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The Spider #2 Audiobook
The Wheel of Death
by R. T. M. Scott
Read by Nick Santa Maria
Mysterious death, suicide, and madness took uncanny toll of New York’s most prominent citizens. Only the Spider sensed the presence of the criminal genius whose tentacles were strangling the city — and the Spider was next on the crime monster’s death list!
Here is the second and final Spider novel penned by the mysterious R. T. M. Scott. To this day, over eighty years later, the mystery of Scott’s departure remains unsolved. R. T. M. Scott was a famous byline in the 1920s and ’30s, the author of a series of hardcover novels featuring sophisticated detective Aurelius Smith and his Hindu aide, Langa Doonh. They were the template for Richard Wentworth and Ram Singh.
But there were two R. T. M. Scotts, father and son. And the son worked for Popular Publications under the name Maitland Scott! So, which Scott initiated the Spider series? One of the more intriguing theories posits that R. T. M. Scott Senior penned The Spider Strikes and, having kicked off the series in grand style, handed it off to his son, who was 24 at that time. Whatever the case was, neither man was likely up to the job of writing a monthly pulp novel. Enter Norvell Page.
The Wheel of Death is a crime story set in New York City and revolves around a strange after-hours nightclub catering to the elite. Donning the disguise of a hardened gangster, Dick Wentworth, alias the Spider, penetrates this place, and allies himself with Molly Dennis, a young woman whose father sits on Death Row, awaiting execution for a crime he may not have committed. What is the secret of Grogan’s Restaurant? Can he unravel a web of blackmail without revealing that Richard Wentworth is secretly the Spider?
Nick Santa Maria reads this exciting suspense story of murder, mayhem and mystery that perfectly evokes 1933 Manhattan. Originally published in The Spider magazine, November, 1933.
Chapter 1: The Vermilion Seal
Chapter 2: Pursuit
Chapter 3: Wentworth Telephones — Under Difficulties!
Chapter 4: Behind the Barricade
Chapter 5: Fire!
Chapter 6: The Disappearing Safe
Chapter 7: Master of Seven Million People!
Chapter 8: Mortimer Mack’s Place
Chapter 9: The Woman Called Cora
Chapter 10: Blackmail — and Murder!
Chapter 11: In a Tight Spot
Chapter 12: Police Threat
Chapter 13: Nita Disappears
Chapter 14: Again the Seal
Chapter 15: “Richard Wentworth Is the Spider!”
Chapter 16: The Spider In Action
Chapter 17: The Dark Hours Before Dawn
Chapter 18: Going Down!
Chapter 19: Through the Flames
Chapter 20: Murder Masquerade
Nick Santa Maria Nick was born early in life in Brooklyn, NY. His theatrical background is based in Comedy Improv. He was a long standing member of the late lamented Miami based, Mental Floss, where he served as head writer/composer. From there he began his career in commercials, voice-overs, TV, Film, and theatre. He has performed in many roles on the stage including his award winning turn as Nick in Over The River And Through The Woods, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, in The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee as Mr. Panch (3-D Theatricals), Mr. Bromhead in No Sex Please, We’re British at The Norris, and as Pseudolus in, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Norris Theatre. Television: The Buffalo Bill Show, B.J. Stryker, and two Disney Christmas Specials. Off Broadway: Writer/Composer/Performer on Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know, Soundtrack on RCA Victor. Broadway: Vince Fontaine in Tommy Tune’s production of Grease. He also appeared in every domestic company of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, understudying everyone from Nathan Lane and Jason Alexander, to Tony Danza and David Hassellhoff. He was the original Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, a Musical Spectacular, soundtrack on Disney Records. Nick is a resident of Los Angeles and is currently writing a book about classic film comedians, Nick’s been a long time film historian, and has written several articles on the topic.
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