W.J. Burley

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.
Henry Pym Books
# Title Year
1 A Taste of Power 1974
2 Death in Willow Pattern 1983
Wycliffe Books
# Title Year
1 Wycliffe and the Three Toed Pussy 1968
2 Wycliffe and How to Kill a Cat 1970
3 Wycliffe and the Guilt Edged Alibi 1971
4 Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place 1973
5 Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street 1974
6 Wycliffe and the Pea Green Boat 1975
7 Wycliffe And The Schoolgirls 1976
8 Wycliffe and the School Bullies 1976
9 Wycliffe and the Scapegoat 1978
10 Wycliffe in Paul's Court 1980
11 Wycliffe's Wild Goose Chase 1982
12 Wycliffe and the Beales 1983
13 Wycliffe and the Four Jacks 1985
14 Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin 1986
15 Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue 1987
16 Wycliffe And The Tangled Web 1988
17 Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death 1990
18 Wycliffe and the Dead Flautist 1991
19 Wycliffe and the Last Rites 1992
20 Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery 1994
21 Wycliffe and the House of Fear 1995
22 Wycliffe and the Redhead 1997
23 Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine 2000
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Schoolmaster 1977
2 The 6th Day 1978
3 Charles and Elizabeth 1979
4 The House of Care 1981