As far as kickoffs for a new cozy mystery series can go, this one scores super high marks! Begin with a drag queen, working tirelessly at clubs just to get by. Give her a mentor, and one who drops dead at the hand of someone else. Surround this queen with great friends, pesky rivals, a great cast of suspects, and just enough dramatic flair that you can understand why a lot of people would want the victim dead. Misty Divine is a heroine you want to root for, as much a figurehead for the modern day drag queen as she is quite the crafty little detective. Author Holly Stars could dial up the humor even more in future installments of the series, because of the glimmers of it here really make the cozy mystery even more engaging. But I loved seeing a positive, wholly enjoyable read with a crime solving drag queen at the center. This is a great launching pad to (hopefully) many more Misty Divine mysteries.

Rating: 5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for access to this e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
From the first page to the last, this book held my attention firmly in it's clawed grasp. First off, I need to state that as an LGBTQ+ person, the representation throughout this book made my heart swell. I loved the mystery and suspense throughout the book, it had me eager to keep reading and find out the who dunnit of it all, and I was not disappointed! And even being a part of the queer community myself, I learned a lot more about drag from this book, which I'm so thankful for. And I loved learning all the side characters and how their little found family works. I am definitely going to be reading the rest of the books in this series, and can't wait to see what's in store for Misty next!

Being someone who has been to a couple drag shows, I was instantly transported to Lady’s Bar in SoHo, London. Misty Divine, our main character makes her way to the stage for the end of the night applause. She notices that her drag mother, Lady Lady is not acting her usual self and is acting in a hurry to leave. She also observes that she seems very uncomfortable in the dress she is wearing, as she is not wearing her usual dress but something that appears to be vintage. While everyone is starting the process of de-dragging, Misty Divine decides to go check on Lady Lady to see why she was acting strangely and if she is alright. She heads to her dressing room, and finds her laying on the floor dead with what looks like a box of poisoned chocolates. From that moment on, we as readers are sent on a wild ride as we find out the dress was stolen by the infamous Kensington Catburglar, and was worn by Judy Garland. Where did the dress come from? Why was Lady Lady wearing it? Is Lady Lady the Catburglar? Who would want to kill Lady Lady, and why? One thing is for sure, Misty Divine is going to find out and everyone is a suspect.

The character development of Misty Divine was great. We learn that by day, they are Joe, a hotel accountant but they feel stronger as a person when they are Misty Divine. Misty Divine is more bold with her actions and determined to figure out what just happened with the sometimes hesitant but always supportive boyfriend, Miles. There are sketchy scenarios that have you worried for Misty, and a true mystery of who really did it. I thought I had it all figured out but a few twist caught me by surprise.

This would be a great book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, and is also a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It was absolutely fun to read, and the ending leaves us with a new character interaction with what I hope will be another mystery for us to solve with Misty in the future.

This is more than a murder mystery. The cast of characters are perfectly imperfect and the details pull you into the drama! The story follows a drag queen as they attempt to find their drag mother's killer. It takes you into the subculture and brushes on some adversities. The mystery draws you in, but the depth of the story keeps you there!

Misty Divine had finished their performance and went backstage to find Lady Lady. Lady Lady was their drag mother, their mentor, and the one who had encouraged Misty to try singing on the stage. It had been a big leap for Misty, as in her daily life as Joe Brown, they were too scared to quit their job at a hotel, even after appearing as Misty often and becoming a popular performer.

Lady Lady was the co-owner of the club and host of the nightly drag show, and when Misty had gone to look for her, they found Lady Lady dead on the floor of her dressing room. Misty called the police and thought back through the night to try to think if they’d noticed anything different about Lady Lady. She had been wearing a dress that was unusual for her. Usually, Lady Lady had worn a handmade gown, but that night she’d been in a vintage gown. Misty had noticed but hadn’t thought anything of it until her mentor had died eating a poisoned chocolate.

