This book was super cute ! I thought it would the queer murder mystery of my dreams (and some of that was fulfilled)

I felt like Joe became a little obsessive and some decisions were not the best but if I got murdered that’s the type of friend I would want to solve my murder as a reader however his character felt so one dimensional. I like how fierce Misty was supposed to be but I didn’t really FEEL that Misty was fierce- just told. We didn’t see them doing anything actually fierce and fun.

I also know that it was set in London but it didn’t really feel like it besides naming certain areas. I think it would’ve been nice for the setting to be set up more clearly. The timeline was also not too clear and left me a little confused.

I need a book two as I cannot wait to see Joe solve more mysteries.

This was a fantastic first book by Holly Stars. The mystery was emotional , the characters were memorable, and the writing was fun. Misty Divine is a great amateur detective and I loved getting a glimpse of the behind the scenes world of drag queens. This as a unique cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre.

A drag queen mystery starring drag queens and packed with LGBTQIA+ rep…and written BY A DRAG QUEEN? Say no more—I had to pick this one up immediately! 🌟

Big thanks to @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for this fabulous read and the free copy. 💖

While the pacing dragged a little and sometimes I had trouble getting into the writing, I absolutely loved the vibrant characters, the unique perspective shifts (even pronoun changes when characters were in/out of drag!), and the raw, unfiltered commentary on homophobia in the media and law enforcement.

I read most of it physically, but the audiobook—narrated by the author Holly Stars herself—was such a treat! For book 2, I’m 100% sticking to the audio. 🎧

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with found family vibes and a sassy twist, give this one a shot. It’s the perfect palate cleanser!

✨ You’ll love this if you enjoy:
✔️ Found family
✔️ Cozy mysteries
✔️ Drag culture
✔️ LGBTQIA+ rep
✔️ Own voices reads

🌟 My Rating:
🔹 Obsessed
🔹 Loved it
🔹 Really liked it
🔹 Liked it 👈✨
🔹 Meh
🔹 Not for me

I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and this one set at a Drag Club was just so much fun! I really enjoyed the cast of characters. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

What a fun ride from start to finish! I especially loved the drag scene setting, and it worked so well alongside a murder mystery!

The characters were written so well, and I was kept on my toes trying to discover which of these characters our main narrator could trust and who they couldn’t.

This was full of twists and turns in the best way, and I’m already itching for a sequel!

Thanks for this fun ARC that I think will lead me to finally watching Drag Race. How could you not pick this up based on the cover alone? As I'm not familiar with the drag scene it took me a minute to get used to the clear distinction between Joe -mild and kind of boring accountant and Misty Divine herself who is almost fearless and obviously glamorous. I loved the thought and the intent that went into becoming Misty. The mystery was twisty and I didn't figure it out too soon. This was a solid start for a series- some pacing things I am sure can speed up in the future- and I will be curious to see what Misty is up to next.

This book was so FUN!! Seriously—Murder in the Dressing Room is a sparkling, campy delight, full of big personalities, glittery drama, and a mystery that kept me guessing right up to the final reveal. It strikes that perfect tone where things can occasionally get serious, but at its heart, this is a fabulous romp through the glamorous (and cutthroat) world of drag.

The duality of Joe and his drag persona Misty is one of the highlights—Holly Stars does a fantastic job showing the layers beneath the sequins. There’s emotion, insecurity, and heart woven into the glitz, giving the story depth without ever losing its sass. The narrative dances between Joe’s grounded reality and Misty’s bold stage presence, and both voices shine.

The mystery itself? Genuinely tricky! I pride myself on catching clues, but this one had me stumped in the best way. Whether it was brilliantly written or I just missed all the signs (very possible), I was thrilled to be surprised at the end.

Now, if I’m being picky, the dialogue—especially between Joe and Miles—got a little repetitive at times, which slightly slowed the pacing. But honestly? That’s a minor quibble in a book that had me laughing out loud and flipping pages well past bedtime.

If you’re in the mood for a murder mystery with sass, sparkle, and a whole lot of heart, Murder in the Dressing Room absolutely delivers.

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