BookBingeKay Scarpetta Books in Order
The short answer
Patricia Cornwell · 29 books
- How many books?
- There are 29 books in the Kay Scarpetta series, published 1990–2025.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, with book 30 on the way.
- Next book
- Rapid and Fatal, due 19 January 2027.See all upcoming releases →
- Where to start
- Start with Postmortem (1990).
About 12,600 pages — roughly 210 hours of reading
A pioneering chief medical examiner uses cutting-edge forensic science to track serial killers and violent criminals.
Here is the complete Kay Scarpetta reading order — all 29 books by Patricia Cornwell, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- PostmortemChief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta races to identify a serial killer terrorizing Richmond before he strikes again.1990364 pages
- Body of EvidenceScarpetta investigates the murder of a reclusive novelist whose death may be linked to a stalker from her past.1991387 pages
- All That RemainsScarpetta probes a string of disappearances involving young couples that may connect to a killer with ties to a powerful family.1992399 pages
- Cruel and UnusualA death row inmate's execution is followed by a murder bearing his exact fingerprints, forcing Scarpetta to question the evidence.1993378 pages
- The Body FarmScarpetta is drawn into a case involving a child's murder and the controversial forensic research facility that gives the book its name.1994387 pages
- From Potter's FieldA killer believed dead resurfaces, and Scarpetta must identify a body found in Central Park before he strikes again.1995393 pages
- Cause of DeathScarpetta investigates the suspicious death of a colleague at a nuclear power plant amid signs of a larger conspiracy.1996354 pages
- Unnatural ExposureScarpetta hunts a killer using digital manipulation to hide the identities of victims amid a mysterious virus outbreak.1997367 pages
- Point of OriginScarpetta investigates an arson-homicide tied to the return of a notorious killer from her past.1998397 pages
- Black NoticeScarpetta works to identify a decomposed body found in a shipping container, uncovering a trail leading to an old enemy.1999441 pages
- The Last PrecinctAs she faces professional and legal scrutiny, Scarpetta digs deeper into unresolved threats from her past.2000463 pages
- Blow FlyScarpetta is pulled back toward an old nemesis believed dead, as new murders echo his signature.2001483 pages
- TraceCalled back to Richmond, Scarpetta investigates the death of a teenage girl in a case tangled with department politics.2004416 pages
- PredatorScarpetta and her team track a predator using digital technology to study and stalk his victims.2005437 pages
- Book of the DeadScarpetta consults on a series of murders in Italy while personal and professional threats close in at home.2007411 pages
- ScarpettaA bizarre attack in New York pulls Scarpetta into a case with unsettling ties to her own family.2008500 pages
- The Scarpetta FactorDuring the holidays, Scarpetta investigates a series of crimes that put her and those she loves in danger.2009501 pages
- Port MortuaryScarpetta returns to a Massachusetts forensic facility to confront a case that challenges everything she believes about death.2010507 pages
- Red MistScarpetta travels to a Georgia prison to investigate crimes linked to a facility with dark secrets.2011512 pages
- The Bone BedScarpetta investigates a disappearance linked to a remote paleontological dig as threats to her family mount.2012472 pages
- DustThe body of a young astrophysicist found on a Virginia field draws Scarpetta into a case with unexpected connections to her own life.2013528 pages
- Flesh and BloodA sniper's killings hit close to home as Scarpetta investigates a case entangled with her niece Lucy's past.2014424 pages
- Depraved HeartScarpetta is drawn into a case involving a manipulated video and a young woman's suspicious death, forcing her to question who she can trust.2015512 pages
- ChaosScarpetta investigates a murder in a Cambridge park that spirals into a case involving cyber threats and old enemies.2016432 pages
- AutopsyReturning to Virginia as chief medical examiner, Scarpetta confronts new political dangers and a killer targeting people close to her.2021400 pages
- LividScarpetta is called to testify in a high-profile trial while investigating a bizarre new case that hits close to home.2022480 pages
- Unnatural DeathScarpetta investigates a series of strange deaths that appear to defy normal forensic explanation.2023
- Identity UnknownScarpetta works to identify a body and unravel a case with unsettling technological and personal stakes.2024400 pages
- Sharp ForceScarpetta faces a new adversary and a case that puts her family and career on the line.2025400 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
Upcoming: the next book, Rapid and Fatal, releases on 19 January 2027. BookBinge Pro can notify you the day it drops.
On our lists: Long-running mystery series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Kay Scarpetta books are there?
There are 29 books in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell, from Postmortem (1990) to Sharp Force (2025). Book 30, Rapid and Fatal, is due 19 January 2027. Together they run to about 12,600 pages.
Is the Kay Scarpetta series finished?
No. Patricia Cornwell is still writing it: book 30, Rapid and Fatal, is due 19 January 2027, following Sharp Force (2025).
What is the first Kay Scarpetta book?
Postmortem (1990) is book one, at 364 pages. Chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta races to identify a serial killer terrorizing Richmond before he strikes again.
Should I read the Kay Scarpetta series in publication order?
Yes. For the Kay Scarpetta series, reading order and publication order are the same — Postmortem (1990) through Sharp Force (2025).
How long does it take to read all Kay Scarpetta books?
About 12,600 pages across 29 books — roughly 210 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Dust (528 pages); the shortest is Cause of Death (354 pages).