This was so much fun! I loved the setting of a small town in Virginia, at a beauty pageant with a reluctant participant fulfilling her dying mother’s wishes. The characters were plentiful but were all well-developed enough to tell them apart and had their own quirks in their own right; I was a big fan of the contestant who smushed words together to form interesting malapropisms. The mystery was interesting and I had no idea who the guilty party was until the very end. Looking forward to more in this series!

This was a fun cozy zany read. It was a quick little mystery full of fun characters. I’m looking forward to more from this author and in this series.

📚💄 Book Review: A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem 👑🔍

Pageants, murder, and a whole lot of Southern sass—what more could you want in a cozy mystery? 🌸🔪

🐎 Dakota Green is not the pageant type, but when her Aunt DeeDee convinces her to compete for prize money to save their family farm, she trades in her riding boots for high heels. Then the pageant owner goes missing, and Aunt DeeDee becomes the main suspect. Cue Dakota’s unexpected turn as an amateur sleuth—while still trying to survive the glitz and glam of small-town pageantry!

🎧 The audiobook is a treat with its perfect Southern accent from narrator Katie Beudert, and the mix of humor, mystery, and small-town charm makes this one a fast, fun read. If you love cozy mysteries with a unique twist, this series starter is worth checking out!

Thank you to Kristen Bird @kristenbirdwrites, Storm Publishing @stormbooks_co, and NetGalley @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars - Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC of the 'A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem' audiobook. Based on the description, I had high hopes for this one, expecting a blend of beauty queen humor and drama akin to Miss Congeniality. I also anticipated a tone similar to the Finley Donovan series, with sharp humor, satire, and romance. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver on those fronts. The story felt drawn out, focusing on two separate disappearances with reveals that lacked impact. Overall, it didn’t meet my expectations.

Review purely for the Audiobook: Unfortunately I was unable to finish the audiobook. As a neurodivergent person, a Southern American accent was not something I could manage sadly. However, from what I have manage to hear so far, I would definitely read a written copy!

Dakota Green has spent most of her life exposed to the pageant life her town is known for, but never in her wildest dreams did she expect to participate in the competition. When her mom dies and Dakota is left with insurmountable debt, she realizes that competing in the local pageant may be her only hope to keep her family home and return to college to complete her veterinarian degree. If that weren't pressure enough, a decades-old mystery of a former missing pageant winner resurfaces, along with a new murder and additional hijinks. With the help of her former pageant-winning aunt, best friend, and fellow contestants, will Dakota be able to go from stable assistant to beauty queen while also solving the crimes and mysteries of the Aubergine pageant?

This story was a slow burn and more cozy mystery than a thriller. It had Miss Congeniality vibes but with virtually no humor until toward the end of the book. The plot involves a lot of pageant backstory and slow event progression until nearly the 75% mark. It took me about that long to get invested in the characters and story, and once the plot twist was revealed, it was a good twist. That said, it was also pretty unrealistic and felt like the storyline of a telenovela; a fun story if you aren't bothered by plot holes galore. There is a small romantic component but the chemistry didn't feel authentic and it didn't go anywhere at the end. I did enjoy watching Dakota's character gain confidence and see her personality shine as she let herself make new friends and have fun along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio version of this book. The narrator had a pleasant voice and her character shifts were decent.

What a cute and fun novel! This book gave Miss Congeniality vibes, as Dakota Green enters a century-old pageant in her hometown to win enough money to repair her family's debts, but in the course of the pageant weekend, helps solve a murder that has taken place on the grounds. It was a fun mystery that had some twists that left me guessing till the very end, which was actually really fun.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dakota Green is tricked into entering a local beauty pageant by her recently-deceased mother. The pageant is not Dakota's scene, preferring to spend her days with horses. Once in the fold of hairspray and snide remarks, Dakota begins investigating odd happenings and deaths during the week to help save her Aunt. Along the way, hijinks, friendships, and love happen.

How can you not enjoy a cozy mystery with shades of Miss Congeniality? Well done, and I look forward to more Dakota Green adventures!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Listening Copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun and entertaining cozy murder mystery to listen to. Loved the narrator and the book is well written and funny. I had several moments that made me laugh out loud. Really enjoyable to listen to. I would love to read or listen to more books by this author. A murder mystery with some amusement and comedy thrown in. Fun characters as well.

I thought this was a super cute murder mystery. Heartfelt and super cozy. Comedic and lighthearted Finished it in a day.

Dakota Green, a vet school dropout, enters her first beauty pageant for her late mothers last wish. After finding out the beauty pageant world comes with its own secrets and a decades old missing queen case.
The pageant director goes missing and Dakota must help figure out who done it to clear the only family member she has left. All while trying to win.

I love Miss Congeniality and this is the perfect updated version of that movie. It was heartfelt, intriguing, funny at times and romantic. I’ve been in a huge reading slump and this was the first book in awhile that I was addicted to.

Dakota Green is more at home in a horse barn than on a pageant stage, but after learning that her mother’s dying wish was for her daughter to enter the local beauty pageant in Aubergine, Virginia, she reluctantly agrees to compete. After all, that prize money would solve a lot of Dakota’s problems. Sequins and sashes aren’t Dakota’s thing, but luckily she has her Aunt DeeDee to guide her every high-heeled step of the way. But things quickly start going awry; first, a pageant crown is stolen and then the pageant’s owner goes missing, and Aunt DeeDee is the prime suspect. Between present-day hijinks and a decades-old missing pageant winner, Dakota is determined to solve these mysteries, clear Aunt DeeDee’s name, and win the crown (and the prize money!).

This is such a fun cozy mystery! Dakota is endearing as a fish out of water on the pageant scene (imagine if Miss Congeniality was a horse girl), and I loved her pluckiness and amateur sleuthing. Of course I tried to unravel the mystery right alongside Dakota, and I was delighted that I was able to guess some twists but also be totally surprised by others. I love the focus on female relationships, from Dakota’s bestie Lacy, to her fellow contestants Jemma and Summer, and of course sassy Aunt DeeDee. There’s a nice hint of chemistry brewing between Dakota and Sheriff Charlie Strong, and I can’t wait to see where that goes in the next installment, An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds.

The audiobook is capably narrated by Katie Beudert, and her charming accent really brings Dakota to life (although I felt a bit lukewarm about the way other characters were narrated).

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Dreamscape Select for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem is a book with an amazing blend of sharp humor, deep emotions, and a gripping murder mystery. When Dakota Green reluctantly enters the annual beauty pageant her ailing mother had signed her up for, she finds herself entangled in more than just competition—there’s a mystery waiting to be solved, along with revelations about herself and the women around her.

From the very first page, I was hooked by the witty, relatable writing that brought the characters to life in such an engaging way. The tone was refreshingly down-to-earth, making it easy to connect with Dakota and her journey. This book fits squarely in the cozy mystery genre, yet it stands out with its well-crafted characters and its perfect balance of suspense and humor. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters and I can assure you that you will too.

Kristen Bird’s storytelling talent is undeniable—her skillful blend of intrigue, humor, and emotional depth is a winning combination, and I’ll certainly be seeking out more of her work.
4 Stars!
#BoldwoodBooks, #NetGalley, #ABeautyQueen'sGuidetoMurderandMayhem, #KristenBird

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5

A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem follows Dakota Green, a vet in training and horse lover, through her first beauty pageant and murder mystery (not a party!). Dakota’s mom signed her up for the pageant while on her death bed because she knew Dakota would need the money after paying for her mom’s cancer treatments.

This book was so fun! It has typical pageant drama plus a murder, kidnapping, a 20-year missing beauty queen, and a hot detective. It was a quick read and I will be telling everyone about this one.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing, and Kristen Bird for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

'' A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem '' is the first book to the cozy and humourous mystery series 'Dakota Green'.

The story is quite refreshing, without depriving the audience of the well-beloved elements that make a cozy mystery a hit. Also, the family bonds were so sweet, even though it was more of a bittersweet tone.

In addition, the mystery was interesting and nicely woven into the beauty queen pageant.

My only objection was that some things weren't as smoothly solved in the end, probably being left to be solved in the sequels.

Also, I didn't like the hint of romance, as it was too instant.

Finally, the audiobook production and narration were great and enhanced the enjoyment of the book.

I’ll admit, I didn’t quite know what to expect when I picked up A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem for review, but I was in for a delightful surprise. This book turned out to be an unexpected gem — the perfect, lighthearted read for a sunny day by the pool.

The story follows a beauty queen who finds herself in the middle of a series of mysterious events, combining humor, suspense, and plenty of surprises along the way. What I appreciated most was how effortlessly the story flowed — the pacing was perfect, keeping me engaged from start to finish without feeling rushed or dragged out. The twists and turns were unpredictable, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next.

The characters are both quirky and charming, each adding a unique element to the storyline which kept me turning pages eagerly.

In the end, this book was a fun, engaging escape, and I can see it being an ideal choice for a relaxing read in any setting, especially when you need something to unwind with. If you’re looking for a story that’s both thrilling and full of personality, A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem will not disappoint.

Highly recommended for anyone in the mood for a refreshing mix of suspense and humor!

I haven’t read a good mystery in a bit, and this one was so much fun! It was giving Miss Congeniality with the pageant setting. I loved the characters and their back stories. The narrator did a great job and her accent work really sold the characters.
I loved the twists, especially in the epilogue. I thought everything had been uncovered and that was really a jaw-dropping moment.

Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun mystery!


Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and Storm Publishing for the ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. of A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem* by Kristen Bird (audio version)

Dakota Green receives a letter her late mother wanting Dakota to participate in the Beauty Pageant of Aubergine, winning will help her pay of the debit she occurred during her moms medical treatments
The pageant has a tainted past, and when Dakota's Aunt Dee is arrested, and Dakprta is determined to solve the crime and prove Aunt Dee's innocence. very good plot twist. already can't wait to see book 2

This book was so fun! I loved all the characters and their different personalities. I loved the friendship building. Reminded me a lot of the Finley Donovan series

Title: A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayheim
Series: Dakota Green Book #1
Author: Kristen Bird
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Katie Beudert
Publisher: Dreamscape Select/Storm Publishing
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date: February 28, 2025
My Rating: 3.7 Stars
Pages: 327

Stable hand Dakota Green is not what you would call the beauty queen type. However, his mother recent died and her wish has been for Dakota to participate in the Beauty Pageant of Aubergine. Dakota misses her mother and is very much grieving her death and although hates the idea of the joining the pageant she does ~ well with the help of her Aunt Deedee.
Besides if she were to win the prize money it certainly would help to pay off some debts.
However, the pageant does have history and now Aunt Deedee is framed for stealing Miss 2001’s crown as well as for a murder ~Yikes!

Story is on the slow side but the narrator did a great job in keeping me interested with her performances of the characters.

I was sure this wasn’t a big mystery thriller – whodunit was a not shock but there is a surprise at the end!
Yep! This was an enjoyable read

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Select/Storm Publishing for this enjoyable audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 28, 2025.