Post Mortem

It is hard to believe that this book was published about 14 years ago and the author's description of elements like computers and the internet or attitudes to smoking the workplace (or even women in the workplace!) seem incredibly outdated but also give great atmosphere and feeling to the setting of the novel.

The book is easily readable and is a fine story, and as the first in the Scarpetta series introduces the reader to the other major characters of the series like Kay's niece Lucy and Sgt Pete Marino, who must be one of the all time great thriller creations ever.

Alas, somehow I remember this as a brilliant book from the first time I read it but this time is was slightly disappointing and it didn't satisfy the way it once did. As I said before it is easily readable but doesn't have the "edge of your seat" thrill factor necessary. There's no building of tension and at times reading it becomes just an exercise in finishing the book to find out who "did it". The interplay between the characters is worthwhile but the story needs more thrills and spills to become compulsive reading.

I fully intend the re-read the whole Scarpetta series and I did enjoy meeting these old faces again, I guess though, in the intervening 14 years the standard for thrillers advanced.


A Disappointment   April 26, 2000
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

A number of people I have spoken to have recommended the Patricia Cornwell books so it was only a matter of time before I jumped into the series. I decided to start at the beginning with Postmortem and was gravely disappointed. As a reader who is really interested in psychological suspense novels (especially those about serial killers) I didn't find enough in here to keep my attention. The character development of Kay Scarpetta was very good, but there was not enough insight into the culprit and his/her motivation. The plot devices were pretty weak and the ending was unsatisfying. Bottom Line: I was really hoping to love this one so I could get into the whole series. I'll give Cornwell another chance to grab my interest but if Postmortem is anything to go by, I won't be reading too much more of her work.


Half decent Crime Novel   March 4, 2000
A middle of the road crime novel. I am reading through the Patricia Cornwell series, until I find a better author.