Patricia Cornwell ​

Patricia Cornwell is a contemporary American crime writer. She is widely known for writing a popular series of novels featuring the heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies.

Quick Facts ​

• Started writing in her thirties and has now written 33 novels.
• Works have been translated into 36 languages and sold over 100 million copies.
• Won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her first crime novel.
• Forensic science forms a significant aspect of her writings.
• Numerous books have been adapted for TV as part of the series "Patricia Cornwell's The Front" and "Patricia Cornwell's At Risk".
• Created one of the world's best-known and top-selling crime series centered on medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

Background ​

Cornwell was born on 1956, in Miami, Florida. She was influenced at an early age by her college-educated mother who loved to read, especially mysteries. Raised in Montreat, North Carolina, she began writing short stories when she was just 11 years old and by the age of 16, she won a writing contest for her work. She earned a degree in English from Davidson College and began her career as a reporter for The Charlotte Observer, covering crime stories. Her own interest in forensic science sparked the idea for her fictional forensic expert and main protagonist, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Her first book, Postmortem, was published in 1990, after she left the newspaper business. Cornwell's forensic novels are often inspired by real-life crimes, making her one of the most popular crime novelists of our time.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Patricia Cornwell brings a scientific and precise style to her crime novels, focusing on painstaking detail and accuracy. Her leading character, Kay Scarpetta, embodies this methodical approach in solving crimes. This type of forensic-driven story-telling was a game-changer for the genre. By combining well-researched medical knowledge with suspenseful storytelling, Cornwell has maintained a prolific presence in crime fiction.

Notable Works ​

• 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)