“The Witch of Sonora” by Johnnie Bernhard

Johnnie Bernhard’s latest novel, The Witch of Sonora (Stoney Creek Publishing, 2026), returns readers to the gritty Central Texas landscape introduced in Hannah and Ariela. Hannah, now in her eighties, continues to grapple with the horrors of human trafficking, offering refuge on her isolated ranch to young women who have been victimized. Bernhard frames this brutal reality as a modern form of slavery—“different labels for a different generation”—and grounds the novel in a stark moral struggle between good and evil, light and darkness.

This time, however, Border Control Agent Nocona Ketemoczy takes center stage. A former Marine who honors his Comanche heritage, Nocona has been haunted since childhood by visions of the Witch of Sonora. When he encounters her again as an adult, he is certain her presence signals impending evil—yet he cannot share his fears without risking disbelief.

Sheriff Ronnie Hoffman rounds out the central trio. He is neither villain nor hero, but an abrasive, often unlikable figure whose presence adds tension to the group dynamic. As Nocona observes, “It was in my nature to punch a smart-ass, but I caught myself.”

The three are drawn together when dismembered human remains are discovered on a rancher’s property. Suspicions quickly fall on a drug cartel known for practicing a distorted form of Palo Mayombe ritual, where “dismemberment was their trademark.” Choosing to limit outside involvement to avoid bureaucratic interference, the trio undertakes a dangerous and urgent investigation.

Hannah, who also sees the witch, recognizes a shared burden in Nocona—a deep sorrow tied to his people’s history. She senses that their lives are intertwined and guided by a larger purpose. A seer and spiritual anchor, Hannah offers hard-won wisdom: peace comes only by relinquishing control and embracing love for others, the foundation of faith and of “Jesus’s teachings.” For her, faith is “a lifelong process” of becoming one’s best self.

Nocona, too, is reflective, offering insights on both nature and society. He sees increasingly violent weather as a reminder of nature’s dominance and a possible rebuke of human carelessness. Likewise, he views his work as a border agent with weary realism, recognizing that as long as instability and corruption persist, vulnerable people will continue to suffer—and predators will exploit them.

When a second girl’s body is discovered, the urgency intensifies. Bernhard sustains a high level of tension, delivering one blow after another as the trio races to prevent further violence. She also weaves in a subtle thread of romance, as Nocona develops a reluctant but growing interest in a colleague, Jo.

The Witch of Sonora is a compelling and often harrowing novel that explores the enduring conflict between compassion and cruelty. The stark contrast between the cartel’s brutality and the trio’s determination to protect vulnerable young women propels the narrative forward. This latest work is sure to be another success for Bernhard.

Johnnie Bernhard

Johnnie Bernhard is the award-winning author of A Good Girl, How We Came to Be, and Sisters of the Undertow. Her novels have been recognized by Publishers Weekly, Deep South Magazine, the Kindle Book Awards, the Association of University Presses, Press Women of Texas, and the National Federation of Press Women. She lives in South Texas with her husband.