W.J. Burley was a British crime writer, best known for his Wycliffe series of books. These novels were so popular that they were later adapted into a successful television series called Wycliffe, which ran for five seasons. Burley's writing career was marked by his creation of the chief protagonist detective Charles Wycliffe, who became a widely recognized and beloved character in the world of crime fiction.
Burley was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, and before he became a writer, he held various positions in senior management with different gas companies. After the Second World War, he obtained a scholarship to study zoology at Balliol College, Oxford. He then became a teacher and was appointed head of biology at Richmond & East Sheen County Grammar School in 1953 and later at Newquay Grammar School in 1955. By the time he retired at the age of 60 in 1974, he was already an established writer.
Burley's first novel was published when he was in his early fifties, and his second published novel, two years later, saw the appearance of Superintendent Charles Wycliffe. Over the next 25 years, Burley produced a total of 22 Wycliffe books and five other books. The success of the television series based on his novels meant that Burley's face was often overshadowed by the unsmiling face of Jack Shepherd, the actor who played Wycliffe. However, Burley continued to write and produced a further four Wycliffe titles, with his last novel, Wycliffe's Last Lap, unfinished at the time of his death in 2002.
Despite Burley's success and the popularity of his novels, he has attracted relatively little critical attention. This is perhaps due to his private nature, as he was never seen participating in any activities of the Crime Writers' Association, of which he was a long-time member. Nevertheless, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in Burley's work, with readers recognizing his talent and the quality of his writing. Burley's books are characterized by a growing confidence in his voice and writing skills, with a few words often sufficing to create a vivid image. His writing is a testament to his skill and expertise in the genre, making him a worthy contender to stand alongside other great crime writers such as Simenon, the creator of Inspector Maigret.