CAUSE OF DEATH - New year's Eve & the final murder scene of Virginia's bloodiest year takes Scarpetta 30 feet below the icy surface of the Elizabeth River. A diver is dead, an investigative reporter, a favourite at the Medical Examiner's office, but was he on the scent of a story or merely diving for sunken trinkets? And why did Scarpetta receive a phone call from someone reporting the death before the police were notified? UNNATURAL EXPOSURE - Scarpetta is on the trail of a serial killer, but the discovery of a 10th corpse shows vital discrepancies & make her wonder if this is a copycat killing. Ghoulish, but not unusual. Then the eleventh body broadcasts a clear and horrifying message: the killer is armed with the most lethal weapon on Earth - smallpox. POINT OF ORIGIN - Scarpetta is called to a burned-out farmhouse where someone has been viciously murdered, but she has another more incendiary horror to face - Carrie Grethen, the killer who nearly destroyed her, has escaped from a secure hospital. Her whereabouts are unknown, but her ultimate destination is not, because she has already told Scarpetta of her deadly plans for revenge.
Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell is a bestselling American author known for her crime fiction novels, particularly the Kay Scarpetta series. Her works are characterized by meticulous research, detailed forensic details, and complex characters. Cornwell's contributions to the crime genre have helped redefine the genre by incorporating cutting-edge forensic science into her storytelling. Her most famous work is "Postmortem," which introduced readers to the forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Cornwell's works have had a significant impact on the crime genre, inspiring other authors to delve deeper into forensic science and create more realistic and compelling crime fiction novels.