'Scarpetta' has a cheeky Patricia Cornwell cameo

"Good luck, Dr. Scarpetta."
 By 
Shannon Connellan
 on 
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Nicole Kidman in "Scarpetta."
That's Nicole Kidman, not Patricia Cornwell. But in another scene... Credit: Connie Chornuk / Prime

Forensic crime fiction queen Patricia Cornwell published her first Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel 35 years ago, so you're damn right she deserves a cameo in Scarpetta, Liz Sarnoff's new Prime Video series.

Starring Nicole Kidman as Cornwell's iconic forensic pathologist, the crime procedural show includes a moment with the author in its very first episode.

About 13 minutes into episode 1, when Scarpetta is being re-sworn in as Virginia's chief medical officer after taking leave, the high-ranking official performing the ceremonial swearing-in is played by none other than Cornwell.

"Great," says Kidman's Scarpetta. "Second time's the charm."

"Good luck, Dr. Scarpetta," says Cornwell, shaking her protagonist's hand.

It's a delightful, cheeky cameo, seeing this iconic author send her own famous creation into dark events ahead — three decades after Postmortem hit shelves and introduced readers to Scarpetta for the first time.

Now, about that ending...

Scarpetta is streaming on Prime Video March 11.

Topics Prime Video

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Shannon Connellan
UK Editor

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.

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