PostmortemPostmortem
Score Modern
What it's about
A serial strangler is terrorizing Richmond, Virginia, and Kay Scarpetta turns to the latest forensic science to unmask him, while someone sabotages the investigation from within and wants her dead.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
The Silence of the Lambs
Trace
Cause of DeathGood to know
It features forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta.
By the numbers
- Readers15 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- 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
- #567 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1508 of the 1,647 modern books we rank
- #2822 of the 3,056 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Patricia Cornwell
Unnatural Exposure
Point of Origin
From Potter's FieldCause of DeathIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
2666
Gideon the NinthExplore the best-of lists
All 47 best-of lists →
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 623 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,647 ranked
Books of the 1990sTop 25 · 305 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 504 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 325 ranked
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelsTop 25 · 63 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 333 rankedQuick answers
Is Postmortem worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,822 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 56.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Postmortem about?
A serial strangler is terrorizing Richmond, Virginia, and Kay Scarpetta turns to the latest forensic science to unmask him, while someone sabotages the investigation from within and wants her dead.
How long does it take to read Postmortem?
About 9 hours (356 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Postmortem?
If you liked it, try The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris, Trace by Patricia Cornwell or Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell.