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A Father Brown Mystery: The Flying Stars
A Father Brown Mystery taken from The Innocence of Father Brown. This version is great way to introduce someone to G. K. Chesterton's great amateur detective.
26 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2017
4 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
G.K. Chesterton
4,644 books5,753 followersGilbert Keith Chesterton was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic.
He was educated at St. Paul’s, and went to art school at University College London. In 1900, he was asked to contribute a few magazine articles on art criticism, and went on to become one of the most prolific writers of all time. He wrote a hundred books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some two hundred short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. In spite of his literary accomplishments, he considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News. He also edited his own newspaper, G.K.’s Weekly.
Chesterton was equally at ease with literary and social criticism, history, politics, economics, philosophy, and theology.
He was educated at St. Paul’s, and went to art school at University College London. In 1900, he was asked to contribute a few magazine articles on art criticism, and went on to become one of the most prolific writers of all time. He wrote a hundred books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some two hundred short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. In spite of his literary accomplishments, he considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News. He also edited his own newspaper, G.K.’s Weekly.
Chesterton was equally at ease with literary and social criticism, history, politics, economics, philosophy, and theology.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 36 reviews
November 14, 2015
What Sherlock Holmes is to deduction, Father Brown is to intuition. And this book is just simply class. It's a story in which we see a priest taking on one of the most ingenious of the thieves. We see two roles of Father Brown, one is the detective and other is the highly moral priest; a priest having a sublime aura, and having such an effect in his words that changes the notorious of the thieves, for the better.
Highly Recommended!
Highly Recommended!
December 11, 2023
A fine Father Brown short mystery
The Flying Stars are three large African diamonds which have gotten their name because of the numerous times they have been stolen.
At Christmas, Boxing Day to be exact, there is a small gathering in an English country house. The diamonds are a gift to a young lady from her godfather. Of course they are stolen. Disappearing in the midst of an impromptu old fashioned pantomime.
Father Brown, almost immediately, goes after the thief and the diamonds. Which begins the road to repentance. At Christmas time.
This short story is from THE INNOCENCE OF FATHER BROWN collection.
The Flying Stars are three large African diamonds which have gotten their name because of the numerous times they have been stolen.
At Christmas, Boxing Day to be exact, there is a small gathering in an English country house. The diamonds are a gift to a young lady from her godfather. Of course they are stolen. Disappearing in the midst of an impromptu old fashioned pantomime.
Father Brown, almost immediately, goes after the thief and the diamonds. Which begins the road to repentance. At Christmas time.
This short story is from THE INNOCENCE OF FATHER BROWN collection.
January 3, 2024
First book in the Father Brown series. Good start. Will definitely seek out the other books in the series.
May 27, 2018
Um dia após ao Natal, Ruby ganha de seu rico padrinho ,Sir Leopold Fischer , três lindos diamantes chamados por ele de” estrelas voadoras.” No meio de uma peça teatral feita de improviso , peça essa sugerida por um dos acompanhantes do padrinho de Ruby, os diamantes somem. Quem os teria roubado? É nesse momento que entra em ação o perspicaz padre Brown ,que além de desvendar o mistério ainda dará uma grande lição de moral ao ladrão.
February 2, 2025
A short story from The Innocence of Father Brown —a surprisingly clever plot fit into a brief 20-something pages. A collection of jewels known as the Flying Stars go missing during a Christmas pantomime; thankfully, Father Brown is on hand to recover them. Flambeau is also converted from his life of crime in this one.
'You really look like a flying star, but that always means a falling star at last.'
'You really look like a flying star, but that always means a falling star at last.'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
January 19, 2021- Chesterton's old chestnuts, a discussion on the nature of capitalism Vs socialism:
"What do you call a man who wants to embrace the chimney-sweep?”
“A saint,” said Father Brown.
“I think,” said Sir Leopold, with a supercilious smile, “that Ruby means a Socialist.”
“A radical does not mean a man who lives on radishes,” remarked Crook, with some impatience; “and a Conservative does not mean a man who preserves jam. Neither, I assure you, does a Socialist mean a man who desires a social evening with the chimney-sweep. A Socialist means a man who wants all the chimneys swept and all the chimney-sweeps paid for it.”
“But who won’t allow you,” put in the priest in a low voice, “to own your own soot.”
- a Dickensian romp at Christmas time featuring a touch of amateur dramatics
- Brown to Flambeau: "There is still youth and honour and humour in you; don’t fancy they will last in that trade. Men may keep a sort of level of good, but no man has ever been able to keep on one level of evil. That road goes down and down."
