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Purple Sage Mystery #4
Mistletoe from Purple Sage
Aspiring mystery writer Jolie Wyatt travels to the big city for Christmas to visit family and attend a party for her former employer, but when murder intrudes, she must put aside her holiday plans to catch a killer. By the author of Celebration in Purple Sage.
275 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1997
2 people are currently reading
34 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 25, 2024
Jolie Wyatt has been invited to an anniversary party at the advertising agency where she previously worked and her husband has some business to handle in Austin, so they head there for the Christmas holidays, staying at Matt’s sister’s house. At the party Jolie finds the body of one of the employees and gets tangled up in the case by being asked to help write copy at the firm. There are also problems at Matt’s firm and some family problems where they are staying, so it is not a peaceful holiday. Better than the last volume. Jolie has got her whining under control.
November 30, 2025
Poor Desi Baker never makes it to the mistletoe kisses. Someone leaves her dead on the bathroom floor during the ad agency’s combined anniversary-and-founder’s-birthday bash. Jolie Wyatt, ex-employee and recovering bad-decision-maker, only came back to Austin for a quick pre-Christmas visit with her brand-new husband, Matt. She swore she’d avoid drama—especially drama named Mike Sherabian, the married co-worker she once tumbled into bed with. Naturally, Mike’s there, looking better than any ex-fling has a right to, and Jolie’s resolve lasts about five minutes.
Before she can flee town, the agency owner begs her to fill Desi’s empty copywriter chair until the workload eases. Jolie says yes (because of course she does) and suddenly her “quiet holiday” explodes.
She’s bunking with Matt’s sister, where family harmony went to die years ago. Matt’s niece Stephanie now dates a man old enough to be her dad, while four-year-old Christopher’s father, Todd—Stephanie’s charming ex—blows back into town convinced the women have turned his son soft. Todd decides the cure is kidnapping and a heavy dose of testosterone. Jolie ends up flooring it through icy Austin streets in a heart-stopping chase to keep Christopher safe.
Somewhere between dodging family meltdowns and outrunning an unhinged ex, Jolie also figures out who killed Desi and why mistletoe turned lethal.
Don’t let the title fool you—this isn’t cozy Christmas fluff. Yes, the final chapter delivers presents and hugs, and yes, that famous holiday plant plays a deadly role, but you could read this in July and still have a blast. Barbara Burnett Smith’s fourth Jolie Wyatt mystery is sharp, funny, sexy in all the wrong/right ways, and over much too soon. Four easy stars—grab it anytime the mood for smart, sassy escapism hits.
Before she can flee town, the agency owner begs her to fill Desi’s empty copywriter chair until the workload eases. Jolie says yes (because of course she does) and suddenly her “quiet holiday” explodes.
She’s bunking with Matt’s sister, where family harmony went to die years ago. Matt’s niece Stephanie now dates a man old enough to be her dad, while four-year-old Christopher’s father, Todd—Stephanie’s charming ex—blows back into town convinced the women have turned his son soft. Todd decides the cure is kidnapping and a heavy dose of testosterone. Jolie ends up flooring it through icy Austin streets in a heart-stopping chase to keep Christopher safe.
Somewhere between dodging family meltdowns and outrunning an unhinged ex, Jolie also figures out who killed Desi and why mistletoe turned lethal.
Don’t let the title fool you—this isn’t cozy Christmas fluff. Yes, the final chapter delivers presents and hugs, and yes, that famous holiday plant plays a deadly role, but you could read this in July and still have a blast. Barbara Burnett Smith’s fourth Jolie Wyatt mystery is sharp, funny, sexy in all the wrong/right ways, and over much too soon. Four easy stars—grab it anytime the mood for smart, sassy escapism hits.
December 17, 2020
At the beginning I did not think I was going to like this book. It was just so slow and I was a little confused. Half way in it picked up and I was hooked.
October 11, 2022
This is a cute mystery!!
December 7, 2024
Nice cozy mystery
November 10, 2013
Book is very aptly described as "modern cozy."
"I vividly remember locking the door as we left, thinking that I had made a terrible, horrible mistake and this night would live in infamy. It would have a special name in future annals, called Jolie's Last Date with that Wonderful Matt."
Read in one sitting, enjoyable.
"I vividly remember locking the door as we left, thinking that I had made a terrible, horrible mistake and this night would live in infamy. It would have a special name in future annals, called Jolie's Last Date with that Wonderful Matt."
Read in one sitting, enjoyable.
March 4, 2008
This was another book recommended by my Mom. Easy to read and a good mystery story. I really enjoyed it.
December 15, 2011
I figured out who the murderer was on page 169 of a 278 page book. Not much of a mystery.
December 14, 2010
EXCELLENT Christmas book! I fell in love with the characters and Christopher... so adorable! Definitely a must read! :)
October 12, 2024
Interesting. Maybe I can find the rest of this series during my gentle mystery month
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews