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The Spider: Inside the Tangled Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
Who was Jeffrey Epstein? A Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist unearths never-before-reported details in the most comprehensive account yet of the disgraced financier’s life, death, and criminal web, including the role of Ghislaine Maxwell.An ID Book Club Selection • Featured in the Peacock original documentary series Epstein’s Ghislaine MaxwellBy now, the basic contours of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrendous crimes—his decades-long serial abuse of young women and underage girls—are familiar. But for all that has been written about Epstein since his shocking death in a lower Manhattan jail cell, an astonishing amount remains unknown. A shy Brooklyn kid turned renegade financier, Jeffrey Epstein never wanted to play by the rules of polite society. He was elusive in life and he has remained just as elusive in death. What is known is that he had amassed nearly $600 million by the time of his death. That fortune allowed Epstein to pursue a privileged, secretive life, jetting between his fortress-like homes in Manhattan, New Mexico, and Little St. James, his private island. Behind these closed doors, Epstein socialized with scientists and world leaders and preyed on powerless young women. In The Spider, Barry Levine shines a light into the darkest corners of Epstein’s world, including • Epstein’s young adulthood and earliest accusations of sexual misconduct• the murky sources of Epstein’s fortune and business dealings
• Epstein’s circle of confidantes and employees, particularly the nature of his long relationship with socialite Ghislaine Maxwell• his ties to powerful men, including Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Les Wexner, and Donald Trump• Epstein’s last hours as a free man in Paris and the secret operation to arrest him at a New Jersey airport before he could flee• new details on Epstein’s final days in jail and the mystery surrounding his death Featuring rare and never-before-seen photographs, The Spider exposes how Epstein operated and evaded justice for so long—and how he drew so many others into his criminal web.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2020
410 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
About the author
Barry Levine
2 books13 followersBarry Levine is a veteran investigative reporter and editor in print and television. He received the HuffPost’s “Game Changer” award in 2010 and led a reporting team to a Pulitzer Prize nomination for investigative reporting and national news reporting. He is the co-author of All the President's Women and lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 27, 2023
This is a good reporting on the life of Jeffrey Epstein. Barry Levine tells the story in a straightforward way. There is no sensationalism.
Levine answered questions I’ve had since Epstein was in the news. I didn’t follow it closely, so I might have missed things. In lieu of a review, here are the questions I had had, that were answered by this book - since you may have had these questions too:
• Epstein is called a “financier” but I had seen no evidence of this, i.e. no office, no staff, not even a computer in the shots of his mansions. How did he do this? Answer: He seems to be a “go to” guy for finance. If your employees embezzled your money, he can recover it (how he does this left to your imagination, but from his witness intimidation, you get an idea). If you embezzled the money, he could help you too. He was expert at hiding money and assets. He created Ponzi schemes as he did with the promise of taking over PanAm Airlines.
• Where are the surveillance tapes that were reported to be in every room including toilets? Possible answers: 1) A man named Patrick Kessler claimed to have them – but he has disappeared. 2) Ghuislaine Maxwell (now in custody awaiting trial) may have them and use them as bargaining chips. 3) John Mark Dougan, who did a 5 year stint on the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office claims to have them. He now lives in Russia, which leads to the speculation that these may be the “kompromit” Putin has on Trump and others.
- Jane Doe's charge that the abuses took place in NYC, Palm Beach, the Virgin Islands and New Albany, Ohio. Why New Albany, Ohio? Answer: Early in his career, Epstein met Henry Wexner, owner of The Limited and other national brands who lived there. Wexner was obviously conned. He gave Epstein, not just a building on the grounds of his New Albany estate, but also ownership of his NYC townhouse, and major roles in managing his assets. One of those assets was Victoria’s Secret, which Epstein used to lure teens with promises of modeling for the company.
-You learn that he paid the girls $200 – 1,000 per assignment. Did the “guests” pay Epstein or was this just a way to build his rolodex? This question is not answered.
There is a lot more here. If you are interested in Epstein and how he built his empire, his legal standing, the issues of his death and the life and role of Ghislaine Maxwell, you don’t need to look any further. This is well written and informative.
Levine answered questions I’ve had since Epstein was in the news. I didn’t follow it closely, so I might have missed things. In lieu of a review, here are the questions I had had, that were answered by this book - since you may have had these questions too:
• Epstein is called a “financier” but I had seen no evidence of this, i.e. no office, no staff, not even a computer in the shots of his mansions. How did he do this? Answer: He seems to be a “go to” guy for finance. If your employees embezzled your money, he can recover it (how he does this left to your imagination, but from his witness intimidation, you get an idea). If you embezzled the money, he could help you too. He was expert at hiding money and assets. He created Ponzi schemes as he did with the promise of taking over PanAm Airlines.
• Where are the surveillance tapes that were reported to be in every room including toilets? Possible answers: 1) A man named Patrick Kessler claimed to have them – but he has disappeared. 2) Ghuislaine Maxwell (now in custody awaiting trial) may have them and use them as bargaining chips. 3) John Mark Dougan, who did a 5 year stint on the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office claims to have them. He now lives in Russia, which leads to the speculation that these may be the “kompromit” Putin has on Trump and others.
- Jane Doe's charge that the abuses took place in NYC, Palm Beach, the Virgin Islands and New Albany, Ohio. Why New Albany, Ohio? Answer: Early in his career, Epstein met Henry Wexner, owner of The Limited and other national brands who lived there. Wexner was obviously conned. He gave Epstein, not just a building on the grounds of his New Albany estate, but also ownership of his NYC townhouse, and major roles in managing his assets. One of those assets was Victoria’s Secret, which Epstein used to lure teens with promises of modeling for the company.
