Even though Scarpetta is aimed at a different audience than Reacher, the new Nicole Kidman series could become Prime Video’s strongest rival to its popular Reacher adaptations. Adapting books into TV shows is a major trend for streaming services in 2026, with many of the most popular new shows based on successful novels.
Book adaptations are currently ruling streaming services. Shows like Netflix’s popular His & Hers, based on the novel by Alice Feeney, and Prime Video’s thriller 56 Days, adapted from Catherine Ryan Howard’s book, consistently reach the top of the charts. A particularly strong example of this trend can be found on Prime Video.
The Prime Video series Reacher, based on the books by Lee Child, is a thrilling and action-packed show that’s become a huge hit since it premiered in 2022. Starring Alan Ritchson as the physically imposing Jack Reacher, the series follows a former military police officer who uses his skills to fight crime and corruption as he travels the country.
Scarpetta Is Based On Patricia Cornwell’s Successful Novel Series
Every season of Reacher takes place in a different location with new enemies and a new romantic interest for the main character, offering viewers a refreshingly straightforward experience. Unlike many mystery shows today that rely on complex, ongoing storylines, Reacher feels like a return to the classic action TV of the 1980s, though it’s definitely more graphic and violent.
Because each Reacher book tells a complete, independent story, the show can adapt a different book for each season. This is helpful for the showrunners, as there are already 30 Reacher novels, and author Lee Child continues to publish new ones almost every year.
The first season of the series followed the plot of Lee Child’s 1997 novel, Killing Floor. Season two jumped ahead to the fourteenth book, Bad Luck and Trouble, published in 2007. Season three then adapted the eleventh novel, Persuader, from 2003, and the show established that the events of the twentieth book, Never Go Back (2013), happened between investigations not shown on screen.
Prime Video is hoping its new crime drama, Scarpetta, starring Nicole Kidman, will become as popular and long-lasting as Reacher. The series is based on the bestselling novels by Patricia Cornwell and features Kidman playing Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a brilliant but complex forensic pathologist.
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a brilliant medical examiner who investigates baffling murder cases that leave other detectives stumped. She often relies on her witty sister, Dorothy, to help her unravel the truth. Jamie Lee Curtis will portray Dorothy in the new series, and while her presence is a big draw, the show promises to be captivating for more than just its star power.
There Are Almost As Many Scarpetta Novels As Reacher Books
Image courtesy of Everett Collection
Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series is almost as extensive as Lee Child’s Reacher novels – Cornwell has written 29 books compared to Child’s 30. Both series are still being added to, with Cornwell’s newest Scarpetta installment, Sharp Force, published as recently as 2025.
Good news for fans of suspenseful crime dramas: the new show Scarpetta, starring Nicole Kidman, has the potential to run for many seasons, much like the popular series Reacher on Prime Video. If viewers enjoy the show, there are plenty of novels by Patricia Cornwell to adapt into future episodes.
The inclusion of Rosy McEwen as a younger version of Scarpetta suggests the first season of the show might cover material from multiple books in the series. It’s possible the show will present a current case as the main storyline, while also exploring Scarpetta’s past through flashbacks or a separate, earlier case.
Even if the first season covers two books instead of just one, the show will still compare favorably to Reacher. The existing Jack Reacher movies with Tom Cruise mean it’s unlikely the series will ever adapt One Shot or Never Go Back, as that would be too similar to what’s already been done.
Even if a Reacher movie series starts, the TV show still has 25 novels left to adapt. Scarpetta has even more, with 27 books available, even if the first season covers two books in one go. Luckily, both authors have written so many books that the show shouldn’t run out of material anytime soon.
Prime Video’s Scarpetta Won’t Overshadow Reacher
Fortunately, Scarpetta probably won’t take viewers away from Reacher, even if it becomes very popular. The shows appeal to different audiences because Scarpetta is a mystery focused on investigation, while Reacher is an action-packed thriller. If Scarpetta had more action, they might be competing for the same viewers.
With popular psychological thrillers thriving on streaming platforms—like the huge success of Reacher on Prime Video—the Scarpetta series has strong potential. Scarpetta shouldn’t take viewers away from Reacher, but if the first season does well, there’s enough material in the books to keep the show going for many years.
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2026-03-02 00:29