Patricia Cornwell Reading Order
7 series · 45 books · Born 1956
Patricia Cornwell is a prominent American author celebrated for her gripping crime novels that often revolve around forensic science. With an impressive portfolio of 45 works spanning across seven series, she is perhaps best known for her Kay Scarpetta series, which began with a tale rooted in real-life crimes in Richmond, Virginia. Active from 1983 until 2026, Cornwell has made a significant impact on the genre and influenced the portrayal of police investigations in various media.
Andy Brazil/Judy Hammer Series
Complete3 books (1996–2001)
Start with Hornet's Nest and read in order.
Anthologies Series
Complete1 book (2002–2002)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
Captain Chase Series
Complete2 books (2019–2020)
Start with Quantum and read in order.
Kay Scarpetta Series
Ongoing29 books (1990–2025)
Start with Postmortem, the first of 29 books in the Kay Scarpetta series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Postmortem 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Body of Evidence 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  All That Remains 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Cruel and Unusual 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Body Farm 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  From Potter's Field 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Cause of Death 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Unnatural Exposure 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Point of Origin 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Black Notice 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Last Precinct 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Blow Fly 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Trace 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Predator 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Book of the Dead 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Scarpetta 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  The Scarpetta Factor 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Port Mortuary 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Red Mist 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  The Bone Bed 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Dust 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  Flesh and Blood 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 | Depraved Heart 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  Chaos 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  Autopsy 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  Livid 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 | Unnatural Death 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 |  Identity Unknown 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 | Sharp Force 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Ongoing7 books (1983–2026)
Start with Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham, the first of 7 books in the Non-Fiction series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Scarpetta's Winter Table 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Food to Die For: Secrets From Kay Scarpetta's Kitchen 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | Chasing the Ripper 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  True Crime 2026Buy 🇺🇸 |
Picture Series
Complete1 book (1999–1999)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Life's Little Fable 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
Winston Garano Series
Complete2 books (2006–2008)
Start with At Risk and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Patricia Cornwell written?
- Patricia Cornwell has written 45 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1983 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Patricia Cornwell series?
- Here are the first books in Patricia Cornwell's series: Andy Brazil/Judy Hammer: Hornet's Nest; Captain Chase: Quantum; Kay Scarpetta: Postmortem; Non-Fiction: Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham; Winston Garano: At Risk.
- What order should I read Patricia Cornwell's books?
- We recommend reading Patricia Cornwell's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Patricia Cornwell still writing new books?
- Yes, Patricia Cornwell has 2 ongoing series: Kay Scarpetta, Non-Fiction.