About the Author

Patricia Cornwell is recognized as one of the world's top bestselling crime authors with novels translated into thirty-six languages in more than 120 countries. Her novels have won numerous prestigious awards including the Edgar, the Creasey, the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Prix du Roman d'Aventure. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Patricia has written a definitive book about Jack the Ripper, a biography, and three more fiction series among others. Cornwell, a licensed helicopter pilot and scuba diver, actively researches the forensic technologies that inform her work. She was born in Miami, grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston.

Reviews

"Scarpetta is back at her former job as chief medical examiner for the state of Virginia. She has a lot of cleaning up to do... [Cornwell] pulls it off nicely. In fact, she pulls off the whole book nicely. Scarpetta's return to her Virginia roots feels just right."--Booklist
"The autopsy, remotely controlled by Scarpetta--and physically carried out by two astronauts--is an astonishing, groundbreaking sequence... Patricia Cornwell's terse, evocative style adds to the creeping sense of unease... Thirty years on, there's still no other crime writer like her."--The Sunday Times (UK)
"To have Scarpetta return--and engaged in a hunt for a possible serial killer--is simply terrific... The dead woman's trail seems to be leading to a dangerous serial killer but Scarpetta isn't convinced. The science, as readers know, will tell... [This is] gold-star Scarpetta at work... I loved it."--Globe and Mail (Toronto)
"Autopsy is... the best book Cornwell has written in years, a tale penned from the heart as well as the mind. A seminal forensics thriller that reminds us that this is a sub-genre she basically invented. The last must-read book of 2021 is not to be missed."--Booktrib.com
Autopsy strides comfortably back into the dark and dangerous work of the complicated medical examiner. Long-time readers of this series will enjoy the gritty crime details, puzzling clues, and familiar characters.--Manhattan Book Review
[Scarpetta] slips easily and naturally into past tense when filling us in on background details--all of which seems to give her slightly sharper edges; her doubts and also her impatience are especially vivid and warm in that mode.--Sullivan County Democrat
Propulsive...the tension is sustained to the last page...Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back and with her is a cast of well-drawn characters and intersecting plot lines...Thriller lovers and Cornwell's many fans will enjoy riding along with Scarpetta as she navigates dark waters on a personal and professional level, on Earth and in space.--Jacksonville Times-Union
"Autopsy revitalizes this venerable series and its beloved cast of characters... As always, forensics is at the forefront--but it is balanced by the themes of family, friendship, and food... Whether you're revisiting the indomitable Scarpetta or meeting her for the very first time, this is an ideal (re)entry point."--Criminal Element
"Thank you, Patricia Cornwell: Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back!... [Cornwell's] stories feature taut, complex, and well-wrought plots full of tension, suspense, unexpected twists, and a mood of danger and foreboding, all centered around an admirable central character... A solid entry in a memorable crime series."--The American Spectator
"With a sophisticated narrative, an outstanding company of characters, a horrific crime, and a surprising ending [Cornwell] proves you can go home again... Scarpetta is brilliant, compassionate and humble, excelling in her profession and in diplomacy while trying to solve a heinous crime... Longtime fans will cheer Scarpetta's return."--Library Journal (starred review)