Spider to the Fly is a gripping serial killer thriller that pulls you in and refuses to let go. Ellie Isles is a fascinating protagonist—flawed, obsessive, and utterly compelling—as she chases the truth behind the I-64 Strangler. The mix of true crime obsession, doppelgänger mystery, and a relentless hunt for justice creates a dark, chilling atmosphere.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC of Spider to the Fly prior to its publication.

Ellie Isles is definitely a helicopter mom. Although eighteen and almost ready for college, her daughter Amber is kept under tight control. Or so Ellie thinks.

Due to her difficult childhood, Ellie has always been suspicious of others, and the lives of the famous Brock family have definitely been in her sights ever since their adopted daughter Sherry was murdered by the I-64 killer. Absolutely convinced that Sherry was her twin despite the Brocks refusal to accept the idea, Ellie has been determined to prove otherwise, not realising just what horrors she is about to uncover.

I love this 5* author and his working of the genre. Always clever writing and great plots, a new book by Markert is a treat.

The premise of this book was excellent and a very clever plot line. Fast moving and twisty, the reader is sent from one supposition to another, never quite knowing where the Spider was.

The only negative I have is that the arc seemed like a very early working of the book, and whilst I appreciate an arc is most definitely not the final article, this seemed to be too raw and needed work, with a fair few errors, and a bit muddy in the middle. I’m sure this will all be sorted before the final edit.

A good 4.5* that will easily be upped when the book is finalised.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the egalley of this book.

Ellie Isles first became obsessed with the I-64 murders when she saw her own face on one of the victims. Identical to every detail, the woman wasn’t her, but she could have been. Compelled to discover the story of her doppleganger’s death, Ellie wrote a bestselling true crime book about the serial killer, dubbed “the Spider.”

Four years later, the Spider still hasn't been caught, and his victim count is climbing. Many of the bodies remain unidentified, but with Ellie’s online network of true crime followers, that’s slowly changing. Together they’ve pooled information to create a massive database that tracks people at risk of becoming Jane and John Does–the homeless, the drug-addicted, and downtrodden–with the hopes that if they become victims, they might at least be identified.

Now that Ellie has successfully identified multiple victims, the law enforcement task force tracking down the Spider pulls her in to help–and after Ellie’s therapist is arrested for the murders she is more determined than ever to help catch the Spider.

I liked the premise of this book, but it just fell short of the mark for me. It seemed to me that thd book could have used more work. It felt like I was reading an early draft of the book instead if ghd completed novel. 3 out of 5 ⭐️

I love this author and was so excited to see this new story. A serial killer named the Spider has killed tons of women over many years with no end in sight. Ellie became drawn to the crimes when one of the victims looked so similar to her that they could have been identical twins. That was years ago, and ever since, she has become obsessed with creating an online community and writing a book about crimes.

Her online group is one of the coolest aspects of the story, as it spreads facts about the unidentified (and unloved, unsearched for) victims all over the country in hopes of identifying them through descriptions, locations, etc. Because America is obsessed with serial killers, thousands join the network to assist. And it actually worked in several cases, which is why law enforcement grudgingly gives Ellie access to inside information on the investigations. You might think that would never happen, but at this point, the police and FBI are desperate, and she gets results.

So that’s where we’re at when the story starts, but an incident soon occurs that sets off a wave of memories for Ellie and others who find themselves caught up in something huge that just might change everything about the case. It’s hard not to give anything away, I can’t even hint at anything without it spoiling parts of the story. I just want to say “it involves….” or “if you love stories about…” but I can’t!

Like all of his stories, this author doesn’t just write horror to be shocking or gory for the sake of it, he has intricate plots, and this one is no different. And there’s no supernatural aspects, because humans are horrific enough. We don’t just cause physical damage to one another, it’s the psychological damage we inflict that can leave the worst scars.

I really wanted to love this book more than I did. Fantastic premise with a really creepy villain, super interesting plot and sub plots and some cool characters. However, it read more like a rough draft and didn't seem fully finished to me. It needs more fleshing out to truly be the book that it could be. The writing style also didn't grab me and I struggled to get into the book, even though the plot was fantastic!

