Wycliffe And The Pea-Green Boat

A Whisper on the Water

Under the misty dawn sky of the Cornish quay, a pea-green fishing launch lies eerily silent. When a local fisherman stumbles upon its lone passenger—an elderly art dealer known for his lucrative but murky dealings—Detective Superintendent Charles Wycliffe is summoned to unravel a crime that seems as obscure as the boat’s unusual hue. In Wycliffe And The Pea-Green Boat, William John Burley weaves a tale of hidden passions, old grudges, and maritime secrets. From the moment Wycliffe steps aboard the vessel, he senses that every plank, every coil of rope, and every salt-stained canvas conceals a clue waiting to surface.

Shadows Under Sail

As Wycliffe interviews a motley crew of suspects—among them a grieving niece nursing shattered hopes, a reclusive artist haunted by lost muse, and a cunning harbor master whose loyalties ebb and flow with the tide—each testimony deepens the mystery. Burley’s vivid prose brims with local color: the braying cry of gulls, the creak of wooden decks, and the tang of seaweed on the wind. Wycliffe’s patient interrogation peels back layers of deceit: was the art dealer silenced for keeping a priceless secret, or did the motive lie in an ancient smuggling route known only to the island’s oldest families?

Dockside Reckoning

With the tide turning against him, Wycliffe must race to gather evidence before the pea-green boat drifts beyond his reach. In a tense finale beneath lantern-lit cranes and echoing foghorns, the detective pieces together a puzzle of betrayal and revenge that spans generations. Wycliffe And The Pea-Green Boat stands as a testament to Burley’s mastery of suspense, maritime atmosphere, and the subtle humanity of his celebrated sleuth. Prepare to be drawn into a world where every ripple on the water beckons a revelation—and where justice awaits on the tide. · Author’s description.