I don't knownif I've laughed out loud more at a book in recent memory. It was such a great cozy mystery because it balanced the murder and lighthearted investigation perfectly. I loved the close community that Joe is a part of and can't wait to see where the series goes.

A fun and campy cozy mystery with a unique setting, the first book in a new series. The author did a good job of describing Joe's nightly metamorphosis into Misty, sharing their thoughts in both incarnations. While Joe tends to stay in the background at their day job, alter-ego Misty is bold, confident and not easily intimidated. And I loved the descriptions of Misty's wardrobe! The story is a little slow moving and Joe/Misty is a little stiff as an amateur sleuth, so there is a lot of room for growth in future mysteries.

This was so FUN!!!!!!!! There were times where this book could get serious, but at its core it is a camp ol’ time with a bunch of wit and hilarity. This would be such a fantastic book club pick! The only thing I disliked about this book was it felt very repetitive at times, especially the conversations between Joe and Miles. This would have been a perfect five stars had it possibly gone through another batch of editing. I’m so glad that this is set up for a series and can’t wait for what’s next!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for the ARC!! It was my first ever ARC and an absolutely fantastic one at that!!

actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

murder in the dressing room is a quirky, campy mystery that blends drag culture, gossip, and a murder that’s anything but ordinary. the premise is fun — joe, a quiet, shy character by day, takes on the task of solving the murder of lady lady, a drag queen and mentor to joe’s drag persona, misty divine. while joe initially doubts their detective skills, misty steps in with confidence and charisma, and together they make for an interesting team, though one that still has some kinks to work out.

the best part of the book is definitely the characters — especially misty. i loved seeing joe gradually embrace some of misty’s confidence by the end. the contrast between joe’s quiet self and misty’s bold, larger-than-life personality was a great dynamic, and it really helped to flesh out both characters. the drag club setting was another highlight, and the diverse cast of queer characters brought a lot of life to the story.

the mystery itself was interesting, but the pacing definitely slowed down in the middle for me. part of the issue was that i didn’t feel like i knew the characters well enough to start guessing motives, so i was left kind of drifting through the middle sections. some of the reveals were pretty obvious, especially with the tell-not-show writing style, but the final twist still caught me off guard, which was a nice surprise.

i think this book would be great for readers who enjoy the ride of a cozy mystery without needing to get super invested in character depth. it’s light on the complexity of the characters, and while i wish we could’ve gotten to know them a little more, especially misty, the story is still fun and dramatic. there were a few moments where i felt like the dialogue could’ve had a bit more humor or wit, but overall, it’s a lively, entertaining read.

this first installment shows a lot of promise for future books in the series, though i do think the pacing and character development could improve. i’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next, especially with the teaser for the next mystery at the end. murder in the dressing room is a campy, charming start to what could be a fun series, and i’m looking forward to seeing how misty divine grows as a detective in future books.

thank you to berkley publishing group, holly stars and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Solid cozy mystery with a compelling main character, a unique setting, and a surprising twist. I really enjoyed Mitsy/Joe’s established relationship with Miles and the fact that he was an active part of the story. I would have liked to see a little more of the emotional fallout of Lady Lady’s death and maybe a touch more of the glam/drama of the drag scene itself. Hopefully in the next one!

This was a cute, cozy mystery! The stakes were pretty high, of course, with a murder, but additionally it had such an eclectic group of characters that added so much to the story. This one was so fun and such a different vibe than most cozy mysteries.

Another cozy mystery: the owner of a drag club is murdered in her own dressing room. Her protégé, Misty Devine (Joe by day), takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. It’s well-paced, and while some of the queens are a little one-dimensional, overall it’s an entertaining story.

Murder in the Dressing Room is a fun cozy mystery with a great new amateur sleuth.

Misty Devine is a drag queen who sings and performs at clubs around London. Her favorite place to perform is Lady's Bar, owned by Lady Lady and Mandy. When Lady Lady is found poisoned one night after a show, Misty feels compelled to investigate, and gets herself into a lot of trouble!

The main character spends part of her time in the book as Misty, and part as Joe, a non-binary person. I really enjoyed how the author showed their different sides through whether they were in drag or not. I also learned a little about drag and its importance in the queer world. Joe puts on their Misty persona to give themselves courage, but realizes in the end that they also have courage as themselves.

If you like fun mysteries, you'll enjoy this book. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

Joe/Misty Divine discovers the dead body of their friend & drag mother Lady Lady in their dressing room wearing a stolen Judy Garland dress. Misty becomes a prime suspect & they investigate to find the real killer. It did take me a while to connect with the story, but once I did I had a great time. I loved how they looked up to Matthew Gray Gubler from Criminal Minds & would wonder how they would solve the crime. Most cozy mysteries I've read have a murder that doesn't really affect the MC. This one felt a bit more emotional because Misty had a such a strong relationship with Lady Lady. Overall I had a good time reading this & will be looking forward to reading more.by the author.

