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Wycliffe #19
Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery
Cochran Wilder, only son of crimebashing MP Royston Wilder, is missing on a walking holiday in Cornwall. He was last seen on Saturday evening, on the North Cornwall coastal path between Gwithian and Hayle.... Cochran was recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital where he had been detained under a court order following convictions on a number of charges including theft and indecent assault....
Chief Deputy Superintendent Wycliffe recalls all too well the considerable ruckus that Royston Wilder created fifteen years ago when his son disappeared for the first time. But when a dog accidentally unearths Cochran Wilder's body, Wycliffe is stumped over where to begin.
As the pieces of the puzzle slowly fit together to point to six prominent community members and one wild weekend they spent fifteen years ago, Wycliffe is forced to proceed carefully. All this changes when he himself gets assaulted and a suspicious landlord is murdered, plunging Wycliffe into a race to find the killer before the killer finds him.
Wycliffe, one of the best established detectives in crime fiction, is in excellent form in the latest intelligent, atmospheric mystery that will delight all of W.J. Burley's many fans.
Chief Deputy Superintendent Wycliffe recalls all too well the considerable ruckus that Royston Wilder created fifteen years ago when his son disappeared for the first time. But when a dog accidentally unearths Cochran Wilder's body, Wycliffe is stumped over where to begin.
As the pieces of the puzzle slowly fit together to point to six prominent community members and one wild weekend they spent fifteen years ago, Wycliffe is forced to proceed carefully. All this changes when he himself gets assaulted and a suspicious landlord is murdered, plunging Wycliffe into a race to find the killer before the killer finds him.
Wycliffe, one of the best established detectives in crime fiction, is in excellent form in the latest intelligent, atmospheric mystery that will delight all of W.J. Burley's many fans.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
26 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
W.J. Burley
44 books25 followersBurley 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 18, 2017
May 1977 and a lone stranger walking the coast path stumbles into a beach chalet amid the sand dunes in St Ives Bay asking for a glass of water. Six school friends are using the chalet for the weekend and, against their better judgement, they offer him a meal before he moves on. However, once the meal is over it is dark and they very generously offer him the sofa on which to spend the night. He takes up the offer.
Fifteen years later a dog walker comes across the partially buried body of a naked man in the sand dunes close to the same chalet. It turns out to be the body of a certain Cochran Wilder who had gone missing in the area in May 1977. Wycliffe and his team are called in to investigate.
As May was out of season, Wycliffe initially thinks that the chalet would not have been let and nobody claims to have been there at the time in question. Wycliffe is initially puzzled but subsequent enquiries around the village reveal that one of the owner's children had borrowed it for some school friends for the weekend around the time that Wilder went missing.
This leads Wycliffe to begin investigating the six people who were there at the time and although they at first deny being there, the discovery of a necklace in the pocket of the dead man bears the initials of one of the girls so they have to admit that they were in the vicinity, having fun prior to taking their 'A' Level examinations. However, they deny ever having seen a walker or having come into contact with him; as for the necklace the young lady in question declares that she had lost it among the dunes earlier in the day that Cochran was last seen.
The village is a hot bed of gossip but everyone keeps their thoughts to themselves as far as the police are concerned and Wycliffe and his team have to work extremely hard to draw any clues from the residents. But when two deaths occur, one of which is one of the six who shared the chalet, their suspicions are such that they probe even deeper. And this brings results.
Finally, after much intrigue, the truth comes out and the case is satisfactorily resolved with Wycliffe returning home for a well deserved rest.
Great characters, I never watched Wycliffe on television so had no preconceived idea of his character, but he comes across as a strong personality, well capable of leading his team to success. His assistants are well portrayed, too, as are the other main characters in this suspenseful tale, beautifully set on the Cornish coast, that keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat from start to finish.
Fifteen years later a dog walker comes across the partially buried body of a naked man in the sand dunes close to the same chalet. It turns out to be the body of a certain Cochran Wilder who had gone missing in the area in May 1977. Wycliffe and his team are called in to investigate.
As May was out of season, Wycliffe initially thinks that the chalet would not have been let and nobody claims to have been there at the time in question. Wycliffe is initially puzzled but subsequent enquiries around the village reveal that one of the owner's children had borrowed it for some school friends for the weekend around the time that Wilder went missing.
This leads Wycliffe to begin investigating the six people who were there at the time and although they at first deny being there, the discovery of a necklace in the pocket of the dead man bears the initials of one of the girls so they have to admit that they were in the vicinity, having fun prior to taking their 'A' Level examinations. However, they deny ever having seen a walker or having come into contact with him; as for the necklace the young lady in question declares that she had lost it among the dunes earlier in the day that Cochran was last seen.
The village is a hot bed of gossip but everyone keeps their thoughts to themselves as far as the police are concerned and Wycliffe and his team have to work extremely hard to draw any clues from the residents. But when two deaths occur, one of which is one of the six who shared the chalet, their suspicions are such that they probe even deeper. And this brings results.
Finally, after much intrigue, the truth comes out and the case is satisfactorily resolved with Wycliffe returning home for a well deserved rest.
