LemonSky reviewed Alias Basil Willing by Helen McCloy
Review of 'Alias Basil Willing' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I've been reading [a:Helen McCloy|298019|Helen McCloy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332186670p2/298019.jpg] for about a year now. There's only one of her books ([b:The One That Got Away|24312624|The One That Got Away|Helen McCloy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420503367l/24312624.SY75.jpg|19121516]) that I didn't like, and that was due to the subject matter and not the writing. The detective in 13 of McCloy's books is Basil Willing, a psychiatrist who often works with the police. Sometimes the psychology can get a little heavy-handed, but for the most part, the books are interesting and well-plotted. [b:Alias Basil Willing|24014450|Alias Basil Willing|Helen McCloy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419271259l/24014450.SY75.jpg|2367288] (1951) is no exception.
The story starts off with Dr Willing buying some cigarettes. Another customer, a short, chubby man, comes into the store in a great hurry, buys his cigarettes, and then dashes out without even bothering to get his change. Dr Willing goes outside and sees the little man catching a cab. The man gives his name as …
I've been reading [a:Helen McCloy|298019|Helen McCloy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332186670p2/298019.jpg] for about a year now. There's only one of her books ([b:The One That Got Away|24312624|The One That Got Away|Helen McCloy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420503367l/24312624.SY75.jpg|19121516]) that I didn't like, and that was due to the subject matter and not the writing. The detective in 13 of McCloy's books is Basil Willing, a psychiatrist who often works with the police. Sometimes the psychology can get a little heavy-handed, but for the most part, the books are interesting and well-plotted. [b:Alias Basil Willing|24014450|Alias Basil Willing|Helen McCloy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419271259l/24014450.SY75.jpg|2367288] (1951) is no exception.
The story starts off with Dr Willing buying some cigarettes. Another customer, a short, chubby man, comes into the store in a great hurry, buys his cigarettes, and then dashes out without even bothering to get his change. Dr Willing goes outside and sees the little man catching a cab. The man gives his name as - Dr Basil Willing! Intrigued, the real Dr Willing hopes into a cab and follows the fake Dr Willing to a posh dinner party held by a fellow psychiatrist, Dr Zimmer. The atmosphere at the party is very strange and tense. Dr Willing (the real one) knows only one person at the party. He finds himself having to prove his true identity to Dr Zimmer and the other guests, who don't believe him.
Finally, both the real Willing and the fake one leave, and the imposter starts to explain the reason for his impersonation. However, before the imposter can provide much information, he falls mysteriously ill and then dies. His last words are, "And no – bird – sang..." Soon someone else who was at the party dies and from the same cause.
This novel and [b:Through a Glass, Darkly|17232392|Through a Glass, Darkly|Helen McCloy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1357868053l/17232392.SY75.jpg|14949417] are my favorite McCloys. They are intense, scary, and downright chilling. I don't want to say much more because that would ruin the fun of learning the truth. I will say this, though - this is one of the more unique mysteries I have read. I can only think of one other, an Agatha Christie (which I won't name), that is somewhat similar.