An absolute blast—sharp, sassy, and suspenseful in all the right ways. Kristen Bird serves up small-town secrets, pageant drama, and twisty whodunits with the kind of flair that keeps you hooked from the very first tiara toss.

The main character? She’s a total knockout—brains, wit, grit, and a closet full of sequins. There’s humor tucked between every suspicious glance and dramatic reveal, but the story never loses its emotional pulse. Underneath the glitz and gossip is a story about reclaiming your power, even when the world keeps underestimating you.

It’s Miss Congeniality meets Only Murders in the Building, with a side of southern charm and a whole lot of “did that really just happen?” If you love fierce women, clever writing, and a little chaos with your crown, this book is your next obsession.

This was a nice little cozy murder mystery set against the fun backdrop of a beauty pageant. It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect - pretty predictable what's going to happen with a few minor surprises thrown in. It's also definitely a little cheesy but that's also to be expected. I thought parts of this dragged just a touch as I figured out what was going to happen more quickly than the characters and was waiting for them to catch up. I didn't love the main character honestly, she had a really annoying "not like other girls" energy from the start that I never like, though it did get slightly better as the book went on. I really liked the narrator of the audiobook. Not sure if her southern accent was real or put on but I thought it was super cute! Added a lot of charm to the story. Overall this was a fun and easy read that I think a lot of people would enjoy.

Thanks NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Kristen Bird’s A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem is an absolute delight—a cozy mystery that effortlessly blends suspense, humor, and small-town charm. Set in the quirky town of Aubergine, Virginia, the story follows Dakota Green, a stable hand who finds herself thrust into the world of beauty pageants after the passing of her mother. What starts as a simple, albeit reluctant, journey into the competitive world of pageants soon turns into a thrilling adventure filled with secrets, mysteries, and a decades-old disappearance.

Bird's writing is sharp, witty, and filled with warmth. Dakota is a wonderfully relatable protagonist—smart, resourceful, and refreshingly down-to-earth—as she navigates the bizarre world of beauty queens, all while uncovering long-buried truths. The suspense builds steadily, keeping you hooked as Dakota unravels clues and stumbles upon unexpected twists.

The true charm of this book lies in its characters and their interactions. Bird creates a colorful, engaging cast that feels alive, from the eccentric pageant contestants to the fiercely protective townspeople. Each page is infused with a sense of humor that lightens the darker moments, making it the perfect balance of mystery and fun.

For fans of cozy mysteries with a dash of Southern charm, A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem is an absolute gem. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with on a lazy afternoon—gripping, heartwarming, and impossible to put down.

This book was an absolute delight to read! It had everything I look for — engaging writing, memorable characters, and a story that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. The author’s voice is distinct and compelling, making it easy to get lost in the world they created, no matter the genre.

I'm incredibly grateful to the publisher for the early copy. It was such a joy to read this in advance, and I can’t wait for more readers to experience it. Highly recommend!

This was a fun cozy mystery with a bit of a different take than the usual. Dakota's mother left her a series of letters to read following her death, including one announcing that she has entered Dakota in the local beauty pagaent. Dakota is not thrilled to join but needs the prize money to save her family home.

When valuables and then people start going missing during the days of the beauty pageant, Dakota works to prove her aunt's innocence while trying to compete with the professional contestants.

There's nothing groundbreaking here - just a lighthearted cozy mystery with heart and humor. The narration was good as well.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeSelect for a free copy of #ABeautyQueensGuideToMurderAndMayhem by Kristen Bird. All opinions are my own.

Had me on edge till the last page. Such a fun and funny book. I loved every character even the not to nice ones. I can’t wait for the next book!Thanks NetGallery!

A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem by Kristen Bird is a delightfully quirky and suspenseful audiobook that blends humor, mystery, and a touch of Southern charm. The story follows Dakota Green, a stable hand in the small town of Aubergine, Virginia, who is reluctantly pulled into the world of beauty pageants to fulfill her late mother's final wish. Dakota, who would rather face the Hunger Games than compete in the annual pageant, finds herself trading her muck boots for Jimmy Choos and diving into a world filled with secrets, rivalries, and scandal.

The town of Aubergine, with its picturesque setting and darker-than-expected undercurrents, serves as the perfect backdrop for Dakota’s adventure. Armed with her wit and sarcasm, Dakota navigates the cutthroat beauty queen world, determined to save her family home. However, things take a dramatic turn when the pageant owner vanishes, and Dakota’s beloved Aunt DeeDee becomes the prime suspect. As Dakota investigates, she must deal with the tension between catty contestants, a handsome but exasperating new sheriff, and a decades-old mystery surrounding a missing beauty queen.

Bird’s writing is sharp, witty, and full of snappy dialogue, making the audiobook an engaging and entertaining listen. Dakota is a fantastic protagonist—relatable, sarcastic, and full of heart—and her growth throughout the story keeps the reader rooting for her. The mystery itself is twisty and fun, with plenty of red herrings and surprises to keep listeners hooked.

The narrator’s performance adds an extra layer of charm to the story, bringing the colorful characters of Aubergine to life with distinct voices and perfect pacing. A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem is a perfect pick for fans of cozy mysteries with a humorous twist, Southern flair, and a touch of suspense. It’s an entertaining ride from start to finish—full of laughs, drama, and just the right amount of intrigue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
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This was a fun, interesting listen. Perfect for fans of mysteries but also Miss Congeniality and Dumplin'.

A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem is a fun cozy mystery that delves into the world of pageantry. Blended with familial connections, dark family secrets, feminism, and financial class, this story will keep you intrigued and reading even if you aren’t typically a cozy mystery reader.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was performed well by a single narrator. I listened at 1.75x speed (1.75x is my normal audiobook listening speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for this advanced audiobook copy.