Great characters, I never watched Wycliffe on television so had no preconceived idea of his character, but he comes across as a strong personality, well capable of leading his team to success. His assistants are well portrayed, too, as are the other main characters in this suspenseful tale, beautifully set on the Cornish coast, that keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat from start to finish.
June 28, 2020
I thought this book was pretty good up until the last little bit. The majority of the story was pretty good but when it got to the end of the book and everything was being revealed the book just sort of ended. Left me feeling pretty frustrated and disappointed.
September 18, 2015
I was familiar with the Wycliffe television series and picked this novel up from a second hand book stall a few years back but have never read it. The title is #19 in the Wycliffe series which eventually had 22 titles, none of which I have read.
Wycliffe, now a Detective Chief Superintendent, is approaching the end of his career, and is finding that it takes a lot to get him enthusiastic. He rarely gets to participate hands on in an investigation but there is something about this case that he finds interesting, especially as it will require a few nights away from home. It is an attractive alternative too to his bending his mind to the exigencies of an imminent restructuring of his section.
When a second murder occurs, Wycliffe has to decide whether the two are connected. He knows there are six people who have lived with the secret surrounding the death of the body found in the dunes for fifteen years. Just the fact that they all see each other frequently is a constant reminder of what they did. And one of them at least is at breaking point.
A very readable but pretty standard police procedural.
Wycliffe, now a Detective Chief Superintendent, is approaching the end of his career, and is finding that it takes a lot to get him enthusiastic. He rarely gets to participate hands on in an investigation but there is something about this case that he finds interesting, especially as it will require a few nights away from home. It is an attractive alternative too to his bending his mind to the exigencies of an imminent restructuring of his section.
When a second murder occurs, Wycliffe has to decide whether the two are connected. He knows there are six people who have lived with the secret surrounding the death of the body found in the dunes for fifteen years. Just the fact that they all see each other frequently is a constant reminder of what they did. And one of them at least is at breaking point.
A very readable but pretty standard police procedural.
December 23, 2016
The body of a young man missing for 15 years is uncovered in local dunes by unusually strong winds; it doesn’t take Wycliffe long to find out that half a dozen teenagers were having a sleepover at a nearby cottage at the time of the disappearance, but 15 years on, those teens are now pillars of society to one degree or another. And none of them is anxious to stir up old memories…. As with all the books in this series (this is the 19th), "Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery" centers on Wycliffe’s character and methodology, and as such it’s one of the better in the series in my opinion. There’s less sexism than in others, and I think this is actually the first one in the series where a non-white character shows up! Mildly recommended….
May 21, 2011
A solid, enjoyable, old-fashioned murder mystery set on the Cornish coast. Although it was published in the early '90s, it has the feel of an earlier era. Burley was pretty prolific and there was a TV series based on this series in the mid-'90s, but I don't think he is much read anymore; I picked this up at a library book sale and will be keeping my eyes open for more.
September 8, 2017
The third wycliffe that I have read. A good little detective story with loads of local colour, good characters and an interesting plot.
August 7, 2018
Nice quick read. A really old crime series novel Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery.
Written in a Cornish setting.
Written in a Cornish setting.
March 2, 2023
Must confess to a degree of ambivalence about this one. A slow start, it builds ... but maybe aspires to too much complexity on one hand, while oversimplifying on the other. Burley seems to be taking the focus slightly off Wycliffe - the ensemble cast of police officers get bigger roles, greater presence, although some of this is might be at the expense of what I sense is an increased emphasis on the forensics. Forget the psychology, forget the depth of characterisation, let's have scientific evidence which doesn't tax the reader's imagination.
I don't know that Burley offers a particularly satisfactory ending - the winding up of the case becomes almost mechanistic. And, having set the scene for the police involvement, there's a lack of sophistication in developing the crime. The characters simply lack depth, maybe even lack credibility.
I don't know that Burley offers a particularly satisfactory ending - the winding up of the case becomes almost mechanistic. And, having set the scene for the police involvement, there's a lack of sophistication in developing the crime. The characters simply lack depth, maybe even lack credibility.
September 7, 2025
Better than No 14 in which a group of former school friends encounter a mysterious hiker who ends up buried in the dunes surrounding the beach chalet they have borrowed for the weekend in the days before their A levels in the summer of 1977. Fifteen years later, the hiker's body is discovered, and his identity reveals him to be the errant son of a prominent politician. Now thirtysomething adults, the former friends' lives and relationships are investigated by Wycliffe as he and the usual team strive to discover exactly what happened to the highly disturbed young man who ended up in the dunes.
November 15, 2025
This was an slow and steady murder mystery. A body found in the sand dunes from death in the late 70's. Two more death happen through the novel and the question as to whether they are interconnected or just unfortunate accidents is not revealed until the last few pages. The murderer was not hard to guess, but also presented in a way that you're left thinking surely it can't be that obvious. Would certainly try another Wycliffe novel in the future.
March 15, 2022
Classic period detective novel with lots of detail about the attitudes prevalent at the time. The characters are rounded and believable and there is an intriguing storyline. This is an easy read and a good book for holiday reading especially if you are going to Cornwall.
March 18, 2023
An interesting story with a few good twists and blind alleys. Set in and around St Ives it used places there such as The Sloop Inn that I remember from trips.
The ending seemed rushed which is a shame.
Overall I enjoyed it.
The ending seemed rushed which is a shame.
Overall I enjoyed it.
February 6, 2021
Odd to jump from book one to book 19 in the series. I liked this one better - the space of time has softened and updated the language. But I don't see any reason to pick up more in this series.
June 27, 2021
very good read
October 20, 2021
Wycliffe starts out investigating a 15 year old murder and ends up with two more recent deaths on his hands. I liked this book. It's one of the better Wycliffe books I've read.
May 29, 2022
A straightforward police procedural. Nothing special but a not bad lightweight read. I quite enjoyed it.
September 16, 2024
An OK mystery.
January 26, 2025
Exceptional
Another brilliant mystery written by the Cornish author W J Burley.
If you like a good 'whodunit' mystery, get your teeth into this one! Thoroughly recommended!
Another brilliant mystery written by the Cornish author W J Burley.
If you like a good 'whodunit' mystery, get your teeth into this one! Thoroughly recommended!
August 19, 2025
A top tier detective mystery with plenty of suspects to a cold case. This was published in 1993, just before the TV series began and this feels very much like an episode of the show.
July 14, 2012
Fifteen years ago, the son of a prominent MP disappeared whilst on a coastal walking holiday after his release from a psychiatric hospital. The police had assumed suicide. Now his body has been found buried in the sand dunes, and it's clear his father was right all along -- the young man had been murdered.[return][return]A flashback prologue makes it clear to the reader from the start that a group of six teenagers having an illicit weekend were the last people to see Cochrane Wilder alive. The fun in the first half of the book is watching Wycliffe's team slowly piece together the clues that lead them to first one member, then the whole group. But knowing that one or more of the group was almost certainly responsible for Cochran Wilder's death and burial isn't the same thing as being able to prove who did it and why -- not when all six also have relatively innocent reasons for hiding their involvement in that weekend. And then a second murder is committed, making this more than just a cold case to be patiently unravelled...[return][return]As usual, a nicely constructed police procedural where the emphasis is on the characters and how they behave. Much of the appeal in this one is in initially knowing a little more information than Wycliffe does, and so being anticipating how the plot will develop -- the amount of extra information you get is nicely played to provide a good balance between the enjoyment of working it out and the enjoyment of being surprised by other developments. I enjoy that style of procedural, so I liked this one a lot.
November 7, 2013
Like many other Wycliffe novels this one hinges on events that happened in the distant past. Unlike many others this one does not focus on familial or community tensions, eschewing the tension of that set-up for an altogether different kind of psychodrama. The book opens with the discovery of a body in the Gwithian towans and we get to see the fallout of that discovery as it awakens old wounds in a group of shool-day friends who are, for the most part, no longer on speaking terms.
That discovery proves to be more than merely picking at a scab, however, as it leads to personal tragedy and to murder - it's that (real) murder that ends up being the focus of the investigation after Wycliffe, Kersey and Lane are led a merry dance. The story features one of W.J. Burley's more nasty and memorable villains.
That discovery proves to be more than merely picking at a scab, however, as it leads to personal tragedy and to murder - it's that (real) murder that ends up being the focus of the investigation after Wycliffe, Kersey and Lane are led a merry dance. The story features one of W.J. Burley's more nasty and memorable villains.
August 30, 2009
After this book, there are only two more in this series that I haven't read yet. I liked this one. Most of the later ones, where Wycliffe is based on the coast have been much better than some of the earlier ones. This is good, standard Wycliffe though the author spends a bit less time on Wycliffe's roundabout way to the puzzle solution and more time on the characters in this one.
July 3, 2014
This is a fairly standard who-dunnit - except we broadly know who did it from the beginning. Therefore, there isn't much mystery or tension developed. I would rate this fairly low amongst all the English crime writing I've read.
June 7, 2016
Another Wycliffe mystery that has its roots in the past. Set in Hayle and St Ives this story has a rather contrived ending but is full of charm and local colour. As previously mentioned Charlie Wycliffe is not the most interesting of detectives.
July 29, 2011
i have enjoyed the tv series on mystery, then someone told me about the books. this is the first i have tried and i like the series. am going to look for another now.
March 21, 2012
I enjoyed this one. It doesn't really follow the traditional format as you know who did the murder from the outset, but it does take Wycliffe a while to prove it.
April 14, 2014
Not the best mystery I've read but enough of a page turner to be entertaining. The descriptions of the various places made them sound interesting.
December 28, 2014
Read while on a 13 hour flight. It was alright but but I will only buy anther Wycliffe book second hand.
November 11, 2015
3.5 for this Wycliffe ... This is my detective sorbet and I'll be sorry to reach the end of the series. There is something very settling about these books, yet too dry to be beloved 'cosies'
March 3, 2012
This series are all winners. So sorry that the author is no longer with us.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews