Book: THE HEIST
Character: Juli Butler
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
I grew up in New Hope, Connecticut. Small-town normal with a dash of… complicated. My dad co-owned and worked at Main Street Motors garage until he left town when I was in high school. My mom owned JB Antiques. Between the two, I grew up learning how to use power tools, put air in my tires, and honing my unique ability to tell the difference between a valuable heirloom and junk disguised as “rustic charm.” My childhood smelled like motor oil and pies cooling on the windowsill. Overall, love was never in short supply. Answers sometimes were. I grew up wanting to see the world…craving adventure. I sure did find that in Boston.
What was your greatest talent?
I have a knack for spotting what doesn’t belong—whether it’s a suspicious detail, a lie wrapped in a smile, or a missing piece in a puzzle. I blame it on too many years restoring antiques and breathing exhaust fumes. My brain just… connects dots. Even when I wish it wouldn’t.
Significant other?
Ha. That’s a loaded question. Let’s just say the relationship Gods have a sense of humor. I’ve traded country boy for city sophistication. At the moment? Things are… complicated. (Isn’t it always?)
Biggest challenge in relationships?
Trust. Not the basic kind – I trust people to do exactly what human beings do: disappoint me at the worst time. I mean the deep trust, the kind where you let someone see the parts of you that aren’t polished. I’m not great at that. Working on it, though.
Where do you live?
Boston, Massachusetts. A gorgeous city on the water. Picture tall skyscrapers, a busy harbor and history everywhere. I love the hustle and bustle. It’s where I’ve met my three best friends.
Do you have any enemies?
I’d love to say no, but recent events involving a certain art heist have made me reconsider my optimism. I’m learning that enemies aren’t always the ones who shout at you—sometimes they’re the ones who smile too much.
What do you do for a living?
I’m the newly appointed Director at Gallery 02116, owned by my boyfriend, David vonHoffster. I’m planning gallery events and he’s introducing me to all his contacts. Before that, I worked for my friend, Olliver, at his catering business – which is how David and I met. Have I mentioned how much I love Boston?
Greatest disappointment?
Realizing that you can give someone your loyalty and still have them walk away when it matters most. That, and how often people underestimate me. Boy, do I hate that.
Greatest source of joy?
A perfect latte pour, organic cooking and creating my own recipes. People don’t realize clean ingredients matter. Oh, and I love unwinding and spending time with my Boston besties. Last minute plans are always on the menu!
What do you do for fun?
Baking, hiking, getting lost in the city. And apparently, stumbling into trouble – though I wouldn’t exactly call that fun. More like a chronic condition.
What is your greatest personal failing?
I hold on too tightly to the past. Including but not limited to mistakes, grief, and promises that were broken. Sometimes I live in my memories more than my present. I think that’s called escapism. I’m a work in progress, what can I say?
What keeps you awake at night?
The fear that I made the wrong choices – the new job, the people I trusted, the path I took, leaving home. And lately? Wondering whether a certain someone is going to drag me back into danger.
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
Trying to keep the truth from unraveling everything. When you’re caught between protecting someone and protecting yourself, every move feels like the wrong one.
Is there something you need or want that you don’t have?
Clarity. Answers. A sense that the ground under my feet isn’t going to shift again. And maybe—just maybe—a place where I feel fully seen.
Why don’t you have it? What’s in the way?
Because life doesn’t hand out answers on demand. Because people lie. Because some secrets are buried deep, and digging them up comes with consequences. And because I’m still learning how to let myself want more.
THE HEIST by Barbara Witek
A Juli Butler Mystery Short Story
Before the first mystery in New Hope… there was Boston.
Julianna Butler has it all: a promising career, a whirlwind romance, and the keys to Boston’s elite art scene. When her boyfriend and gallery owner David VonHoffster promotes her to director and sweeps her away on a glamorous business trip, she believes her future is finally falling into place.
But beneath the champagne toasts and glittering parties, Juli senses shadows lurking. A new associate raises red flags. Friends whisper about David’s questionable ties. And when the gallery’s biggest event of the season spirals into something far more dangerous, Juli must face the truth: her instincts may be the only thing that can save her.
Secrets, lies, and a dangerous game of art and deception… The Heist reveals the choices that force Juli back to her hometown—and straight into the mysteries waiting in New Hope.
Romance | Mystery [ Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: November 25, 2025, e-Book, / ]
Buy THE HEIST: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Barbara Witek
Barbara lives in New York with her husband and two rambunctious black labs, Max and Marley. There’s never a dull moment in their world!
In the summer of 2021, Barbara discovered Captain Morgan Orange Cream and Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey—two separate drinks, mind you—and her mind was blown. She highly recommends both and gives them a 10/10!
When she’s not writing, Barbara is enjoying empty-nester life in her peaceful cul-de-sac. She loves cross-country skiing, skating, hiking, anything crafty, and especially competitive game nights with family and friends.
A firm believer in love at first sight and finding lost loves, Barbara brings that passion and belief into her writing, weaving heartfelt tales of romance and adventure.
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