I kept all the papers from the case to give to my supervisor when she got back to work, but she said she already had them, plus she knew first hand about it from being on the jury. Reading those papers back again it’s like reading Cornwell’s Post Mortem.
I felt the same way about What Remains. It was like reading about the Colonial Parkway killings in Williamsburg VA, with a little bit of politics thrown in. It’s like Cornwell could not come up with original material so regurgitated crimes that happened in Virginia with a little bit of a twist thrown in.
And the whole Jack the Ripper and Princess Diana. Her “in depth” investigation of how Diana died was what everyone already knew. It was not a huge secret conspiracy that Cornwell wanted it to be. And for her to conclude that Diana may have lived if she had worn a seat belt is highly speculative. And she spent $4 million of her own money to write her Jack the Ripper story and it was not worth the paper it was printed on.
She also spent a lot of time talking about Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham. She droned on far too much about her and how important she was too her and how she knew Ruth was dying the last time she visited her in December 2016, but said she just did not have the time to visit her again before she died…. In June 2017….Six months later. For someone bragging about how she flew her helicopter anywhere she wanted at the spur of the moment it’s hard to believe in six months she could not have visited the woman she claims was the most inspiring woman in her life. I guess she was not as inspiring once she married the “most beautiful, intelligent woman” her wife Staci who I guess took up too much time to bother visiting her dying friend.
Let’s face it, Patricia Cornwell is her own biggest fan. And she is not shy about telling you how great she is. (Insert 🙄 here.)
I was a longtime fan of Cornwell’s and have read most all her books. The last one was awful for me , Sharp Force, and I put a huge DNF on it. The Scarpetta TV Series was terrible and I gave up after three episodes. It was terribly cast and I will not waste anymore time on it.
I got this digital copy of this book at my public library. I was the First one on the waiting list before it became available to the public. I will be returning it today feeling like I wasted an afternoon that I could have used to continue my rewatch of Bates Motel.
I’m not even sure if I will ever read another Cornwell book again. She just bores me, now.
*And I did return my digital copy back to my library and no surprise, there were No Holds Waiting on it. I used to wait months for her earlier books. Says a lot about how far she has fallen.
June 9, 2026
I was really disappointed by this book. I understand that the author had a troubled family life growing up and that is too bad. I have read and enjoyed all of her Scarpetta books. I regret reading this book. Cornwell comes across as quite the spoiled, immature narcissist. She spends most of the second half of the book name dropping and bragging about the fancy cars and helicopter she owns, the designer clothes she wears and the famous and/or important people who she hangs out with, has met or is “good friends” with. She brags about the awards she has won. Cornwell loves to play the victim and she publicly criticizes others. She talks about a need for privacy but she brags about going to restaurants, eavesdropping on private conversations between people sitting at tables around her and writing down their conversations word for word. Public figures, which she is, should expect publicity, but private people having a private conversation over dinner are entitled to privacy. She says she has “grown a lot” as she has aged, yet throughout the book she blames everyone else in her life or the meds she has taken for her bad decisions. She seems to brag about taking advantage of the kindness of celebrities and then discarding them when she no longer has a use for them. She publicly airs her grievances against everyone she thinks has “wronged” her by name. I am not impressed by the fancy hotels she stays in, the expensive restaurants she frequents or the celebrities and politicians she has met. She is not a forensic expert but seems to think she is and has a weird obsession with Princess Diana’s death and Jack the Ripper. After reading her memoir filled with grievances, bragging, and paranoia, I do not think I will read anything else by Patricia Cornwell.
April 24, 2026
I’ve been looking forward to this memoir ever since it was announced. I read my first Scarpetta novel back in high school in the ’90s, and Patricia Cornwell has been a favorite author of mine ever since.
This one took me a while to get through. It was much heavier and more emotional than I expected. It’s a reminder that you never truly know what someone has been through or the depth of trauma they’ve carried.
What stood out most was her perseverance. Despite the obstacles, negativity, and so many odds stacked against her, she stayed determined, followed her path, and became the well-known and respected author she is today.
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️—highly recommend.
