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Point of Origin: Scarpetta (Book 9) Paperback – June 24, 2008

by Patricia Cornwell (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 5,533 ratings
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “gripping” (People) thriller, the clues to a series of remorseless killings go up in smoke—and only Kay Scarpetta can find them.
 
“[Point of Origin] sears its way into the psyche . . . ablaze with Cornwell’s finest, scariest writing.”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
IN DEVELOPMENT AS THE ORIGINAL SERIES SCARPETTA STARRING NICOLE KIDMAN AND JAMIE LEE CURTIS
 
The devastating fire tore through the horse farm, destroying everything it touched. Picking through the wreckage, Dr. Kay Scarpetta uncovers human remains—the work of an audacious and wily killer who uses fire to mask his brutal murders. And when Scarpetta learns that her old nemesis, Carrie Grethen, has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is somehow involved, the investigation becomes personal. Tragedy strikes close to home. And Scarpetta must match Grethen’s every move with one of her own to douse the inferno of evil that threatens everyone around her. . . .
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  1. Book 9 of 29
    Kay Scarpetta
  2. Print length
    432 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Berkley
  5. Publication date
    June 24, 2008
  6. Dimensions
    4.21 x 0.92 x 7.4 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0425222381
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0425222386
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Fans will rejoice: It’s classic Patricia Cornwell.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
“Gripping . . . Her hottest adventure in years.”—People

“Patricia Cornwell retains that finer Dickensian indignation with the ways of the world that has been neglected by the small landscapes of much so-called serious writing.”—The Washington Post
 
“Her most engrossing effort in years. . . . By the time you get to the gruesome denouement, you’re emotionally spent, but satisfied.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“Fans . . . will welcome this tale of twisted minds and the gory havoc they cause . . . chilling.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Creepy doings . . . The technical material . . . continues to fascinate.”—The Wall Street Journal
 
“Cornwell’s best in a long time . . . a fiery climax.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

About the Author

Patricia Cornwell is one of the world’s major internationally bestselling authors, translated into thirty-six languages in more than 120 countries. She is a founder of the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine; a founding member of the National Forensic Academy; a member of the Advisory Board for the Forensic Sciences Training Program at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York City; and a member of the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she is an advocate for psychiatric research. In 2008, Cornwell won the Galaxy British Book Awards’ Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year—the first American to win this prestigious award. In 2011, she was awarded the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture in Paris. Her earlier works include Postmortem—the only novel to win five major crime awards in a single year—and Cruel & Unusual, which won Britain’s Gold Dagger Award for best crime novel of 1993. Dr. Kay Scarpetta herself won the 1999 Sherlock Award for the best detective created by an American author.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley; Reprint edition (June 24, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425222381
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425222386
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.21 x 0.92 x 7.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 5,533 ratings

About the author

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Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell

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In 1990, Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Growing into an international phenomenon, the Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.

Today, Cornwell’s novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper’s identity, cookbooks, a children’s book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and two other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano and Andy Brazil. While writing Quantum, Cornwell spent two years researching space, technology, and robotics at Captain Calli Chase’s home base, NASA’s Langley Research Center, and studied cutting-edge law enforcement and security techniques with the Secret Service, the US Air Force, NASA Protective Services, Scotland Yard, and Interpol.

Cornwell was born in Miami. She grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston and Los Angeles.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
5,533 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love this Scarpetta novel, praising its well-written story and satisfying suspense. The book shows a lot of emotion and maintains interest throughout. The mystery content receives mixed reactions, with some enjoying the twists while others find the clues confusing. Customers have mixed feelings about the character development, with some loving the characters while others find them two-dimensional.

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76 customers mention "Readability"76 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and enjoyable, particularly praising it as a great installment from Patricia Cornwell.

"...The book brings familiarity to the reader in a way rarely found and helps the reader care for the characters ina particular way." Read more

"This book is what I consider the last good Scarpetta novel; all the books that follow it (The Last Precinct, Blowfly, Predator, et al) are hardly..." Read more

"Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors! I love rereading her books, especially the Scarpetta series!..." Read more

"Another great read from Patricia Cornwell. I am reading the entire series again. Enjoying just as much the second time around." Read more

34 customers mention "Story quality"24 positive10 negative

Customers praise the story quality of the book, noting that the series is well written and keeps readers engaged throughout.

"...It’s a truly gifted writer who can bring the reader into the story so completely." Read more

"So well written, but sad at times. Characters veo move on but bad guys in this one were definitely lethal. The" Read more

"I enjoy these books but at times thus one was hard to follow and difficult to understand with all the medical terminology...." Read more

"...Thankfully, I was wrong because this series is just so well written, I can read the entire series again, from book 1 to her last novel, which I..." Read more

31 customers mention "Suspenseful"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful and satisfying, with unexpected plot twists and turns throughout.

"Interesting reading and perspective. A bit of everything in it of human living and relationships. A bit disappointed by the ending ." Read more

"...This adventure is just a thrilling as the rest." Read more

"A harsh story with a moving end. Showing the evil and good of men. Thanks for the story Patricia. Enjoyed very much." Read more

"A gripping crime thriller, as usual. A very complex mystery, with several twists and turns...." Read more

15 customers mention "Emotion level"12 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one noting how it felt more personal to Kay Scarpetta.

"...Cornell, for allowing your characters to be human and not ignoring difficult emotions...." Read more

"Of all the Scarpetta novels so far, this one had me sobbing at the inhumanity of evil, the brevity of life, and the hope for a better life in the..." Read more

"I’m loving this series by Patricia Cornwall! I’ve laughed, cried, cringed, felt overwhelmed and couldn’t stop reading to go to sleep!" Read more

"...This was a very pages turning but sad read." Read more

21 customers mention "Mystery content"12 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the mystery content of the book, with some finding it exciting with great twists, while others complain about confusing clues.

"...This mystery is filled with forensic intrigue, though I don’t recall the true cause of the fires...." Read more

"...Also, there is no flow to the plot. It is all over the place." Read more

"...with another mysterious puzzling death at a farmhouse that is riddled with suspicion, confusing clues and suspense ~ just what we fans love !..." Read more

"...I didn’t get that either. So, the believability aspect was hard for me to follow. Just not what I expected." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"11 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed feelings about the character development in the book, with some loving them while others find them two-dimensional.

"Thank you, Patricia Cornell, for allowing your characters to be human and not ignoring difficult emotions...." Read more

"...but this one is harder to read then most as it eliminates a continuing character from these stories." Read more

"...As always, characters are well developed, so much that you feel like you are there as Kay interrogates possible participants in the dance of death,..." Read more

"...and one of the best villains in contemporary thrillers, Carrie Grethen...." Read more

Patricia Cornwell
5 out of 5 stars
Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors! I love rereading her books, especially the Scarpetta series! This adventure is just a thrilling as the rest.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Betsysmom
    5.0 out of 5 stars touching mystery and love story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Thank you, Patricia Cornell, for allowing your characters to be human and not ignoring difficult emotions. The book brings familiarity to the reader in a way rarely found and helps the reader care for the characters ina particular way.
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  • BadinTexas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another breathtaking gallop through the minds of the insane
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Of all the Scarpetta novels so far, this one had me sobbing at the inhumanity of evil, the brevity of life, and the hope for a better life in the hereafter. As always, characters are well developed, so much that you feel like you are there as Kay interrogates possible participants in the dance of death, while feeling overwhelming sorrow for the victims of brutality and madness. I am left wondering “What can possibly be next? Where can we go from here?”
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  • Barbara LeMaster
    4.0 out of 5 stars One of Scarpetta's better books
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    This book is what I consider the last good Scarpetta novel; all the books that follow it (The Last Precinct, Blowfly, Predator, et al) are hardly worth the paper they're printed on.

    The plot centers on the suspected arson of a media magnate's home which resulted in the death of one female and several prize horses. A new villain enters the picture (Newton Joyce), and he's aided by serial killer Carrie Grethen, newly escaped from prison. There's a subplot involving Benton Wesley, Scarpetta's FBI paramour, which turns into the mother of all plot twists in her later novel 'Blowfly'. I felt that Cornwell didn't give her characters enough chance: she rapidly ditches both Joyce and Grethen in favor of Le Loup-Garou, her villain of 'Black Notice' and 'The Last Precinct', which in my opinion was a mistake.

    The supporting characters are back: Lt. Pete Marino (I swear if she kills him off I will never touch one of her novels again), FBI agent Lucy Farinelli, Scarpetta's neice (although too much of a deal is made of her lesbianism), and one of the best villains in contemporary thrillers, Carrie Grethen. Carrie can be placed easily next to Hannibal Lecter in terms of fictional villains.

