The Spider

Inside the Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

By: Barry Levine

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, Barry Levine

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

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 Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell

By 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

The Spider exposes how Epstein operated and evaded justice for so long - and how he drew so many others into his criminal web.

©2020 Barry Levine (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[The Spider] delves into the late financier and convicted sex offender’s ‘criminal web.’”—Vanity Fair

“An exhaustively detailed look at the life, death, and alleged crimes of Epstein, along with his years-long friendship with Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s—and how Trump’s ascendancy to the presidency ultimately helped expose Epstein.”—Forbes

“Explosive.”—New York Post

Lots of Information

The story is depressing in how the system is so slated to the rich and powerful. I found this book interesting and filled with tons of information on both Epstein and those in his orbit. A shockingly sad tale of how the justice system fails at punishing those with extreme wealth. Good read, I do recommend it as a look into American jurisprudence.

The Spider: Jeffery Epstein

it is a factual document regarding the victims and predators. it is a great read.

Well investigated and thorough!

I thought this account of the Epstein saga was detailed and thorough. There were some aspects of the case that I had not heard before. I thought the reading by Petkoff was well done for basically a "book documentary".

the Sickness of Too Much Money

when childrens' innocence is paid for and the same money is used to buy protection from the most basic laws, there is no end to the viscious cycle of debauchery.

Provides background and other information on Epste

I found this book very informative. I've been following the Epstein story for a long time. I found out things I had not previously seen anywhere. I would recommend this book.

Narrator is halting; no rhythm

It is hard to listen to this, as the narrator has a weird cadence. It’s like he’s reading it for the first time and there was no second take.

Great… right up until the end

This was a great listen… right up until the end. Why the author decided to drag Trump into the mix is beyond me. It was unnecessary and completely tarnished the author’s credibility in my opinion. If you have information about Trump - great, share it with the rest of us… but that chapter at the end seemed like cheap gossip and innuendo. Too bad.

in depth account of Epstein

It was very well researched & organized. It was full of details not previously reported. I recommend it highly

Regurgitation of the known

The book was a recap of mostly what is known. Not my favorite but not the worst.

Really odd focus on trump to tell the story while clinton is taken off the hook. I dont do politics so that was a bit transparent.

Never Trumper

This author is obviously a never Trumper and should stick to the topic of Jeffrey Epstein. Huge disappointment, this book did not give any inside information that hasn't already been out there. All total opinion. I was hoping for fact not fiction