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Wycliffe #8
Wycliffe and the Scapegoat
Each year at Halloween, high on the Cornish cliffs, a life-size effigy of a man is strapped to a blazing wheel and run into the sea—a re-enactment of a hideous ancient legend of human sacrifice. So when Jonathan Riddle, a respected local builder and undertaker, disappears, it seems all too likely that his corpse has gone the way of the historic “scapegoat.” As Wycliffe begins to investigate Riddle’s family life, more and more unpleasant facts begin to emerge, until eventually he’s left with an incredible, seemingly impossible, solution.
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 10, 1981
17 people are currently reading
85 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 6, 2025
3.5/5 stars
Nice little thriller book, quick to read - the ending is a bit expected though
Nice little thriller book, quick to read - the ending is a bit expected though
April 14, 2016
Every Halloween, a fishing village in Cornwall re-enacts a ritual whereby a stuffed dummy is tethered inside a woven-wood wheel, which is then set ablaze and rolled off the cliffs into the sea; the idea is that the dummy is the town’s “scapegoat” and carries all the sins of the villagers away with it. But one year, the ritual coincides with the disappearance of a local businessman, builder and village undertaker, Jonathan Riddle, and it is soon rumoured that the dummy in the wheel was no dummy at all. And as Superintendent Charles Wycliffe is soon to discover, there is no shortage of suspects who have reason enough to want Riddle out of the way…. This is the 8th novel in this series and was published in 1978; by this time, the casual sexism of the series is more muted, or perhaps I’ve just become more used to it. I liked the whole pagan ritual aspect of the story, and of course Wycliffe himself is an interesting character, but once again it’s the Cornish landscape (and seascape) that I love the most about this series. It’s not necessary to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one; in fact, this might be an excellent introduction to the series! Recommended.
July 10, 2011
When Kelly, my fiancee suggested to me to read this, I was apprehensive. I have to admit I did enjoy it. However its not my type of detective novel, I would certainly read another but only if I had nothing else to read.
October 15, 2018
Jonathan Riddle is a builder and an undertaker. While being an undertaker is only a small part of what he does for a living, this is what the townspeople focus on, primarily calling him "the undertaker" instead of his name. He lives with his mother, sister, and nephew Matthew, who also works for him.
Halloween is coming and the town reenacts a blazing wheel with the effigy of a man - it will be sent into the sea and is supposed to bring good luck for the next years' crops. This year DI Wycliffe and his wife witness the event with friends, and nothing more is thought of it and Wycliffe returns home.
But not for long - it seems Riddle has disappeared, and some people think instead of an effigy it was he who was strapped to the wheel and sent into the sea. When Wycliffe arrives he discovers that Sarah, Riddle's sister, didn't report him missing until Sunday although he didn't return home Friday night. Now Wycliffe finds this odd because it seems Riddle was a creature of habit and never stayed away overnight. But when he starts looking into the disappearance he must decide who had the best motive to want him gone...
I decided to read this book because it takes place at Halloween, and I like to 'read the season' as it were. However, it had nothing to do with Halloween at all save for the fact that the wheel is sent off at the beginning of the book.
First, I didn't understand why people didn't like him, merely because he was a loner growing up. Then he's not reported missing until Sunday which seemed odd considering he never stayed away overnight. You'd think they would have gone to the police some time on Saturday about it. His family also didn't seem too concerned about his being missing, which was, again, odd.
But honestly, I found this book very dry and boring. One gets no sense at all of DI Wycliffe's personality. Read Colin Watson's Flaxborough Chronicles and you have a very different person in DI Purbright. Wycliffe, on the other hand, we learn nothing at all about save for the fact that he is married. He is supposed to be intelligent (well, he does solve the case) but we are given nothing to confirm that. He doesn't appear to think much of anyone he comes in contact with, and there's no 'gleam' in his eye when he's interviewing people, you never get the idea he truly knows what he's looking for. Not a character I can see should be a detective inspector at all.
As far as the murderer goes, it was pretty easy to discover right at the beginning. While most of the characters were actually pretty lifeless - they seemed to have given up on life and just accepted that this is their lot; not a single one has any fire to them, any feeling left, any soul. Which brings me to the fact of finding the killer. Look at their lack of personality and you're given only one person who could possibly be guilty.
Below is a spoiler regarding the ending of the book:
Halloween is coming and the town reenacts a blazing wheel with the effigy of a man - it will be sent into the sea and is supposed to bring good luck for the next years' crops. This year DI Wycliffe and his wife witness the event with friends, and nothing more is thought of it and Wycliffe returns home.
But not for long - it seems Riddle has disappeared, and some people think instead of an effigy it was he who was strapped to the wheel and sent into the sea. When Wycliffe arrives he discovers that Sarah, Riddle's sister, didn't report him missing until Sunday although he didn't return home Friday night. Now Wycliffe finds this odd because it seems Riddle was a creature of habit and never stayed away overnight. But when he starts looking into the disappearance he must decide who had the best motive to want him gone...
I decided to read this book because it takes place at Halloween, and I like to 'read the season' as it were. However, it had nothing to do with Halloween at all save for the fact that the wheel is sent off at the beginning of the book.
First, I didn't understand why people didn't like him, merely because he was a loner growing up. Then he's not reported missing until Sunday which seemed odd considering he never stayed away overnight. You'd think they would have gone to the police some time on Saturday about it. His family also didn't seem too concerned about his being missing, which was, again, odd.
But honestly, I found this book very dry and boring. One gets no sense at all of DI Wycliffe's personality. Read Colin Watson's Flaxborough Chronicles and you have a very different person in DI Purbright. Wycliffe, on the other hand, we learn nothing at all about save for the fact that he is married. He is supposed to be intelligent (well, he does solve the case) but we are given nothing to confirm that. He doesn't appear to think much of anyone he comes in contact with, and there's no 'gleam' in his eye when he's interviewing people, you never get the idea he truly knows what he's looking for. Not a character I can see should be a detective inspector at all.
As far as the murderer goes, it was pretty easy to discover right at the beginning. While most of the characters were actually pretty lifeless - they seemed to have given up on life and just accepted that this is their lot; not a single one has any fire to them, any feeling left, any soul. Which brings me to the fact of finding the killer. Look at their lack of personality and you're given only one person who could possibly be guilty.
Below is a spoiler regarding the ending of the book:
January 25, 2023
Burley again emulates Simenon and Maigret here with his detective walking the murder scene and its environs, questioning the people caught up in the mystery, pursuing a cerebral form of investigation in which the intellectual jigsaw pieces are fitted to the puzzle. Wycliffe refuses to become a desk-bound administrator, coordinating the investigations of his juniors, he's very definitely in the vanguard, leading from the front.
It's a neatly structured tale of the murder of a local businessman - successful but hardly popular. It's obvious there may be a number of people who could profit from his death - or at least from his ceasing to be alive - but there are many others who had no love for him ... and there are the "unknown unknowns".
Delightfully and compassionately written, an excellent story.
It's a neatly structured tale of the murder of a local businessman - successful but hardly popular. It's obvious there may be a number of people who could profit from his death - or at least from his ceasing to be alive - but there are many others who had no love for him ... and there are the "unknown unknowns".
Delightfully and compassionately written, an excellent story.
December 6, 2025
Three and a half stars.
Quite a decent police procedural. Wycliffe shrugs his way through the case a bit like Maigret. Immersing himself in the location, wandering around on foot and sitting in the pub talking to the locals.
Quite a decent police procedural. Wycliffe shrugs his way through the case a bit like Maigret. Immersing himself in the location, wandering around on foot and sitting in the pub talking to the locals.