-You learn that he paid the girls $200 – 1,000 per assignment. Did the “guests” pay Epstein or was this just a way to build his rolodex? This question is not answered.
There is a lot more here. If you are interested in Epstein and how he built his empire, his legal standing, the issues of his death and the life and role of Ghislaine Maxwell, you don’t need to look any further. This is well written and informative.
October 26, 2020
After watching Filthy Rich some time I ago, I was waiting for a perfect book that dig deeper into Epstein's criminal web. I found Levine's investigative work astonishing, he really unearths never-before-reported details of yet of Epstein’s life, death, and his web, including the role of Ghislaine Maxwell- a character as mysterious and complex as Epstein.
Ultimately we know that Epstein's wealth amassed nearly $600 million by the time of his death. This allowed him to ultimately pursue a life of privileges, "anonymity", and impunity. Levine successfully shines some light into different aspects of Epstein's life, including his childhood, his first sexual offences, his ability to make connections with high profile people (including the Clintons, and even shadier ones, like arm dealers). Additionally, he digs deep into the murky details surrounding his death and leaves an open question as if this was a suicide or foul play.
Perhaps what has been so intriguing for me, was the psychological part of a person such as Jeffrey Epstein. Clearly he was a sexual predator, but what could possible lead him to this? Information provided by Levine, shows no apparent childhood trauma (such as possible abuse, either parent abusive relationship, early exposure to sexual trauma). His personality pathology (IMO) portray a narcissistic personality, highly manipulative and very hedonistic- driven to satisfy cravings and urges. He was highly intelligent, with an almost antisocial disorder. His crimes, were highly calculated and he did not act on impulses alone. He waited to commit his first crimes when he knew he had enough power and risks were diminished. His capacity to make people dependent on him just blows my mind. How he was able to control and use his money to do this. This is what happens when a Narcissist is not stopped.
Being stripped of people praising him, asking for guidance, outside his comfort zone and alone must have been extremely enduring both physical and mentally. However, I doubt a person as narcissistic as Epstein could commit suicide. Levine's information questions not just the murky circumstances surrounding Epstein and his final hours, but how the MCC personnel acted, no cameras working, 2 guards sleeping, no DNA testing, and inconsistencies with the autopsy results.
Justice was not served, and his acquaintances participating in his criminal web should also be looked at (including the Prince). They also committed an offence by sexually molesting under aged girls. Why there is no consequences for these high profile people?
Ultimately we know that Epstein's wealth amassed nearly $600 million by the time of his death. This allowed him to ultimately pursue a life of privileges, "anonymity", and impunity. Levine successfully shines some light into different aspects of Epstein's life, including his childhood, his first sexual offences, his ability to make connections with high profile people (including the Clintons, and even shadier ones, like arm dealers). Additionally, he digs deep into the murky details surrounding his death and leaves an open question as if this was a suicide or foul play.
Perhaps what has been so intriguing for me, was the psychological part of a person such as Jeffrey Epstein. Clearly he was a sexual predator, but what could possible lead him to this? Information provided by Levine, shows no apparent childhood trauma (such as possible abuse, either parent abusive relationship, early exposure to sexual trauma). His personality pathology (IMO) portray a narcissistic personality, highly manipulative and very hedonistic- driven to satisfy cravings and urges. He was highly intelligent, with an almost antisocial disorder. His crimes, were highly calculated and he did not act on impulses alone. He waited to commit his first crimes when he knew he had enough power and risks were diminished. His capacity to make people dependent on him just blows my mind. How he was able to control and use his money to do this. This is what happens when a Narcissist is not stopped.
Being stripped of people praising him, asking for guidance, outside his comfort zone and alone must have been extremely enduring both physical and mentally. However, I doubt a person as narcissistic as Epstein could commit suicide. Levine's information questions not just the murky circumstances surrounding Epstein and his final hours, but how the MCC personnel acted, no cameras working, 2 guards sleeping, no DNA testing, and inconsistencies with the autopsy results.
Justice was not served, and his acquaintances participating in his criminal web should also be looked at (including the Prince). They also committed an offence by sexually molesting under aged girls. Why there is no consequences for these high profile people?
January 7, 2026
If you want a comprehensive look into the Epstein and Maxwell cases, then this is an excellent book to start with. This is well-written and well-researched with citations galore. I'd also recommend Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story, which Levine also references several times.
After reading both books, anything new regarding this case isn't surprising, unfortunately.
I'd also recommend Virginia Roberts Giuffre's memoir, Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, and Sarah Ransome's memoir, Silenced No More: Surviving My Journey to Hell and Back—The Shocking True Story of Surviving Epstein’s Island and Years of Abuse if you're looking for survivor's stories.
Season 1 of the podcast, BROKEN: Jeffrey Epstein, gives a good rundown of the case. But if you've been following the story, it's nothing new. Season 2 is particularly exceptional though. The interviews with Giuffre as she searches for answers are excellent and I'd definitely recommend a listen.
After reading both books, anything new regarding this case isn't surprising, unfortunately.
I'd also recommend Virginia Roberts Giuffre's memoir, Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, and Sarah Ransome's memoir, Silenced No More: Surviving My Journey to Hell and Back—The Shocking True Story of Surviving Epstein’s Island and Years of Abuse if you're looking for survivor's stories.
Season 1 of the podcast, BROKEN: Jeffrey Epstein, gives a good rundown of the case. But if you've been following the story, it's nothing new. Season 2 is particularly exceptional though. The interviews with Giuffre as she searches for answers are excellent and I'd definitely recommend a listen.
December 1, 2020
My two biggest takeaways from the book, other than noting it's good in general, and informative beyond what I already knew, especially given limitations Levine surely faces?
