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Murder in the Dressing Room

Holly Stars (author)

Paperback Published on: 28/08/2025

£9.99

25 reviews

Free UK delivery on orders over £25, otherwise £2.99

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In stock
Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

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Bookseller Reviews

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LOVE LOVE LOVE

I can not possibly sing this books praises any higher. A drag queen is murdered in a drag club with the main suspects all being drag queens??!! What isn'... READ MORE

Jessica

Extremely fun whodunit

While the writing was slightly clunky in places this was a well paced, fun mystery. I loved the relationships between the characters and Misty’s unhinged e... READ MORE

Amanda Maia

Glitters and Sequins, Motives and Murder!

Thank you, Penguin Random House/Penguin Michael Joseph, for the early proof copy of this book! Murder in the Dressing Room was everything I wanted and more... READ MORE

Bailey - Warrington

This book slays!

Fun, frolics and tomfoolery, full of drag queens, and glitter, and gay culture, this murder mystery is a camp, good time. I've been a fan of Holly Stars... READ MORE

Julie, Waterstones Braehead

Recommend for fans of murder mysteries

This is an excellent debut novel. However, it did feel like a debut. I loved the lgbtq+ representation, which is definitely something lacking in today’s p... READ MORE

ffion till

A unique twist on the beloved crime genre!

I'm not somebody who knows much about drag, so I went into this book with uncertain expectations, but they were soon blown out of the water! Murder in the ... READ MORE

Elle

A twisting tale of murder and drama (4.5)

This book is fabulous! The characters are loveable and intriguing to learn more about as the story evolves. I'm usually not a fan of murder mysteries but t... READ MORE

Carrie (Store 823)

A brilliant mystery and an excellent scene.

Misty Devine’s drag mother Lady Lady is done to death in her dressing room at the night club they owned. When Misty discovers the body she is prime suspect... READ MORE

Eilish from Rustington

Perfect for drag fans new to the crime genre

It's a drag queen murder mystery! What more do you need? The fact a book like this exists at all is phenomenal. The actual mystery itself is good, but it'... READ MORE

Ross at Glasgow Sauchiehall St

Synopsis

*A December 2025 RuPaul's Book Club Pick!*

‘With sequins shining and danger lurking backstage, this is a murder mystery where identity matters as much as motive’RuPaul

'I love Murder In The Dressing Room! What a fantastic read...I couldn’t put the book down. The best drag show I've ever been to!' Drag Race's Jujubee
LIPSTICK, LIES, AND LETHAL SECRETS - A DAZZLING MYSTERY WHERE A DRAG QUEEN TAKES CENTRE STAGE TO SOLVE A MURDER...

Meet Misty Divine - your new favourite amateur sleuth!

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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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CRITICS ARE GAGGED BY MURDER IN THE DRESSING ROOM:

'A gloriously fun murder mystery...with red herrings and twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Misty Divine is the star of the show!' C.L. MILLER

'Smart and sassy, a sequin-studded murder mystery with blood on the runway...detective fiction has never been so glam!' A.J. WEST

'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

Publisher information

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781405963800
Number of pages: 384
Dimensions: 198 x 128 x 24 mm
Weight: 273g
Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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Lotsa laughs

entertainers, entertainment-scene, LGBTQIA, murder, amateur-sleuth, investigations, friendship, friends, drag-queens, shyness, family-by-choice, self-ident... READ MORE

Janice Tangen

Wonderful

I read Murder in the Dressing Room over our weekend away and it was simply wonderful. If you like the sound of a magical mixture of drag queens/kings, a sp... READ MORE

Jane Armstrong

A brilliant debut with a lot of heart

Another brilliant debut author, whose journey I am excited to follow. ‘Murder in the Dressing Room’ is perfect for anyone; who like me loves the art of ... READ MORE

Emily Francis

An enjoyable read

Netgalley Review The writing was light and engaging. As I mentioned above, my interest never waivered and I was keen to keep on reading to find out who ... READ MORE

Emily Pankhurst

Camp and murderous

Murder in the Dressing Room was a camp ride into the world of drag, and a classic murder mystery. I loved the character development of Misty, and particula... READ MORE

Jack Strange

Fabulous debut

Lady Lady is dead, and only Misty Divine is up for the challenge of solving her murder! This was a fun read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and so... READ MORE

Lex Knowles

The twists will keep you guessing!

Follow drag queen turned amateur sleuth Misty Divine, as she investigates the poisoning of her drag mother mentor, Lady Lady. Drag queen by night, Misty... READ MORE

Leane

Good fun!

I really enjoyed this book and didn't work out the murderer until the reveal. It was a bit of a slow start (despite a death in the first few pages), but I ... READ MORE

Shaz Talbot

Not your ordinary murder mystery

I really enjoyed this book and all of the colourful characters. I love how Joe relies on Misty when they need some confidence. I also warmed to Miles and J... READ MORE

Samantha Ife

Book of the Year!

I wish I could read this book for the first time. The way holly writes is smooth like butter! I was hooked after the first chapter then proceeded to finish... READ MORE

Camsha Cavendra

Great read

Murder in the dressing room is a fabulous debut by Comedian and Drag artist Holly Stars. I confess I never heard of her and do not watch shows like Drag r... READ MORE

Michelle De Alwis

Four stars!

Murder In The Dressing Room is a sparkling mystery where drag queens aren’t just dramatic – they’re deadly. By day, Joe is a reserved hotel accountant, hid... READ MORE

The Secret Book Review

So good

By day Joe is a hotel accountant but at night he becomes the confident and vivacious Misty Divine, working the LOndon drag scene with her mentor and friend... READ MORE

Kerry Henderson

What a blooming joy! Can’t wait for the next one!

I both read this book, and as a neurodivergent person listened to the audio recording whilst reading the text, and what a JOY! Hearing the actual voice of ... READ MORE

Thomas Henderson-Griffiths

A great fun read with hidden depths.

A great fun read with hidden depths. I thoroughly enjoyed this roller coaster ride with Misty/Joe. It had just enough moments of glam for a novel penne... READ MORE

Francesca Connell

Murder in the Dressing Room

Bookseller Reviews

Synopsis

Publisher information

Customer Reviews

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