    As you read, you'll learn about how arson fires are investigated and, incidentally, how fires work in terms of accelerants and point(s) of origin (where the fire initially begins); you'll also learn a little bit about how a scanning electron microscope (SEM) works. Cornwell's science is always dead-on, and this book is no exception.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Kathryn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Point of Origin
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Marino and Kay are working with the ATF on a serial arson/murder case, all while on the lookout for Carrie, who has managed to escape the psychiatric institution she was imprisoned in. This mystery is filled with forensic intrigue, though I don’t recall the true cause of the fires. I was actually going to dock it a star because of this, but I couldn’t put the book down, so it still keeps my five star rating. Here’s to hoping that this book finally takes care of the Carrie/Gault storyline. It’s been milked for enough books now.
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  • Dr. Judy G. Tuggle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Kay Scarpetta read!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    What a surprise!!!! I didn’t see this one coming. A different turn, but same characters. Great Kay Scarpetta plot even though it was different!
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  • Ellen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Years after reading this for the first time I've been reading Cornwell's brilliant series again, without pause. I've not wanted to write a review until the final page of Point of Origin. She took us to Hilton Head with Kay, Lucy and Marino and with them we mourn the dead.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer lois
    4.0 out of 5 stars Review
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting reading and perspective. A bit of everything in it of human living and relationships.
    A bit disappointed by the ending .
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Susan A Gillespie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Point of Excellence
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I don’t know that I have ever been more immersed in a story than I was in Point of Origin. I felt like I was one of the characters; experiencing everything with them. It’s a truly gifted writer who can bring the reader into the story so completely.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • tonbei
    4.0 out of 5 stars FBIへのねじれた意識が心地よい
    Reviewed in Japan on November 9, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    ATF's NRTに所属する Lucy。FBIを追い出された形だ。そこでおもしろいのは、ATF隊員たちのFBIにたいするライバル意識。FBIをFeebsと呼んで　からかう会話が心地よい。こういう描写はあるていどリアリティを反映しているのでしょう。最後の場面は感動的です。上から撒くのかなと　初めに想像していたら、そうではなかった。胸にジーンときました。ところで、最初に出てきた　GKSFWFYという文字の羅列は何であったのか。Carrieからの手紙の中にあった。GKSFWFYが何を意味するかは、結局最後まで明かされることはなかった。
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  • Carolyn Carter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
    Reviewed in France on February 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Patricia Cornwall's books areon brilliant. I find it difficult to put them down once I begin reading. Now looking forward to the next one in the series.
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  • Chez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart wrenching
    Reviewed in Australia on September 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best in this series in my opinion. Couldn't stop the tears from flowing. What a terrific novel.
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  • Keith B Haynes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Scarpetta - Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    As usually Patricia Cornwell doesn't disappoint with another great story with twists and turns right to the very end - brilliant read.
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  • Origpic
    5.0 out of 5 stars First rate Scarlatti
    Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Some of Patricia Cornwell’s novels get out of hand plot thickens and the author goes to ever more risky places to extricate herself from the convoluted story she has got herself into. Not in ‘Point of Origin’. This, gruesome, scary thriller is Cornwell at her best.
    Dr. Kay Scarpetta, our hero Medical Examiner for Virginia, is also at her muddled finest. Scarpatta, who tells these stories in first person, has always been an unreliable narrator and here her vision of herself and how the reader sees her are at their most conflicted. Scarpetta is just not quite who she thinks she is as she excuses herself for being judgmental, tolerates the intolerable and rides roughshod over anyone who even hints of getting in her way.
    Scarpetta’s character is the center of these novels and her inner conflicts and frequent lack of self-awareness are on full display as she puts herself, her friends and her niece in harm’s way. Scarpetta is on the trail of a killer who puts fire to a horse farm and kills a beautiful young girl in the process. That’s the beginning. As the story develops so we are taken into the villains of Scarpetta’s and her friends’ past tying together plot lines that have been festering through the previous several novels. Still, ‘Point of Origin’ works perfectly well as a stand alone.
    Scarpetta’s intelligence and intuition help her but, they also risk everything as this book proceeds to tie up the stories of killers from earlier books in a highly satisfying way but not without dire consequences to those closest to her. As with the best of the Scarpetta novels, this one is emotionally searing. It’s clear that all those close to Scarpetta are in danger, the only question is who will survive and who will die a horrible death.
    The novel races towards the end with a surprise aerial chase that is so carefully put together it reeks of the research that went into writing it and that’s a good thing.
    Cornwell is at the top of her game. Not to be put down.
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