1. Just how much so many law enforcement figures — primarily beat cops, but also detectives and also, it appears, prosecutorial staff, ignored many early reports from many early victims. Places like the Santa Monica Police Department, per one vignette, have blood on their hands.
2. How Levine carefully comes to the "can't tell if it was homicide or suicide" about Epstein's death, including how much the NYC medical examiner's office blew it, including the ME herself not being part of the actual autopsy work. (That one, Levine actually doesn't mention; I'm going beyond him. But, seriously, in a celebrity death like this, how the ME is not herself involved???)
Anyway, that's it. No spoiler alerts otherwise.
1. Just how much so many law enforcement figures — primarily beat cops, but also detectives and also, it appears, prosecutorial staff, ignored many early reports from many early victims. Places like the Santa Monica Police Department, per one vignette, have blood on their hands.
2. How Levine carefully comes to the "can't tell if it was homicide or suicide" about Epstein's death, including how much the NYC medical examiner's office blew it, including the ME herself not being part of the actual autopsy work. (That one, Levine actually doesn't mention; I'm going beyond him. But, seriously, in a celebrity death like this, how the ME is not herself involved???)
Anyway, that's it. No spoiler alerts otherwise.
May 1, 2023
The book suggests it will help answer all the questions surrounding this sick business, but really it does not. At one point Epstein is described as being "charismatic" but later is said to be have "anti-charisma". Certainly he had the capacity to charm many people, although exactly how remains mysterious.
Also unknown is the source of his wealth. Or why his rich buddy Wexner trusted him despite being warned that Epstein was a con artist (Levine suggests that Wexner was lonely and was taken advantage of — but surely that is too simplistic).
There was nothing much new here that one couldn't get from reading a few articles. Many people claim Epstein filmed everything that went on, and the existence and location of all these tapes is a hot topic. Levine does follow a trail to Moscow, where perhaps they arrived in early 2016 (could this alleged material, Levine wonders, "be connected to the kompromat that Vladimir Putin is often rumoured to have on" Epstein's friend, Donald Trump?).
3.5 stars rounded down because the whole filthy rich story is disgusting. Going now to shower in bleach.
Also unknown is the source of his wealth. Or why his rich buddy Wexner trusted him despite being warned that Epstein was a con artist (Levine suggests that Wexner was lonely and was taken advantage of — but surely that is too simplistic).
There was nothing much new here that one couldn't get from reading a few articles. Many people claim Epstein filmed everything that went on, and the existence and location of all these tapes is a hot topic. Levine does follow a trail to Moscow, where perhaps they arrived in early 2016 (could this alleged material, Levine wonders, "be connected to the kompromat that Vladimir Putin is often rumoured to have on" Epstein's friend, Donald Trump?).
3.5 stars rounded down because the whole filthy rich story is disgusting. Going now to shower in bleach.
February 1, 2021
I am a fan of true crime and this case is so intriguing. I learned some new information about Epstein and Maxwell but found Levine's hatred of Donald Trump a bit tiring. He clearly tried to imply that Trump participated in the crimes Epstein and Maxwell committed but glossed over the fact that Bill Clinton and many other high profile democrat politicians were frequent fliers on the Lolita Express. I think it is sad that even investigative journalism is politicized instead of going after the shameless criminals
February 2, 2021
Disturbing true account of a cruel predator whose money and connections sheltered him from responsibility for far too long.
March 10, 2022
4.5 stars.
I need a shower. Preferably one with paint thinner or battery acid, because water alone isn't going to wash this filth off me.
Your level of enjoyment (if that's a word I even want to use in the proximity of this subject) of this book may depend on how much you already know about the case. I went in wanting something more thorough than the stuff I'd watched over the past couple of years, notably the Netflix documentary FILTHY RICH (based on James Patterson's book about Epstein) and the three-part docuseries EPSTEIN'S SHADOW: GHISLANE MAXWELL. I definitely got more thorough from Levine's exhaustive -- and indeed exhausting -- research.
There were even more people involved in the Epstein ring than I realized. Some of the names will be familiar to anyone who watches the news. The Trumps, Clintons, Dershowitzes of the story are already well known. And surely by now everyone knows about Prince Andrew. I was admittedly surprised by a few celebrity names that popped up (lord knows I'll never see another episode of The Simpsons quite the same way), but more than that I found it staggering how many people at every level, from cops to lawyers to politicians to prison guards and everywhere around/in between, managed to keep their mouths shut and allow Epstein's operation to carry on, barely interrupted over the decades. The usual response to a conspiracy theory, and it's one I generally agree with, is that most conspiracies would be impossible to hush up because too many people would blab and the cover would be blown. In this case, though, it was also a matter of people hearing all of the lewd, disgusting details and just...not caring enough to do anything about it.
THE SPIDER covers everything from Epstein's childhood to his death (yes, some theories are explored) in a miserable jail cell, and extends slightly beyond that to the manhunt for and eventual capture of Ghislane Maxwell. I was impressed by the pacing here; sometimes true crime or even nonfiction in general can spend too much time on what the subject was like in fifth grade or whatever, but Levine does an excellent job giving the reader exactly what they need to know before moving on. He knows we're reading because we want to learn more about the stuff that's actually material to the case against this creep, and he spends the vast majority of the book providing exactly that. It's horrible stuff, obviously, and I shuddered more times than I can count, but Levine approaches the subject matter with ample compassion for the victims (so, so many victims) and zero for the people who either committed these repulsive acts or stood by their buddy Epstein and let it happen.
I couldn't quite give it a full 5 stars only because I was comparing it in my mind with Ronan Farrow's CATCH AND KILL, truly a gold standard of this sort of book, and while it probably wasn't Levine's fault that some things are left unanswered I had to go with that grading system in my gut. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harvey Weinstein was also a friend of good ol' Jeff. If I hadn't already been thinking about Farrow's exposé it would have come to me when the two scumbags get mentioned together in later chapters here.