April 23, 2018
One of the earliest versions in the Wycliffe series By WJ Burley. If you are looking for an easy read in a mild crime series this is good
June 13, 2021
thoroughly enjoyable read
August 30, 2023
A decent classic mystery with twists and turns to keep you guessing.
January 1, 2015
Having been studying pagan festivals for my module of Witchcraft in Literature at university, I was expecting quite a lot from this story. The premise of a burning wheel, with a human-like sacrifice attached to it, flying down the hill and off the cliff into the sea, sounds thrilling. Unfortunately, this story was not.
I have not read many detective stories, and sincerely doubt that this has fostered a love of them. I found that the characters, whilst interesting, could have been more greatly developed (though this may take place in other stories by the author) and the writing style was fine, but somewhat dull.
I was able to pick up and put down this book easily, which is not what one wants from a 'griping' story. Living in Cornwall, I was also hoping for more contextual nuances which were constantly denied.
Aside from that, I did finish it right to the end, but that might have been out of desperation to finish it before the new year began.
All in all, I wouldn't say this is my cup of tea.
I have not read many detective stories, and sincerely doubt that this has fostered a love of them. I found that the characters, whilst interesting, could have been more greatly developed (though this may take place in other stories by the author) and the writing style was fine, but somewhat dull.
I was able to pick up and put down this book easily, which is not what one wants from a 'griping' story. Living in Cornwall, I was also hoping for more contextual nuances which were constantly denied.
Aside from that, I did finish it right to the end, but that might have been out of desperation to finish it before the new year began.
All in all, I wouldn't say this is my cup of tea.
January 18, 2016
It's a Wycliffe: 180 pages of enjoyable detective characterisation and plot development amongst views and outlooks (synonym?) that are, to be kind, outdated. We think of the far West Country being a little out of touch. These books confirm the stereotype and show that you can write detective fiction while making up all the technical police procedure stuff. They've become something of a guilty pleasure for me. Like Golden Wonder crisps and Teatime Selection biscuits. Welcome to how it might have been in the 1950s if it hadn't been different.
May 11, 2020
I bought this book in the early 1980s so I have probably read it several times over the years. Wycliffe is a Detective Chief Superintendent in Cornwall and is probably based on Simenon's Maigret. An unpopular man in the town disappears and when his bloodstained clothes are discovered Wycliffe gets involved. Wycliffe is a believable character who is able to get people to talk to him and this is a satisfying read. I read many other books in this series years ago so I will see if they are still in print because I would quite like to read them again.
January 1, 2009
There are much better Burley mysteries with his Inspector Wycliffe. This one feels as though it were written to get a book written. The culprit is easy to determine just after the death of the victim. The red herrings or potential other suspects are hard to believe as suspects. There are a few details of how it was done to work out, but overall a big disappointment.
February 13, 2011
Each year at Halloween high on the Cornish cliffs a life-size effigy of a man is strapped to a blazing wheel and run into the sea. So when Jonathan Riddle a well-known and respected local builder and undertaker disappears it seems likely that his corspe has gone the way of the historic scapegoat. A nice light enjoyable read.
April 25, 2009
"Fun" old-fashioned detective story -- Wycliffe questions and questions and in a Perry Mason-type ending, confronts the guilty party, with no actual hints thruout the book as to where all was leading -- so many could have been guilty!
May 3, 2009
Well, it was a good enough mystery and the imagery was excellent. But the descriptions of women in the story were a bit disorienting and bizarre, even derogatory at times. It was just... a little strange.
April 11, 2009
Qiet, relaxing, but you can't put it down.
September 14, 2009
Good story, fascinating subject (think The Wicker Man)
April 27, 2011
A nicw quick read. I like Wycliffs laid back manner and found it an enjoyable read.
June 24, 2018
A decent enough read, and the descriptions of Cornwall and its people are excellent, but I found the solution to this particular crime mystery just a little too neat for my liking.
Want to read
December 1, 2016Halloween
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews