Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell in 2016

Patricia Cornwell (born June 9, 1956) is an American crime writer, known for her best-selling series of novels featuring the medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. Cornwell's works are notable for their use of forensic science, which has influenced the genre of crime fiction.

Early Life

Patricia Cornwell was born in Miami, Florida. She is a descendant of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Cornwell's father, Sam Daniels, was an appellate lawyer, and her mother, Marilyn, was a secretary. After her parents' divorce, Cornwell moved with her mother and brothers to Montreat, North Carolina, where they were taken in by the evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth Bell Graham.

Education and Early Career

Cornwell attended Davidson College in North Carolina, where she graduated with a degree in English. After college, she worked as a reporter for The Charlotte Observer, covering crime. This experience provided her with the background knowledge that would later inform her writing.

Writing Career

Cornwell's first novel, Postmortem, was published in 1990 and introduced the character of Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner. The novel was a critical and commercial success, winning several awards including the Edgar Award, the Creasey Memorial Award, the Anthony Award, and the Macavity Award.

Cornwell has written numerous novels in the Scarpetta series, as well as other works including the Andy Brazil series and the Win Garano series. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

Personal Life

Cornwell has been open about her struggles with mental health and her advocacy for mental health awareness. She has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including funding forensic research and supporting animal rescue organizations.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Cornwell has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to literature and forensic science. These include the Gold Dagger award from the Crime Writers' Association and the RBA International Prize for Crime Writing.

Bibliography

Kay Scarpetta Series

• Postmortem (1990)
• Body of Evidence (1991)
• All That Remains (1992)
• Cruel and Unusual (1993)
• The Body Farm (1994)
• From Potter's Field (1995)
• Cause of Death (1996)
• Unnatural Exposure (1997)
• Point of Origin (1998)
• Black Notice (1999)
• The Last Precinct (2000)
• Blow Fly (2003)
• Trace (2004)
• Predator (2005)
• Book of the Dead (2007)
• Scarpetta (2008)
• The Scarpetta Factor (2009)
• Port Mortuary (2010)
• Red Mist (2011)
• The Bone Bed (2012)
• Dust (2013)
• Flesh and Blood (2014)
• Depraved Heart (2015)
• Chaos (2016)
• Autopsy (2021)

Andy Brazil Series

• Hornet's Nest (1997)
• Southern Cross (1998)
• Isle of Dogs (2001)

Win Garano Series

• At Risk (2006)
• The Front (2008)

Related Pages

• Kay Scarpetta
• Forensic science
• Crime fiction
• Edgar Award
• Davidson College
• The Charlotte Observer

See Also

• List of crime writers
• List of forensic scientists