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Favorite Books by My Favorite Authors

98 items

Elaine Kraft

Sections

Small Town Girl

Bitter Sweet

The HELLION

Years

Family Blessings

Hummingbird

Morning Glory

The Endearment

The Fulfillment: Romance of Two Brothers

November of the Heart

Forgiving

Sweet Memories

A Promise to Cherish

Home Song

Vows

The Gamble

Twice Loved

That Camden Summer

Spring Fancy

Then Came Heaven

Separate Beds

Forsaking all Others

Bygones

Debbie Macomber is another author I’ve enjoyed for years. I love the warmth and everyday people in her stories—the friendships, families, communities, relationships, and all the little complications that come with real life. Her characters aren't per... I especially enjoy the small-town, community feel in many of her books. You get to know the people, their families and their neighbors, and before long it feels a little like you're visiting people you already know. Her books are comfortable, enjoyab...

Lonesome Cowboy (Enchanted) by Debbie Macomber

Texas Two-step (Enchanted)

Caroline's Child (Heart Of Texas, No. 3)

Dr. Texas (Enchanted)

Nell's Cowboy: Bestselling Western Romance

What I enjoy about Fern Michaels is the strength and determination of her characters. Her stories often have people facing difficult circumstances, family problems, betrayal, loss or major changes in their lives—but they don't just sit back and let l... I enjoy the mix of family, friendship, romance, loyalty and sometimes a little suspense or intrigue. Her characters can make mistakes, get knocked down and have their lives turned completely upside down, but there's usually hope, resilience and anoth... Her books remind me that where you've been doesn't have to determine where you're going. Sometimes you have to pick yourself up, make a new plan and keep moving forward.

No Safe Secret

Weekend Warriors (Sisterhood Book 1)

Payback (Sisterhood Book 2)

Vendetta (Sisterhood Book 3)

The Jury (Sisterhood Book 4)

Sweet Revenge (Sisterhood Book 5)

Lethal Justice (Sisterhood Book 6)

Free Fall (Sisterhood Book 7)

Hide and Seek (Sisterhood Book 8)

The Sisterhood may be in exile, but apparently that doesn't mean they're taking a vacation! 😂 When Supreme Court Chief Justice Pearl Barnes is threatened with blackmail because of her own secret efforts to help abused women and children, the Sisterh... I enjoy how this series keeps changing the circumstances while holding onto what I like most—strong women, friendship, loyalty, teamwork, and refusing to stand by when someone needs help. These women may have some VERY unconventional ideas about jus...

Hokus Pokus (Sisterhood Book 9)

The Sisterhood is finally back in the United States after their exile and settling into a new home on Big Pine Mountain—but peaceful retirement apparently isn't in their vocabulary! 😂 A helicopter arrives during a storm carrying mysterious visitors ... I enjoy this one because the series is evolving, but the heart of it hasn't changed: friendship, teamwork, courage, and women who know they're stronger together than they are alone. When these ladies combine their talents, you'd better stand back—th...

Fast Track (Sisterhood Book 10)

This one puts the Sisterhood's famous loyalty to the test when the women disagree over two very different assignments—one offering a big payday and the other the possibility of the presidential pardon they've been waiting for. They eventually pull to... What I enjoy is that even when these strong women don't agree with each other, their friendship is strong enough to survive it. They argue, regroup, combine their talents, and get back to doing what they do best—working together when the stakes are ...

Collateral Damage (Sisterhood Book 11)

The Sisterhood heads to Las Vegas in this one after Myra and Annie’s longtime friend Beatrice asks for help protecting her estranged daughter, Marble Rose. What begins with her unusual success at the casinos leads the women into something much bigger... I enjoy seeing the Sisterhood take on a challenge where every woman brings something different to the plan. The stakes are high, the opponents are powerful, and once again their loyalty, cleverness, courage, and teamwork are what make them such a fo...

Final Justice (Sisterhood Book 12)

This one really shows what I like about the Sisterhood—protecting people who may not be able to protect themselves. When Pearl Barnes needs help keeping fourteen pregnant teenagers safe after rescuing them from a secretive polygamist sect, the women ... I like the combination of suspense and teamwork, but especially the determination to help women and girls escape a situation where others are trying to control their lives. The Sisterhood doesn't just talk about helping the underdog—they roll up thei...

Under the Radar (The Sisterhood Book 13)

I enjoy this one because it shows another side of the Sisterhood's loyalty—they don't forget the people who have helped them along the way. When attorney Lizzie Fox needs their help protecting her client, Lily Flowers, and the women who work for her,... There's plenty of suspense and intrigue, but once again what I like most is the friendship, loyalty, teamwork, and determination to stand up for people who are outmatched by those with money and power. The Sisterhood may bend a rule—or seventeen 😂—b...

Razor Sharp (Sisterhood Book 14)

This time the Sisterhood comes together for one of their own extended family when Yoko’s fiancé, Harry Wong, becomes the victim of a ruthless identity-theft ring. His accounts are wiped out, his dojo is threatened, and suddenly the life he worked for... I like that this story takes a problem that could happen to an ordinary person and turns it into another example of what makes this series fun for me—loyalty, friendship, teamwork, and using everyone's different abilities to help someone they care a...

Vanishing Act (Sisterhood Book 15)

This one really got to me because the people being hurt are a couple who desperately wanted children. Rachel and Thomas finally bring home adopted twin babies, only to have everything ripped away when the birth mother demands more money and then the ... I enjoy the friendship and teamwork of this series, but I also like that the women aren't intimidated by people who use money, position, or complicated schemes to take advantage of someone vulnerable. They dig in, figure out what happened, and work ...

Deadly Deals (Sisterhood Book 16)

The Sisterhood has finally reached a point where their own future is on the line. Their friend Lizzie Fox is being considered for a Supreme Court seat, which should be wonderful news—but her connection to the Sisterhood could cause serious problems f... I like this one because it brings together so much of what I enjoy about the series—loyalty, friendship, teamwork, clever planning, and standing by the people who have stood by you. After everything these women have been through together, they're st...

Game over (The Sisterhood Book 17)

This one proves that getting what you thought you wanted doesn't necessarily make you happy. A year and a half after receiving their pardons, the Sisterhood women have been scattered around the world in high-paying jobs that have also kept them apart... I like the reminder that money and impressive jobs aren't nearly as important as friendship, purpose, and having people you can count on. These women have been through so much together that being separated makes them realize just how important the S...

Cross Roads (Sisterhood Book 18)

The Sisterhood finally has its presidential pardon and the women are free to enjoy normal lives again—but apparently normal is BORING! 😂 They reunite in Las Vegas for Kathryn’s birthday, only to be handed a challenge too important to ignore: finding... I enjoy this one because it brings the women back together and lets them do what they do best—combine their different talents, contacts, determination, and some very creative thinking to accomplish something nobody else seems able to do. After every...

Deja Vu (Sisterhood Book 19)

Home Free (Sisterhood Book 20)

Gotcha! (Sisterhood Book 21)

Blindsided (Sisterhood Book 22)

This one caught my attention because the trouble starts with anonymous emails about something suspicious happening at an assisted-living facility. Myra and Annie can't ignore the possibility that vulnerable residents are being taken advantage of, so ... I enjoy the mystery of figuring out what's really happening and seeing the women use their experience and instincts to stay a step ahead. And when elderly people may be the ones being exploited? Yep—that's a storyline that's going to get my attentio...

Kiss and Tell (Sisterhood Book 23)

Money and power don't necessarily make someone right—and that's what makes this one interesting. A wealthy family wants to take back twin children who were legally adopted years earlier, leaving the loving adoptive parents badly outmatched against pe... I like watching the story move from what seems like one family dispute into something much darker and more complicated on exclusive Spyder Island. There are secrets, surprises, powerful people accustomed to getting their way, and plenty for the wome...

