The Proprietor's Song - Paperback

The Proprietor's Song - A Literary Novel of Grief and Mystery

"A truly original and effervescent writer." --Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award recipient, author of Claude & Camille and The Boy in the Rain

Set against California's most remote and haunting landscapes, The Proprietor's Song by Janet Goldberg weaves together two deeply personal stories of loss and the search for answers. This literary fiction novel explores the devastating impact of grief while offering glimpses of renewed hope through its richly drawn characters and atmospheric settings.

Multiple Perspectives, One Powerful Narrative

Told in alternating points of view, the novel follows Stanley Uribe, an innkeeper tucked high in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, as he attempts to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding his sister Lorna's death. Simultaneously, readers follow Grace and Elwood Fisher, a middle-aged couple from the Bay Area who return annually to Death Valley—the place where their son Jared vanished during spring break years earlier.

The dual narrative structure allows readers to experience how different people process devastating loss while searching for closure. Stanley's investigation into his sister's death parallels the Fishers' ritualistic returns to the site of their son's disappearance, creating a powerful meditation on grief, memory, and the human need for understanding.

California's Remote Landscapes as Character

The novel's settings—from the high Sierra Nevada to the stark beauty of Death Valley—serve as more than backdrop. These remote California locations mirror the emotional isolation of the characters while offering moments of stark beauty and contemplation. Janet Goldberg's intimate knowledge of these landscapes brings authenticity to every scene.

About Author Janet Goldberg

Born and raised in the northeast, Janet Goldberg now lives in California's Bay Area where she writes and teaches writing and spends her free time hiking and exploring the mountains and deserts of the greater West. She also serves as the fiction editor of the literary journal Deep Wild, and her own short fiction and poetry have appeared in a wide range of journals.

Published by Regal House Publishing in 2023, The Proprietor's Song offers readers a literary exploration of family drama, psychological depth, and the mysterious circumstances that can alter lives forever. This paperback edition brings together elements of psychological suspense with the contemplative pacing of literary fiction.