Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

Postmortem

Kay Scarpetta #1

Patricia Cornwell

420 pages • first pub 1990 (view editions)

fiction crime mystery thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
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For readers drawn to forensic precision and psychological cat-and-mouse—where scientific rigor meets the shadowed mind of a killer. Ideal if you crave dark, clinical intensity balanced between measured procedural detail and sudden spikes of tension, with an aesthetic that’s stark, methodical, and unflinchingly forensic.

Description

Four young women have been found murdered--tortured and strangled in their own beds--all victims of the same brilliant monster. Using a skilled hand and the latest technology in forensic medicine, Kay Scarpetta begins the process of gathering the ...

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Community Reviews

3.78
based on 9,578 reviews

Moods

mysterious: 86%

dark: 80%

tense: 72%

informative: 19%

challenging: 15%

adventurous: 12%

emotional: 12%

sad: 8%

reflective: 4%

funny: 2%

Pace

20% of readers chose fast
66% of readers chose medium
12% of readers chose slow
fast
medium
slow

Plot or character driven?

46% of readers chose Plot
46% of readers chose A mix
6% of readers chose Character
Plot
A mix
Character

Strong character development?

34% of readers chose Yes
21% of readers chose Complicated
43% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Loveable characters?

38% of readers chose Yes
36% of readers chose Complicated
22% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Diverse cast of characters?

27% of readers chose Yes
10% of readers chose Complicated
60% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus?

22% of readers chose Yes
20% of readers chose Complicated
55% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Content Warnings

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