The Complete Father Brown volume 1 [Paperback]

G. K. Chesterton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2008

Includes The Innocence of Father Brown and The Wisdom of Father Brown. Newly designed and typeset for easy reading by Boomer Books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Boomer Books (July 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434100464
• ISBN-13: 978-1434100467
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,166,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Father Brown, August 18, 2008

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Father Brown volume 1 (Paperback)

When we first see Father Brown, he's a clumsy, sweet little priest who drops his umbrella, and prattles to his fellow passengers about stuff he really shouldn't be talking about.

But G.K. Chesterton soon reminds readers that appearances are deceptive, when this unassuming little Catholic priest turns out to be a master sleuth who can effortlessly outwit any criminal he encounters. "The Complete Father Brown Volume One" collects the first two books featuring Father Brown, and successfully introduces readers to his unusual way of solving bizarre crimes -- with sometimes-surprising results.

The first story opens with French detective Valentin on the hunt for the great thief Flambeau, and along the way encounters a little priest who is telling people about his "silver with blue stones."

Turns out that the little priest is the target of Flambeau's crime, and the priceless sapphire cross he's carrying is about to be stolen. But Valentin discovers that Father Brown is a lot cleverer than he seems -- and Flambeau may have met his match in thievery and deception. But how can a nice little priest possibly outwit a legendary thief, especially when a priceless treasure is on the line?

In the many mysteries that follow, Brown is called on to solve many mysteries that seem too complex to explain. They're a weird bunch -- strange beheadings, burning towers, an invisible murderer who somehow passed by undetected, a Christmas crime, voodoo cults, impossible blackmail, the mysterious "Mr. Glass," a lie-detector that can't overcome the faulty human it tests, a murdered actress, murders that may be suicides, religious bigotry, and even a death curse that may be coming true (of course it isn't, because that would make for a boring mystery).

G.K. Chesterton had a wonderful knack for creating mysteries that were actually quite simple when you knew what was going on, but seemed complicated when you didn't. Sometimes, his mysteries even seemed impossible to explain at first. But in each story -- most of which are standalones with no connection to the others -- Father Brown successfully unravels the case, and shows us the startlingly simple answers.

These short stories are written casually and a little bit humorously (Brown easily outpicks a pickpocket), but Chesterton builts up a wall of bizarre clues that don't make sense until Father Brown reveals the motives and the surprising means. And the final touch is something a lot of mysteries don't have -- an exquisite, shimmering writing style ("Over the black pine-wood came flying and flashing in the moon, a naked sword"), rich in atmosphere and full of beauty.

And Father Brown is a likable little guy, who seems very flaky and innocent at first glance. But under the "innocent goblin" face, he has a shrewd knowledge of human nature, rock-solid principles and some very unusual deductive skills derived from long experience. And Chesterton allows him some human flaws in some of the stories, such as his grumpiness after being ill.

And while the hero of these stories is a priest, the religious aspect is rarely brought up, such as when a murder was caused by religious bigotry. Most of the time, Father Brown merely lives his principles rather than preaching them.

"The Complete Father Brown Volume 1" is an enjoyable collection of the first two Father Brown books, and will leave mystery lovers reaching for Volume 2.