Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple may be the G.O.A.T. of amateur detection, but she’s not the United Kingdom’s sole contribution to the cozy crime genre. Just recently drag comedian Holly Stars launched contemporary quozy series set within the drag queen culture in London. Murder in the Dressing Room is perfect for readers looking for something that just ever-so-slightly tweaks the traditions of this beloved sub-genre.
Murder in the Dressing Room introduces readers to Joe Brown (and their fabulous alter-ego Misty Divine). Joe is non-binary and works at a London hotel as an accountant by day, but when the night hits Misty Divine comes out to play. Misty is one of a handful of drag performers who take the stage at Lady Lady’s popular club. Lady Lady was responsible for giving Misty their big break—or as the drag culture would say, Lady Lady is Misty’s drag mother—so when Lady Lady dies backstage after a show, Misty is unable to resist doing some investigation of their own.
With a box of poisoned chocolates as the obvious murder method, both the police and Misty Divine herself quickly determine that the killer must be someone who had access to the backstage at the club—meaning one of the other performers or staff at the venue. Things get even more complicated when it is discovered that Lady Lady was wearing a vintage Judy Garland dress worth quite a bit of money—the very same dress that was recently reported as stolen.
Holly Stars does a nice job of orienting readers to the drag club and its workings. Each of the suspects is given a distinct personality and unfortunately for them, a motive for murder. In typical trope manner for the cozy genre, amateur detective Misty fumbles and finagles their way through an investigation—following logical clues until hitting a dead end, only to discover another important development that sends the hunt down a different path.
One of the many joys within Murder in the Dressing Room is witnessing how Joe’s shy demeanor vanishes when they put on a dress and transform into Misty Divine. It’s an effective way to express the power and freedom that drag represents for so many people. Outside of the mystery element, Murder in the Dressing Room also presents a very realistic and compelling queer relationship between Joe/Misty and Miles. Watching as they navigate the challenges of life together is a refreshing reminder that we are all more alike than we tend to admit.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and/or your only exposure to drag culture is RuPaul’s Drag Race, pick up this book today. Murder in the Dressing Room never takes itself too seriously, which translates into a fast and fun experience for the reader. While it is a first novel for Holly Stars, it’s hard to imagine a world where readers aren’t excited to hear about further exploits involving Misty and the gang.
BUY LINKS: Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars
