The Thorn Method
S Cooper
Author Bio
S Cooper is a freelance writer who creates novels of various genres, including crime and fantasy. Currently seven are available on Amazon as ebooks and also CreateSpace for print copies. The most successful of these books is The Thorn Method, a crime novel that was written in 2012. While it is not as popular as some people’s books, a handful of print and ebook versions have been bought. Each one of her novels were written alone, without any sort of contribution from others. Her passion to write, and share her experiences, has led to her creating a blog on the popular blogging site, wordpress.com, where she goes under the name of ScooperScribbler.
S Cooper has quite a diverse educational background, with her doing courses in Information Technology, Business, Management and, more recently, her starting a university degree in Education. Born and raised in Australia, S Cooper wishes to accomplish only one thing in life: to be happy and live out the dreams. It was never her goal to become the next big thing, nor was it her goal to become rich off her novels. The only thing Cooper wishes to gain from the writing she has completed is to share the written word with other reading and writing enthusiasts.
Description
No blood, no fingerprints, no murder weapon and hardly any trace evidence…it almost seems like the perfect crime and it’s baffling for Detective Sara Cambull and her team. There is nothing for her forensic scientists to work with, other than a spider in a container and the venom of a Inland Taipan, and there is very little evidence on the body for her Medical Examiner to find on the body that they are called to investigate…and with that, her and her partner, Kyle, find it hard to pursue any leads and figure out any suspects. The first one they go after turns out to be a dead end, as does the second, despite the fact that the man was a known criminal. And just when they think that it could not get any worse, another body appears…of an upcoming football star. With two bodies killed the exact same way…it seems they are to pursue a serial killer.
And then, to make matters that much more worse, the next body comes with something that the Detective really did not want to have to experience: a journalist. With him hanging around, and the Director of the agency agreeing to have him shadow Sara, despite her protests, to aid in the investigation. His presence causes many more problems than what Sara expects, though, when it comes to light that he and her forensic scientist were once friends and that she knew the second murder victim.
Things go from bad to worse when they find out that there are more bodies than what they knew. But after talking to the other families, new information comes to light and they are finally able to make an arrest…which means that it’s over.
Or so they think, but an attack on the vehicle transporting the suspect to prison proves that the case isn’t quite over yet. Will the team – along with the annoying journalist who no one likes – be able to figure out who the real killer is before the bodies start piling up once more? Will they be able to make an arrest?
Or will the killer continue, putting them in danger?
Book excerpt
‘Showtime,’ Kyle muttered as both got their guns ready. Someone walked up the front path and entered the house.
‘Are you home already? I didn’t think you’d be – ahhh!’ A woman said, catching sight of Sara and Kyle standing in the middle of the kitchen with their guns drawn. Whoever it was dropped the bags she was holding.
‘Who…who are you?’ She asked with a slight quiver in her voice. Clearly she was fearful, because she took a few steps back and turned quickly to grab at something from the window. When she faced them again, she was holding a long, thin piece of wood – something that many used to keep their window from being opened from the outside.
Unfortunately, it could be used as a weapon. Sara had intimate knowledge of that, thanks to her brothers.
‘We’re not here to hurt you, ma’am,’ Kyle said, sliding his gun into his holster. ‘We’re from VCAD; I’m Detective Kyle Harvey and this is Detective Sara Cambull.’
‘Prove it!’ She said. Sara pulled the left side of her top up slightly to show her badge. The woman heaved a sigh of relief and put the piece of wood down. ‘Well, thanks for giving me a heart attack.’
‘Were you expecting someone else to be in here with guns?’ Sara asked, putting her gun away. The woman – who was yet to give her name – shook her head.
‘Not really, but Tom’s an ex-crim – gotta be on the lookout. At least, that’s what he keeps telling me,’ she said. ‘I’m his sister – Tiff Runn. Why are you here?’
‘We have a warrant to search the place,’ Kyle told her. ‘Do you know where Tom is?’
Tiff sighed. ‘I knew you’d come looking for him! I told him you would, but does he listen to his sister? No, of course not, instead he goes away, violating his parole.’
‘You knew he was leaving and that it would violate his terms of parole?’ Sara asked. Tiff nodded. ‘Then why didn’t you call the police?’
Tiff shrugged. ‘He’s my brother. I don’t want him back inside. Besides, he just needed to get away for a few days. He’s not doing anything wrong.’
Kyle and Sara shared a look. Most likely she knew nothing about the murder they suspected him of. Before any of them had a chance to say anything else, though, Sara’s mobile rang. The caller ID said it was Lou.
‘What have you got?’ She asked after pressing the accept call button.
‘Tom Runn is on his way into town,’ Lou said. ‘I just got a hit off his credit card; he filled up at a service station about fifteen minutes out of town.’
‘Send me the address in a text,’ Sara told her, then hung up. Kyle looked at her expectantly. ‘We’ve got a lead, let’s go,’ she told him. They headed towards the front door, but Tiff’s voice stopped them.
‘Whatever you think he’s done now, you’re wrong!’ She said. Both Kyle and Sara looked at her. ‘He hasn’t committed any crimes!’
‘Aside from breaking parole, no crime at all,’ Kyle said as they walked out of the house. ‘Oh, unless you count the fact he may have murdered someone…’
Author Website
http://scooperscribbler.wordpress.com/