This is the novel that introduced Dr Basil Willing, a psychiatrist working out of the district attorney's office in New York. He's a character who reappeared in a whole series of novels by Helen McCloy, offering a very different approach to golden age detecting ad he searched for psychic clues rather than physical clues.
Written in 1938 it has aged. well and has a clever plot, and a solution to the mystery that won't disappoint.
Helen McCloy and Basil Willing are almost forgotten today but the ever-pioneering Agora books are championing a revival of her novels. Once you have read one of them, I am sure, like me, you will be hooked.

3.5 stars

This vintage mystery would have made a great 40s movie. Originally published in 1938, it was the series debut of Dr. Basil Willing, a psychiatrist working with the NYPD. It was early days then for the science of psychiatry, so there is much skepticism present from some police and members of the public.

Willing is a solid character. In this outing, a bizarre crime occurs. The body of a young woman is found buried in the snow. But the body is burning hot. Then, another young woman, who could be a twin of the body, comes to the police with an incredible story. She claims the body is a relative of hers, a prominent socialite. She then tells them she had been impersonating the victim for the last couple days, at the request of the victim's stepmother. The stepmother and her boyfriend had even attempted to gaslight her into believing she actually was the stepdaughter.

So unfolds a tale of greed, glamor, family dysfunction, and chilling manipulation. Willing's skills help to unravel the whole mess.

Quite readable, although sometimes a bit heavy on mental health jargon, and a bonus for classic mystery fans. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first of the Dr. Basil Willing series. It was first published in 1938. It is now being reprinted by Agora Books and will be released on 29th October.
After a severe snowstorm during the night, the streets and pavements of New York are deep in snow. When in the early morning, the workers with shovels try to clear off the snow, one of them comes across the dead body of a girl buried in the snow. The body feels hot and an autopsy reveals that the conditions of the internal organs are the same as in the case of a heat stroke !
The body, after some doubts due to misleading details, is identified as that of Katherine Jocelyn, an eighteen year old beautiful debutante. She has been poisoned with an overdose of a diet drug named Sveltis which she endorsed in advertisements for reducing weight but never took it herself. It seems that the overdose was put in her cocktail during her coming-out party which took place on the night preceding the discovery of her dead body.
The case is investigated by Dr. Basil Willing, psychiatrist attached to the District Attorney’s office and Inspector Foyle of New York police.
The main suspects who attended the party are her stepmother Rhoda Jocelyn, her look-alike cousin Ann Claude, her uncle Edgar Jocelyn, Luis Pasquale, an artist, Mrs Jowett, social secretary for coming-out parties, Nicholas Danine, a rich director of a German explosives company, Philip Leach, a gossip column writer, Rhoda’s maid Victorine, and a gate-crasher.
Basil Wiling’s method of working is different from that of other detectives. His emphasis is on psychology and what he calls “psychic fingerprints”. He observes the subconscious behavior and blunders of the suspects to make deductions.
The plot is intriguing and entertaining. The characterisation is good. There is a lot of forensic details which may interest readers. The mystery is rather intricate with several twists and red herrings. However, the middle section often tends to drag. Hence I rate it as 3 stars, otherwise I would have rated it as 4 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Cooks for a free review copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Agora Books for an advance copy of Dance of Death, the first novel to feature New York based psychiatrist Dr Basil Willing, originally published in 1938 under the title Design for Dying.

When a young woman is found dead from heatstroke in the snow Dr Basil Willing is asked to assist Inspector Foyle in establishing what happened but there are only more questions when she is identified as debutante Kitty Jocelyn, killed on the night of her coming out ball.

I enjoyed Dance of Death, which, as expected from the era, has a puzzling mystery at its heart, not least who would want want to kill a young woman recently arrived in New York from Europe and quite unknown? No one it would appear, but several people had the opportunity so it’s a question of finding a motive and a killer.

This is an interesting read as a product of its era. The psychology is rather naive and unnuanced in comparison with our modern understanding and can be, at times, a slog but the effort is there and I imagine that the novel was quite modern in its approach at the time. What I noticed more, however, was the class of the novel. The majority of the characters are well heeled, if not so well bred and the inference is that the Police should leave them alone. Maybe not so different from nowadays, on reflection. It’s also a remarkably homogeneous society with an emphasis on European roots, the only non white has a minor role as gullible and deceived.

Despite the old fashioned nature of the narrative I enjoyed the whodunnit nature of the novel and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

‘The snow began to fall Tuesday, about cocktail time—huge flakes whirling spirally in a north wind.’

And the following day, there are three cases of death by exposure. One of those bodies belongs to an unidentified girl who apparently died of heat exposure, a detail which has been kept from the papers. Her body was discovered by men shovelling snow. Who is she, and how did she die?

So begins the mystery the local police dub ‘The Red Hot Momma Case’.

Dr Basil Willing is a psychiatrist attached to the district attorney’s office in New York. He and Inspector Foyle investigate what becomes an intricate and involved case, full of mysteries, secrets, and red herrings. The identity of the girl is quickly discovered, but not before some misleading details are introduced.

“Mrs Jocelyn,” said Basil, evenly, “the most disillusioning thing about being a psychiatrist is discovering how many kind relatives wish that other members of their family could be declared insane.”

The main puzzle is who wanted Kitty Jocelyn dead? Most of the people involved had good reason for wanting her alive. But the autopsy reveals that her death was a consequence of poisoning, by a diet drug she endorsed but did not take. Dr Willing uses his knowledge of psychology to try to get into the murderer’s mind. Intriguing, because there were several people with opportunity, several secrets which could explain motivation.

The story moves at a rapid pace, and while I worked out who I thought was responsible just before the end, I needed confirmation.

‘The answer came in a flash of illumination as sudden as lightening.’

This novel was first published in 1938 and is being republished in 2020. It is the first of a series of fourteen novels by Helen McCloy (1904-1994) to feature Dr Basil Willing, and I have added the others to my reading list.

A great ‘Golden Era’ mystery.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Never heard of this author so was happy to receive a copy for review. A different sort of protagonist, the psychologist Dr Willing. I suppose the plot might seem a bit dated now, set at the the launch party of an American deb, also, I usually associate this sort of classic crime genre with English rather than US writers. This s is the first in the Dr Willing series and I will definitely look out for the others.

This is the first novel by Helen McCloy that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The novel begins with a debutante ball for Kitty Jocelyn, at some point during the preparations Kitty is poisoned. Her cousin Ann is coerced into taking her place by both Kitty and Rhoda Jocelyn, Kitty’s stepmother and after a full makeover Ann attends the ball. At some point during the proceedings Kitty even though she is ill makes her escape to start a new life and dies outside a few streets away. The New York police including Dr Basil Winning investigate the case and with no motive and so many suspects they cannot seem to see the wood for the trees.

this was a great mystery novel, the plot was interesting and I enjoyed trying to figure out who did it. I liked getting to know the characters and look forward to more in the series.

The morning after her coming out party the body of beautiful socialite Kitty Jocelyn is found in a snowbank. An autopsy reveals death was due to the effects of a diet drug which Kitty advertised, but never took. Suspicion falls on family, as well as her small circle of family, swains, and employees, but none has a discernable motive. Who would murder a beautiful eighteen-year-old girl without an enemy in the world? By focusing on the unconscious actions of the suspects, Dr. Basil Willing uncovers the “psychic fingerprints” that will ultimately lead to the culprit.

This is Helen McCloy’s first book, and the first of fourteen books featuring Dr. Basil Willing, a psychiatrist who acts as an adviser to the New York district attorney's office. There is quite a bit here that I liked. The character is well versed in Freudian psychoanalysis and it is this knowledge, as it applies to individuals and clues, which he uses in solving a case. It’s an interesting take on the role of the amateur detective. And while I’m aware of writers having their detectives base their investigations on the phycological makeup of the suspect/culprit, I’ve not seen it to this degree.

The plot is clever and provides a lot more than murder for the reader to contend with. The murder is quite unique; McCoy’s use of a doppelganger leads to initial confusion over the victim’s identity; well-known party guests (and gate crashers) can’t be found, and almost everyone, including some servants, has something to hide. In addition, it’s hard to figure out who a murderer is when there is no obvious motive. Nearly everyone concerned had a reason for needing the victim alive. How’s that for a red herring?

An intriguing mystery, and a very entertaining read.

Golden Era mysteries warm the cockles of my heart and this fun book is the perfect escape into the 1930s. Not only is a body discovered in a snowbank but other crimes are plentiful as well, creating twists and turns and the unearthing of secrets.

A debutante goes missing and two men shoveling snow are shocked to discover a body. Dr. Basil Willing, a psychologist, teams up with Inspector Foyle to search for the killer. Though their methodology and analyzing styles differ they complement each other nicely. Dr. Willing uses the psychology of the times to get into the murderer's mind. This is one of my favourite aspects of the story...or stories as there are also several subplots. Very interesting, akin to current profiling. The murder itself is thrillingly unique. In determining motives, many suspects are on the table. Objects...and people...disappear and the psychologist and inspector have their hands full untangling the webs of deceit.

Also likable are the unexpected rabbit holes and dead ends. So easy to zip through as it's smoothly readable. As it is set in winter, I recommend reading it enveloped in a comfy blanket and sipping hot chocolate as I did today.

Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this, especially those fascinated by the Golden Era. I've read other books by this author and have found her to be consistently good.

My sincere thank you to Agora Books for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.