The Final Solution

In the English countryside, an 89-year-old retired detective, more devoted to beekeeping than human connections, encounters Linus Steinman, a mute nine-year-old boy who has fled Nazi Germany with an African gray parrot. The bird oddly recites strings of German numbers, stirring curiosity about their possible meanings—ranging from a secret SS code to something darker. As the narrative unfolds, the deeper story of Linus and his companion gradually emerges, leading to an emotionally resonant conclusion. This engaging tale won the 2005 National Jewish Book Award and was named a Best Book of 2004 by the San Francisco Chronicle.