Eyes Only (Sisterhood Book 24)

This one pulled me in because it centers on women trying to escape abuse—and what happens when a powerful man believes his position will protect him from consequences. When two women being helped through Pearl Barnes's underground network disappear, ... What I like here is the underground network itself—people quietly helping women get somewhere safe and start over. Add a disappearance, a powerful man with something to hide, and the Sisterhood trying to find these women before it's too late, and you...

In Plain Sight (Sisterhood Book 25)

Wishes for Christmas (Sisterhood)

This one takes the Sisterhood completely out of their usual territory—and that's part of the fun. Harry Wong learns that his daughter Lily is missing from the temple where she's been training in China, so suddenly this isn't simply another mission; i... I enjoy the change of scenery, the international adventure, and seeing Harry and Yoko take a bigger role in the story. When someone's child is missing, everything else becomes secondary, and I like seeing the whole group pull out every resource they...

Point Blank (Sisterhood Book 26)

This one has a great “chess match” feel to it. Nikki takes on a divorce case involving Livinia Lambert and her powerful husband, Speaker of the House Wilson “Buzz” Lambert, whose political ambitions give him plenty of reasons to make the divorce diff... I enjoy watching two very capable groups try to outmaneuver each other, especially when one side is accustomed to having power and influence on its side. There are schemes, strategy, high stakes and plenty of “who is going to make the next move?” mo...

Crash and Burn (Sisterhood Book 27)

Trusting the wrong person can cost you dearly, and that's what grabbed me about this story. Garland Lee is a hugely successful singer who trusted her attorney to protect her interests—only to discover he's been secretly taking advantage of that trust... I like the “how are they going to outsmart THIS guy?” aspect of the story. He's clever, connected, and convinced he knows how to work the system—but he's underestimated the people he's dealing with. It's a good reminder that intelligence and power a...

Need to Know (Sisterhood Book 28)

This one grabbed me because there's an eight-year-old child at the center of it. Ben is exceptionally bright, but after losing his mother he's living with adults who are more interested in spending his trust fund than caring for him. When Isabelle be... I like the contrast in this story: a remarkably intelligent little boy who can understand so much, yet is still just a child who needs adults to keep him safe. Add his missing grandmother, greedy guardians, and Isabelle determined to figure things o...

Safe and Sound (Sisterhood Book 29)

A cryptic note, a disappearance before dawn, and a place from the past that Annie swore she'd never return to—THAT'S enough to make me want to know what's going on! Three months after Annie vanishes, Myra realizes the answer may lie on a remote mount... I like the mystery surrounding Annie herself in this one. After all these books of watching the Sisterhood uncover everybody else's secrets, now we get to dig into the past of one of the women we've known all along. What happened there? Why did she ...

Cut and Run (Sisterhood Book 30)

This story hit me differently because it starts with a young military widow whose dream of having her husband's child has been stolen from her. Before Bella's husband deployed to Afghanistan, they took steps to preserve their chance of having childre... There are some things money simply can't replace, and the possibility of having a child with the husband you've already lost is certainly one of them. That emotional side of the story is what would keep me reading, along with wanting to know exactly...

Truth and Justice (Sisterhood Book 31)

Bitter Pill (Sisterhood Book 32)

This one has that creepy “something is NOT right here” feeling from the beginning. Maggie receives a strange message from her journalist friend Gabby, who has joined The Haven, a supposedly spiritual community. It may sound peaceful and uplifting—unt... I enjoy stories where you gradually uncover what's really hiding behind a respectable-looking front, and The Haven definitely has secrets. Maggie's reporter instincts kick in, the questions start piling up, and what looks like a simple commune turns...

19 Yellow Moon Road (Sisterhood Book 33)

Tick Tock (Sisterhood Book 34)

Would you risk your career—and possibly much more—if you discovered your company might be responsible for people dying? That's the position Zoe finds herself in when she begins to suspect that inferior foundation materials supplied by her company may... That's what interests me about this one. Knowing something is wrong is one thing; having the courage to speak up when powerful people want you quiet is another. Zoe has a lot to lose, but staying silent could mean other people lose even more. This s...

Rock Bottom (Sisterhood Book 35)

A small town can look safe and peaceful on the outside while hiding some pretty ugly secrets underneath. When fourteen-year-old Vanessa disappears in the Oregon town of Mountain Valley, suspicion begins pointing toward members of the wealthy and powe... This one would keep me reading because I’d want to know what that family is hiding and just how deep the secrets go. The investigation eventually reaches beyond the missing girls into the Spangler business empire and an even larger criminal operatio...

Backwater Justice (Sisterhood Book 36)

This one would have my nurse radar going off almost immediately! Theresa travels to Arizona to visit an aunt she's never met, only to arrive at the nursing facility and be told she can merely observe her through a viewing room. Ummmmm…WHY? That alone... And the more Theresa questions, the worse things look. What appears to be a respectable senior-care facility may actually be part of a much larger operation taking advantage of elderly residents and their money. I spent my career caring for people, ...

Code Blue (Sisterhood Book 37)

Now they've gone after the DOG—and that changes everything! When Robert, a retired MI6 operative, and his beloved former K9, Lucy, are kidnapped, the situation quickly becomes much uglier than an ordinary ransom case. The people responsible have plan... I love animals, so putting an innocent dog in danger is one sure way to get me emotionally involved in a story. Add a kidnapped former spy, secret connections, a mysterious phone number, and an international investigation, and there are plenty of re...

Blood Money (Sisterhood Book 38)

Patricia Cornwell brings out a completely different side of my reading interests. I'm a nurse—of course I'm going to be interested in the medical and forensic details! 😂 I enjoy following Dr. Kay Scarpetta as she uses autopsies, medical knowledge, forensic evidence, and good old-fashioned observation to figure out not only how someone died, but what really happened. These aren't light, cozy mysteries. They can be dar... And once you get into the series, you're not just following the cases—you get invested in Scarpetta, Benton, Lucy, and Marino and everything happening in their lives too. For me, that's what makes this series so easy to keep reading: give me medicine... You don't absolutely have to read these books in order, because each book has its own main case and story. However, the characters' lives, relationships, and histories build from one book to the next, so if you jump around, you may miss some importa... A little note from me: I have watched the Scarpetta TV series, but I'm definitely a books-over-screen person with this one. The show is entertaining, but I much prefer the depth of Patricia Cornwell's books—the detailed medical and forensic science,... After spending 29 books with these characters, I already have a pretty good picture of who they are in my head! 😂 For me, the books simply give me more of what made me love Scarpetta in the first place.

This is where it all begins—and what a beginning! We meet Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner, as she investigates a series of brutal murders in Richmond. Instead of simply trying to figure out who committed the crimes, Scarpetta let... As a nurse, that combination of medicine, anatomy, science and detective work is a big part of what originally drew me into this series. But Postmortem also introduces us to people who will become important throughout Scarpetta's life, including Mar... I've read every published Scarpetta novel, and looking back, this is where that whole journey started for me. If you're new to Patricia Cornwell, start here.

Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta Book 1)

Why would a woman who knows someone is stalking her willingly let that person into her house? That's the question that makes this one intriguing to me. Writer Beryl Madison has spent months frightened by threatening phone calls and the feeling that someone is watching her. She even leaves Richmond trying to get away—yet after returning home, she's murdered by someone she apparently allowed inside. This one becomes much more than examining a body and finding forensic evidence. Scarpetta has to reconstruct Beryl's life, looking at her writing, relationships, secrets and past to understand what happened that night. And as she gets closer to the ... I enjoy the combination of forensics and figuring out human behavior in this one. Sometimes the most important clue isn't simply what's found on the body—it's understanding why someone did something that doesn't seem to make sense.

