Review: Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) by Patricia Cornwell

Title: Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1)
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Publisher: Scribner (first published January 9th 1990)
Publication Date: December 1, 2009
Edition: ebook (215 pages)
Genres:

• Fiction
• Crime Fiction
• Mystery
• Suspense
• Thriller

Literary Awards:

• Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel (1991)
• Anthony Award for Best First Novel (1991)
• CWA New Blood Dagger (1990)
• Edgar Award for Best First Novel (1991)
• John Creasey Memorial Award (1990)
• Prix du Roman d'Aventures (1992)

Series: Kay Scarpetta #1

Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Night-time stranglings of young women have left everyone in Richmond, Virginia, fearful--including Medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta. Her job is to figure out who is committing these murders, and her task is made more difficult by leaks of information to the press which seem to be coming from within her own department, in what she believes is an effort to undermine her credibility and that of her office.

This story caught my interest, immediately. I could feel the atmosphere of the crime scenes and the emotion of the characters, with each event, as the story progressed. The tension came right off the page at me. I found this story even more interesting because of its science and technical aspects of profiling and what the forensic evidence yielded. I also liked Kay Scarpetta a lot. She's smart, conscientious, and possesses a heartwarming humanity with no pretension, in the bargain.

Anyone interested in the procedural aspects of how medical science and criminology work together to solve crimes will enjoy this story. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.