Through A Glass, Darkly

The jewel in the crown of the beloved Dr Basil Willing mysteries - when unassuming art teacher Faustina Crayle loses her second job in quick succession, only Basil can help, and it goes from bad to worse for Faustina when a body is found . . . 'They watch me all the time. In and out of the classroom, their eyes are always following me . . .'Quiet, gentle, young Faustina Crayle is dismissed from her teaching position at Brereton School for Girls after just a few weeks. She is given no explanation, but it's clear certain staff and pupils fear her. Her friend and fellow teacher Gisela contacts psychologist and sleuth Dr Basil Willing who offers to investigate these outlandish claims. But this only confirms two damning facts - first, that this happened at a previous school and, second, people believe there are two sides to enigmatic Faustina. When a body is found at the school and Faustina is implicated in the death, it is clear that darkness swirls around this young woman. But is she the perpetrator or victim?Praise for Helen McCloy: 'McCloy has always resembled the best writers of the Sayers-Blake-Allingham school' New York Times 'In the very top rank' Sunday Times

Helen McCloy was born in New York City in 1904, daughter of a writer and a newspaper editor. Having read Sherlock Holmes as a young girl, McCloy retained an interest in mysteries and began to write them in the 1930s, after a career in journalism. Her first novel, Dance of Death, was published in 1938 and featured psychologist sleuth Dr Basil Willing, who appeared in twelve of her novels and several short stories. In 1950 she became the first woman to serve as president of Mystery Writers of America. In 1953 she received an Edgar from the same organization for her critiques. Her last book - featuring Dr Basil Willing - was published in 1980 and she died in 1994.