Burley 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 Burleys 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 Shepherds face that dominated the covers of Burleys paperbacks.

John Burley, however, continued to write and produced a further four Wycliffe titles. He was working on his 23rd Wycliffe novel, Wycliffes 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 Burleys books in publication sequence, one notices how the authors voice gets stronger and hi