Before
I became a writer, I went back to school for forensic molecular science. The
fall I began classes, C.S.I. started on TV. One of my instructors loved to
point out inaccuracies in each week’s episodes, because of course, life isn’t exactly
like fiction. Even so, I love the show, and of
course it comes naturally that I love forensics in fiction as well!
Probably
the two most famous authors of forensic fiction are Kathy Reichs and Patricia
Cornwell. Most of Reichs’ 18 novels are about forensic anthropologist, Tempe
Brennan. Yes, this is the book series on which the TV show Bones is (very loosely!)
based. I personally like the books better than the show, but they're both good.
Patricia
Cornwell writes most of her novels about medical examiner, Dr. Kay Scarpetta.
There are currently 20 Scarpetta novels, with another one due this year. I read
a bit more than half of these until… well, I’m not going to give any spoilers!
But the writing also changed a bit, going from first person past tense to third
person present tense. I always enjoyed the stories from Dr. Scarpetta’s point
of view, so I didn’t like the change. I may give the new ones a read, though,
because I hear she’s gone back to her previous point of view.
Am
I missing out on any other great forensics novels?
