Father Brown of the Church of Rome Book

G. K. Chesterton ranks as one of the great writers of the early 20th century, and Father Brown is one of the best-known of fictional amateur sleuths. He appeared in 53 stories published between 1910 and 1936. This collection present just ten of those, stories that have been presented in less frequently in collections than others and all of which put a special emphasis on the role Father Brown's faith plays in solving crimes.

The brilliance of these stories can't be disputed. Each presents a clever puzzle combined with witty social commentary and smooth integration of religion with other aspects of life, something not often found in literature. At the same time, the modern reader might find them rather less accessible than readers a century ago. Chesterton worked in aspects of literature and contemporary society that many of us aren't familiar with, although editor John Peterson provides footnotes to help us along the way. His style is also that of a bygone era.

Still, these are fine tales, and a couple, such as "The Insoluble Problem," are brilliant. They are well worth the time and effort to read.