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Start with Postmortem and continue through all 28 books in the listed reading order.

28 books
Published 2003 to 2025
Status: Possibly ongoing

About This Series

The Kay Scarpetta series, penned by the masterful Patricia Cornwell, is a compelling collection of crime fiction novels that delve into the intricate world of forensic science. Centered around Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a brilliant medical examiner, the series intricately weaves suspense, mystery, and a strong female protagonist who navigates the dark underbelly of crime and investigation. With its vivid storytelling and meticulous attention to detail, Cornwell’s work has captivated readers and set a high standard in the genre of forensic thrillers.

This series is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a blend of psychological depth and procedural accuracy. Cornwell explores themes such as justice, morality, and the psychological toll of crime on those who investigate it. Readers who appreciate strong character development, intricate plots, and the thrill of uncovering hidden truths will find themselves engrossed in Scarpetta's world. The books are particularly suited for fans of crime fiction who enjoy a gritty, realistic approach to storytelling, as well as those fascinated by the field of forensics.

Starting with "Postmortem," the first book in the series, is crucial for understanding the evolution of Kay Scarpetta's character and her complex relationships with those around her. While later books may stand alone in terms of plot, the character arcs and overarching themes build upon one another, enriching the overall reading experience. As such, reading the series in order enhances the connection to Scarpetta's journey and the unfolding narrative.

Ideal for avid readers who crave suspense and depth, the Kay Scarpetta series appeals to those who enjoy unraveling mysteries alongside a strong, intelligent protagonist. Fans of Patricia Cornwell's work will appreciate her engaging writing style and the vivid world she creates, making this series a staple for crime fiction enthusiasts.

Start Here

Postmortem

Start with Postmortem

Book 1 by Patricia Cornwell

Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

Complete List

Kay Scarpetta reading order

Ends with Sharp Force

  1. 1
    Postmortem

    Book 1:Postmortem

    Patricia Cornwell

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  2. 2
    Body of Evidence

    Book 2:Body of Evidence

    Patricia Cornwell

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  3. 3
    All That Remains

    Book 3:All That Remains

    Patricia Cornwell

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  4. 4
    Cruel and Unusual

    Book 4:Cruel and Unusual

    Patricia Cornwell

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  5. 5
    The Body Farm

    Book 5:The Body Farm

    Patricia Cornwell

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  6. 6
    From Potter's Field

    Book 6:From Potter's Field

    Patricia Cornwell

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  7. 7
    Cause of Death

    Book 7:Cause of Death

    Patricia Cornwell

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  8. 8
    Unnatural Exposure

    Book 8:Unnatural Exposure

    Patricia Cornwell

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  9. 9
    Point of Origin

    Book 9:Point of Origin

    Patricia Cornwell

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  10. 10
    Black Notice

    Book 10:Black Notice

    Patricia Cornwell

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  11. 11
    The Last Precinct

    Book 11:The Last Precinct

    Patricia Cornwell

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  12. 12
    Blow Fly

    Book 12:Blow Fly

    Patricia Cornwell • 2003

    Having left her post in Virginia, Scarpetta is rebuilding a life as a forensic consultant in Florida. When threads from old cases resurface, she, Marino, Lucy, and Benton are drawn into an international pursuit that f...

  13. 13
    Trace

    Book 13:Trace

    Patricia Cornwell • 2004

    Five years after leaving Richmond, Scarpetta is asked back to consult on the inexplicable death of a fourteen-year-old girl. As she battles a vain new chief and a decaying lab, a disturbed former employee stalks Lucy,...

  14. 14
    Predator

    Book 14:Predator

    Patricia Cornwell • 2005

    While mentoring at a forensic training academy in Florida, Scarpetta and her team investigate a series of brutal murders stretching to Boston. A secret brain research project nicknamed PREDATOR hints that some offende...

  15. 15
    Book of the Dead

    Book 15:Book of the Dead

    Patricia Cornwell • 2007

    Running a private forensic practice in Charleston, Scarpetta is called to Rome to examine a slain teenage tennis star. The case of the so called Sandman soon reaches back to the American South, straining her partnersh...

  16. 16
    Scarpetta

    Book 16:Scarpetta

    Patricia Cornwell • 2008

    In New York City, Scarpetta is asked to examine an oddly injured prisoner in Bellevue’s psychiatric ward, a man who insists someone is trying to frame him for a series of grotesque attacks. His shifting story drags he...

  17. 17
    The Scarpetta Factor

    Book 17:The Scarpetta Factor

    Patricia Cornwell • 2009

    During a hectic December week in Manhattan, Scarpetta juggles a suspicious Central Park death, the disappearance of glamorous trader Hannah Starr, and a live television appearance that turns chilling when a caller tar...

  18. 18
    Port Mortuary

    Book 18:Port Mortuary

    Patricia Cornwell • 2010

    Fresh from a fellowship at the military’s Port Mortuary, Scarpetta returns to lead a cutting edge forensic center in Cambridge. When scans suggest that a young man was sealed in the morgue while still alive, her past...

  19. 19
    Red Mist

    Book 19:Red Mist

    Patricia Cornwell • 2011

    Still haunted by her deputy Jack Fielding’s murder, Scarpetta travels to a Georgia women’s prison to question the woman who once abused him. What begins as a personal quest soon links a Savannah family massacre, a dea...

  20. 20
    The Bone Bed

    Book 20:The Bone Bed

    Patricia Cornwell • 2012

    A paleontologist vanishes from a dinosaur dig in the Canadian wilderness, yet the only evidence turns up in Scarpetta’s email in Boston. As she analyzes bizarre traces that seem millions of years old, she uncovers con...

  21. 21
    Dust

    Book 21:Dust

    Patricia Cornwell

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  22. 22
    Flesh and Blood

    Book 22:Flesh and Blood

    Patricia Cornwell

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  23. 23
    Depraved Heart

    Book 23:Depraved Heart

    Patricia Cornwell

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  24. 24
    Chaos

    Book 24:Chaos

    Patricia Cornwell • 2016

    A cyclist collapses along the Charles River on a cloudless evening, her body bearing signs of a bizarre electrical attack. As taunting poems from an online tormentor flood in, Scarpetta suspects a hidden weapon that c...

  25. 25
    Autopsy

    Book 25:Autopsy

    Patricia Cornwell • 2021

    Returning to Virginia as chief medical examiner, Scarpetta inherits a troubled office and a high profile job in post pandemic Alexandria. A mutilated body by the railroad tracks and a deadly incident aboard a secret s...

  26. 26
    Livid

    Book 26:Livid

    Patricia Cornwell • 2022

    Testifying in a nationally televised murder trial, Scarpetta is thrust into the spotlight just as the presiding judge’s sister is found dead in her country home. With no clear cause of death and a blighted landscape o...

  27. 27
    Unnatural Death

    Book 27:Unnatural Death

    Patricia Cornwell • 2023

    After a deadly Halloween in Virginia, Scarpetta joins Lucy and Marino on a hazardous mission to recover two mutilated campers from remote backcountry. Rumors of Bigfoot, strange footprints, and a hidden micro–hard dri...

  28. 28
    Sharp Force

    Book 28:Sharp Force

    Patricia Cornwell • 2025

    Set over a tense Christmas, Sharp Force pits Scarpetta against the Phantom Slasher, a serial killer who invades homes with eerie holographic images before striking. As bodies turn up on Mercy Island and near her own c...

Quick Answers

Kay Scarpetta FAQ

What is the best order to read the Kay Scarpetta series?

The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with Postmortem.

How many books are in the Kay Scarpetta series?

There are 28 books currently listed in the Kay Scarpetta series on GurusReads.

Where should I start with the Kay Scarpetta series?

New readers should start with Postmortem, the first book in the reading order.

Is the Kay Scarpetta series complete?

Based on the publication years we have, the series appears possibly ongoing and spans releases from 2003 to 2025.