Post-Mortem

This book is a fast paced enjoyable read. The characters can be a bit hard to grow a liking to at first, but I feel the story makes up for it. The explanation of forensics, and the pov of a medical examiner makes for an entertaining read.

Reading "post Mortem" is like getting to know the Chief ME of the Commonwealth of Va., up close and personal. To know what ticks her off, what are her strengths, and her weaknesses, how she is at a glass ceiling where she must fight with male colleagues, out to prove her inadequate in more than one ways - all of that and much more. This being the first in the Scarpetta series, the book shows a lot of promise, by showing a gritty ME, who will not buckle under any pressure, may it be from the unidentifiable serial-killer lurking in the dark streets of Richmond, or the Police Squad officers, and more importantly, the bureaucracy that is out to prove her incapable of her job. Kay shows she's made of steel, and so is her determination to nab this killer, who proves as elusive as the proverbial needle-in-the-haystack. Pete Marino, the Police Office who later goes on to become a regular feature in her investigations as a partner, makes a good appearance (if slightly cliched, at times!). A lot of the characters are introduced, including FBI profiler Benton Wesley, Scarpetta's sister Dorothy, her niece Lucy, and the headstrong Abby Turnbull. The introductions are enough for you to want to watch out for them in subsequent books in the series. This being a story written many years ago, one has to give a wide margin for technology and CSI techniques that have over years become matured and some have even become outdated. But once you give that latitude, the story is in fact, written convincingly, and must've been a clincher of its times. The only drawback I found in the book was that Cornwell's writing style was not yet perhaps mature enough to write less dramatic content. At times, the drama gets to you, but the suspense is retained well, and the mystery is revealed in an entirely convincing series of steps. A good read for all Cornwell / Scarpetta fans.

Body of Evidence is the first of many Scarpetta tales of gruesome crime, murder and investigation. If you like a book that can make the hair stand on the back of your neck, give you goose-bumps, make you cringe and totally put you off that cup of coffee, read this! Absolutely compulsive reading. The best book I have read in a long time. And it just gets better with each consecutive novel!

This was my first Patricia Cornwell book, and I really really liked it. It was full of suspense and gripping fear. I loved the Kay Scarpetta charcter. The way she is independant and a sucessful female doctor. The story was full of twists and turns and as soon as you thought you had it down it took a wild change. I really thought this was an amazing book.

I had the opportunity to listen to this book when I was making a 9 hour drive. Not bad but predictable. Didn't put me to sleep obviously, but could have been a little less predictable. Would I read or listen to other books by Ms. Cornwell: Yes.