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Purple Sage Library

Featuring books by Barbara Burnett Smith

Malice Domestic 7 Anthology Cover 'Tis the Season for Murder Collection Mauve and Murder Cover

Writers of the Purple Sage Cover Dust Devils of the Purple Sage Cover Mistletoe From Purple Sage Paperback Cover Celebration in Purple Sage Cover Skeletons in Purple Sage Cover

Skeletons in Purple Sage NEW!

Minotaur Books; ISBN: 0312284632; (August 2002)

This is the latest Jolie Wyatt novel, set during a natural disaster, with floodwaters rushing through the streets and torrential downpours continuing with no end in sight. Jolie's desire to honor two old friends with a party in their honor finishes up with a body in a ditch. The investigation takes the whole town by storm, forcing Jolie to step in to find out what really happened on that dark and rainy night in Texas. Skeletons in Purple Sage is a tangled web full of small-town politics and complex personal relationships tinted with the Texas charm that has made Barbara Burnett Smith's cozy Jolie Wyatt mysteries a big hit.

'Tis the Season for Murder

Worldwide Library; ISBN: 0373262906 (November 1998)

This is the paperback version of Mistletoe from Purple Sage. As Jolie Wyatt says, "it's hell when the skeletons in your closet start dancing" and that's what happens during Jolie's Christmas visit to Austin. This edition also contains a full length novel by Fred Hunter, and a short story from Walter Satterthwaite.

Places to visit:

Malice Domestic 7

Twilight; ISBN: 0380794063 (September 1998)

An anthology of original traditional mystery stories, this book features works from Barbara Burnett Smith, Barbara Stephanie Barron, author of the popular Jane Austen mystery series, and Harlen Coben, recent Edgar Award winner, Michael Bond, Michael Yorke, Hazel Holt, and Dean James. The 13 stories explore the unlucky fate of those who indulge their most murderous fantasies.

Celebration in Purple Sage

St. Martin's ISBN 0-312-14562-4 (January, 1998)

Purple Sage is having its Centennial Celebration and former residents from around the world are returning for the festivities. Jolie Wyatt is reporting the event for the local radio station, including the party at the former German Prisoner of War camp outside of town. It makes for lots of excitement, especially when Jolie's in-laws, and her adorable husband's ex-wife, all arrive to join the fun. The least welcome guest, however, is murder. It can put a damper on any party.

Places to visit:

Mistletoe from Purple Sage

St. Martin's ISBN 0-312-16930-2 (November, 1997)

All Jolie wanted for Christmas was a little holiday chaos, the kind she used to enjoy when her son Jeremy was little and all the family and friends gathered to share the joy of the season.

As they say: Be careful what you wish for...

What she got was a holiday in Austin with family she didn't expect, old friends she wasn't sure she wanted, and murder that wasn't on anybody's list.

As Jolie said, it's hell when the skeletons in your closet start dancing.

Places to visit:

Dust Devils of the Purple Sage

St. Martin's ISBN 0-312-13476-2 (November, 1995)
Worldwide ISBN 0-373-26234-5 (April, 1997)

A modern day Sundance Kid escapes from prison and heads for home, which just happens to be Purple Sage, Texas. He figures he knows the lay of the land and can hide out safely, especially because he's somewhat of a folk hero in the small town. The next day, though, a very popular student is found murdered, and now people are beginning to wonder. Is he really harmless? Or dangerous?

Jolie Wyatt, part-time reporter for K-SAGE radio, and her son, Jeremy, get involved because Jeremy was a good friend to the murdered young man. When a manhunt starts up, Jolie gets caught in the chase. Literally.

Places to visit:

Writers of the Purple Sage

Worldwide ISBN 0-373-26214-0 (September, 1996)

Agatha nominee Best First Mystery, 1995

Jolie Wyatt and her writers group brainstorm a great method for murder, to be used in her novel-in-progress. So is it her fault that someone uses her murder to kill a much beloved judge? That's what the police want to know.

Places to visit:

While you're here, don't forget to read today's Sage Tribune.

Purple Sage
All material copyright © 1998-2002 by Barbara Burnett Smith.
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