Ellie Isles first became obsessed with the I-64 Strangler when she saw her own face on one of his victims. Identical to every detail, the woman wasn’t her, but she could have been. Unable to stop herself from obsessing over her doppelganger’s death, Ellie wrote a true crime book about the Strangler and became a bestselling author.
Four years and a dozen more victims later, the Strangler still hasn’t been caught, and many of his victims remain unidentified. Ellie has created an online true crime network with millions of followers and a massive database of people at risk of becoming Jane and John Does: the homeless, the drug-addicted and downtrodden, the unwanted and uncared-for, with the hopes that if they become victims, they might at least be identified.
Some people think Ellie is crazy. She’s convinced that the victim with her face was her own unknown long-lost twin, and her determination to build the Doe database borders on manic. But with multiple victims successfully identified from her database, the task force trying to catch the Strangler can’t deny her utility–and Ellie is more determined than ever to help catch the Strangler
Spider to the Fly is a serial killer thriller that combines true crime obsession, memory loss, and family relational drama. The story includes graphic details, disturbing methods of the serial killer, and other potential triggers, including child abuse, death, and sexual assault, that sensitive readers should be aware of.
The novel follows Ellie Isles, a true crime author who becomes fixated on the unsolved “I-64 murders,” especially when she learns that one of the killer’s victims looks exactly like her. The serial killer, known as the “Spider,” leaves his victims unidentified, and Ellie builds a large online network to help bring identity to the forgotten dead. Ellie’s work pulls her tight into the investigation, especially after her own therapist is arrested as a suspect.
The book has unsettling atmospheric tension that creates a constant sense of dread that gets under your skin. The book has a fairly large cast of characters, several of whom are only mentioned rather than given page time, and keeping track of everyone and the web of relationships can be confusing—it’s not a bad idea to create your own murder board for better clarity and more immersion while reading!
Ellie Isles is a complex and compelling protagonist. She’s also a bit of a two-sided coin—on one side she has trauma, repressed memories, and lots of inner conflict that keep her stuck, and on the other she’s fiercely determined and proactive, working with police and her reporter best friend to hunt down the serial killer. Readers will find it difficult to find one dull moment in her POV, as her inner monologues, conversations with her daughter/police/reporter best friend, and emotional decisions make her very captivating and give readers insight into her past. If that’s not enough, there’s also a romantic subplot that emerges between Ellie and her neighbor that carries weight far above any regular attraction. The idea of Ellie seeing her doppelgänger as one of the serial killer’s victims and then becoming consumed to expose the killer makes the story very original, and the stakes feel intense. True crime fans will find Ellie’s online true crime community and victim-identification database fascinating, especially as it plays a key role in finding the killer and adds a very modern twist to the serial killer trope!
The fast-paced narrative, use of shifting POVs, dual timelines, and numerous reveals that are well spread out will keep readers turning the pages. In the second half, instead of the number of suspects being narrowed down, the story becomes a whoddunit, with more and more characters having motives and looking guilty. Once all the complex family/character connections fall into place, some reveals become more predictable—especially the final twist, which is foreshadowed if you’re paying close attention! After such an intricate, captivating story, the final confrontation feels a bit rushed, and that last chapter that follows doesn’t quite match the intensity or vibe of the rest of the story—but there is some satisfying closure that readers can appreciate.
Fans of authors like Alex North, Riley Sager, or Karin Slaughter, or those who love dark, twisty serial killer thrillers, true crime, and stories with complex, emotionally driven characters will really enjoy this book!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Spider to the Fly is an atmospheric, suspenseful listen narrated by seasoned narrators Xe Sands, Vanessa Moyen, and Wayne Mitchell.
Xe Sands portrays protagonist Ellie with a raw, emotional voice infused with unease and anxiety in her tone to accurately depict Ellie’s inner conflicts, fear, obsession, and grief. Ellie’s inner monologues, especially those where she expresses concern for her daughter, feel very visceral and help readers connect with the character. Xe’s pacing and vocal range are uneven at times, but they suit Ellie’s emotional instability and the unsteady, unsettling vibe of the story.
