Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell was born on June 9th, 1956 and is currently 69 years old. Patricia Cornwell was born in Miami, Florida, USA. Cornwell attended Davidson College where she received a B.A. English.

Patricia Cornwell is the author of the Kay Scarpetta series which currently consists of 29 novels. The Kay Scarpetta series started in 1990 with the novel Postmortem. The most recently released novel in the Kay Scarpetta series was Sharp Force which was released in 2025. There are no upcoming novels for the Kay Scarpetta series.

Patricia Cornwell has also written 7 Non-Fiction Books, including Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham and Scarpetta's Winter Table.

Patricia Cornwell: Awards & Accolades

Patricia Cornwell was nominated for the Crime Thriller Awards, ITV3 Crime Thriller Living Legends, in 2013. Cornwell's books have won multiple awards, Postmortem won the Crime Writer's Association Award, New Blood Dagger Award, in 1990 as well as the Edgar Award - Best First Novel in 1991, Anthony Award - Best First Mystery in 1991, Macavity Award - Best First Mystery in 1991. Cruel and Unusual won the Crime Writer's Association Award, Gold Dagger Award, in 1993. Book of the Dead won the British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year, in 2008.

Patricia Cornwell books have also been nominated for multiple awards, Blow Fly was nominated for the Audie Award, Best Female Narrator, in 2004. Flesh and Blood was nominated for The Dead Good Reader Award, The Val McDermid Award for Fiendish Forensics, in 2015.

Patricia Cornwell: Lists & Other Mentions

• From Potter's Field was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1995.
• Cause of Death was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1996 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 1996.
• Hornet's Nest was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1997 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 1997.
• Unnatural Exposure was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1997 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 1997.
• Point of Origin was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1998 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 1998.
• Southern Cross was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1999.
• Black Notice was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1999.
• The Last Precinct was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2000 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2000.
• Isle of Dogs was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2001.
• Blow Fly was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2003 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2003.
• Trace has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2004.
  2. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2004.
  3. Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2004.
• Predator has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2005.
  2. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2005.
  3. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2005.
  4. Dead Good Books: 100 Best Crime Books Of All Time Selection in 2020.
  5. Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2005.
• At Risk has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2006.
  2. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2006.
  3. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2006.
• Book of the Dead has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2007.
  2. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2007.
  3. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2007.
  4. Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2007.
• Scarpetta has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2008 and 2009.
  2. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2008.
  3. Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2008.
• Port Mortuary was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2010 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2010.
• Red Mist was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2011.
• The Bone Bed was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
• Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed was a New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 2002 and 2003.
• Postmortem was a Time Magazine: The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time Selection in 2023.

Related Authors

Fans of Patricia Cornwell also enjoy these authors:

1. L.T. Ryan, author of the Jack Noble Series.
2. Andrew Gross, author of the Ty Hauck Series.
3. J.D. Robb, author of the In Death Series.
4. Nelson DeMille, author of the John Corey Series.
5. Alex Kava, author of the Ryder Creed Series.
6. Andrew Mayne, author of The Naturalist Series.
7. Roger Stelljes, author of the McRyan Mystery Series.
8. James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.
9. C.J. Box, author of the Joe Pickett Series.
10. Jeffery Deaver, author of the Lincoln Rhyme Series.

Patricia Cornwell: F.A.Q