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Kay Scarpetta #1-3
Three Complete Novels: Postmortem / Body of Evidence / All That Remains
Postmortem introduces Dr. Scarpetta, who knows the smell of bone dust from a skullcap saw and how to read a body for clues via lasers, DNA, and computers. As Scarpetta slowly closes in on a killer known as Mr. Nobody, she gets the creepy, well-informed feeling that the killer is closing in on her. Cornwell's debut swept the mystery-writing awards and made her somebody. In Body of Evidence, Scarpetta investigates the murder of a Southern writer who mysteriously opened the door for her killer. In All That Remains, she hunts a serial killer of young lovers--including the daughter of the president's drug czar, which complicates the forensic chase with political intrigue.
822 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1997
27 people are currently reading
638 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Cornwell
195 books19.7k 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 15, 2025
I learned about this author quite by accident. . . picking up some of her later books at a Thrift Store. I read the first few pages, and she hooked me, so I decided to start at the beginning of the series. The storyline held my attention, and while I found some of her words reaching which halted the flow somewhat, I remembered this was her first book, and our first is always the toughest. By the time I was 75% of the way through the book, I couldn't put it down. Every character and every scene engrossed me. It was captivating, and I had to see who had done it, as she had thrown suspicion in a few different directions. Patricia's book is why I read crime fiction. A great story will engulf your mind, which is exactly what this book did. Looking forward to the next one!
June 9, 2021
Three books in one. Very good reads. Three cases written from the point of view of forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta.
Because it was three books in one, the bulkiness of the book was sometimes hard to handle.
Because it was three books in one, the bulkiness of the book was sometimes hard to handle.
November 4, 2020
Tacco12 - per RFS
.
È ormai trascorso molto tempo da che, imbattutami quasi per caso in Postmortem, feci la conoscenza di questa fantastica scrittrice statunitense grazie alla quale ho scoperto di amare il genere thriller.
Dopo tantissimi anni e con una certa malinconia nel cuore, rileggere di Kay Scarpetta è stato un po’ come tonare in un luogo familiare non più frequentato ma mai dimenticato.
Alle origini di Scarpetta è un libro di tre, raccoglie infatti i primi tre casi nei quali la nostra protagonista si imbatte poco dopo la sua nomina a direttrice del centro di medicina legale del Commonwealth della Virginia.
Il primo caso (Postmortem) riguarda l’aggressione e lo strangolamento di un medico, Lori Peterson, che riconduce all’omicidio di altre tre donne. Kay e Marino si trovano a indagare su ogni aspetto della vita delle vittime per scovare dei punti in comune che li aiutino a identificare il sadico e astuto assassino.
In Oggetti di reato, l’omicidio di Beryl Madison porta Kay e Marino a investigare sulla vita della giovane scrittrice. Viene così a galla lo strano rapporto che ha legato per anni la ragazza a Cary Harper e la sorella di lui, Sterlin, (entrambi morti) nonché il grande interesse nei confronti dell’autobiografia scomparsa, scritta da Beryl.
In Quel che rimane invece, la città di Williamsburg è vittima di un serial killer che si diverte a rapire e uccidere giovani coppie. È un grande smacco per Kay il non riuscire a identificare la causa di morte delle otto giovani vite spezzate.
Tre storie che, rilette a brevissima distanza e nel giusto ordine, mettono bene in evidenza lo svilupparsi nel tempo del rapporto tra la nostra protagonista Kay, medico legale neo nominato e uno dei co-protagonisti della serie, il sergente Pate Marino.
In Postmortem sono semplici colleghi costretti a lavorare insieme, non si fidano e non hanno una grande opinione l’uno dell’altra. Troviamo anche l’impenetrabile Benton Wesley, allora profiler all’FBI e una Lucy pre-adolescente ma nella quale è già evidente il genio.
Proseguendo con il secondo volume della serie, si intuisce che il rapporto tra i due si è consolidato, nelle loro interazioni c’è familiarità e una maggiore cordialità. Sebbene non manchi una certa irritazione del medico verso i modi, a volte discutibili, dell’investigatore.
In quel che rimane, c’è fiducia, affetto e non si lesinano consigli anche personali.
