Point of OriginPoint of Origin
Score Modern
What it's about
A farmhouse in Virginia is destroyed by fire, and in the ruins Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds a body that tells the story of a violent murder. At the same time, Carrie Grethen, a killer who nearly destroyed the lives of Scarpetta and those closest to her, has escaped from a psychiatric prison.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 3 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1998.
You'll love it if you liked
Unnatural Exposure
From Potter's Field
VanishGood to know
It follows From Potter's Field; Scarpetta's series is best in order, starting with Postmortem.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #112 of the 233 romances we rank
- #221 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #791 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1478 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Patricia Cornwell
Unnatural ExposureFrom Potter's Field
Cause of Death
Black NoticeIf you like this, read next
Verity
The Orphan Master's Son
Promises in Death
Lethal White
Eleven on Top
Twelve SharpExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Point of Origin worth reading?
Yes. It spent 3 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1998. It ranks #1,478 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Point of Origin about?
A farmhouse in Virginia is destroyed by fire, and in the ruins Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds a body that tells the story of a violent murder. At the same time, Carrie Grethen, a killer who nearly destroyed the lives of Scarpetta and those closest to her, has escaped from a psychiatric prison.
How long does it take to read Point of Origin?
About 11 hours (440 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Point of Origin?
If you liked it, try Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell, From Potter's Field by Patricia Cornwell or Vanish by Tess Gerritsen.