Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns as the Chief Medical Officer in Virginia. She has returned to an office that lacked supervision and a secretary with an attitude whose loyalty belongs to her former boss. Before she even settles in a body is discovered by the railroad tracks with no ID. A tech company reports a missing employee who fits the description of the Jane Doe. Gwen Haines lived in a gated community just a few doors down from Kay’s sister. Gwen was new to the area, but a search of her house provides more questions than answers. Marino, her sister’s husband, was a police detective who worked with Kay in the past. He is someone she can trust and she needs him on her team once again.

Kay is also a member of the Doomsday Commission that reviews security threats. She is called to the White House when communication is lost with a secret lab that is orbiting Earth. Astronauts arrive from the ISS and discover the bodies of two scientists. The third scientist had reported damage and departed in an evacuation vehicle that has landed in Russian territory. Kay remotely performs an autopsy to discover the cause of death, talking the astronauts through the procedure. A review of communications also reveals a link between the escaped scientist and Gwen, leading to the possibility of industrial espionage. Kay discovers a previous death that had been labeled accidental, but there were a number of similarities to Gwen’s death. With staff problems and a reporter who is spreading panic through claiming a serial killer, Kay is under pressure to find answers before she is forced to resign.

This is a welcome return for Patricia Cornwell’s character and she is accompanied by a number of familiar faces. Beside Marino, she also receives support from her husband Benton and her niece Lucy, who is mourning the loss of her partner and their daughter to COVID. While the pandemic is acknowledged through the additional precautions taken, it is Lucy’s loss that reminds us of those who have fallen to the disease. Familiar faces and an excellent mystery make this a must read. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow/Custom House Publishing for providing this book for my review.

I used to read the Kay Scarpetta novels faithfully but lost interest as I thought the writing style declined over time and felt the last one I read years ago was barely intelligible. I always enjoyed the characters, but the decline in language and grammar really turned me off.

This twenty fifth in the series sees Kay returning to her earlier professional roots and is certainly better written than the last one I read. I do like her character, as well as the supporting individuals in her life. However, there was a lot of time spent on a subplot that, while interesting, just fizzled out. Reading it, I started to wonder, “what other book have I wandered into?”. I almost felt as though it were just a page filler.

The ending seemed rushed with some actions not explained well. So much time was spent on activities not necessarily related to the story and then things were tied up very quickly. I usually have a feeling of satisfaction after finishing a book. Here, I just felt cheated.

Fans of the Scarpetta series will no doubt enjoy this read….it just left me kind of “meh”. However, it did not turn me off to Cornwell’s writing and I will certainly seeking out the next novel.

Welcome back, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. She has come back to where her career started, in Virginia. She is the Chief Medical Examiner and finds that she inherited an overbearing secretary and a poorly run office. Shortly after beginning her new job, she is called to investigate a woman's body found near railroad tracks with her head nearly severed. At almost the same time, two scientists are murdered in space in a private lab while the remaining scientist, presumably the one who killed them, is missing. She has to guide two scientists to do the autopsy remotely in space. Cornwell is at the top of her game in this worthy addition to the Scarpetta series.

I’m usually excited reading her books. This book had too many things going on at once and I felt they were just unconnected. Some of the happenings seemed unrelated to the main story. I didn’t feel she brought them together like she normally does.

I'm grateful to the publisher & to NetGalley for letting me access this pre-pub copy.
I have read almost all of Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series and looked forward to this one. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
Dr. Scarpetta is back in Richmond, as the chief medical examiner. As she is trying to fit into her new position she is confronted with two murders that may or may not be connected. The first part of the book was interesting as there was a lot of autopsy information, a part of Cornwell's book that I enjoy. But it started going downhill when she and her husband were summoned to the White House to discuss two other deaths. (I won't give further details on this situation as it could be a spoiler) Suffice it to say that it was a rather bizarre meeting.
From there the story started to slow down, until the sudden and unexpected conclusion. I got the feeling that the ending and solutions were just thrown in there, because it was time to end the book.
I certainly understand that every artist and/or writer can't always produce a winner, and since I enjoyed so many of her other books, I will still look forward to the next appearance of Kay Scarpetta.

