Edgar Award winner Patricia Cornwell is the internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Kay Scarpetta mystery series. From Potter's Field finds criminal pathologist Kay Scarpetta in Central park investigating the crime scene of a bloody homicide. Kay has an eery feeling the murder was committed by a maniacal killer from her past, Temple Gault-and that he is trying to force her into one final showdown.
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"The first Patricia Cornwell and I'm keen to read a more recent one of the Scarpetta series. This one has to be read within the context of the time when it was written, very early days of IT capability. I found the detail of some of that too much but that aside the story was fast paced and the characters mostly believable. I thought the ending was rather abrupt and the detail of the subway stuff a bit superfluous. The writing is tight and crisp, the forensic knowledge clearly superb. My only reservation is that I don't really like crime stories where the 'detective' or main character is the actual target or the main person accused of some crime and suspended from duty, which is why I want to read a more recent Scarpetta novel in which she will presumably solve a crime rather than be the focus of it."
— Peter (4 out of 5 stars)
" No plot. The entire book was chasing the known killer. "
— Will, 6/6/2023" There is nothing you can get away with. There is forensic evidence EVERYWHERE! "
— Sandy, 2/20/2014" Are you serious? Any Patricia Cornwell book with Scarpetta as the protagonist and I am hooked. Cant put them down. I am so addicted to these books. "
— Vicki, 2/19/2014" I picked this 1st book up that ever read by this author for $3 on a whim while I was on vacation. I was unexpectedly hooked from that point on! Scarpetta is a wonderful character that I'd love to know if she were real! "
— Boilermkr88, 2/16/2014" Kay Scarpetta is called in on another Temple Gault case -- he is getting scarier and crazier and more threatening to Dr. Scarpetta and the ones she is close to. This victim is blad and there are no clues to who she is. Another page-turner. "
— Martha, 2/13/2014" Number Six in the series. I think this might be where the series jumps the shark. "High tech climax" never goes well, I'm afraid. More red wine, more Lucy, more loser boyfriend. "
— Holly, 2/9/2014" This was my favorite Kay Scarpetta book....not sure why, but I guess because a lot of the spotlight was lifted off of Scarpetta and focused more on the vicitm. I get tired of Scarpetta always being attacked by the killers or in some kind of trouble. I heard at one point this was going to be made into a movie. I used to envision certain actors as the characters: I always thought of Suzan Sarandon as Scarpetta and John Goodman as Marino :) "
— Miya, 2/6/2014" Back when I read this in 2006, I found it very compelling...but I've since lost interest in Patricia Cornwell. "
— Marie, 2/3/2014" I liked this book well enough. I'm guessing it follows on from another book becuase at the start it talks about the characters like the reader should know who they are. Found Kay to be quiet annoying at times, when she wouldn't just do what she was told. They were only trying to protect her. Ending seemed a bit rushed but it wouldn't put me off reading another book by Patrica Cornwell. "
— Redfox5, 1/20/2014" Worth your time, especially if your a forensic detective fan! "
— Shelly, 1/20/2014" Would actually give this one a 4.5, but it was so suspenseful, I decided to go with the 5 since 4.5 was not an option here. "
— Shellys♥, 1/12/2014" Brilliant book. As I loved Kathy Reichs's Temperance Brennan, I also love Kay Scarpetta. The action, the knowledge and well written and well lead story. "
— Anna, 12/26/2013" Gault & Lucy's ex are both back. Romantic angst for Scarpetta. "
— Mayakda, 11/14/2013" This is a book for those who love CSI. The details are incisively written. "
— Page, 10/20/2013" I didn't read the paperback version of this book - I read the hardcover copy. It was an excellent book! "
— Dmnh, 9/25/2013" This is an easy read. An enjoyable murder mystery, but I have to agree with another review. There could have been more closure. Since this is a lengthy series, I guess that will have to come in the next book. "
