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A London detective investigates after a fictional character seems to come to life to harass his creator in this classic British mystery. Richard Eliot began writing crime novels to fund his son's education. The protagonist, known as "the Spider," started off as a notorious criminal and later transformed into a private investigator. Now, after thirty-eight entries in the series, Eliot is considering putting the Spider to bed. Someone else, however, has a different idea. At first, Eliot's manuscripts are rewriting themselves overnight. Then neighbors are burglarized, sinister messages appear, and soon someone is recreating storylines that the author never shared with anyone. With the situation reaching a fever pitch, Eliot calls upon Insp. John Appleby to investigate. Now Scotland Yard's best must determine who is the mastermind behind this puzzling plot before the Spider strikes again . . . Originally published under the title The Spider Strikes. "For careful, dignified and at the same time unfailingly witty writing it would be hard to beat and the characterization . . . is admirable." —The Times Literary Supplement "An erudite and curious novel . . . not to be missed by connoisseurs." —The Times (London)