Corpus delicti

Corpus Delicti is the second novel by Patricia Cornwell in the series about Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Virginia's chief pathologist. The story begins with young romance author Beryl Madison receiving obscene and threatening phone calls for months. Someone is constantly watching her - following her shopping, standing outside her house, making her feel like her life is in danger. Terrified, Beryl flees to Key West, seeking peace and anonymity. But when she returns to Richmond some time later, she is brutally stabbed to death in her own home that same night. The killer disfigures her face after death, suggesting a deep personal hatred.

Kay Scarpetta performs an autopsy and soon realizes that the case is not just a stalking case that has escalated. Key clues lead to Beryl's former mentor - the famous but controversial literary legend Carl Harper - and to a manuscript Beryl was writing, which was supposed to reveal dark secrets from her past. Beryl's death is linked to the manuscript's disappearance, and her greedy lawyer accuses Scarpetta of "losing" it.

Detective Pete Marino and profiler Benton Wesley are involved in the investigation. The killer continues his attacks - more people connected to Beryl and Harper are killed. Kay finds herself in danger because she seems to be a target herself. At the same time, her old lover Mark James unexpectedly returns to her life, which further complicates the situation.