"Kaufman is a fantastic writer with a distinctive poetic touch... It will be the rare reader who will not be moved by this soulful, poignant novel." – KIRKUS REVIEWS A dying man. A buried injustice. And a mystery falling from the sky. In 1897, as reports of mysterious airships spread across Texas, dying professor August Simms arrives in the small town of Rhome chasing one final purpose. Fifteen years earlier, he lost his wife there—on the same night an innocent Black man was lynched. Now, as strange lights fill the sky and whispers of the unexplained grow louder, August begins to uncover a truth the town has tried to forget. But the past isn’t finished. When new threats emerge and violence begins to stir again, August is forced to choose: spend his final days in peace—or risk everything to confront a legacy of injustice that refuses to stay buried. Set against the backdrop of America’s first UFO wave, A Persistent Echo is a haunting historical mystery about courage, truth, and the cost of looking away. 2023 American Writing Awards Winner - Historical Fiction "Kaufman is a fantastic writer with a distinctive poetic touch... It will be the rare reader who will not be moved by this soulful, poignant novel." - Kirkus Reviews  "It's a powerfully rendered novel that holds the rare ability to traverse genres to attract a wider audience of reader than the 'historical fiction' label portends." - Midwest Book Review  "This heartfelt story, filled with wit and wisdom, kept me reading late into the night and waking eager for the next page. August Simms, Kaufman's protagonist, will stay with me." -Linda Rosen, author of Sisters of the Vine  "...a page-turner with a captivating storyline. (4 out of 4 stars!)" - Online Book Club  "Brian Kaufman has woven a tale of friendship, betrayal, and hope. His descriptions of setting and mood are spot on... highly recommended." -Karen Brees, author of Crosswind "The author does an excellent job of painting the currents of bitterness, old memory, and grief just under the surface, and of countering them with a message of real hope in human connection and collective care for each other...poignantly sweet, thought-provoking book about love, found family, and wisdom gained from experience, age, and suffering." -IndieReader "Truly original and touching...A remarkable feat...A deeply moving story with an intriguing mystery and a touching portrait of regret and redemption at its heart. Spectacular." -The Prairies Book Review  "Kaufman writes beautifully, with spare prose, well-paced surprises, period-appropriate language, and a sense of foreboding." -Historical Novel Society A Persistent Echo is Brian Kaufman's eighth published novel. He lives in the Colorado mountains with his wife Judith and his dog Finn. In his spare time, he lifts weights, plays blues guitar, and keeps local microbreweries in business with his bad behavior.