The Redemption of Mattie Silks

 
Kimberly Burns
Book Cover: The Redemption of Mattie Silks
Editions:ebook, Paperback

Seeking Redemption, She Finds Retribution

In 1892, the American West is no place for the faint of heart—especially for a woman running one of Denver’s most luxurious brothels. Madam Mattie Silks has built her empire catering to the city’s wealthiest gold and silver magnates, outmaneuvering corrupt politicians, ruthless criminals, and self-righteous morality committees.

But when her husband crosses paths with infamous crime boss “Soapy” Smith, Mattie finds herself entangled in a deadly game where bribes and bullets rule the streets.

Opportunity knocks when gold is discovered in the Yukon, and Mattie dares to chase fortune and freedom in the untamed wilds of Skagway, Alaska. Yet the frontier is even more lawless than Denver, and survival demands every ounce of her cunning. With danger at every turn, can Mattie protect those she loves—and herself—before the deck is stacked against her for good?

Based on true events, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is a gripping historical adventure of ambition, resilience, and one woman’s fight to carve her own path in a world that refuses to make space for her.

About the Author

Kimberly Burns

Kimberly Burns grew up in Colorado hearing stories about the colorful characters of the Old West. She has degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Hartford. Kimberly is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Western Writers of America, and Women Writing the West. She lives with her husband in Leesburg, Virginia.

The Redemption of Mattie Silks is her most recent novel and was named to the 2023 Laramie Book Award for Western and American Fiction long list.

Her debut novel The Mrs. Tabor won numerous awards including the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best New Novel, a gold medal for Best Regional Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, a National Indie Excellence Award, and a silver medal from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards.

Kimberly and her unruly heroines make for an entertaining book talk. She is available to discuss her novels with book groups in person or online

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