The Mystery of the Silver Spider

I always associate The Mystery of the Silver Spider with Saturday nights. In early 1977, as my Three Investigators collection was getting under way, I went to Woolworth’s in Paisley with my mum one Saturday afternoon to see which three Armada books would be for sale that month. One of them was Silver Spider. In the evening, I went to the café across the street with my dad. He always bought us sweets and things on Saturday evenings, and we would all watch TV together. But that night I had other plans. I bought some crisps, chocolate and 2 ounces of mint imperials. While the rest of the family stayed in the living room watching the telly, I went to my bed to read, as had become the norm for me on the days that I bought new books.

Written by Robert Arthur and published in 1967, Silver Spider is the eighth book in the series and is different from the others in that it is the only story that involves the boys leaving the USA. The story begins in Los Angeles, with Worthington almost crashing into the car of Prince Djaro of the fictional European country of Varania, which Bob describes as “one of the seven smallest countries in the world”. Although Djaro has not been officially crowned, everyone calls him Prince. As he is still a teenager, he befriends the investigators and changes his plans so that he can visit Disneyland, inviting them to go with him. After a fun afternoon, Djaro takes his leave of the boys, feeling that they are real friends and hoping they will meet again.

A few days later, Alfred Hitchcock telephones to say that the boys are in for a surprise and that he has had a very long talk with their future visitor but is sworn to secrecy. During the call, Aunt Mathilda announces that the visitor has arrived, and they rush out to meet Bert Young, a government agent. He tells the boys that Djaro has invited them to his coronation and that the government will pay all their expenses. Jupiter is suspicious, stating that “governments aren’t generous that way”. Mr Young tells them that he wants them to act as junior agents. Something is afoot in Varania, and the government is anxious to know what is going on. Satisfied that they are not being asked to spy on Prince Djaro, the boys agree.

In Varania, they stay at Djaro’s palace, a draughty three-hundred room house built on the ruins of an old castle. They discover that Duke Stefan, the regent, wants to prevent the coronation and stay in power, working with a crime syndicate to make the country a haven for crooks and illegal gamblers. The Silver Spider, the most treasured jewel in the land and which must be worn by the prince on his coronation, is stolen and planted in the boys’ room. This will allow Duke Stefan to accuse Djaro of being incompetent, befriending and welcoming thieves. Bob hides the spider and the investigators flee, aided by a group called the Minstrels, who want to save Djaro from his evil guardian. Bob bumps his head and cannot remember where he hid the Silver Spider. The story is fast-paced and exciting and includes a chase through the city’s storm sewers. Jupiter devises a plan to save Djaro and finds the lost spider that Bob hid so cleverly, although he cannot remember doing so. Duke Stefan’s plans are foiled, the coronation goes ahead as planned and Djaro bestows the Order of the Silver Spider on his friends before they return home as honorary citizens of Varania.

Forty-three years on, I can still recall the thrills I felt as I read this story. Dramatic chases through the castle, a daring escape from the dungeons and pursuit through the storm sewers with the palace guards hot on the trail, and Bob’s amnesia after hiding the Silver Spider, making him unable to remember where he put it. The boys are also issued with special cameras that have walkie-talkie equipment and a tape recorder built into them so that they can contact Bert young at the American embassy – very advanced gadgetry deserving of Q Branch. All of these aspects made me love the story, and it always makes me think of Saturday nights and mint imperials!

Years later, when I surfed my way through T3I websites, I was surprised at how low this story ranked in the opinion of other readers. Of the Robert Arthur books, it was rated bottom. People complained about the “fake” feel of Varania and how the plot was not very imaginative. I couldn’t disagree more. To me, it was a great story and the source of one of my happiest moments, an example of my favourite German word, Sehnsucht, a feeling that combines longing, yearning and joy. The other day I shared a post on Facebook that one of the greatest pleasures in life is to read a book in total silence. I think that night with Silver Spider was my first such experience.   

The front cover of the Armada edition that was used for most of the seventies shows a scene from Chapter 12, Into the Storm Sewers. Jupiter and Rudy overpower the guards and tie them up after Bob feigns illness.