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.

A cute and fun murder mystery (Can a murder be fun? Only in light and cozy mysteries!). It takes place during the days leading up to and the weekend of an annual beauty pageant. Dakota’s mother died 11 months ago, leaving her the farmhouse in debt, huge unpaid medical bills, and monthly letters, the most recent of which included a copy of a submitted entry form in Dakota’s name for the pageant - emceed by her aunt. Dakota enters the world of the pageant unwillingly, hoping to earn the money to save her and her aunt from bankruptcy. This southern cowgirl has been more at home with horses than people, but Dakota learns a lot about herself as she bonds with some of the pageant contestants and learns their motivations. Much of the humor comes from the ridiculous pageant situations as seen through Dakota’s eyes and the malapropisms spewed by one of Dakota’s elementary school friends, in from NYC, who turns out to be the daughter of the elderly pageant owner, Mr Finch. Finch and his wife also own the mansion where the annual event is held. And then… someone dies.
While parts of the mystery seemed obvious to me, I did not have all the answers and I enjoyed the reveal. The audiobook is well narrated with a bright southern accent that (thankfully) is not too heavy (but definitely heavier at some times than others). It’s a great way to spend some time enjoying a behind-the-scenes view of a pageant and to contemplate the strong bonds of familial love.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ABeautyQueensGuidetoMurderandMayhem for review purposes. Publication date: 28 Feb 2025.

A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem had such potential. Was there murder? Yes. Was there mayhem? No. None at all. Dakota is a small-town girl, an orphan with only her aunt to rely on. There was potential here from zero to Beauty Queen but the plot was so predictable. I'm not sure how I made it through this one. I listened on audio and the narrator was horrendous. The voices she used to for the aunt and the men was so hard to listen too. Maybe you'll have more fun with this one as a physical or ebook. Honestly, there are so many better books out there that this one can be a hard pass.

This just wasn’t a hit for me. The narrator was great, and the cover and description were promising, but it just never won me over.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem by Kristen Bird

Audiobook Review

Dakota Green would rather muck out stables than strut across a pageant stage, but her late mum’s final wish has her trading boots for ballgowns. With her family home on the line, Dakota begrudgingly enters Aubergine’s annual beauty pageant, only to stumble into a decades-old mystery of a missing beauty queen. When the current pageant owner disappears and suspicion falls on her Aunt DeeDee, Dakota finds herself navigating catty contestants, skeptical judges, and a maddeningly handsome sheriff—all while trying not to trip in her heels.

This audiobook was an absolute delight. The mix of humour, mystery, and small-town secrets made for an engaging listen, and the narration was top-tier. The voices were distinct, the accents added charm, and there were no awkward re-recordings to pull me out of the story. The letters from Dakota’s mum added a heartfelt touch, and that final twist? Did not see it coming.

Verdict: A sharp, witty mystery with plenty of charm, perfect for audiobook lovers.

Thank you NetGalley & Storm Publishing for this advance audio copy! ✨

A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem was a fun quick listen that anyone who likes Miss Congeniality or Clue would likely find worth the read.

I enjoyed our FMC, Dakota, who was pushed into her towns annual beauty pageant at the request of her deceased mother (despite despising everything that comes with pageants) just so she could have a shot at the winnings to pay off her debt and keep the home she’s living in. As the debt collectors are calling and she’s faced with a foreclosure notice Dakota knows this is her only chance.

As soon as she arrives we’re introduced to many characters with that southern charm (and judgements) and I’m right there with Dakota’s original thoughts about all the pageantry. Soon after the introductions we’re met with the big question of what happened to the mysterious disappearance of the 2001 pageant winner and a current murder of the pageant creator.

The rest of the book is full of forged female friendships as we see more of what’s behind some of these contestants and the big question of who Miss 2001 was & who the killer is.

It was intriguing enough to keep me listening, but did lose me during the last half of the book. I wish there would’ve been a little more to Sheriff Charlie Strong, he didn’t add anything memorable for me and the interactions between Strong and Dakota didn’t give me the chemistry I felt the author was trying to portray. The ending twist was a little predictable, but thankfully did have a surprising element.

If you’re looking for a cozy little mystery read, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you #NetGalley for the honor of receiving this ARC!!
This one wasn't for me. I felt like I was being held captive by someone that will not stop talking, even though I keep trying to walk away.
The story is cute, just way too wordy and drawn out. Maybe if it was half (or less) the length, it would have been more enjoyable.

If you're looking for a light-hearted, fun, who-done-it thriller, add this to your TBR. This cute story tests the boundaries of loyalty and friendship while uncovering decades old secrets to solve a beauty queen's disappearance. We quickly find out there's much more to the story, and those details lead to a murder.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing for this ARC audiobook for review. This was a super fun cozy as Dakota Green is still grieving the loss of her mother and must enter the world of southern beauty pageants in her hometown in hopes to win money to save her family home and possibly finish her veterinary degree. But Dakota may be a beauty, pageants are a world of their own, especially when the pageant owner mysteriously vanishes and Dakota’s aunt is main suspect. Dakota must compete without the help of her aunt while trying to figure out what’s really going on. This was a fun and fast teas and the first book in a new series. I look forward to move adventures with Dakota.