📖 About Kay Scarpetta

Kay Scarpetta is a series universe written by Patricia Cornwell. The complete collection runs to 29 books across 1 series, published between 1990 and 2025.

The main series is Publication Order of Kay Scarpetta Books with 29 books. It opens with Postmortem (1990) and currently runs to Sharp Force (2025).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Kay Scarpetta

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Postmortem (1990), book 1 of Publication Order of Kay Scarpetta Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 1 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Kay Scarpetta Books in Order

Publication Order of Kay Scarpetta Books
29 books
1
Postmortem book cover1Postmortem1990Buy on Amazon
Body of Evidence book cover2Body of Evidence1991Buy on Amazon
All That Remains book cover3All That Remains1992Buy on Amazon
Cruel and Unusual book cover4Cruel and Unusual1993Buy on Amazon
The Body Farm book cover5The Body Farm1994Buy on Amazon
From Potter's Field book cover6From Potter's Field1995Buy on Amazon
Cause of Death book cover7Cause of Death1996Buy on Amazon
Unnatural Exposure book cover8Unnatural Exposure1997Buy on Amazon
Point of Origin book cover9Point of Origin1998Buy on Amazon
Black Notice book cover10Black Notice1999Buy on Amazon
The Last Precinct book cover11The Last Precinct2000Buy on Amazon
Blow Fly book cover12Blow Fly2003Buy on Amazon
Trace book cover13Trace2004Buy on Amazon
Predator book cover14Predator2005Buy on Amazon
Book of the Dead book cover15Book of the Dead2007Buy on Amazon
Scarpetta book cover16Scarpetta2008Buy on Amazon
The Scarpetta Factor book cover17The Scarpetta Factor2009Buy on Amazon
Port Mortuary book cover18Port Mortuary2010Buy on Amazon
Red Mist book cover19Red Mist2011Buy on Amazon
The Bone Bed book cover20The Bone Bed2012Buy on Amazon
Dust book cover21Dust2013Buy on Amazon
Flesh and Blood book cover22Flesh and Blood2014Buy on Amazon
Depraved Heart book cover23Depraved Heart2015Buy on Amazon
Chaos book cover24Chaos2016Buy on Amazon
Autopsy book cover25Autopsy2021Buy on Amazon
Livid book cover26Livid2022Buy on Amazon
Unnatural Death book cover27Unnatural Death2023Buy on Amazon
Identity Unknown book cover28Identity Unknown2024Buy on Amazon
Sharp Force book cover29Sharp Force2025Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Kay Scarpetta books are there?
There are 29 books in the Kay Scarpetta collection, organised into 1 series and published between 1990 and 2025.
What is the first Kay Scarpetta book?
The first book is Postmortem, published in 1990.
What order should I read the Kay Scarpetta books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Kay Scarpetta books?
The Kay Scarpetta books were written by Patricia Cornwell.
Is the Kay Scarpetta series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Kay Scarpetta Books, has 29 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Kay Scarpetta series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1990, and the most recent in 2025.