Patricia Cornwell Books in Order – The Ultimate Guide to Her Scarpetta and Thriller Novels

The most user-friendly and narrative-coherent way to read Patricia Cornwell’s work is to follow publication order, especially for her flagship Kay Scarpetta series, then branch into her other series (Andy Brazil, Winston Garano, Captain Chase). Publication and chronological order largely coincide, making the reading experience smooth and rewarding.

Publication Order

Below is a detailed publication order covering the Kay Scarpetta series (her core series) and her secondary series and non-fiction works, along with summary blurbs (avoiding major spoilers).

Kay Scarpetta Series (Medical Examiner / Forensic Crime)

#	Title	Year	Brief Blurb / Context
1	Postmortem	1990	Introduces Dr. Kay Scarpetta investigating a serial killer in Richmond, Virginia.
2	Body of Evidence	1991	Scarpetta deals with the death of an author under suspicious circumstances.
3	All That Remains	1992	Couples begin disappearing, placing Scarpetta in the center of a dangerous case.
4	Cruel & Unusual	1993	After an execution, murders continue, forcing Scarpetta to question who is behind them.
5	The Body Farm	1994	Scarpetta collaborates with a Tennessee forensic research facility (the “Body Farm”).
6	From Potter’s Field	1995	A strange murder in New York ties back to earlier cases and Gault’s signature.
7	Cause of Death	1996	The death of a journalist launches Scarpetta into political intrigue.
8	Unnatural Exposure	1997	Scarpetta investigates a suspicious death connected to environmental dangers.
9	Point of Origin	1998	A series of arsons and bodies pull Scarpetta into long-buried connections.
10	Black Notice	1999	Scarpetta tackles global crime, including a toxic substance’s trail.
11	The Last Precinct	2000	Scarpetta faces personal danger while unraveling old rivalries.
12	Blow Fly	2003	A changing pace in forensic methodology and a high-profile hunt.
13	Trace	2004	A serial killer is traced through DNA and trace evidence.
14	Predator	2005	Scarpetta faces a killer who uses animals as models for crime scenes.
15	Book of the Dead	2007	A case that returns to Scarpetta’s past and forces her into new dangers.
16	Scarpetta	2008	The title novel marks a turning point in her career and personal life.
17	The Scarpetta Factor	2009	Stakes intensify with political intrigue and family tension.
18	Port Mortuary	2010	A cold case and missing body test Scarpetta’s resolve.
19	Red Mist	2011	A case involving the FBI and online threats bring Scarpetta to new ground.
20	The Bone Bed	2012	A body vanishes in remote wilderness; Scarpetta must uncover cryptic clues.
21	Dust	2013	A murder at MIT connects to buried secrets and a grand conspiracy.
22	Flesh and Blood	2014	A high-stakes threat emerges close to home.
23	Depraved Heart	2015	A chilling case returns Scarpetta to her most vulnerable places.
24	Chaos	2016	Scarpetta struggles with age, her legacy, and new forensic challenges.
25	Autopsy	2021	After a break, Scarpetta returns to a world changed by technology and danger.
26	Livid	2022	She confronts modern murder methods and high tech threats.
27	Unnatural Death	2023	New types of crime push her into unfamiliar investigative terrain.
28	Identity Unknown	2024	A case of amnesia and lost identity forces unconventional methods.
29	Sharp Force	2025	The latest entry, presenting threats that test Scarpetta’s limits.

Other Series & Works

• Andy Brazil / Judy Hammer Series
   1. Hornet’s Nest (1996)
   2. Southern Cross (1998)
   3. Isle of Dogs (2001)
• Winston Garano Series
   1. At Risk (2006)
   2. The Front (2008)
• Captain Chase Series
   1. Quantum (2019)
   2. Spin (2020)
• Non-Fiction, Novellas & Other Works
   Scarpetta’s Winter Table (1998, cookbook/fiction hybrid)
   Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham (1983)
   Food to Die For: Secrets from Kay Scarpetta’s Kitchen (2001)
   Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper – Case Closed (2002)
   Chasing the Ripper (2014)
   Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert (2017)
   Life’s Little Fable (1999, picture book)

Chronological Order

For Cornwell’s series, publication order mostly equals in-series chronological order. Her stories proceed linearly in time, with Scarpetta maturing, taking new roles, and facing new threats as the series advances. There are no major prequels or intentional backward jumps that require a different reading order for internal timeline consistency.

Thus, the chronological (in-series) reading order for Scarpetta is identical to the publication order. The other series (Andy Brazil, Winston Garano, Captain Chase) also follow their publication order as their narrative time flows forward with each release.

Recommended Reading Order

Reading order means the sequence that gives optimal narrative enjoyment, minimal confusion, and respects character arcs.

Recommended: Read the Kay Scarpetta series in full in publication order, then explore her other series (Andy Brazil, Winston Garano, Captain Chase) in their publication orders. If you prefer, intersperse non-fiction and side works at points of interest.

Why this order works best:

• Scarpetta’s character development, relationships (especially with Lucy Farinelli), and forensic methodology evolve gradually and build on past events.
• Publication order was how Cornwell introduced plot threads, and jumping out of that sequence may spoil subtler revelations.
• Her secondary series often reference elements or themes from Scarpetta, so reading them after makes for deeper appreciation.
• Because chronological order aligns with publication order, readers don’t face disjointed narrative jumps or temporal reordering.

Complete Book Series List

Here is the master, fact-checked compiled list of Patricia Cornwell’s major works as of 2025:

Kay Scarpetta Series

• Postmortem
• Body of Evidence
• All That Remains
• Cruel & Unusual
• The Body Farm
• From Potter’s Field
• Cause of Death
• Unnatural Exposure
• Point of Origin
• Black Notice
• The Last Precinct
• Blow Fly
• Trace
• Predator
• Book of the Dead
• Scarpetta
• The Scarpetta Factor
• Port Mortuary
• Red Mist
• The Bone Bed
• Dust
• Flesh and Blood
• Depraved Heart
• Chaos
• Autopsy
• Livid
• Unnatural Death
• Identity Unknown
• Sharp Force

Andy Brazil / Judy Hammer Series

• Hornet’s Nest
• Southern Cross
• Isle of Dogs

Winston Garano Series

• At Risk
• The Front

Captain Chase Series

• Quantum
• Spin

Non-Fiction & Other Works

• Scarpetta’s Winter Table
• Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham
• Food to Die For: Secrets from Kay Scarpetta’s Kitchen
• Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper – Case Closed
• Chasing the Ripper
• Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert
• Life’s Little Fable

Latest Release / Ongoing Status

The latest entry is Sharp Force (2025), the 29th book in the Kay Scarpetta series. The series continues actively, with no indication of a conclusion yet. Cornwell also maintains her secondary series, with Spin being the latest in the Captain Chase line.

FAQs

Here are key questions and their short, schema-friendly answers about Patricia Cornwell’s body of work:

How many books are in the Kay Scarpetta series?
As of 2025, there are 29 Kay Scarpetta novels.

Is the Patricia Cornwell series finished?
No. The Scarpetta series is ongoing, and she continues releasing new titles.

What order should I read Patricia Cornwell’s books?
Begin with Postmortem and follow the publication/bibliographic order for the Scarpetta series, then move to her other series in their publication orders.

Can I read her secondary series before finishing Scarpetta?
You may, but reading Scarpetta first helps grasp recurring motifs, forensic evolution, and character references.

Does Cornwell write non-fiction?
Yes. She has written crime-related non-fiction, including work about Jack the Ripper and biographies.

Are there adaptations of her books?
Yes. A TV adaptation of the Scarpetta series is in development (Scarpetta series), and some of her other works have seen limited screen adaptations.

Related Series

Readers drawn to forensic detail and procedural momentum may also enjoy:

• LJ Ross Books in Order
• Kate Rhodes Books in Order