Under cover of night in Richmond, Virginia, a human monster strikes, leaving a gruesome trail of stranglings that has paralyzed the city. Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta suspects the worst: a deliberate campaign by a brilliant serial killer whose signature offers precious few clues. With an unerring eye, she calls on the latest advances in forensic research to unmask the madman. But this investigation will test Kay like no other, because it’s being sabotaged from within and someone wants her dead.

From Library Journal
Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner of Virginia and heroine of Postmortem , gets involved in the case of a brutal stabbing death in Richmond of romance writer Beryl Madison. Now Madison’s greedy lawyer accuses Scarpetta of losing his client’s latest manuscript, an autobiographical expose of Beryl’s early life as protege of a legendary novelist. As more deaths occur and the killer closes in on her, Kay suffers palpitations over the sudden and devious reappearance of long-lost lover Mark but still finds time to provide forensic details. Despite its foregone conclusion, a swift-moving, thrilling, and provocative second novel.

Cornwell combines bone-rattling suspense with an insider’s view of forensic science as her sleuth, Richmond, Va., medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, investigates a series of grim murders of young couples. A 13-week PW bestseller, a Mystery Guild selection and a Literary Guild featured alternate in cloth. 

My Comments:  I am coming late to this series, but I love it!  I have started the fourth book and I find it really hard to put these down.  Who has read all of these books?  Do they get better and better, or just go the way of most series?  I think Cornwell is still writing them.  I love medical mysteries and strong, independent lead women characters.  Kay Scarpetta is all of this and pretty darn real.  She has a type A+ personality – driven, smart, and a risk taker.  If you have read these – which is/are your favorite(s)?  Do they remind you of any other series?  Let me know.