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Kitzi Camden Mystery #2
Beads of Doubt
When her devious cousin threatens to take over the Old Camden Family Manse and throw her and her mother out on the streets, retired Senator Kitzi Camden discovers she has a knack for sleuthing when her cousin's partner is found dead in a dumpster nearby and she becomes a suspect. Original.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 5, 2007
8 people are currently reading
143 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 18, 2015
Second in what would have been a series, this was a wonderful book.
Second book in what was supposed to be a series, this was a highly readable story with a great plot and some great characters. Sad to say Barbara Burnett Smith died in an car accident. The book was unfinished and Karen MacInerney was chosen to finish it. Because Barbara's sister died of ovarian cancer shortly before Barbara's accident this story has the background story of a fund raising event for ovarian cancer and two of the characters are dealing with it. This does not make the story morbid however as it is so well worked into the plot. The fund raiser, The Bead Tea Charity Event takes place in the Old Camden Manse, an 8,000 square foot of restored Southern splendor where the main character Kitzi Camden and her mother live. The house is often used for events. The house is controlled by a board of Camden family members and when Kitzi's cousin threatens to take over the Manse and put them out, Kitzi is determined not to let this happen. The cousin's business partner is then found murdered and dumped into a dumpster on the property on the first night of the event. This opens up the story to greedy shenanigans as Kitzi and her friend Beth start to ask questions and to investigate.
Second book in what was supposed to be a series, this was a highly readable story with a great plot and some great characters. Sad to say Barbara Burnett Smith died in an car accident. The book was unfinished and Karen MacInerney was chosen to finish it. Because Barbara's sister died of ovarian cancer shortly before Barbara's accident this story has the background story of a fund raising event for ovarian cancer and two of the characters are dealing with it. This does not make the story morbid however as it is so well worked into the plot. The fund raiser, The Bead Tea Charity Event takes place in the Old Camden Manse, an 8,000 square foot of restored Southern splendor where the main character Kitzi Camden and her mother live. The house is often used for events. The house is controlled by a board of Camden family members and when Kitzi's cousin threatens to take over the Manse and put them out, Kitzi is determined not to let this happen. The cousin's business partner is then found murdered and dumped into a dumpster on the property on the first night of the event. This opens up the story to greedy shenanigans as Kitzi and her friend Beth start to ask questions and to investigate.
August 23, 2021
Not too much
I enjoyed the mystery, the little bit of romance and the whole Texas location thing. I have also had a friend survivor of this cancer. She was a young mother of 3 at the time. We were all very scared of what could happen but she was one of the lucky ones. She now has seen her children grow up, marry and has 6 beautiful grandchildren!
I enjoyed the mystery, the little bit of romance and the whole Texas location thing. I have also had a friend survivor of this cancer. She was a young mother of 3 at the time. We were all very scared of what could happen but she was one of the lucky ones. She now has seen her children grow up, marry and has 6 beautiful grandchildren!
February 1, 2021
Beads and mystery, how could I resist? The beads, actually, were kinda peripheral, but I rather liked spunky Ms. Kitzi.
May 1, 2021
Really enjoyable!! I liked all the characters and the many suspects too! I do wish there were more but everything felt tied up by the end!
December 20, 2024
Clever twist on the cozies. Cute craft at the end. I liked the description of the event and the displays.
September 6, 2025
Loved it.
August 16, 2015
This is an amazing story with some really serious parts. The underlying theme is the fight to find a cure for ovarian cancer. Kitzi Camden, the protagonist, is hosting a tea to benefit the fight. In the meantime, her cousin Houston is threatening to kick her out of the Manse, the lovely home where Kitzi and her mother live. Houston's business appears to be hitting some rocky spots while his new associate, Andrew, is bringing in lots of new investors. Then Andrew turns up dead in a dumpster, and there is no lack of suspects. Clever concept, fast paced action, and, as in the previous book of the series, there's plenty of beading. Before this book was published, Barbara Burnett Smith died in a tragic accident, and the final work was done by Karen MacInerney, who did a magnificent job! Sad that there are no more episodes to look for, but Karen tied up all the loose ends in a very satisfactory conclusion.
April 13, 2016
While the whole beading thing is not of interest to me, I know there are many “beaders.” However, Kitzi Camden and her friends are delightful. As Ann Richards (former Governor of Texas) says, “She’s smart, funny, and shoots from the mouth.” Kitzi is the daughter of a formidable Texas political family and is retired Texas Senator herself. While she is hosting a large conference and tea beading event for charity, she finds herself embroiled in a family fight to save her family manse from being sold. The manse was built by her grandfather, a Governor of Texas, and is owned by a family corporation. Of course, a murder during the event doesn’t help matters. Kitzi and her friends decide to set things right. A fun read.
October 13, 2007
I enjoyed this book. I make jewelry so the bead part was of interest to me. There was a pattern at the end of the book too for cell phone jewelry. There was alot of reference to ovarian cancer in this book. The author had someone in here family who succumbed to this horrible disease. This book was a light read. I would recommend this to someone who likes light mysteries.
September 11, 2007
Barbara Burnett Smith was killed in a traffic accident last year--a tremendous loss. This was the first of her books I've read, and I'm looking for everything else I can. It's sharp and witty and a good mystery, too.
April 28, 2010
it's a mystery set in Austin, Texas about a beader. I thought that Kathy Reichs had nailed down some of my favorite things, and then I found this book. I hope it doesn't suck as much as I think it might.
March 28, 2013
Many years ago, I read all the books by Barbara Burnett Smith and enjoyed them as she always had strong and smart heroines. Somehow I missed this title. The mystery is decent in this one and the characters are fun. It's not a great book, but enjoyable.
March 24, 2015
got halfway through and a character made a classic villain mistake of telling how the murder occurred before the police released the info.
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June 7, 2011yuck!
November 21, 2011
Very fun book centered at a bead tea to raise money for ovarian cancer.
June 25, 2012
ok, heavy on the cancer angle. Small mystery, cute
August 18, 2012
Very entertaining and delivered a message about ovarian cancer as well.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews