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MEET DETECTIVE KATE HAMBLIN IN THIS BESTSELLING SERIES FROM A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.

An isolated country house.
A family with secrets.
A deadly spider on the loose.

DS Kate is expecting a routine case when she’s called out to a reported theft at remote Moat House in the marshy wilds of the Somerset Levels. The evidence points to a random break-in by a passing vagrant — but when she questions the wealthy homeowner, Professor Dunbar, and his warring family, Kate realizes there’s more to this burglary than meets the eye.

Professor Dunbar is a world-famous arachnologist. His extensive collection of live tropical spiders includes the world’s deadliest specimen, a Brazilian wandering spider, whose bite is almost instantly fatal. A spider he’s named Martha.

When a family member is found dying in agony in the professor’s laboratory — and it’s discovered that Martha has escaped from her supposedly secure tank — it would appear to be a tragic accident. But Kate is not so sure.

Everyone at Moat House has secrets to hide. Is someone prepared to kill to keep their secret hidden?

Kate sets out to uncover the shocking truth while a deadly spider stalks the shadows. Can she survive long enough to unmask a ruthless killer . . . and avoid the spider’s lethal bite?