Ho trovato affascinante questa evoluzione dei loro rapporti interpersonali, particolare che non ho pienamente apprezzato in passato, leggendo singolarmente i vari libri.
Ora come allora, la passione, la dedizione e il carisma di Kay Scarpetta mi hanno affascinata. Una professionista fuori dall’ordinario ma che l’autrice riesce a rendere “normale” grazie ai malumori, i dubbi e le relazioni sbagliate che hanno tutti.
La descrizione di personaggi e luoghi è ricca di particolari, talmente dettagliata da consentire al lettore di “vedere” la scena, proprio come fosse presente.
Ho letteralmente adorato Key West… per un breve momento ho davvero creduto di vedere le barche scivolare sulle acque azzurre dell’oceano, di sentire il sole sulla pelle e il profumo dei fiori nell’aria salmastra.
Senza contare dei dettagli utilizzati per caratterizzare l’aspetto tecnico delle sue analisi, un tocco di genio di Patricia Cornwell che sfrutta tutta la sua passata esperienza di cronista di nera e di analista informatico presso l’ufficio di medicina legale della Virginia.
La scrittura scorrevole, il buon ritmo e le trame avvincenti rendono la lettura piacevole e piena di suspense.
Da non perdere, ve ne innamorerete!
.
È ormai trascorso molto tempo da che, imbattutami quasi per caso in Postmortem, feci la conoscenza di questa fantastica scrittrice statunitense grazie alla quale ho scoperto di amare il genere thriller.
Dopo tantissimi anni e con una certa malinconia nel cuore, rileggere di Kay Scarpetta è stato un po’ come tonare in un luogo familiare non più frequentato ma mai dimenticato.
Alle origini di Scarpetta è un libro di tre, raccoglie infatti i primi tre casi nei quali la nostra protagonista si imbatte poco dopo la sua nomina a direttrice del centro di medicina legale del Commonwealth della Virginia.
Il primo caso (Postmortem) riguarda l’aggressione e lo strangolamento di un medico, Lori Peterson, che riconduce all’omicidio di altre tre donne. Kay e Marino si trovano a indagare su ogni aspetto della vita delle vittime per scovare dei punti in comune che li aiutino a identificare il sadico e astuto assassino.
In Oggetti di reato, l’omicidio di Beryl Madison porta Kay e Marino a investigare sulla vita della giovane scrittrice. Viene così a galla lo strano rapporto che ha legato per anni la ragazza a Cary Harper e la sorella di lui, Sterlin, (entrambi morti) nonché il grande interesse nei confronti dell’autobiografia scomparsa, scritta da Beryl.
In Quel che rimane invece, la città di Williamsburg è vittima di un serial killer che si diverte a rapire e uccidere giovani coppie. È un grande smacco per Kay il non riuscire a identificare la causa di morte delle otto giovani vite spezzate.
Tre storie che, rilette a brevissima distanza e nel giusto ordine, mettono bene in evidenza lo svilupparsi nel tempo del rapporto tra la nostra protagonista Kay, medico legale neo nominato e uno dei co-protagonisti della serie, il sergente Pate Marino.
In Postmortem sono semplici colleghi costretti a lavorare insieme, non si fidano e non hanno una grande opinione l’uno dell’altra. Troviamo anche l’impenetrabile Benton Wesley, allora profiler all’FBI e una Lucy pre-adolescente ma nella quale è già evidente il genio.
Proseguendo con il secondo volume della serie, si intuisce che il rapporto tra i due si è consolidato, nelle loro interazioni c’è familiarità e una maggiore cordialità. Sebbene non manchi una certa irritazione del medico verso i modi, a volte discutibili, dell’investigatore.
In quel che rimane, c’è fiducia, affetto e non si lesinano consigli anche personali.
Ho trovato affascinante questa evoluzione dei loro rapporti interpersonali, particolare che non ho pienamente apprezzato in passato, leggendo singolarmente i vari libri.
Ora come allora, la passione, la dedizione e il carisma di Kay Scarpetta mi hanno affascinata. Una professionista fuori dall’ordinario ma che l’autrice riesce a rendere “normale” grazie ai malumori, i dubbi e le relazioni sbagliate che hanno tutti.
La descrizione di personaggi e luoghi è ricca di particolari, talmente dettagliata da consentire al lettore di “vedere” la scena, proprio come fosse presente.
Ho letteralmente adorato Key West… per un breve momento ho davvero creduto di vedere le barche scivolare sulle acque azzurre dell’oceano, di sentire il sole sulla pelle e il profumo dei fiori nell’aria salmastra.
Senza contare dei dettagli utilizzati per caratterizzare l’aspetto tecnico delle sue analisi, un tocco di genio di Patricia Cornwell che sfrutta tutta la sua passata esperienza di cronista di nera e di analista informatico presso l’ufficio di medicina legale della Virginia.
La scrittura scorrevole, il buon ritmo e le trame avvincenti rendono la lettura piacevole e piena di suspense.
Da non perdere, ve ne innamorerete!
April 25, 2014
If you don't read one of Patricia Cornwell's books before you die, you fucked up big time.
These three books I picked up at a sale for $3.
The whole three in one book for $3 in a good condition. Yeah.
Scarpetta knows how to get shit done. Period.
4/5 Stars.
These three books I picked up at a sale for $3.
The whole three in one book for $3 in a good condition. Yeah.
Scarpetta knows how to get shit done. Period.
4/5 Stars.
April 10, 2025
took a second to get into the final book of the trio, but boy did i find the perfect soundtrack for the ending. very good books although i felt they were a tad bit predictable but interesting nonetheless
March 11, 2024
Postmortem introduces Dr. Scarpetta, who knows the smell of bone dust from a skullcap saw and how to read a body for clues via lasers, DNA, and computers. As Scarpetta slowly closes in on a killer known as Mr. Nobody, she gets the creepy, well-informed feeling that the killer is closing in on her. Cornwell's debut swept the mystery-writing awards and made her somebody. In Body of Evidence, Scarpetta investigates the murder of a Southern writer who mysteriously opened the door for her killer. In All That Remains, she hunts a serial killer of young lovers--including the daughter of the president's drug czar, which complicates the forensic chase with political intrigue.
July 26, 2018
If you like crime fiction you shall like this book. Not amazing but great read. Cornwell does her research on the topics well.
April 24, 2020
It's hard to beat a Scarpetta story...or three!
October 1, 2021
I like this book for the most part. Lots of details sometimes not tied to plot
February 5, 2025
Review coming soon
July 31, 2025
Komt te traag op gang.
April 28, 2020
Dangerous books.
Once you've started reading, you can't put it away.
Once you've started reading, you can't put it away.
March 7, 2017
Suspenseful and well-researched books
December 27, 2013
A serial killer is on the loose and Kay's department is being blamed for leaking information to the media. Being a woman in a male-dominated field doesn't help. Someone she doesn't particularly care for may just be the person who can help.
I knew I should have put the book down and gotten some sleep, but Postmortem had me flipping pages. I was intrigued and not disappointed. Definitely some twists to the story. - 4 stars
*************************
I have to say Body of Evidence was okay but nothing special. It seemed to be missing the suspense of the first one in this series. - 3 stars.
*************************
In All That Remains, the vehicle of the daughter of a prominent woman has been found. Police suspect this to be another couple abduction but so far the daughter and her boyfriend remain missing. Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta along with Detective Marino are hurriedly working together but it seems as though together they are being kept from some of the details surrounding these cases. News reporter Abby Turnbull has more information about this latest case than Kay and Marino.
I thought the ending was a bit confusing.
I knew I should have put the book down and gotten some sleep, but Postmortem had me flipping pages. I was intrigued and not disappointed. Definitely some twists to the story. - 4 stars
*************************
I have to say Body of Evidence was okay but nothing special. It seemed to be missing the suspense of the first one in this series. - 3 stars.
*************************
In All That Remains, the vehicle of the daughter of a prominent woman has been found. Police suspect this to be another couple abduction but so far the daughter and her boyfriend remain missing. Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta along with Detective Marino are hurriedly working together but it seems as though together they are being kept from some of the details surrounding these cases. News reporter Abby Turnbull has more information about this latest case than Kay and Marino.
I thought the ending was a bit confusing.
August 23, 2013
Fataal weekend:
Mijn eerste boek van Patricia Cornwell op aanraden van een vriendin.
Ik ben zeker benieuwd naar de volgende boeken. In het begin kwam ik niet echt in het verhaal, maar hoe verder het boek vorderde (vnl. Tweede helft dan) hoe meer ik wou weten wie de moordenaar was.
Ik kon ook niet voorspellen wie de dader was, ondanks er verschillende mensen verdacht leken te worden in de loop van het verhaal.
Je merkt wel dat het boek eind jaren ’80 werd geschreven. Een computer was toen nl. Nog geen vanzelfsprekend iets, het worldwide web was ook niet wat het is. Niet dat dit storend was, het deed me gewoon opmerken hoe bepaalde technologie (internet, pc, gsm,...) nu een gewoon dagdagelijks iets is en dat we niet echt meer uit ons leven kunnen denken.
Corpus delicti:
Ook hier vroeg ik mezelf af wie de moordenaar weer was.
Ik vind de Cornwell boeken momenteel wel ok, maar ze geven me niet het gevoel van Tess Gerritsen (waar ik niet kan stoppen met lezen en verlang naar het volgende boek)
Mijn eerste boek van Patricia Cornwell op aanraden van een vriendin.
Ik ben zeker benieuwd naar de volgende boeken. In het begin kwam ik niet echt in het verhaal, maar hoe verder het boek vorderde (vnl. Tweede helft dan) hoe meer ik wou weten wie de moordenaar was.
Ik kon ook niet voorspellen wie de dader was, ondanks er verschillende mensen verdacht leken te worden in de loop van het verhaal.
Je merkt wel dat het boek eind jaren ’80 werd geschreven. Een computer was toen nl. Nog geen vanzelfsprekend iets, het worldwide web was ook niet wat het is. Niet dat dit storend was, het deed me gewoon opmerken hoe bepaalde technologie (internet, pc, gsm,...) nu een gewoon dagdagelijks iets is en dat we niet echt meer uit ons leven kunnen denken.
Corpus delicti:
Ook hier vroeg ik mezelf af wie de moordenaar weer was.
Ik vind de Cornwell boeken momenteel wel ok, maar ze geven me niet het gevoel van Tess Gerritsen (waar ik niet kan stoppen met lezen en verlang naar het volgende boek)
Read
September 4, 2010I read all three books contained in this one volumes. while the books are basically well written procedural mysteries, Kay, the character lacks relationships with family, friends, co-workers, that would keep me coming back for more. There are also times that I am not sure what has happenned, is it real was it a dream? And big chunks of action are covered by exposiiton afterwards rather than showing us the scene.
August 22, 2007
Guilty pleasue. First books in series: Kay Scarpetta, Medical Examiner in Richmond, VA and police Sgt. Pete Marino solve grisly crimes through forensic evidence. Original cases and the chief always get more involved in than she wishes. One tough scientist!
April 18, 2008
Keep guessing and you'll probably still get it wrong. I was caught way off gaurd by the ending. Cornwell does a great job of not following a predictable "formula" for her books, each is unique and interesting!
May 1, 2008
I'll have to keep reading these.
September 3, 2008
These were the very first adult books I had read, when I was 13. WOW....theys ure left an impression on me... Loved them
Want to read
March 6, 2014Condition: Used - Good
Sold by: greener_books £0.99
September 12, 2011
Mindblowing. Could not put down the book. Makes you want to read more and more and more until you notice you juts finished the book.
July 7, 2012
And so it begins with Kay Scarpetta. I just finished reading #19. She challenges me. A quick read won't do.
February 2, 2013
I loved reading all three and learning about all the characters from the begining!!!!!
September 14, 2014
Wanted to read this series. Read quite a few and then stopped.
May 12, 2016
What a wonderful trilogy of books. I will be spending a lot more time reading the authors other books.
Read
September 7, 2015TELL HER A MEMER READ POSTMORTEM AND ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.
April 28, 2014
Great storytelling. Love the pace and detail. Like Law and Order in my hands.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews