Escondido

A literary novel about family, music, loyalty, and the difficult grace of forgiveness.

For most of his life, Levi Simon has stood just outside the lives of the people he loves, watching more than participating. A gifted guitarist, he has built a career making music while avoiding the harder work of being fully present—for his family, for himself, and for those who have quietly carried more than their share.

When a peaceful benefit concert near the U.S.–Mexico border erupts into violence, the consequences reach far beyond the evening's headlines. As the Simon family struggles with grief, divided loyalties, and the lasting effects of a single irreversible event, old wounds resurface and long-held silences begin to break.

Set against the avocado groves and small towns of Southern California's San Pasqual Valley, Escondido follows a family learning that reconciliation is not a single act but a series of difficult choices. Through music, memory, and the people who refuse to give up on one another, each must decide whether forgiveness is something earned—or something freely given.

Written with emotional depth and quiet precision, Escondido is a novel about the families we inherit, the families we choose, and the courage required to step fully into our own lives.

Perfect for readers who enjoy the literary fiction of Kent Haruf, Ann Patchett, and Richard Russo.