Prime Video's Scarpetta invites viewers to solve a gripping case but butchering the source material is the show's worst crime of all

Date:
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
Scarpetta is Prime Video's take on an iconic Patricia Cornwell character but it's nothing like the books.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get the TechRadar Newsletter Sign up for
breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Prime Video 's latest crime series Scarpetta is based on the book series by Patricia Cornwell, but, disappointingly, it doesn't feel that way.

It's always a risk whenever someone chooses to adapt something for the
screen. Books can cover a lot more ground than something on screen, so it's not always easy to translate. However, Scarpetta is so drastically different from the novels that I believe most fans will be let down by the series,
which isn't worthy of being considered one of the best Prime Video shows . Article continues below You may like Agatha Christie's Seven Dials review: Netflix doesn't make a weak crime story any better It Ends With Us is one of Prime Video's top 10 movies for all the wrong reasons How to Make a Killing review: a serial killer story should not be this boring I never go into a new show expecting to hate it, and honestly, I did feel quite optimistic about Scarpetta . There's no denying there's an all-star cast here, and they do deliver good performances; it's just a shame they didn't feel like Cornwell's characters. If this had been an original crime series, I would've liked it better. On the surface, it's a decent binge-worthy show, but it simply
doesn't tackle the themes the books do, so those hoping for a faithful adaptation won't get it here. Today's best Amazon Prime Video deals Amazon Prime Video - Free Trial View Deal at Amazon How is Prime Video's Scarpetta different from the books? Scarpetta - Official Trailer | Prime Video -
YouTube Watch On One of the key differences between the novels and the series is that there's a real shift in focus. The series centers a lot around Kay Scarpetta and her family drama, especially with her sister Dorothy, who has a bigger role here than she does in the books.

I do love Jamie Lee Curtis, and she does her best here, but I really wanted more focus on Scarpetta's work and less on her family drama. There's also
some obvious tension between Scarpetta and Dorothy's husband, former
detective Pete Marino, that overshadows the story, too. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Much of what makes Kay Scarpetta compelling in the books is absent from the series. We don't really see much of her compassion here or tendency to "speak for the deceased", and there isn't much insight into the scientific methods either. Considering Scarpetta is the chief medical examiner, I would have liked to see more of that.

Even details about Scarpetta herself weren't included, like her love of cooking. While I appreciate that's not integral to the plot, it's something that she's known for, and by omitting key parts of her personality, it
doesn't feel like Cornwell's character. The series also tries to cram too
much in. Keep in mind there are 29 novels, so it's unreasonable to cover that much ground in one season.

I really wanted to like the show more than I did. David Gordon Green's gritty direction was definitely there, and as a fan of the new Halloween movies, I liked that aspect, but the bad characterization of its lead was just too disappointing for me. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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