Body of Evidence - (Kay Scarpetta Book 2)

Young couples are disappearing—and months later, all that's left are their remains. When another couple vanishes, this time including the daughter of a high-ranking government official, the pressure on Scarpetta intensifies. I like the puzzle in this one: the killer is unusually good at leaving very little evidence, forcing Scarpetta to work with whatever tiny clues remain. It's a good example of why I enjoy this series—sometimes what isn't there can be just as importan...

All That Remains - (Kay Scarpetta Book 3)

A convicted killer is executed—but somehow the crimes don't end with his death. When new evidence seems to point back to a man who couldn't possibly have committed another murder, Scarpetta has to determine whether the evidence is telling the truth—o... I enjoy the forensic puzzle in this one. Evidence is supposed to provide answers, but what happens when the evidence itself becomes suspicious? Dead men aren't supposed to keep committing crimes!

Cruel And Unusual - (Kay Scarpetta Book 4)

This one fascinated me because of the forensic science behind decomposition. Scarpetta investigates the murder of an eleven-year-old girl and turns to the real-life research facility known as the Body Farm, where human decomposition is studied to hel... The subject is certainly gruesome, but the science behind what happens to the human body after death is fascinating—especially the amount of information it can reveal. Definitely one for my nurse/medical curiosity!

The Body Farm - (Kay Scarpetta Book 5)

This one feels like a true cat-and-mouse hunt. Temple Gault is back, leaving a murdered woman displayed in Central Park—and Scarpetta recognizes his disturbing signature immediately. But this time it becomes increasingly clear that Scarpetta herself ... I like the added tension of Scarpetta not simply examining evidence from a safe distance. The killer knows who she is, he's interested in her, and the investigation has become personal. That makes this one especially intense.

From Potter's Field - (Kay Scarpetta Book 6)

A body underwater in an abandoned shipyard immediately makes this one different. Scarpetta is called to recover investigative reporter Ted Eddings, whose death is anything but the simple diving accident it first appears to be. I enjoyed watching the investigation expand from one unusual death into something much bigger and more dangerous. And yes—the medical examiner actually diving into dark water to examine the scene adds a whole different kind of tension!

Cause of Death - (Kay Scarpetta Book 7)

This one combines murder investigation with infectious disease—and THAT got my nurse attention! Scarpetta is investigating a series of mutilated bodies when evidence points toward something even more frightening: smallpox. Suddenly she's dealing with... I especially enjoyed the medical detective work in this one. Figuring out what an unknown disease is, how someone was exposed, and whether others are at risk adds a completely different dimension to the mystery. Forensics meets epidemiology—yep, I'm...

Unnatural Exposure - (Kay Scarpetta Book 8)

Fire can destroy a crime scene—but it can also leave clues behind. Scarpetta investigates a suspicious house fire where a body is found among the ruins, leading her into the fascinating world of fire investigation, burn patterns, and forensic evidenc... What makes this one memorable for me is how personal the investigation becomes, especially as familiar enemies from earlier books resurface. It's a good example of why I recommend reading this series in order—the history between these characters rea...

Point of Origin: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 9)

A badly decomposed stowaway found sealed inside a cargo container from Belgium gives this one an international twist. With no identity or obvious cause of death, Scarpetta follows an unusual tattoo and other tiny clues all the way to Interpol in Fran... I like the unknown-victim puzzle here—starting with almost nothing and using forensic evidence to discover not only how someone died, but who they were and where they came from.

Black Notice: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 10)

This one turns the tables on Scarpetta—she's the one under investigation. After surviving an attack, her professional decisions and even her personal life come under suspicion, while the case reaches into painful parts of her past. I enjoyed seeing Scarpetta forced to defend herself instead of simply solving someone else's case. And this is definitely one where knowing what happened in the previous books makes the story much richer.

The Last Precinct: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 11)

Scarpetta's life has changed—and I think that's what makes this one stand out. She's left Virginia and is working privately in Florida when a strange Louisiana death pulls her into another investigation. Then Jean-Baptiste Chandonne—the “Wolfman” sit... This one is filled with unfinished business, secrets, and some BIG personal surprises. It's definitely a book where I'm glad I read the series in order, because knowing the history makes those surprises mean so much more.

