A review by sonofthunder
The Secret of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton

4.0

This is only my second Father Brown book I've read, but I can say this is for sure my favourite thus far! Per the usual format, it's a series of short mysteries, charmingly and beautifully told. The crimes are usually quite horrid and grim, but Chesterton spares us the grisly details and instead focuses on the people at the hearts of it all. And speaking of hearts...Chesterton does more than simply try and tell good stories - he attempts to examine the hearts of men and women and understand why they do what they do - what motivates us? There are definitely a few words and phrases used by Chesterton that dates him a bit, but all in all, this was a delight to read. The Secret of Father Brown indeed. This is a remarkably humane, compassionate book - and it sparkles with joy and dry wit. As I've said before, Chesterton's descriptions of scenes and setting - natural and unnatural alike - are beautifully put to page. And each story is pretty much perfect for a pre-bedtime read! The last chapter of this book was unexpected and hit me harder than I expected. The author is unflinching in his belief that there are both good and evil forces in this world, and that people themselves have both deep capacities for love as well as reservoirs of grimmest darkness. While this is not exactly always a popular opinion these days, I appreciate the fact that Chesterton is attempting to philosophically explore the depths of humanity in this shadowed world in which we live.