The impostor

The Murder Room

by Helen McCloy

'McCloy has always resembled the best writers of the Sayers-Blake-Allingham school' New York TimesMaria Skinner recovers consciousness after a car crash to find herself in a psychiatric clinic. She remembers the crash quite clearly but she is told that she is suffering from delusions - and must not leave hospital.She tries to contact her husband but is informed that he is unavailable. Finally, in a desperate attempt to escape, she reluctantly agrees to accompany a man who insists he is her husband - but whom she knows is an impostor. Moving from one captivity to another, she becomes a pawn in someone else's sinister game ...

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Helen McCloy, born as Helen Worrell Clarkson McCloy (she also published as Helen Clarkson), was an American mystery writer, whose series character Dr. Basil Willing debuted in Dance of Death (1938). Willing believes that "every criminal leaves psychic fingerprints, and he can't wear gloves to hide them." He appeared in 13 of McCloy's novels and in several of her short stories. McCloy often used the theme of doppelganger, but in the end of the story she showed a psychological or realistic explanation for the seemingly supernatural events.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another excellent mystery by McCloy, who draws you right in. My eyes snapped shut when she got to the code and cypher part - she LOVED cyphers, and I don't, but other than that, it was a fine read.