The brother of the vicar of the village where Father Brown has his parish church is a cad and a wastrel. When he's found near the church tower with his head smashed by a very small hammer, the local blacksmith is the first suspect, but it's his wife who confesses the murder!

When an alcoholic woman is found drowned near her home, Father Brown suspects murder, although the police think it's an accident.

A poet hangs himself in his locked conservatory. Father Brown thinks that it was not a suicide, but a murder.

Lady Felicia finds an unconscious, stripped man in a tree, apparently having been thrown from a train passing on the viaduct above.

Susie is fallen under the spell of the charismatic leader of a sect. When his wife dies in a suspicious accident, Father Brown intervenes but the prophet has a cast-iron alibi.

When two nuns are murdered, Father Brown investigates in the convent with the help of a young nun, very keen on detective fiction.

A radioactive girl is missing and only Father Brown can find the one responsible for her disappearance.

When Clarence Clifton is murdered at a charity treasure hunt, its organizer Professor Galloway believes he was the intended victim as they wore identical fancy dress. Daniel Walsh, whose father had recently been killed by Lady Margaret's car (the professor's wife), is the chief suspect and disappears. Then Lady Margaret is killed after sacking servant Thomas Dilcott, secret lover of her daughter Lucia. The villagers suspect Daniel but Father Brown looks closer to home for the solution.

At a fête to raise funds for a Polish school unpleasant mayor William Knight is electrocuted by a microphone. Valentine arrests his long suffering wife Eleanor after a screwdriver is found in her handbag but there are plenty of other suspects, including his young daughter and the secretary he sacked after their affair was discovered, whilst he was also accused of bribery and corruption. As Father Brown solves the mystery a magician at the fête turns out to be the husband,presumed dead, of his housekeeper Mrs McCarthy, who walked out on her decades earlier. Now dying he wants to return to her but she refuses him.

When the notorious thief Flambeau declares his intention to steal a valuable blue cross from the church, Father Brown, against the advice of Valentine, decides to take it to safety to Newbury abbey by train. He meets a trio of fellow passengers, one of which he is sure is the thief but his efforts to flush him out lead to the theft of the cross. Facing dismissal for his rash action the Father agrees to meet with Flambeau and do a deal to return the artefact.

Charlotte McKinley asks Father Brown to exorcise her house, which she believes is haunted by the ghost of her sister Elspeth, who disappeared nine years earlier. The priest believes somebody is fabricating a ghost but then Charlotte disappears from a locked room. Inspector Valentine suspects Charlotte's husband Victor, a former doctor struck off for irresponsible prescription and previously believed to have killed Elspeth. A skeleton is unearthed but it is not Elspeth's and a coded message in a book leads Father Brown to discover the fates of both sisters along with the legend of the family's hidden treasure.

Wearing only a hospital gown Felix Underwood returns to the village and says 'Murder' before collapsing, apparently dead. At his funeral however the 'corpse' comes back to life but with a loss of memory. He was a patient at Danvers Retreat, a psychiatric hospital for service personnel, which Father Brown visits, along with new Inspector Sullivan, discovering a body hidden in a well. Father Brown gets himself admitted to Danvers Retreat in order to get close to a young woman who supplies clues in biblical texts and to solve both the murder and the mystery surrounding young patient Jeremy.

Impoverished aristocrat Sir St John Pryde plans to sell estate land, which antagonizes his tenants led by left-wing Alan Archer. On the day Pryde castle is opened to the public tour guide Audrey Diggle is murdered after claiming that she has evidence to state that the Prydes are not the lawful heirs to the title though St John's nephew Jago believes his uncle was the intended victim and St John's daughter Bunty is secretly in love with Archer. After an attempt to kill Jago Father Brown unmasks the murderer, in the process demonstrating that a supposed family curse has a basis in truth.