Vanessa Moyen uses an engaging, expressive voice to portray Amber and authentically captures her youth, vulnerability, and emotional stakes. Amber expresses a myriad of emotions towards her mother, from empathy to concern to anger to resentment—and Moyen conveys each of these with impressive acting skills and a wide range of emotional intensity!
Wayne Mitchell gives a very convincing performance of the male characters in the book, including the serial killer, for whom he uses a dark, gritty, and intense-sounding voice to vividly bring the antagonist to life. His performance is a big contrast to the other narrators and really helps balance the overall listening experience. His smooth, commanding voice is also easy to follow and very helpful in a story with multiple POVs and time shifts.
If you’re considering the audiobook, it’s good to know that all three narrators give solid performances that complement each other, and the emotional and suspenseful scenes are well executed and immersive. Readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers, puzzle plots, and multicast audiobooks with distinct narrator performances will enjoy this one!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Spider to the Fly is an atmospheric, suspenseful listen narrated by seasoned narrators Xe Sands, Vanessa Moyen, and Wayne Mitchell.
Xe Sands portrays protagonist Ellie with a raw, emotional voice infused with unease and anxiety in her tone to accurately depict Ellie’s inner conflicts, fear, obsession, and grief. Ellie’s inner monologues, especially those where she expresses concern for her daughter, feel very visceral and help readers connect with the character. Xe’s pacing and vocal range are uneven at times, but they suit Ellie’s emotional instability and the unsteady, unsettling vibe of the story.
Vanessa Moyen uses an engaging, expressive voice to portray Amber and authentically captures her youth, vulnerability, and emotional stakes. Amber expresses a myriad of emotions towards her mother, from empathy to concern to anger to resentment—and Moyen conveys each of these with impressive acting skills and a wide range of emotional intensity!
Wayne Mitchell gives a very convincing performance of the male characters in the book, including the serial killer, for whom he uses a dark, gritty, and intense-sounding voice to vividly bring the antagonist to life. His performance is a big contrast to the other narrators and really helps balance the overall listening experience. His smooth, commanding voice is also easy to follow and very helpful in a story with multiple POVs and time shifts.
If you’re considering the audiobook, it’s good to know that all three narrators give solid performances that complement each other, and the emotional and suspenseful scenes are well executed and immersive. Readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers, puzzle plots, and multicast audiobooks with distinct narrator performances will enjoy this one!
The audiobook of Spider to the Fly is an atmospheric, suspenseful listen narrated by seasoned narrators Xe Sands, Vanessa Moyen, and Wayne Mitchell.
Xe Sands portrays protagonist Ellie with a raw, emotional voice infused with unease and anxiety in her tone to accurately depict Ellie’s inner conflicts, fear, obsession, and grief. Ellie’s inner monologues, especially those where she expresses concern for her daughter, feel very visceral and help readers connect with the character. Xe’s pacing and vocal range are uneven at times, but they suit Ellie’s emotional instability and the unsteady, unsettling vibe of the story.
Vanessa Moyen uses an engaging, expressive voice to portray Amber and authentically captures her youth, vulnerability, and emotional stakes. Amber expresses a myriad of emotions towards her mother, from empathy to concern to anger to resentment—and Moyen conveys each of these with impressive acting skills and a wide range of emotional intensity!
Wayne Mitchell gives a very convincing performance of the male characters in the book, including the serial killer, for whom he uses a dark, gritty, and intense-sounding voice to vividly bring the antagonist to life. His performance is a big contrast to the other narrators and really helps balance the overall listening experience. His smooth, commanding voice is also easy to follow and very helpful in a story with multiple POVs and time shifts.
If you’re considering the audiobook, it’s good to know that all three narrators give solid performances that complement each other, and the emotional and suspenseful scenes are well executed and immersive. Readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers, puzzle plots, and multicast audiobooks with distinct narrator performances will enjoy this one!
