Cover art by Ardy M. Scott

The Storks of La Caridad
Twilight Times Books

Father Ygnacio Pfefferkorn, a missionary stationed in northwestern Mexico, is expelled with all Jesuits in 1767. After ten years of prison, eight in Spain, he is incarcerated in La Caridad Monastery and befriended by Brother Eugenio, scribe, Father Plácido, choirmaster, and Father Leopoldo, instructor of boys.

La Caridad is locked in conflict with the bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo to determine jurisdiction over Robledillo, a rich parish. Two murders are committed and an ancient charter, granting the monastery perpetual jurisdiction over neighboring lands and villages, is stolen. The abbot recruits Ygnacio to solve the murders and recover the charter.

"Brilliantly written and thoroughly researched, this book explores the complexities and contradictions of the Church during this time period. The political struggles in the monastery ring with realism, as do the actions of the characters. The age-old struggle between good and evil is evident, but the division between the two is muddied by ulterior motives."
-- Reviewed by Joyce Handzo for In the Library Reviews

"'La Caridad' works on two levels. First, it's a rollicking mystery, full of plot twists based on real events, interesting characters modeled after historical figures and more than its share of red herrings, mostly invented by Weinberg. Second, it's a scholarly recreation of 18th century from the dress to the architecture to the food, thoroughly researched and seamlessly written. And let's just say that Weinberg knows her Spanish Inquisition and her colonial Catholicism."
-- Reviewed by Steve Bennett, The San Antonio Express (Read the entire review)

"The Storks of La Caridad is beautifully written, as well as meticulously researched. It will grip its readers, shock them, and confound them. Along the way, much valuable and accurate history will be painlessly assimilated. Perhaps this is the art of historical mystery writing at its best. The Storks of La Caridad is a must-read!"
-- The Midwest Book Review (Read the entire review on Amazon)

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The Roman bridge across the Agueda River in Ciudad Rodrigo. Still in daily use.

Cover art by Ardy M. Scott

Apache Lance, Franciscan Cross
Twilight Times Books
* WILLA Literary Award Finalist, 2006
* 2007 New Mexico Book Award Finalist in two categories: Best Historical Fiction and Best Book on the Southwest.

In the year 1731, three Franciscan missions are struggling to establish themselves on the San Antonio River despite Apache raids. The story explores a crucial time in San Antonio history, featuring courageous settlers, missionaries, Indian converts and fierce Apache attacks.

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"Apache Lance, Franciscan Cross is a riveting novel of historical fiction about a Franciscan Friar, Fray Marcos, and an Apache woman warrior, Ahuila.... If you like historical novels, you will love Apache Lance, Franciscan Cross. But even more, if you appreciate a fine historical novel built on absolutely faultless research, Apache Lance, Franciscan Cross will draw you in as surely as a hummingbird is drawn to its blossom. This is a fine example of the genre, one of the best of its kind."
-- The Midwest Book Review (Read the full review on Amazon.)

Forthcoming Book: Seven Cities of Mud, an historical novel, will be out on April 15, 2008. It dramatizes the second expedition up the Rio Grande into New Mexico in 1581-82. Coronado's expedition, seeking the Seven Cities of Gold (Cíbola), had explored the region in 1540, had burned a pueblo and killed its inhabitants, leaving much distress and hatred in its wake. The Chamuscado/Rodriquez expedition had no idea what had happened, since nothing had been published about Coronado's doings. They were astonished and unprepared when they ran into hostility. I delivered a scholarly article about the expedition in spring of 2006, under the title, "History or Mostly Myth? Caveat lector! Discrepancies In Scholarly Accounts of the Chamuscado Expedition, 1581-1582." This article, delivered at the Historical Society of New Mexico, might whet your appetite.