Postmortem Summary

By Patricia Daniels Cornwell

Postmortem is a crime fiction novel written by author Patricia Daniels

Cornwell. The first book that follows the life and career of Dr. Kay Scarpetta
series published in 1990. The novel was a major success and won the 1991
Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The major theme of this novel is the hunt for a
skillful and mysterious "Mr. Nobody" serial killer.

Dr. Kay Scarpetta, is a forensic pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner for
the Commonwealth of Richmond Virginia, the novel opens as she receives an
early-morning call from Sergeant Pete Marino, a homicide detective at the
Richmond Police Department with whom Scarpetta has a tense working
relationship. She meets him at the scene of a woman's gruesome strangling, the
latest in a string of unsolved murders in Richmond. Postmortem involves the
brutal rapes and slayings of five women throughout the Richmond area. Each
woman is a victim of murder which was stalked, strangled, raped, and
asphyxiated. There seems to be no discernible pattern in the killings, no common
thread between the victims. As Chief Medical Examiner, it is Dr. Scarpetta's job to
learn and examine as much as possible what happened to the victims'. She
remains hopeful that they could catch the mysterious killer.

During the investigation of the brutal and gruesome murders, Scarpetta deal
with the wrath of her official boss Dr. Alvin Amburgey, who serves as the
Commissioner of Health and Human Services. It is clearly visible that Amburgey
doesn’t like and despises Scarpetta and everything the Chief Medical Examiner
represents. Both doctors are new to their respective jobs and already Kay can tell
that the tenure under Amburgey, who she refers to as a jealous doctor, will not be
pleasant. The killer leaves behind a few clues; among them are a mysterious
substance which fluoresces under laser light,which was later on proved to be
from a liquid soap which the killer used to wash his hands, traces of semen, and
in the vicinity of the last murder, an unusual smell.

Scarpetta and Marino work with FBI profiler Benton Wesley to attempt to
piece together a profile of the killer. Initial evidence appears to point to the fourth
victim's husband, but Scarpetta suspects otherwise despite Marino's insistence.
The book references DNA profiling as a relatively new technique, and characters
briefly bemoan the lack of a criminal DNA database which could provide better
leads to suspects, given available evidence. A series of news leaks about the
murders appear to be coming from a source within the medical examiner's office.
The leaks threaten Scarpetta's position, especially after she is forced to admit
that her office database has been compromised. One of the Scarpetta's
technicians uncovers sabotage enacted by Amburgey in an attempt to have
Scarpetta fired. Reporter Abby Turnbull threatens to reveal his illegal activities
eventually confronts Amburgey.

Believing that the killer thrives on media attention and hoping to flush him out
by provoking his ego, Scarpetta, Wesley, and local investigative reporter Abby
Turnbull (whose sister was the fifth victim), conspire to release a news story
which suggests that the killer has a distinctive body odor due to a rare metabolic
disease and implies that the killer may be mentally disordered.

While attempting to find another link between the five murders, Scarpetta
discovers that all five intended victims had recently called 911. She suspects that
the killer is a 911 operator and chose his victims based on their voices. Scarpetta
is awakened in the middle of the night by the killer, who has broken into her
home. As she attempts to reach for a gun she has nearby for protection, Marino
bursts into her bedroom and shoots the intruder, having realized that the news
article would make Scarpetta a likely target. Scarpetta's suspicion proves to be
correct. The killer was a 911 dispatcher.
POSTMORTEM
(Summary)

Submitted to:

Mrs. Dina M. Cloma

Submitted by:

Jericho G. Cabanos

Postmortem Book Review

Postmortem is a very interesting crime fiction novel written by bestselling author

Patricia Daniels Cornwell published in 1990 and won the 1991 Edgar Award for
Best First Novel. The novel is all about the hunt for a villain and mysterious "Mr.
Nobody" serial killer and investigation of gruesome and horrific death of five
women in the area of Richmond Virginia. An examination and investigation of the
dead bodies to determine the cause of death of the five women who were
brutalised and strangled in their own bedroom.