"What do you call a man who wants to embrace the chimney-sweep?”
“A saint,” said Father Brown.
“I think,” said Sir Leopold, with a supercilious smile, “that Ruby means a Socialist.”
“A radical does not mean a man who lives on radishes,” remarked Crook, with some impatience; “and a Conservative does not mean a man who preserves jam. Neither, I assure you, does a Socialist mean a man who desires a social evening with the chimney-sweep. A Socialist means a man who wants all the chimneys swept and all the chimney-sweeps paid for it.”
“But who won’t allow you,” put in the priest in a low voice, “to own your own soot.”
- a Dickensian romp at Christmas time featuring a touch of amateur dramatics
- Brown to Flambeau: "There is still youth and honour and humour in you; don’t fancy they will last in that trade. Men may keep a sort of level of good, but no man has ever been able to keep on one level of evil. That road goes down and down."
March 8, 2025
Read in preparation for listening to this episode of the Pints With Chesterton podcast.
This one takes place at Christmas in an English village and opens with a scene between a young man and young woman. It’s clear they are in love, but she is hesitant and the relationship. It turns out the reason for her hesitation is that he is a recent convert to Socialism. Her godfather, Sir Leopoldo Fischer, a very wealthy businessman, arrives for a visit with a gift for her - 3 large diamonds known collectively as The Flying Stars.
The household consists of Ruby Adams (the aforementioned young lady); her father, Colonel Adams; the Colonel’s Canadian brother-in-law, James Blount; the aforementioned young man, John Crook who is a journalist by trade; and Father Brown.
Blount receives a letter and tells the company that an old friend, a French acrobat and comic actor, is going to drop by that evening. Then Blount proposes that put on a traditional Christmas pantomime, which turns out to be quite lively and chaotic.
Afterwards Sir Leopold discovers the diamonds are missing. Of course Father Brown figures out the Canadian is actually Flambeau; the comic was a policeman on Flambeau’s trail. When Father Brown goes into the garden, he discovers Flambeau has climbed a tree to escape over the garden wall. Father Brown convinced him to give up the diamonds, which he tosses down thus they live up to their nickname of “The Flying Stars.”
The prologue is narrated by Flambeau, in “his highly moral old age,” and he states this is the most beautiful crime he ever committed, and also the last.
Quotes:
Ruby asks:
“What do you call a man who wants to embrace the chimney-sweep?
“A saint,” said Father Brown.
“I think,” said Sir Leopold, with a supercilious smile, “that Ruby means a Socialist.”
*************
John Crook:
“A Socialist means a man who wants all the chimneys swept and all the chimney-sweeps paid for it.”
“But who won’t allow you,” put in the priest in a low voice, “to own your own door.”
This one takes place at Christmas in an English village and opens with a scene between a young man and young woman. It’s clear they are in love, but she is hesitant and the relationship. It turns out the reason for her hesitation is that he is a recent convert to Socialism. Her godfather, Sir Leopoldo Fischer, a very wealthy businessman, arrives for a visit with a gift for her - 3 large diamonds known collectively as The Flying Stars.
The household consists of Ruby Adams (the aforementioned young lady); her father, Colonel Adams; the Colonel’s Canadian brother-in-law, James Blount; the aforementioned young man, John Crook who is a journalist by trade; and Father Brown.
Blount receives a letter and tells the company that an old friend, a French acrobat and comic actor, is going to drop by that evening. Then Blount proposes that put on a traditional Christmas pantomime, which turns out to be quite lively and chaotic.
Afterwards Sir Leopold discovers the diamonds are missing. Of course Father Brown figures out the Canadian is actually Flambeau; the comic was a policeman on Flambeau’s trail. When Father Brown goes into the garden, he discovers Flambeau has climbed a tree to escape over the garden wall. Father Brown convinced him to give up the diamonds, which he tosses down thus they live up to their nickname of “The Flying Stars.”
The prologue is narrated by Flambeau, in “his highly moral old age,” and he states this is the most beautiful crime he ever committed, and also the last.
Quotes:
Ruby asks:
“What do you call a man who wants to embrace the chimney-sweep?
“A saint,” said Father Brown.
“I think,” said Sir Leopold, with a supercilious smile, “that Ruby means a Socialist.”
*************
John Crook:
“A Socialist means a man who wants all the chimneys swept and all the chimney-sweeps paid for it.”
