Murder in the Dressing Room is a campy, glittery, drag-filled cozy whodunnit by Holly Stars. Due out 14th Jan 2025 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 368 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a well written cozy series opener featuring a drag queen amateur sleuth whose alter ego Joe is a mild mannered accountant by day in a hotel chain in London. When Misty/Joe literally stumble over the body of their mentor and when the official powers-that-be are more interested in solving a spate of possibly linked high value burglaries than the murder, Misty decides to take matters into her own well-manicured hands.

The plotting and mystery construction are sound, and the characterization is over the top and full of flamboyant dramatic drag queens and a host of non-drag quirky characters who run the gamut from sympathetic to loathsome. One of the most impressive technical details is the author's mostly seamless use of nonbinary pronouns. For readers who *really* don't like the use of singular "they" (get over it, please), the constant use will likely grate. It is noticeable, but fades over time and doesn't distract much, but it is there.

The denouement and conclusion are well crafted, a tiny bit predictable, but overall fair-play and within the rules. It's a strong series opener and it will be nice to see how the characters and series develop.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library, home library, gift giving (to a drag friendly mystery fan), or a buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I want to say first that I’m a huge proponent of Own Voices, and I love that a drag queen wrote this story about drag queens. I loved the peek into drag culture and the found family aspect.

That being said, this book made me realize that I have a bit of a hard time reading cozy mysteries. They often suffer from some of the challenges this book had, the foremost being a single-minded focus on solving the central murder, with very little attention given to character development or creating a multi-layered story. This was a slow read for me, because it mainly consisted of Misty wandering around the city visiting various people to investigate. It was hard to keep the secondary characters straight because they weren’t developed enough. The solution to the murder didn’t make much sense because I didn’t know much about the culprit or why they would have committed their crimes.

The descriptions of makeup, hair, costumes, clubs, and entertainment are all fabulous here. I hope Misty’s next story has some more depth and nuance.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up!

This book was absolutely (Misty) divine! 😉

As cozy mysteries go, this was such a refreshing and exciting concept. I loved all the drag aspects and the deep dive into those details without bogging down the actual story which superb itself. Joe/Misty was an incredible main character and I was rooting so hard for them/her. The whole cast of characters was absolutely incredible; I only wish we would’ve gotten to know Lady Lady more - perhaps in more flashbacks or stories? I don’t know but that’s the only thing that had me wanting more.

I’m so excited this appear to be just the first in a series of mysteries and I definitely can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy of the ebook. Murder in the Dressing Room drops 1/14!

This was a fun and cozy murder mystery! Joe is a thirtysomething accountant by day, and a fiery drag queen by night. Misty Divine (Joe’s drag name), sequined to the nines, is mentored by an equally fierce drag queen named Lady Lady. When Lady Lady is found dead in her dressing room, Misty and her fellow drag queens are thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. Misty quickly realizes that the police are not taking the case seriously, so she embarks on her own quest to find the killer and bring them to justice.

Misty Divine is such an endearing character that you can’t help but love. I also really enjoyed the insight into the drag world. However, I still found it hard to get fully invested in the storyline. The writing style and long chapters felt repetitive and clunky, making it hard for me to get through. Certain points were reinforced too much, coming off as telling rather than showing.

I was able to guess some twists, but was surprised by others! The villain reveal felt somewhat anticlimactic, but that wasn’t a huge negative for me.

Overall, I enjoyed the very unique premise and take on cozy mystery. The underlying theme of institutional bias against the LGBTQ+ community is extremely important and needs to be talked about more. I applaud Holly Stars for bringing light to it, and celebrating the drag world with Misty Divine!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

Murder in the Dressing Room is a fantastic debut by comedian and drag artist Holly Stars. Joe, a reserved hotel accountant by day and drag artist Misty Divine by night, discovers his mentor, Lady Lady, poisoned in her dressing room. When the police seem more interested in her dress than her death, Misty takes matters into her own hands to uncover the killer.

This cozy mystery is full of twists, humor, and vibrant characters, with a great balance between the glitzy drag persona and the real person beneath it. I loved how the story explored the emotions behind the glamour. A brilliant debut—I’m excited for more from Holly Stars. 5 stars!

DNF at about 30% - was very slow to get to that point and I felt like nothing happened. I think it was funny and probably a good time, I just did not connect to it so why keep reading books if they aren’t for me?

This book was fun and I really enjoyed the comedic aspects of it. The mystery was interesting, but the story as a whole fell a bit flat for me. It’s interesting, because the story felt slow but I also think that there weren’t any particular things that I would’ve left out; everything that happened progressed the plot, but it just felt a bit lackluster. I had really high hopes for this book and was a bit let down by the lack of tension in a mystery like this. Joe, although likeable, was just doing anything (and all the wrong things) and it was hard for me to suspend disbelief being that the story was supposedly taking place in the “real world” but none of it seemed particularly believable.

I would recommend this as a fun, easy read to anyone who likes drag and a little mystery! I’m glad I read it and am happy to be able to support queer representation in books. I think this may be the first book I’ve read featuring a non-binary main character, which was so cool!

I had high hopes for this book and was super excited to read it. However, i ended up not feeling connected to the characters or the story, I may try this book again at a later date.

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

I don’t normally read straight-up mystery novels (like, ever), but when Berkley sent me the galley of this one, how could I resist that fabulous cover? (No, seriously, I’d frame it.)

The story follows Joe/Misty, a hotel accountant by day and a glamorous drag queen by night. When their drag mother, Lady Lady, is murdered in her dressing room, and the police seem more concerned about her stolen dress than her death, Misty takes matters into her own hands and decides to solve the mystery.

One thing I absolutely loved was how seamlessly the narrative transitions between Joe and Misty. Misty uses she/her pronouns, while Joe uses they/them. You might think that would be confusing, but it’s handled so well that it feels natural. Honestly, I hope readers will see how easy it is to respect someone’s pronouns and apply that understanding in real life.

What really struck me, though, was the portrayal of casual transphobia. It’s not always the loud, hateful kind we see in headlines; sometimes it’s quieter but just as insidious. Characters deliberately deadname others, which is awful, but there are also moments like an Uber driver clocking Misty’s appearance and speeding off. These scenes hit hard, and they’re a stark reminder that, even in a fun and entertaining mystery, reading is inherently political.

As for the mystery itself? I was completely stumped! I had no idea who the killer was, which made the reveal all the more satisfying. Whether that’s because the mystery was expertly written or because I’m terrible at guessing, I can’t say—but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a funny, thoughtful, and truly surprising mystery. I’ll definitely be reading more Misty novels as soon as they’re published!

Oh. My. Glam! 💅✨ Holly Stars has hit the fashion scene hard with Murder in the Dressing Room, and it’s a total must-read! This fabulous whodunit takes you behind the glitzy curtains of the fashion world, where the drama is just as fierce as the outfits!

Our sassy heroine is not just a stylist but also a wannabe detective, and when a shocking murder happens at a big fashion show, she’s on the case! 🎭💔 It’s like Clue meets The Devil Wears Prada, and I’m living for it!

With tons of laughs, juicy twists, and a cast of fabulous characters, this book keeps you guessing and giggling. So grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and dive into this stylish mystery! You won’t regret it! 💖📚✨

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my early copy!
Pub. Date: Jan. 14, 2025

This is a unique murder mystery that introduces us to Misty Divine, a drag queen with a secret life as a hotel accountant. The story starts when Misty’s mentors and drag mother Lady Lady is found dead in her dressing room, and Misty becomes determined to uncover the truth behind her death.
This book is full of humor, drama, and suspense if you in the mood for a cozy mystery thriller with lots of drama this is for you .Thank you netgalley

The moment I saw the cover for Murder in the Dressing Room, I knew I had to read it. This combines a murder mystery AND drag queens. Sold! This debut novel by Holly Star, was a fun cozy mystery. In it, the famous drag queen Lady Lady, is found dead at the local bar surrounded by other drag queens and kings. With the local PD being no help, and her friends starting to suspect each other; it’s up to Misty Divine, Lady’s drag daughter, to figure out what really happened. I loved the references to CSI and how that helped her figure out things, I feel like that’s something I would do lol The drag scene is described quite well and I could picture all this happening vividly. Misty is such a great character, she’s written well and there are some good comedic scenes. I loved seeing her background as a performer and her rise to now, I’d totally go watch her show! I found it important that the way drag queens or queer people as whole are treated quite realistic. This includes the good and the bad, I appreciated that Holly was not afraid to call things out. The mystery itself was pretty straightforward, everything happened in a linear format so I didn’t really feel any suspense or grand reveal (which is fine). I did find plots points to be repetitive, as Misty would recount a lot lot “what we know so far” several times. This was a pretty quick read but did feel like a few places were dragged out (pun intended). All that said, I had a good time reading this, and I would definitely tune in for more of Misty’s Mysteries (Hey Holly that should be the series name lol).

This will be available next week 1/14/25!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for providing me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Joe decided upon waking that they were going to go to Lady Lady’s will reading in drag. It’s what Lady Lady would have done, and what she would have wanted…

But what to wear? Would it be too much to go full grieving widow? Black veil and all?

“Yes, definitely too much,” said Miles. Joe opted for a black suit trouser with a shiny silver blazer. Smart, professional, but still drag. Respectful drag.” Respectful drag I can’t 🤣🤣.

This book is exactly how I would imagine the amateur sleuth murder investigation of a Drag Queen by one of their own to unfold. There is plenty of humor, a lot of focus on the importance of a proper wig and a good pair of shoes, and owning who you are under any circumstance. Even a murder investigation!

Narrated by Holly Stars, the Drag Queen author herself, this audiobook was so fun! It’s funny, light, and so entertaining.

Thank you @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook and to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a cozy mystery, and this one was such a fun, hilarious, campy ride. Joe, an accountant by day and fabulous drag star Misty Divine by night, is thrown into a dramatic murder mystery when they find Lady Lady, their beloved drag mother, dead in her dressing room.

This book was a delightful change of pace for me. It was cozy, campy, and packed with twists and turns that kept me entertained and guessing. It also had a tremendous amount of heart. I loved reading about how empowered Joe felt when they took on the role of Misty Divine. Misty is an absolute force to be reckoned with—no one is going to stand in Misty’s way of solving this case.

This book was brimming with sass and hilarious one-liners. I’m excited to see where the author takes us with the next installments. This was such an enjoyable, fun read. Solid four-star book! You should read this book if you love:

•Cozy Campy Vibes
•Mystery with an Amateur Detective
•Non-Binary Main Character
•Light Blub Moment
•LGBTQIA+ Mystery

For me, this mystery fell flat. While I can appreciate the queer and non-binary representation, the substance to this book was lacking. Mystery books have to have a true investigation element and the only investigation element of this book was really the main character asking people were they the murderer. About 60% into this book, I realized that the only thing that had happened was that our MC has asked a few people were they the killer. Also for people who don't consume LGBTQIA+ often, they switching of pronouns and names of the MC when they are and aren't outside of drag or depending if they are in drag but the MC BF was speaking to them may be confusing for a new reader of the genre. Lot of potential to improve upon for the next book in the series.

✨ Review ✨ Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book is full of Drag Queen joy (even the funeral in the book had a theme!), and it's stuffed with dresses and makeup and drag galore.

Drag queen Misty Divine turns detective after her drag mother Lady Lady is murdered. After she realizes it must be someone she knew that poisoned her, she decides to start investigating. From Lady Lady's club Lady's Bar to a dress store for the wealthy and seedy bars, Misty searches for the killer.

I don't read a lot of mysteries because they seem to venerate police or investigative processes (even often with citizen investigators), but I appreciated that this called into question the police motives and tactics throughout the book. I also appreciated the ways the author made drag inclusive (including queens, kings, and nonbinary folks throughout!).

Overall, it's a little repetitive in the reminders of clues and what we already know. It feels like Misty is constantly repeating back what she knows, and I wish the book had a little less handholding. But, I still thought this was so. much. fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: mystery
Setting: London
Reminds me of: Drag Race meets Agatha Christie
Pub Date: Jan 7, 2025

Keep an eye out for:
⭕️ sparkling tiny dresses, big hair, and very tall heels
⭕️ poisoned chocolate
⭕️ drag artistry
⭕️ a curious and stubborn queen

A cozy type of mystery set in the drag scene. It was cute, I love Misty and Miles. This type of book is just a little too cute and cozy for my taste. But it was written very well and all the characters were really great. I absolutely love the world of drag and I am so happy that this book exists.

3.5/5

Though I was really intrigued by the premise, it took me a little while to get into this one. I ended up switching to audio, which is read by the author, and enjoyed it in that format more. The plot line was unique for sure, and it was super fun to follow the drag queen scene in this way. The mystery itself was not super memorable; I found myself uninterested in guessing who might’ve done it, and semi-disengaged from the plot in general. I think some people will really like this one, but I tend to stay away from cozy, character driven mysteries like this. I enjoyed listening to it and I’m glad I read it, but I don’t think it will stand out in the long run.

I thought this was an interesting setting for a cozy mystery book, and as a fan of Ru Paul's drag race, I really wanted to love it. In the beginning, as we meet Misty Divine and the body of Lady Lady is found I was picturing the scene as the TV show skit done on the show and I think it increased my enjoyment of the story, at least for those first few chapters. While I did enjoy following Misty as they investigated the murder, at times the story was repetitive, and I just didn't click with the characters like I wanted.
Since this is the first book in the series I would be interested in reading the next one to see if I connect with the characters or plot better the second time around.

You know I love my drag queens, so of course, I jumped at a chance to read an advance copy of this book. I will admit that I picked this up expecting a campy, over-the-top drag queen murder mystery filled with sass and humor, and I was surprised to find a more grounded and serious tone. This tonal shift threw me at first, and I was a little disappointed. That said, this isn't a flaw - this is the book the author intended to write, and I can't expect them to cater to my expectations.

The story centers on Joe, a reserved, non-binary hotel accountant who transforms at night into Misty Divine, a rising star in London's drag scene. Joe's dual life takes a dark turn when their mentor and drag mother, the fabulous Lady Lady, is found poisoned in her dressing room. The police are quick to cast suspicion on Misty and her fellow performers, dismissing their concerns, pronouns, and identities with an unsettling air of disdain. Frustrated by the systemic lack of care from law enforcement, Misty decides to investigate the murder herself, channeling skills gleaned from her time spent binge-watching CSI with her husband, Miles.

The strongest aspect of this book lies in its characters, especially Misty Divine. The author - a drag queen herself - does a wonderful job capturing the nuance of a character like Joe, who is caught between their reserved daytime self and their bold, unapologetic drag persona. Misty's transformation from a performer grieving the loss of her mentor to an amateur sleuth was fun to watch. The novel's depiction of the LGBTQIA+ community's struggles with institutional bias adds an emotional weight to the story, highlighting how queer individuals are often dismissed or disrespected by those in positions of power. The author doesn't shy away from depicting these moments, which makes the novel feel authentic and resonant.

That said, while I appreciated the novel's themes and character work, the pacing left something to be desired. For a murder mystery, the plot felt straightforward and, at times, predictable. While there's nothing inherently wrong with a classic approach to the genre, I felt the narrative dragged (pardon the pun) in several places, slowing the momentum of the investigation. I also felt that the writing leaned heavily on exposition, often telling rather than showing, which sometimes made it difficult to feel fully immersed in the story.

Despite these critiques, there's plenty to admire here. The blend of the vibrant drag world with a murder mystery is a unique premise, and the story's exploration of identity, resilience, and systemic injustice elevates it beyond a simple whodunit. Misty Divine is a character who stays with you - her humor, insecurities, determination, and vulnerability shine even when the story struggles a bit.

While I didn't love it, I liked it well enough, and I'm curious to see what Holly Stars writes next. Misty Divine certainly has the potential to become a beloved amateur sleuth, and I'd love to see her in another case (which the ending alludes to) - perhaps one with a bit more camp and sparkle to match her vibrant stage presence. If you're looking for a mystery that offers more than just a clever plot - one that delves into the challenges of queer existence while celebrating the strength of chosen family - this book is worth your time.