Violet Fernsley is due to hang for killing her violent husband Ivan but Father Brown believes in her innocence. The Fernsley family close ranks but the priest is puzzled by the fact that Polish farm-hand Piotr Symanski disappeared around the time of the murder and also seems to have been slain. Ivan's brothers' squabbling over possession of his farm seems to incriminate one or both whilst Sullivan is suspicious of the fact that prison warder Charlie Denham is Violet's lover. Father Brown naturally deduces that the real murderer is the least likely suspect.

Professor Ambrose is abducted after sending his friend Father Brown an ancient prayer book which supposedly can locate the long disappeared Lannington rosary, said to hold healing powers. Aided by Lady Felicia's chauffeur Sid the priest uses the book to find clues which will lead him to the rosary. There is a deadline as a ransom note arrives, informing the father that the rosary must be delivered to save his friend's life whilst the quest is complicated by the arrival of supposedly reformed criminal Flambeau, who claims he is working as a mercenary for the Papacy to find the relic. And then there is a third party, the actual kidnapper, whom Father Brown must expose.

The father is laid up with a broken leg, strait-laced young Father Roland standing in for him. When unpopular village gossip Mrs Bunyon is killed after a row at a cake baking contest Mrs McCarthy and Lady Felicia gather evidence for Father Brown to unmask the murderer - who has also killed MRs Bunyon's baking rival Vera Thimble. Many years earlier both women gave evidence which led to the hanging of a man accused of murdering a young child. Father Brown draws the connection and tries to save a third witness from becoming the next victim.

Alice Armstrong is receiving electric shock treatment for memory loss after her accidental shooting her mother. Six weeks after her mother's death her father Sir Aaron is also found dead from a blow to the head, his hands tied. Suspicion falls on Jim Magnus, the chauffeur and a former petty crook and on Peter Royce, the secretary, who loves Alice and was sacked after telling Sir Aaron not to send her back to hospital. But a conversation with debt collector Eddie Monk informs Father Brown that the dead man owed huge sums of money and another confession suggests that Sir Aaron tied his own hands. With the death solved Alice then recollects that she was not responsible for her mother's slaying.

Ex-colonel Gerard is poisoned after arguing with his nephew Edward. Edward is a former POW from Korea and the colonel claims he has been brain-washed but Edward sticks to his story that Gerard killed his father in order to marry his widow Ada. None of the household - including Ada's brother Rupert and his adopted daughter Jia-Li - seem upset at the colonel's death and each had a motive for murder. Then Father Brown is poisoned - hopefully he can recover in time to unmask the killer.

Farmer John Tatton and his son Alfred do not get on, John accusing the boy of being a useless drunk like his late mother. Alfred confronts the family doctor Adam Crawford, taunting him for having a much younger wife Oona, who has just confided in Mrs McCarthy that she is pregnant. Alfred is found dead, mangled in farm machinery and soon afterwards anonymous letters appear, accusing Dr Crawford of the crime as Oona was supposedly having an affair with the dead man - something she denies. Dr Crawford confesses to the murder of Alfred but Father Brown knows better and seeks out the truth.

Audrey McMurray, a rally driver and property owner, may appear to be a philanthropist but her ruthless treatment of her tenants has caused Harriet Welsby's husband to kill himself whilst she openly cheats on her husband Walter with young mechanic Gary Bakewell. Audrey is killed in a hill climb after somebody tampers with her car's brakes and Harriet is arrested after threatening her. Then Gary confesses but Father Brown is convinced that Walter and his wife's secretary Phyllis, who are lovers, are the culprits though he has difficulty in persuading Sullivan to let him ensure that justice is done.

Lady Felicia's chauffeur Sid sees a man disposing of a body but the police claim that the dead man, Archie Waterson, drowned himself and warn Sid to say nothing. Archie was working as an art restorer for eccentric Lord Masters but when Father Brown and Lady Felicia visit it is apparent that the supposed restoration is a front for an MI5 operation, headed by Daniel Whittaker, whom Lady Felicia knew in the war. Whittaker tries to blackmail Felicia into finding out what Father Brown knows about the dead man since the priest has found a message from Archie which will lead to the identity of his killer and their motive.