(A few things I'd have liked to read more about: where the hell did Epstein's money come from? We know Les Wexner set him up quite nicely, but $1b+?? He called himself a "financier" but never actually went to a job as far as anyone knows. And what exactly ended his relationship with Maxwell? And what's the deal with the supposed cache of video recordings that some guy took to Russia to hide?? I know, Levine likely would've answered these things if he'd been able, but man, inquiring minds are on fire right now.)
One little aside: I find it telling, and disturbing, that the only negative reviews on GR about this book seem to be by people who take umbrage with any mentions of Trump being involved in the Epstein sex ring. What a weird time to be partisan. You'd think after reading this book we could simply agree that regardless of political stripe every one of these men are pigs, full stop. I guess not.
---
Possibly of interest, either directly related to this case or in a similar vein:
I need a shower. Preferably one with paint thinner or battery acid, because water alone isn't going to wash this filth off me.
I don't want "billionaire pervert" to be the first words in my obituary.
- Jeffrey Epstein
Your level of enjoyment (if that's a word I even want to use in the proximity of this subject) of this book may depend on how much you already know about the case. I went in wanting something more thorough than the stuff I'd watched over the past couple of years, notably the Netflix documentary FILTHY RICH (based on James Patterson's book about Epstein) and the three-part docuseries EPSTEIN'S SHADOW: GHISLANE MAXWELL. I definitely got more thorough from Levine's exhaustive -- and indeed exhausting -- research.
There were even more people involved in the Epstein ring than I realized. Some of the names will be familiar to anyone who watches the news. The Trumps, Clintons, Dershowitzes of the story are already well known. And surely by now everyone knows about Prince Andrew. I was admittedly surprised by a few celebrity names that popped up (lord knows I'll never see another episode of The Simpsons quite the same way), but more than that I found it staggering how many people at every level, from cops to lawyers to politicians to prison guards and everywhere around/in between, managed to keep their mouths shut and allow Epstein's operation to carry on, barely interrupted over the decades. The usual response to a conspiracy theory, and it's one I generally agree with, is that most conspiracies would be impossible to hush up because too many people would blab and the cover would be blown. In this case, though, it was also a matter of people hearing all of the lewd, disgusting details and just...not caring enough to do anything about it.
THE SPIDER covers everything from Epstein's childhood to his death (yes, some theories are explored) in a miserable jail cell, and extends slightly beyond that to the manhunt for and eventual capture of Ghislane Maxwell. I was impressed by the pacing here; sometimes true crime or even nonfiction in general can spend too much time on what the subject was like in fifth grade or whatever, but Levine does an excellent job giving the reader exactly what they need to know before moving on. He knows we're reading because we want to learn more about the stuff that's actually material to the case against this creep, and he spends the vast majority of the book providing exactly that. It's horrible stuff, obviously, and I shuddered more times than I can count, but Levine approaches the subject matter with ample compassion for the victims (so, so many victims) and zero for the people who either committed these repulsive acts or stood by their buddy Epstein and let it happen.
I couldn't quite give it a full 5 stars only because I was comparing it in my mind with Ronan Farrow's CATCH AND KILL, truly a gold standard of this sort of book, and while it probably wasn't Levine's fault that some things are left unanswered I had to go with that grading system in my gut. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harvey Weinstein was also a friend of good ol' Jeff. If I hadn't already been thinking about Farrow's exposé it would have come to me when the two scumbags get mentioned together in later chapters here.
(A few things I'd have liked to read more about: where the hell did Epstein's money come from? We know Les Wexner set him up quite nicely, but $1b+?? He called himself a "financier" but never actually went to a job as far as anyone knows. And what exactly ended his relationship with Maxwell? And what's the deal with the supposed cache of video recordings that some guy took to Russia to hide?? I know, Levine likely would've answered these things if he'd been able, but man, inquiring minds are on fire right now.)
One little aside: I find it telling, and disturbing, that the only negative reviews on GR about this book seem to be by people who take umbrage with any mentions of Trump being involved in the Epstein sex ring. What a weird time to be partisan. You'd think after reading this book we could simply agree that regardless of political stripe every one of these men are pigs, full stop. I guess not.
---
Possibly of interest, either directly related to this case or in a similar vein:
July 13, 2021
Thorough, unrelenting, and complete — this book does an inspiring job taking you on a journey no one wants to take. I have seen the Netflix documentary about Epstein and of course knew what we all did through memes, but I never understood who he actually was, how he made money, and where his criminality began. I learned a lot. I also think the book pays incredible respect and homage to Epstein and Maxwell’s survivors, which is really important to me. It feels weird to say I enjoyed this book, because I didn’t, but it was incredibly and respectfully well done.
September 23, 2022
A quick and informative read. As opposed to Bradley Edwards’s book, this one gets more into background details of Epstein’s life in the 70s and 80s, although it still doesn’t make sense, and some of the information seems incomplete or incorrect. I got a better sense of who’s who in the Epstein world from this book, and a better understanding of the non Florida locations.
August 6, 2025
The Spider is a relentless investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s life, crimes, and the elite web that enabled him. This isn’t just the story of one despicable man, but a damning exposé of the systems that allowed him to operate in plain sight—rich, protected, and untouchable… until he wasn’t. Where his money actually came from is still anyone’s guess, but he spent it like it was limitless.
What’s most enraging is how many of his young victims will never see real justice. They were exploited, dismissed, and failed again and again by the people and institutions that should’ve protected them. Epstein may be dead, but the damage he caused is permanent. It’s baffling. And it’s infuriating.
