Postmortem

By: Patricia Cornwell

Published by Scribner, 2026-01-27

<b><b>The inspiration for the upcoming Prime Video series <i>Scarpetta</i>—starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis!</b><br> <br><b>From #1 <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Patricia Cornwell comes <i>Postmortem</i>, the groundbreaking thriller that introduced Dr. Kay Scarpetta and redefined the crime genre.</b></b><br><br>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.<br> <br>Cornwell’s gift for combining expert-level criminology with bone-chilling suspense makes this book a true modern classic. Relentlessly paced and shockingly prescient, <i>Postmortem</i> is the electrifying first chapter in the Scarpetta series—still as razor-sharp and relevant as ever.