Autopsy
- Downloads：8115
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-07-12 08:52:00
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Patricia Cornwell
- ISBN：0063112213
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
In this relaunch of the electrifying， landmark #1 bestselling thriller series， chief medical examiner Dr。 Kay Scarpetta hunts those responsible for two wildly divergent and chilling murders。
Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has come almost full circle， returning to Virginia as the chief medical examiner， the state where she launched her storied career。 Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years， she's inherited not only an overbearing secretary， but also a legacy of neglect and potential corruption。
She and her husband Benton Wesley， now a forensic psychologist with the U。S。 Secret Service， have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she's headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world that's been torn by civil and political unrest。 Just weeks on the job， she's called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman's body has been shockingly displayed， her throat cut down to the spine， and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail， it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood。
At the same time， a catastrophe occurs in a top-secret laboratory in outer space， endangering at least two scientists aboard。 Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases， Scarpetta is summoned to the White House and tasked with finding out exactly what happened。 But even as she works the first potential crime scene in space remotely， an apparent serial killer strikes again very close to home。
Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has come almost full circle， returning to Virginia as the chief medical examiner， the state where she launched her storied career。 Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years， she's inherited not only an overbearing secretary， but also a legacy of neglect and potential corruption。
She and her husband Benton Wesley， now a forensic psychologist with the U。S。 Secret Service， have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she's headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world that's been torn by civil and political unrest。 Just weeks on the job， she's called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman's body has been shockingly displayed， her throat cut down to the spine， and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail， it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood。
At the same time， a catastrophe occurs in a top-secret laboratory in outer space， endangering at least two scientists aboard。 Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases， Scarpetta is summoned to the White House and tasked with finding out exactly what happened。 But even as she works the first potential crime scene in space remotely， an apparent serial killer strikes again very close to home。
Reviews
Nan
，
I have not read one of Cornwell's books for a long time - got sick of page after page of suffering and angst and endless explaining。 I figured I'd test out this Kay Scarpetta episode and see if anything has changed over the ensuing years。 As a matter of fact， I was pleasantly surprised。 Cornwell still goes into great lengths to lecture and explain， but not nearly the painful angst。 The book moved along fine， with lots of interesting happenings - but it all seemed to wrap up way to conveniently i I have not read one of Cornwell's books for a long time - got sick of page after page of suffering and angst and endless explaining。 I figured I'd test out this Kay Scarpetta episode and see if anything has changed over the ensuing years。 As a matter of fact， I was pleasantly surprised。 Cornwell still goes into great lengths to lecture and explain， but not nearly the painful angst。 The book moved along fine， with lots of interesting happenings - but it all seemed to wrap up way to conveniently in the last 10 pages。 Kay is back in Richmond and dealing with some challenges from the previous chief medical examiner's ineptitude。 I'm not sure exactly what the entire episode in outer space added - but it did explain a bit of one of the characters， Perhaps Cronwell is back！ 。。。more
Karen Carlson
，
Audio- plot seemed kind of all over the place， but I did miss these characters Odd story
Beth Ann Garcia
，
Disappointing， rushed ending。
Jane Tennyson
，
Scarlett a is backThis is a character I really enjoy。 There is always enough forensics to make it interesting， but a good personal story that never fails to deliver。
Deb
，
Good but not as good as the first ones in this series。
Catherine
，
Really rushed。 All plots “resolved” in final chapter with minimal effortSone characters just killed off for no reason。 And others married suddenly （didn’t Marino rape Kay several books ago？）Luckily from the library but not sure I will bother with 26。
Sharon McCann
，
Fantastic book！ Great Kay Scarpetta novel。 She triumphs in the end as usual。
Franklin
，
Its time to start wrapping up the Scarpetta series。 Its getting repetitive with characters that have become dull。
Ms KA
，
captivating！
Kathryn Burwash
，
I've read all the other Kay Scarpetta books。 I was disappointed in this one。 It started well， with Cornwell's usual twisted plots that mirrored the twisted minds of the offenders。 Halfway through it seemed to lose the plot， lacked energy and relied on a quick fix for an ending。 I wonder if the book was unfinished and Cornwell submitted an unfinished manuscript due to a looming deadline to get it to the publisher。 Even though it's been 5 years since her last novel having Marino marry her sister （ I've read all the other Kay Scarpetta books。 I was disappointed in this one。 It started well， with Cornwell's usual twisted plots that mirrored the twisted minds of the offenders。 Halfway through it seemed to lose the plot， lacked energy and relied on a quick fix for an ending。 I wonder if the book was unfinished and Cornwell submitted an unfinished manuscript due to a looming deadline to get it to the publisher。 Even though it's been 5 years since her last novel having Marino marry her sister （where did that come from） and Lucy being so dispirited seemed to be cheap tricks to liven up the characters。 Let's hope that the next book is up to the usual standards or Kay retires completely。 。。。more
Gerard
，
I never hated characters in a book as much as these people。
Bobbi Dust
，
As a huge Scarpetta fan， I must admit I was very disappointed with this book。 Typically， I’m on the edge of my seat and can’t put the series down， but this one was very different。 I often thought of not finishing it because it wasn’t， in my opinion， a true Scarpetta story。
Rahul Agrawal
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 The book has a great start， the description of the body sets the grips required for a murder thriller。 Then the rest 380 pages cover a murder in outer space， another murder that happened few months back， the protagonist being poisoned， making you feel that all these have a connection。 You'll keep waiting for them to merge， but they won't。 Then at last 10 pages， the killer， about whom there was not a single clue in rest of the book， appears in the protagonist's house， only to instantly get killed The book has a great start， the description of the body sets the grips required for a murder thriller。 Then the rest 380 pages cover a murder in outer space， another murder that happened few months back， the protagonist being poisoned， making you feel that all these have a connection。 You'll keep waiting for them to merge， but they won't。 Then at last 10 pages， the killer， about whom there was not a single clue in rest of the book， appears in the protagonist's house， only to instantly get killed by the protagonist's niece。 Then， it comes out that， the murder in space and protagonist being poisoned were independent to each other and rest of the two murders （which were by the same killer）。 Overall， the synopsis was exciting so I picked up this book。 But the last 10 pages ruined my experience of reading rest of the book。 Had some great expectations with the stories merging and finding a ruthless murder， but。。such a disappointment。But the good part I liked about this book is， consistent chapters。 Every chapter of the book were approx。 10 - 12 pages long， which is a perfect length for a reader like me， who likes to keep up with 2 chapters at a time or 20 pages a day。Happy Readings！！ 。。。more
Linda Rawlins
，
Enjoyable Kay Scarpetta novel about a case Kay gets drawn into as soon as she reassumes her position as Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia。 A woman is found dead， hands cut off and evidence indicates she may have ties to an international plot of espionage。
Barb Newell walker
，
Another home run。I've been reading Patricia Cornwell for years and have never been disappointed in her。 She brings so much detail to every story that you can imagine yourself right next to her。 Another home run。I've been reading Patricia Cornwell for years and have never been disappointed in her。 She brings so much detail to every story that you can imagine yourself right next to her。 。。。more
Colleen Dodge
，
Worst ScarpettaThis was weak at best。 The politics that were made obvious were a distraction from the story。 It appears Corn well has run out of good ideas to base a story on ，such a shame。
Anna Ertl
，
I won this book on the give aways you offer。 It took three tries， but I finally finished it。 I found it a bit wordy， explaining in such detail。 It was suspenceful in that I didn't think it would ever end。 Thankfully it did。 I am not sure why she threw the murders in outpace in， they didn't need to be there。Just glad it all worked out in the end。 I don't think I will be reading any of her other books。 I won this book on the give aways you offer。 It took three tries， but I finally finished it。 I found it a bit wordy， explaining in such detail。 It was suspenceful in that I didn't think it would ever end。 Thankfully it did。 I am not sure why she threw the murders in outpace in， they didn't need to be there。Just glad it all worked out in the end。 I don't think I will be reading any of her other books。 。。。more
Stephanie Seifferlein
，
I finished this because I paid for the book。 I don’t know why I keep reading the Scarpetta series。 I suspect I keep hoping the next one will be like the first 20， not closer to the last 5…
Mark Slauter
，
I struggled with this the entire read。 None of the characters grabbed me， and I didn't enjoy the writing style。 I almost DNF。 I struggled with this the entire read。 None of the characters grabbed me， and I didn't enjoy the writing style。 I almost DNF。 。。。more
Marianne Seibel
，
Could not finish this book。 Who really cares what she is wearing？Plot is all over the place with nothing holding it together。 Years ago I would look forward to reading another Kay Scarpetta adventure and then Cornwell went very strange with the story arc for Kay's niece。 So it has been quite a while since I picked up another one of the series。 I was hoping that this one would return to being a good mystery and put it on hold at the library。 It took over six months for me to get it。。。。so very dis Could not finish this book。 Who really cares what she is wearing？Plot is all over the place with nothing holding it together。 Years ago I would look forward to reading another Kay Scarpetta adventure and then Cornwell went very strange with the story arc for Kay's niece。 So it has been quite a while since I picked up another one of the series。 I was hoping that this one would return to being a good mystery and put it on hold at the library。 It took over six months for me to get it。。。。so very disappointed。 I found myself scanning through paragraphs to get you some substance。 Finally had to put it down 60% of the way through。 。。。more
Dominique Lee
，
It was as easy read but reached no great heights。 It lacked depth but was a good read if you just want to switch your brain off。
Juliann
，
Note to future self。 Ain’t nothing going to change。 Stop reading these。 These characters and their interactions get me so stressed。 The tension between Kay and pretty much everyone is just not enjoyable。 The only upside was， not revisionist on the Marino thing。 But not that he is suddenly married to Dorothy， I don’t suppose that’s a good look。
Simon
，
There were about fifty pages where I was reading with mounting happiness。 The writing was tight， and without spoiling it， there is a set piece involving Scarpetta doing forensic medicine in the absolute last place one can imagine her doing it。 And then the usual Cornwell stuff overwhelmed things until Autopsy lurched to the worst conclusion for one of this series yet。 I won't ruin the solution to the "mystery" --- there is no mystery --- because there is literally no way （at all） the diligent re There were about fifty pages where I was reading with mounting happiness。 The writing was tight， and without spoiling it， there is a set piece involving Scarpetta doing forensic medicine in the absolute last place one can imagine her doing it。 And then the usual Cornwell stuff overwhelmed things until Autopsy lurched to the worst conclusion for one of this series yet。 I won't ruin the solution to the "mystery" --- there is no mystery --- because there is literally no way （at all） the diligent reader can correctly identify the killer。But for about fifty pages？ I had hope！ 。。。more
Crissy
，
First I have read by Patricia Cornwell and not my typical read。 I like it。 I liked the post pandemic references。 I liked the ties to Richmond。 I liked the crime scene/thriller aspect。
Robert Knorr
，
3。5 star rating。
Kathy
，
I decided to check out Patricia Cornwell’s relaunch of her popular Kay Scarpetta mystery series， several of which I enjoyed in the 1990s。 I wasn’t terribly impressed with this latest book， though。 Scarpetta， the top medical examiner for the state of Virginia， was always a bit of a curmudgeon， but now she seems utterly dry and humorless。 Often at odds with goverment bureacrats in previous outings， she is now portrayed as though she’s the only honest woman left in government。 Worst of all， the cas I decided to check out Patricia Cornwell’s relaunch of her popular Kay Scarpetta mystery series， several of which I enjoyed in the 1990s。 I wasn’t terribly impressed with this latest book， though。 Scarpetta， the top medical examiner for the state of Virginia， was always a bit of a curmudgeon， but now she seems utterly dry and humorless。 Often at odds with goverment bureacrats in previous outings， she is now portrayed as though she’s the only honest woman left in government。 Worst of all， the case wasn’t all that compelling。 。。。more
Michaeline Skibinski
，
Very typical Cornwell。 Well written and I was happy to read about Kay Scarpetta again。 Looking forward to the next installment。
Cathy Daggett
，
Doesn’t DisappointThis book is as good if not better as a continuation of the Kay Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell。 I have read them all and like the way Ms。 Cornwell weaves current happenings into her stories。 I can’t wait for her next book。
Graz。 74
，
Libro che si legge solo per la stima dell'autrice。 A volte surreale， si concentra e approfondisce particolari che si riveleranno inutili e ne tralascia altri più succosi。 Ogni volta mi dico di non leggerli più， ma poi cedo e lo faccio。 Libro che si legge solo per la stima dell'autrice。 A volte surreale， si concentra e approfondisce particolari che si riveleranno inutili e ne tralascia altri più succosi。 Ogni volta mi dico di non leggerli più， ma poi cedo e lo faccio。 。。。more
Sherry Darbonne
，
Light reading for me。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Autopsy
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Autopsy&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Autopsy&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0