The Three Tools of Death

by G.K. Chesterton

Special Edition for Low Vision Readers
Sometimes there are no clues as to the cause of death. And other times there are too many. Only Father Brown can see the difference.

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Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Audiobook

110 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 1911

About the author

Gilbert 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.

Reviews

[Adia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story from The Innocence of Father Brown. A man found dead beside a train track, several guilty suspects, and too many murder weapons. Father Brown, with his intuition into humanity, sorts it out all right. Rather dark, really...Cheerfulness can hide a sad interior, or is it the facade of happiness itself that becomes too much to bear? 5 stars.

[Verba Non Res · Rating 3 out of 5]

En el último relato de este volumen, Chesterton practica una nueva inversión del policial clásico: lo que parecía de entrada haber sido un crimen en realidad no lo fue; lo que parecía un asesinato, era un suicidio. Esta solución exige un camino un tanto sinuoso, lleno de conveniencias narrativas y, cómo no, de la ya típica bajada de línea católica. Es una historia más bien desprolija, y, de manera acorde al ethos del padre Brown, se llega a la conclusión no por análisis de la evidencia material sino por una correcta interpretación psicológica tanto de la presunta víctima como del presunto victimario.

Cuento #12 de El candor del padre Brown
Anterior: “The Sign of the Broken Sword”

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a whodunit but a slow reveal of making sense of incongruities. There is a lesson about not taking things at surface value.

[Stephen Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trains maddeningly rumble by the house of a political figure compared with Father Christmas for cheeriness. His joyous demeanor makes his mangled body on the ground outside his house utterly mysterious. But no mystery is too great for the innocent little priest, Father Brown, as Chesterton delivers a good twist, humorous visuals, and interesting, insightful commentary on human nature. Even when I don't perfectly agree with the author's views, I consistently find illuminating ideas and excellent turns of phrases from the master of paradox.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cry goes up, Sir Aaron Armstrong has been murdered. But can Father Brown determine the guilty party.
An enjoyable short story

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must be some kind of record for shortest murder case.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly exciting.....

[Chanover55 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who has committed the murder? The bodyguard, a stranger is his daughter? Father Brown is the first to figure it out.

[Fina · Rating 3 out of 5]

impactante

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

perhaps one of the most interesting stories in the Introduction of Father Brown; we shall see how the author improves on his character sleuth from here!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd motive but okay

[Sapphire Detective · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as strong a story for the finale of the collection, but it gets the boost up because it is a fairly clever idea, and we're spared from Flambeau (though I have gotten more used to him as a Watson figure rather than as a recurring villain--that previous era lasted at least one story too long).

My rating: 4.25/5 (rounded up)
Would I own/re-read?: Perhaps!
TW: Dearh, Murder (perceived), Suicide
Does the animal die?: The three tools of death are not used on any animals.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick short story. Mysteries aren't my go-to genre, but I am interested in reading more about Father Brown. I like his observations.

[MariaFernanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, touching, and just fantastic!

[Adom · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review for all of the Father Brown stories.