Ellie at first seems like a typical single mother. As her daughter Amber will be going to college soon, some of Ellie’s fears bubble to the surface. She had a harrowing childhood in the foster care system and seems overly afraid of men. But why? All will be revealed.
Ellie supports them by running a website dedicated to solving crimes. The one that haunts her the most, was the 17th victim of the I– 64 serial killer. A woman named Sherry, who looks like she could be Ellie’s twin…
I’m going to avoid becoming the fly caught in the spider’s web and just say a lot of facts about Ellie’s early childhood emerge. When Ellie’s therapist is arrested and charged with the crimes that have consumed her for years, she sets to work learning who is guilty and who is just caught in this intricately woven web.
Ellie did manage to do one thing( just one) that had me rolling my eyes. Other than that, the surprises kept coming and how do I say this without giving anything away…… One twist really caught me off guard.
I read the majority of this book on my treadmill this week. Every morning, the 60 minutes, just flew by. 4.5 stars.

My rating: 3.5 starts rounded up to 4

Spider To The Fly is a psychological thriller by J. H. Markert that immediately caught my attention with its intriguing title and striking cover. After reading the blurb, I couldn’t wait to dive in over the weekend. I’m a sucker for stories featuring amateur sleuths and true crime authors, and this novel’s premise was especially compelling. Markert successfully crafts a layered narrative that blends psychological thriller elements with family drama and a hint of horror. If horror isn’t your thing, don’t let that deter you - the story is undeniably chilling and shocking at times, but it only lightly dips into the horror genre. I was completely engrossed and was able to easily finish the book in a day.

This story is packed with intricate details, a complex narrative, and a large cast of characters - all within a relatively short length. I don’t say this often, but in this case, a longer novel might have been beneficial. Much of this story relies on the gradual unraveling of the characters' backstories, which shape their motivations and actions. A longer narrative would have allowed past events to unfold more naturally rather than through information dumps. In psychological thrillers, themes like trauma, obsession, guilt, and morality need to be fully explored to create a deeper impact. If these themes aren’t well-developed, the psychological depth of the story can feel superficial. More pages would have allowed for deeper character development and richer backstories, and gradually revealing subtle personality traits and motivations would have made the characters feel more authentic. While I felt I got to know Ellie Isles and her daughter Amber well, further depth in the secondary characters could have added more complexity to the narrative and made the characters feel more organic.

Spider To The Fly has a compelling premise and engrossing storyline, but I feel Markert missed the chance to fully develop his characters, their backstories, and the trauma that shaped them. A deeper exploration of these elements could have strengthened the plot and made the story more immersive. Unfortunately, for me the suspense fell a little flat, making the twists more predictable and less impactful.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and J. H. Markert for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really wanted to love Spider to the Fly by J.H. Markert. The premise sounded so promising: a true crime junkie obsessed with catching a serial killer, a creepy database of Jane and John Does, and that whole haunting vibe of a long lost twin lurking in the background. I’m a sucker for a dark thriller, especially one with a horror twist and a Stephen King-esque chill. But honestly, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me, and I’m kind of bummed about it.

Let’s start with Ellie. She’s this driven, slightly unhinged bit traumatized woman who’s built an online empire tracking unidentified victims, hoping to give them names. I liked that idea—it’s noble in a gritty, messed-up way. But then the book just… keeps going with that same note. She’s manic, sure, but after a while, it felt like she was spinning her wheels instead of growing or surprising me. I kept waiting for her to do something that’d make me root for her, but she just stayed stuck in this loop of obsession that got old fast.

The killer himself? He’s creepy enough with his stats including dozens of murdered women via spider bites and a fly in the mouth that he feeds baby batter to? Gross, yikes, deranged. Alas, the plot starts piling on all these extra threads, like Ellie’s twin thing, the task force, random side characters who don’t really go anywhere… and it’s like the book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. A serial killer chase? A personal redemption story? A horror flick? It’s all there, but it’s a jumbled mess. I remember sitting on my couch, my dog snoring next to me, thinking, “Okay, can we just focus on *one* thing here?”

I’ll give it this: Markert knows how to write atmosphere. The bit where Ellie visits some sketchy alley to chase a lead, the fog rolling in, the shadows twitching—it’s straight out of a nightmare, and I was into it. But the payoff? Meh. The twists felt forced. And don’t get me started on the ending. Without spoiling it, let’s just say it left me flipping back a page, wondering if I missed something, because it didn’t tie up half the stuff I cared about.

All in all, Spider to the Fly felt like a rough draft that needed a tighter edit. It’s not terrible; it’s just… fine. It had potential and a few creepy moments that stuck with me, but I wouldn’t reread it. If you’re new to Markert, maybe start with The Nightmare Man.

I bet you I have a twin out there somewhere, and he’s probably the charming, socially competent, perpetually unbothered, capably confident one. That must be why I got all the other traits.

This book was good. It’s definitely the best I’ve read from Markert. I was engrossed from page one, and I rarely diverged from that feeling throughout. Ellie Isles is resplendent, and I hope she becomes the nucleus of a series. Consider me part of the Spider Web.

This does require some suspension of disbelief because, honestly the twins thing is kind of wild, but set your incredulity aside, and this one shines. I mean, we’re all a little afraid of spiders and flies, right? This taps into that primal fear, and twists its unrelenting fangs, leaving nothing but bodily fluids and tattered flesh behind.

Wow. I really really really REALLY loved this. It might be my favorite book of this authors yet. I lowkey want to see these characters again in another novel. The story was amazing, there were so many twists and turns. Multi-narrator but it works for the story. See if you catch the twist I didn’t see coming. Chefs kiss, magnificent, all the stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the copy of this ARC. This will be out in September of 2025.

- [ ] I am, self-proclaimed of course, J. H. Market’s biggest fan, and this book has done nothing to change that. Honestly, this might be his best book yet, and that’s saying something because they’ve all been 5⭐️ reads. When I got the approval for this from NetGalley, I literally dropped everything and started reading this. And I am so very glad that I did, because damn, what a web he weaves in this book (yes, pun intended). The beginning of this book is a little disjointed as he jumps around establishing the characters and the storyline, but by about 15% in, it all clicks together and it is amazing. Market’s writing is addicting and his storytelling is truly next level. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. This was such a multilayered mystery, that every reveal was mind blowing. The premise of this book was so unique and the entire plot was so well and thoroughly developed. He threw in twist after twist and I still never saw the biggest one coming. It was jaw dropping for sure. The characters were well developed, the feelings were raw and real, and as the reader you felt connected to the characters and their struggles. The ending was phenomenal and honestly broke my heart a little bit. This was a truly amazing read, I’m still thinking about it. 5/5⭐️

Ellie, a journalist who made a name for herself covering “The Spider,” a serial killer whose victims bear distinctive spider bites, is stunned when one of them, Sherry, turns out to be her exact double. The discovery forces her to question whether she had a twin and to dig deep into her fragmented past.
Meanwhile, her daughter, Amber, takes a risky approach to uncover the truth, inserting herself into the Brock family, who may hold the key to the mystery.

A suspensville mystery by a talented author…secrets and red herrings…even the title is intriguing…some language could be left out…thanks Netgalley

Such a great book. Couldn't stop reading it. Thank you for my advance reader copy. Can't wait to look up other books from this author.

I loved this book. The story was enthralling and unique. I will absolutely be recommending this book to anyone who needs a good suspense read.

I found it more difficult than than I’d hoped to get into this book, but maybe it’s just me! I loved the premise and the twists. My only issue was the formatting. Obviously these copies aren’t completely finished, but this is the only time the formatting has got in the way of my concentration. Still, a worthwhile read, thanks so much for letting me read it!

Ellie becomes fascinated by a serial killer. After she discovers. One of his victims could be her twin. Her fascination leads her to write a best-selling book about the case, but now years later, the spider as Ellie has dubbed him has still not been caught. Ellie is pulled in by a national task force as they try to hunt the spider and now Ellie is even more invested in finding the real killer after police have an arrested, her therapist for the murders.
This book there’s a good job of portraying the public fascination with crime and serial killers in particular