It's hard to go wrong with reading!
I want to read Patricia Cornwell!... i've heard many good things about her books from one of my students who is quite a reader, too. I read an historical novel recently by Bernard Cornwall... (no relation). He's the author of the Sharpe's Rifles series that was made into a mini-series, i think by BBC. Anyway, i have been enjoying his books.
Where would you recommend i get started with Patricia Cornwell?
I used to read mysteries, too, but now i mostly just watch them on Mystery (PBS).