The Standing Stones is the twelfth episode of the third season of Father Brown.
A death at the stone circle of a polio-stricken village leads Father Brown to conclude that dark forces are at work and that another sacrifice may be imminent.
Tropes:
- Circle of Standing Stones: The scene of the murder.
- Detective Mole: The local policeman who is assisting the investigation turns out to be the killer.
- Everybody Did It: Every significant witness and a whole smattering of background characters turns out to be in on the murders... with the exception of the eccentric old hermit who seemed the most likely suspect at first. In fact, he's the group's next target.
- Shaming the Mob: Father Brown does this with a speech to the villagers planning a Human Sacrifice in an attempt to stop an outbreak of polio. While it does not sway the leader, it gives most of them pause, and make one of them switch sides and cut Father Brown's bonds so he can escape.
- Only One Plausible Suspect: The never seen before, yet very familiar-acting character, is one of the killers. In this case, the inexplicably very well known policeman who has only ever appeared in this episode.
