Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell Reading Order

7 series · 46 books · Born 1956

Mystery & ThrillerNon-Fiction

Patricia Cornwell is an American crime writer whose prolific career spans over four decades and multiple interconnected series. She is best known for her Kay Scarpetta novels, which follow a forensic pathologist investigating complex murder cases, a series that brought meticulous forensic science into mainstream crime fiction and influenced countless crime dramas on television. Cornwell's work across her various series, including the Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer investigations and the Captain Chase novels, blends technical procedural detail with psychological depth, establishing her as a defining voice in modern mystery and thriller fiction.

Andy Brazil/Judy Hammer Series

Complete

3 books (1996–2001)

Start with Hornet's Nest and read in order.

Start this series with Hornet's Nest

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#Title
1
Hornet's Nest
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Southern Cross
Southern Cross
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2002–2002)

#Title
1
Cover of The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction
The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Captain Chase Series

Complete

2 books (2019–2020)

Start with Quantum and read in order.

Start this series with Quantum

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#Title
1
2
Cover of Spin

Kay Scarpetta Series

Ongoing

30 books (1990–2027)

Start with Postmortem, the first of 29 books in the Kay Scarpetta series.

Start this series with Postmortem

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#Title
1
Cover of Postmortem
2
Cover of Body of Evidence
Body of Evidence
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of All That Remains
All That Remains
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Cruel and Unusual
Cruel and Unusual
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Body Farm
The Body Farm
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of From Potter's Field
From Potter's Field
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Cause of Death
Cause of Death
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Unnatural Exposure
Unnatural Exposure
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Point of Origin
Point of Origin
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Black Notice
Black Notice
1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Last Precinct
The Last Precinct
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of Blow Fly
13
Cover of Trace
14
Cover of Predator
15
Cover of Book of the Dead
Book of the Dead
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of Scarpetta
17
Cover of The Scarpetta Factor
The Scarpetta Factor
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18
Cover of Port Mortuary
Port Mortuary
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19
Cover of Red Mist
20
Cover of The Bone Bed
The Bone Bed
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21
Cover of Dust
22
Cover of Flesh and Blood
Flesh and Blood
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23
Depraved Heart
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24
Cover of Chaos
25
Cover of Autopsy
26
Cover of Livid
27
Unnatural Death
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28
Cover of Identity Unknown
Identity Unknown
2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
29
30
Rapid and Fatal
2027Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

7 books (1983–2026)

Start with Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham, the first of 7 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham
Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham
1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Scarpetta's Winter Table
Scarpetta's Winter Table
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Food to Die For: Secrets From Kay Scarpetta's Kitchen
Food to Die For: Secrets From Kay Scarpetta's Kitchen
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed
Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Chasing the Ripper
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert
Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of True Crime

Picture Series

Complete

1 book (1999–1999)

#Title
1
Cover of Life's Little Fable
Life's Little Fable
1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Winston Garano Series

Complete

2 books (2006–2008)

Start with At Risk and read in order.

Start this series with At Risk

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#Title
1
Cover of At Risk
2
Cover of The Front

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Patricia Cornwell written?
Patricia Cornwell has written 46 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1983 to 2027.
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.

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