Welcome to the Threat of the Spider by Michael P Spradlin book tour hosted by Simon Kids.  

About Threat of the Spider

A twelve-year-old boy searches for his father and fights for free press amid the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany in this second book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.

Ansel has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s always the first among his friends to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. When the Hitler Youth first set up shop in Heroldsberg the year before, Ansel quickly made enemies of the chapter’s arrogant leader, Hans. Of course, Ansel is also twelve years old, so he spends much of his time reading his favorite Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novels and trying to make his friends laugh.

But more and more of his classmates have been swayed by Hans’s tactics and the Youth organization is growing throughout the city. Ansel knows that Hans and his group are spreading false information—after all, Ansel’s father is a journalist for the local paper and has been going toe to toe with Nazi propaganda for a long time.

Then Ansel’s father goes missing right before a prominent Nazi leader comes to town. With the local police in the Nazi’s pocket, can Ansel and his friends use their detective skills to find his father and thwart the Nazi’s plans to suppress the truth?

Review for Threat of the Spider

Okay, so I’m knee-deep in a historical fiction phase—specifically anything Holocaust-related—and Threat of the Spider totally stopped me in my tracks. If you haven’t started this series yet, do yourself a favor and grab Rise of the Spider first. It’s a powerful, eye-opening look at how Hitler manipulated an entire generation, starting with the youth. (Side note: when I say “teach them young,” I’m usually thinking table manners—not terrifying political indoctrination.)

In Threat of the Spider, we land in Heroldsberg, Germany, 1930. The story follows Ansel as the Nazi party creeps further into everyday life. His dad’s a gutsy reporter, trying to tell the truth, while the town spirals and the local police become… less than helpful. There’s tension, fear, and a whole lot of “how did this happen?” vibes. You’ll meet Hans, who’s caught up in the Hitler Youth, and Rolf, whose family is thinking of fleeing the country. It’s haunting stuff.

This series gives you a real-deal look at what life was like in Germany before the war started, and while it’s heavy, it’s also incredibly important and so well done. Fair warning: this one ends with a cliffhanger, and yep—I groaned. Loudly. Mr. Spradlin, if you’re looking for someone to beta read the next book in the series, I’m your gal!

Powerful, gripping, and totally unputdownable—this series hooked me and my ten-year-old grandson!

Interview with the Author

Chase: Hello, Michael P Spradlin, I’m Chase and my grandma gave me an early copy of your novel, Threat of the Spider. We both totally loved Rise of the Spider and can’t wait for the next release! So if it is okay with you, I would like to ask some questions. 

Michael: (which just happens to be Chase’s middle name) Hello Chase! Thank you for taking the time to ask me these questions. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed RISE OF THE SPIDER! 

Chase: I know your next book is The Spider Strikes. But when that book is released, what is your plan for the series’ future? How many books will there be? 

Michael: The Spider Strikes will be released in the spring of 2026. There will be six books total, all of them published roughly six months apart. 

Chase: At the end of Threat of the Spider, Ansel’s dad supposedly dies of a gunshot. Is he really dead? 

Michael: That’s a secret I can’t reveal! What I will say is that he is shot. We don’t know yet if he is dead. 

Can’t Blame a Kid for Trying…

Chase: When Ansel was getting the Hitler Youth uniforms and Hans walked past him, what was Hans doing? 

Michael: Hans was just on his way to an errand at the house. He wasn’t up to anything nefarious. But, I have found that when a plan goes awry, it is usually because of something normal or simple that happens…like someone returning home unexpectedly. 

Chase: The story takes place in 1930, a.k.a. the rise of the Nazis. Will the Web of the Spider overlap with World War II? 

Michael: No. The series will end in 1934 when Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany. Once named, he really begins his reign of terror, arresting journalists, murdering opponents within the party, and jailing those who defy him politically. 

Chase: Out of all the characters in this novel, why choose Klaus to be an SA agent? 

Michael: I thought Klaus’s character fit the mold of an undercover agent. The trick when doing that is to appear normal or at least harmless. When we first meet Klaus, he couldn’t appear to be more harmless. 

Chase: Why did you choose to write about the Hitler Youth? 

Michael: Well, it’s kind of fascinating when you think about it. An entire nation of young people is subsumed and indoctrinated by a movement. Some of them willingly, some by force. Since I was writing about a group of young people, it seemed logical to include the Hitler Youth. I think it helps bring the villainy down to the level of my characters. 

Chase: Thank you for allowing me this privilege. The books are amazing. I hope these are good questions in your opinion. 

Michael: Thank you! I’m glad you think so! These were excellent questions! 

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