Joe, known as Misty Devine when in drag, works hard balancing two part time gigs. They work for a local hotel keeping books and balancing figures during the day and they perform in the posh London Drag Scene as a regular for Lady Lady’s Bar at night. Lady Lady is Misty’s drag mentor and the person that has been most influential in her career. Lady Lady is also well known and respected within the drag community.

Insert a poisoned chocolate, a stolen dress, stolen jewelry, reports of a cat burglar, and a few other mysterious occurrences…say the murder of Lady Lady…and everyone is panicked! The police begin their investigation but are taking their sweet time to find any leads.

Something just doesn’t sit right with Misty, so she and her partner Miles set out to solve the Lady Lady’s murder. The clues lead them on a wild and dangerous journey. But, Misty is on a search for justice and is determined to discover what truly happened.

My thoughts:
Holly Stars really slays on Murder in the Dressing Room. Holly was able to beautifully weave culture, education, fun, humor, surprise, and cozy mystery all into one. I really applaud Holly for being able to educate new readers about drag culture and courtesy without making the information feel monotonous to readers already familiar with the culture. I really had a hard time putting this book down. I just had to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how of every event! I’m really hoping that this book will become number one in a series. Misty Devine’s character is delightful and quite frankly badass. I would love to see what happens now that Misty is the new hostess with the mostess.

An original plot set in the world of drag queens and their outsize personalities. The MC is a shy, accountant at his day job, but morphs into Misty Devine, a star in her own right in a night time revue. When murder strikes at the heart of this community, the police don't seem interested in finding out why. So Misty and her fellow queens take to the investigation as they prove to themselves and others that perceptions can be deceiving. A cozy mystery that has a community at it's core that we certainly hope to see again.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. It was very dofficult to follow from the 3rd person perspective AND the main character being non-binary. I have nothing against them being non-binary. It was just difficult to follow. Otherwise, what i did read of the story was interesting. I'm kind of sad I won't know who killed Lady Lady.

great mystery. exciting to read and from a fresh perspective. based on who the author is, i assumed it would be clever and funny. it was clever but wasn't really funny at all. despite that, I'm looking forward to more from this series

Fun, camp, and generally a good time, but with some room to grow on the mystery elements. I love that this read brings insight into the drag scene to a new audience. The characters feel realistic and true to what you'd expect from a crew of artists and performers. I especially enjoyed getting to see into Joe's own journey into their identity and the ways in which Joe and Misty coexist and embody different aspects of their personality.

While I had great fun with the characters and the general story, I did struggle with how some parts of the mystery unfolded. It sometimes felt like the author knew they wanted to get from Point A to Point B, but wasn't quite sure how to connect those dots, leaving the narrative feeling a bit clunky.

Cannot overstate my joy at seeing queerness and drag culture centered in a genre that tends to lack that representation. I'm so eager to see where Stars takes the series next.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for review.

Drag queens take center stage in Holly Stars’ Murder in the Dressing Room, a fun and fierce cozy mystery.

Joe is a hotel accountant who dreams of something bigger—and they find it as Misty Divine, an up-and-comer in the London drag scene. Misty’s a regular performer at Lady’s Bar, a drag haven owned and operated by the legendary Lady Lady. But when Misty discovers Lady Lady’s lifeless body in her dressing room, she and the other drag queens and kings who perform at the venue become suspects in the murder. To clear her name and find justice for Lady Lady, Misty decides to investigate the crime. She uncovers shocking secrets about Lady Lady, her bar and her fellow drag performers—and someone is willing to kill again to stop Misty from getting to the truth.

Stars’ humor shines in Murder in the Dressing Room, a funny, engaging mystery that makes full use of the dramatic world of drag. A drag queen herself, Stars does an exceptional job of showcasing the highs and lows experienced by members of the community: Joe is empowered by their drag persona and has found a strong support system and devoted boyfriend, but they also experience misgendering and discrimination by strangers and local law enforcement. Throughout the novel, Joe transforms into Misty and de-drags several times. Some situations, like those with their employer, call for Joe to respond; others require Misty’s brashness and wardrobe. Stars does a wonderful job showing how a drag performer can live their most authentic life by embracing all aspects of their identity.

The central mystery is more than it seems, involving a cat burglary, bribery, intimidation and a stolen dress once worn by Judy Garland. Fans of fierce looks and found family will devour this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars!