When ace Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta is at her best - using evidence to determine all manner of dead body things like what caused the demise and not spending page after page feeling that she's being put upon - she's hard to beat. And in this book - the 25th in the popular series - I'd say she's there. No, her paranoia hasn't disappeared, but it's noticeably less obtrusive, allowing me, at least, to fully appreciate her skills. And here, she's taken on a new job that's brought her sort of full circle: The forensic pathologist has returned to Virginia as chief medical examiner.

She and her husband, Forensic Psychologist Benton Wesley, have moved to Old Town Alexandria amid political turmoil, some of which can be attributed to fallout from the recent pandemic. Living in a guest house is Scarpetta's technologically gifted niece, Lucy, and nearby neighbors are longtime friend and investigator Pete Marino and his wife, Dorothy (Kay's far-from-beloved sister Dorothy, also loosely defined as Lucy's mother).

It all sounds quite civilized; but Scarpetta's office is quite another story. Amid her regular responsibilities, she's expected to do clean-up duties resulting from some 20 years of mismanagement (or worse). Giving her grief every step of the way is her secretary Maggie, who was a devoted assistant to Scarpetta's incompetent predecessor and seems intent on making trouble for her new boss (making Scarpetta's paranoia totally justified in this instance). No reason was given, so I'll assume the woman can't be fired because she's a government employee; otherwise, I can say for sure she'd have been sent packing after my first day in office - and I have to believe Scarpetta would have done the same.

Soon after Scarpetta takes over and is getting to know her co-workers, she's called to take a look at what appears to be a rather gruesomely murdered woman lying near railroad tracks. That, in turn, raises suspicion of connections to a previous crime. And in the midst of all this, she gets a nasty surprise that temporarily sidelines her, after which she and Wesley get summoned to the White House (she's been appointed to a highly classified national Doomsday Commission). There they learn of possible murders aboard a secret laboratory that's orbiting Earth. Back at home and work in Virginia, the focus turns to the local murder or murders and trying to find out who is behind the aforementioned surprise before he or she strikes again (and worse, is successful).

For me, this one was a better balance of characters, with a fair amount of interaction with Wesley (quite an impressive guy in his own right), some with Marino and less on her sister and niece (a plus in my book because I've never been fond of either one, although I did work up some sympathy for her niece and what she's been through of late). My only disappointment came at the end, when things seemed wrapped up far too quickly for my liking. On the other hand, I suspect some of it will carry over to the next edition. Overall, a well done story that I always hated to put down - a big thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell is the latest in the Kay Scarpetta series. I have read most of the Scarpetta novels and enjoyed them. So I started this one with high hopes. We are reunited with the core group of characters as well as a few new ones. It starts as usual with a dead body and attempts to identify the victim as well as the murderer. However I did feel the plot got a little far fetched. There were spies, poisonings, and even an incident on the international space station. I did feel that the book came to an abrupt end with some loose ends. Perhaps this was to establish a lead into the next book. Overall, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it fans of Kay Scarpetta and thriller novels.

I haven't read a Kay Scarpetta book in many years, and the feeling I had gotten after reading the review for her last couple of books made me question reading this one. However, I'm glad I did.

If you will notice from the Amazon recap and the publishers' website, this is a relaunch of the series. (Quoted from Amazon) "In this <b>relaunch</b> of the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts those responsible for two wildly divergent and chilling murders." And I can certainly see why they are calling this book a relaunch. The old Kay is back right along with most of her other beloved characters. It has been 5 years since her last book in this series, and this novel shows that jump quite well. We are still in the middle of the Covid pandemic; though the political parties aren't named, we see the ravages of current politics in this novel.

There are enough twists and turns to keep any mystery lover happy, a lot of inner angsting that will make most readers unhappy (although some of the best dialogue comes about in this manner), enough red herrings to keep you on your toes and for the pièce de résistance, we even have an encounter in space that needs Kays special talents!

My one problem, and I'm not sure if she had done this in her previous novels, is that Ms. Cornwell gives the ending short shrift. Although this could be considered a mini-cliff hanger, we shall see.

I'm already ready for the next book and I am going to go read the entire series even if the tech in some of them is dated!

*ARC is supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley. Many thanks.

I reviewed this title for Library Journal please refer to the issue of the magazine containing this November 30th release to read my whole review

William Morrow....... 😘
Thank You! Thank You! Can't say Thanks enough!

Y'all have no clue how grateful I am for this new Patricia Cornwell book!
I started reading the Kay Scarpetta set from.the beginning back in 2012 and freaking fell head over heels in love with them!

I can not get enough of the Scarpetta series it's just to awesome. If you like Medical examiner thrillers then I recommend all of the Scarpetta series.
There are layers of story intertwined and the amount of depravity is unknown until the end. Also, they don't mince the violence. The violence, while sparking the intellect, still maintains the terror needed for this crime series.
I do still like the way Cornwell interconnects the various plots and I like the way the investigators dig out the clues and figure out the mystery.
This is a well-paced thriller where the feelings of anxiety are almost palpable, but not crippling to the characters. 
As far as the characters go I still lobe and enjoy them!
Kay, Lucy, Benton and Marino..... Still fabulous characters I will continue to read!!!
I love this series.
This story was a great escape and I'm so thankful I was given the chance to read it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

In this relaunch of the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series last seen in 2016, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts those responsible for two wildly divergent and chilling murders. Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has come almost full circle, returning to Virginia as the chief medical examiner, the state where she launched her storied career. Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years, she’s inherited not only an overbearing secretary, but also a legacy of neglect and potential corruption. She and her husband Benton Wesley, now a forensic psychologist with the U.S. Secret Service, have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she’s headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world. Just weeks on the job, she’s called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman’s body has been shockingly displayed, her throat cut down to the spine, and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail, it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood. At the same time, a catastrophe occurs in a top-secret laboratory in outer space, endangering at least two scientists aboard. Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases, Scarpetta is summoned to the White House and tasked with finding out exactly what happened. But even as she works the first potential crime scene in space remotely, an apparent serial killer strikes again very close to home.

I very much enjoyed this book which reminded me of the early Scarpetta books with the emphasis on forensics. There were many complaints that the later books veered from this, but this one is back on track with a great story, Scapetta's doggedness in finding out what happened while dealing with the tensions at her new job and updating the reader on the supporting characters. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Scarpetta is back in Virginia! She is once again running a lab with a secretary who is loyal to her (slightly) crooked predecessor. Benton, Lucy, Marino, and Dorothy are all living with in a stone's throw of each other and the sites of 2 murder victims. Have the women been murdered by a serial killer or are the murders tied in with international terrorism that occurred on the space station? Will Kay keep her job, or be forced to resign due to politics?

Well hello, old friend, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. I was fairly certain that Chaos was the end of this series, so seeing Autopsy was a pleasant surprise. Kay is back where she started, in Virginia as the chief medical examiner. But she has been away for a very long time and what her predecessor has done to the once well-run and trusted office is enough to make her wonder if she can turn this mess around.
Still married to Benton, they are both trying to be there for Lucy who has suffered a devastating personal loss. She enlists Marino to consult when a recent murder might be tied to one that happened many years ago. As if her hands aren't full enough, she and Benton are called to a classified meeting with the president and you just know that something terrible has happened. All I will say about the reason why is that the murders are out of this world.
With her secretary and staff undermining her every chance they get, and some of the powers that be not happy with her investigation, this might wind up being the job that ends her career for good. It is Kay though, so I wouldn't count on her losing, no matter who she is up against.
There was a lot to love about this book. The plot was engaging and fast-paced and it felt comfortable to be with these characters again. The only strange thing was the abrupt ending. I've actually wondered if some pages could have been missing from my ARC? I won't know until I can get a finished copy, but if this is the way it ends, it was a great journey with an okay conclusion.

Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has returned to Virginia as Chief Medical Examiner in Alexandria, inheriting an office that has suffered neglect (and perhaps corruption) under her politically ambitious predecessor, a secretary who undermines her authority, and many staff who treat death as a 9-to-5 job. After Scarpetta is called to the scene of a grisly murder in a federal park, she starts to suspect a connection to an earlier homicide that her predecessor (who is now her boss) appears to have swept under the rug for political reasons and does not want re-investigated. At the same time, Scarpetta and her husband, Benton Wesley, are called to the White House for a Doomsday Commission meeting to investigate a suspicious situation in outer space which, coincidentally, might be related to the body in the park. As always, Scarpetta uses the latest technology and her incisive mind to unravel the cases put before her, with assistance from her husband, niece Lucy, and investigator Pete Marino. The themes and technology are current, characters are three-dimensional and interesting, and the plot is fast-paced. The ending felt rushed (in fact, when my e-reader indicated that 10 minutes left in the book, I started to wonder if it was "to be continued" because I couldn't see how it could all wrap up that quickly). The resolution to one plot line seemed almost accidental, which is not what I expect in a Scarpetta novel. If you haven't read a Kay Scarpetta book before, this one can be read as a stand-alone but the back history of the characters will be better appreciated if you have read most or all of the series. I enjoyed this 25th book in the series more than the last couple.

I am glad this series is back. Good continuation of the characters. Plot interesting with twists. Ending ties up different story lines.

I have read all the Scarpetta books. This is probably my least favorite. Almost too much detail, especially those with reference to space.

Autopsy – Patricia Cornwell

Kay Scarpetta is back home in Virginia and resuming her long prior role of Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia, but things are very different now. She’s inheriting the staff of the prior ME, and it quickly becomes clear that some hold an allegiance to him, to her detriment.

As Kay is wrapping up a long day in the office with plans to head home to Lucy’s birthday party, her secretary stops her and tells her she needs to meet with a local investigator. Upon doing so she learns of a missing woman, a scientist working on classified work for the government, and Marino’s reclusive neighbor, may in fact be the body that is in the morgue now – the unknown victim of a homicide near the railroad tracks from several days ago.

Much has changed in the lives of those around her – Marino has married Kay’s sister Dorothy, and Lucy has returned home after her own personal tragedy, with all making the move back to Virginia w/ Kay & Benton Wesley. With her new position still so tenuous, Marino feels she needs some support, and Kay dubs him her Forensic Operations Specialist, thereby giving him access to case information and the opportunity to investigate once more.

As Kay continues her attempts to positively ID the body in the morgue, a similar case from the recent past catches her attention. Initially classified as a drowning by her predecessor, a review of the case hints strongly at homicide. This case was swept under the rug – but why?

Then Kay and Benton are summoned to the White House to meet with the President over a disaster unfolding in a top-secret lab in space, which is purported to be some type of attack by the surviving astronaut – but the visuals sent from a rescue team are not congruent with the description of events.c

As Kay and her crew slowly put the pieces together, they discover a cunning team set to steal secrets from the US – but Kay also discovers that danger is much closer to home than any of them could have imagined…

I have been reading Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta novels since I was a teenager and I was delighted to be offered this sneak preview! This novel was as good as it gets, although I did feel like the wrap up and ending, while satisfying, just came on so abruptly that one still feels like something is missing. A great read, otherwise!!
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from #Netgalley & William Morrow & Custom House, in exchange for an objective review.

Personal Blog will Publish 11/28

A familiar author is a great choice for vacation, as there’s no need to learn about their characters or world. But even if you haven’t tried Patricia Cornwell before, this 25th in the series is a cracking read. The author’s long-running medical examiner character, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, is back, but a lot has changed in her life. The COVID-19 pandemic is over and it has devastated Scarpetta’s family; her always-tense relationship with sister Dorothy has been complicated by Dorothy’s marriage to Scarpetta’s sidekick, Marino; and the doctor has moved from Miami to a Virginia job that’s turning out to be a nightmare. Very unusual for Scarpetta and for forensic science-related novels is the site of an early case in this book: space, from where one astronaut has returned, abandoning his colleagues. When Scarpetta is called in to observe the opening of the capsule they inhabit, in case an autopsy is needed, it pulls her away from investigating the death of a young woman who was recently found by the railway tracks, with the tantalizing clue—or is it just a coincidence?—of train-flattened pennies nearby. The doctor herself even has a scrape with death this time, all adding up to what readers have come to love from Cornwell: puzzling cases that star both science and family (and found family) love.—Henrietta Verma. From First Clue, https://www.getrevue.co/profile/FirstClue

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so glad to see Patricia Cornwell release another Scarpetta book. I've been reading them for 20 years! Autopsy was another great installment. Scarpetta returns to Virginia, Old Town Alexandria, not Richmond, with Benton, Marino, and Lucy. At the very beginning, she's called to the scene of a missing person's townhome, and it might be connected to a body discovered in a park the week before. As one mystery is unfolding, she is called into a top secret, classified meeting with the president. Through all this, she's being undermined at every turn by employees who remain loyal to the prior chief medical examiner.

Very well-plotted and suspenseful. My only issue was that the ending was very abrupt and wrapped everything up with a neat bow in the span of about 2 pages.

I've enjoyed Kay Scarpetta in the past, and this book is also well plotted and engaging. However, the ending is very abrupt, which I wasn't expecting.