This one took me a while to get through. It was much heavier and more emotional than I expected. It’s a reminder that you never truly know what someone has been through or the depth of trauma they’ve carried.
What stood out most was her perseverance. Despite the obstacles, negativity, and so many odds stacked against her, she stayed determined, followed her path, and became the well-known and respected author she is today.
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️—highly recommend.
July 27, 2026
Although I enjoyed Patricia Cornwell's book, Postmortem, when I read it about a month ago, True Crime really fell flat for me. Because of the title and the photo on the cover, I expected her memoir to be focused on her writing career and learning about forensics. It's heavily focused on her traumatic childhood (maybe that's what the title refers to?), and various relationships throughout her life. Cornwell relates many mystical experiences that seem to guide her. She remains close to Billy Graham's family from childhood to adulthood. Many of her relationships are difficult in one way or another. She makes bad choices. She discusses the frustrations of writing and the work it takes to craft an acceptable manuscript. I admire her pluck in sticking with it. Once she starts really making money from her work, she enjoys nice cars and designer clothing. It's a long book with a lot photos of her childhood and later posing with celebrities. I'm still looking forward to continuing the Scarpetta series; I wish I would've read the next book in the series instead of this memoir.
April 19, 2026
I’m giving this 3 stars so it’s neutral… because who am I to really rate someone’s life story as anything lower. This seemed like a bit of fiction mixed with Patricia Cornwell’s real life experiences. (By that I mean obviously at 5 years old she really doesn’t remember what her brother was eating in the car or that it was humid that day.) I honestly ended up skimming this book to get through it! I found it incredibly boring. HOWEVER, if you are a Patricia Cornwell fan then give this a try. You might enjoy it more. There were interesting pieces of her story mixed in. She truly has had an interesting life, but it could’ve been told in a much shorter book. This just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
August 22, 2026
As a longtime fan of Patricia Cornwell and her writing, I knew I needed to read her memoir. I always try to do memoirs on audio, especially when they are read by the author.
This is as much a coming-of-age and survivor story as anything. I've seen some reviewers criticize this memoir for focusing too much/too long on her younger years. I actually found it so fascinating to learn how she grew up in an incredibly dysfunctional family with two parents who were struggling to maintain their own grip on reality - much less parent their three children! Even readers who aren't terribly familiar with Cornwell's work as an author could appreciate the story of a child finding their way to adulthood despite suffering so many extreme emotional trials.
Another criticism I've seen is that Cornwell spends too much time name-dropping. I don't know how the author is supposed to tell her story when she literally grew up under the wings of so many people in positions of power - from Billy and Ruth Graham to George H. W. and Barbara Bush. She doesn't mention these people to elevate her own status but to talk about the people who shaped her long before she was ever a celebrity.
The final criticism I wish to address is people complaining that there isn't enough "crime" in a memoir called "True Crime." I'd like to posit that many things that Cornwell experienced as a child - abandonment, abuse, neglect - are in fact some of the rawest, truest crimes that one could imagine. The fact that she managed to come through life even remotely intact, much less successful and whole, is nothing short of miraculous.
I admire Cornwell more for having heard her story in her own words. Is she brash and egotistical? Perhaps. But I admire that she makes no apologies for the woman she has become. We would all do well to toot our own horn every now and then. 4.25 stars
This is as much a coming-of-age and survivor story as anything. I've seen some reviewers criticize this memoir for focusing too much/too long on her younger years. I actually found it so fascinating to learn how she grew up in an incredibly dysfunctional family with two parents who were struggling to maintain their own grip on reality - much less parent their three children! Even readers who aren't terribly familiar with Cornwell's work as an author could appreciate the story of a child finding their way to adulthood despite suffering so many extreme emotional trials.
Another criticism I've seen is that Cornwell spends too much time name-dropping. I don't know how the author is supposed to tell her story when she literally grew up under the wings of so many people in positions of power - from Billy and Ruth Graham to George H. W. and Barbara Bush. She doesn't mention these people to elevate her own status but to talk about the people who shaped her long before she was ever a celebrity.
The final criticism I wish to address is people complaining that there isn't enough "crime" in a memoir called "True Crime." I'd like to posit that many things that Cornwell experienced as a child - abandonment, abuse, neglect - are in fact some of the rawest, truest crimes that one could imagine. The fact that she managed to come through life even remotely intact, much less successful and whole, is nothing short of miraculous.
I admire Cornwell more for having heard her story in her own words. Is she brash and egotistical? Perhaps. But I admire that she makes no apologies for the woman she has become. We would all do well to toot our own horn every now and then. 4.25 stars
May 5, 2026
Patricia Cornwell is best known as the author of the internationally bestselling thriller series featuring forensic pathologist Dr Kay Scarpetta, which began with Postmortem, first published in 1990 to great acclaim, and continues with the 29th instalment, Sharp Force, released in 2025.
I must confess I’ve only read the first fifteen books, back in my pre-book blogging days, and nothing further in the series since, more through oversight than intention. Still, I count myself a fan, so I picked up True Crime eagerly.
True Crime is a candid memoir that chronicles Cornwell’s life, from her childhood in Miami and later Montreat, through to her college years, and early career; to her eventual rise as a bestselling novelist credited with the invention of the forensic thriller genre.
Cornwell reveals early years marred by the trauma of her parents acrimonious divorce and her mother’s mental illness, sexual assault, and an adolescence marked by an eating disorder and depression. It makes for quite harrowing reading, though the prose is rather unsentimental. Her saving grace, aside from her own innate resilience, was the bond Cornwell formed with Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Christian evangelist, Billy Graham, who would provide her with support and encouragement through most of her life.
At one time Cornwell harboured a dream to become a professional tennis player, which earned her a scholarship to college where she studied journalism. She reveals how this led, in a somewhat unconventional manner, to a role in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. It was her experience there, despite the emotional toll, that inspired Cornwell to create Dr Kay Scarpetta.
Though the most detail (and pages) in True Crime is reserved for her childhood experiences, I think readers more curious about Cornwell’s writing process will also be satisfied. Success has been hard earned for Cornwell, and while she now enjoys wealth and celebrity, she continues to be diligent in her approach to her craft.
The release of this memoir coincides with the engaging debut of the Amazon Prime TV series, Scarpetta, based on book #25, Autopsy, starring Nicole Kidman as Dr Kay Scarpetta with a strong supporting cast which includes Jamie Lee Curtis and Simon Baker. I would recommend it even if you aren’t familiar with the book series.
Interesting, heartbreaking, and sincere, True Crime offers insight into a fascinating, complex woman, and the creation of the character that has defined her career for more than three decades.
I must confess I’ve only read the first fifteen books, back in my pre-book blogging days, and nothing further in the series since, more through oversight than intention. Still, I count myself a fan, so I picked up True Crime eagerly.
True Crime is a candid memoir that chronicles Cornwell’s life, from her childhood in Miami and later Montreat, through to her college years, and early career; to her eventual rise as a bestselling novelist credited with the invention of the forensic thriller genre.
Cornwell reveals early years marred by the trauma of her parents acrimonious divorce and her mother’s mental illness, sexual assault, and an adolescence marked by an eating disorder and depression. It makes for quite harrowing reading, though the prose is rather unsentimental. Her saving grace, aside from her own innate resilience, was the bond Cornwell formed with Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Christian evangelist, Billy Graham, who would provide her with support and encouragement through most of her life.
At one time Cornwell harboured a dream to become a professional tennis player, which earned her a scholarship to college where she studied journalism. She reveals how this led, in a somewhat unconventional manner, to a role in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. It was her experience there, despite the emotional toll, that inspired Cornwell to create Dr Kay Scarpetta.
Though the most detail (and pages) in True Crime is reserved for her childhood experiences, I think readers more curious about Cornwell’s writing process will also be satisfied. Success has been hard earned for Cornwell, and while she now enjoys wealth and celebrity, she continues to be diligent in her approach to her craft.
The release of this memoir coincides with the engaging debut of the Amazon Prime TV series, Scarpetta, based on book #25, Autopsy, starring Nicole Kidman as Dr Kay Scarpetta with a strong supporting cast which includes Jamie Lee Curtis and Simon Baker. I would recommend it even if you aren’t familiar with the book series.
Interesting, heartbreaking, and sincere, True Crime offers insight into a fascinating, complex woman, and the creation of the character that has defined her career for more than three decades.
May 31, 2026
This was not what I expected.
About 20% of the book is interesting when it discusses particular crimes and some of the detective work that forensic professionals are involved in .
I can understand that it’s important in a memoir to explain difficult/abusive childhood but way too much time spent on that.
It was interesting to read the experiences she put herself through in order to collect information for her writing, such as volunteering in the morgue.
Some of the other things that could have been mentioned in a paragraph or two rather than taking up big swaths of the book:
-she is very very rich ✔️
-she gives away a lot of her money to good causes✔️
-she liked flying helicopters and she likes guns✔️
-she knows very, very, very many famous people and hangs out with them✔️
-the famous people give her gifts✔️
I wish I had not spent the time reading this
About 20% of the book is interesting when it discusses particular crimes and some of the detective work that forensic professionals are involved in .
I can understand that it’s important in a memoir to explain difficult/abusive childhood but way too much time spent on that.
It was interesting to read the experiences she put herself through in order to collect information for her writing, such as volunteering in the morgue.
Some of the other things that could have been mentioned in a paragraph or two rather than taking up big swaths of the book:
-she is very very rich ✔️
-she gives away a lot of her money to good causes✔️
-she liked flying helicopters and she likes guns✔️
-she knows very, very, very many famous people and hangs out with them✔️
-the famous people give her gifts✔️
I wish I had not spent the time reading this
July 10, 2026
True Crime is the memoir of Patricia Cornwell - the one she sais she'd never write. She tells stories of her tumultuous childhood - her father leaving the family on Christmas Day, his affair - her mother's mental illness - becoming friends with Ruth Bell Graham. She talks about the difficulty in getting a book published. There are stories of her time at the Charlotte newspaper, eventually working the crime beat. Her job working with the Medical Examiner in Richmond and how that led to the birth of Scarpetta. Her marriage to Charles Cornwell. Her stints in rehab for an eating disorder and depression. And also the ugly price of fame with haters and stalkers.
What's remamrkable is how anyone can function and even thrive after the life experiences she went through. Even after so many people told her no one would read or buy her books, she's one of the most well-known and read authors today. Cornwell is blunt about the people in her life that tried to tear her down, including her own father. There's not much forgiveness there. I think it would be remarkable to fly in a helipcopter with her as a pilot - not really a skill you expect any author to have.
A must read for Cornwell and Scarpetta fans.
What's remamrkable is how anyone can function and even thrive after the life experiences she went through. Even after so many people told her no one would read or buy her books, she's one of the most well-known and read authors today. Cornwell is blunt about the people in her life that tried to tear her down, including her own father. There's not much forgiveness there. I think it would be remarkable to fly in a helipcopter with her as a pilot - not really a skill you expect any author to have.
A must read for Cornwell and Scarpetta fans.
May 25, 2026
The author gives a rather honest look back at her life and what has shaped her, including the ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. The book was engaging, slow-paced at times but still interesting. Cornwell’s childhood and her relationship with Ruth Graham were the most absorbing parts of the book. Her involvement in the work at the morgue was macabre but explained her fascination with the Scarpetta character. She gives few details about her current life, mostly focusing on her past, her failed marriage and her travels and possessions. She seems prideful about what she has and has accomplished but there were parts that I felt were exaggerated with happiness and the sad parts were glossed over. As a long-time fan of Scarpetta, I am glad I read the book but felt that I still knew little or nothing about the what helped her in life and what has contributed to her success as an author. At the end of the book, it was obvious that she guarded her privacy well while trying to sell her memoir.
I checked out a copy of this book from my local library using the Libby App. All opinions expressed are my own.
I checked out a copy of this book from my local library using the Libby App. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 6, 2026
I feel as if I’ve known Patricia Cornwell like a friend for the past 35+ years. I read her very first thriller “Post Mortem” in 1990 and she became an auto-buy for me, which was made considerably easier 17 years later when ebooks became available. I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of the Kay Scarpetta books and the fascinating Ripper investigations. The space books, eh, were the only miss for me. Author Cornwell was the reason I have also read Kathy Reich’s 30 year old 24 book series starring another forensic investigator, Temperance Brennan. Reichs is a real forensic anthropologist, but Cornwell is the seasoned journalist. “Bones” beat “Scarpetta” to the airwaves, but Cornwell has Nicole Kidman playing her lead character. May both authors find continued success.
