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Purple Sage Mystery #1
Writers of the Purple Sage
Writers Of The Purple Sage by Barbara Burnett Smith released on Jul 25, 1996 is available now for purchase.
251 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
76 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Burnett Smith
10 books9 followersThe late Austin (TX) author Barbara Burnett Smith is best known for her novels set in the fictional Texas town of Purple Sage. She wrote cozies. Titles of her books were taken from Zane Grey book titles and slightly modified.
A friend of hers, Jan Grape, says, "You don't want to make someone sound absolutely perfect, but Barbara was." She is greatly missed by the mystery writers community and her friends.
On February 19, 2005, Barbara and her husband, Gary Petry, drove to San Antonio to rescue an Airedale terrier. On the way back, they stopped at a local mystery bookstore and the dog jumped out of the car. But they had difficulty coaxing him back. It was dark and raining, and Smith, who was wearing dark clothing, stepped into the street. She was hit by a car and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced brain-dead. On Sunday, in accordance with her wishes, her organs were donated to others.
Smith wrote mysteries, taught mystery writing, and worked as voice-over talent on Austin radio commercials. She also owned Catalyst Training & Development, a company that ran communication training classes and workshops. She was a former president of the international Sisters In Crime literary group.
Cooper, author of the Texas-based E. J. Pugh and Kimmey Kruse series of mysteries, who first became friends with Smith in 1989, remembers that she had a powerful effect on the Black Shoes. "One thing Barbara said going in was that she didn't want to do this group unless anything negative that was said, something positive had to be said to balance it out. And she was absolutely right. It was the most successful group I've ever been in. We were able to concentrate not just on the negative, as so often happens in writing groups, but on what was working, too."
Smith, whose real name was Barbara Jo Petry, is survived by her husband Gary, her son W.D., three stepdaughters, nine grandchildren and step-grandchildren and her brother, Bruce.
A friend of hers, Jan Grape, says, "You don't want to make someone sound absolutely perfect, but Barbara was." She is greatly missed by the mystery writers community and her friends.
On February 19, 2005, Barbara and her husband, Gary Petry, drove to San Antonio to rescue an Airedale terrier. On the way back, they stopped at a local mystery bookstore and the dog jumped out of the car. But they had difficulty coaxing him back. It was dark and raining, and Smith, who was wearing dark clothing, stepped into the street. She was hit by a car and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced brain-dead. On Sunday, in accordance with her wishes, her organs were donated to others.
Smith wrote mysteries, taught mystery writing, and worked as voice-over talent on Austin radio commercials. She also owned Catalyst Training & Development, a company that ran communication training classes and workshops. She was a former president of the international Sisters In Crime literary group.
Cooper, author of the Texas-based E. J. Pugh and Kimmey Kruse series of mysteries, who first became friends with Smith in 1989, remembers that she had a powerful effect on the Black Shoes. "One thing Barbara said going in was that she didn't want to do this group unless anything negative that was said, something positive had to be said to balance it out. And she was absolutely right. It was the most successful group I've ever been in. We were able to concentrate not just on the negative, as so often happens in writing groups, but on what was working, too."
Smith, whose real name was Barbara Jo Petry, is survived by her husband Gary, her son W.D., three stepdaughters, nine grandchildren and step-grandchildren and her brother, Bruce.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 24, 2015
From 1994 comes this first entry by the late Barbara Burnett Smith. Jolie Wyatt is newly divorced from the scion of a local family, trying to raise a teenaged son, and aspiring to be a published writer (along with the others in her local writers group.) After she has a very public argument with a highly respected judge, he turns up dead, and everyone thinks Jolie is guilty. Seems that her latest attempt at a murder mystery contains the exact same method as that used to send off the judge! Only a few others were aware of this, but word gets around in a small town.
Smith's writing flows smoothly and her descriptions of characters and places are spot on. Conversations are natural, and the plot is unique. This book and the others in this series are definitely worth your time.
Smith's writing flows smoothly and her descriptions of characters and places are spot on. Conversations are natural, and the plot is unique. This book and the others in this series are definitely worth your time.
April 19, 2015
Although this book was on the bottom of my to-read list, I read it for a challenge, and it actually was not bad. A cozy murder mystery, it was a good one, as there was a list of suspects, and right up until the end I wasn't sure who did it. I had my suspicions ... but they changed every chapter or so. So I can't exactly say I was surprised at the end, as I HAD guessed that outcome, but it was only one of several outcomes I had guessed. I will likely read the others from this author that are on my to-read shelf.
April 3, 2008
I read this book in a few days. It is the first of the author's Jolie Wyatt series. I really enjoyed it. I have read these books out of order of the series, but it has not mattered. I recommend this book and the others for easy reads. Hope you try it and enjoy it.
February 26, 2024
Jolie Wyatt, recently divorced, mother of teenage son, aspiring mystery writer and job hunter for a position in Austin in order to move away, suddenly finds herself as the person of interest in a murder investigation when the victim has been killed using the method described in her working novel. Only people in her writing group and the sheriff knew the plot device. Who is trying to frame her? A secondary thread deals with the lingering and unresolved feelings between her and her ex-husband. This dynamic is different than the typical old relationships in many current mystery cozies. I liked it. The plot also doesn't push her into questioning people she doesn't know, since the potential killer is someone she interacts with already. Other quests are through research of news, library and government records. I think this will be an interesting series.
March 4, 2021
Liked this one enough that I'll be reading more from the series.
January 2, 2025
really enjoy the characters and how the reading is smooth. It keeps me interested. Nice addition to the series.
October 20, 2014
This is Smith's first mystery, and it shows. Except for the heroine and her son - and of course the man who's murdered - every single person in the book is a suspect. Such an excess of tension means there's no tension at all. That being said, it's readable and not a terrible first effort.
April 11, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. I read it in about 7 days, back and forth on the bus and at home and after lunch at work.
It was a Good Read!
It was a Good Read!
July 16, 2008
Apparently this Texas author dies in 2005. What a shame - she built a wonderful small town group in this her first book. I listened to it on Books on Tape from the library.
June 20, 2012
Actually, it was good. Not great but good. A fast read.
December 10, 2016
A pretty well written cozy mystery.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews