Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Welcome to our discussion of Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta #1), Patricia Cornwell. This book is part of our Spring/Summer Collection Group Reads. Your discussion leader is Lisa.
___________________________________________
About spoilers

Please use the spoiler formatting; it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
___________________________________________
Summary

Four women with nothing in common, united only in death. Four brutalized victims of a brilliant monster - a "Mr. Nobody", moving undetected through a paralyzed city, leaving behind a gruesome trail of carnage . . . but few clues. With skilled hands, an unerring eye, and the latest advances in forensic research, an unrelenting female medical examiner - Kay Scarpetta - is determined to unmask a maniac. But someone is trying to sabotage Kay's investigation from the inside. And worse yet, someone wants her dead . . .

It's hard to believe that we're approaching our final book in the Spring/Summer Collection, yet here we are. Cornwell is beloved in the genre, and I've only read one of hers so far. I'm looking forward to another foray into her work with you all.

Omg, I love Cornwell and have read many of them. I have my copy already. I hope to carve out some time to read this month.

I read this one about 10 years ago.

Gem, I hope you can join! Charissa, ready for a re-read?

Perhaps, it was a library read. I'll join the discussion either way.

Just now got it so I'm in.

Yay! Welcome to you both!

I probably read this decades ago, but I have it on hold at my library.

I read some of it already! Let's hope I finish it, I think I remember how she solved it but not who it was.

George, I just picked mine up. Will get started today or tomorrow.

Lisa, I just picked it up at the library yesterday. After having read so many of her books, it is interesting to see the beginning including Marino and her young niece.

Great! Are you enjoying it so far?

Lisa. Yes, it is interesting. It seems more like a mystery than a current thriller. I may be biased based on reading so many Freida and Ruth Ware books. I should finish it today and I believe I know the killer, but I will see.

Hopefully I'm starting tomorrow.

I finished it. Good book.

Hi all! I’ve read a few novels in the Scarpetta series, but not in order. So, it was great to read the first book and see how it all started. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished. I'm gonna say it's ok. I'm going to spoiler my comments so I don't give away the ending (view spoiler)[I'm not a fan of the culprit showing up out of nowhere. I like to have a chance to at least try and figure out whodunit from the cast of characters presented throughout the story. (hide spoiler)]

Attached is the link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

While I haven't finished it, it is the book I thought it was. I have to make some more time so I can finish it this month.

I'm just seeing this now, hope not too late to read this and join in! I might just do so either way...
I greatly enjoy Cornwell's writing and have read a few of her Scarpetta books, I think I have Postmortem I found in donations at my library but haven't gotten to it.

Lisa wrote: "It's hard to believe that we're approaching our final book in the Spring/Summer Collection, yet here we are. Cornwell is beloved in the genre, and I've only read one of hers so far. I'm looking for..."

Becka wrote: "I'm just seeing this now, hope not too late to read this and join in! I might just do so either way...
I greatly enjoy Cornwell's writing and have read a few of her Scarpetta books, I think I have ..."

Hi Becka, please do join! I'm still finishing up myself.

Hi, never heard of Cornwell, but I'm glad I've joined the group and found "Postmortem".

Hopefully, I can finish it on time, but I love the beginning. More so, when i realized that this is written pre CSI TV shows popularity!

I finished the book, and have to say I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I love the time mark it leaves, since the issues with women's roles in police enforcment are tackled on, as well as a new science being implemented and not quite understood by anyone. although we've gone far from this, I have found some elements to be universal, like the fear and not understanding new stuff.
As for the story i enjoyed the pace and the ending was satisfying.

˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ wrote: "Finished. I'm gonna say it's ok. I'm going to spoiler my comments so I don't give away the ending [spoilers removed]"

I agree, Sheri. (view spoiler)[There was so much effort put into pointing us to different characters in the book as suspects, that it was really anticlimactic to have the killer be a newly introduced person. Boo. (hide spoiler)]

Јордан wrote: "I finished the book, and have to say I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I love the time mark it leaves, since the issues with women's roles in police enforcment are tackled on, as well as a new s..."

Agreed, Јордан, it was cool to read about DNA in its early days on top of a different era of computers, juxtaposed with the timeless elements that you mention. I liked the evolving relationship of Scarpetta and Marino. He turned out to be an unexpectedly enjoyable character. I wonder if he continues to appear in the series.

Lisa wrote: "Јордан wrote: "I finished the book, and have to say I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I love the time mark it leaves, since the issues with women's roles in police enforcment are tackled on, as ..."
Yes, he was.

Lisa wrote: "˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ wrote: "Finished. I'm gonna say it's ok. I'm going to spoiler my comments so I don't give away the ending [spoilers removed]"

I agree, Sheri. [spoilers removed]"

I didn't mind it, since I enjoyed the elements I talked about before (the begining of forensic, women place in police...). To be hones even if a dog was I killer I would've been ok with it :p