Book Review: Said the Spider by Earle E Van Gilder

Said the Spider by Earle E Van Gilder

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Publish Date: June 23, 2010

Paperback, 290 pages
Fiction, Mystery and Detective

My Review:
Why I read this: The publisher emailed me with a list of books and this one really jumped up and grabbed me.

How is the novel driven: Plot, you do learn about characters, but it's suspense/mystery so the plot is most important.



My thoughts: At first I found it a little hard to get into, Said the Spider jumps around a bit in the beginning introducing the various players in the book.   However as I continued reading I found the jumping around to be much more interesting.  It would go from present day to back in the past a little to show motivation or background behind why certain decisions were made.  By one-quarter of the way through the book, I was thoroughly into how the book was written.

The plot moves at an interesting pace.  I found myself sucked into the book and not realizing over an hour had past and I had not moved.  At times the language is a little stilted and sometimes there are a few too many exclamation marks, but the story shows through these minor mistakes.  One of my favorite things about the book is the fact that one character shines through above all the rest, he's not perfect but Dan Jamieson, the private detective has a much more spotless character than most of the rest of the characters.  Setting him against greedy bankers, shifty businessmen and a con-man above all con-men makes this book very interesting.

Said the Spider is a truly enjoyable book, I' m not sure the ending makes complete sense to me, but it made enough sense that I felt the story was tied up.  It is full of creepy twists and turns and characters who are everyday people, but because of their greed they get sucked into things they never should have been a part of.  Mr. Van Gilder seems to have a very good understanding of this world and really brings it alive.  The setting was new to me as well.  I don't think I have read too many books that take place in Milwaukee so that made it different to me as well.

If you enjoy suspense/mystery books that uses the everyday man involved in crime that is way over his head then this is a book for you.  It is hard to put down and enjoyable.  Frightening in ways as well.  But overall an enjoyable book with just a few minor editing type problems to marr it.  But the execution of the story is well-done in a different way from most books, almost circular in fashion, but not confusing or overwhelming.


My Rating: 3.75/5.0


About the Book:

Sophisticated crime syndicate parasites invade the normally solid foundation of Midwestern banking and generations of established manufacturing. Executives and management usually in control suddenly find they are masterfully manipulated into a web of irreconcilable personal and financial seduction.

From the traumatic discovery at the river’s edge to the eventual confrontational conclusion Said The Spider seduces greedy, gullible and unsuspecting prey into a deadly and graphic whirlwind of corporate disaster leading to murder, suicide and revenge.

The early exploits of the juvenile crime spree by a youthful mastermind who cleverly manipulates his prey leads the reader to the ruthless genius manipulating the city. This drama of cause and effect with no escape from the temptations of lust, greed, and ignorance has been cleverly baited.

The corporate investigative agency and police sources enter almost too late to stop this whirlpool of turbulence as the bank Vice President’s realize their own failure and the investors and corporation officers panic and retreat from the coming Armageddon.

As murder, suicide and monumental financial losses are exposed, the crime syndicate learns of an investigation which might interrupt their lucrative operation. Crime bosses will stop at nothing to successfully complete their artistic looting of a major bank and manufacturing complex.

Time is running out. Investigators are pulling pieces of the puzzle together. Corrupt and greedy bank executives are running for their lives. The syndicate is charging ahead in their goal of complete domination and eventual departure culminating in a surprise and conclusive end to fraud and murder.

About the Author: 

More than 40 years Earle (Doc) Van Gilder was involved in the investigation of white-collar crime. The last 20 years he ran his own Investigative Corporation partnering with major firms, local and state government agencies and law enforcement to solve a wide range of criminal activities from internal theft and white collar crime to insurance fraud, criminal investigations and undercover operations.

Earle is also a certified Kyokushinkai Karate Branch Chief and martial arts instructor and well versed in the handling of weaponry. These experiences combined with his Marine Corp and equestrian experiences have resulted in a number of short stories which in turn led to his first novel, Said The Spider. He recently completed a second novel, Gumshoe Diary, The Month of May.

Website

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher (Outskirts Press) for a honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.