It has been a while since I last read Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta novels. Autopsy did not fail to draw me in and keep me reading until late into the night. Scarpetta is new on the job and Chief Medical Officer for Virginia and she faces the job filled with bureaucracy, territorial staff, and a couple of puzzling murders. Throw in consulting with the White House on a murder mystery in space and it is a thriller unfolding on every page.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kay Scarpetta is back in the saddle again as she takes over the reins of Chief Medical Examiner in her old stomping grounds of Virginia.

Patricia Cornwell knows well about what she writes. Her research is exceptional and plenty evident in the story line of this novel. As she maneuvers through the discontent and petty politics of her own office, she is thrust into the murder of a possible spy and a terrible incident in space. She is still surrounded by those she loves and whom love her as she uses her skills, intuition, science and the facts to solve these murders.

The only criticism I have is I felt the ending came out of nowhere and the story line seemed to meander in places. Putting that aside you really can't beat this series and out just in time for November holidays.

I was once a huge fan of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series and somewhere along the way I stopped reading them. I eagerly picked up her newest, AUTOPSY, hoping for a great book to catch up on the characters, which I did. The plot itself is fascinating and well worth reading. But Cornwell ended the book suddenly and with little to no real explanation. I almost thought it was a 2-part story, since the page count was nearing an end and the story was so far from a conclusion. There are still many loose ends and I have a feeling of frustration; that I invested in a tale that did not end. Cornwell is a better author than this book would suggest. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Another great addition to the Scarpetta series. Any Cornwell offering is a must buy for most public fiction collections.

Having read the first 15 or so Kay/Benton/Lucy novels, I stopped reading them, I couldn't really get into the story line anymore. When I saw that Patricia Cornwell had written another Kay novel, I was hesitant to request it. I am so glad I did. This novel reminded me of her earlier writing and I could not put it down. Loved it and loved catching up with these characters! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.