W.J. Burley was a British crime writer best known for his Wycliffe series of books. That book series eventually became the ITV television show, Wycliffe that ran for five seasons.

Prior to becoming a writer, Burley worked at various gas companies. He worked in that industry until the Second World War. After the war was over, he attended Balliol College, Oxford and studied zoology. He would obtain an honours degree and go on to a career as a teacher. He worked as the head of biology at multiple schools until his retirement.

Publication Order of Henry Pym Books

A Taste of Power(1974)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Willow Pattern(1983)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Wycliffe Books

Wycliffe and the Three Toed Pussy(1968)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and How to Kill a Cat(1970)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Guilt Edged Alibi(1971)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place(1973)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street(1974)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Pea Green Boat(1975)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe And The Schoolgirls(1976)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the School Bullies(1976)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Scapegoat(1978)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe in Paul's Court(1980)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe's Wild Goose Chase(1982)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Beales(1983)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Four Jacks(1985)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin(1986)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue(1987)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe And The Tangled Web(1988)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death(1990)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Dead Flautist(1991)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Last Rites(1992)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery(1994)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the House of Fear(1995)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Redhead(1997)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine(2000)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

The Schoolmaster(1977)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The 6th Day(1978)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Charles and Elizabeth(1979)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The House of Care(1981)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

If You Like W.J. Burley Books, You’ll Love…

Wycliffe and the Three Toed Pussy is the first book in the Wycliffe series. The village of Kergwyns in Cornwall was known as a peaceful place, but that reputation has changed after a bizarre murder. A young woman is shot and the killer removed one of her shoes and stockings, revealing a deformed foot. Detective Superintendent Wycliffe is called in to investigate and finds the story of an unhappy woman who was manipulated by the men in her life. She had a connection to many of the men in town with most of them having reason to lie about their relationship. Wycliffe finds a series of crossword puzzles left behind by the victim that could lead him to answers.

The series continued in Wycliffe and How to Kill A Cat. Wycliffe is on the case of a young woman who was murdered by strangulation and then her face was smashed after the fact. She is found in a seedy hotel room, but she appears to have more calls than her surroundings would indicate. Superintendent Wycliffe was on holiday, but the case draws him in. It will prove to be a tough investigation with many motives and many suspects.

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