Body of Evidence

Kay Scarpetta #2

by Patricia Cornwell

This is a previously-published edition of ISBN: 9781439135716.

Now in a new premium edition, #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell’s suspense fiction classic, featuring gutsy medical examiner Kay Scarpetta.

A reclusive author, Beryl Madison finds no safe haven from months of menacing phone calls or the tormented feeling that her every move is being watched. When the writer is found slain in her own home, Kay Scarpetta pieces together the intricate forensic evidence while unwittingly edging closer to a killer waiting in the shadows.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook

438 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 1991

About the author

Patricia 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 |

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable book that sees Kay Scarpetta looking for the killer of a young author. The author was working on her memoirs, but the potentially explosive manuscript goes missing, and several high profile people are invested in finding, and hiding, it's whereabouts. As the body count starts to climb, Scarpetta finds herself under siege and scared. I found this book to be easy to read and highly entertaining. A worthy addition to the series.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was such a gruesome kid... in that I loved to read this series. Blood never bothered me, and the more psychopaths you throw at me, the happier of a reader I am. I think I learned some anatomy from this book. :)

The descriptions are vivid, not for the faint-hearted. Hits close to him when it's about a writer being murdered. Almost decapitated.



The MC, Scarpetta, is a challenging character. She's so honest and raw, you have to respect and love her. But she's also got this side of her where I'd be a little scared to be her friend.

Very complex mystery. Lots of clues. Very intense read.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

My previous read was the first in this series, and I went straight on to reading this book, the second in the Kay Scarpetta series. This time a stalked romance writer somehow agrees to open the door the door to the seemingly deranged person that killed her. A missing manuscript causes further trouble when Scarpetta is accused of taking it! Meanwhile the murders continue!

Another a tad bit Convoluted and bizarre, it still is an absorbing case for Dr Scarpetta. As with the first book I enjoyed returning to Scarpetta's world and her supporting cast. 6 out of 12.
2008 read

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I don't know whether it's the writing itself or the time when it was written (early 90s), but Kay Scarpetta is one silly broad, who constantly makes choices that had me scratching my head in confusion (and frustration). For a character that is so beloved I can't quite find the appeal (yet). And her detective friend (?), Marino, is wholly unlikable, with his gruff, assholish demeanour, and his constant prejudice slurs and harsh judgements of nearly everyone he comes into contact with who isn't like him. What a prick. If I had to witness one more homophobic rant I would have gone off my tree!

Luckily, I enjoy a good murder mystery arc and this one kept me entertained and intrigued enough to plough on through the character bullshit. I'll probably continue the series at some point, just not immediately.

[Tooter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Cornwell’s Second Kay Scarpetta novel, Body of Evidence is a suspense-laden thriller which has Scarpetta investigating the murder of an author. There is intrigue involving the search for the author’s final manuscript that has been hidden by the author just before dying. The manuscript supposedly contains a tell-all, autobiographical component, which translates into the possibility that the murder was a result of named persons/suspects/family members in the book. While Scarpetta searches for the manuscript, she is also investigating other alternative scenarios, not the least of which are mental patients with a history of violent tendencies. The forensic parts are slow as usual, but still fascinating to a novice that loves science, and are really some of the most unique aspects to reading a Scarpetta murder mystery novel. Because Cornwell worked in a forensic setting, it infuses these books with a genuine clinical, and atmospheric milieu despite the dry verbosity of the technical parts. It reminds me of the Quincy MD TV show starring Jack Klugman except with a female lead that has distinct challenges because of her gender.

[Jess☺️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body Of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell is book 2 in the Dr Kay Scarpetta series, I can't believe that it actually took so long to pick up this series and I'm definitely enjoying it so far.
I love the whole build up throughout and even the quick face off with the killer at the end, this book definitely shows a little more emotion between the characters and the growth in friendships between them, it's certainly setting a picture of how you can see this series growing which I'm looking forward to reading and being a part of.
I would definitely recommend this one as part of the series even as a standalone 📓

[Lucy'sLilLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slightly below average mystery/thriller, the second book in the Kay Scarpetta series didn't blow me away, it barely kept me interested. So firstly, what I did like about this book, it's fairly easy to read, it's well-written and it flows well. However the plot got messier and messier as it went on with quick introductions to various characters with little point. The reveal was weak and boring and I think there was a more obvious but more exciting way to go with this one.

I have to talk about Marino, he's the second main character to Kay and he's a jerk. He's a typical 'old school' cop, homophobic and they was he talks about the mentally ill was hard to read. This book was written in the 90's but even so, pretty old-fashioned Patricia Cornwell should have done better. I think when there is a character like this in a book we expect them to be shut down, look down on or even to turn out to be the bad guy and for someone to take them down, but oh not Mario somehow he is portrayed as a 'good guy'.

As I said above this is well-written but it's clinical there isn't any beauty in the writing style. I think I am continuing with this series a little, just because I own so many of them but if they don't improve from this one, I will be cutting my loses.

[S.P. Aruna · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a standalone, this book rates 5 stars. As number 2 in the series, it gets only 3

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD

I've already read the first book in the series, Post Mortem, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found Kay Scarpetta a realistic, sober, and intelligent protagonist, and the forensic pathology parts are fascinating. However, reading this one, (book 2 in the Kay Scarpetta series) I found it so similar to the first book in plot structure, that its formulaic construction is all too obvious, including the endings in which Ms Scarpetta, a Chief Medical Examiner, becomes a target of the killer in the end. How unlikely is that, the killer going after the CME? Scarpetta must have really bad luck to have it happen twice, and so soon (I imagine the time setting between books 1 & 2 are not long apart). In fact, I'm finding that both novels are now so mixed up in my mind, it's beginning to become a blur as to what happened in which novel, that's how similar they are.

So my advice is only read one - either Post Mortem or this one, not both.

My take on series where books follow the same formula is that the author is only interested in making money with minimal effort, and assumes readers are just mindless sheep. Considering the success that these types of books have, maybe we are.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The murder of a well-known author has medical examiner Kay Scarpetta and the police stumped. An ex-boyfriend reappears mysteriously in Scarpetta’s life, and she suddenly finds herself in the middle of a legal issue involving a missing manuscript, one that may have been the motive for the murder.

Patricia Cornwell’s “Body of Evidence” is the second book in the Kay Scarpetta series. If her first book, “Postmortem”, put Cornwell on the literary map, “Body of Evidence” certainly cemented her place within the pantheon of great contemporary mystery writers.

This second book is sharper, smarter, and more psychological than the previous one. Cornwell’s knowledge of forensic science and police procedural, coupled with her strong sense of character development and the human condition, makes her a stand-out writer of contemporary mysteries and helps to explain her popularity.

I’m looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re read via audiobook

Story3.75 stars**⬆️
Audiobook 3.5 stars**
C.J. Critt

[Darya Silman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Body of Evidence
Author: Patricia Cornwell

BODY OF EVIDENCE brings back Kay Scarpetta and her assistant in investigation Pete Marino. The two try to determine who stalked and then killed a brilliant young woman writer who was writing a revealing autobiography about her life with another famous, now retired author. After the sudden appearance of the long-lost Scarpetta's first love Mark, the investigation gains a new dimension. What is Mark's role in all this? Is he a villain or a good guy? It's Kay's task to find out.

As I already mentioned in the review of the first book of the series, it's somewhat strange not to know the name of the villain from the very start. In classical detective stories, a killer appears as one of the witnesses or relatives; that's not the case with Patricia Cornwell's books. The reader sees evidence that could potentially lead to a murderer yet doesn't guarantee the direct cause-and-consequence plotline. Still, the author's writing style is an engaging one, and it's impossible to put the book down. I sacrificed my sleep on several nights to finish BODY OF EVIDENCE. I highly recommend it as an entertaining read.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began by badgering the scientists.
Documents examination is one of very few scientific procedures that can supply answers right before your eyes. It is as concrete as paper and as tangible as ink. (PG 202)

Where has Patricia Cornwell been hiding all my life?! This Kay Scarpetta character is as real as my neighbor. It was such a fascinating read. Kay is the Chief Medical Examiner and not the quitting kind! If I ever happen to be a true crime case I would be in the right hands with Scarpetta. (Hopefully never)

The twists and turns of the case were plenty. Bad people lurking in corners.

I was hoping her love interest held a twist to his character but I ended up being wrong. There were a lot of red herrings.

A new author to me that I'm going to continue reading.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely enjoyed this one more than I did the first and can see how this series would get better as it goes.

Loved that the mystery kept me on my toes and I didn't quite figure out whodunit until towards the end. Will definitely keep reading these!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cornwell brings Dr. Kay Scarpetta back in the critically acclaimed series to test her wiles in a new and disturbing manner. When a murdered author is found in her home, investigators are left with little to know insight, which bothers Scarpetta almost as much as the slaying itself. Questions grow exponentially while answers remain deftly hidden behind layers of the victim’s past. Scarpetta and the police being piecing things together, discovering a deeper back story related to her current piece of work and a collection of letters she wrote to a mysterious ‘M’. After a related murder, Scarpetta realises there is more to the story than meets the eye. When an old flame resurfaces, he could be the key to putting it all together or the impediment that the killer needs to make a clean getaway. As things begin to come together on one level, they unravel before Scarpetta can make sense of all the gathered evidence. Will the killer slide back into obscurity before being called out to face justice? A brilliant, thought-provoking novel that will lead fans of the genre begging for more. Great character back story strengthens the foundation of both the novel and the series, still in its infancy.

Cornwell does a fabulous job with all aspects of the novel. I must keep reminding myself that she forged the way in the genre, where characters such as Tempe Brennan and Megan Hunt followed suit with their own medical sleuthing. Scarpetta does defy the modern female protagonist with her crass perspective and vices galore. A great series for Reichs’ fans to try, while waiting for the next novel. Sure not to disappoint the reader who keeps an open mind. Any fan loving a great murder mystery with a hands-on medical professional will surely eat this up.

Kudos, Madam Cornwell. I am a fan and cannot get enough of these books.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is what I call a "guilty pleasure". Not at all high-brow, but easy to read thrillers with some mystery, and I have to admit that I enjoy the gruesome details about forensic pathology. Being an engineering type, I like to know the details behind things, how things work, in particular when it comes to problem solving or investigative techniques.

I do love the character of Kay Scarpetta; she's a strong, smart woman who is also attractive. She makes me nuts sometimes when she does risky things that her superior brain should be telling her not to do, but then there wouldn't be a story, would there?

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if it's because I mostly listened to this one while falling asleep and kept having to back track and start chapters over, but it felt harder to get through

It was an equally sick mystery with quite a bit going on. I find in both books that I'd like a little more Kay solving the mystery with forensics and a little less pieces falling into place by other means, but, overall it's an interesting case. Cornwell set up an obvious red herring but I learned from the first novel to beware the obvious choice. She continues to give enough different aspects to the case that it stayed interesting throughout.

The pacing is fairly good too, there's enough actual danger and stress buildup to keep me invested too.

I also liked learning a little more about the characters pasts. I'm starting to like Marino more too, he's looking out for Kay. So is Benton and everyone else even if they can be a bit patronizing. She's not the most insightful person at times and it's nice to see the other detectives and agents and OCME staff backing her up.

Overall I'd keep reading the series. I got a taste of it and will take a break but I'm glad to have tried these books finally

[Kasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ach! Patolog sądowa, która jara fajki i pije rum, rozwiązując przy tym zagadkę śmierci swoich "pacjentów". Czuć, że to nie jest współcześnie pisana książka, ale ani trochę mi to nie przeszkadza. Bardzo się cieszę, że ta seria ma milion tomów.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lackluster, especially after the introduction of Al Hunt (no, not that Al Hunt) and his mentally ill friend Frankie. An utterly tedious denouement, with the reveal of the killer's identity the most soporific moment of the novel. Much dull bloviation about Key West and its gay population. A lost opportunity to make Mark James, Scarpetta's ex-lover, the killer.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 30+ years between when it was published and now is evident, but I still enjoyed it and plan on continuing the series.

[Mick Dubois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the Dutch translation but I'll give a short English review as well:
Bery Madison, a famous writer is found stabbed in her own house. Kay Scarpetta en Pete Marino find out that the woman had been stalked. She only returned from hiding out in Key West a few hours before she died. It looks that she opened the door for her murderer. Is it someone she knows? Things become even stranger when forensics finds fibres from various car trunks on her.
Then out of the blue, Kay gets a visit from a lover from her student days. He’s a lawyer and tells her that Beryl was in a serious conflict with her mentor and former lover over the biography she was writing. The manuscript can’t be found and Kay’s accused of stealing it. Then the mentor is also killed.
I intend to reread the whole series, but the first book wasn’t available at the moment so, I had to start with the 2nd. It’s nice to reconnect with old-timers but you must remember that this book dates back to 1991. Much of the technology that we deem indispensable now, was still unheard of and the cutting-edge technology of then is often out-dated now. There are no cell phones and you could strand somewhere without a landline. Pure nostalgia.
We learn a couple of things about Kay’s younger years and her upbringing in this story and niece Lucy is still in school.
I don’t think that Marino’s homophobic comments would be tolerated nowadays but it’s a perfect illustration of changing attitudes. He’s not very woman-friendly either.
When the author decided to make Beryl a lover of Corona beer with lime, she could not foresee what impact that word would have today.


Beryl Madison, een bekende schrijfster wordt gruwelijk neergestoken in haar eigen woning. Scarpetta en Marino komen al snel te weten dat de vrouw werd gestalkt en een tijdje ondergedoken was in Key West. Geldgebrek dwong haar om terug te komen. Maar waarom opende ze de deur voor haar moordenaar? Kende ze hem? Het sporenonderzoek maakt alles nog vreemder want het lijkt alsof ze in de kofferbak van een auto vervoerd werd.
Dan krijgt Kay het bezoek van een oude vrijer, Mark James uit haar studententijd. Hij vertelt haar dat Beryl in een conflict zat met haar oude mentor en geliefde, Cary Harper (een andere bekende auteur) over het manuscript van haar biografie. Dat manuscript is vermist en Kay wordt ervan beschuldigd dat te hebben verduisterd. Niet veel later wordt Cary Harper ook vermoord.

Het is altijd fijn om een bekende serie nog eens opnieuw te lezen. Eigenlijk wou ik beginnen met de eerste, maar die was net uitgeleend. Dit boek is het tweede in de serie en dateert uit 1991. Je moet er rekening mee houden dat veel technologie die nu onmisbaar lijkt, nog in z’n kinderschoenen stond. En wat toen ‘cutting-edge’ was, is ondertussen al achterhaald. Niemand loopt met GSM’s rond. Het brengt wel flink wat nostalgie naar boven.
We komen in dit verhaal wel een en ander aan de weet over Kay’s jeugd en opvoeding. Ook grappig is dat nichtje Lucy hier nog op school zit.
De homofobie van Marina zou nu niet meer worden aanvaard, maar helaas was dat toen nog schering en inslag. Ik beweer niet dat het volledig verdwenen is, maar het wordt beter weggestoken. Erg vrouwvriendelijk is de rechercheur ook niet.
Toen de schrijfster Beryl een drinkster van Corona bier met limoen maakte, had ze zich nooit kunnen indenken wat een impact dat word nu heeft.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread from before there was even GR!

I remember being blown away by some of the techniques and policing methods when I first read this a couple of decades ago. Rereading now, it seems we’ve moved mountains in forensics and criminology since the early 2000s. The computing aspect was so new in this novel it gave me a giggle to think of how we processed info ‘back then’.

A solid character, with a solid plot and decent writing. I may skip the next few and jump back in only a decade behind!

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each September, I choose one of the many books my mother left behind and read it as a way to honor her. We shared a passion for reading but we didn’t always share the same tastes. But nevertheless, I plunge ahead and usually discover new joys that I might not otherwise have even tried.

