A Catholic parish priest in 1950s rural England uses his gentle manner, sharp insight into human nature, and unshakeable faith to solve murders and other crimes that baffle the local police. Each episode sees Father Brown intervening in the affairs of his Cotswolds community, often to the frustration of the sceptical Inspector Valentine and later Inspector Mallory. The series draws loosely on G. K. Chesterton's short stories whilst creating largely original mysteries centred on the eccentric inhabitants of the fictional village of Kembleford.