Patricia Cornwell Books in Order
Patricia Cornwell is an American crime writer best known for the long-running Kay Scarpetta series of forensic thrillers, widely credited with establishing forensic science as a mainstream genre in crime fiction. Her debut novel Postmortem was the first bona fide forensic thriller, and the first book ever to win the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and John Creasey awards in a single year, along with France’s Prix du Roman d’Aventures. She later received the CWA Gold Dagger, the RBA Prize for Crime Writing, and France’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Her books have sold over 120 million copies worldwide. In 2024, Kay Scarpetta became an Amazon streaming series.
This page lists all Patricia Cornwell books in order, including the Kay Scarpetta novels, the Andy Brazil, Winston Garano, and Captain Chase series, standalone novels, and non-fiction books.
Latest Patricia Cornwell Books
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kay Scarpetta Series (Books in Order)
The Kay Scarpetta series follows Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, as she uses cutting-edge forensic science to investigate homicides, often while facing institutional resistance, personal danger, and a recurring cast of allies and adversaries, which also include her niece Lucy and detective Pete Marino. The series launched the forensic thriller genre and directly influenced the wave of forensic procedurals on television that followed.
Reading Order
- Postmortem, 1990
- Body of Evidence, 1991
- All That Remains, 1992
- Cruel and Unusual, 1993
- The Body Farm, 1994
- From Potter’s Field, 1995
- Cause of Death, 1996
- Unnatural Exposure, 1997
- Point of Origin, 1998
- Black Notice, 1999
- The Last Precinct, 2000
- Blow Fly, 2003
- Trace, 2004
- Predator, 2005
- Book of the Dead, 2007
- Scarpetta, 2008
- The Scarpetta Factor, 2009
- Port Mortuary, 2010
- Red Mist, 2011
- The Bone Bed, 2012
- Dust, 2013
- Flesh and Blood, 2014
- Depraved Heart, 2015
- Chaos, 2016
- Autopsy, 2021
- Livid, 2022
- Unnatural Death, 2023
- Identity Unkown, 2024
- Sharp Force, 2025
Andy Brazil Series (Books in Order)
The Andy Brazil series follows young reporter-turned-volunteer cop Andy Brazil in Charlotte, North Carolina, who works alongside Police Superintendent Judy Hammer and deputy chief Virginia West as they deal with corruption, crime, and the political realities of policing a major American city. It is lighter in tone than the Scarpetta novels, with a sharper satirical edge.
Reading Order
- Hornet’s Nest, 1996
- Southern Cross, 1998
- Isle of Dogs, 2001
Winston Garano Series (Books in Order)
The Winston Garano series follows Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano who is assigned directly to the district attorney’s office and is pulled into politically sensitive cases that quickly escalate far beyond their surface appearance. It is tighter and more conspiratorial in feel than Patricia Cornwell’s other series, with a strong Boston setting.
Reading Order
Captain Chase Series (Books in Order)
The Captain Chase series follows Captain Calli Chase, a NASA pilot, quantum physicist, and cybercrime investigator, as she confronts threats involving top-secret space missions, advanced technology, and national security conspiracies. It is Patricia Cornwell’s most forward-looking series, that combines near-future science with espionage thriller plotting.
Reading Order
Picture Books
- Life’s Little Fable, 1999
Anthologies
Non-Fiction Books
- A Time for Remembering, 1985
- Ruth, A Portrait, 1997
- Scarpetta’s Winter Table, 1998
- Food To Die For, 2002
- Portrait Of A Killer, 2002
- Chasing the Ripper, 2014
- Ripper, 2017
- True Crime, 2026
Patricia Cornwell Biography
Patricia Cornwell is an American crime author whose work includes forensic thrillers, police procedurals and true crime non-fiction books. She is the creator of the Kay Scarpetta series and has also written the Andy Brazil, Winston Garano and Captain Chase novels, along with books on Jack the Ripper and other real-world cases.
Official website: patriciacornwell.com
Born in Miami, Florida, in 1956, Patricia Cornwell grew up in North Carolina and studied at King College and Davidson College, from where she graduated with a degree in English in 1979. She began her career as a reporter for The Charlotte Observer, winning a North Carolina Press Association award for investigative reporting before moving to Richmond, Virginia.
In 1981, she began working on the biography of Ruth Bell Graham, wife of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, who took Patricia in when her mother became sick.
Next, she worked for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia as a technical writer and computer analyst and volunteered with the local police department, experience that led directly to the creation of Dr. Kay Scarpetta and the forensic focus of her novels. Postmortem, published in 1990, launched the Kay Scarpetta series and became the first novel ever to win the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity and John Creasey awards in the same year.
Patricia Cornwell has also written the Andy Brazil/Judy Hammer novels set in North Carolina and Virginia, the Winston Garano books, the near-future Captain Chase thrillers and several non-fiction works on Jack the Ripper and true crime. Her books have sold more than 120 million copies in dozens of languages, and she lives in Massachusetts while continuing to write.
Patricia Cornwell Book Adaptations
- At Risk – adapted into the television film Patricia Cornwell’s At Risk (2010)
- The Front – adapted into the Lifetime television movie and sequel Patricia Cornwell’s The Front (2010)
- The Kay Scarpetta series – adapted into the crime-thriller TV series Scarpetta (March 2026)
Patricia Cornwell Awards and Honors
Postmortem is the only novel to win the Edgar, John Creasey, Anthony, Macavity, and French Prix du Roman d’Aventures in the same year.
- A Time For Remembering – ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award for Biography/Autobiography (1985)
- Postmortem – Major debut-novel awrds: Edgar Award for Best First Novel, John Creasey Memorial Award, Anthony Award for Best First Novel and Macavity Award for Best First Novel (1991)
- Postmortem – Prix du Roman d’Aventures (France) (1992)
- Cruel and Unusual – CWA Gold Dagger Award (1993)
- Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement, recognising her success as a bestselling crime novelist. (1995)
- Kay Scarpetta character – Sherlock Award for Best Detective (1999)
- Book of the Dead – Galaxy British Book Awards / British Book Awards – Crime Thriller of the Year (Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year) for Book of the Dead; Cornwell was the first American author to receive this award (2008)
- Red Mist – RBA Prize for Crime Writing at €125,000 (2011)
- Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) from the French Ministry of Culture, recognising her contribution to the arts – 2011
I like the ‘Wen Garano’ books, trouble is I’ve read all ‘2’ of them. Any more in the works.
I just listened to the audiobook version of “Point of Origin” thinking it was new because the audio version just become available on Audible, and was stunned by the brutal death of a major continuing character whom I knew appears in later novels. For that reason I checked the list of publication dates and to confirm that character does appear afterwards – and to find out that Point of Origin was published in 1998. At any rate, though each book stands pretty well on its own, there is definitely a utility to reading them in order, and I cannot imagine how the future resurrection of this character will take place without rendering the fabric of time & space, etc. I just hope the character doesn’t just magically appear as though nothing happened. Having read or listened to most of the books already, there are some gaps to fill in – and definitely a bonus to consuming them in order of publication.
I am a huge fan. Absolutely love the series. Originally had a number of books, not in sequence. Read them twice before I found the rest of books. Have now read and reread the series, and still look forward to rereading about Kay Scarpetta and all the gang. Like having family around! Some are fine, others irritating. Keep up the writing. Hope there are still a number of novels to come.
LOVE Patricia Cornwell’s books!! My sis, Deb, and I read them over and over, but a new one is Always waited for with huge anticipation. Thank you, Patricia, you are the best. Long live Scarpetta!
Please please you’ve got to tell me is there a scarpetta #23 planned, as it been written yet if there is? When is it available to read? Just finished Flesh and Blood won’t say anything other than need to know if and when there is another. Please say there is and it’s very very soon.
I have read all of scarpetta series. I
Like keeping up with pete and Lucy. Looking forward reading next book.
I just love the Kay Scarpetta series, I’ve read all by Flesh & Blood, that’s for tonight . Thank you Patricia Cornwell.
she’s the best suspense-thriller author I ever come across with! Been following and reading the Kay Scarpetta series, I’m a HUGE FAN!
I’m a huge fan of Patricias’…have all of her books except one & can’t find it anywhere. It’s the one about her neice, Lucy, and a friend who went on a vacation (per se); ended-up at some farm where dead people were buried & a town was abandoned, and, Lucy & Friend, had to be rescued by friends/family in the ZigMobile?, why can’t I find that book????? The book was about someone accidently spilling something lethal.? I’ve searched stores / Libraries, but can’t find that book anywhere & it’s driving me batty!!! I KNOW it exists…or at least did at one time.
Patricia Carol O’Dor
I can personally guarantee you that book does NOT exist. I would know, as I am the biggest Lucy fan ever. Sorry, but you’re definitely thinking of something/someone else….
Yep, I don’t remember such a book either, and I’ve read them all.
I know it’s been a while since you posted this but just came across it and it Sounds like your discribing Tess gerritsens The killing place one of her rizzoli and isles books. It’s a good read
That sounds like a Kathy Reichs book
The Zigmobile is in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovitch.
it isnt body farm youre thinking of is it?
This book is called dead run its by pj tracy it’s in a series of the monkey wrench books
I think you are referring to The Body Farm?
she is the best writer ever keep up the good work patricia d cornwell.