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The Spider
Two years after the death of his wife, Edward Moss moves back to their remote rural cottage. An old man now, Edward simply wants to spend his final years surrounded by his beloved books. He wants no company and no visits. He wants to be left alone. But there's something else in the cottage with Edward. On his first night, he spots a spider crawling across the wall. He immediately kills the creature and gets back to his books. Then, a few hours later, he sees another spider. Or has the first spider come back to haunt him? The Spider is a story about a man who slowly loses his mind over the course of a single night. When darkness falls, Edward Moss is a proud, determined man with no doubts and no fears. By the time the suns comes up the following morning, everything Edward thought he knew about the world has been thrown into doubt. And all because of a spider he crushed against the wall. But how far will this particular spider go, in order to exact its terrible revenge?
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2017
About the author
Amy Cross
676 books1,704 followersAmy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 4, 2022
A Sticky Ending? 🕷
Old Edward Moss (don’t tell him to his face), wants to be left alone to stagnate on his own, in his old, decrepit cottage.
His first night home, he’s unable to read and relax. He’s constantly interrupted by nosy arachnids, old friends who want to visit, and finally, nightmares from the pages of his torrid, horror books.
He’s tired of check-in calls from his loving family, loud and mysterious bumps from his dead wife’s bedroom.
Will things eventually settle down and go his way? Four fabulous stars ✨✨✨✨.
Old Edward Moss (don’t tell him to his face), wants to be left alone to stagnate on his own, in his old, decrepit cottage.
His first night home, he’s unable to read and relax. He’s constantly interrupted by nosy arachnids, old friends who want to visit, and finally, nightmares from the pages of his torrid, horror books.
He’s tired of check-in calls from his loving family, loud and mysterious bumps from his dead wife’s bedroom.
Will things eventually settle down and go his way? Four fabulous stars ✨✨✨✨.
May 22, 2025
Whatta great concept here. It was like a reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven. Edward, this lonely, old, crotchety miser returns to his previous home. The same home of his deceased wife. As he’s cleaning it out, within hours, the flood of emotions and memories overwhelm him. And a storm emerges outside, as he goes through his own personal hell, all within a few short hours. And, sure enough, you have this tiny little ‘raisin-sized’ arachnid that somehow seems to be dictating everything. And it just won’t stay squished! Now, as a person who gets completely icked out by spiders, the presence of a large one throughout made me uneasy. And you really felt like you were along for the rollercoaster ride with Ed. Amy Cross nailed the feelings of regret, dread, guilt, and fear, as this hateful, tough as nails old man get degraded into a shell of his former self. I may have missed it, but it was a bit unclear why Edward left Nessa in the first place. And some of their relationship dynamics needed a bit more explanation. But beyond those two minor things, I had a great time with this story.
December 22, 2021
The Spider was my introduction to Amy Cross' books and for me it was an awesome introduction.
The challenge I have in writing this review is that I can't really go too deep because it would spoil the structure and the story.
At first I wasn't loving this one because I thought maybe the first third of it wasn't immersive enough. Didn't give me enough set up imagery and emotional content as I would have liked. But that isn't enough to knock it down to four stars.
Amy Cross took me on a story-telling ride and by the time I got to the end I realized she'd had the entire narrative neatly planned. There was a reason for everything she did. I see that now. And I love that about this. I finished last night and when I got to the end I was so satisfied. I went to sleep, smiling, knowing that I'd just enjoyed a really good story.
It was creepy without being violent. It surprised me. It was very well written. And I really liked being able to think back on it and seeing how it all came together.
I very much look forward to shifting more of Amy Cross' books from my "TBR" pile to my "Read" pile.
The challenge I have in writing this review is that I can't really go too deep because it would spoil the structure and the story.
At first I wasn't loving this one because I thought maybe the first third of it wasn't immersive enough. Didn't give me enough set up imagery and emotional content as I would have liked. But that isn't enough to knock it down to four stars.
Amy Cross took me on a story-telling ride and by the time I got to the end I realized she'd had the entire narrative neatly planned. There was a reason for everything she did. I see that now. And I love that about this. I finished last night and when I got to the end I was so satisfied. I went to sleep, smiling, knowing that I'd just enjoyed a really good story.
It was creepy without being violent. It surprised me. It was very well written. And I really liked being able to think back on it and seeing how it all came together.
I very much look forward to shifting more of Amy Cross' books from my "TBR" pile to my "Read" pile.