This is the second novel in the Kay Scarpetta series featuring the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia and her forays into solving crime cases. The plot revolves around a reclusive writer who has been found murdered and Kay’s subsequent forensic examinations which lead the police to a series of related murders all having something to do with the writer’s missing manuscript. Eventually, Kay, herself, gets sucked into the orbit and becomes a potential victim as well.

I’ve read one other book in this series but it was many years ago and I don’t remember much about it. But this time around, I was in the mood for a contemporary mystery so it fit the bill quite well. (I use the term “contemporary” loosely as this was published nearly 30 years ago, before the rise of cell phones and the prevalent use of the internet, which of course, makes for a different sort of sleuthing experience). I found the character of Kay Scarpetta to be an honest type of character, meaning that while she is extremely competent at many things, she’s not perfect and she makes mistakes just like the rest of us. Her police detective pal, Morino, is definitely a man of his time, displaying the prejudices of many people in the early 1990’s that are cringeworthy today. But once again, an honestly-drawn character. The mystery was nicely complex with an evolving plot and, of course, the pathology and ME terminology was educational and provocative.

I have several more of my mom’s Patricia Cornwell books still on my shelves and based on this experience, I’ll certainly be reading more of them.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 2 in the Dr Scarpetta series.
This mystery takes place over a twenty years, or so, period. At first it sees simple. A young woman's body is found mutilated and the murder is investigated. But as more mutilated bodies keep turning up it soon becomes obvious that thing are not as simple as first thought. To get to the truth Kay and her sidekick, Lt Marino, need to find out what happened almost twenty years ago.

As you read it's hard to imagine how the past and the present will come together but with Patricia Cornwell's skill, it all makes perfect sense in the end.

Well written, good plot and enough characters to love and hate. What more can you ask for?

As much as I enjoyed this book, for me, it fell a bit short of the first book Postmortem but it was still good enough to give it 4 stars.

[Mark Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent but pretty routine addition to the series. Two brutal murders linked together, her ex making an unexpected return, a celebrity lawyer out to ruin her and some small red herrings to keep you guessing. Started well and then tailed away. Still - love the heroine so will be sticking with the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why read: Reading the series.

What impressed me: Body of Evidence was definitely a topsy-turvy mystery. Not only do you not know what's going on with the victims, you really don't have nay clue who to trust in the investigation either. Kay's not knowing friend from foe in her personal life adds a lot of tension and intrigue to the story. And either Cornwell does much better in this second book with laying off the excessive explanations, or I'm just getting used to her writing style.

What disappointed me: Nothing stood out as disappointing. Well, except the crazed homophobia of law enforcement. Was it really that extreme in the early 90s when this book first came out?

Recommended: Yes. Even better than the last.

Continue series: Yes. I'm definitely becoming interested in Kay's personal life.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,35 stars - English Ebook

Following the death of a writer, Kay Scarpetta is drawn into the search for her murderer. With a valuable manuscript missing and a mystery surrounding why the dead woman appears to have let the killer into her house, Scarpetta discovers someone from her own past may be involved in the mystery. Untangling the web of secrets surrounding the writer’s life and her relationship with an ageing reclusive author, the inquisitive medical examiner learns that she too, may be on the killer’s hitlist.

This is the second book in the Kay Scarpetta series and like the first one it’s a cracker. However, unlike the first one, this isn’t a straightforward tale. It leads us through a maze of possible suspects that never seem to move the investigation forward, but like all good murder mysteries, the clues are there, and the narrative builds towards a fridning end.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not nearly as good as the first in the series, but I know this series gets better. I don't think I ever read this one, though. There were some interesting twists in this, definitely not what I would have guessed. A solid entry in the series, but without the crackle of the first, Postmortem. I'll definitely continue with the series.

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the case of the author, and the things going on behind the scenes. Kay being a target may get tiresome if it is every book, but I guess it was the same with Alex Cross.

I forgot how much nonstop smoking there was in the early 90s. It's pretty cringe to read about in 2024, haha.

I will continue on; I love the scientific bits that are thrown in.

4 Stars