Body of Evidence (novel)

Last updated
Body of Evidence
Patricia Cornwell - Body of Evidence.jpg
First edition
Author Patricia Cornwell
Country United States of America
Language English
Series Kay Scarpetta
Genre Crime fiction
Publisher Charles Scribner's Sons
Publication date
1991
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback)
Pages256
ISBN 0-6841-9240-3
OCLC 56980753
Preceded by Postmortem  
Followed by All That Remains  

Body of Evidence is a crime fiction novel by Patricia Cornwell. It is the second book in the Dr. Kay Scarpetta series.

Contents

Plot summary

Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner of Virginia, gets involved in the case of a brutal stabbing death in Richmond of romance writer Beryl Madison. Then, Madison's greedy lawyer accuses Scarpetta of losing his client's latest manuscript, an autobiographical expose of Beryl's early life as protégé of a legendary novelist. As more deaths occur and the killer closes in on her, Kay finds herself also having to deal with the unexpected reappearance of long-lost lover Mark James. Scarpetta soon finds herself living Beryl's nightmare.

Characters

Victims

Major themes

Reception

Following the success of Postmortem , with which Cornwell became the first author to receive the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony and Macavity Awards and the French Prix du Roman d'Adventure in a single year, [3] [4] the price of Cornwell's book deals went up quite a bit from the $7,500 or less which was paid for Postmortem. In March 1991 she signed a $385,000 deal for the paperback rights for Body of Evidence. [3]

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References