Spencer Kope is a well-known American author, celebrated for his mystery/thriller novels. He has created a niche for himself with his Special Tracking Unit series, which has garnered a significant following. Currently, Kope is employed at the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, where he works as a Crime Analyst in the Detectives Division. His expertise in providing case support to detectives and deputies has been particularly valuable, and he has earned a reputation for his exceptional ability to identify suspects.
Kope's interest in writing began while he was serving in the Navy in the early 1980s. During this time, he started writing short stories and eventually progressed to working on his first novel. His experiences during the Tanker War between Iran and Iraq, as well as his exposure to Russian language and culture at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey and Goodfellow Air Base in San Angelo, California, significantly influenced his early writing. These experiences shaped his unique perspective and provided a rich background for his stories.
After his enlistment, Kope worked as an intelligence analyst and project manager for the Office of Naval Intelligence. Although he tried his hand at writing espionage novels, he found that his passion lay elsewhere. Instead, he focused on writing horror stories and tales of dystopian futures, producing a variety of short stories and novels. Kope's dedication to honing his craft over three decades has paid off, as he now feels confident in sharing his work and finds himself emotionally invested in his stories.
In 1999, Kope left the intelligence business and began a new career as a crime analyst in 2004. This change in profession inspired him to write "Collecting the Dead," the first book in the Special Tracking Unit series. The novel was well-received, earning a spot on Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2016 list and receiving a Barry Award nomination for Best Thriller. Kope is deeply attached to the characters and premise of the series and looks forward to continuing to write these books for years to come.