What’s most enraging is how many of his young victims will never see real justice. They were exploited, dismissed, and failed again and again by the people and institutions that should’ve protected them. Epstein may be dead, but the damage he caused is permanent. It’s baffling. And it’s infuriating.
August 17, 2025
informative and disturbing. though he is allegedly dead, the horrors that Jeffrey Epstein inflicted on others will live on. what is even more disturbing is the fact that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who knowingly engaged in the same behavior or covered it up.
December 23, 2021
This was surprisingly good but unsurprisingly depressing.
October 6, 2024
This book provides a good overview of Jeffrey Epstein's life, but it fails to give anything more than a surface level analysis of the infamous pervert. Was Epstein a spy? Was he murdered, and if so, by whom? How far does child trafficking extend through the upper echelons of society? Though engaging, this book fails to answer these most pertinent questions. The book hints that Trump may have something to do with Epstein's death, but it fails to provide any evidence to back this up. In fact, Barry Levine, who has previously authored a book on allegations of Trump's sexual misconduct, has a clear agenda. Tellingly, he skates over Bill Clinton's involvement with Epstein, despite the fact Clinton has a clear record of sexual impropriety, including his affair with a young Monica Lewinsky and other sexual assault allegations. I commend Levine for scrutinizing Trump's relationship with Epstein, but I find his evident one-sidedness diminishes his objectivity slightly. Still a book that is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the mysterious life of the most prolific sexual predator of modern times.
August 2, 2025
Besides giving me more insight into the Epstein horror story, this book makes one thing very clear: filthy rich people do absolutely nothing productive with their lives or with their money. Worst case scenario is they prevent others from being productive, and they destroy those other lives in the process. Sadly, there are thousands of women out there who, in addition to having to work on their recovery, have also lost thousands and thousands of hours of actually living their full, productive lives. It’s very heartbreaking. It’s a good read if your goal is to wallow in disgust.
August 10, 2025
Trash. Pure trash. Not the book, the person the book discussed.
…But still want to read more…..
“And it’s sad, but it’s true. You take the ordinary guy off the street, a gardener, a plumber, an electrician, he gets charged with something like this, he goes away for ninety years. You see someone like Epstein charged with the crimes he was charged with, and he ends up with a slap on the wrist.”
“I don’t want “Billionaire pervert” to be the first line of my obituary.”-JEFFREY EPSTEIN
…But still want to read more…..
“And it’s sad, but it’s true. You take the ordinary guy off the street, a gardener, a plumber, an electrician, he gets charged with something like this, he goes away for ninety years. You see someone like Epstein charged with the crimes he was charged with, and he ends up with a slap on the wrist.”
“I don’t want “Billionaire pervert” to be the first line of my obituary.”-JEFFREY EPSTEIN
May 17, 2024
It was a good book, but more on the factual side and literally a report on that. However, there are many details that were not ‘general’ knowledge. This made it very interesting for me to read!
November 3, 2020
It’s a great companion piece to the James Patterson Netflix doc “Filthy Rich”, albeit unintentionally. It covers all of the same ground as the documentary and then goes a step further by covering Epstein’s early years, his incarceration, his death, Trump connections, as well as Ghislaine Maxwell’s summer of 2020. You can get 75% of this book simply by watching the doc although where this book dives deeper than “Filthy Rich” is where it really shines. The last chapter was very interesting. Recommended.
November 11, 2020
Excellent! After watching Filthy Rich and reading "Relentless Pursuit", I found Levine's "The Spider" furnishes gaps, validates victims, and expands Epstein's web in a fascinating and what appears to be, well researched, way. So many moving parts and new threads introduced with no guaranteed outcomes. Riveting reading. I recommend this book.
April 10, 2021
If you watched the Netflix documentary series, Filthy Rich about Jeffrey Epstein, then you probably do not need to read this book. I was hoping to find out more information, what made him tick, how did he get his money, etc. There are vague suggestions on the money issue and possibly no one really know the answers.
June 29, 2021
Reheated leftovers
Nothing new, just a re-hash of what you’ve read, if you’re interested in this story. Some inaccurate info (Epstein met GM early on in London, not initially in NYC) Also, if the author wanted to write a hit job on Trump, he should have done so: author tries hard to link Epstein to Trump so often, I sometimes forgot who this book was about.
Nothing new, just a re-hash of what you’ve read, if you’re interested in this story. Some inaccurate info (Epstein met GM early on in London, not initially in NYC) Also, if the author wanted to write a hit job on Trump, he should have done so: author tries hard to link Epstein to Trump so often, I sometimes forgot who this book was about.
July 19, 2022
"I am like one of those inflated pale spiders you see in old gardens. Sitting in the middle of a luminous web and giving little jerks to this or that strand. My web is spread all over the house as I listen from my chair where I sit like a wily wizard. Is Lo in her room? Gently I tug on the silk. She is not. Just heard the toilet paper cylinder make its staccato sound as it is turned; and
no footfalls has my outflung filament traced from the bathroom back to her
room."
- Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
When I read Lolita years ago for the first time, this passage imprinted itself in my brain. There is something so dark and deviant about this idea of a spiderlike predator gently tugging at the strings to try and find its prey. I was immediately brought back to this passage when I saw the title of this book alone, and after finishing it, I think this is one of the most appropriate and chilling descriptions for Jeffrey Epstein there is.
I've been following the Epstein and Maxwell stories for a while, but tragically there is so much information about the case and those victimized that it can be hard to really piece it all together. Barry Levine does a fantastic job putting these pieces together for the reader, pulling together testimonials from all kinds of individuals involved in Epstein's horrible web from a variety of sources that really fleshes out the whole story. The Spider takes the reader from the humble beginnings of Epstein and the not-so-humble beginnings of his partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, all the way up to Maxwell's arrest and (at the time of publication) upcoming trial. The book is cohesive and well written in a no-nonsense way that moves the reader right along.
Stating the obvious: this story is horrible. Also, mindboggling. Epstein's trafficking scheme was so widespread, with a massive number of victims and an unknown but undoubtedly large number of perpetrators. Sexual extortion, rape, human trafficking, pedophilia, manipulation, and corruption are all huge in this book -- something readers probably know going in, but it is still a difficult read. The sheer scale of the operation is stomach turning and mind blowing on its own, and I found myself repeatedly sitting in shock asking how something like this could be happening for decades in plain sight! The corruption is so deep that it's sickening.
Beyond all the awful, awful content, it's reassuring to see Levine try and give voice to the victims and paint them in a sympathetic light. The number of victims is so huge that there's no way all of their stories could make it into the book, but I liked that Levine stressed so heavily (especially as the book was wrapping up) that the victims were all whole people with lives outside yet influenced by their abuse, and tried to portray them in a human light. The book concludes with a letter from one of the girls that was at once a victim and a perpetrator as a teenaged recruiter for Epstein, which highlights the complexity of the girls involved as well as the gray area between victim and perpetrator that some of the girls occupy. Some of the women have chosen to speak out about their abuse while others have preferred to keep their stories private. Some of them are now married with children and lead stable lives, while others have struggled with substance abuse, sex work, and self harm after years of abuse. Likely, most of them struggle with trauma and mental health issues as a result of their abuse, and some of them have experienced all of the above since escaping Epstein's web. All of their stories are important and harrowing, and I was glad to see Levine stress this.
I haven't watched more than a few episodes of the Netflix documentary, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich so I can't really speak to how much deeper Levine's novel goes into the story compared to the docuseries. Those who have already seen it might find it redundant, but Levine does sprinkle in interviews and quotes that were provided exclusively for his book, so I think there is probably some extra meat on this book for viewers of the documentary to chew on.
I listened to the audiobook, which was very well narrated, though some of the names and titles might be easier to follow in print format. As difficult a read as it is, I would definitely recommend The Spider to anyone interested in the case, as well as general consumers of true crime.
no footfalls has my outflung filament traced from the bathroom back to her
room."
- Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
When I read Lolita years ago for the first time, this passage imprinted itself in my brain. There is something so dark and deviant about this idea of a spiderlike predator gently tugging at the strings to try and find its prey. I was immediately brought back to this passage when I saw the title of this book alone, and after finishing it, I think this is one of the most appropriate and chilling descriptions for Jeffrey Epstein there is.
I've been following the Epstein and Maxwell stories for a while, but tragically there is so much information about the case and those victimized that it can be hard to really piece it all together. Barry Levine does a fantastic job putting these pieces together for the reader, pulling together testimonials from all kinds of individuals involved in Epstein's horrible web from a variety of sources that really fleshes out the whole story. The Spider takes the reader from the humble beginnings of Epstein and the not-so-humble beginnings of his partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, all the way up to Maxwell's arrest and (at the time of publication) upcoming trial. The book is cohesive and well written in a no-nonsense way that moves the reader right along.
Stating the obvious: this story is horrible. Also, mindboggling. Epstein's trafficking scheme was so widespread, with a massive number of victims and an unknown but undoubtedly large number of perpetrators. Sexual extortion, rape, human trafficking, pedophilia, manipulation, and corruption are all huge in this book -- something readers probably know going in, but it is still a difficult read. The sheer scale of the operation is stomach turning and mind blowing on its own, and I found myself repeatedly sitting in shock asking how something like this could be happening for decades in plain sight! The corruption is so deep that it's sickening.
Beyond all the awful, awful content, it's reassuring to see Levine try and give voice to the victims and paint them in a sympathetic light. The number of victims is so huge that there's no way all of their stories could make it into the book, but I liked that Levine stressed so heavily (especially as the book was wrapping up) that the victims were all whole people with lives outside yet influenced by their abuse, and tried to portray them in a human light. The book concludes with a letter from one of the girls that was at once a victim and a perpetrator as a teenaged recruiter for Epstein, which highlights the complexity of the girls involved as well as the gray area between victim and perpetrator that some of the girls occupy. Some of the women have chosen to speak out about their abuse while others have preferred to keep their stories private. Some of them are now married with children and lead stable lives, while others have struggled with substance abuse, sex work, and self harm after years of abuse. Likely, most of them struggle with trauma and mental health issues as a result of their abuse, and some of them have experienced all of the above since escaping Epstein's web. All of their stories are important and harrowing, and I was glad to see Levine stress this.
I haven't watched more than a few episodes of the Netflix documentary, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich so I can't really speak to how much deeper Levine's novel goes into the story compared to the docuseries. Those who have already seen it might find it redundant, but Levine does sprinkle in interviews and quotes that were provided exclusively for his book, so I think there is probably some extra meat on this book for viewers of the documentary to chew on.
I listened to the audiobook, which was very well narrated, though some of the names and titles might be easier to follow in print format. As difficult a read as it is, I would definitely recommend The Spider to anyone interested in the case, as well as general consumers of true crime.
June 27, 2024
Epstein was the kind of person who makes conspiracy theories really proliferate. He was secretive, filthy rich, corrupt, amoral, and was friends with a long list of very powerful people: Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, Prince Andrew, Les Wexner, Jean-Luc Brunel, Ehud Barak, etc. Also, the circumstances surrounding his death, at first glance, definitely appeared to be fishy. This helps a lot of charlatans, the Alex Jones types, spread nonsense, making it hard for people to parse fact from fiction.