Kristen Bird’s *A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem* has an intriguing concept—mixing Southern charm, dark secrets, and a touch of true crime—but the execution doesn’t fully live up to its potential. While the book offers moments of wit and suspense, it struggles with pacing and depth, making for an uneven reading experience.

The strongest aspect of the novel is its setting and atmosphere. Bird captures the world of beauty queens and small-town intrigue well, infusing the story with Southern flair. The premise is engaging, blending mystery and social commentary in a way that feels fresh.

However, the pacing can be inconsistent. Some sections drag with too much exposition, while key plot moments feel rushed. The characters, though interesting, sometimes lack the depth needed to make their motivations and actions feel fully believable. There’s also a tendency to rely on telling rather than showing, which can make the narrative feel distant rather than immersive.

Despite these flaws, *A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem* still offers a light, entertaining mystery with a unique premise. Readers who enjoy quirky crime fiction with a Southern twist may find it worth a read, but those looking for a tightly plotted, deeply engaging thriller might be left wanting more. ★★★☆☆

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free audio version of this book in exchange for my review.

This is more of a COZY mystery than a true history, in my opinion, but it was a good read. Amateur sleuthing, silly hijinks and little romance made for an enjoyable read.

Readers of light, cozy mysteries will probably enjoy this one.

3 stars.

This was a pretty solid cozy mystery. Dakota was a likeable and compelling character, and I appreciated that while at first glance she was "not like other girls," she really showed a lot of introspection and ended up growing by the end. The friendships between her and the other contestants were heartwarming too.
I think the mystery plot had some room for growth in the way it was paced, but it did throw in a surprise that worked well.

A fun and easy read full of an endearing main character, hilarious and supportive side characters, an intriguing murder mystery, and the glamorous setting of a small-town pageant. This gave me major Miss Congeniality vibes. Readers who love a cozy mystery with an amateur sleuth will be a fan of this!

Only true desperation would drive Dakota Green to take part in a beauty pageant! But the combination of her family's financial woes and her mother's last wishes forces her into doing exactly that.

Dakota's beloved aunt, who has long been involved with organising the pageant is all too happy to teach her the ropes - even if her niece would actually rather be mucking out stables!

What Dakota doesn't expect is to stumble upon a situation involving a decade old murder mystery. But, armed with sarcasm and a keen intellect, this girl is up for most things - including navigating the murderous machinations beneath the surface of the world of the beauty queens in Aubergine, Virginia.

Strap in for a fun ride with this one - featuring an entertaining, witty and highly relatable protagonist in Dakota. It gets 3.5 stars with ease.

This one was so much fun! The narration was Fabulous! Really helped to immerse yourself of being in the south. The plot was intriguing, the twists were twisty and entertaining. I really enjoyed it.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I really enjoyed this book a lot. All the characters were fun and if you like southern charm type novels you will like this one a lot. It was a fun murder mystery and yes towards the end it was a bit cheesy in spots but all in all I would read from this author again. I really hope this continues into a series? Highly recommend. The narrator did a great job!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for this arc! I don’t think I’ve ever read a murder mystery in this setting before so it was definitely fun. The southern accents were the perfect touch for the audiobook.

The plot of this was great! The narration was almost enough to make me skip it completely. If there's a next installment, I will not be using the audio.

In this cozy mystery, we meet Dakota Green the stable hand who enters a beauty pageant. Dakota is trying to save her family home but ends up in the midst of a mystery when the pageant owner disappears. The suspicion falls on her aunt, though Dakota is sure her aunt is innocent. Our heroine is now not only trying to win the crown, but also solve a mystery and clear her aunt's name .

This book was a fun read , I definitely got Miss Congeniality vibes and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed that movie. Cozy mysteries generally aren't my favorite genre, but that is more a me thing.

I also recommend this book to anyone who wants a light hearted, sometimes funny , cute read. In the midst of the mystery, there is a little romantic interest that adds another layer of intrigue to the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my thoughts

Okay, A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem was the most delightful surprise of my reading life! I’m a die-hard thriller fan, but I don’t usually dive into the lighthearted mysteries. But that cover? It called to me like a pageant queen on a glitter-filled float! 🎀

Imagine Miss Congeniality meets Fried Green Tomatoes with a touch of Sookie Stackhouse sass, and you’ve got this book. Dakota is dealing with the loss of her mom, and guess what her posthumous request is? Sign her daughter up for the town’s infamous beauty pageant. Of course, Dakota’s like, “What?!” But as a former beauty queen’s niece (who also happens to have the looks), she’s got no choice but to face her biggest challenge yet. And of course, things go completely sideways when the pageant owner vanishes, a stolen crown reappears among her aunt’s possessions, and suddenly Dakota’s juggling solving mysteries and keeping her pageant dreams alive. 💅

Now, she’s got a to-do list:
1. Clear Aunt Deedee’s name.
2. Find Mr. Finch.
3. Make it to the top 3 of the pageant (???).
4. Win the crown… and survive?

With her Aunt Deedee in the forefront of her mind, Dakota bounces between ballrooms, mansions, gardens, and dark tunnels (don’t ask) in search of clues. Along the way, she makes unlikely—sometimes hilarious—allies, while trying to stay fabulous and earn those pageant points. 😂

This book was like a warm hug wrapped in sequins and mystery. It was the perfect break from all the dark thrillers I’ve been reading, and I couldn’t stop laughing through the twists and turns. If you want something fun, heartwarming, and full of surprises, A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem is your new best friend. 💖

Big thanks to NetGalley, Kristen Bird, and Storm Publishing for the ARC! Go grab it when it hits the shelves on Friday, Feb 28th! ✨

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