InTheAmazingAdventuresofKavalierandClay,prosemagicianMichaelChabonconjuredthegoldenageofcomicbooks,interwininghistory,legendandstory-tellingverve.InTheFinalSolution,hehascondensedhisboundlessvisiontocreateashort,suspensefultaleofcompassionandwitthatre-imaginestheclassic19th-centurydetectivestory.IndeepretirementintheEnglishcountryside,an89-yearoldman,vaguelyrecollectedbythelocalsasaonce-famousdetective,ismoreconcernedwithhisbookkeepingthanhisfellowman.IntohislifewandersLinusSteinman,nineyearsoldandmute,whohasescapedfromNaziGermanywithhissolecompanion:anAfricangreyparrot.WhatisthemeaningofthemysteriousstringsofGermannumbersthebirdspewsout--atop-secretSScode?ThekeystoaseriesofSwissbankaccounts?Ordotheyholdasignificanceatoncemoreprosaicandfarmoresinister?Thoughthesolutiontothislastcasemaybebeyondeventhereachoftheoncefamedsleuth,thetruestoryoftheboyandhisparrotissubtlyrevealedtothereaderinawrenchingresolutiontothisbrillianthomage.TheFinalSolutionisaworkfromamasterstory-tellerattheheightofhispowers.