Fortunately, Barry Levine gives a pretty bare bones account of Epstein (and his sidekick, Ghislaine) here, and when he does speculate, it's not unreasonable. If you've been following Epstein's story closely over the years, there's not all that much new information in here, but there were some details I hadn't come across before. It's a decent overview of what we do know about Epstein; unfortunately, there's still a lot we really don't know.
Two things I would like answers to one day:
1. More details on how Epstein made his fortune. Barry Levine goes into Epstein's career a bit here, but it seems like much of what we really know is from Epstein's time as a schoolteacher and working for Bear Stearns. I would like some more light shined on the period after, which is when Epstein really made his fortune. It doesn't seem like he was ever really working particularly hard, crunching numbers or whatever; instead, it seems like most of his time was spent with or chasing after high school girls.
2. Epstein's connections to intelligence. Was he blackmailing people? Honey trapping people? There are definitely some hints here - the cameras everywhere, Acosta's sweetheart deal, etc - but we just don't know for certain.
Fortunately, Barry Levine gives a pretty bare bones account of Epstein (and his sidekick, Ghislaine) here, and when he does speculate, it's not unreasonable. If you've been following Epstein's story closely over the years, there's not all that much new information in here, but there were some details I hadn't come across before. It's a decent overview of what we do know about Epstein; unfortunately, there's still a lot we really don't know.
Two things I would like answers to one day:
1. More details on how Epstein made his fortune. Barry Levine goes into Epstein's career a bit here, but it seems like much of what we really know is from Epstein's time as a schoolteacher and working for Bear Stearns. I would like some more light shined on the period after, which is when Epstein really made his fortune. It doesn't seem like he was ever really working particularly hard, crunching numbers or whatever; instead, it seems like most of his time was spent with or chasing after high school girls.
2. Epstein's connections to intelligence. Was he blackmailing people? Honey trapping people? There are definitely some hints here - the cameras everywhere, Acosta's sweetheart deal, etc - but we just don't know for certain.
May 18, 2021
I was very indecisive about this one, after having read a number of true crime books by journalists, but The Spider by Barry Levine is really very good.
Epstein has always been a bit of an enigma, and this makes it clear that he liked it that way. A master manipulator, he surrounded himself with the rich and famous, all predominantly middle-aged white men - people like Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton. He'd fly them to his private residences across the United States and to his private island, the purpose of which is the subject of a lot of conjecture and conspiracy.
Something that appears indisputable, however, is Epstein's involvement in human trafficking. He liked teen girls - a lot. Had it not been for some of those girls speaking out and laying charges against him, the public would likely never have known what apparently transpired, and Epstein would likely still be alive and doing what he had always done: Manipulate, scheme, and influence.
The Spider also delves into the involvement of Epstein's right-hand lady, Ghislaine Maxwell. A socialite left with barely a penny upon her father's death, Maxwell too liked to keep the company of the rich and famous. This book attempts to provide some insight into just how involved Maxwell may have been in Epstein's nefarious dealings.
It's scary to think of what we don't yet know.
Recommended.
Epstein has always been a bit of an enigma, and this makes it clear that he liked it that way. A master manipulator, he surrounded himself with the rich and famous, all predominantly middle-aged white men - people like Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton. He'd fly them to his private residences across the United States and to his private island, the purpose of which is the subject of a lot of conjecture and conspiracy.
Something that appears indisputable, however, is Epstein's involvement in human trafficking. He liked teen girls - a lot. Had it not been for some of those girls speaking out and laying charges against him, the public would likely never have known what apparently transpired, and Epstein would likely still be alive and doing what he had always done: Manipulate, scheme, and influence.
The Spider also delves into the involvement of Epstein's right-hand lady, Ghislaine Maxwell. A socialite left with barely a penny upon her father's death, Maxwell too liked to keep the company of the rich and famous. This book attempts to provide some insight into just how involved Maxwell may have been in Epstein's nefarious dealings.
It's scary to think of what we don't yet know.
Recommended.
January 18, 2023
I read a book about Jeffrey Epstein for three reasons. 1. The library didn't have any of the books I wanted. 2. I wanted to know if he was an agent of the government. 3. I wanted to know how he made his money.
Levine didn't really didn't tell me any of that. I googled and figured it out, generally. 2: The government was aware of what he was doing and was at least trying to access all the video tapes he had. 3: He made his money by showing people how to cheat on their taxes or at least dodge them.
My takeaway is that allowing people to be as wealthy as Epstein was is giving them free reign to be horribly immoral. Because he and all his super rich buddies were flying over us in their private planes and basically sp( -or sh-)itting on us all. And since a great number of us are to damn greedy (that includes the young girls here), the super rich can buy anything they want, unchecked. It was actually for me a huge argument for taxing the hell out of the rich. That's a pretty weird takeaway for reading about a pedophile but there you have it. As the French say, "Liberty, equality, fraternity."
Levine didn't really didn't tell me any of that. I googled and figured it out, generally. 2: The government was aware of what he was doing and was at least trying to access all the video tapes he had. 3: He made his money by showing people how to cheat on their taxes or at least dodge them.
My takeaway is that allowing people to be as wealthy as Epstein was is giving them free reign to be horribly immoral. Because he and all his super rich buddies were flying over us in their private planes and basically sp( -or sh-)itting on us all. And since a great number of us are to damn greedy (that includes the young girls here), the super rich can buy anything they want, unchecked. It was actually for me a huge argument for taxing the hell out of the rich. That's a pretty weird takeaway for reading about a pedophile but there you have it. As the French say, "Liberty, equality, fraternity."