January 27, 2023
I knew where this story was going, quite literally, from the first page. It is very rare that I can say that about Amy Cross. Usually, she will build a story from an established horror trope, and somewhere along the line she will twist the plot to the point where you marvel at what she has done. This is one of the things I love from this favored author. Another thing is that she writes almost constantly. In fifteen years of professional writing, she has published almost 300 novels. She is quite prolific. The Spider is not one of her best books, because it was extremely predictable. Like I wrote at the initiating of this review, I knew where she was going. Getting there was boring. Nothing happens. The novel has a very atmospheric pall that hangs over every word like Poe, but less skilled. I'm willing to call this an oddity because I have a track record with Cross and usually, I'm blown away, impressed. Not very much, here.
December 24, 2021
So, so good! I loved every word of this short psychological horror.
December 19, 2021
Spider Invasion?
A backstory:
Edward Moss has moved back into his home that he had left after his wife, Nessa had passed away. After being gone for two years, he has decided that it is time to move on with his life and he has decided to fix up the house that he had shared with his wife. When Edward starts seeing spiders he wants to kill them so he tries to hunt them down and killing them.
Edward finally starts losing his grip on reality though when he thinks the spiders are invading his mind and body along with him thinking he sees shadows and a ghost of his beloved Nessa.
Are the spiders real? Or are they just in Edward's mind? Is Edward really seeing the ghost of Nessa? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
I felt sympathy for the character, Edward as he was still going through a mourning process of his wife that had died, so I could see where his mind might not be fully intact as he seemed vulnerable to what was happening in the house with the spiders.
This book was different and at times I felt a drag-down because it seemed to have a little bit of repetition and slowing of the storyline, but then something would happen to pick the pace right back up. There was a major twist at the end that I didn't see coming which threw the book into overdrive and I ended up finishing it during the night!
With books by this author, I never know what to expect as Amy Cross never stays in one world with her stories. She is always unpredictable with what kind of story she will have next and I love it because I never know what will be waiting for me on the other side of the door! Giving this one four Spooky Spider stars!
For thoughts and images, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
A backstory:
Edward Moss has moved back into his home that he had left after his wife, Nessa had passed away. After being gone for two years, he has decided that it is time to move on with his life and he has decided to fix up the house that he had shared with his wife. When Edward starts seeing spiders he wants to kill them so he tries to hunt them down and killing them.
Edward finally starts losing his grip on reality though when he thinks the spiders are invading his mind and body along with him thinking he sees shadows and a ghost of his beloved Nessa.
Are the spiders real? Or are they just in Edward's mind? Is Edward really seeing the ghost of Nessa? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
I felt sympathy for the character, Edward as he was still going through a mourning process of his wife that had died, so I could see where his mind might not be fully intact as he seemed vulnerable to what was happening in the house with the spiders.
This book was different and at times I felt a drag-down because it seemed to have a little bit of repetition and slowing of the storyline, but then something would happen to pick the pace right back up. There was a major twist at the end that I didn't see coming which threw the book into overdrive and I ended up finishing it during the night!
With books by this author, I never know what to expect as Amy Cross never stays in one world with her stories. She is always unpredictable with what kind of story she will have next and I love it because I never know what will be waiting for me on the other side of the door! Giving this one four Spooky Spider stars!
For thoughts and images, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
March 6, 2018
I loved this quick slip into madness. Spiders can be nasty little buggers and this one kept me thirsty for more and guessing until the very last page. And oh the internal monologue, the language was dripping with richness. Cross knocked this right out of the park.
December 18, 2021
Absolutely entertaining. Not going to lie, I was pretty nervous about this book. I hate spiders, abhor them even. I tremble and get nauseated when I see the little bastards move. So a book about a haunted spider that won't die, usually a big nope for me. But I put on my brave face and dove in, with some new horror buddies cheering me on.
If this had been just straight up arachniphobia type shit from the jump I'd have probably tapped out. I very rarely DNF a book but I also value my sanity. But it wasn't. It was a story about a grumpy old dude going back home to the house he shared with his wife who had passed 2 years prior. He was a pompous dick but he really seemed to have loved his wife. And he loved books so he can't be all bad. Then he killed a spider (a big one y'all) and shit go weird.
So mostly this seemed to be a haunting story, a pretty good one. There was one point, 71-72% in on my Kindle, that I had to take a break because damn! The climax was commendable, I really enjoyed that. All in all a solid read for me. Would definitely recommend. And I am proud of myself for making it through this!
Last thought, did Dave make it home ok?
If this had been just straight up arachniphobia type shit from the jump I'd have probably tapped out. I very rarely DNF a book but I also value my sanity. But it wasn't. It was a story about a grumpy old dude going back home to the house he shared with his wife who had passed 2 years prior. He was a pompous dick but he really seemed to have loved his wife. And he loved books so he can't be all bad. Then he killed a spider (a big one y'all) and shit go weird.
