Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell
Cornwell in 2016
Born	Patricia Carroll Daniels (1956-06-09) June 9, 1956 (age 68) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Novelist
Education	King College Davidson College (BA)
Period	1990–present
Genre	Crime fiction
Spouse	Charles Cornwell ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1989)​ Staci Gruber ​ (m. 2006)​
Website
www.patriciacornwell.com

Patricia Cornwell (born Patricia Carroll Daniels; June 9, 1956) is an American crime writer. She is known for her best-selling novels featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, of which the first was inspired by a series of sensational murders in Richmond, Virginia, where most of the stories are set. The plots are notable for their emphasis on forensic science, which has influenced later TV treatments of police work. Cornwell has also initiated new research into the Jack the Ripper killings, incriminating the popular British artist Walter Sickert. Her books have sold more than 120 million copies.