Kay Scarpetta has been a fictional female icon for such a long time and knowing that the character was partially incorporated the true life experience of Patricia Daniels Cornwell, once an analyst for the same Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia — which fans recognize by the acronym OCME.
Cornwell’s own life is fascinating and we’re fortunate that she saved the typewritten pages of her first attempt at a memoir decades ago. “Post Mortem” was apparently a bit autobiographical and I’ve always felt that I knew the author through her main character as she matured. There are some distressing parts to her real life story (the book summary captures most of it), but I respect the way she persevered in order to find the success she’s received.
It’s a brave book and bravo to the author! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
Kay Scarpetta has been a fictional female icon for such a long time and knowing that the character was partially incorporated the true life experience of Patricia Daniels Cornwell, once an analyst for the same Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia — which fans recognize by the acronym OCME.
Cornwell’s own life is fascinating and we’re fortunate that she saved the typewritten pages of her first attempt at a memoir decades ago. “Post Mortem” was apparently a bit autobiographical and I’ve always felt that I knew the author through her main character as she matured. There are some distressing parts to her real life story (the book summary captures most of it), but I respect the way she persevered in order to find the success she’s received.
It’s a brave book and bravo to the author! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
June 2, 2026
When I bought this book I didn't realize it was a memoir. I normally hate and don't read memoirs.
This one was deceiving with the title True Crime. It is not true crime...it is a memoir and I hated it.
The 451 page "epic" started off with the first 300 or so pages talking about Patricia's childhood and parents and included details of what they ate for breakfast and what they watched on TV and the various mental health issues everyone faced. Frankly, I just didn't care.
Finally around page 300 we got to the history of Patricia's writing career and her books. I've never been all that thrilled with the books and didn't really love the Scarpetta books I read but again I was pulled in by the title True Crime.
I'm being generous with the one star for effort. I really felt zero stars was probably more like it.
This one was deceiving with the title True Crime. It is not true crime...it is a memoir and I hated it.
The 451 page "epic" started off with the first 300 or so pages talking about Patricia's childhood and parents and included details of what they ate for breakfast and what they watched on TV and the various mental health issues everyone faced. Frankly, I just didn't care.
Finally around page 300 we got to the history of Patricia's writing career and her books. I've never been all that thrilled with the books and didn't really love the Scarpetta books I read but again I was pulled in by the title True Crime.
I'm being generous with the one star for effort. I really felt zero stars was probably more like it.
May 13, 2026
DNFd at chapter 7.
Not what I expected and I found the author’s voice in the audiobook especially tedious
Not what I expected and I found the author’s voice in the audiobook especially tedious
September 2, 2026
I'm not much different that many of you in reading this book, "True Crime: A Memoir," both written and narrated by Patricia Cornwell. I like you have been a follower for many years and have read near all of her books. Seeing/hearing the real person was a bit of an eye opener for me. For example, when I was at the beginning of the book where she speaks of family, school, etc. I was very surprised at the juvenile quality of her voice. That was big to me.
While she was discussing second grade, and I had read for about two hours, I said to myself, "I'm going to bail, unless something changes real soon." At that point, decided to read reviews to see if this was worth my time. One reviewer made the specific comment that the book improved notably later in the book. So, I bound ahead about 12 chapters, and when I returned, she was getting ready to come back from London, going to school, and seeing Charlie. Perfect time to continue. This was the book I was hoping to read.
Things progressed nicely until the end. I enjoyed her stories, experiences, and friends. She can be an awesome person. I admire that she was prepared by her police work to become a writer. Great tie in for her life. And to see how successful she became, in really quite short order. WOW. Very inspiring. The only downside I saw in the later portion was her dropping of names. Just going by a feeling, she said she was an avid diary/journal writer. I'm thinking she pulled experiences, names, dates, who with from her journal, and included all the details she could in compiling her Memoir. They can't be that easy to write and she obviously has a ton of talent to do as well as she has. Kudos to her for that. The last book I read of hers was a little different==probably one of her later ones. I'm not suggesting you jump ahead in her book, but for me, it definitely worked for the best.
