The Innocence of Father Brown

Short Review: This is the first 12 short stories that GK Chesterton originally published as serials. Father Brown is a priest and wise observer of human behavior. Unlike Sherlock Holmes (who was only about 2 decades before these), Father Brown primarily solves mysteries (almost always murders) by understanding how the nature of sin works in humans. He is still observant and sees what others don't see. But this isn't the same type of scientific observation and deduction that Holmes does. In many ways I like these much more than Sherlock Holmes stories. Father Brown also is focused on saving souls, so there are times when he lets the perpetrator get away in order to see them repent and change their ways. There are several times when he has long conversations with the offender that are not in the books, usually right before the person steps forward and repents. These are set (and written) at the same time as Downton Abbey, so for fans it is an interesting counterpoint. Father Brown is not primarily working with the rich, but the poor and middle class.

My full review is at my blog at http://bookwi.se/the-innocence-of-father-brown-by-gk-chesterton/