— Jacque, 9/23/2013" Another great Scarpetta book. If you like mystery and strong female characters you will like these novels by Patricia Cornwell. "
— Kay, 6/1/2013" Decent Scarpetta novel. Trying to read all the novels in a row. "
— Luis, 1/16/2013" This was my first Patricia Cornwell book and I was hooked! "
— Suzanne, 12/2/2012" One of my favorite Kay books "
— Joan, 10/9/2012" Before there was CSI, there was Patricia Cornwell "
— Alan, 8/15/2012" This was one of my faves in the series so far. Much less technical and a lot more about Kay and her life. Storyline was also interesting. A page turner for sure. "
— Marianne, 6/19/2012" Bit of a let down. Lots of hand wringing and worrying over the bad guy and then concluded in a couple of paragraphs. "
— Daelith, 5/2/2012" Had me on my seat the whole time. Wow. "
— Red, 4/27/2012" I love Patricia Cornwell books and this was no exception. I could not put it down. "
— Gwen, 11/29/2011" I thought this book was great, right up until the end. I felt like the book finished very poorly and it left me with so many unanswered questions. "
— Kristin, 9/14/2011" One of the last really good Scarpetta novels, before they started becoming melodramatic and silly. "
— Bart, 6/10/2011" I really enjoyed reading this much like the body farm. It was very suspenseful. But I didn't like how it ended. A few more chapters added at the end to make a little longer I feel would have been better. But still a very good book. Can't wait to read the next one! "
— Jessica, 5/3/2011" IBook<br/>Slow start complex. Finish left questions "
— John, 4/3/2011" I read here story because the author and the character have a bid following. I know that others like her work but she was just 'Okay' for me. She just did not strike me as my kinda writer. And, the story was just mediocre. "
— Nathan, 3/28/2011" I read this at least once a year. It is my favorite of the whole series!!! "
— Samantha, 3/27/2011" I think Kay Scarpetta is an extremely boring person. She has no oomph. Nevertheless, I did somewhat enjoy this book. It was an intriguing mystery but not one of Patricia Cornwell's best. "
— Maria, 3/21/2011" Even I started to get creeped out at the end :) "
— Kalyn, 3/3/2011" great forensic mystery, a little graphic, but definitely one you won't want to put down. "
— Erin, 2/27/2011" Kay Scarpetta series -- in this one, sociopath/serial murderer Temple Gault is finally located and killed (after he kills his twin sister and several other people). "
— Janet, 2/19/2011" Pretty good, not amazing, but an interesting read. Good book if you are bored and need something to do. "
— Marina, 1/17/2011" I haven't read other Scarpetta novels from Cornwell so I wasn't exactly moved by the story. Although I did find the story engaging but a little slow in its pacing. "
— Terry, 1/8/2011" I read all the books in the Scarpetta series. I really like the characters and the mysteries. There is nothing earth-shattering about the writing or the concept, but they are fun and entertaining books and easy to read. "
— Thenerdmom, 12/31/2010" Had a hard time reading this one....who knows why? "
— Katya, 12/23/2010" This was a hard one for me to get through...I just didn't like it as much as the others. So, I think I'll take a little break from Kay Scarpetta and read something else before I move on the 8th book. "
— Kim, 12/16/2010" I appreciate Cornwell's willingness to give her heroine "feet of clay"(she's having an affair), but the plot's denouement is contrived and anticlimatic to say the least. Cornwell seems intent on building a super serial killer a la Hannibal Lector and she fails. "
— Dev, 12/13/2010Patricia Cornwell is recognized as one of the world’s top bestselling crime authors with many New York Times bestselling novels. She wrote her debut, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia, and it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventures—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Beyond the Kay Scarpetta series, she has written a definitive book about Jack the Ripper, a biography, and three more fiction series, among others.
C. J. Critt is a veteran of Broadway, regional theater, poetry slams, and solo shows. Hailed “Spoken Word Queen” by the Dallas Observer, Critt is a produced writer-director, an Audie nominee, and a CableACE Award winner.