The Redemption of Mattie Silks

By: Kimberly Burns

Narrated by: Liz Leafloor

Seeking Redemption, She Finds Retribution

In 1892, running one of the Wests 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 Colorados 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. Based on a true story, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is an action-packed tale of a woman succeeding in a mans 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

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Kimberly Burns (P)2024 Thomas Bard Publishing

Critic reviews

"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

Excellent story, expertly told.

I loved this audio version of The Redemption of Mattie Silks. The author’s words along with the narrator’s voice seemed to transport me back to the 1890’s. I felt like I was standing right there on the streets of Denver watching it all unfold. The depth of the characters, and the attention to details made it one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read, especially after learning that these characters actually existed. Ms.Burns has brought them all back to life for us to get to know, and I find myself eager to research Mattie Silks and Soapy Smith further. What a fascinating time in US history this was, and this book is the perfect way to get a taste of it.

Mattie Silk’s unusual Story

This story illustrates an unconventional tale of survival, business sense and power by a woman with determination. I was intrigued by this title after reading Ms. Burns’ novel about Baby Doe Tabor. The settings of this story related to The Mrs. Tabor and it spoke of women modeling themselves after her. This part of history was unknown to me and parts of it were amazing. The journeys women took, how their self worth helped them further themselves, and the way corruption thrived over mining were all so interesting. Very captivating to listen to.