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Wycliffe #11
Wycliffe and the Beales
Deep in Hound of the Baskervilles country lies Washford, a village that looks as if it has grown out of the moor itself. Close by is Ashill House, home of the Beales, an odd and reclusive family. Old Simon has withdrawn from active life, Nicholas and Gertrude confine themselves to war games and the bottle, young Edward paints on the moor. Only Gertrudeâ s husband, Frank, has enough drive to maintain the family business. When the village lay-about is murdered, thereâ s no reason to connect the crime with the Beales-until Wycliffe goes in search of skeletons.
175 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1983
About the author
W.J. Burley
45 books24 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 18, 2021
I've enjoyed the Chief Superintendent Wycliffe mystery series by W.J. Burley. Wycliffe and the Beales is the 11th book in the series. Like the others I've read, this story was an entertaining, satisfying mystery and story.
In the small town of Washford, layabout Bunny Newcombe is murdered, shot in the head with a Berretta. Wycliffe, who finds the town in his area of responsibility is bored sitting in the office so he heads off to Washford to help with the investigation. This will become an interesting investigation and case. Who would want to murder Bunny? Everything seems to revolve around the wealthy Beales family, owners of a chain of shops in the area.
The Beales all live in Ashill House and they are an interesting group of characters, from elder Simon, the family leader, to Esther and Edward, the younger family members. Bunny's mother, long dead, used to work at Ashill, so there is a connection between the families. Did one of the Beales kill Bunny or someone from the town?
I liked how Burley presented the story. There are meandering threads that may or may not be clues. Wycliffe is a taciturn man who organizes and utilizes his investigators effectively and we do get to see everybody involved in the investigation. The story revolves around Wycliffe's activities but it's more than just about him.
I enjoyed how Burley painted the story, how the characters interacted, how the mystery progressed. The area is nicely described, the mystery is interesting and the story flows nicely. Excellent story. (4.5 stars)
In the small town of Washford, layabout Bunny Newcombe is murdered, shot in the head with a Berretta. Wycliffe, who finds the town in his area of responsibility is bored sitting in the office so he heads off to Washford to help with the investigation. This will become an interesting investigation and case. Who would want to murder Bunny? Everything seems to revolve around the wealthy Beales family, owners of a chain of shops in the area.
The Beales all live in Ashill House and they are an interesting group of characters, from elder Simon, the family leader, to Esther and Edward, the younger family members. Bunny's mother, long dead, used to work at Ashill, so there is a connection between the families. Did one of the Beales kill Bunny or someone from the town?
I liked how Burley presented the story. There are meandering threads that may or may not be clues. Wycliffe is a taciturn man who organizes and utilizes his investigators effectively and we do get to see everybody involved in the investigation. The story revolves around Wycliffe's activities but it's more than just about him.
I enjoyed how Burley painted the story, how the characters interacted, how the mystery progressed. The area is nicely described, the mystery is interesting and the story flows nicely. Excellent story. (4.5 stars)
July 11, 2014
An odd-jobs man is murdered in a quiet English village, and Inspector Wycliffe, who comes from a small village himself, can't make the pieces come together. Then there's a second death, obviously linked to the first, as both are to the local family of gentry, the Beales. Psychologically oriented police procedural from back before many of our modern forensic discoveries.
October 8, 2024
The second in a three volume omnibus of Wycliffe stories purchased for the princely sum of 50p... This time, our intrepid superintendent investigates the shooting of a disreputable odd job man in a small Cornish village with links to the wealthy supermarket owning Beale family who live in the middle of a community who has no love for them. Within days the former district nurse is also shot and long buried secrets begin to emerge.
Dated, and as misogynistic as the first in this collection but again, a very swift read.
Dated, and as misogynistic as the first in this collection but again, a very swift read.
August 1, 2021
really good read
October 11, 2021
Pretty predictable.
May 6, 2025
Number 11 in series
August 22, 2026
a bit odd
I’ve liked two books by this author though I do find them a bit odd. In some ways they were alike. Psychiatric types.
I’ve liked two books by this author though I do find them a bit odd. In some ways they were alike. Psychiatric types.
January 25, 2022
Non penso che Mr. Burley si sarebbe mai aspettato che un suo romanzo venisse elogiato per aver fatto trascorrere con un po’ di leggerezza, vedi serenità, la mia prima giornata con il Covid.
June 14, 2026
Three and a half stars.
As usual Wycliffe, a bit like Maigret, doesn't want to be deskbound like he should be but mooches about in the area of the crime absorbing the atmosphere of the place and gathering information. An enjoyable yarn.
I would probably use this same review for all the Wycliffe books,
As usual Wycliffe, a bit like Maigret, doesn't want to be deskbound like he should be but mooches about in the area of the crime absorbing the atmosphere of the place and gathering information. An enjoyable yarn.
I would probably use this same review for all the Wycliffe books,
July 20, 2016
The Beales are an oddity in the village: Roman Catholic in a mostly Methodist world, rich, apparently tightly knit and aloof from the villagers. When the army gun of one of the family members is stolen, it isn’t long before a villager is dead, and the only thing that Chief Superintendent Charles Wycliffe is sure of is that somehow, the Beales are involved…."Wycliffe and the Beales" is the 11th in the long-running series by Cornishman W. J. Burley, although it isn’t necessary to have read the previous volumes to enjoy this one. There’s a nice mixture of old with new here, for example having young girls dancing around a maypole on May Day while cars drive by, and there’s a well-constructed plot and well-clued mystery. My favourite parts of the Wycliffe series, however, include the main character himself, who is of the intuitive-leap school of detectives, and the vistas of Cornwall, where I lived as a child. One doesn’t need that connection to enjoy this series, however, just bring your interest in police procedurals! Recommended.
July 20, 2014
Now that I've read five of Burley's Wycliffe novels, I can see that he taps into different aspects of society in Cornwall as well as using locations on the moors and the coast. The rain and welcoming pubs are always present.
In this book, class divisions and misplaced family pride are at the centre of the skillfully constructed plot.
Wycliffe himself remains dour and spends a lot of time walking and thinking on his own.
His colleagues have no choice but to live with him, but his wife?
I think this marks the end of my Wycliffe Cornish adventures.
In this book, class divisions and misplaced family pride are at the centre of the skillfully constructed plot.
Wycliffe himself remains dour and spends a lot of time walking and thinking on his own.
His colleagues have no choice but to live with him, but his wife?
I think this marks the end of my Wycliffe Cornish adventures.
November 12, 2011
Burley returns to familiar territory in this Wycliffe adventure, exploring the claustrophobic atmosphere of a large family living in the one big house, isolated from the rest of their community.
I spotted the plot twist a little later than I probably should have done, and it's a typically enjoyable, easy read if slightly short of his usual standards.
I spotted the plot twist a little later than I probably should have done, and it's a typically enjoyable, easy read if slightly short of his usual standards.
April 13, 2009
Not one of the better ones.
July 29, 2011
liked it - am going to continue on in this series of mysteries set in cornwall
January 16, 2012
Charming!
September 12, 2012
Not one of his best!
December 31, 2013
Surprisingly good. I wasn't expecting much after seeing a few of the TV series. Quite Agatha Christie like. Gentle and not over taxing. But OK. I'll read another.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews