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Patricia Cornwell

2 series 35 books in order 2 standalone books

Patricia Cornwell is an American crime writer, best known for her best-selling novels featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, a series noted for its emphasis on forensic science. Her books have sold more than 120 million copies. Her Kay Scarpetta titles include All That Remains, Body of Evidence, and Black Notice.

Born
1956
Known for
Kay Scarpetta, Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer

Series by Patricia Cornwell

Kay Scarpetta

30 books in order · 1990–2025 · Publication order

  1. Cover of Postmortem

    Postmortem

    1990 · Patricia Cornwell

    A killer is stalking the streets of Richmond, Virginia. As bodies mount, Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta is pulled into an investigation…

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  2. Cover of Body of Evidence

    Body of Evidence

    1991 · Patricia Cornwell

    Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta investigates the murder of Beryl Madison, an author whose latest manuscript has disappeared. The novel, set in…

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  3. Cover of All That Remains

    All That Remains

    1992 · Patricia Cornwell

    All That Remains is a 1992 book by Patricia Cornwell. It is book 3 of the series Kay Scarpetta. Catalog genres: Suspense In Literature, Crime Fiction.

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  4. Cover of Cruel & Unusual

    Cruel & Unusual

    1993 · Patricia Cornwell

    On a cold December night in Virginia, convicted murderer Ronnie Joe Waddell is executed in the electric chair. Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the state's chief…

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  5. Cover of The Body Farm

    The Body Farm

    1994 · Patricia Cornwell

    Little Emily Steiner was found dead after she left a church meeting in North Carolina and walked home along a lakeside path. Her body was discovered…

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  6. Cover of From Potter's Field

    From Potter's Field

    1995 · Patricia Cornwell

    A 1995 novel by Patricia Cornwell. In Richmond, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner of Virginia and FBI consultant, learns during a late-night…

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  7. Cover of Cause of Death

    Cause of Death

    1996 · Patricia Cornwell

    The body of Theodore Andrew Edding was found underwater after a supposed diving session. Forensic expert Kay Scarpetta investigates and begins…

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  8. Cover of Unnatural Exposure

    Unnatural Exposure

    1997 · Patricia Cornwell

    A 1997 novel by Patricia Cornwell. Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns from Dublin, where she examined a murder victim whose limbs and head were expertly…

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  9. Cover of Point of Origin

    Point of Origin

    1998 · Patricia Cornwell

    Point of Origin is a 1998 novel by Patricia Cornwell, from the author of Unnatural Exposure and Cause of Death. It pits Virginia's chief medical…

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  10. Cover of Black Notice

    Black Notice

    1999 · Patricia Cornwell

    A cargo ship arrives at Richmond's Deep Water Terminal from Belgium with a locked, sealed container containing the decomposed remains of a stowaway.…

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Show all 30 Kay Scarpetta books in order →

Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer

3 books in order · 1996–2001

  1. Cover of Hornet's Nest

    Hornet's Nest

    1996 · Patricia Cornwell

    A 1996 novel by Patricia Cornwell set in Charlotte, following three figures inside a metropolitan police department: Andy Brazil, an ambitious young…

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  2. Southern Cross

    1998 · Patricia Cornwell

    Southern Cross is a 1998 novel by Patricia Cornwell, part of her Andy Brazil series. The story follows Police Chief Judy Hammer, who is sent to…

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  3. Cover of Isle of dogs

    Isle of dogs

    2001 · Patricia Cornwell

    Patricia Cornwell's Isle of Dogs is a 2001 novel that blends dark humor with a critique of law enforcement. The story begins when the governor of…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of The Front
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  2. Cover of Portrait of a Killer
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Patricia Cornwell written?

We list 35 books by Patricia Cornwell across 2 series, published between 1990–2025 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Patricia Cornwell's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Postmortem.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Patricia Cornwell's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.

Some summaries adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.