August 5, 2025
I read this book partly out of prurient interest and partly to try and learn more about this deviant man. The book was written in 2020 so today’s renewed (continually simmering?) interest in him gave me pause to read it. The book is very well researched and very well written. It’s done professionally and by that I mean that it’s not sensational but done in a journalistic way which makes it very readable and straightforward. I do feel that if I had read it in 2020 when it first came out I would have found it more compelling because much of the information has become public. That said, it’s still a remarkable story whether you want to focus on the heinous behavior of the man, the miscarriage of justice by the court and legal process for so many victims along the way or the role of Ghislaine Maxwell. It’s not an easy book to read given the subject matter of how this man operated and evaded taking responsibility for his actions. So many questions still remain and probably will never be fully answered.
August 8, 2025
The Spider by Barry Levine is a gripping and meticulously researched deep dive into the shocking double life of Jeffrey Epstein and the powerful network that enabled him for decades. Levine does an exceptional job untangling the complex web of lies, privilege, and abuse, presenting the facts with journalistic integrity while keeping the narrative highly engaging.
This isn’t just another true crime book—it’s a powerful exposé that names names and pulls no punches. Levine combines interviews, court records, and investigative reporting to shine a light on the systemic failures that allowed Epstein’s predation to go unchecked for so long.
It’s disturbing, eye-opening, and absolutely necessary reading for anyone trying to understand how abuse can flourish behind closed doors in elite circles. If you’re a fan of investigative journalism and true crime that seeks justice, The Spider is a must-read.
There’s so many questions left unanswered and there will definitely be more questions left unanswered after reading this book but it was just incredibly well done.
This isn’t just another true crime book—it’s a powerful exposé that names names and pulls no punches. Levine combines interviews, court records, and investigative reporting to shine a light on the systemic failures that allowed Epstein’s predation to go unchecked for so long.
It’s disturbing, eye-opening, and absolutely necessary reading for anyone trying to understand how abuse can flourish behind closed doors in elite circles. If you’re a fan of investigative journalism and true crime that seeks justice, The Spider is a must-read.
There’s so many questions left unanswered and there will definitely be more questions left unanswered after reading this book but it was just incredibly well done.
April 3, 2022
Provides interesting new information on the case and is a very thorough deep dive of the horrors Epstein and his associates committed, while remaining respectful toward the victims and largely unbiased. The last chapter of this book in particular provided an intriguing new perspective and ended the book on a bleak tone that personally stuck with me. This is not a book you can simply put down and forget about after reading.
With that being said, there were inconsistencies with Virginia Robert's publicised DOB and her age when some of the mentioned crimes took place that proved to make it a slightly confusing reading experience. This had momentarily detracted some of the book's reliability for me during the earlier chapters, though the author does briefly acknowledges this mistake toward the end of the book.
With that being said, there were inconsistencies with Virginia Robert's publicised DOB and her age when some of the mentioned crimes took place that proved to make it a slightly confusing reading experience. This had momentarily detracted some of the book's reliability for me during the earlier chapters, though the author does briefly acknowledges this mistake toward the end of the book.
February 5, 2024
Heartbreaking and intresing.
Ends with grey area with story of Halley Robbson, woman who recruited for Epstein. Biggest injustice was done to victims of Jeffrey Epstein. With Epstein dead there is no closure, only anger and bitter.
Writing was nice and you could know right away it was written by journalist.
I believe he was murdered and put in noose to look like a suicide. Nothing can not convince me otherwise.
To protect Prince Andrew, Brunel or any of other perps who abused girls trafficked by Epstein.
Also I wish Gislaine got death sentence. I personally do not belive in death sentence but in case of pedophiles who trafficked thousands of girls young as 12-17, there is no doubt they deserve it.
Virginia Giuffre is one badass woman. She is a survivor and protoganist who fights like superhero.She is a voice and courage of all sex traffic survivors out there.
Ends with grey area with story of Halley Robbson, woman who recruited for Epstein. Biggest injustice was done to victims of Jeffrey Epstein. With Epstein dead there is no closure, only anger and bitter.
Writing was nice and you could know right away it was written by journalist.
I believe he was murdered and put in noose to look like a suicide. Nothing can not convince me otherwise.
To protect Prince Andrew, Brunel or any of other perps who abused girls trafficked by Epstein.
Also I wish Gislaine got death sentence. I personally do not belive in death sentence but in case of pedophiles who trafficked thousands of girls young as 12-17, there is no doubt they deserve it.
Virginia Giuffre is one badass woman. She is a survivor and protoganist who fights like superhero.She is a voice and courage of all sex traffic survivors out there.
July 13, 2025
After finishing this book, I still don’t understand why Wexner allowed Epstein to have such a significant amount of control over his money. Power of attorney? Wow. Did Epstein have any compromising information about Wexner?
One thing I wasn’t aware of was how Epstein was enabled by institutions. J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank both overlooked Epstein’s abuse and corruption because they valued his business. The FBI also enabled Epstein’s abuse by helping him get his sweetheart deal. That was the reason why Acosta went light on Epstein.
Was Epstein an intelligence asset? Was that how he was able to fend off prosecution for his abuse for so long? Was Ghislaine an intelligence asset well? How was Epstein able to amass such a fortune in such a short time span? Maybe we’ll find out the truth one day.
One thing I wasn’t aware of was how Epstein was enabled by institutions. J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank both overlooked Epstein’s abuse and corruption because they valued his business. The FBI also enabled Epstein’s abuse by helping him get his sweetheart deal. That was the reason why Acosta went light on Epstein.
Was Epstein an intelligence asset? Was that how he was able to fend off prosecution for his abuse for so long? Was Ghislaine an intelligence asset well? How was Epstein able to amass such a fortune in such a short time span? Maybe we’ll find out the truth one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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