A Serial Killer is killing women's in Richmond, Virginia, at night and is on loose. Four Victim bodies are examined by Dr. Kay Scarpetta A Chief medical examiner, who founds with latest technology that how the shining residue leads to catching the killer.
Positive thing is that, story had started directly with the fourth victim, just describing only about the past murders. Interesting part is nothing was described about why he become the serial killer, it can be of any reason, author had left the thought's to readers !!
Negative part is even though nothing was mentioned about killers past, but rather they would have explained what is the reason for choosing his 4 victims atleast, why he liked the voice/Accent !!
On the Whole, It is Interesting to read!!!

Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell is the first Kay Scarpetta novel. Kay Scarpetta is the chief medical examiner (M.E.) for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in this first book we are introduced to Scarpetta's difficulties of trying to navigate a male-dominated world as a strong female presence. Cornwell masterfully weaves a tale where the lead character, in first-person narrative, communicates the professional façade that she must maintain in the most tumultuous circumstances, being present, sober, and compassionate at the scene of violent death. Scarpetta is humanized through her interactions with her niece, a precocious child, and when she is called to account by her supervisor. At times, the language is intentionally dry, detached, and distant while at others, the language is lyrical, involved, and passionate. I love Cornwell’s way of telling a mystery, and with this novel, I understand why Cornwell has capably carved a significant niche in the genre with Kay Scarpetta.

The clock is ticking. Doctor Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for Virginia, knows the serial killer strikes between the hours of Friday night and Saturday morning, She does not want to do another autopsy on another strangled woman. The torture and the method of strangulation are incredibly cruel. This has become personal.

Lucy, Kay's ten-year-old niece, is visiting. While Kay loves Lucy, she is distressed that her sister Dorothy once again has taken off without much notice, deserting her daughter. It is becoming clear Dorothy is a somewhat irresponsible, if not neglectful. Scarpetta tries to hide the police files she is studying at home for clues from Lucy, along with any explanations of her job, but Lucy has a high IQ. Unbeknownst to Scarpetta, Lucy is a hacker. While Scarpetta is gone, looking at bodies with unpleasant police detective Pete Marino, Lucy has been checking out the doctor's home PC.

At work, Kay has been accused by Dr. Alvin Amburgey, commissioner, of leaking information about the strangulation cases to reporter Abby Turnbull, who has been printing inside information about the murders. This is a serious issue, and Amburgey does not like Kay. He has been looking for leverage to fire Scarpetta, and this might be it, if he can prove she has been careless with her files or speaking off-the-record. She has to find whoever is breaking into her office computer network. Could it be someone on her staff? Or Abby?

Kay's picture was in the newspaper, taken at one of the murder locations, identifying her. Now, a car is occasionally pulling up to her house at night, then leaving. Is it someone noting her comings and goings, and if she is alone? She decides to get her gun out, and put it under her pillow. Just in case....

'Postmortem', book one in the procedural Kay Scarpetta mystery series, is thrilling and smart. It has been quite awhile since I read any book in the series myself, so it is a pleasant surprise that it has held up with the passing of decades. Even though the computer technology the novel describes is out of date, the story is informative and fast-paced. I loved it. I highly recommend 'Postmortem'.

I read this book years ago but much to my surprise I didn't remember any it, (not sure what this says about me). So it was like reading a new book. And what a satisfying read it was.
It's no wonder that Patricia Cornwell got such high praise for this novel. It's well plotted with enough twists and turns to keep any mystery reader engrossed.
I wont give a synopsis of the story as it has all been done, many, many times before.
I have read some unflattering comments on the later Scarpetta series, I can't comment as I have not read any of the newer books, but this can't be said about the early works.
I recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

Unlike other thrillers, this book was not a page turner for me. The entire book was extremely underwhelming & overall several pages longer than it needed to be. I was not a fan at all.

There are so many books on my tbr list but here I am re-reading Kay Scarpetta novels. And you know what? No regrets.
Well written story, interesting characters, couldn't put it down.
Great start to what is, in my opinion, a great series of books.

I’m not sure how or why I have never read a Patricia Cornwell novel. In the world of mystery/crime, she’s kind of a grande dame and highly influential. After all, she almost single-handedly started the whole “forensic science” crime thriller, influencing a slew of other writers in this genre, as well as initiating a plethora of forensic science-themed TV shows like C.S.I. and its many spin-offs.

She’s just one of those writers that managed to slip under my radar. A lot of things tend to slip under my radar, for whatever reason. For example, I have never seen a “Fast & The Furious” movie. Not a single one. And last I heard, there were 27 of them, I think. I have never watched an episode of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Eating chocolate-covered crickets also slipped under my radar. Wearing Spandex. Listening to Rascal Flatts. Having sex on a boat. Owning an iPod. Too many things, really.

Anyway, getting back to Cornwell. I decided to alleviate my Cornwell deprivation by starting with her first book, published in 1990, starring her beloved medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, “Postmortem”.

Scarpetta is a feisty petite blonde Italian-American who is the first female Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. It is a job that comes with a lot of responsibility, stress, and resentment from misogynistic politicians, doctors, and police officers who don’t believe that a female can adequately do the job.

The book opens with the third gruesome murder of a young woman by a serial killer. Scarpetta is called to the scene, where she gathers some interesting forensic clues but nothing that could be a “smoking gun”.

To make matters worse, Scarpetta has discovered that someone has hacked into the computer system of her offices, potentially leaking information to the press. Is it someone she works with or one of her superiors, aiming to make her look bad in order to threaten her job?

On top of all this, Scarpetta is having to look after her 10-year-old niece Lucy, whose flighty mom has decided to elope with some guy and has taken a honeymoon for an indefinite period of time.

Oh, and she’s dating her boss, which—-in hindsight—-is probably a bad idea.

Some, if not all, of this personal tumult would probably destroy a lesser person, but Scarpetta is tougher than she looks.

I have to say, “Postmortem” is a ridiculously fast-paced thriller. It’s also smart, as the characters in this book—-from Scarpetta herself, to the police, the victims, and the killer—-tend to buck the normal stereotypes of thrillers of its ilk. This, perhaps, explains Cornwell’s popularity over the years and how she is still churning out bestseller after bestseller.

Well, I’m hooked.

What a ride this was! And a reread, no less. It's been so long since I read this, I remembered hardly anything. Loved the characters, loved the story, loved the fact that I was immersed so easily every time I picked this up. Oh! Loved the audio performance by C. J. Critt. The way she reads Marino is pinpoint perfect! I'd actually forgot how terrific this series is. I'm going to the library to pick up the second book tomorrow.

If you want a book that grabs you from page one, with main characters you'll enjoy getting to know, pick up this first novel in the Kay Scarpetta series. You won't regret it.

Patricia Cornwell, with this debut novel that went on to become the first in a super best selling series, introduces the reader to Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia and her Richmond Police Department contact Sergeant Pete Marino, a homicide detective at the Richmond Police Department; and FBI profiler Benton Wesley. They work together on a string of violent unsolved murders. An OK read, and story, where the characters themselves and the way they relate to each other prove a bit more stimulating than the murder case itself. 6 out of 12.

2008 read

This is the first book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell. I absolutely loved this book! Patricia is one of my favourite authors, and I have read all of her books. This was a re-read for me, since I first read it over 25 years ago. I love Kay, Lucy, Benton and Marino, and I always enjoy reading about every case they are investigating. Highly recommended!

The dead have never bothered me. It is the living I fear.

As always...
3.5 Stars

Πρωταγωνίστρια είναι η ιατροδικαστής Κέι Σκαρπέττα. Και το βιβλίο πρωτοεκδώθηκε το 1990. Ας πάρουμε μία στιγμή να αναλογιστούμε πόσο δύσκολο είναι να είσαι γυναίκα σε ένα τέτοιο επάγγελμα. Ειδικά εκείνη την εποχή.

n  n    Εμένα ποτέ δεν με φόβιζαν οι νεκροί. Τους ζωντανούς φοβάμαι.n  n

Η Κέι Σκαρπέττα έχει εξετάσει ήδη τα 3 πτώματα ενός κατά συρροή δολοφόνου. Και μόλις ξεκινάει το βιβλίο, μία ακόμα γυναίκα δολοφονείται με τον ίδιο τρόπο. Από έναν σαδιστή εγκληματία.

Τι μου άρεσε:
✔ Οι αναφορές στην διαδικασία εξιχνίασης των δολοφονιών.
✔ Η ιστορία έχει ενδιαφέρον σίγουρα.
✔ Περισσότερο λάτρεψα το πως αναφέρονται οι δυσκολίες του να είσαι γυναίκα, ο σωβινισμός που αντιμετωπίζουμε.

n  n    - Αναπόφευκτα σκέφτομαι ότι αποτελώ εύκολο στόχο επειδή είμαι γυναίκα.
-Γυναίκα σε έναν αντρικό κόσμο. Θα θεωρείσαι πάντα εύκολος στόχος ώσπου να δείξεις στα καλόπαιδα τα νύχια σου. Και έχεις νύχια. Φρόντισε να τους τα δείξεις.n  n

Τι δεν μου άρεσε:
❎ Η μετάφραση. Δηλαδή ακόμα και στο παραπάνω απόσπασμα βλέπεις πως το “it’s a man’s world" το μετέφρασε αντρικός κόσμος. Δεν ξέρω... ας το έκανε ανδροκρατούμενο. Κάτι που να βγάζει περισσότερο νόημα. Χρησιμοποιούσε επίσης συνέχεια την έκφραση “δεν δίνω δυάρα”, αντί για δεκάρα. Τώρα.. ξέρω πως τεχνικά είναι σωστό, απλά ακούγεται λάθος ρε παιδιά. Πραγματικά η μετάφραση χαλούσε αρκετά την αναγνωστική εμπειρία.
❎ Ωραία που αναλώνεται με ιατρικά - αυτό δεν με κούρασε. Ιατροδικαστής είναι η πρωταγωνίστρια. Αλλά κάποια στιγμή έπιασε τα τεχνολογικά, τα συστήματα υπολογιστών και καλά που η μετάφραση εκεί ήταν αστεία (τι στο καλό είναι τα δημόσια συνώνυμα; public domains?), είναι και που ως γνώστης των συστημάτων, ορισμένα δεν έβγαζαν νόημα.
❎ Το τέλος ήταν αδιάφορο...

Και βέβαια λίγο με ενοχλεί που δεν έχουν μεταφραστεί τα επόμενα της σειράς - μόνο σκόρπια 3-4 ακόμα. Βέβαια θα μου πεις με την μετάφραση αυτή, ήθελα όντως να τα συνεχίσω στα Ελληνικά; σωστό κι αυτό...