The Lair of the Libertines

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.