Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta Novels in Order

What invariably happens when someone reads one of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels is that they suddenly develop a strong desire to read them all. For those of you who find yourselves in this predicament, I have listed below all of Ms. Cornwell's novels to date along with a link to a convenient checklist so you can mark your progress as you fly through the list. Good reading!

The Kay Scarpetta Novels 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)

Scarpetta fans, for your convenience, a link to the Printable Scarpetta Series Checklist.

Dana Delany's Body of Proof: Two Pollexes Up

Back in the late 1980s when she was in her early 30s and co-starring in China Beach, who would have thought Dana Delany would still be going strong at 55? Well, she is. And, at 55, she's still looking pretty good. I'm sure some Botox is involved, but, at least, she doesn't have any of that catwoman stuff going on.

When I first heard about Body of Proof, this new series on ABC, I immediately thought to myself "channeling Kay Scarpetta," the world's foremost fictional female medical examiner. And, even though I'm a big Patricia Cornwell fan, I wasn't enthusiastic about the prospect. The last book in the series I read, The Scarpetta Factor, was so steeped in melancholy and depression that I have yet to recover. Thankfully, three episodes in, I'm happy to report Body of Proof isn't anything like that. Sure, the characters have some emotional issues, but their brooding is interrupted often enough with light-hearted quips that we are pleasantly distracted from the murder and death that TV M.E.s characteristically deal with.

Also in the cast are Jeri Ryan, a soap opera veteran, and John Carroll Lynch who has successfully played many roles but who for me will always be duck-painting Norm Gunderson, Margie Gunderson's husband in the classic film Fargo.

Anyway, I've seen three episodes so far and enjoyed each one of them. I only hope this series doesn't get whacked by those network geniuses who knock promising new shows off the air.

Patricia Cornwell on Lifetime

First, let me say, I love Patricia Cornwell’s novels. It was, primarily, her Kay Scarpetta novels that prompted a resurgence in my reading-for-pleasure several years back. That’s why I was particularly eager to see At Risk and The Front, the two movies based on her (non-Scarpetta) novels recently aired on Lifetime.

No problems with the cast. The usually loveable Andie MacDowell stars ably as the slutty, aggressive and ambitious DA, Monique “Money” Lamont, Daniel Sunjata as Win Garano, the still beautiful Diahann Carroll as Garano’s nana, and Ashley Williams as the amputee-detective Stump. Unfortunately, Detective Sykes played by Annabeth Gish was shot dead in At Risk. Such is life. In fact, Stump almost bought the farm in The Front but survived due to poor marksmanship and the heroic intervention of love-interest Garano.

Honestly speaking, I enjoyed both movies and will view anything else Ms. Cornwell (who, BTW, made cameo appearances as a waitress in each of the flicks) serves up. Still, I must say, I enjoyed At Risk the most. The perp, the unsub, the doer, etc. was revealed to us a little too soon in The Front, at least for me, and, though there still existed a bit of suspense, it’s not the same as wondering “who the hell did it?”

Still to come, on TV and at the Theatre, the Kay Scarpetta mysteries. I cannot wait.

Patricia Cornwell Goes To The Movies

On July 20, 2009 Variety reported that two telepics based on Patricia Cornwell's crime novels, "At Risk" and "The Front," will air as Lifetime originals. These novels feature Investigator Winston Garano and his boss D.A. Monique Lamont.

Slated to star in these productions are Daniel Sunjata (Garano), Andie MacDowell (Lamont), Diahann Carroll (Garano's grandmother), Annabeth Gish (Garano's partner), and Ashley Williams (Garano's love interest).

Marking the first time Ms. Cornwell's novels will hit the screen, the announcement comes on the heels of the April 21st report that Twentieth Century Fox has acquired the rights to all 16 Kay Scarpetta novels. Slated to play the good-looking, intelligent, strong-willed-yet-vulnerable and sophisticated Scarpetta is superstar actress and poster girl Angelina Jolie.

The first movie, a thriller, will not be tied to a specific novel but will feature Dr. Scarpetta in her role as Medical Examiner.

The choice of Jolie has sparked an internet debate over her suitability for the role. Some have cited Jodie Foster as a better choice. Let's face it, they're both Oscar winners and great actors, but Angelina is more of a box office draw and, in the end, it all comes down to the money. BTW, more than one source reports that several years ago Foster was approached by Cornwell in regards to the Scarpetta role but Foster declined.