Thank you Scribner Books #partner, for the finished copy of Postmortem in exchange for my honest review. I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Scribner Books / Recorded Books
Published: February 17, 2026 (first published 1990)
Summary:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell comes Postmortem, the groundbreaking thriller that introduced Dr. Kay Scarpetta and redefined the crime genre.
A killer is stalking the streets of Richmond, Virginia. When the bodies begin to mount, Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta is pulled into a chilling investigation that blends high-stakes forensics with psychological warfare. Armed with cutting-edge science and unflinching resolve, Scarpetta must navigate hostile forces both inside and outside the investigation—because someone isn’t just trying to hide the truth. They’re trying to kill her.
Cornwell’s gift for combining cutting-edge criminology with nerve-shattering suspense makes this book a true modern classic. Relentlessly paced and shockingly prescient, Postmortem is the electrifying first chapter in the Scarpetta series—still as razor-sharp and relevant as ever.
My thoughts:
Last fall, I read the most recent book in this series, Sharp Force — book 29!! — because I was going to see her at the Boston Book Festival. You all know I am a big series fan, especially in the crime fiction genre, so I had no issues jumping in, and I really enjoyed that book, so much so that I knew I’d be going back to the beginning…plus, the books are coming to life on screen next month and I had heard book 1 was a reference point.
So, I finally picked up Postmortem and it was just as good as I hoped!! The case involved a serial killer and that certainly kept me guessing, especially once it becomes evident it’s someone close to Scarpetta.
But even more than that…I loved how in this first book, Cornwell really takes time to flush out the characters that eventually become her staples. Maybe it’s because I know who they are…but it was fun to see them at the beginning of their journeys.
I also appreciated how Cornwell uses the technology as it was at the time. This book was written in 1990 — no cell phones, no laptops, computers still used diskette and DNA testing is in its infancy stages. Again, having read the most recent book and heard her speak to this very point, this is something she very much is aware of and pays attention to. The science and technology are all accurate as they are at the time of writing.
Audio thoughts:
CJ Critt narrated this and did an amazing job. Having listened to the most recent book, I know that there are a few narrator changes throughout the series. But I do enjoy CJ Critt and know that she does a few of the earlier books and I’m excited about that!
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