W. J. Burley — Wycliffe and the Beales

London, Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1983. First edition. Cloth. A first edition of this crime novel featuring W. J. Burley's popular character, Charles Wycliffe. "The Beales, a strange, reclusive family living on the edge of Dartmoor in Ashill House, consist of Simon, an old man entirely withdrawn from active life, Nicholas and Gertrude, perpetually hitting the bottle and playing war games, and the painter Edward, who takes long walks along the moors in search of artistic inspiration. The only one with any drive or ambition is Gertrude's husband Frank Vicary, and all of his time is absorbed by the task of running the family business. When a murder rocks their local community, no-one has any reason for suspecting one of the Beales, until Wycliffe arrives on the case and finds his investigation leading him up the Beales's garden path." In the original cloth binding with the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, cloth is smart. Dustwrapper is bright and also smart, with only a very small mark to the spine. Internally, firmly bound, bright and clean, aside from the odd spot to the endpapers. Blank paper pasted to the rear endpaper. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Near Fine.