I would recommend this book, with a little warning of its situations. Not everyone will have concerns I did, and that's great. Hope you enjoy! Rated: 3.5 Stars.
While she was discussing second grade, and I had read for about two hours, I said to myself, "I'm going to bail, unless something changes real soon." At that point, decided to read reviews to see if this was worth my time. One reviewer made the specific comment that the book improved notably later in the book. So, I bound ahead about 12 chapters, and when I returned, she was getting ready to come back from London, going to school, and seeing Charlie. Perfect time to continue. This was the book I was hoping to read.
Things progressed nicely until the end. I enjoyed her stories, experiences, and friends. She can be an awesome person. I admire that she was prepared by her police work to become a writer. Great tie in for her life. And to see how successful she became, in really quite short order. WOW. Very inspiring. The only downside I saw in the later portion was her dropping of names. Just going by a feeling, she said she was an avid diary/journal writer. I'm thinking she pulled experiences, names, dates, who with from her journal, and included all the details she could in compiling her Memoir. They can't be that easy to write and she obviously has a ton of talent to do as well as she has. Kudos to her for that. The last book I read of hers was a little different==probably one of her later ones. I'm not suggesting you jump ahead in her book, but for me, it definitely worked for the best.
I would recommend this book, with a little warning of its situations. Not everyone will have concerns I did, and that's great. Hope you enjoy! Rated: 3.5 Stars.
July 6, 2026
So I'm a huge Patricia Cornwell fan...read her first Kay Scarpetta novel right after it was released and I've read every single one since then so I was very excited months ago when I heard her memoir was being released. This was a great read and I would've given it 4 1/2 stars if possible - the only thing preventing me giving it a 5 star review is that I felt there were some pacing issues and some parts of her life included immense detail and other areas seemed somewhat glossed over, perhaps due to her private nature. If you've ever read Jeannette Walls memoir The Glass Castle then you'd enjoy this book, even if you've never read anything else written by Cornwell. The overall tone and insightful memories Cornwell includes here remind me a lot of the approach Walls took in writing her memoir. In both cases you have extremely smart, compassionate and thoughtful female writers who have the capacity to look back on their lives with thoughtfulness, forgiveness and thankfulness. The first half of Cornwell's memoir focuses on her childhood, and the second half focuses on her adulthood and her career. She had a rough childhood and a dysfunctional family but Cornwell also had key adults who saw something special in her and became mentors for her along the way. She's had such a rich, fascinating career trajectory - I literally stayed up late reading the last 50 pages because I was so curious to see how she would end this book. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about women overcoming obstacles and remaining true to themselves.
July 31, 2026
I’m so glad I listened to this memoir read by Cornwell herself. What a harrowing beginning to her life, with many obstacles along the way.
Cornwell is a go-getter when it comes to research and learning new things! I have loved her Scarpetta series! I wasn’t aware there was a Scarpetta television show and now have to look for it.
Cornwell is a go-getter when it comes to research and learning new things! I have loved her Scarpetta series! I wasn’t aware there was a Scarpetta television show and now have to look for it.
June 14, 2026
I read this because Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors, though I do need to get caught up on the Scarpette Series. She is a strong person to go through and survive what she has. Her parents? Wow! I loved finding out how she came up with the name Scarpette for her series. This was an insightful book into her life. I found out things I didn't know about her. If you read her books, I think this is a must for you to read.
May 24, 2026
I was completely unaware of Patricia's life growing up and only a few things about her since she became an author. I found this really interesting, learning what shaped her, who encourage her writing and what brought about the Characters in the Scarpetta novels I love.
June 27, 2026
Although Patricia Cornwall has been a significant author for many years, this was the first book of hers that I have read. She certainly had an interesting background and I found this of interest - though it did drag at times. I think she is a skilled writer and I may check out the Scarpetta series.
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