Keeping in the theme of drag queens after attending a Drag Queen Story Hour this past weekend, I was excited to be reading this cozy mystery set around the drag queen and king scene in London. This mystery did not disappoint. It was smart, at times funny, and well-plotted, with an endearing cast of characters. Joe is much more comfortable facing the world as Misty, but even then, questioning her friends and trying to figure out who among them may be a murderer, is not easy. Misty cannot imagine any of her friends could be a killer. I adored Miles, the supporting partner, who tries to temper Joe's occasional impulsive decisions and never fails to be there for them. The glamour and sparkle of drag queen life is just as present in Murder in the Dressing Room as the offstage struggles the characters face in their daily lives. Although a cozy mystery, I appreciated that the author included a glimpse at the discrimination LGBTQ+ face, in drag or not, whether it be from a insensitive detective or an uber driver. This was such an entertaining and twisty mystery novel. I look forward to seeing what Holly Stars has instore for Misty next.

When drag queen Misty discovers the body of her drag mother, Lady Lady, in her dressing room, she's distraught. Lady Lady was her mentor and supporter, and the owner of the club in which she performs. But the lead detective seems to be more interested in the dress Lady Lady was wearing and solving a potential robbery than finding out who killed her--not to mention that he seems to have no problem misgendering Misty and everyone else at the club. So Misty, and her alter ego, Joe, set out to solve the crime themselves.

I love cozy mysteries and I adore this spin on it--I've certainly never read a mystery starring a drag queen before, and it's a fun, unique variant. I was a bit worried when I started the book, though, as the beginning is very much tell and not enough show; we get loads of exposition and backstory that could have been dolled out throughout the book or in a different manner. However, after the first few chapters, things really pick up and its a fun read! It's also a very clever crime, and I was giddy at how everything came together. Some things I predicted, but others I didn't, which is the best kind of ending! I hope we get to see more Misty!

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

I am a huge fan of Ru Paul’s drag race, which was one of the first pieces of media that introduced me into the beauty of drag, so when I saw this title in my inbox I had to read it. And it was so much fun! I switched from the e-copy to the audio and loved it so much. I found it so much fun, engaging, and entertaining. It also touches on identity, the beauty of true expression, and vulnerability. All things that drag really celebrates!

Synopsis:

“By day, Joe is a hotel accountant, invisibly sitting behind their desk and playing by the rules. By night, donned in sequins, they take to the stage as Misty Divine, a star of the London drag scene.But when Misty’s drag mother, Lady Lady, is found dead in her dressing room beside a poisoned box of chocolates, Misty and her fellow performers become the prime suspects.Heartbroken by the loss, and frustrated by the clear biases of the police, Misty must solve the crime before the culprit strikes again. Among the drop-dead gorgeous lurks a cutthroat killer, and Misty Divine won't rest until she finds out who it is.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Mystery—I really didn’t see the twist coming at the end! Which I feel like is the mark of a successful mystery.

The Characters—I loved getting to know all the characters. I was particularly moved by Miles and Joe’s relationship and the inner relationship between Misty and Joe. These are the books people need to read to understand people who are different from them.

The Audio Production—It was SO good! The author reads it and the personal connection is so special.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

The Pacing—I switched to the audio and found it much more engaging than the e-book reading experience!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

murder, death, transphobia, homophobia, grief

Murder in the Dressing Room is the first novel in the Misty Devine Mystery series, and I absolutely loved it. From start to finish, I literally couldn’t put this book down. I even bought the audiobook (narrated by the author!) so I could keep listening at work because it was such a phenomenal read.

We all know how much I love an author narrated book. Almost as much as I love a cozy mystery. And here my friends is a cozy mystery that centers around an amazing group of Drag Queens and Kings.  Our main character is Joe (a clever pun on ‘average Joe?!), who spends their day toiling away at a job they know isn’t their calling. But by night on the stage at Lady’s Bar, Average Joe is transformed into Misty Devine, a force to be reckoned with. 

When her best friend, mentor, boss, and Drag Mother, Lady Lady is found murdered, Misty finds herself one of the prime suspects. With her parter Miles at her side and input from her hunky Solicitor Colin, Misty sets out to clear her name once and for all.
The red herrings are expertly crafted, and almost every character seems like a viable suspect at some point. It’s got the bones classic whodunit a la Agatha Christie’s mysteries, but with a fabulous drag twist. The book is packed with witty one-liners that will make you laugh and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very last page.
Since I both read and listened to the audiobook, I’d also call this an audio review. I was thrilled to discover that the author, Holly Stars, narrated the book. The narration is fantastic, with subtle yet distinct adjustments when switching between Joe and Misty. It added so much personality to the story
Considering this is listed as the first book in the Misty Devine Mystery series and ends with a semi cliffhanger (a dire warning from a twice mentioned character) I think it’s safe to expect more adventures from Misty/Joe, Miles, and the rest of the crew. Personally, I’m hoping that hunky Colin gets more page time in the next book! I think he could be a great side kick for Misty. 

A huge thank you to the author, Holly Stars, the publisher, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I’m already looking forward to what’s next in the series!