Are Patricia Cornwell’s Books Meant to Be Read in Order?

Yes, Patricia Cornwell’s books, particularly the Kay Scarpetta series, are best read in order. The series follows the life and career of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner, and the character development and storylines build upon each other from one book to the next.

Reading the books in the order they were published allows you to follow the progression of the characters’ relationships and the overarching plotlines. For example, the first book in the series, Postmortem, introduces Kay Scarpetta and sets the stage for the subsequent novels. Each book often references events from previous ones, so reading them in order enhances your understanding and enjoyment of the series.

Here is a list of the Kay Scarpetta series in 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)
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 (2013)
22. Flesh and Blood (2014)
23. Depraved Heart (2015)
24. Chaos (2016)
25. Autopsy (2021)

By following this order, you can fully immerse yourself in the world of Kay Scarpetta and appreciate the depth and continuity of the series.