The Wisdom of Father Brown (Volume 2)

Father Brown learnt of the dark side of human nature amongst the sinister urban slums of Edwardian England and is compelled to use this insight to solve baffling mysteries that afflict undeserving victims. Assisted by his foil and one-time thief Flambeau, the pair engage their intellect and philosophy to unravel perplexing crimes that neither appear obvious in their motive nor evident in their finales. This, the second of five in the Father Brown series, is a collection of a dozen stories that once more blend the macabre and gothic. The reader will encounter curses, a mysterious voice and an even stranger ear, as well as a murdered prince and a guilty verdict which pronounces a defendant’s innocence. There is also sensational revelation, baffling blackmail and a man that eerily disappears into the sea each night. The diversity of circumstances and accompanying obscurity exude exotic romanticism and will take the booklover on another journey that only Chesterton could have invoked. “Father Brown is the only worthy successor to Mr. Holmes.” Mark Colenutt