W. J. Burley

William John Burley (1 August 1914 - 15 November 2002) was a Cornish crime writer, best known for his books featuring the detective Charles Wycliffe, who became the basis of the popular "Wycliffe" television series throughout the mid 90's.

Before he began writing, he was employed in senior management with various gas companies, before giving it up after the Second World War and studying zoology at Oxford. After obtaining an honours degree he went into teaching. Appointed head of biology 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.

Works

Wycliffe

*"Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy" (1968)
*"Wycliffe and How To Kill a Cat" (1970)
*"Wycliffe and the Guilt Edged Alibi" (1971)
*"Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place" (1973)
*"Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street" (1974)
*"Wycliffe and the Pea-Green Boat" (1975)
*"Wycliffe and the Schoolgirls" (1976)
*"Wycliffe and the Scapegoat" (1978)
*"Wycliffe in Paul's Court" (1980)
*"Wycliffe's Wild Goose Chase" (1982)
*"Wycliffe and the Beales" (1983)
*"Wycliffe and the Four Jacks" (1985)
*"Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin" (1986)
*"Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue" (1987)
*"Wycliffe and the Tangled Web" (1988)
*"Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death" (1990)
*"Wycliffe and the Dead Flautist" (1991)
*"Wycliffe and the Last Rites" (1992)
*"Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery" (1993)
*"Wycliffe and the House of Fear" (1995)
*"Wycliffe and the Redhead" (1997)
*"Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine" (2000)

Henry Pym

*"A Taste of Power" (1966)
*"Death in Willow Pattern" (1969)

Miscellaneous

*"The Schoolmaster" (1977)
*"The Sixth Day" (1978)
*"Charles and Elizabeth" (1979)
*"The House of Care" (1981)

External links

* [http://www.wjburley.com/index.html W.J.Burley biographical website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2510163.stm Wycliffe author dies in Cornwall, BBC news report]
* [http://www.iblist.com/author.php?id=15632 W.J. Burley] at the Internet Book List