“But who won’t allow you,” put in the priest in a low voice, “to own your own door.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2018
This was my first Father Brown story. I enjoyed it. It was a short story rather than a novella. I wasn't prepared for how fast it would end, so I didn't pay as close attention as I should have. When the ending came, I was puzzled and went back to re-listen to the first part of the book. Then, of course, it all made sense!
December 8, 2019
En algunos cuentos, como este, Chesterton casi resigna del todo el misterio a favor de su agenda pro católica. Al menos espero que con este haya llegado al final el redemption arc de Flambeau.
Cuento #4 de El candor del padre Brown
Anterior: “The Queer Feet”
Siguiente: “The Invisible Man”
Cuento #4 de El candor del padre Brown
Anterior: “The Queer Feet”
Siguiente: “The Invisible Man”
December 20, 2019
Entretenido aunque simple relato que me ha permitido acercarme por primera vez al padre Brown en su versión original y literaria (ya conocía la serie de televisión). Me ha gustado sobre todo la forma de describir el paisaje que tiene Chesterton, aunque, como digo, la historieta se queda más bien en un simple divertimento, lo cual no es poco.
November 18, 2017
This was just a short little story but cleverly written and I enjoyed it.
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April 17, 2021One of my favorite Christian mystery figures in one of my favorite books. Narration is good, clear, and interesting on its own. But it is the plot and Christian reply to the thief that held me the first reading and every reading since. A pleasant Christmas read.
January 26, 2022
Short Story….. Die fliegenden Sterne ( Diamanten) werden gestohlen und Pater Brown löst den Fall und überführt den Dieb Flambeau.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2016
This's an ok story.
July 13, 2023
"كانَتْ هذهِ هي أجملَ جريمةٍ ارتكبتُها، وكانَتْ كذلك الأخيرةَ نتيجةً لصُدفةٍ فَرِيدة." بتلكَ الكلماتِ يَبدأُ المجرمُ العتيدُ «فلامبو» في سردِ جريمتِه الأخيرةِ التي تقعُ أحداثُها في منزلٍ إنجليزيٍّ تَقْليدي؛ حيثُ يَجتمعُ صاحبُ المنزلِ الكولونيل «آدمز»، وابنتُه الشابَّةُ الجميلة، والجارُ الصحفيُّ الاشتراكيُّ المتمرِّد، وخالُها الذي وصَلَ مؤخرًا إلى إنجلترا، وأبوها الرُّوحيُّ الفاحِشُ الثراءِ الذي يُفاجِئُها بهديةٍ من أَلْماساتٍ نادرةٍ تُدعَى «النجومَ الطائرةَ». وكانَ من ضمنِ الحُضورِ كذلكَ «الأبُ براون»، لا لشيءٍ إلَّا لأنَّ صاحِبَ المنزلِ يحبُّ مُرافَقتَه.
خلالَ الأُمْسيةِ يشتركُ الحُضورُ في تمثيلِ مسرحية؛ لكنْ أثناءَ ذلك يكتشفُ الأبُ الرُّوحيُّ اختفاءَ الألْماساتِ تحتَ أَعيُنِ الحُضورِ جميعًا. يَنجحُ «الأبُ براون» في استعادتِها وكشْفِ هُوِيَّةِ السارِق وتركه يلوذ بالفرار ويدعي الأب براون أنه وجد الألماس في الحديقة.
خلالَ الأُمْسيةِ يشتركُ الحُضورُ في تمثيلِ مسرحية؛ لكنْ أثناءَ ذلك يكتشفُ الأبُ الرُّوحيُّ اختفاءَ الألْماساتِ تحتَ أَعيُنِ الحُضورِ جميعًا. يَنجحُ «الأبُ براون» في استعادتِها وكشْفِ هُوِيَّةِ السارِق وتركه يلوذ بالفرار ويدعي الأب براون أنه وجد الألماس في الحديقة.
November 26, 2018
This was a fun short (very short) story. It was a little mystery with a happy ending. While I did figure out who the culprit was (I think -- if I understood everything correctly -- I was listening and I'm not sure I got it all), there were some nuances I didn't figure out. It was a cute Christmas story.
April 1, 2021
A favorite Christmas and Christian tale of mine. I hope others enjoy it as much. Well narrated.
Love the series, character, and the moral play, well and mildly narrated by B. J. Harrison.
Love the series, character, and the moral play, well and mildly narrated by B. J. Harrison.
January 8, 2025
So I actually read this story a number of months ago--I can't remember when; it was whenever I first read "The Hammer of God"--but I never marked down when I read it. Bully for me, as I can mark it off now and say I read it today (after my busy morning didn't afford me time to read, something I will rectify tomorrow, and not being able to until now in the evening, when I wish to get some writing in)!
I remember not being as impressed with this one, as compared to "Hammer of God," and the quick flip-through I did before this only served to remind me of that--please let's not have the next story be another Flambeau...--though I will certaInly give credit to a genuinely fun escapade Brown's thief rival has put up today, with the image of Father Christmas no less.
My rating: 4/5
Would I own/re-read?: Unsure!
TW: Nothing that I can remember.
Does the animal die?: No animals die by flying stars.
I remember not being as impressed with this one, as compared to "Hammer of God," and the quick flip-through I did before this only served to remind me of that--please let's not have the next story be another Flambeau...--though I will certaInly give credit to a genuinely fun escapade Brown's thief rival has put up today, with the image of Father Christmas no less.
My rating: 4/5
Would I own/re-read?: Unsure!
TW: Nothing that I can remember.
Does the animal die?: No animals die by flying stars.
November 26, 2025
First off. Who the heck is Flambeau? Don't know, don't care.
Second off. Is Father Bruin always so meek, dull and boring? Don't know, don't care.
Third off. This story is a convoluted mess off lifeless, dull cardboards....I mean characters, inane domestic situations and laughable plot elements.
Could you have solved this "mystery"? No one could. There wasn't enough story elements provided to come to any conclusions. Only the author knows for sure.
It was obvious though, that who ever that guy was who backed out the door and left the party, he was the culprit. After all, it was the only clue given in the entire story.
Fourth off. Did we really need that endless lecture by Father Bruin when he talks Flamebroiled into giving back the diamonds. It's not that I disliked the moment. It was just that it went on and on and on and on with example after example after example after example and on and on and on and......O.K.!!!! Stop already!!!!
Fifth off. As for Father Bruin mysteries......one and done..
Second off. Is Father Bruin always so meek, dull and boring? Don't know, don't care.
Third off. This story is a convoluted mess off lifeless, dull cardboards....I mean characters, inane domestic situations and laughable plot elements.
Could you have solved this "mystery"? No one could. There wasn't enough story elements provided to come to any conclusions. Only the author knows for sure.
It was obvious though, that who ever that guy was who backed out the door and left the party, he was the culprit. After all, it was the only clue given in the entire story.
Fourth off. Did we really need that endless lecture by Father Bruin when he talks Flamebroiled into giving back the diamonds. It's not that I disliked the moment. It was just that it went on and on and on and on with example after example after example after example and on and on and on and......O.K.!!!! Stop already!!!!
Fifth off. As for Father Bruin mysteries......one and done..
June 16, 2025
Una de las características que más me fascinan de los cuentos del Padre Brown es que, a diferencia de otros detectives, el protagonista es primero un sacerdote. La búsqueda del alma de Flambeau es, nuevamente, el enfoque central de esta obra, más que ayudar a resolver el crimen. Al pequeño sacerdote le interesa mucho más el alma de el criminal que el crimen en sí, cambiando por completo el modo en que se aproxima a este tipo de situaciones. Aquí, repite su hazaña cuando los tres diamantes más preciados del mundo entero son robados en medio de una mansión inglesa el día de Navidad. Como siempre, la prosa de Chesterton es magnífica, al igual que el uso de los personajes, dando a esta historia un sabor único e inigualable, un icónico cuento del Padre Brown.
January 1, 2023
This Father Brown short story didn't pull me in as some of the others have. I listened to the audio, and it felt a bit convoluted to me. 🤷🏻♀️ However, I really did like that there was quite a bit of Father Brown in this one, and that we get a glimpse of Flambeau as a complicated, multi-layered character.
January 1, 2024
Father Brown is a guest at a house party for Boxing Day. A rich man arrives with a gift of 3 large diamonds, the flying stars, for his goddaughter. The other guests at the house decide to put on a pantomime of harlequin and during the performance the stones are stolen. Father Brown figures out who the culprit is, chances him down and guilts him into giving them up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 25, 2019Read as part of "A Very Murderous Christmas: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season"
June 10, 2020
A good story.
October 30, 2020
My favorite so far!
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December 10, 20203.5
December 30, 2022
Priestly proselytizing powers provoke penitence?
Read
May 12, 2023[audiobook]
December 12, 2025
It was fine. It fits with the time period in which it was written.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 36 reviews