Rating: 
Summary: A short story made much too long
Review: ..this would have been better as a short story. Well, it was! The main twist of the story is found in a Poirot short story, "The Mystery of the Cheap Flat." I'm not sure which was written first, but it worked better with Poirot. The heroine is along the lines of Tuppence. In fact, there is very little original matter in the whole story. It's still a fun read, great for killing an hour or two. I read it during my daughter's soccer practice. But I don't really recommend it unless you're just really bored. Agatha did it so much better!
Rating: 
Summary: Wouldn't catch a tired out blue bottle
Review: This is the third example of Charles Osborne's mission to convert Agatha Christie's stage plays into novel format. For some strange reason, considering the excellent job he made of "Black Coffee", this time he has, most surprisingly, produced an absolute clunker. First and foremost it lacks any effective characterisation. I got the feeling that I was reading a description of the play by someone who was very competent at remembering the dialogue, but who really wasn't very interested in either the characters or the play itself. The story, such as it is, moves along in a jerky and very obviously contrived manner - the sort of thing you only notice in a live performance if the actors are second rate. My second criticism concerns the plot itself, which might well have been sufficient for a two hour play, but is far too meagre to justify a full-length novelisation. It is, in fact, a combination of two ideas that appeared elsewhere as short stories - one as a Poirot tale first published in 1923, and one which was subsequently (1979) included in "Miss Marple's Final Cases" . In short, though the original (1954) play was described as a "comedy thriller", the novel is entirely bereft of either humour or thrills. Definitely not worth any kind of recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Wouldn't catch a tired out blue bottle
Review: This is the third example of Charles Osborne's mission to convert Agatha Christie's stage plays into novel format. For some strange reason, considering the excellent job he made of "Black Coffee", this time he has, most surprisingly, produced an absolute clunker. First and foremost it lacks any effective characterisation. I got the feeling that I was reading a description of the play by someone who was very competent at remembering the dialogue, but who really wasn't very interested in either the characters or the play itself. The story, such as it is, moves along in a jerky and very obviously contrived manner - the sort of thing you only notice in a live performance if the actors are second rate. My second criticism concerns the plot itself, which might well have been sufficient for a two hour play, but is far too meagre to justify a full-length novelisation. It is, in fact, a combination of two ideas that appeared elsewhere as short stories - one as a Poirot tale first published in 1923, and one which was subsequently (1979) included in "Miss Marple's Final Cases" . In short, though the original (1954) play was described as a "comedy thriller", the novel is entirely bereft of either humour or thrills. Definitely not worth any kind of recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Osborne manages to be Christie 'Lite'
Review: Agatha Christie is the Master of the sophisticated, too-too British, country manor murder mystery. All that I have to SEE is her name on a book and I grab it up fast as I can! That's how I became the owner of Spider's Web at a recent book sale. After reading the first few pages it didn't have that cozy, snuggle into the book feeling of a Christie and I couldn't figure out why. Finally (LIGHT BULB) I examined the cover and "saw" Charles Osborne's name. With a little digging I uncovered the true facts: This is indeed a Christie. An adaptation of her play, turned into a novel by Charles Osborne. It has some small charm, but leaves me wanting the full-bodied robust flavor of 'Ten Little Indians' which was referred to in the text of this book. When I finally understood WHAT it was I was reading (adaptation of a Christie play, written by another) I was able to finish the book, but under Osborne's hand, the elements of the stage production are not well hidden. When character's come into the room, it is an Entrance. There is an artificial flow to everything that is written, as though it were still a stage play complete with stage directions for each character's actions. Clarissa is 'breezy', her husband Henry 'bumbling', Pippa --- 'hungry'. All Fun for the stage and giving the viewer something to identify, but not very satisfactory for a murder mystery novel. So, gentle reader, if you are looking for vintage Christie, don't be fooled by the cover. You won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Osborne manages to be Christie 'Lite'
Review: Agatha Christie is the Master of the sophisticated, too-too British, country manor murder mystery. All that I have to SEE is her name on a book and I grab it up fast as I can! That's how I became the owner of Spider's Web at a recent book sale. After reading the first few pages it didn't have that cozy, snuggle into the book feeling of a Christie and I couldn't figure out why. Finally (LIGHT BULB) I examined the cover and "saw" Charles Osborne's name. With a little digging I uncovered the true facts: This is indeed a Christie. An adaptation of her play, turned into a novel by Charles Osborne. It has some small charm, but leaves me wanting the full-bodied robust flavor of 'Ten Little Indians' which was referred to in the text of this book. When I finally understood WHAT it was I was reading (adaptation of a Christie play, written by another) I was able to finish the book, but under Osborne's hand, the elements of the stage production are not well hidden. When character's come into the room, it is an Entrance. There is an artificial flow to everything that is written, as though it were still a stage play complete with stage directions for each character's actions. Clarissa is 'breezy', her husband Henry 'bumbling', Pippa --- 'hungry'. All Fun for the stage and giving the viewer something to identify, but not very satisfactory for a murder mystery novel. So, gentle reader, if you are looking for vintage Christie, don't be fooled by the cover. You won't find it here.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh, What A Wonderfully Tangled Web Agatha Did Weave
Review: and Charles Osborne has transcribed it beautifully in his third novel adaptation of Christie's plays. Spider's Web is a light, easy, and fun read that encompasses all the elements of an English houseparty. The mansion complete with French doors for easy entrance by a murderer, the lovable hostess, the diverse houseguests, the professional detective, the required red herrings, the secret panel, and just for good measure, a sympathetic child---all combine for a delightful mystery. Clarissa is the beloved mistress of the manor, and her self-proclaimed duty is to hide a body she finds in her parlor so that it won't interfere with her distinguished husband's entertaining a V.I.P. later in the evening. Into her web of lies and deceit she brings her three doting houseguests, a brusque female gardener, and the butler. Truth will out in the end, and whether you guess the culprit or not, you will enjoy this fast-paced, delightful evening with the British upper class.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best of the Series
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I didn't care for Black Coffee. But I felt that in this book the Spider's web the characters were well-developed. The plot was very well-written. ending was very good. I was throughly stumped. Thank you Charles Osborne. Can't wait for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Series
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I didn't care for Black Coffee. But I felt that in this book the Spider's web the characters were well-developed. The plot was very well-written. ending was very good. I was throughly stumped. Thank you Charles Osborne. Can't wait for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I Read this book in one night. Its one you can't put down. The characters are so very mysterious and they have a suprise ending to me and the end that will suprise you but it also gives the ending away about midway through the book.
Rating:
Summary: Sorry Agatha...
Review: I was thrilled after searching for years to find a transcript for "spider's web" that it was available as a novel. The thrill was soon gone. How one can manage to turn a most charming play in a bore is a mystery to me. The large print didn't help neither. You will be better off watching the movie with Glynis Johns and John Justin or the more recent BBC tv-adaption starring Penelope Keith as the perfect Clarissa.
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