Spider to the Fly

Horror author J.H. Markert, author of The Nightmare Man and Mr. Lullaby, returns with a terrifying new novel, Spider to the Fly, about a serial killer who murders his victims using poisonous spiders, earning him the nickname “The Spider.”

Ellie Isles is a true crime writer who became obsessed with “The Spider” after seeing one of the victims—who was the spitting image of herself—on a news broadcast. After writing a book based on the murders and starting a true crime website, The Spider Web, Ellie is called into the investigation when victim number twenty-nine is found, in hopes that her unique insight and resources will help lead police to the murderer. It isn’t until her own therapist is arrested for the murders—and Ellie’s daughter is kidnapped—that she begins to understand exactly what her personal connection is to the case. The race is on to discover who “The Spider” is before Ellie’s teenage daughter becomes victim number thirty.

Spider to the Fly is a multi-viewpoint novel, narrated mostly by Ellie, but there are parts where we hear from other characters—such as Ellie’s teenage daughter—as well as an unidentified person who could very well be the serial killer himself (we do find out his identity toward the end of the novel). Scattered throughout are sections labeled “Before,” which tell a haunting tale of a group of young children in an orphanage who play a terrifying game. These scenes provide background on “The Spider,” giving readers insight into his traumatic childhood that helped shape his modern-day sociopathy.

Ellie’s traumatic past adds complexity to her character, and readers won’t be able to help but feel empathy for her. Her traumas led her to the door of therapist Ian Brock—where the true horror unknowingly begins. As a single mother, Ellie’s focus remains on keeping her daughter safe, even if it comes across as next-level overprotective to everyone else. Ellie is likable, relatable, and endearing, making her an easy character to root for.

J.H. Markert has been labeled the “heir to Stephen King,” and it’s easy to see why. His stories are clever, creative, and uniquely spooky—and Spider to the Fly is no different. Markert’s plot is well-developed and flows seamlessly, with the action beginning on page one and pulling readers into his web (pun intended) from the start.

This novel has it all: a serial killer, death by spiders, psychological experimentation, and abandoned children—and Markert weaves these threads into a cohesive, goosebump-inducing story. For readers who enjoy sleeping with the lights on after scaring themselves silly, Markert is the author to check out. Spider to the Fly is a terrifying and engaging page-turner that readers won’t be able to put down.