Father Brown and Lady Felicia are visiting a museum owned by her Egyptologist friend Sir Raleigh Beresford, who has just married the much younger Caterina. Caterina insists on opening a sarcophagus, an action which allegedly carries a curse and some time later she is found dying in a locked room. Sir Ralph's son Leo was having an affair with Caterina, making him a prime suspect, but then Raleigh's adoring secretary Valerie admits to the murder. Father Brown does not believe her and discredits her account before unmasking the real killer.

When the circus comes to the village newly wealthy clown Reggie Smythe reminds waitress Laura Hope, engaged to young Nicholas, that she once promised to marry either him or circus hypnotist Arthur Welkin, whichever made his fortune first. Laura is quick to point out that she was only joking, but then Reggie is found stabbed to death after being threatened by Arthur Welkin--though Welkin has an alibi. Laura amazes everybody by agreeing to marry the hypnotist, so Father Brown announces that he will conduct the ceremony - and so uncover the truth.

Father Brown and Lady Felicia visit the local barracks for the unveiling of the Dunkirk war memorial for which they have helped raise funds. The hero of Dunkirk was Colonel St Clare, who allegedly killed several Nazis with his broken sword but at dinner drunken Major Rawlings accuses St Clare of cowardice and is later found slain with the sword. St Clare is the obvious suspect but Father Brown, believing him to be innocent, discovers another person who remembers what happened at Dunkirk and has waited thirteen years before taking action.

As the village cricket team prepares for its annual match against rivals Hambleston Indian doctor Chandraty steps in as its captain to the annoyance of bigoted club secretary Peter Wallander, who also suspects that loutish Vince Lennon, the team's star bowler and adopted son of academic Jane Milton is having an affair with his young wife . Lennon is murdered and turns out to have been blackmailing several of the villagers whilst an ancient law states that the team's defeat could lead to the new squire of Hambleston, parvenu Max Scullion, acquiring the cricket ground for sale to property developers. For Father Brown and Lady Felicia there is a double task - to solve the murder and save the cricket pitch.

Whilst Father Brown is visiting the Upcott seminary for trainee priests young student Thomas Potts confesses to him that the recent drowning of his friend Douglas Hitchens was no accident before he plunges to his death from the bell tower. Father Brown suspects foul play but is blocked by the sinister Father Lewis and so, with the connivance of the elderly rector Father Palfreyman, sends Sid in undercover to pose as a trainee. He soon learns of the Secret Fraternity, an elite group of students, and believes that they are covering something up - but which of them is a murderer?

When the travellers come to the village the overbearing Jeremiah Moxley objects and accuses them of robbing the church. Whilst Jeremiah's daughter, successful novelist Hannah - of whom he is wholly over-protective - is at a reading Jeremiah is killed in the style of a murder in Hannah's latest book. The prime suspect is young gypsy Alfons but Father Brown is convinced of his innocence and in proving it exposes a family secret that Jeremiah was desperate should not be made public.

Marooned in the country Father Brown, Lady Felicia and Mrs McCarthy come across the Hotel Cuba where the exotic Madame Chania is organizing a weekend of hedonism for three wealthy playboys. Two prostitutes are expected but one is found dead and soon the guests are being murdered. Madame Chania would seem to be responsible but Father Brown uncovers a case of hidden identity and exposes a murderer who kills purely for the pleasure of it.

Father Brown attends an open day at the vineyard Colonel Forbes-Leith runs with French viticulturist Gregoire Bisset but the wine is contaminated by a dead dog in the vat. Suspicion falls on sinister handy-man Henry Gibbs, who is blackmailing the colonel, whom he knew in the war, and when Gibbs is shot dead the colonel is arrested. Father Brown visits him in prison and discovers that he is not who he seems to be and that he is covering for the person he believes to be the real murderer.

