W.J. Burley’s Followers (24)

W.J. Burley

Born

in Falmouth, The United Kingdom

August 01, 1914

Died

November 15, 2002

Website

http://www.wjburley.com/index.php

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers

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Burley was born in Falmouth, Cornwall. Before he began writing, he was employed in senior management with various gas companies, before giving it up after the Second World War when he obtained a scholarship to study zoology at Balliol College, Oxford. After obtaining an honours degree he became a teacher. Appointed head of biology, first at Richmond & East Sheen County Grammar School in 1953, then at Newquay Grammar School in 1955, he was well established as a writer by the time he retired at the age of 60 in 1974. He died at his home in Holywell, Cornwall, on 15 August 2002.

John Burley had his first novel published when he was in his early fifties. His second published novel, two years later, saw the appearance of Superintendent Charles Wy Burley was born in Falmouth, Cornwall. Before he began writing, he was employed in senior management with various gas companies, before giving it up after the Second World War when he obtained a scholarship to study zoology at Balliol College, Oxford. After obtaining an honours degree he became a teacher. Appointed head of biology, first at Richmond & East Sheen County Grammar School in 1953, then at Newquay Grammar School in 1955, he was well established as a writer by the time he retired at the age of 60 in 1974. He died at his home in Holywell, Cornwall, on 15 August 2002.

John Burley had his first novel published when he was in his early fifties. His second published novel, two years later, saw the appearance of Superintendent Charles Wycliffe.

Over the next 25 years Burley produced another seventeen Wycliffe books and five other books.

Then, late in 1993, one of Burley's Wycliffe stories appeared on television in a pilot starring Jack Shepherd.

The pilot was followed by 37 episodes broadcast over a five year period.

By 1995 the author was, for the first time in his life, financially comfortable. He was over eighty.

But the success of the television series meant that John Burley found himself overshadowed by his creations. To the public, the name Wycliffe brought to mind the unsmiling face of Jack Shepherd, the actor. Even in the bookshops it was Shepherd's face that dominated the covers of Burley's paperbacks.

John Burley, however, continued to write and produced a further four Wycliffe titles. He was working on his 23rd Wycliffe novel, Wycliffe's Last Lap, when he died in 2002.

Recently a wish to restore the balance has emerged from amongst his readers. There is a feeling that we are neglecting a writer of quality, one who deserves to stand beside Simenon, the creator of Inspector Maigret.
Reading through John Burley's books in publication sequence, one notices how the author's voice gets stronger and his views more certain. And how his writing skills grow until, in the later books, a few words are all that it takes to pin down an image. These are the signs of a writer confident in his craft. ...more

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W.J. Burley’s books

Average rating: 3.8 · 5,207 ratings · 487 reviews · 45 distinct works • Similar authors

	Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy (Wycliffe, #1) 3.70 avg rating — 372 ratings — published 1968 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and the Guilt Edged Alibi (Wycliffe, #3) 3.70 avg rating — 285 ratings — published 1971 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and How to Kill a Cat (Wycliffe, #2) 3.79 avg rating — 278 ratings — published 1970 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery (Wycliffe, #19) 3.87 avg rating — 246 ratings — published 1993 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue (Wycliffe, #14) 3.78 avg rating — 244 ratings — published 1987 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe in Paul's Court (Wycliffe, #9) 3.88 avg rating — 231 ratings — published 1980 — 21 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place (Wycliffe, #4) 3.67 avg rating — 243 ratings — published 1973 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death (Wycliffe, #16) 3.76 avg rating — 234 ratings — published 1990 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe And The Schoolgirls (Wycliffe, #7) 3.77 avg rating — 231 ratings — published 1976 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wycliffe and the tangled web (Wycliffe, #15) 3.92 avg rating — 221 ratings — published 1988 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by W.J. Burley…

Series by W.J. Burley

Wycliffe (22 books)
by

W.J. Burley

3.81 avg rating — 5,090 ratings

Henry Pym (2 books)
by

W.J. Burley

3.36 avg rating — 36 ratings

Quotes by W.J. Burley (?)

“An ABC tearoom, 1992 vintage.”
― W.J. Burley, Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place

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“Monsters and mystery are the seeds of religion and religion is the adult fairy tale,”
― W.J. Burley, Wycliffe and the Three Toed Pussy

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“to mention it to Captain Beale because I”
― W.J. Burley, Wycliffe and the Beales

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See all W.J. Burley's quotes »

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W.J. Burley’s Followers (24)

W.J. Burley

Combine EditionsW.J. Burley’s books

Series by W.J. Burley

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
W.J. Burley’s books