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J.R. Larriba is a multi-genre author who prefers originality over retellings, but is willing to inject a shout-out to a classic when prudent.
He learned tale-spinning from his father as a boy during bedtime stories—not read from a book, but spun fresh at the loom. He sees opportunity for mystery in every leaf of the forest. Every mote of dust holds a secret.
He’s survived life thus far, and all that that implies, and those experiences find their way into his tales. His memoir (Remember the Prisoners: He Came to Set the Captives Free) won 3rd place in the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest in 2016. That success encouraged him to keep writing, keep exploring—the creativity simmering just below the surface.
Itsy Bitsy Spyder: Evolution is his horror debut, an opening to a planned trilogy.
Reviewed by Gaius Konstantine for Readers' Favorite
"This wasn’t some lazy mist drifting in for a nap. It slithered, serpentine and intentional -- malevolent as a living thing with a grudge.” Malice and death arrive hand in hand in Itsy Bitsy Spyder: Evolution, a novel by J.R. Larriba. And when they do, it's only the beginning of a hellish cacophony of evil that claims the town of Mill Valley as its very own home. The story unfolds as Marin County Sheriff's Office detective Thomas Krill and his partner, Isabela Ortega, investigate a peculiar murder. It seems a man has been killed in his sleep as his deaf and blind wife slept soundly next to him. And that's about as normal as things get, because the investigation leads to an abandoned secret base and, eventually, the very gates of hell. As his personal life falls apart, Detective Krill, along with his partner and two very unexpected allies, must cross barriers that should never be breached lest the world itself unravel.
Thrilling and highly imaginative, Itsy Bitsy Spyder: Evolution by J.R. Larriba is classic horror seeped in the occult and much more. The plot, a strength of the novel, focuses on what eventually becomes a nightmarish quest as the protagonists face an ageless malevolence and their very selves. Thematic depth focuses not only on the eternal struggle between good and evil (versus greater evil) but also faith and reflection as the heroes may be nothing more than a better version of the damned. Top-notch character development is another strength of the novel, and the cast, including supporting characters, is a fascinating mix of individuals. The pace is fast. For fans of over-the-top horror based on arcane and supernatural myths of old, Itsy Bitsy Spyder: Evolution delivers the nightmare you've been waiting for.
