August 1846. The U.S. army has taken Santa Fe without firing a shot. The Mexican American War is over in New Mexico. Or is it? Two days after the Army arrives, seventeen-year-old Jessie Milbank and her friends stumble on a man with a knife in his back in the Santa Fe plaza. Then someone close to Jessie’s friend Juanita is murdered. When an insurrection is suppressed in December, Jessie begins to wonder if the three events are linked.  Were the murdered men part of a conspiracy to throw out the invaders? And were they the only ones hoping for a fight? After revolt does finally break out and the Americans suppress it at the battle of Taos Pueblo, yet another man is murdered. Will the reasons for his death provide clues to the earlier ones? A richly imagined story steeped in New Mexico and American history. 

What Early Readers Are Saying
“…a treat to read.” W. Michael Farmer, Will Rogers Medallion winner, The Odyssey of Geronimo

“a compelling, historically grounded narrative that both informs and entertains.”  Francois-Marie Patorni, The French in New Mexico  

Categories: Historical Fiction · Southwest Fiction · New Mexico Fiction · Historical Mystery

Publisher: Palo Flechado Press, Santa Fe
 

Release Date: April 18, 2025

PAPERBACK ISBN: 978-1-952026-12-6 Retail: $18.99  Page Count: 332 Trim Size: 6 x 9

Available from: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org, and Ingram Spark

EBOOK ISBN: 9798230796473 Library Price: $5.99

Available From Books2Read for Odilo, Overdrive, cloudLibrary, Baker & Taylor,  Borrow Box, Hoopla, and Palace Marketplace

Media Link: https://youtu.be/qpdLqE53ia4

Loretta Miles Tollefson was born and raised in the American West and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the author of seven Old New Mexico novels and two short story collections.  A more detailed bio is available here. Contact at Loretta@LorettaMilesTollefson.com.