Patricia Cornwell books in order
American novelist, journalist, biographer
- Born
- 1956
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 48
- Series
- 3
Patricia Cornwell has published 42 novels, 1 novella, 3 non-fiction books and 2 other books, beginning with Postmortem (1990). The 3 series include Kay Scarpetta (29 books, starting with Postmortem), Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer (3 books, starting with Hornet's Nest) and Captain Chase (2 books, starting with Quantum). The latest is Sharp Force (2025).
Updated September 2026
Kay Scarpetta books in order (29)Series page
Reading order: 1 Postmortem (1990) · 2 Body of Evidence (1991) · 3 All That Remains (1992) · 4 Cruel and Unusual (1993) · 5 The Body Farm (1994) · 6 From Potter's Field (1995) · 7 Cause of Death (1996) · 8 Unnatural Exposure (1997) · 9 Point of Origin (1998) · 10 Black Notice (1999) · … all 29 below
- 1.
Postmortem (Jan 1990)
- 2.
Body of Evidence (1991)
- 3.
All That Remains (1992)
- 4.
Cruel and Unusual (1993)
- 5.
The Body Farm (1994)
- 6.
From Potter's Field (1995)
- 7.
Cause of Death (1996)
- 8.
Unnatural Exposure (1997)
- 9.
Point of Origin (1998)
- 10.
Black Notice (1999)
- 11.
The Last Precinct (2000)
- 12.
Blow Fly (2003)
- 13.
Trace (2004)
- 14.
Predator (2005)
- 15.
Book of the Dead (2007)
- 16.
Scarpetta (2008)
- 17.
The Scarpetta Factor (2009)
- 18.
Port Mortuary (2010)
- 19.
Red Mist (2011)
- 20.
The Bone Bed (2012)
- 21.
Dust (Nov 2013)
- 22.
Flesh and Blood (Nov 2014)
- 23.
Depraved Heart (Oct 2015)
- 24.
Chaos (2016)
- 25.
Autopsy (2021)
- 26.
Livid (2022)
- 27.
Unnatural Death (2023)
- 28.
Identity Unknown (2024)
- 29.
Sharp Force (2025)
Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Hornet's Nest (1996) · 2 Southern Cross (1998) · 3 Isle of Dogs (2001)
- 1.
Hornet's Nest (1996)
- 2.
Southern Cross (1998)
- 3.
Isle of Dogs (2001)
Where to start with Patricia Cornwell
Start here
Postmortem
Patricia Cornwell's most-read book and the first of the 29 Kay Scarpetta books.
Newest
Sharp Force
Published 2025.
Standalone novels in order
Cruel & Unusual (1993)
First Scarpetta Collection (1995)
Ruth, a Portrait (1997)
Food to Die for (2001)
The Scarpetta Collection (2003)
At Risk (2006)
The Front (2008)
Scarpetta 21 (2013)
Novellas in order
Scarpetta's Winter Table (1998)
Non-fiction in order
A Time for Remembering (1983)
Portrait of a Killer (2002)
Ripper (2015)
Other books in order
Vortex (2021)
True Crime (May 2026)
Film and TV adaptations
- Hornet's Nest (2012)TV · from Hornet's Nest
About Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell is an American crime writer. She is known for her best-selling novels featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, of which the first was inspired by a series of sensational murders in Richmond, Virginia, where most of the stories are set. The plots are notable for their emphasis on forensic science, which has influenced later TV treatments of police work. Cornwell has also accused Walter Sickert of carrying out the Jack the Ripper killings. However, Sickert is not considered a serious suspect by most who study the case, and strong evidence shows he spent most of 1888 outside the UK, and was in France at the time of most of the Ripper murders. Her books have sold more than 120 million copies.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Patricia Cornwell FAQ
- How many books has Patricia Cornwell written?
- Patricia Cornwell has published 42 novels, 1 novella, 3 non-fiction books and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Patricia Cornwell's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Kay Scarpetta with Postmortem, Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer with Hornet's Nest and Captain Chase with Quantum. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Patricia Cornwell's latest book?
- Sharp Force (2025).
- What is Patricia Cornwell's most famous book?
- Postmortem (1990) is Patricia Cornwell's most widely read book.
- Are Patricia Cornwell's books connected?
- 34 books belong to 3 series (Kay Scarpetta, Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer and Captain Chase); the other 14 books stand alone.
- Which Patricia Cornwell books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Hornet's Nest (TV, 2012).
Authors like Patricia Cornwell
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.