murder can be a drag

Misty Divine had finished their performance and went backstage to find Lady Lady. Lady Lady was their drag mother, their mentor, and the one who had encouraged Misty to try singing on the stage. It had been a big leap for Misty, as in her daily life as Joe Brown, they were too scared to quit their job at a hotel, even after appearing as Misty often and becoming a popular performer.

Lady Lady was the co-owner of the club and host of the nightly drag show, and when Misty had gone to look for her, they found Lady Lady dead on the floor of her dressing room. Misty called the police and thought back through the night to try to think if they’d noticed anything different about Lady Lady. She had been wearing a dress that was unusual for her. Usually, Lady Lady had worn a handmade gown, but that night she’d been in a vintage gown. Misty had noticed but hadn’t thought anything of it until her mentor had died eating a poisoned chocolate.

Misty couldn’t imagine who would have anything against Lady Lady, but clearly someone did. And when they start poking around to try to figure out who might have killed her, they find themselves in the line of fire as well. The dress Lady Lady had been wearing was actually stolen, one of several pieces stolen by the Kensington Catburglar, and the police are focusing on finding the burglar. Misty is more concerned with finding the killer. But Misty’s amateur investigation puts them not just in the sights of the killer but under the microscope of the police as well. And when Misty is arrested for murder, they are stripped of all of Misty’s bravado and become Joe, afraid and alone in a cell.

But Misty still has friends, and their partner Miles, and an attorney they were smart enough to hire, so hey can still fight. They can still prove their innocence. They can still catch a murderer. And they can make sure that Lady Lady’s death is avenged.

Murder in the Dressing Room is a cozy mystery set in the world of London’s drag, with all the glamour and attitude that entails. Author Holly Stars is a drag queen, comedian, and writer in London, so she can describe the community from the inside. She brings compassion and understanding to this story, which I think highlights the challenges Joe faces in his daily life verses the confidence that comes out as Misty.

I am big fan of cozy mysteries with an unusual twist, and Murder in the Dressing Room embodies that. It’s creative and clever and invites readers into a universe that most of us do not usually get a chance to see. Misty Divine is a strong character with a natural curiosity and a determination to find answers, so they are the perfect character to go after a killer, and I was all in every step of the way. I hope that there are more mysteries coming with Misty Divine, because I will be wanting to head back to this universe again in the future.

Egalleys for Murder in the Dressing Room were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.