Blow Fly: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 12)

Going back isn't always easy. Scarpetta returns to Richmond—the city and medical examiner's office that once meant so much to her—to investigate the puzzling death of a fourteen-year-old girl. But almost everything has changed, including the people a... I like the emphasis on tiny pieces of trace evidence in this one. Sometimes the smallest thing—a particle, fiber or seemingly insignificant detail—is exactly what finally makes the dead tell their story.

Trace: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 13)

This one gets inside the criminal mind. Scarpetta and Benton become involved in research studying violent offenders, including brain scans and interviews designed to understand how predators think. But one inmate's disturbing information may connect ... I found the combination of forensic medicine, psychology and brain research especially interesting. Examining why someone may behave as they do adds a whole different layer to solving the crime.

Predator: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 14)

This one starts in Rome and brings Scarpetta a particularly puzzling crime scene. A young American tennis star is found murdered in a way that leaves investigators with disturbing evidence but few answers, and the case eventually follows Scarpetta ba... What stands out to me is the international investigation and the challenge of interpreting an unusual crime scene. Different country, different investigators, different procedures—but the body still holds clues that Scarpetta knows how to read.

Book of the Dead - (Kay Scarpetta Book 15)

A man is in the hospital after being injured—and he's asking specifically for Scarpetta. Oscar Bane claims he's being stalked and says the murder he's connected to isn't what it appears to be. The problem is, nobody is quite sure whether he's a victi... I like the “who do you believe?” element in this one. Scarpetta can't simply accept what she's being told; she has to separate truth from lies using the medical and forensic evidence. People can lie. Evidence is a little harder to fool.

Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 16)

What happens when a medical examiner becomes a celebrity? Scarpetta's work as a CNN forensic analyst has made her increasingly recognizable, and now she's being encouraged to have her own television show. Unfortunately, being famous also makes it muc... I like this different look at Scarpetta—the expert suddenly becoming part of the story herself. Fame, media attention, threatening packages and a complicated case make you wonder whether being well known is worth the price.

The Scarpetta Factor - (Kay Scarpetta Book 17)

A “virtual autopsy” fascinated me in this one. Scarpetta has been training at Dover Air Force Base and returns to her new Cambridge Forensic Center, where advanced 3-D radiology reveals injuries an ordinary examination might not explain. And then comes the chilling question: was a young man actually still alive when he was placed in a body bag and locked in the cooler? Medicine, new forensic technology, and one VERY disturbing possibility—this one definitely had my nurse curiosity g...

Port Mortuary - (Kay Scarpetta Book 18)

This one is about Scarpetta needing answers for herself. Six months after Jack Fielding's murder, she travels to a Georgia women's prison determined to understand what really happened. What she uncovers begins connecting seemingly separate deaths—and... I like seeing Scarpetta's personal need for answers collide with her professional instincts. She simply isn't willing to accept that Fielding's death is the end of the story—and, of course, she's right.

Red Mist: Scarpetta - (Kay Scarpetta Book 19)

A dinosaur dig and a modern murder investigation—now THAT'S a different beginning! Scarpetta receives disturbing evidence connected to a paleontologist who disappeared from a remote Canadian excavation site, while another mysterious death closer to h... I enjoyed the unusual mix of paleontology and forensic medicine in this one. Ancient bones may tell stories millions of years later, while Scarpetta is using modern remains to do exactly the same thing—figure out what happened.

The Bone Bed - (Kay Scarpetta Book 20)

The strange fluorescent residue on the body is what makes this one stand out. A graduate student is found murdered on the grounds of MIT, and unusual material that glows under special light becomes an important piece of the forensic puzzle. I enjoy cases like this where something almost invisible becomes a major clue. It’s another fascinating example of how science can reveal evidence the naked eye would completely miss.