The local art gallery has the priceless painting 'The Judgement of Man' on loan from the Vatican and curator Binkie Cadwallader is flattered to be interviewed by the glamorous reporter Rebecca Himmelbaum. Father Brown is convinced that Flambeau is out to steal it and is proved right when Lady Felicia's gallant new American friend Chip Corner turns out to be the thief in disguise. But there is another miscreant out to steal the painting and Rebecca has her own agenda, to punish Binkie for a wartime betrayal.As a result Father Brown and Flambeau enter into a bizarre alliance and Flambeau proves to be more principled than the priest thought.

Father Brown visits student Jacob Francis at the family home as Lady Felicia is worried about him. Jacob's father died a year earlier, a presumed suicide, but Jacob is sure that he was murdered and has built a time machine in which he claims he can travel back to prove the case. His other relatives are cynical though his vision of the near future seems to be accurate. But when Jacob also dies Father Brown suspects that his theory was correct and tries out the time machine for himself.

In a village stricken with polio barmaid Sylvia Swann is stabbed to death at the Standing Stones and her friend Ginnie Godden, the last person to see her alive, is arrested. Father Brown finds evidence to link local herbalist Malcolm to the murder site but Malcolm believes that Sylvia was ritually sacrificed to heal the polio victims and asks Father Brown to help him stop any further deaths.

Whilst Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy are in the bank there is an armed hold-up but the robbers flee after the vault is opened to reveal the corpse of Billy Flanders, shady son-in-law of bank manager Samuel Harrogate. A note in the dead man's pocket incriminates Harrogate and Sullivan arrests him. Father Brown however realizes that the two bank clerks stand to gain by the manager's removal and later recognizes one of the robbers who tells the priest who planned the robbery. Father Brown comes to wonder why it was so important that he witnessed the failed heist before coming to discover the murderer's identity.

A mysterious visitor to the confession box informs Father Brown that choleric Bishop Talbot will be murdered so Father Brown joins Talbot at a shooting party where a shot is indeed fired though the victim is the seemingly innocent Albert Davies. The bishop had argued with actor Peter Redhill over his divorce and there is certainly intrigue among Redhill and his fellow players whilst the bishop seems to inexplicably own a large collection of banned plays. In his investigation the father finds that the play's the thing and also uncovers a bizarre pact.

Father Brown is stunned to learn Inspector Sullivan is wanted for murder.

Father Brown investigates the murder of a B movie director when he comes to film in Kembleford

Sid is engaged with an heiress arrested for her father's murder.

Father Brown investigates the murder of a former hangman.

Father brown gets involved in the revenge of a crazy comedian.

Father Brown must help Flambeau in stealing the Pope's gift to the Queen.

Lady Felicia's reckless driving lands her in the next hospital bed to Mrs McCarthy.

Airman Ned LeBroc returns after eight years away, allegedly as a spy, only to discover his wife Meg, assuming he was dead, is marrying his brother Geoffrey. Daughter Millie is pleased to see him, unlike his wing commander father, who regards him as a deserter and coward. When Ned is shot dead Mallory arrests Meg but a card found in Ned's possession leads Father Brown to an unusual club which reveals Ned's secret life and the circumstances of his death.

After young baker Alexander Moore dies in an accident, his corpse is stolen from the graveyard and discovered on the premises of undertaker Peter Blackstone, father of Alexander's secret girlfriend Catherine, who is in a feud with his mother Ruth, though he denies taking it. Father Brown realizes that Alexander had faked his own death but that something went wrong. In establishing how and why he uncovers a family secret dating back many years.

When Robert Twyman receives a note telling him to "confess" or his son will die and the threat is carried out, Father Brown must figure out how the killer got into and out of a securely locked house.

