Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Avon Books (1993), Paperback, 339 pages
Description
Discover the "dazzling...fascinating" (Los Angeles Times) novel that launched the New York Times bestselling Kay Scarpetta series from #1 bestselling crime writer Patricia Cornwell. Under cover of night in Richmond, Virginia, a monster strikes, leaving a gruesome trail of stranglings that has paralyzed the city. Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta suspects the worst: a deliberate campaign by a brilliant serial killer whose signature offers precious few clues. With an unerring eye, she calls on the latest advances in forensic research to unmask the madman. But this investigation will test Kay like no other, because it's being sabotaged from within--and someone wants her dead.
User reviews
LibraryThing member EmScape
It is evident that Cornwell knows what she's talking about when it comes to forensic medicine. She is also a compelling writer. It doesn't happen often enough in this genre that a scientific or forensic professional is also gifted in the 'actually writing a story' department, but when it does, it's
This is Cornwell's first effort, in which Dr. Kay Scarpetta is introduced. A quite interesting character with much back story to draw on as the series continues. The plotting is excellent as well. I thought I had the killer figured out halfway through the book, but I was quite wrong, and the revelation somewhat defies convention. My one complaint is that I am not a fan of the 'female-protagonist-crime-solver is personally threatened by the killer and that's how they catch him' trope. I think it's lazy, and demeans all of the excellent investigative work that's been done throughout the book. Kathy Reichs is a huge perpetrator of this, and I'm hoping, because I do intend to read more of Cornwell's books, that this doesn't continue in the succeeding volumes.
Show More
very much worth reading. This is Cornwell's first effort, in which Dr. Kay Scarpetta is introduced. A quite interesting character with much back story to draw on as the series continues. The plotting is excellent as well. I thought I had the killer figured out halfway through the book, but I was quite wrong, and the revelation somewhat defies convention. My one complaint is that I am not a fan of the 'female-protagonist-crime-solver is personally threatened by the killer and that's how they catch him' trope. I think it's lazy, and demeans all of the excellent investigative work that's been done throughout the book. Kathy Reichs is a huge perpetrator of this, and I'm hoping, because I do intend to read more of Cornwell's books, that this doesn't continue in the succeeding volumes.
Show Less
LibraryThing member la_femme_jennifer
I recently re-read this book after first reading it 10+ years ago. Though I remembered some of the main plot points, I had forgotten enough of it that it felt fresh again. This is definitely a graphic book with some grisly descriptions, but in my opinion it's not gratuitous and instead reflects the
Show More
nature of some rather grisly work. There are a few predictable plot turns but still enough surprises and twists to make it suspenseful. Word of caution- not the best book to read alone late at night (as I did) unless you're not in need of much sleep. More than once I found myself actually jump in response to noises outside. But that's also a testament to the effectiveness of her writing. As an aside, the book was written in 1990 and her descriptions of the latest advances in computers for that time brought back some fond memories. Show Less
LibraryThing member SmithSJ01
I loved this book. It's the first one with Dr Kay Scarpetta and also the first Cornwell book I've read. On both counts it won't be my last. I loved the characters and felt the plot raced along. I was never wondering how long to the next chapter or how many pages I had left to read. From the first
Show More
line to the last this was enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member kittykay
Reading Post-Mortem, I had really high expectations for this book. It received so much praise that I couldn’t wait to get into it, and at first I was quite disappointed; I thought the writing was cold, detached, and I could absolutely not relate to the narrator. I wasn’t sure I would get
My mother loves, loves, loves a good mystery. When I was a kid and we went to the library, she would borrow five of those and read them in a week. Not only did she gave me her love for reading, she also made me curious about mystery novels. I can say with absolute certainty though, that she wouldn’t like this one; Cornwell’s descriptions are precise, scary, some could say a little bit gory. Wheter she is at the crime seen or in her lab, Cornwell’s narrator, Scarpetta, describes with great details what’s in front of her. Reading Postmorterm is the literary equivalent of watching a C.S.I. episode. I’m quite certain that, if you don’t enjoy one, you won’t enjoy the other.
