Spider

Published in 1894, 'Spider' by Fergus Hume follows Arthur Vernon, a member of the Athenian club, who starts a private investigation agency under the alias 'Nemo' after becoming destitute following his father's death. As he navigates the challenges of maintaining his secret identity, he is confronted by an old classmate, Constantine Maunders, who offers to partner with him in exchange for blackmail information. The novel explores themes of deception and morality within high society, making it a notable work in the detective fiction genre.