I take pleasure in informing you that you have been chosen as murderer for Group No 1. Please follow these instructions with as great exactness as possible.
On his way to visit the dean at Yorkville University, Assistant Chief Inspector Foyle seems to stumble across a murder, or at least the plans for one.
Chalking it all up to a gag (because real killers don't use the word 'murder'), Foyle is horrified to learn about the death of Dr Kinradi, a scientist at the campus.
Though it looks like a suicide, Foyle isn't so sure, and Dr Basil Willing, psychologist and sleuth, is called in to aid the investigation.
With motives and murder piling up, the pair must solve the case before more lives are put at risk.
'Top-drawer.' - Saturday Review of Literature
'For your must list.' - William Bochnel, New York World Telegram
'mixes psychiatry and sleuthing most admirably' - Jack Ketch, New York Herald Tribune
'even better than Helen McCloy's first mystery, Dance of Death' - Isaac Anderson, Times Book Review
'should place her definitely in the mystery hall of fame' - Will Cuppy, Herald Tribune
'Basil Willing deserves his place in the ranks of the great detectives.' - Barry Turner, Daily Mail
'She is in the very top rank' - Julian Symons, Sunday Times
'McCloy's talent transcends the generations' - Barry Turner, Daily Mail
'If we had a Pulitzer Prize for mysteries (and we should have) Helen McCloy would be a leading candidate.' - Will Cuppy, New York Herald Tribune
'The reader will want to hear more of Dr Willing's exploits.' - James Grey, New York Sun
'Miss McCloy compels you to read every word.' - Maurice Richardson, The Observer
'Miss McCloy is definitely the best butter' - The Spectator