As for the writing, I enjoyed it enough. Cornwell did a good job of explaining some aspects of the procedurals without making it sound like a class. Scarpetta’s voice is interesting and, most importantly, human. I’d say I’m as far as you can get from being a M.E., and still, I felt I understood what Scarpetta was going through. Her insecurities, her fears, her doubts, her problems with her co-workers or her family were, in a way, similar to anyone’s. As the story goes, Scarpetta gets more tired and stressed by the events, and you can feel it in her actions and words. She shares with the readers her own hesitations and doubts, even those she wishes weren’t true.
You have to keep in mind that Postmortem has been written over 15 years ago, which makes the technology a little dated! There is no internet, no cell phones, and someone who knows more about medicine and procedurals than I do would probably find some of their “discoveries” quite funny. For me, it was part of the book’s magic, and it gave the investigations a different perspective from our more modern one.
The ending was a little predictable, but it is what you would expect from this kind of novel. I enjoyed the other characters, too. They were varied and interesting, giving different dynamics to Scarpetta’s home and work place. Looking back to the beginning of the book, I think I enjoyed it less because my expectations were so high. In the end though, it was a good choice for me. I’m definitely adding more Cornwell to my “TBR” list!
Show More
through it, despite my interest in forensics. By page 100 though, the story had developped enough for me to keep on reading; and by page 200, I was completely hooked. I was curious about the story, about the killer, and even, finally, about the narrator, Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta.My mother loves, loves, loves a good mystery. When I was a kid and we went to the library, she would borrow five of those and read them in a week. Not only did she gave me her love for reading, she also made me curious about mystery novels. I can say with absolute certainty though, that she wouldn’t like this one; Cornwell’s descriptions are precise, scary, some could say a little bit gory. Wheter she is at the crime seen or in her lab, Cornwell’s narrator, Scarpetta, describes with great details what’s in front of her. Reading Postmorterm is the literary equivalent of watching a C.S.I. episode. I’m quite certain that, if you don’t enjoy one, you won’t enjoy the other.
As for the writing, I enjoyed it enough. Cornwell did a good job of explaining some aspects of the procedurals without making it sound like a class. Scarpetta’s voice is interesting and, most importantly, human. I’d say I’m as far as you can get from being a M.E., and still, I felt I understood what Scarpetta was going through. Her insecurities, her fears, her doubts, her problems with her co-workers or her family were, in a way, similar to anyone’s. As the story goes, Scarpetta gets more tired and stressed by the events, and you can feel it in her actions and words. She shares with the readers her own hesitations and doubts, even those she wishes weren’t true.
You have to keep in mind that Postmortem has been written over 15 years ago, which makes the technology a little dated! There is no internet, no cell phones, and someone who knows more about medicine and procedurals than I do would probably find some of their “discoveries” quite funny. For me, it was part of the book’s magic, and it gave the investigations a different perspective from our more modern one.
The ending was a little predictable, but it is what you would expect from this kind of novel. I enjoyed the other characters, too. They were varied and interesting, giving different dynamics to Scarpetta’s home and work place. Looking back to the beginning of the book, I think I enjoyed it less because my expectations were so high. In the end though, it was a good choice for me. I’m definitely adding more Cornwell to my “TBR” list!
Show Less
LibraryThing member MidnightTears
Not my typical pick. Point of Origin was handed to me when I was complaining about not having anything to read and couldn't get to the library. It just happened to be the 8th book of a series and I wasn't won over by it. So, I thought it might be because I jumped in the middle.
Postmortem was a
The case in this books is of a serial strangler/killer in Richmond, Virginia. I have to say that the first half of the book was a bit slow, but that is to be expected with the first book of a series. Providing background that I'm sure she will be building upon. After about half way things really started to pick up, and I finished the book rather quickly.
I love Cornwell's writting style, and the feel that she really has studied forensics. Everything in the book seems plausable and realistic. It didn't take to much effort on my part to really "see" the things in the book happen.
I'll be reading more of the series, and saving my review of Point of Origin until after the re-read. I believe that reading it out of order may have been why I wasn't impressed by it.
Postmortem was a
Show More
nice surprise! Written along the lines of CSI, I must say I enjoyed this book! Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a Medical Examiner, and this book follows her through a case. The case in this books is of a serial strangler/killer in Richmond, Virginia. I have to say that the first half of the book was a bit slow, but that is to be expected with the first book of a series. Providing background that I'm sure she will be building upon. After about half way things really started to pick up, and I finished the book rather quickly.
