Port Mortuary Patricia Cornwell Book 18 Kay Scarpetta Series Review

Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell featuring forensic pathologist, Dr Kay Scarpetta was released in 2010 to critical acclaim. Her series of fast-paced crime novels in which Kay Scarpetta, forensic examiner gets embroiled in all kinds of situations way outside her brief have garnered a dedicated following and placed Patricia Cornwell as one of the leading crime novelists in the world.

	Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell (Book #18 Dr Kay Scarpetta series) Buy This Book at: Fishpond Book Depository Amazon FREE audio version at: Audible with sign up

Plot Summary of Port Mortuary

Kay Scarpetta has been training at the Dover Port Mortuary, mastering the art of 'virtual autopsy' - a groundbreaking procedure that could soon revolutionise forensic science. And it is not too long before these new skills urgently need to be put into practice. A young man drops dead, apparently from a heart condition, eerily close to Scarpetta's home. But when his body is examined the next morning, there are stunning indications that he may have been alive when he was zipped inside a pouch and locked inside the cooler.

When the revolutionary 3D radiology scans reveal more shocking details about internal injuries unlike any Scarpetta has ever seen, Scarpetta realizes that this is a case of murder - and that she is fighting a cunning and uniquely cruel enemy. Now it is a race against time to discover who and why before more people die.

Review of Port Mortuary

With Port Mortuary, Patricia Cornwell continues her bestselling crime series featuring Kay Scarpetta along with supporting characters Lucy, Benton and Marino. Port Mortuary is a solid addition to the series but lacks the grip of her first novels.

Likes:

First person narration which helps the reader understand Kay Scarpetta's motives and actions.

Conflict between characters especially niece Lucy.

Dislikes:

Overuse of technological detail which also dates the book quickly. At the same time not enough of the autopsy detail which originally set her novels apart.

Main supporting characters are underutilized in this book and when they do appear seem forced. Did someone mention going off the deep end?

Thin plot, that is overly predictable.

In order to create more of a backstory on Scarpetta Patricia Cornwell has suddenly given Kay Scarpetta a former military career that we haven't known about until now.

Is Port Mortuary Worth the Read?

It is not uncommon for books in a series to lose their way a bit and it could be argued this has happened to Port Mortuary. Patricia Cornwell appears to be scratching around to get the series back on track but misfires with this book.

Port Mortuary is worth the read if you are a Scarpetta fan purely to keep up with character development. If you haven't read her earlier thrillers I suggest a more satisfying read can be had by dipping your toe in the water with her early Scarpettas.

But let's hear from Patricia Cornwell herself ...

Watch an Interview with Patricia Cornwell on Port Mortuary

Short Bio about Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell born in Florida in 1956 has more than 20 novels to her credit. The bestselling crime writer has achieved critical acclaim for her hugely popular series featuring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. In 1993 she won the coveted Gold Dagger Award for Cruel and Unusual.

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