Morbid Book Club: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

Podcast: Morbid
Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Guest: Chef Riley Meehan
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This special Morbid Book Club episode takes a deep (and delightfully morbid) dive into Postmortem, Patricia Cornwell’s first Kay Scarpetta novel. Ash and Alaina are joined by chef and author Riley Meehan for a conversation that blends forensic science, culinary creativity, '90s nostalgia, and signature comedic flair. The trio explores the groundbreaking elements of Cornwell’s debut, discusses favorite characters and plot twists, and trades thoughts on everything from kitchen tools to food “crimes.” Thoughtful, irreverent, and informative, this episode offers something for true crime buffs, foodies, and book lovers alike.

Key Discussion Points

1. Special Guest—Chef Riley Meehan & His Cookbook

[00:39] – [02:36]

• Riley drops in to plug his new cookbook, A Little Bit Extra.
• Discussion of practical features: recipe instructions, essential kitchen tools, making recipes your own.
• Notable moment:

  “I want people to riff off stuff. Like, I want it to be, like, dog eared and, like, noted up and, like, make it... make it your own.” – Riley Meehan (01:36)

2. Postmortem and the Birth of Kay Scarpetta

[02:41] – [04:21]

• Postmortem's release over 30 years ago and the launch of the Kay Scarpetta series.
• First impressions: Ash’s newfound obsession, Alaina’s lifelong fandom.
• Scarpetta’s enduring appeal:

  “Kay just gets better and better. She evolves in a big way, can’t wait during the series.” – Alaina (03:31)

• Excitement over the new TV adaptation (Nicole Kidman as Kay!).

3. Dual Careers: Chefs and Medical Examiners—A Morbid Q&A

[04:51] – [19:00]
Cheeky, rapid-fire questions blend crime scene and culinary worlds.

Chef Riley on Restorative Meals:

• What would Chef Riley cook for Scarpetta after a brutal case?

  “Red wine braised short rib ragu, fresh made pappardelle pasta, and slutty garlic bread.” – Riley (05:13)
  “A dark chocolate budino... with olive oil and flaky salt.” (05:44)

• Best morgue snack?

  “Tofu curry—aromatic, filling, and you avoid meat after that kind of work.” – Riley (07:27)

Funniest Kitchen–Morgue Crossover:

• Using a microplane zester as a foot file (not recommended):

  “I saw him in the bathroom with a microplane grading his feet... It literally is for both but you shouldn't use them for both.” – Riley (10:33)

Food in Autopsy Reports:

• What would you want found in a victim’s stomach as a chef?

  “If I could like nail a mole and somebody opened up and they’re like, oh, this smells like a delicious chicken mole.” – Riley (12:28)

Moldy Car Memories:

• Debate over the worst food smells left in cars, comparisons to morgue odors (38:32–39:40)
• Hilarious stories about fish counters and “chicken marsala” disasters.

4. Book Discussion: Plot, Characters, & The '90s Vibes

[19:37] – [37:10]

Themes and Social Commentary

• Praise for Scarpetta as a powerful woman in a male-dominated field.
• The network of supporting female characters (Abby, Lucy, Betty, Margaret).
• Notable quote:

  “Women empowering other women. Coming together to be badasses.” – Riley (19:38)

Whodunnit Theories and Red Herrings

• Wild speculations: suspects ranged from Lucy (Scarpetta's niece) to Wingo, Bill, and Marino.
• Discussion about the killer reveal being “a rando”—accepted as a reflection of real-life crimes.

  “The more I thought about it, I was like, that's kind of how life works. It's not always... the person you think.” – Ash (24:58)

Trauma and Isolation

• Ash and Alaina highlight Scarpetta’s emotional journey, consistent overwork, and psychological toll.

  “She, like, feels like she's losing it. And everybody's like, you look so tired.” – Ash (26:14)

• Realism in dealing with trauma and maintaining a home life (Lucy and Dorothy).

Cinematic Moments & Anticipated Adaptation

• Scenes from the novel come alive in hosts’ heads; looking forward to the TV version.
• “Burping the house”—fun tangent on household rituals inspired by scenes in the book. (31:21)

5. Forensic Science & '90s Nostalgia

[42:37] – [44:46]

• Discussion of the early days of behavioral science units and DNA forensics in crime-solving.
• Pop culture tie-ins: Silence of the Lambs, Scream, and horror movie nostalgia.

  “That is like, the heyday of horror movies. Because it’s like when a cell phone was like, the smoking gun.” – Alaina (43:46)

6. Would You Rather & Morbid Food Crimes

[49:49] – [77:44]
Interactive and often hilarious, these segments blend forensic and culinary hypotheticals.

Would You Rather Highlights

• Kay Scarpetta autopsy vs. FBI behavioral analysis day
  • Riley and Alaina pick autopsy with Kay (“she’s a legend.”), Ash chooses FBI for the hot agents. (50:30)
• Michelin star kitchen rush vs. night in the morgue
  • Riley: “As long as the chef isn’t a total, I’m doing the night at Michelin.” (53:14)
• Chefs vs. Critics/Interrogation
  • Riley: “Chefs have thick skin.” (58:02)

Morbid Food Crimes Game

• Cutting steak with a fork: “Side-eye but ingenuity.” (68:38)
• Extra-well steak orders: “It's your prerogative. You should not be judged.” – Riley (69:18)
• Air fryer discourse: “Choke on a chicken bone.” (“But I get it for energy efficiency.”) (69:48)
• Reheating fish at work: “You’re walking the plank.” (71:44)
• Pineapple on pizza: “Not my favorite, but do you.” (75:34)
• Using a chef’s knife to open a package: “Eternity in the metal forge.” (77:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Cooking and Crime Scenes:

• “Both chefs and forensic pathologists obviously work with knives and anatomy—very different ways, but they both work in that area.” – Ash (15:14)
• “Bread baking is such a science experiment for me... It’s literally science.” – Riley (15:29)

On the Book's Realism:

• “I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t somebody with a deep relationship, but I do think it kind of lets us walk away with our own ideas of who those people are and how they evolved.” – Riley (24:35)

On Isolation in Forensic Work:

• "She’s working so hard and then also doing work in something that is so traumatizing—the worst of humanity." – Riley (26:22)

On the New Scarpetta Show:

• “They cast Nicole Kidman. Impeccable. Like, does she age?” – Riley (04:21)

On Food & Death:

• “Can you imagine if there were Yelp reviews that were like, ‘Stomach contents were not prepared by professionals’?” – Riley (11:02)

On Parenting Critics:

• “That looks disgusting, but I bet it tastes good, though.” – Alaina’s youngest daughter (66:08)

On Crossover Skills:

• “I did take out at an Irish pub, so I can relate, you know?” – Ash (53:36)

Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:39] – [02:36]: Introduction of Chef Riley and his cookbook
• [04:21] – [14:18]: Chef/Forensic Q&A, kitchen anecdotes, and food talk
• [19:37] – [37:10]: Postmortem book analysis, character deep dive, plot twists
• [42:37] – [44:46]: Forensic science history, '90s pop culture sidebar
• [49:49] – [77:44]: Lightning round: Would You Rather, Morbid Food Crimes game

Tone & Language

• Conversational, irreverent, and full of inside jokes
• Honest reflections with a heavy dash of dark humor
• Celebratory around strong female characters and culinary creativity

Summary of Takeaways

• Postmortem is admired for its complex depiction of a female scientist, intricate plotting, and 1990s forensic accuracy.
• The trio’s culinary–crime mashup questions allow for thoughtful yet hysterical takes on everything from morgue snacks to kitchen tools.
• The book’s realism—especially in its depiction of isolation, trauma, and procedural challenges—still resonates.
• Scarpetta's character, and Patricia Cornwell’s series, remain relevant and engaging, inspiring both career curiosity and genre enthusiasm.
• Food “crimes” and culinary freedom: the podcast celebrates food preferences, creativity, and even the most questionable kitchen habits (within reason).

For anyone who loves forensic fiction, true crime, and the overlap between science and everyday life (with a large dose of laughs), this episode delivers a satisfying, weirdly comforting, and genuinely insightful book club experience.