Misty couldn’t imagine who would have anything against Lady Lady, but clearly someone did. And when they start poking around to try to figure out who might have killed her, they find themselves in the line of fire as well. The dress Lady Lady had been wearing was actually stolen, one of several pieces stolen by the Kensington Catburglar, and the police are focusing on finding the burglar. Misty is more concerned with finding the killer. But Misty’s amateur investigation puts them not just in the sights of the killer but under the microscope of the police as well. And when Misty is arrested for murder, they are stripped of all of Misty’s bravado and become Joe, afraid and alone in a cell.

But Misty still has friends, and their partner Miles, and an attorney they were smart enough to hire, so hey can still fight. They can still prove their innocence. They can still catch a murderer. And they can make sure that Lady Lady’s death is avenged.

Murder in the Dressing Room is a cozy mystery set in the world of London’s drag, with all the glamour and attitude that entails. Author Holly Stars is a drag queen, comedian, and writer in London, so she can describe the community from the inside. She brings compassion and understanding to this story, which I think highlights the challenges Joe faces in his daily life verses the confidence that comes out as Misty.

I am big fan of cozy mysteries with an unusual twist, and Murder in the Dressing Room embodies that. It’s creative and clever and invites readers into a universe that most of us do not usually get a chance to see. Misty Divine is a strong character with a natural curiosity and a determination to find answers, so they are the perfect character to go after a killer, and I was all in every step of the way. I hope that there are more mysteries coming with Misty Divine, because I will be wanting to head back to this universe again in the future.

Egalleys for Murder in the Dressing Room were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Is it right that a mystery be so much fun?

I loved the character of Joe - quiet, shy, introverted, but then they transform into Misty, who is loud, confident, extroverted… in most ways, the opposite of Joe. What a complex, & memorable amateur sleuth! & what a debut.

The mystery is well laid-out & has the expected twists & turns. A few reveals did catch me by surprise & overall it was a really well-written story, full of important lessons into character, prejudices, trust & judgement. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a heavy-handed morality book - but there are some important lessons learned along the way.

I’m really looking foward to (hopefully) a sequel so that we get to spend more time with Joe/Misty!

* Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with an ebook via Netgalley for review purposes.

ARC Review

Thank you to Holly Stars, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! It was intriguing and I was shocked by the ending! The writing was fun and funny! I will definitely be reading the next Misty Divine mystery!

I will be posting a review on Instagram in the next few days under @readsinhyperspeed

3.5⭐️

This was such a fun read. A drag murder mystery written by a drag queen? Yes please!

After Misty Devine finds her drag mother Lady Lady murdered in her dressing room and realizes that the lead investigator is a bigot who was more concerned about the stolen dress Lady Lady was wearing than her murder, she decides to take a crack at solving the murder herself.

Outside of drag Joe is an accountant for a hotel and therefore has zero investigative experience other than watching every episode of CSI and Criminal Minds. This lands them in some pretty crazy situations. I know that not everyone can be Sherlock Holmes and Joe’s bumbling was probably pretty accurate but I felt myself wishing they’d listen to their boyfriend Miles a little bit more. Miles was a calming voice of reason to Joe’s impulsiveness and Misty’s bold confidence in their ability to solve this case.

The book started off a little slow but really picked up and by the end I couldn’t read or fast enough trying to see if my guesses about the murdered were right. There were definitely some unexpected twists and turns. Things have been set up nicely for a second book and I can’t wait for more details.

✨ARC Review✨

How freaking good was this?! Very.

I love a good murder mystery and Holly Stars serves it up in this story of a celebrity drag queen murdered in her dressing room.

Misty Divine, an up-and-coming drag performer, goes to her drag mother’s dressing room and finds Lady Lady dead, froth spilling from her mouth.

Of course, the police come, but the primary detective can’t even get anyone’s pronouns right (nor does he want to), so what’s Misty to do but solve this thing herself?

Misty and her sweet, level-headed boyfriend, Miles, begin the path to solve the murder and end up with a whole lot more than they bargained for.