Father Brown hosts a jazz quartet whose car has broken down, but they are interrupted by Emmanuel Jammite, who claims that musician Joseph Sinclair stole his girlfriend, the band's singer Yveline from him back in Haiti. Emmanuel is a voodoo priest, so suspicion falls on him when the house is broken into and Sinclair's corpse is later found floating in a swimming pool. Emmanuel swears he is innocent but dies trying to fleeing the police. Father Brown believes one of the band members is the true murder and an innocent man lost his life because he was framed.

A mysterious stranger, a missing donkey, an outbreak of laryngitis in the church choir and a kidnapped baby threaten to spoil Christmas festivities.

Bunty, Lady Felicia's niece, is suspected of murder while being looked after by Father Brown.

Father Brown concerns himself with the case of a murdered member of a pagan community.

Father Brown investigates the death of a local boxer.

Father Brown tries to solve the murder of an authoress with the help of a book she has written.

Father Brown finds himself blamed for the murder after an old foe tells him that she has arranged the death of her former lover.

Past and present collide when Father Brown investigates the macabre world of dollhouse crime scenes.

When Mrs McCarthy's goddaughter goes missing, Father Brown follows her trail to a risque gentlemen's club.

When Mrs McCarthy takes over the running of the mobile library, Father Brown discovers a shocking secret.

Father Brown must investigate a 300 year old secret hidden in a University in order to save an old friend.

Father Brown struggles to save Sid from himself when he vows vengeance on his former defence barrister.

When radio quiz Up To You comes to Kembleford, Father Brown suspects that one of the cast are responsible for their landlady's murder.

Father Brown investigates the murder of a Colonial Postal Service officer when the fair comes to Kembleford.

Father Brown's divine inspiration is called upon when Kembleford comes under threat of an alien invasion.

Father Brown suspects an ulterior motive is at play when his old adversary Flambeau is incarcerated for murder.

Father Brown attempts to overturn a miscarriage of justice while rehearsing for the Kembleford Christmas pantomime.

Father Brown struggles to protect those closest to him as old adversary Katherine Corven is unexpectedly released from prison, thirsty for revenge.

The prospective closure of the local railway station leads to a fund raising event to save it, at which the station master Ben Webb is found murdered. Chief suspect is Deepak Chatterjee, the man in charge of rail closure, but he reveals a secret about Ben which allows Father Brown to unmask the real killer, in addition to acting as an impromptu midwife.

Mrs McCarthy's friend Freda Knight dies in her sleep at the hospital where Bunty's old nanny Ellen is also a patient but Father Brown feels her death was not natural, especially when the sole heir to Freda's will is also found dead. The father believes that a misguided person may be practicing euthanasia on terminally ill people and hurries to stop them before Ellen becomes the next victim.

Lady Felicia returns from Africa, having split from her lover Benedict Northam and is told by MI5 agent Daniel Whittaker that he is a Soviet spy, blackmailing her into preventing Northam from handing over vital documents to the Russians at an arts fund raiser. Father Brown notices her unease and follows her, coming to her aid when she is accused of murder.

Forced to reapply for his job Mallory is attending a local bowls tournament when Scotland Yard Commander Alec Frobisher, a former Nazi hunter is garroted. Replaced by the arrogant DI Ironside Mallory, for once, is grateful to Father Brown for helping him solve what proves to be a double murder.

Lucy Dawes is murdered at a ballroom dancing contest and her necklace stolen. Her boyfriend Oliver DeWitt is arrested but her blind dance partner Alexander believes their hostess Lady Rose is responsible and is guarding a guilty secret. Oliver holds another secret. Father Brown must work out who is telling the truth to solve the murder.

A girl is found near-term dead at a private school fete that Father Brown is attending. His observations and intuition set him against the conclusions of the police, after suspicion falls on a pupil.

Locals led by Hermione Harvey protest when brash American Raylan Reeve opens a golf club in the village and he receives death threats. During a golf tournament he is murdered but there is another corpse, that of a man Reeve's daughter Tamara clearly recognizes. Father Brown uncovers a shocking secret in the Reeve family to link the two murders.

Father Brown reads that Flambeau has been killed in Italy before setting off to Gloucester where the Iron Crown of Lombardy, made from a nail from the Crucifixion, is housed. He is approached by a woman claiming to be Flambeau's widow but a key Flambeau sent him has been stolen and Father Brown believes it is connected to the intended theft of the Iron Crown. A chance meeting on a train proves him right and he must stop the theft - at the risk of his life.

Mrs McCarthy and Lady Felicia are held hostage by a bumbling pair of train robbers.

A disliked bell ringer is found murdered in the belfry.

A professor in serious debt invites collectors to his home to bid on an ancient whistle that summons the dead.

Three murders occur at a finishing school and Father Brown sends in Bunty to investigate.

When Father Brown and Mallory go missing, it is up to the gang to save them from a man hellbent on revenge.

When Mallory's pursuit of a fugitive ends in disaster, a familiar face returns to hunt the culprit.

Suspicions are aroused when the holiest house in Kembleford is linked to the death of a wanton woman.

A troupe of radical Anarchists come to Kebleford to do a outdoor play in a field at a local farm and start getting murdered off one by one.

A bird watching group cross over land off their map, and the Lord shoots at them. Later, the Lord ends up dead at the locked in hostel the group is staying at.

Lady Felicia's diamond is stolen by a Russian who wanted to buy it, but she refused. Father Brown calls in Hercule Flambeau to steal it back from him. Flambeau also empties out the Russians safe and double crosses them.

A mysterious saboteur tries to stop Kembleford winning the Three Counties choir competition.

Father Brown investigates the mysterious death of a beekeeper.

Father Brown races to save Bunty from the hangman's noose when she is tried for murder.

Father Brown investigates a murder at an outdoor Jester Festival.

Flambeau seeks Father Brown's help to get rid of an unwanted rival.

Mrs McCarthy strikes it lucky at the church bingo with the help of a Romani fortune teller.

Sid returns to Kembleford to ask his old family to help save his new one.

Father Brown has to discover who is out to kill a tortured artist before it's too late.

A gossip columnist is murdered after threatening to expose the secrets of a fashion house.

Father Brown investigates two peculiar deaths that happened on the grounds of a family tower.

Goodfellow turns to Father Brown when he witnesses Mallory frame an innocent man.

Mrs McCarthy gets an unwelcome birthday surprise when her life is threatened by a mysterious avenging angel.

Father Brown must delve into the past and open up old wounds when a child killer is found murdered.

When a troubled soul from the past returns, Father Brown must investigate the new chapter of the Church of Apollo.

Father Brown joins forces with Flambeau to search for a lost treasure in a 15th-century castle.

Father Brown finds his position under threat when he clashes with an influential new parishioner.

When Father Brown visits Chummy's holiday camp, it doesn't take long for someone to die-de-die.

Bunty reunites with Father Brown to uncover a dark secret at the local girls' borstal.

Father Brown investigates staff at the local health spa when an ex-employee is found murdered.

Lady Felicia and her husband Monty host a lavish masked ball counting down to 1954. However, their plans are ruined when the Minster of Defence is murdered by a masked figure. With the estate locked down and a killer in the midst.

Father Brown discovers that a murderer is using Kembleford's new model village to plan their attacks. He also needs to find a new secretary following Mrs McCarthy's departure.

Lady Felicia's impromptu visit coincides with Father Brown helping out a friend at an exclusive gentlemen's club.

A celebrity florist brings glamour and murder to Kembleford.

Father Brown's past collides with the present when he investigates a missing person, a murder and a mythical wild cat.

Chief Inspector Sullivan pays Father Brown a visit to warn him that Hercule Flambeau is on the run and wanted for a series of brutal murders.

The visit of Princess Margaret to Kembleford is jeopardised when a school janitor is found murdered. Can Father Brown save the royal visit from being cancelled?

Father Brown discovers there's more drama offstage than on in the latest production by the Kembleford Players.

Brenda finds love at the home of a clock collector but has she fallen for a killer?

Rock 'n' roll reaches Kembleford when a group of bikers cause outrage and excitement in equal measure.

Sullivan's dream of leaving Kembleford is scuppered when he is arrested for receiving stolen goods.

Chief Inspector Sullivan and Mrs Devine have grown closer, something which hasn't escaped the notice of Father Brown and Brenda.

Father Brown finds his position under threat when he clashes with an influential new parishioner.

When a troubled soul from the past returns, Father Brown must investigate the new chapter of the Church of Apollo.

A professor in serious debt invites collectors to his home to bid on an ancient whistle that summons the dead.

Wearing only a hospital gown Felix Underwood returns to the village and says 'Murder' before collapsing, apparently dead. At his funeral however the 'corpse' comes back to life but with a loss of memory. He was a patient at Danvers Retreat, a psychiatric hospital for service personnel, which Father Brown visits, along with new Inspector Sullivan, discovering a body hidden in a well. Father Brown gets himself admitted to Danvers Retreat in order to get close to a young woman who supplies clues in biblical texts and to solve both the murder and the mystery surrounding young patient Jeremy.

When the circus comes to the village newly wealthy clown Reggie Smythe reminds waitress Laura Hope, engaged to young Nicholas, that she once promised to marry either him or circus hypnotist Arthur Welkin, whichever made his fortune first. Laura is quick to point out that she was only joking, but then Reggie is found stabbed to death after being threatened by Arthur Welkin--though Welkin has an alibi. Laura amazes everybody by agreeing to marry the hypnotist, so Father Brown announces that he will conduct the ceremony - and so uncover the truth.

Farmer John Tatton and his son Alfred do not get on, John accusing the boy of being a useless drunk like his late mother. Alfred confronts the family doctor Adam Crawford, taunting him for having a much younger wife Oona, who has just confided in Mrs McCarthy that she is pregnant. Alfred is found dead, mangled in farm machinery and soon afterwards anonymous letters appear, accusing Dr Crawford of the crime as Oona was supposedly having an affair with the dead man - something she denies. Dr Crawford confesses to the murder of Alfred but Father Brown knows better and seeks out the truth.

When the travellers come to the village the overbearing Jeremiah Moxley objects and accuses them of robbing the church. Whilst Jeremiah's daughter, successful novelist Hannah - of whom he is wholly over-protective - is at a reading Jeremiah is killed in the style of a murder in Hannah's latest book. The prime suspect is young gypsy Alfons but Father Brown is convinced of his innocence and in proving it exposes a family secret that Jeremiah was desperate should not be made public.

Father Brown attends an open day at the vineyard Colonel Forbes-Leith runs with French viticulturist Gregoire Bisset but the wine is contaminated by a dead dog in the vat. Suspicion falls on sinister handy-man Henry Gibbs, who is blackmailing the colonel, whom he knew in the war, and when Gibbs is shot dead the colonel is arrested. Father Brown visits him in prison and discovers that he is not who he seems to be and that he is covering for the person he believes to be the real murderer.

Father Brown visits student Jacob Francis at the family home as Lady Felicia is worried about him. Jacob's father died a year earlier, a presumed suicide, but Jacob is sure that he was murdered and has built a time machine in which he claims he can travel back to prove the case. His other relatives are cynical though his vision of the near future seems to be accurate. But when Jacob also dies Father Brown suspects that his theory was correct and tries out the time machine for himself.

When Clarence Clifton is murdered at a charity treasure hunt, its organizer Professor Galloway believes he was the intended victim as they wore identical fancy dress. Daniel Walsh, whose father had recently been killed by Lady Margaret's car (the professor's wife), is the chief suspect and disappears. Then Lady Margaret is killed after sacking servant Thomas Dilcott, secret lover of her daughter Lucia. The villagers suspect Daniel but Father Brown looks closer to home for the solution.