NINETOES VS. SCARPETTA

Ninetoes and Mrs. binged AMAZON PRIME’S Scarpetta. Mrs. Ninetoes has read most of the books, but that was a long time ago….

A brilliant forensic pathologist uses forensic technology to solve crimes.

Created by Elizabeth Sarnoff, based on the Kay Scarpetta Book series by Patricia Cornwell

Starring Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana DeBose, and Bobby Cannavale.

Hey there, television lovers. It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today I am looking at Scarpetta on Amazon Prime. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

The series is based on two of Patricia Cornwell’s books: Postmortem (book 1) and Autopsy (book 25). For those who did not know, there are thirty books in the Kay Scarpetta series. I think I read the first one, but if I have not, I will remedy that soon.

This show frequently flips from the now to then and back to the now. Now is 2026. Then is 28 years ago. The current case she is working on has hallmarks from her first case as Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia, thus the time flips. Now, I have to hand it to casting, because they found younger counterparts for everyone involved, and the scariest one was for Pete Marino (Bobby Cannavale). The guy looked like they ran Cannavale’s picture through an AI filter, but as it turns out, it is his son, Jake Cannavale.

This show has it all: mystery, romance, drama, violence, and gore. With that said, it explores the family dynamics of Kay Scarpetta and he sister/husband/niece/brother-in-law, and it is DYNAMIC. I had to go all caps on that because these people are nuts! Jamie Lee Curtis absolutely stole every scene she was in as Kay Scarpetta’s (Nicole Kidman) offbeat sister. The wonderful thing about it is every family has one. I think it is me in my family. I really have suspicions about that.

There is an underlying element of dealing with grief. First, as it is shown with the niece who is living in a cottage on Scarpetta’s property and talking to an AI version of her dead wife. It is spooky as hell, and something that I know exists in the world now. There is one scene where the niece turns the computer off, and I turned to my wife and said: “That’s one way to win an argument.” The other undercurrent of grief comes from Kay Scarpetta herself as she explains that she got into her profession after watching her father get murdered in front of her when she was 11-years-old.

One thing I noticed right off in the credits is that Blumhouse Productions had a hand in this show. I was in it immediately for a creepy time, and they did not disappoint. The effects were outstanding, whether it was a corpse or a killing; they went all in. This is another worthy notch in Blumhouse’s belt!

This show is perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell, family drama, medical drama, mysteries, and thrillers.

One ding… it ends in a cliffhanger, and I have not yet heard if it is picked up for a second season. The mystery in the show is solved; the cliffhanger comes in the aftermath.

Until the next time, I bid you happy viewing.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.