The Spider Silk Scarf: A Short Story

From the New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines comes a haunting short story about grief, growth, and regret that asks the question, “What do you get when you steal from a witch?”

Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing things—from shoplifting nail polish as a young teenager to now, in her twenties, reaching higher than a receptionist’s salary allows. Her handyman fiancé, Ben, doesn’t ask questions when she shows up with a new necklace or cracks open a bottle of high-end cognac that they clearly can’t afford.

When Ben comes home from a repair job for a notoriously reclusive neighbor, he passes along rumors of an extraordinary object hidden away in her gloomy old house. A scarf, woven from the silk of black widow spiders. It’s priceless, not only because it’s completely unique, but also because, as legend has it, it took twelve weavers seven years to create. Only eleven survived.

As obsession takes hold, Nora finds herself breaking into her neighbor’s home. But what happens next defies explanation. One glimpse into the world of a witch could change Nora’s life forever—if she makes it out.

Ana Reyes is the New York Times bestselling author of Reese’s Book Club Pick, The House in the Pines, currently being developed for film at Gato Grande/Amazon MGM Studios. She was awarded the 2024 International Latino Book Award for Best Mystery Novel and the 2024 Libby Book Award for Best Debut Author. She lives with her family in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Follow her @anareyeswriter for updates and announcements on her next book.

As you might expect from the author of the New York Times bestseller The House in the Pines, Ana Reyes knows how to set a mood. This gothic short story echoes the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel in a way that feels both contemporary and timeless. Caught in its web of self-deceptions and illusion, I finished The Spider Silk Scarf in a single sitting.

—Kjersti Egerdahl, Editor