Paperback / ISBN-13: 9781408736661

Price: £10.99

ON SALE: 26th February 2026

Genre: Crime & Mystery / Suspense

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The first book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell – now an original series on Prime Video.



A serial killer is on the loose in Richmond, Virginia. Three women have died, brutalised and strangled in their own bedroom. There is no pattern: the killer appears to strike at random – but always early on Saturday mornings.

So when Dr Kay Scarpetta, chief medical officer, is awakened at 2.33 am, she knows the news is bad: there is a fourth victim. And she fears now for those that will follow unless she can dig up new forensic evidence to aid the police.

But not everyone is pleased to see a woman in this powerful job. Someone may even want to ruin her career and reputation . . .

The next book in the Scarpetta series is Body of Evidence. And don’t miss True Crime, Patricia Cornwell’s jaw-dropping memoir – available now.

‘Devilishly clever’ SUNDAY TIMES
‘The top gun in this field’ DAILY TELEGRAPH
‘Forget the pretenders. Cornwell reigns’ MIRROR
‘The Agatha Christie of the DNA age’ EXPRESS