Postmortem
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Young women with little in common are being tortured and strangled in Richmond, Virginia. Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta is at the center of the perplexing case, struggling to find the killer, recover vital information stolen from her office computer, and deal with the cops' growing conviction that her lover might just be the murderer. The story begins with a thumbnail sketch of Scarpetta and a dazzling if somewhat deadening display of forensic detail. Later, first-novelist Cornwell's plot kicks in with a vengeance. She not only introduces the traditional coarse yet likable cop, but also unveils several fascinating clues, which involve a rare disease that shows up in DNA testing, an aroma that seems to cling to the assassin, and, most tantalizing of all, a wrong telephone number. The eventual solution is a masterpiece of the unexpected. Hard going for the first 100 or so pages and a breathless rush for the last 150. --Peter Robertson

Cornwell, a former reporter who has worked in a medical examiner's office, sets her first mystery in Richmond, Va. Chief medical officer for the commonwealth of Virginia, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the narrator, dwells on her efforts to identify ``Mr. Nobody,'' the strangler of young women. The doctor devotes days and nights to gathering computer data and forensic clues to the killer, although she's hampered by male officials anxious to prove themselves superior to a woman. Predictably, Scarpetta's toil pays off, but not before the strangler attacks her; a reformed male chauvinist, conveniently nearby, saves her. Although readers may be naturally disposed to admire Scarpetta and find the novel's scientific aspect interesting, they are likely to be put off by her self-aggrandizement and interminable complaints, annoying flaws in an otherwise promising debut. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Another victim of a serial killer has been tortured and strangled, and chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta is called on the case. Using her painstakingly thorough medical skill, and the help of a police detective, Scarpetta digs deep into the investigation to find the killer's most private secrets. What is the strange, sparkling substance that shows up on the victims' bodies? What is the nature of the maple syrup-like smell lingering over the scene of the crime? As the murderer circles ever closer, Scarpetta must also ponder why someone is trying to sabotage her investigation. A wealth of forensic detail and fine characters make this one of the best mysteries around. Narrator C.J. Critt's reading is truly superb, as she intensifies the intrigue, terror, and suspense. This tale is definitely not for the squeamish. Strongly recommended for public libraries.-- Susan B. Lamphier, Somerville P.L., Mass. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Another serial killer is on the loose in a first novel from reporter, biographer Cornwell (A Time for Remembering--not reviewed). The plot is as familiar as yesterday's headlines: four young women have been attacked at home, raped, and strangled, always on Friday nights, by someone who seems familiar with their habits. How has the killer picked his victims, and what did they have in common? Cornwell's focus on County Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, her harried narrator-heroine, is so painfully tight that the landscape (Richmond, Virginia) is barely there, and the detective work--involving DNA profiling, traces of borax, a break-in to Kay's computer files, and a sweetish smell the killer leaves behind--is competent but no more. But the police-procedural routine (including clinical descriptions of the victims' bodies) is convincing; the obligatory characters (Kay's niece Lucy, bullying boss Dr. Amburgey, macho cop Pete Marino, tabloid reporter Abby Turnbull, sometime maybe-too-violent boyfriend Bill Boltz) sketched in with authority; and the threats to Kay--first her professionalism is questioned, then her competence, and inevitably her life--so skillfully judged that you'll keep turning the pages to find out what you already know. A solid if unspectacular debut. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Cornwell, a former reporter who has worked in a medical examiner's office, sets her first mystery in Richmond, Va. Chief medical officer for the commonwealth of Virginia, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the narrator, dwells on her efforts to identify ``Mr. Nobody,'' the strangler of young women. The doctor devotes days and nights to gathering computer data and forensic clues to the killer, although she's hampered by male officials anxious to prove themselves superior to a woman. Predictably, Scarpetta's toil pays off, but not before the strangler attacks her; a reformed male chauvinist, conveniently nearby, saves her. Although readers may be naturally disposed to admire Scarpetta and find the novel's scientific aspect interesting, they are likely to be put off by her self-aggrandizement and interminable complaints, annoying flaws in an otherwise promising debut. (Jan.) Copyright 1989 Cahners Business Information.