# A forensic thriller writer autopsies her own life

An episode of [Bookends with Mattea Roach](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/250082529), 24 May 2026, 27 min.

Audio: https://mgln.ai/e/12/cbc.mc.tritondigital.com/CBC_WRITERSANDCO_P/media/writersandco/writersandco-8G5oxHob-20260522.mp3

A famous crime writer who gets her inspiration from years of working on real cases at the medical examiner’s office. That’s the story of Patricia Cornwell, the bestselling author of the Kay Scarpetta series. Her new memoir, True Crime, is all about the person behind the thrillers … and it proves that sometimes, life is stranger than fiction. From getting dropped off at the doorstep of one of America’s most famous evangelicals to her real forensics experience, Patricia’s memoir is an autopsy of her life and the obstacles she overcame to become a world-renowned author. This week, Patricia tells Mattea Roach about her tumultuous childhood, her path to writing and why she injects hope into her crime novels. Liked this conversation? Keep listening: • Meth and murder in rural America • Getting to know Canada’s king of suspense Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

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