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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.