Murder in the Dressing Room
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:6th Feb '25
Should be back in stock very soon
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£8.99(9781405963800)

LIPSTICK, LIES, AND LETHAL SECRETS: A DAZZLING NEW CRIME THRILLER FOR FANS OF JANICE HALLETT AND TOM HINDLE
'What Miss Marple did with tweeds and knitting, Misty Divine does with rhinestones and stilettos.' - Jenny Bayliss
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Meet Misty Divine - your favourite new amateur sleuth!
Drag isn't just dramatic. It's deadly...
By day, shy hotel accountant Joe hides behind their desk and plays by the rules.
By night, Joe takes to the stage as Misty Divine, an upcoming star of the London drag scene.
But when Misty’s mentor, Lady Lady, is found dead in her dressing room, Misty finds herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Because Lady Lady was murdered – and as the only ones with access to her room, Misty and her fellow performers quickly become prime suspects.
Heartbroken by the loss, and frustrated by the inaction of the police, Joe is determined to uncover the killer in their midst.
But what can they, a mere hotel accountant, possibly do?
This is a case for Misty Divine…
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AUTHORS ARE GAGGED BY MURDER IN THE DRESSING ROOM:
'Smart and sassy, a sequin-studded murder mystery with blood on the runway. Detective fiction has never been so glam!' AJ WEST
'Misty Divine’s first show is a brilliantly funny mystery, with a sleuth as sharp as a stiletto heel' HANNAH HENDY
'Entertaining, touching, and a lot of fun, Murder in the Dressing Room was an absolute delight!' ASHLEY TATE
MURDER IN THE DRESSING ROOM IS THE TEA, AND READERS AGREE:
'A fabulous cosy murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and lots of humour in it too' 5***** reader review
'Oh my word this is a wonderful book' 5***** reader review
'This murder mystery is so different from what I’ve read that I loved every second of this book. I mean it' 5***** reader review
A gloriously fun murder mystery set in the fabulous world of drag queens and kings with red herrings and twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Misty Divine is the star of the show! -- C.L. Miller * author of The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder *
Smart and sassy, a sequin-studded murder mystery with blood on the runway. If RuPaul and Agatha Christie had a drag daughter, Holly Stars would murder her. Detective fiction has never been so glam! -- A.J. West * Sunday Times bestselling author of The Betrayal of Thomas True *
Misty Divine’s first show is a brilliantly funny mystery, with a sleuth as sharp as a stiletto heel. With an unforgettable cast of characters, and a mystery that sparkles as much as its star, Holly Stars has written a stunning debut that will keep you hooked until the final curtain! -- Hannah Hendy * author of The Dinner Lady Detectives series *
A glittering whodunnit debut. What Miss Marple did with tweeds and knitting, Misty Divine does with rhinestones and stilettos. A twisty, sparkly mystery with a huge heart -- Jenny Bayliss
The fabulous Holly Stars has burst onto the cosy murder mystery scene with the amateur sleuth I never knew I needed – drag queen Misty Divine is fierce, confident, and oh so glamorous. I loved this cast of characters and witnessing Misty come into her own to solve the murder of her beloved mentor Lady Lady. Entertaining, touching, and a lot of fun, Murder in the Dressing Room was an absolute delight! -- Ashley Tate * author of international bestseller Twenty-Seven Minutes *
I love Murder In The Dressing Room! What a fantastic read...I couldn’t put the book down until I found out exactly who the culprit wasand it was a shock to find out who did it! So sneaky! It was such a thrill to read and every single character came to life in my mind. Holly is such an imaginative writer and storyteller. I could see the places and faces in my mind and I was hooked from the first paragraph. Through reading every page I was one hundred percent invested and felt as if I were a drag queen detective myself. Call me JUJU MISTY BEE moving forward. I can’t wait for the next installment of this one of its kind story. The best drag show I’ve ever been to!!! I need more now -- Jujubee * highly acclaimed drag performer and star of Ru Paul's Drag Race *
Move over Miss Marple, there’s a new amateur detective in town, and she can solve murders in sequins and six inch heels. Cosy, clever and camp, with a truly unique heroine to cheer for, Murder in the Dressing Room is an absolute delight -- Freya Sampson * USA Today bestselling author of The Busybody Bookclub and Nosy Neighbours *
Murder in the Dressing Room provides all the comfort and entertainment of a traditional amateur sleuth story, but from a wholly new and absolutely enthralling perspective. A page-turning mystery, larger than life protagonist, and a behind the scenes look at the glamorous and gritty world of drag…what more could you want? -- Mia P. Manansala * author of the bestselling Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries series *
I loved it! A brilliantly plotted mystery and with characters I just wanted to hug, Murder in the Dressing Room is a huge-hearted novel and Misty Divine is a courageous, inspirational and loveable heroine. She must surely be 2025’s hottest new amateur sleuth! I got swept up in the glitter and the glamour, and rooted for Misty all the way as she became more and more determined to see justice for her friend and mentor. I loved Joe and Miles’ relationship and I am grateful to Holly for being so generous with her writing, for showing us the lives of characters we don’t often see depicted in fiction. What a warm, humorous, and hugely important book this is! I am sure this has been said before but I think we have a new queen of crime! -- Emily Critchley * author of One Puzzling Afternoon *
Murder In The Dressing Room is as bright and sassy as its cover. A witty, sparkly, cosy mystery that I lapped up with delight. I can't wait for more from Holly Stars! -- Tess Amy * author of The Confidence Games *
ISBN: 9780241683729
Dimensions: 242mm x 163mm x 34mm
Weight: 600g
384 pages