The Solitaire Mystery

Twelve-year-oldHansThomaslivesalonewithhisfather,amanwholikestogivehissonlessonsaboutlifeandhasapenchantforphilosophy.HansThomas'motherleftwhenhewasfour(tofind'herself)andthestorybeginswhenfatherandsonsetoffonatriptoGreece,whereshenowlives,totrytopersuadehertocomehome.Enroute,inSwitzerland,HansThomasisgivenamagnifyingglassbyadwarfatapetrolstation,andthenextdayhefindsatinybookinhisbreadrollwhichcanonlybereadwithamagnifyingglass.Howdidthebookcometobethere?Whydoesthedwarfkeepshowingup?ItisallveryperplexingandHansThomashasenoughtocopewith,withthedauntingprospectofseeinghismother.Nowhisjourneyhasturnedintoanencounterwiththeunfathomable...ordoesitallhavealogicalexplanation?