Listen to the Mockingbird

In 1861 Matilda "Matty" Summerhayes is a rancher. In another secret life she was a musician and much more. When a Mexican boy is killed on her horse ranch, she finds a map of her ranch, with strange markings in his pocket. A stranger, Tonio Bernini, a mysterious man who turns out to be a "healer" who studies with priests, comes to ask a favor. Matty allows the man to stay in the caves on her land, but she wonders if she's done the smart thing. When war comes to her New Mexico ranch, Matty is apprehensive about the controlling Confederate Army and put at risk when the Yankee's make their claim to the territory. Someone tries to buy her out. Was it the same person who tried to burn her out? Death comes to her door in the form of her past. Matilda Summerhayes is a strong, resourceful woman, but will it be enough? I felt the heat of the desert sun, the cool of the shade and the water from Mockingbird Springs. I had to shake the sand out of my shoes when I stood; wash the soot out of my hair after the fire; I soaked my t-shirt to get the blood out. Yes, Penny Rudolph is that good. Great read, and I don't use those words lightly or often.

"Listen to the Mockingbird" by Penny RudolphGenre: HistoricalThe author tells an eventful story. It is well narrated and the plot weaves a colourful tale of mystery, discovery and eventual resolution. There are many interesting turns of phrases in this novel, ie, "The white women of the town, their virtue as ridgid as stays in their corsets." It is the time of Civil War in New Mexico. Matty Summerhayes, a woman with a past, is raising horses. Her past comes to confront her, when her black friend Winona come to share her life. She finds a dead Mexican boy, and that starts a tangled string of events that lead to another murdered boy, this time, the son of her cook, Herlinda. The warring troops come closer to her ranch and Matty Summerhayes is blamed for the first murder. She looks for answers by pursuing information about the Mexican boy.

By TT reviewer Brenda GillOwning and operating a horse ranch in Mesilla Valley, New Mexico was one thing Matty Summerhayes never expected to be doing when she was a student at the Bartholomew's Ladies Academy. But since she owns the ranch, she has two goals, to build up the ranch, sell it, go back east, and keep her past secret. One night, a young stranger is shot and killed in her barn. In a pouch around his neck, Matty finds a piece of paper with markings that look like a map of her ranch. She wonders about it, but soon other matters take up her time. The Civil War has just started and the army wants her horses. She manages to sell only a few horses for much less than what they are worth, but worries that the army will come back and take the rest. If this happens, everything she's worked for the last six years will amount to nothing. But this is the least of her worries. A drifter, Tonio Bernini, comes to the ranch and asks to stay on her land in some caves called the "cuevas". Matty agrees, but tells him he must be gone before winter comes.Tonio is an unusual man. He doesn't have a horse, but walks everywhere he goes. He's very knowledgeable of the healing properties of plants and herbs. Matty is very attracted to him, even though she knows that he is keeping secrets about his past.Matty gets an offer to buy her ranch from a man nobody knows anything about, just that he is from Texas and is a Union soldier. Matty refuses to sell the ranch and dangerous things begin to happen. A brush fire is mysteriously started that almost burns down the house and barns, some of her cattle are killed along with her prize stallion, and Julio, her foreman's son, is murdered. Winona, a free black woman who lives on the ranch with Matty, is accused of being a witch and almost burned to death. Matty finds out that a gold mine might be on her ranch and someone will stop at nothing to own it. What does Tonio have to do with everything? What does he know about the mysterious map? Secrets and lies from Matty's past are about to be revealed and she must fight for her life against a dangerous enemy.This book starts with a wallop and steadily builds to a gripping conclusion. Listen to the Mockingbird vividly re-creates the dangers of life in the New Mexico territory during the Civil War and one woman's triumph over adversity. Matty is a strong woman trying to make her way in a man's world and succeeds admirably. The romance between Tonio and Matty is poignant and sweet. Tonio isn't the usual alpha male, but he is still a great character. Penny Rudolph is a great storyteller and if you like westerns with a touch of romance, you'll like this story.