This was such a good mystery, but more than that, it was a wonderful story about coming into your own and living out loud.

Totally recommend this if you’re into mysteries.

I was given this eARC via #netgalley and @berkleypub. All thoughts are mine alone.

#books #contemporarymystery #murdermystery #murderinthedressingroom #hollystars #bookreview #bookrecs #bookstagram

I really enjoyed everything about this book. I absolutely loved Misty and the lengths that she went to solve the murder of Lady Lady. As I was reading I couldn't wait to see what happened next and I found myself flying through this book! I was constantly guessing on who the killer could be and I was surprised when I found out who did it! I definitely can't wait to see what comes next for Misty Devine! If you're looking for a fun new mystery book this one's for you!

I LOVED this book!! Misty is so empowering and you can really see how that helps Joe to grow. Miles was the most supportive partner and I loved when he started really getting into the sleuthing. Suspects, everywhere! Can’t wait for the next in this series.

Joe Brown is a mild-mannered milquetoast of a hotel accountant by day, but at night they transform themselves into the fabulous drag queen Misty Divine. When Misty’s beloved drag mother Lady Lady is found dead in her dressing room after eating a poisoned chocolate (and wearing a stolen gown that once belonged to the iconic Judy Garland!), Misty and her fellow drag performers quickly become the police’s prime suspects. Frustrated by the police’s institutional bias, Misty is determined solve the crime herself in order to clear her name and find justice for Lady Lady.

A cozy mystery that takes place in the drag scene? Yes please! Author Holly Stars, a drag queen herself, does a great job of setting a glittering scene for the reader, complete with sequins, spangles, wigs, and makeup. I loved reading about Joe’s process to physically transform themselves into Misty, complete with meticulous eyebrow artistry, but what I really loved was how Joe transformed from a shrinking violet into strutting self-confidence when they became Misty. The mystery aspect of the book is a little light, mainly consisting of Misty traipsing around town asking questions of potential suspects. The door is left open for the series to continue, so I’m looking forward to where Misty’s amateur sleuthing will take her in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I was so intrigued by this book. I have to say I had no idea on the author was before reading. This was a lot of fun. I loved how transforming from Joe to Misty gave them courage. They wanted to push forward no matter what. It was almost as if they were finding out more about themselves as they were trying to find the murderer. I thought it was very inspiring for anyone reading. The story was entertaining, and the mystery had me enjoying the ride. I had no idea who it was even as they got closer to the reveal. I remember gasping because I did not see that coming. I hope there is a second book because I would love to see what could happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the book in exchange for a review.

thank you so much @berkleypub for the free ebook copy. #Berkleypartner #Berkley

CATEGORY IS: MURDER

MURDER IN THE DRESSING ROOM is a quirky, slightly campy, queer mystery following joe as they take time off their day job to solve the murder of the infamous drag queen lady lady. when joe’s not sure they’re the right person for the job, misty divine is ready to save the day.

i enjoyed seeing misty and joe as distinct characters and personalities, and it was lovely to see joe gaining some of misty’s confidence by the end!

i loved all of the nods to criminal minds, and was happy to read an MC who is just as obsessed with matthew gray gubler as i am.

this book came with gossip and drama, but has an overall darker tone to it. there were definitely some over the top moments, but not nearly as much as i expected.

one of my favorite parts about mysteries is theorizing about whodunnit, and i found that the story dragged (pun intended) for me in the middle because i didn’t know the characters well enough to formulate potential motives.

i was able to guess some of the reveals due to the tell-not-show style of writing (some were just blatantly obvious), but the final reveal?? i was GAGGED.

this would be better for less character-driven readers who just enjoy sitting back and being along for the ride because the story was primarily our MC strolling about town, asking people questions, jumping to conclusions, then asking more questions.

MURDER IN THE DRESSING ROOM paved the way for a sequel, and i would like to see growth in the author’s writing. a lot of scenes felt clunky and there wasn’t much of an overall flow to the story. i’d be open to trying book 2 on audio especially if the author narrates it again.