So mostly this seemed to be a haunting story, a pretty good one. There was one point, 71-72% in on my Kindle, that I had to take a break because damn! The climax was commendable, I really enjoyed that. All in all a solid read for me. Would definitely recommend. And I am proud of myself for making it through this!
Last thought, did Dave make it home ok?
December 18, 2021
With the mixture of reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. People either love or hate this story it seems. There's a few 3 stars, but most of them seem so negative. Maybe I'm biased because I'm a Cross fan, but this story wasn't bad. The ending was WOW. The descriptions were graphic. I could feel spiders inside my skin at one point. I felt like a few parts were drawn out too long and that it felt ALMOST boring in parts, but the ending redeemed everything. If I had to compare it to something, it'd be the
September 22, 2019
Amy Cross does it again! This is the 3rd Amy Cross book I've read and I absolutely loved it! So creepy!
March 4, 2023
This is a lovely little novella.
Easy to read and gets you hooked from the first page. It reminded me a lot of The Raven by Poe, a man tormented by a creature and driven into the depths of his own insanity. A great little read
Easy to read and gets you hooked from the first page. It reminded me a lot of The Raven by Poe, a man tormented by a creature and driven into the depths of his own insanity. A great little read
May 6, 2022
If spiders have no ears, how do they keep their glasses on?
There's something very Edgar Allen Poe-ish about this story. Or maybe a touch of Lovecraft? Anyway, strong visuals set the scene beautifully. And of course, it's a dark and stormy night...with spiders and ghosts. Get the picture? Read this to your friends around the campfire.
The only negative was...umm...nothing!
There's something very Edgar Allen Poe-ish about this story. Or maybe a touch of Lovecraft? Anyway, strong visuals set the scene beautifully. And of course, it's a dark and stormy night...with spiders and ghosts. Get the picture? Read this to your friends around the campfire.
The only negative was...umm...nothing!
April 29, 2018
ONE STORMY NIGHT
This is a scary story that takes place during one traumatic stormy night. The atmosphere was creepy and compelling. It frightened me and I recommend it. Amy Cross has an amazing imagination which comes through in her novels.
This is a scary story that takes place during one traumatic stormy night. The atmosphere was creepy and compelling. It frightened me and I recommend it. Amy Cross has an amazing imagination which comes through in her novels.
January 5, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this strange little tale, a ghost story with a satisfying twist at the end. Well done Amy Cross.
December 30, 2021
I finished this story in a single sitting and I'm also coming out of it as Team Spider...
December 17, 2017
Short weird story.
October 4, 2018
Excellent
How can anyone not like books by Amy Cross? Her writing encompasses many different subjects, and she is knowledgeable about many different areas. The Spider is an excellent example. I am constantly amazed by her vast range of subjects. Love her works.
How can anyone not like books by Amy Cross? Her writing encompasses many different subjects, and she is knowledgeable about many different areas. The Spider is an excellent example. I am constantly amazed by her vast range of subjects. Love her works.
January 9, 2022
truly creepy
Does Amy Cross have any bad books out there because everyone of them are good and this one is no exception. I am literally shocked that she is not a bigger name than she is. The story here loved it right from the get go, An old man whose wife had died two years prior moved back to the cottage that they both lived in. Upon arriving at the cottage, he spots a spider and kills it. However nothing in this cottage is what it seems. The spider keeps coming back. Is it truly the spider or is he completely losing his mind? This is what you have to answer as you’re reading through this book. But there’s so much more than just the spider in the cottage. I was amazed by this and it actually rips at your heartstrings also some of the parts but all in all this was a very good creepy story about a simple thing as a spider. I highly recommend this book as I do every one of hers that I’ve read so far, it’s a short read should be able to finish it pretty quickly but it is a fantastic story that is very creepy and will tear your heart strings. Definitely check this one out!
Does Amy Cross have any bad books out there because everyone of them are good and this one is no exception. I am literally shocked that she is not a bigger name than she is. The story here loved it right from the get go, An old man whose wife had died two years prior moved back to the cottage that they both lived in. Upon arriving at the cottage, he spots a spider and kills it. However nothing in this cottage is what it seems. The spider keeps coming back. Is it truly the spider or is he completely losing his mind? This is what you have to answer as you’re reading through this book. But there’s so much more than just the spider in the cottage. I was amazed by this and it actually rips at your heartstrings also some of the parts but all in all this was a very good creepy story about a simple thing as a spider. I highly recommend this book as I do every one of hers that I’ve read so far, it’s a short read should be able to finish it pretty quickly but it is a fantastic story that is very creepy and will tear your heart strings. Definitely check this one out!