I love Cornwell's writting style, and the feel that she really has studied forensics. Everything in the book seems plausable and realistic. It didn't take to much effort on my part to really "see" the things in the book happen.
I'll be reading more of the series, and saving my review of Point of Origin until after the re-read. I believe that reading it out of order may have been why I wasn't impressed by it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MsBeautiful
Good mystery, especially for someone who likes science/anatomy
LibraryThing member herschelian
The first of Cornwell's immensely popular crime novels featuring the feisty Medical Examiner, Dr Kay Scarpetta. A serial killer on the loose in Richmond, Virgina. Can Scarpetta dig up enough evidence to help the police catch the killer and confound the critics who say that a woman should not be
Show More
holding this powerful job. Show Less
LibraryThing member miketroll
One for lovers of gruesome autopsy reports. After all Cornwell' s serial killers in Richmond VA, I don't understand why anyone still lives there.
LibraryThing member ct.bergeron
Under cover of night in Richmond, Virginia, a human monster strikes, leaving a gruesome trail of stranglings that has paralyzed the city. Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta suspects the worst: a deliberate campaign by a brilliant serial killer whose signature offers precious few clues. With an unerring
Show More
eye, she calls on the latest advances in forensic research to unmask the madman. But this investigation will test Kay like no other, because it''s being sabotaged from within and someone wants her dead. Show Less
LibraryThing member BrianDewey
Cornwell, Patricia. Postmortem. Pocket Books, New York, 1990. Trashy paperback that I bought in the Portland airport and finished sitting on the tarmac at Dulles, waiting to take off from Seattle. Reminds me very much of Silence of the Lambsdown a killer, female protagonist, and the actual perp is
Show More
not anyone that you know from the story. (That's the way this genre of book, the ``crime novel'', differs from a mysterypoint of a mystery is to determine which of the characters in the story committed the crime. The focus of these novels is the crime itself. There's no way to know the character.) As ``trashy'' as this book is, it's a compelling read, the characters are well-developed, it takes place in Virginia, and I like the story. I can easily see myself reading all of the other related novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormteri
A serial killer is murdering women brutally all over the city, but how is he picking them? And just who is setting Dr. Scarpetta up as a scapegoat for the news leaks? Gripping and horrifying, Cornwell writes a great thriller.
LibraryThing member Darrol
I enjoy this series; the interaction with Marino is what makes this series in the early going. I enjoyed the Lucy character as well (Kay's niece). It was interesting reading about the state of computer technology during this book.
LibraryThing member litelady-ajh
Good mystery, bloody & thick on the medical terminology, but kept my interest.
LibraryThing member miyurose
After reading a bunch of her later books, I finally read this first one. And felt like I had read it before. The entire thing felt familiar, but I'm sure I haven't read it. And I felt like there was backstory I was missing, like maybe this wasn't the first book, after all. But, overall, another
Show More
good one from Cornwell. I can't argue with a decent whodunit cop story complete with autopsies, right? Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
Dr. Scarpetta helps to find a man who is murdering single women who live alone.
LibraryThing member etimme
After reading this and seeing the publication date (1992) I really wonder how much the CSI franchise was influenced by it. Cornwell did a large amount of research before writing this book, and I appreciated her attention to detail. She's a meticulous writer, much as I regard Tom Clancy to be.
The
The
Show More
book was a very quick read, and I had two frustrations with it. While well written, I had hoped to see more about our characters. Secondly, I was frustrated by the heroine being (predictably) at the mercy of the mystery villain only to be saved by a cop who has too much free time on his hands. Show Less
LibraryThing member ralphmalph
The first and best book in the Scarpetta series books by Cornwell. Deep suspense and memorable characters lead to a good story and you'll want to read the others in the series which are still being written, although they still haven't topped this first book in the series.
LibraryThing member skinglist
For all the crime books I've read, I'd never read Cornwell until last summer when an audio book was on in a car I was riding in. I liked it and vaguely intended to read more. Didn't happen until I loaded some onto my nook and spent the holiday weekend enjoying brain candy. I decided to read from
Show More
the beginning as much as possible. I enjoyed meeting Marino and Lucy. It's amazing to set this book, technology wise re: DNA, email, dot matrix printing and cell phones. Not to mention smoking everywhere. I liked this, although the perp coming after Doc was somewhat predictable. As was the boyfriend du book. Do all crime authors pick from the same elements? All in all a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ti99er
Year after year after year, I have been at either a book store or grocery store book rack and have perused the back cover of a Patricia Cornwell, Scarpetta novel. Yet each time I put it back and never made the purchase. I am not sure why this was the case, her premises and storylines always seemed
I decided to start from the beginning with Cornwell's debut Scarpetta novel. Overall it was an engaging story that tracks an intelligent serial killer who doesn't leave to many tracks. The complexity of solving the case becomes even more difficult when someone close to the investigation is leaking key information to the media. As Dr. Scarpetta gets closer to solving the case, she also gets closer to risking her own life.
This book was a solid read, and it was interesting to see how far forensic science has come in 20 years. Back when this book was published the use of DNA testing to solve a crime was in its infancy, and therefore wasn't always a homerun for standing up in court.
Show More
engaging, yet I never read one of her books. This year I promised myself I would read one (or more) of these books. I even collected a half a dozen of them through Bookmooch and from my local library book sales. Well when I looked at the calendar and saw the year was coming to a close, I felt it was time to pick one up. I decided to start from the beginning with Cornwell's debut Scarpetta novel. Overall it was an engaging story that tracks an intelligent serial killer who doesn't leave to many tracks. The complexity of solving the case becomes even more difficult when someone close to the investigation is leaking key information to the media. As Dr. Scarpetta gets closer to solving the case, she also gets closer to risking her own life.
This book was a solid read, and it was interesting to see how far forensic science has come in 20 years. Back when this book was published the use of DNA testing to solve a crime was in its infancy, and therefore wasn't always a homerun for standing up in court.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jwcooper3
With all her success it would be foolish of me to say I didn't like this book. I did like it, as I do most of Cornwell's work, but there was a certain suspense missing, no fault of the author's. One of the disadvantages of reading the first installment of a series after having read several other
Show More
volumes is that the reader knows the main characters aren't in any real danger; the knowledge that they will be, at the most, slightly injured if at all lends a feeling of safety to an otherwise thrilling adventure. Show Less
LibraryThing member culturehandy
I found the first in the Scarpetta series to be slow building and fast ending. There was hardly any build up to the conclusion and subsequent solving of the crime.
I also found that the book contained a lot of small details about technology which was used, where other areas where skimmed over.
The
I also found that the book contained a lot of small details about technology which was used, where other areas where skimmed over.
The
Show More
book was enough for me to attempt the second in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mishaken
Allthought the story itself is quite good and Cornwell writes strongly and convincing, for me there was something missing. I can't quite put my finger on it since it is all well researched, well written and plausible but as the end drew near I noticed myself counting down the pages.
The author did
Honestly, Patricia Cornwell knows her job and writes down a story as it should be done. It's just not the 'thrilling' experience I'd hoped it to be.
The author did
Show More
convince me to read more of her work, especially this particular series with Kay Scarpetta because the character is so appealing.Honestly, Patricia Cornwell knows her job and writes down a story as it should be done. It's just not the 'thrilling' experience I'd hoped it to be.
Show Less
LibraryThing member caroren
Medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta, is up against a gruesome set of medical clues. The victims are women who were strangled and tortured by a very clever serial killer who can't be stopped. Really great Scarpetta story!
LibraryThing member verenka
I've heard so much about the Kay Scarpetta novels that I wanted to try the first one. I must say as far as serial killer thrillers go, this one was a good one. The ending was to be expected and it appears one major clue was ignored. I was surprised about how big a deal was made out of DNA analysis.
Show More
The book isn't that old, but of course a lot happened in that area in the last 15 years.. Show Less
LibraryThing member LaPhenix
Really slow start, she doesn't really pick it up until the end, but the writing and intensity is incredible when she does.
Subjects
Awards
Edgar Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1991)
Anthony Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1991)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Winner — 1990)
Macavity Award (Winner — First Novel — 1991)
Prix du Roman d'Aventures (1992)
Language
Original publication date
1990
Physical description
339 p.; 6.7 inches
ISBN
0380710218 / 9780380710218
Local notes
OCLC = 2367
Google Books
Google Books