The plot of this novel was exciting and interesting all throughout. Courageous
and a very entertaining storyline.The author uses great research to bring the
book to life as well, from detailed forensics, police jargon, and computer-speak.
The genre is supersaturated, every scenario is thoroughly presented in a
believable way. In every particular situation it seems truthful, it sounded like it
really happened and existed. The narrator definitely knows how to make the story
captivating. She is proficient in building blocks to a successful medical crime
thriller. The technical and medical terminologies are quite fascinating, it allows
the reader to use their imagination on how cruel and gruesome are the deaths of
young women in Richmond. Cornwell’s writing style was fantastic very
descriptive and the plot is easier to understand and follow. She has developed a
sophisticated, strong and educated character of Kay Scarpetta. As forensic
pathologist and chief medical officer, her autopsies are meticulous and she is
relentless in finding the cause of death of the victims. Her partner in the
Richmond police force is detective Marino, who knows the beat but expresses
stereotypical opinions of different types of people. Marino and Scarpetta annoy
one another immediately, this cause tense working relationship of the two. Pete
Marino was portrayed by the author as a balding fifty-year old cop who wasn't so
grammatically correct in his reports and speaking in English.

I love the dedication and determination of Dr. Scarpetta, she dwells on her
efforts to identify ``Mr. Nobody,'' the murderer of young women. The narrator
made the character of the doctor very strong by showing how she devotes days
and nights gathering computer data and forensic clues to the killer, although
she's hampered by male officials anxious to prove themselves superior to a
woman. Predictably, Scarpetta's toil pays off, but not before the strangler attacks
her; a reformed male chauvinist, conveniently nearby, saves her. Although
readers may be naturally disposed to admire Scarpetta and find the novel's
scientific aspect interesting, they are likely to be put off by her self-
aggrandizement and endless complaints. If you can handle scary, suspense and
dreadful stories, I suggest you read the postmortem novel. Cornwell writes in
such a way she rises above the rest. I was really thrilled everytime a string of
women are left strangled and murdered and Dr. Scarpetta must piece of things
together and determine whether this is a serial killer or simply horrific
coincidences. Cornwell hints numerous suspects throughout, leaving me wonder
who is the true murderer. I am very eager and excited that Dr. Scarpetta will find
out. I definitely enjoyed the novel, anyone like me looking for a great series that
many people have lauded, should surely begin with this novel and continue on
the great journey.

Lastly, I am ecstatic how the story ends. Dr. Scarpetta uncovers the cause of
the death of the young woman. She suspects that the killer is the 911 operator
because she discovered that all five intended victims had recently called 911.
She and her team crack the final clue and are ready when the killer breaks into
her house. Scarpetta's suspicion proves to be correct. I was filled with
astonishment on how Dr. Scarpetta put piece of things together in order to catch
the mysterious murderer who killed brutally the young women. During an attempt
on Scarpetta's life I can feel the suspense I’m glad Marino shoots and kills the
rapist, a young man who chose his victims through calls made to the 911
emergency dispatcher.
I love the fact that this novel shows how strong are the women in today’s
generation. Every woman has her own job or duty in this modern society just like

Dr. Scarpetta, she is very brave even though her life is at stake because of her
duty. Women’s role has changed tremendously and is making its greatest impact
in our society today. Before women's contribution to society was limited and
controlled by men just like how Marino treated Scarpetta. However, she stood tall
and played a major role in many important areas of the novel the same with the
entire woman in our society today. Women's role has changed at an accelerating
rate and has part in areas such as Politics, Professional Training Jobs, Medicine,
Business and Law. It is interesting how women's role has changed in society from
generation to generation. This novel is a good example of how women have come
across very strongly, fighting for their political, social and economic status. I feel
that technology and modernization plays a huge role have to open new
possibilities for improvement around the world. 
POSTMORTEM
(Book Review)

Submitted to:

Mrs. Dina M. Cloma

Submitted by:

Jericho G. Cabanos