October 30, 2019
My first book by this author. The entire book describes the events of a single night. Pretty decent for a short horror read, although I could smell the ending from a mile away. It is kind of dragged out - could've been much shorter, but it nevertheless kept me engaged till the end because the writing is pretty good. Not the scariest horror stories I've read, but not the worst either. You'd enjoy it if spiders give you the creeps, or maybe not?
It does make me want to explore more books written by this author!
It does make me want to explore more books written by this author!
December 24, 2017
Although I am not 'scared' of spiders, I certainly do not like them very much .. I cannot say much without giving away the plot, but I had a couple of scenarios running through my head as to what the outcome may be .. The way the irrational was shown as being rational and the final twist was very clever .. I have given this read an additional star for making me think of Blithe Spirit, and laugh out loud .. But I will keep hoovering my spiders up ..
December 11, 2022
RA
Trademark Amy Cross. Sloppy writing (a glass of water left full for two years???), but BRILLIANT IMAGINATION. This story takes the ghost theme to an eigth dimension! Amy is very good at getting inside the head of her characters: in multiple ways! With such a fertile and outlandish imagination it's why she's one of my favourite writers, despite her writing going CLUNK in the night. And it's satisfying she NEVER gives you a cheap or cheerful ending.
Trademark Amy Cross. Sloppy writing (a glass of water left full for two years???), but BRILLIANT IMAGINATION. This story takes the ghost theme to an eigth dimension! Amy is very good at getting inside the head of her characters: in multiple ways! With such a fertile and outlandish imagination it's why she's one of my favourite writers, despite her writing going CLUNK in the night. And it's satisfying she NEVER gives you a cheap or cheerful ending.
April 8, 2018
Was good but kinda figured it out early on, not up to Me Cross earlier books but worth reading of you hate creepy crawlers and ghostly bumps in the night, and slippers, lol read this book and you will understand the joke
The book was worth reading , I enjoyed it O also believe we all know someone like the main Character so sometimes you just want them to get what they deserve!
The book was worth reading , I enjoyed it O also believe we all know someone like the main Character so sometimes you just want them to get what they deserve!
June 16, 2022
Amazing book . The story pulls you in, and there is nice story but a little dark The more your read, Amy Cross books are an easy read but The way she writes is incredible, she grips you with every chapter and it makes you read more a more, the spider is an amazing book, and how a spider can change a life
Deffently going to be be reading more Amy Cross books
Deffently going to be be reading more Amy Cross books
December 31, 2017
Arachnophobia
This book is a fast and out of this world read. Now I suffer from Arachnophobia but this book is lunacy at its finest. I normally love to read books by Amy Cross but this one is making me want to rethink about buying another.
This book is a fast and out of this world read. Now I suffer from Arachnophobia but this book is lunacy at its finest. I normally love to read books by Amy Cross but this one is making me want to rethink about buying another.
January 2, 2018
Not worth 99p
This is the first book of this author I haven't got past the 60th page
Nothing happened at all during the most tedious dragged out read.
I cannot recommend this book to any other reader and sadly I must confirm its the worst read I have attempted for Sometime
This is the first book of this author I haven't got past the 60th page
Nothing happened at all during the most tedious dragged out read.
I cannot recommend this book to any other reader and sadly I must confirm its the worst read I have attempted for Sometime
January 21, 2018
Disappointed
Amy Cross is my favorite author so I was very disappointed with this story. Very boring and nothing jumps out at you or has any characters to connect with. I had to force myself to finish it. Definitely a waste of time and money.
Amy Cross is my favorite author so I was very disappointed with this story. Very boring and nothing jumps out at you or has any characters to connect with. I had to force myself to finish it. Definitely a waste of time and money.
September 21, 2018
Not one of the best & as an arachnaphobe I was dubious about a book with a spider ghost in it. Strange little tale of how life can seemingly change so much in 24 hours with another totally unexpected twist at the end 👻
July 3, 2019
I don’t usually get scared by horror stories...
...but this one had me spooked! The narrative gripped me from the outset and held on until the last word. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Now if I can just get to sleep...
...but this one had me spooked! The narrative gripped me from the outset and held on until the last word. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Now if I can just get to sleep...
November 30, 2023
The Spider
Wow! That was quite a story. I love the books from the Strange Tales Collection by Amy Cross who writes the most wonderful interesting books. I will read all of them in time. Thank you, Amy.
Wow! That was quite a story. I love the books from the Strange Tales Collection by Amy Cross who writes the most wonderful interesting books. I will read all of them in time. Thank you, Amy.
December 15, 2017
Absolutly loved the story. So simple yet so effective. Brilliant I would love to read more like this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews