Criminals beware—there is no eluding the extraordinary mind of Father BrownDr. Orion Hood is one of the eminent thinkers of his day, a psychologist whose expert opinion on human nature is sometimes sought by the police. Usually, he is called on to solve only the most spectacular crimes—a nobleman murdered, a diplomat poisoned—but today a more ordinary problem presents itself. An amiable little priest named Father Brown asks Dr. Hood to help a young couple whose families do not want them to marry. Suspicions about the would-be groom abound—dynamite is thought to be his weapon of choice—but Father Brown hopes that Dr. Hood will be able to put the accusations to rest. In the end, however, it is the humble clergyman who picks through the towering evidence of guilt to ensure that love prevails. In this masterful collection of mysteries, including “The Paradise of Thieves,” “The Mistake of the Machine,” and “The Man in the Passage,” Father Brown employs his amazing intuition, developed over years of listening to men confess their sins, to solve crimes large and small. One of the most beloved heroes in all of detective fiction, this unassuming parish priest is as dedicated to the cause of justice as he is to his faith. This ebook features a new introduction by Otto Penzler and has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.