Patricia Cornwell is a renowned American crime writer, celebrated for her best-selling novels featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. Her debut novel, Postmortem, was sold in 1990 while she was working as a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. This novel became the first bona fide forensic thriller, paving the way for the genre's explosion across film, television, and literature.

Cornwell's work is distinguished by its emphasis on forensic science, which has influenced later TV treatments of police work. She has also conducted extensive research into the Jack the Ripper murders, implicating British artist Walter Sickert. Her books have sold over 120 million copies in more than 36 languages across 120 countries.

In addition to the Kay Scarpetta series, Cornwell has authored a definitive account of Jack the Ripper's identity, two cookbooks, a children's book, and a biography of Ruth Graham. She has developed other series featuring characters such as Win Garano and Andy Brazil.

Born in Miami and raised in Montreat, North Carolina, Cornwell graduated from Davidson College in 1979. Her career began at the Charlotte Observer, where she gained acclaim for articles on prostitution and crime. Cornwell currently resides in Boston and is known for her dedication to cutting-edge forensic technologies and philanthropy.