Dust - (Kay Scarpetta Book 21)

Scarpetta is supposed to be leaving for a birthday vacation—but a trail of seven pennies and a nearby murder change those plans fast. The victim has been killed with remarkable precision, and the evidence begins pointing toward someone frighteningly ... What caught me in this one is the precision of the killings and the puzzle of those coins. When seemingly ordinary little details are deliberately left behind, you KNOW Scarpetta is going to figure out why.

FLESH & BLOOD - (Kay Scarpetta Book 22)

Imagine being at a death scene when a video from almost 20 years ago suddenly appears on your phone—and it shows your own niece. That's exactly what happens to Scarpetta, and the videos reveal secrets that could put Lucy in serious legal trouble. I like the psychological and technological twist in this one. Scarpetta isn't just reading evidence from a body—she has to decide whether she can trust what she's seeing, who's manipulating it, and even who she can safely tell.

DEPRAVED HEART - (Kay Scarpetta Book 23)

How does someone get struck by lightning when there isn't a cloud in the sky? That's the strange question Scarpetta faces when a young bicyclist dies along the Charles River. This one caught my attention because the cause of death seems scientifically impossible. Add mysterious messages from someone who knows far too much about Scarpetta and her family, and you've got a case where even Lucy's technology can't easily prov...

Chaos- (Kay Scarpetta Book 24)

Scarpetta is back in Virginia—and back in charge. After years away, she returns as chief medical examiner and immediately inherits an office with problems of its own, along with a gruesome murder near her new home. Then she's pulled into a highly cla... I enjoyed seeing Scarpetta back in Virginia while the forensic science goes somewhere completely new.

Autopsy - (Kay Scarpetta Book 25)

Dead woman. Dead plants. Dead insects. And apparently no obvious cause of death. Scarpetta is testifying in a highly publicized murder trial when the judge’s sister is suddenly found dead at home—and the scene doesn’t make sense. Nothing appears to h... This is the kind of Scarpetta mystery I enjoy—something at the scene is medically and scientifically WRONG, and I want to know what caused it just as much as she does.

Livid - (Kay Scarpetta Book 26)

Two bodies are found so badly mauled in the Virginia wilderness that they're almost unrecognizable—and then there's an enormous footprint at the scene. Scarpetta has to determine whether she's looking at an animal attack, murder, or something much st... I like this one because the crime scene itself is the puzzle. Before Scarpetta can figure out who did it, she has to figure out WHAT happened out there! Now that's a forensic mystery.

Unnatural Death - (Kay Scarpetta Book 27)

What would you think if a body appeared to have been dropped from a UFO? 👽 Scarpetta is called to an abandoned theme park where the victim turns out to be astrophysicist Sal Giordano—a man she once loved. His strangely red skin, a circle of flower petals around his body, and Lucy's theory about an unidentified flying craft ... I'm following the evidence with Scarpetta!

Identity Unknown - (Kay Scarpetta Book 28)

How do you catch a killer who can enter a victim's home without actually being there? The Phantom Slasher is using sophisticated technology to stalk his victims, creating ghost-like holograms before they are murdered. When he strikes again on Christmas morning, Scarpetta is pulled into a case that soon becomes frighteningly personal. I like the unusual mix in this one—modern technology creating what looks like something supernatural, while Scarpetta has to rely on science and evidence to uncover what's really happening.

Sharp Force - (Kay Scarpetta Book 29)

COMING JANUARY 19, 2027 — and YES, I'm already waiting! 😂📚 After reading all 29 of the published Kay Scarpetta novels, there's something exciting about knowing a brand-new one is coming. New case. New forensic puzzles. More Scarpetta, Benton, Lucy and Marino—and absolutely no idea yet where Patricia Cornwell... I haven't read this one, so there are no recommendations or spoilers from me yet—just anticipation! After following these characters through 29 books, of course I'm going to be there for #30. 🔬🩺📚 January needs to hurry up!

COMING JANUARY 19, 2027 ~ Rapid and Fatal - (Kay Scarpetta Book 30)

Favorite Books by My Favorite Authors

LaVyrle Spencer

Debbie Macomber

Fern Michaels

Patricia Cornwell