Unnatural Death
Patricia Cornwell
In this thrilling new installment of Patricia Cornwell’s #1 bestselling Scarpetta series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself in a Northern Virginia wilderness examining the remains of two campers wanted by federal law enforcement. The victims have been mauled beyond recognition, and other evidence is terrifying and baffling including a larger-than-life footprint. more
432 pages, Hardcover
First published Grand Central Publishing
4.05
Rating
8360
Ratings
624
Reviews
Patricia Cornwell
311 books 17416 followers
Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, in 1990 while working as a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. Postmortem, was the first bona fide forensic thriller. It paved the way for an explosion of entertainment featuring in all things forensic across film, television and literature.Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
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Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
Community reviews
Having a new Kay Scarpetta book to read is once again an annual autumn treat. This one was a bit slow to get going, but the last half more than made up for it. Here are four things I loved:👍The forensic clues at the scene and in the lab👍Kay and Marino are working together like a well-oiled machine👍A Sasquatch footprint. 👍Lucy is a huge help to her Aunt Kay👎There is a substantial narrative regarding an alt right wing group allowing way too much politic into the narrative. Thank you to Grand Central and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. more
For a while, Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series had gotten offtrack. In the last installment, it felt much stronger, and once again, she packed a powerful punch in her latest release, Unnatural Death. History comes flying forward with a blast from the past torturing our main characters. Toss in the normal dark deathly explorations of autopsies and medical thriller plotlines, and you've got a winner. Love the way Scarpetta's staff is always a bit off their rockers, and the villains find evil ways to kill people. more
3. 5 starsIn this 27th book in the 'Kay Scarpetta' series, the medical examiner's latest case involves two victims suspected of cybercrimes. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus. *****Dr. Kay Scarpetta is once again the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, but the situation isn't ideal. more
The best I can say about this book is that some other readers really enjoyed it. I fell into the group that did not. It was a sluggish read with parts of it written to simply fill out the requirements for the length of a novel (three pages to describe the inside of the helicopter as an example). The storyline had potential, but the several of the characters were annoying and the written was less than what I expected. Several reviewers indicated that her early books were much better and some long time readers indicated that this would be the last one they read as the author has been on a steady downward spiral. more
Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors and I try to read as many of her books as I can. This is the 27th book in the Kay Scarpetta series, and it's a good one. Description:In this thrilling new installment of Patricia Cornwell’s #1 bestselling Scarpetta series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself in a Northern Virginia wilderness examining the remains of two campers wanted by federal law enforcement. The victims have been mauled beyond recognition, and other evidence is terrifying and baffling including a larger-than-life footprint. more
Many years ago, as a young adult, I read my first Kay Scarpetta book. That book revived my love for reading as an adult. In this installment of this Scarpetta novel, we have Kay Scarpetta, Pete Marino, and Lucy who go out to a crime scene where campers were savagely murdered. The hairs on the back of the terrors trios been begin to stand when they realize just who these campers are. In the surface, the couple looks like they were store owners when in reality, they were criminals who happened to be being investigated by none other than Kay's FBI husband Benton Wesley. more
Sorry. But this is possibly the most boringly detailed mundane book I have ever read and I generally like Patricia Cornwell books. I am at page 274, 66% through the book and literally nothing interesting has happened yet, except repetetive desultory dialogue and boring minutiae, think, "I opened up the packet and ate another protein bar. " This 66% section of the book involves a portion of one day in Scarpetta land and all the the miniscule details therein. Reading about these several hours seems to take days and days since the plot is going nowhere, and the endless work related conversations are so boring and pointless. more
If I've missed any books in this series over the years - this is the 27th - I'd be surprised. No surprise, then, that I consider Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta to be an old friend whose visits I look forward to. And to be sure, I enjoyed her company this time out. And while I won't reveal any secrets, I'm sure other loyal readers like me will be almost more surprised than the good doctor at the reemergence of a particularly nasty enemy. more
I’ve been a Scarpetta fan since day one. It pains me to say this, but it’s time for Scarpetta to retire. The first 130 pages are a snooze fest, blah. So disappointing to read the same old things about characters we’ve read in previous books. The plot is the same as the last few Scarpetta’s. more
Patricia Cornwell took a break for several years from her most popular character and bestselling series to write other books, but her eventual return to Chief Medical Examiner, Scarpetta, has not really worked very well. I have not been kind in my review of Patricia Cornwell’s last two Kay Scarpetta novels – 2021’s “Autopsy” and 2022’s “Livid”. I gave both 2-star ratings, which followed the same formula, lots of time spent on examining dead bodies, and less time on a mystery that suddenly gets resolved in the last 20 pages. I was hoping that “Unnatural Death” would not be strike three, and leave me wondering if it was time to give up on this series. Then a funny thing happened… Cornwell’s 2023 outing - “Unnatural Death” – gave me a severe and surprise -filled schizophrenic reading experience. more
To tell you the absolute truth about what I just read -it scares the dickens out of me. While this book starts off dealing with the unusual deaths of Huck and Brittany Mason, it is filled with so much more. You soon find out that the Mason's have become, well, let's just say they are not on the side of America. Russia plays a nice little part in this novel, as well as China. In this political era, well, this era period, we seem to have a lot to be concerned about with both of those countries, and this book really caused me some anxiety. more
After a few duds that made me miss the earlier days of Kay Scarpetta, this installment harkened back to the original mysteries. The pace was good and the twists weren’t predictable. I look forward to the next one. I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. . more
This book frustrated me so much. Or maybe made me feel old. I want Dr Scarpetta medical examiner with some weird quirky case back. I don't like this one that has enemies at every turn, super techno gadgets, and dealing with international espionage. I can't even keep track of all the people who have some grudge against Kay, Benton, Lucy, and/or Marino. more
Maybe I've outgrown this series and it's time we go our separate ways. I am not going to review any more Scarpetta novels after this one and I hope the series continues to find readers who love the new books the way I loved the earlier ones but after 27 novels, I just can't stomach the characters anymore. Kay and her extended family have evolved into having the most unhealthy, enmeshed relationships and the Lucy storyline has become almost comical with it's ridiculous unbelievability. If you thought Marino couldn't be more intolerable then be prepared, he has become even more insufferable, as well as a Sasquatch fanatic. The tone of the book is dark and depressing, beyond the requisite puzzling murders that need solving. more
Slow startSome parts too detailed Otherwise, good story. Please see other reviews for more information & other people’s opinions. more
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley. Kay Scarpetta is back with another mysterious killing to solve. Two brutalized bodies of people being tracked by the Feds are found by their off-the-grid campsite, along with a mysterious oversized footprint in a nearby mine shaft. Strange technological happenings occur as Scarpetta, Marino, Lucy and Benton investigate. And a long-kept secret is revealed that may be putting all of their lives in danger. more
Oh how I loved Scarpetta in the past. Now I wish she would retire and get a hobby. more
4. 5 stars rounded up. The 27th Scarpetta installment doesn’t disappoint. It’s always great to back with the gang. It’s a slow burn to start and a big storyline to lay out. more
I loved it. It was wonderful to rejoin with Kay and family again. The shocks and horrors of death that she deals with and her professional response helps take the edge off while reading about it. The comforts of her home life and sharing food at the end of the day does too. This author has a unique style of writing that works every time. more
Patricia non smentisce mai le tre caratteristiche di base dell’80% della sua produzione: plot avvincente, allungamento di brodo smisurato (sempre più smisurato* per raccontare 2 giorni in 400 pagine), finali tirati via in modo indegno. Qui abbiamo un ritorno dal passato (anche questo è un topoi di PC, uno che pensavi morto torna fuori ancora più incattivito), un plot assurdo con terroristi doppiogiochisti incrociati russi e cinesi, tecnologie avveniristiche che non servono a niente alla fin fine (e qui c’è una roba totalmente assurda**), e la solita conclusione che spiega tutto come se non fosse successo niente. La mia coazione a leggere PC lo so già che mi porterà a leggere il prossimo, e tutti i prossimi, con noia crescente (la delusione ormai, me la sono messa via). *le prime 60 pagine sono letteralmente dedicate a Scarpetta e Lucy che salgono sull’elicottero “giorno del giudizio” e descrivere ogni minimo pulsante, poi ci sono altre 40 pagine sparse dedicate a sentori di aglio e pomodoro, poi ogni respiro e sospiro viene ampliato a dismisura. **allora, Lucy è un supergenio tecnologico da quando aveva 6 anni, una cyberhacker da quando ne aveva 12, una malata del controllo che Benton scansati. more
Dr. Scarpetta has moved back to Northern Virginia at the request of the governor. She is now investigating a gruesome, unnatural killing of a couple wanted by the Federal Government. But this killing is the most complex to date for Dr. Scarpetta; it may even include "Bigfoot. more
While it's a good story and promises a sequel or two, it's painfully slow to take off. The Medical Examiners take 60+ pages from knowing about a crime to reaching the crime scene not too far in a helicopter. The climax is the fastest passage of the story. Otherwise,a credibly good read. more
Finishing a book with a big grin says it all for me and the 27th Scarpetta story was how I finished it. A bit slow starting Kay Scarpetta and Lucy are at a crime scene, with mutilated bodies. We don't have to wait long before Kay, Lucy and Marino are starting to experience unexplainable things being found and happening. Just like the old times Cornwell wrote this story in a way that you are there with the characters. Things get personal from all sides. more
I have not liked the most recent Kay Scarpetta novels, and this one continues the trend. The book is overlong and takes multiple pages to describe things that would take at most one page. And I do not see myself ever in the need to know exactly how to fly a helicopter. Her niece Lucy’s role in the book is superfluous. And now she is a Secret Service agent. more
Have read this entire series and is nice to be back with scarpetta and the entire crew. As usual this was a story that kept me rivited. Recommend. more
Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series has consistently been one of my preferred choices for crime fiction reading. Her skillful integration of captivating mysteries, empathetic characters, and forensic science has kept the series relevant for decades. Although Cornwell took a brief hiatus from Scarpetta, she reintroduced the character with a soft reboot in 2021. Now, she returns with the 27th Scarpetta novel, Unnatural Death. As a devoted fan of the series, I eagerly embraced the opportunity to receive a copy of the novel from Cornwell's publisher. more
This was just okay for me. I feel there was a great deal more telling than showing especially at the end. I don’t think Kay solved anything in this one but just fell into the answer of who done it. Sometimes it’s not nice being in Kay’s head. She hates everyone and they are always making her angry. more
Well. Same old attitude between Kay, Marino, and Lucy. Bicker, bicker, snide remarks…someone is stalking them. lots of techno stuff which I liked…but slow moving and an UTTERLY RIDICULOUS side plot about Bigfoot. All the secondary characters are one dimensional. more
If the weather is bad, Marino is outraged about something, Lucy is being vague and mysterious, Kay Scarpetta's Medical Examiner's facilities are in disrepair, she has political appointees undermining her, and some members of her staff are insubordinate and faking illness and absent, it's a Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta novel. I put the book aside for a few weeks after page and page of Marino obsessing over his belief that Big Foot being left a footprint at a crime scene. Things didn't improve much after I picked it back up. Scarpetta is her usual gloomy self; Cornwell writes in excoriating and unnecessary detail about every event, including driving directions. Cornwell must be short on plot ideas as she, once again, brings back an old character believed to be deceased; the electronic home surveillance/music/pet door, etc. more
I'm a fan of this series and have read all of them- it's interesting to see the various changes the writing has undergone stylistically. This installment is reflective of what multiple of the more recent ones have been in that Cornwell goes extremely detailed into minutia such that a quarter of the book is describing Scarpetta getting to the first crime scene. I enjoy Cornwell's writing and getting to read about what's going on inside Scarpetta's head but she goes overboard IMO and it pads out a plot in which not much happens overall with lots of unnecessary details. Oddly, it created tension because so much time was devoted to things I assumed they'd come up again in the story and was bracing myself. I'd much rather that time be spent diving deeper into relationships between the long standing characters, such as Benton. more