Netgalley Review ✨️

♡Mystery like no other♡

Drag queens mixed with mystery was so much better than I imagined! I'm stunned that this book is this author's debut novel. It's the perfect combination of comedy, mixed with murder/ mystery, and of course, some spunky drag queens😍🙌

Misty's mentor, Lady Lady, was found dead in her dressing room. Now, all eyes are on Misty as she's the one who had easy access to her room. Now, the hotel accountant Joe isn't stopping until the crime is solved.

This story had many different twists and formed such an enjoyable and unforgettable read! I'm so excited for the next book to come out🥰

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

(Review will be uploaded to Amazon upon release, as well as goodreads, bookbub if applicable, and Instagram.)

Thank you @BerkleyPub for the free book and thank you @PRHAudio for the #gifted listening copy of Murder in the Dressing Room! #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #MurderInTheDressingRoom #HollyStars
#AMistyDivineMystery

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

I had no clue what to expect with this one, but it was such a fun cozy mystery! Joe is a hotel accountant during the day, but at night, they become Misty Divine, a star on the London drag scene. When Misty’s drag mother is found dead next to a box of chocolates, Misty and the other performers are the prime suspects. Determined to find the truth, Misty must solve the crime before someone else turns up dead. This book was a fun and cozy mystery and one of my favorite parts was that it also incorporated education about drag culture throughout the book. With the way this book ends, it seems to be the start of a Misty Divine new cozy mystery series!

🎧I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author, Holly Stars. Stars was phenomenal! You can’t go wrong with print or audio, but if had to pick one, I would definitely pick the audiobook! There’s just something about listening to the author narrate their own book that just seems right. Holly Stars did an excellent job bringing this story to life and I loved my time listening. The narration deserves 5 stars!

Posted on Goodreads on January 13, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around January 13, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on January 14, 2025
**-will post on designated date

I was very excited to receive an ARC of Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars. I absolutely love drag performers, drag culture, and especially RuPaul‘s Drag Race. I was so surprised by how quickly the plot started in this book and was totally gripped by the story. I had no idea where this mystery was going, and was surprised until the very end. I do think, however, that there could’ve been some editing down some scenes that tended to go on longer than necessary, and I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of drag culture represented in the story.

Ultimately though this is a 4 1/2 out of five star read for me and I will definitely be recommending it to friends and other readers. Thank you so much to Berkeley and NetGalley for granting me an advanced reader copy of murder in the dressing room.

Fun, slightly campy British drag cozy murder mystery debut in a new series. The plot drags a bit in the middle and gets a bit repetitive in the inner thoughts of the narrator but picks up again with some twists at the end. Misty Divine investigates the murder of her drag mentor Lady Lady in her dressing room as the cast of her fellow drag performers are the top suspects. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 356 / Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: January 14, 2024

Joe is a mild mannered hotel accounts assistant by day but at night, Joe transforms into Misty Divine—a confident singing drag queen. As if that’s not exciting enough, Misty finds her drag mother and club boss Lady Lady dead in her dressing room. And she’s at the top of the suspect list, leaving her to find the killer and clear her name.

I thought this was a decent cozy mystery. The drag scene made for a fun setting with interesting characters. Semantically though, I already don’t like the use of “they” when used with individuals because it gets me thinking it’s referring to several people rather than just the one person. I personally think they should have come up with a new pronoun to go with singular verbs rather than plural verbs but that’s just me. And this book complicates it even more by referring to Misty as “she” and Joe as “they.” That took some getting used to.

Thank you, @BerkleyPub and @NetGalley for my gifted copies.

i was lucky enough to receive a widget of this book and, after multiple attempts, i’m afraid this may not be the book for me! it’s your quintessential murder mystery with a queer twist and i personally am not a crime/thriller/whodunit girly 🫣 but for those who interest that peaks, this is for you!! i will not provide a public review, as i did not complete this book!