“Mattie is an admirable hero, and watching her carve out a life for herself in the most rugged terrain is a thrill ride.”— BookLife Reviews SEEKING REDEMPTION, SHE FINDS RETRIBUTION In 1892, running one of the West’s fanciest brothels is a rough game. In a town filled with brazen criminals, corrupt police, zealous politicians, and morality committees, Madam Mattie Silks makes her fortune catering to Colorado’s gold and silver millionaires. Notorious crime boss “Soapy” Smith is at the top of the Denver underworld. There are no rules for Smith’s gang. They solve problems with bribes and bullets. Mattie’s husband stumbles into Soapy’s dealings, and she struggles to protect him. When gold is discovered in the Yukon, Mattie seizes the opportunity for adventure and profit. But Skagway, Alaska, is even more lawless than Denver. Mattie must use all her business sense and street smarts to safeguard those she cares about. Will it be enough? Or will Lady Justice again turn a blind eye? Based on a true story, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is an action-packed tale of a woman succeeding in a man’s world even when the cards are stacked against her. “The research on the era shines through, as do the grit and spirit of the characters. …A colorful and enthralling journey.” — K.T. Blakemore, award-winning author of The Good Time Girls series “A nice, nuanced portrait of the complex underworld with fine and witty turns of phrase. A great Western romp!” — Randi Samuelson-Brown, award-winning author of The Bad Old Days series Longlisted for the Laramie Book Awards for Western and Americana Fiction "This action-packed tale is rare in its spotlight on a successful businesswoman in what was once primarily considered a 'man's world.' Mattie is an admirable hero, and watching her carve out a life for herself in the most rugged terrain is a thrill ride."—BookLife Reviews "Mattie's growing love and respect for the women she works with is evident... Her Black maid and Chinese cook, whose contributions are invaluable during their travels, are highlighted for their strength and dignity, subverting dominant treatments of Western heroes. Indeed, the book uplifts and revises stories about those who are marginalized in history books. Enriched by her supportive community, Mattie learns whom to fight for...an enthralling final confrontation." — Foreword Reviews "Kimberly Burns's tour de force historical novel, The Redemption of Mattie Silks, follows the denizens of Denver's notorious Market Street and, in particular, its most famous madam, Mattie Silks. Through vivid prose, the novel paints an immersive picture of a town pulsating with life, where the threat to Mattie Silks's livelihood by the dangerous and cunning Soapy Smith adds an exhilarating layer of suspense. The research on the era shines through, as do the grit and spirit of the characters. The Redemption of Mattie Silks is a colorful and enthralling journey, taking the reader from the streets of Denver to the rough-and-tumble Klondike, and capturing the essence of a tumultuous era." — K.T. Blakemore, award-winning author of The Good Time Girls series "A stunning look into a piece of Denver's history with a narrative twist that only deep research could have unearthed! Using real characters and events, Burns pulls the reader inside a beguiling tale full of bawds and black hats, preachers and prostitutes, lovers and losers, sinners and redeemers. The novel's surprise conclusion leaves the reader applauding the fall of the worst hustler in Western history and the liberation of Mattie Silks, Market Street's infamous brothel owner. Intriguing, entertaining, and satisfying, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is Burns's best work thus far!" — Jane Little Botkin, award-winning author of The Girl Who Dared to Defy: Jane Street and the Rebel Maids of Denver and Frank Little and the IWW: The Blood That Stained an American Family "A wonderful read that's hard to put down." — Carmen Peone, award-winning author of Lillian's Legacy and the Seven Tine Ranch Romance series "A fascinating look into Denver's seedy underside of the 1890s. Burns delves into the shady politics and the world of bunco artists and crooked games in a town where everyone was searching for the elusive 'good time.' The Redemption of Mattie Silks captures the turbulent essence of the time when not all 'bad' people were bad, and 'good' people didn't always take the upper road. A nice, nuanced portrait of the complex underworld with fine and witty turns of phrase. A great Western romp!" — Randi Samuelson-Brown, award-winning author of The Bad Old Days of Colorado: Untold Stories of the Wild West and the Dark Range Western Mystery series