Post Mortem by Patricia Daniels Cornwell is a novel that follows the life and career of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist and the Chief Medical Examiner of Richmond, Virginia. Kay Scarpetta lives in the west end of Richmond. She shares her home with her ten years old niece, Lucy. The story begins with the 3rd victim in a series of cruel murders. Sergeant Pete Marino and Scarpetta arrive on the scene. While Marino is convinced that the husband murdered his wife, Scarpetta remains open to other possibilities. The murders begin to escalate as their frequency increases. Amburgey, his boss, blames this on Scarpetta, saying that the Chief Medical Examiner's office must be leaking sensitive information to the press. All signs continue to point …show more content…
Kay is shocked to find out that Bill was responsible for date rape involving a local reporter but is relieved that he is not the murderer. Kay and her team crack the final clue and are ready when the killer breaks into her house. During an attempt on Scarpetta's life, Marino shoots and kills the rapist, a young man who chose his victims through calls made to the 911 emergency dispatcher. One of the Scarpetta's technicians uncovers sabotage enacted by Amburgey in an attempt to have Scarpetta fired. Reporter Abby Turnbull who threatens to reveal his illegal activities eventually confronts Amburgey. Finally, Kay is ready for a much deserved vacation and decides to take Lucy back to Miami. Examples of CSI procedures are shown throughout the book. Sergeant Pete Marino was the officer who arrived at the scene first. So he secured the scene, then he called the medical examiner, Dr. Scarpetta, because a death occurred. They searched the scene and found evidence, Matt Petersen's fingerprint card. Dr. Scarpetta examined the body to determine the time and cause of death. There is also a specialist, a fingerprint examiner, in the book. The officer doesn’t need a warrant in this case because it’s an emergency