This is the second in a two-book series, a sequel to A Borrowed Man. It
was apparently Wolfe's final work, and reportedly he died almost
immediately after submitting it to the publisher.

This is set somewhere 150-200 years after present. Humans have explored
the solar system via robotic probes but radiation prevents much human
exploration. The stars are just too far away. Humanity has hit a wall
and is collectively tired. The population is down to a billion and many
think it should be lower.

Ern A. Smithe (with a silent 'e') is a reclone. Reclones are created
from banked DNA and memory scan from a person. Reclones are not
people. They are property that is owned. This results in a system that
might give a pause to a plantation owner in antebellum Mississipi.
Reclones can be bought or sold, and destroyed when no longer wanted.
They are aware of this.

E. A. Smithe is owned by a branch of the public library. That's because
he is a reclone of a 21st Century mystery writer. Patrons can consult
or check out the recloned authors as needed.

In the previous book, Ern had been checked out then had various
adventures out in the real world. One included unlocking a doorway in
his patron's deceased father's house that apparently led to another
planet. At the end, he decided to not let the public know about this
(which could have provided a very different future for humanity) and
arranged to destroy the house.

He also made a deal with his patron, reinforced by a little light
blackmail, to be checked out on a regular basis. This should keep that
version of him out of the furnace (literally, see above).

Now, to his surprise, he's been checked out by someone else. Not only
that, it's an inter-library loan. He, along with a cookbook author and
a romance writer, are off to the northeast port of Polly's Cove. There
he finds that he has been acquired by Adah Fevre. Rather than hire a
private detective she wants to use him for the task. Specifically, she
wants to find her missing husband, who disappeared when he crossed from
their boat to another in mid-voyage.

The mystery of where the missing husband, an MD and professor, is, what
he had been doing unfolds.

The last about third or so of the book is very strange. There are
several disjointed events and seeming plot points that either make no
sense or just peter out. The very end is confusing and controversial. I
have read this twice, and some of the theories online, but I'm still
not sure what the hell happened.

You might want to read this just for the "what the hell" experience. I
would recommend the previous book, although it's not strictly necessary.

I intend to start another thread discussing the last part, as it's
difficult to do it here without heavy spoilers.

Brian