Dr. Kay Scarpetta

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Examiner of Richmond, Virginia. Educated at Johns Hopkins, the petite blond is savvy and smart. Years of being shunned by colleagues in a male dominated profession have made Scarpetta wary and suspicious of the behavior of others.

Scarpetta is always in control whether it's in the office, at home, or in personal relationships, which she seems to avoid. This may be due to a previous divorce or a lifetime spent between medical studies and practice. Regardless, Scarpetta's personal life has strict limits and everything is fine unless it interferes with her priorities. Excessive control at work helps to prove Scarpetta's worthiness as a medical professional and ensures that the work will be at the highest level.

Scarpetta is a gourmet chef who relieves stress by spending hours in the kitchen preparing Italian meals. Kay takes great pride in preparing...