The first compilation of Father Brown short stories, The Innocence of Father Brown, is the best place to start when diving into the world of G.K. Chesterson's classic detective stories. Father Brown is introduced in the famous story "The Blue Cross," and lovers of mystery will become quickly entrenched in his world. Often labeled the intuitive cousin of Arthur Conan Doyle's deductive Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown priest turned detective who combines philosophical and spiritual reasoning with scientific observation to solve crimes. Chesterton, a Catholic, is literature's king of paradox as well as a social commentator, and his funny and insightful comparisons leave readers reeling. This volume contains 12 of the 52 Father Brown stories. The tales are short, easy reads with strong plots all connected by the clever detective with an above-average understanding of human nature. Begin the series here, and enter the world of Father Brown.

Abby Zwart
CCEL Staff Writer