User Reviews

A famed writer takes his own life, a year later, at an award ceremony in his honour is held, one of the young stars is attacked and left for dead, as is a young literary agent, Father Brown investigates.

I thought this was quite a strong episode, definitely lots of fun, but intriguing and imaginative. We saw a slightly more serious side to The Father, he's definitely had a slightly more gritty edge this series, good to see.

It's one of those where I was full expecting one character to be bumped off, and it didn't quite happen as I was expecting, so I'll applaud it did being a little different.

One gripe, not sure The Police were of any use here, with Sullivan and Goodfellow just along for the ride.

It looked great, with some really fabulous fashions on show, Amanda Mealing in particular got to wear some super outfits. Mealing stood out for me, she was very good.

Enjoyed.

8/10.

The episode opens with a confused man wittering, then falling from a top of a building.

It then goes forward a year later, to a writer's crime weekend organised by Lady Violet. The best new crime novel will win the Quill of Osric award. Named after the writer Osric Wolf who died a year earlier,. His death deemed a suicide.

Vying for the award are Jack Wilmot, the weak willed son of a snobbish obnoxious writer and politician Sir Kingsley Wilmot. Then there is Walter Mitford, working class, a chip on his shoulder and championed by Lady Violet herself.

Father Brown later finds Jack injured. Then a literary agent Miss Lipton is also found unconscious.

Walter is arrested for the crimes. Father Brown believes that the attacker is out there.

It is all to do with a stolen manuscript and the events leading to the death of Osric Wolf.

I liked this story. An expanded cast helps as the culprit was not too obvious. Good use of red herrings and the motive.

Just wish the really mean man got done away with instead of the person who did die. Why are so many aristocratic politician types such horrible fathers?

We are invited to a lovely crime weekend organized by Lady Violet, wearing absolutely fetching attire. It starts out very fun where participants find bodies on the grounds of the estate. Until one body appears to be not a "plant."

I'm rather surprised, however, that Lady Violet, and the judges and other literary attendees did not notice a novel was surprisingly similar to something written by the late Oscar Wolf, who had died a year earlier. If he was that famous, surely people would be familiar enough with his work to realize someone had stolen his book.

I love Father Brown, and I keep watching this show because of how good it used to be.

But so much of the acting has gone downhill. The story and mysteries aren't as intriguing either. The culprit in this episode- well I found her acting hard to watch. Also, I like the Brenda character in theory but the actress isn't very good. Or maybe her lines or poorly written, I'm not sure. If not for the remarkable Mark Williams, and the fact that his character is the same as it's been from the beginning, I would have given up on this show a long time ago. I did find the premise of this episode fun, at least. A couple of attacks at a literary crime festival.

I'll keep watching FB in the hopes of seeing Lady F and Flambeau from time to time. I dearly miss Sid and Mrs McCarthy's characters, but maybe they will make some cameo appearances like inspector Valentine did.

Halfway through the series and it's still not working. I thought series 10 was poor but this makes it seem like Shakespeare. I have seen all episodes of the first nine series so many times I can say the words before the cast, but haven't managed to get through one episode of this one without getting bored. The budget is so mean that we've had a sport, art, food and writing festival setting - keep the cast in one place to keep costs low. Trouble is, that keeps the interest low, too. The stories are poor, the co-stars are nowhere close to the likes of Mrs M, Bunty, Lady F or Sid; the Sergeant and Chief Inspector feel like their phoning in their performances and even the previously brilliant Mark Williams seems to be going through the motions. I won't be bothering with the rest of the series, just rewatching all the oldies - again.