A review by readandwright
Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

4.0

Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own. 

I am a huge fan of Ru Paul’s drag race, which was one of the first pieces of media that introduced me into the beauty of drag, so when I saw this title in my inbox I had to read it. And it was so much fun! I switched from the e-copy to the audio and loved it so much. I found it so much fun, engaging, and entertaining. It also touches on identity, the beauty of true expression, and vulnerability. All things that drag really celebrates! 

“By day, Joe is a hotel accountant, invisibly sitting behind their desk and playing by the rules. By night, donned in sequins, they take to the stage as Misty Divine, a star of the London drag scene.

But when Misty’s drag mother, Lady Lady, is found dead in her dressing room beside a poisoned box of chocolates, Misty and her fellow performers become the prime suspects.

Heartbroken by the loss, and frustrated by the clear biases of the police, Misty must solve the crime before the culprit strikes again. Among the drop-dead gorgeous lurks a cutthroat killer, and Misty Divine won't rest until she finds out who it is.” —NetGalley

What I Liked: 

1. The Mystery—I really didn’t see the twist coming at the end! Which I feel like is the mark of a successful mystery. 
2. The Characters—I loved getting to know all the characters. I was particularly moved by Miles and Joe’s relationship and the inner relationship between Misty and Joe. These are the books people need to read to understand people who are different from them. 
3. The Audio Production—It was SO good! The author reads it and the personal connection is so special. 

What Didn’t Work For Me: 

1. The Pacing—I switched to the audio and found it much more engaging than the e-book reading experience! 

Character Authenticity: 4/5           Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings: 

murder, death, transphobia, homophobia, grief