"The Incredulity of Father Brown" by G.K. Chesterton: It's funny, 70 proof has reviewed more books by G.K. Chesterton (11) than any other author. What makes this so peculiar is that only one of Chesterton's books, "The Man Who Was Thursday," received four shots. So why keep coming back for more? Well, there's just something about Chesterton. He has such a command for the language, such effortless skill as a writer, that the mere pleasure of his prose often overcomes any personal conflicts with his religious philosophy. When I pick up a Chesterton volume at the library, book store, or refined brothel, I know that it's going to be a quick, enjoyable read, even if the plot is a bit faulty and the morality somewhat heavy-handed.
My favorite Chesterton creation is Father Brown, a lovable little English priest who uses his unique insight into the souls of man to solve mysteries. Father Brown doesn't possess the arcane knowledge or the scientific method of Sherlock Holmes, nor the brash physicality of a John Churchfield, but he still gets the job done, relying heavily on common sense, quiet observation, and gentle compassion.
Chesterton wrote a total of 51 Father Brown mysteries, 49 of which have been collected in five books. The other two stories, "The Donnington Affair" and "The Mask of Midas," never found their way into the collections, with the latter not being discovered until 1988, some 52 years after Chesterton's death. I still haven't read those last two stories yet, but reviews of the first two Father Brown collections, "The Innocence of Father Brown" and "The Wisdom of Father Brown," appeared in the pages of 70 proof a few months ago.
"The Incredulity of Father Brown," the third book in the series, finds our hero taking his act on the road, leaving England for the Americas. There are eight stories in all, with notable highlights including "The Miracle of Moon Crescent," in which a man is found hanged from a courtyard tree despite no one ever seeing him leave his high-rise apartment; "The Dagger with Wings," where an avenging killer seems to be able to float on air; and "The Arrow of Heaven," which proves a murder weapon isn't always what it seems.
The best story of the lot, and one of the very best Father Brown stories period, is "The Ghost of Gideon Wise." Three millionaires, including Mr. Wise, are murdered. Mr. Wise's killer cracks under the guilt, confessing to having struggled with his victim, inadvertently causing the wealthy old man to fall off a cliff to his death. One problem. Mr. Wise isn't dead. The man emerges unscathed from his fall, even going so far as to forgive the man responsible for the "accident." But Father Brown isn't buyin' what they're sellin'. It all makes for a remarkably clever murder plot.
The only real problem with "The Incredulity of Father Brown" is, well, Father Brown's incredulity. At some point in every story, someone will begin spinning a yarn, offering it as gospel truth. That person is lying. Father Brown always sees through the tall tales. And, after the first two stories, so will you.
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"The Secret of Father Brown" by G.K. Chesterton: This collection is somewhat unique
in that its eight stories are framed by an introduction and epilogue. The book opens with Father
Brown paying a visit to his good friend Flambeau, who was once the world's most infamous
criminal. Flambeau's conversion to the good side was chronicled in "The Innocence of Father
Brown." After his own sterling career as a detective, Flambeau retired to Spain to marry a
Spanish lady and raise a Spanish family on a large Spanish estate. Flambeau is wicked cool.
Actually, he could be one of my favorite characters in all of literature, so his return brought an
immediate smile to my face. And that's not easy, especially since I quit drinking.
Unfortunately, the rest of the book struggles to live up to its early promise.
So anyway, the two pals are reliving old times when another guest of Flambeau's, an American vacationing at a neighboring estate, engages Father Brown in a discussion about the good priest's stellar career as a crime fighter. He marvels at all of Father Brown's successes and wonders aloud how it is the simple little priest could have solved so many complicated murders? Father Brown lets the man in on his secret. He commits all the crimes himself. Of course, Father Brown means he puts himself in the mind of the killer, imagining how he would commit the dastardly deeds. Astute readers will notice how similar this is to the method employed by literature's finest detective, C. Auguste Dupin. The eight mysteries that follow this revelation are all supposed to illustrate Father Brown's crime-solving technique. It's too bad none of them prove worthy of the perceptive priest's powers of deduction.
The lone bright spot is the opening tale, "The Murder of the Magistrate," in which a broken mirror proves the decisive clue. None of the other stories amount to much, with many having flaws in plotting that render their solutions either impossible or just plain silly. Chesterton also plays it a little fast and loose with the audience, withholding crucial clues until after the fact. For instance, Father Brown will be explaining things at the end and will say something like, "I noticed only half of his face was shaved..." Of course, there was no mention of this a few pages earlier when the dead body was discovered, but the missing piece of information is vital to reaching the proper conclusion.
This is easily the worst of the collections. It probably only deserves one shot, but it's hard not to like Father Brown. And even though he isn't involved in any of the mysteries, Flambeau's limited presence is enough to earn a second shot.
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"The Scandal of Father Brown" by G.K. Chesterton: The fifth and final Father Brown
collection is one of the best. The overriding theme would seem to be mistaken identity, as
several of the stories definitely have a "Three's Company" feel, with erroneous assumptions
about people often proving key. Then again, three of the collection's best stories are completely
free of this aspect.
"The Blast of the Book" has a brilliant setup, with a cursed volume reportedly having the power to obliterate anyone unlucky enough to crack its pages. While the inevitable solution to the riddle is never in doubt, it still makes for a fun read. "The Point of a Pin" is more of a classic murder mystery. It features one of the finest examples of Chesterton's trademark love of paradoxes, as Father Brown speaks the memorable quote, "The point of the pin was that it was pointless." And the great Flambeau makes an appearance in "The Insoluble Problem," teaming with Father Brown in an attempt to thwart a jewel thief, only to be sidetracked by an apparent murder.
While none of the stories achieve true greatness, they're all pretty solid. This is probably the second-best book of the series, behind only the "Innocence of Father Brown."
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And for those of you scoring at home, here's 70 proof's list of the best Father Brown stories...
1. "The Blue Cross" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
2. "The Secret Garden" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
3. "The Ghost of Gideon Wise" (The Incredulity of Father Brown)
4. "The Sins of Prince Saradine" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
5. "The Sign of the Broken Sword" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
6. "The Eye of Apollo" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
7. "The Invisible Man" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
8. "The Honour of Israel Gow" (The Innocence of Father Brown)
9. "The Insoluble Problem" (The Scandal of Father Brown)
10. "The Blast of the Book" (The Scandal of Father Brown)
11. "The Point of a Pin" (The Scandal of Father Brown)