'Scarpetta' is a captivating murder mystery and a high-wire balancing act

"The narrative in Scarpetta unfolds as two different mysteries from two different timelines, and shifts between them like cards being shuffled in a deck. One timeline, in the present, has Kidman as Kay, returning to her old job after a long time off, and instantly faced with a baffling set of murders. The other timeline, from 1998, shows a younger Kay taking the job as chief medical examiner for the first time and being hit with a serial murder case then, too."

"In scenes from the past, Kay is played by a different actress, Rosy McEwen, who matches Kidman's mannerisms and demeanor perfectly. It's a high-wire balancing act, also required of almost all the other young actors, who manage to mirror their more mature counterparts convincingly and entertainingly."

"All of these movie stars have done exceptionally well on television: Baker on The Mentalist, Cannavale on Boardwalk Empire, Curtis on The Bear and Kidman in a string of small-screen triumphs, including Nine Perfect Strangers, The Perfect Couple and Big Little Lies. When Kidman and Curtis share the screen, which is often, it's incendiary."

Scarpetta, a new mystery series on Prime Video, follows medical examiner Kay Scarpetta across two timelines. Nicole Kidman plays the present-day Kay returning to work after a long absence, confronting mysterious murders. Rosy McEwen portrays younger Kay in 1998 flashbacks, taking her first chief medical examiner position while facing a serial murder case. McEwen mirrors Kidman's mannerisms convincingly, as do other young actors portraying their older counterparts. The ensemble cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis as Kay's sister Dorothy, Bobby Cannavale as detective Pete Marino, and Simon Baker as FBI profiler Benton Wesley. All deliver excellent performances, with Curtis and Kidman creating particularly compelling chemistry. The series adapts Patricia Cornwell's bestselling Kay Scarpetta novels.

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