Murder in the Dressing Room

*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! 
--- 
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… 
--- 
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

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

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 was and 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

highly acclaimed drag performer and star of RuPaul's Drag Race

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!

Sunday Times bestselling author of The Betrayal of Thomas True

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!

author of The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder

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!

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

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!

author of international bestseller Twenty-Seven Minutes

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

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?

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!

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!

Holly Stars is a drag stand-up comedian and writer. 
 
She is the writer of the smash-hit drag murder mystery, Death Drop, a play that has had three runs on the West End and a UK and Ireland tour. Holly has two seasons of her own television series, Holly Stars: Inspirational, and regularly performs in London and around the UK. Her solo shows include Justice For Holly, Nightmare Neighbour and Birthday. 
 
Murder In The Dressing Room was her debut novel. Missing In Soho is the highly anticipated second instalment in the Misty Divine Mystery series.

By day, shy accountant Joe hides behind their desk and plays by the rules. 
By night, Joe takes to the stage as Misty Divine, a star of the London drag scene. 
But when Misty's mentor, Lady Lady, is found dead in her dressing room, Misty finds herself under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. 
Because Lady Lady was murdered - and Misty and her fellow performers quickly become prime suspects. 
Heartbroken by the loss, and frustrated by the biases of the police, Joe is determined to uncover the killer in their midst. But what can they, a mere accountant, possibly do? 
This is a case for Misty Divine...

Holly Stars

Misty Divine has me holding my breath as if I were right there, investigating with her. She's the superhero the world needs right now and forever

The LGBT community has its own Warrior Queen! All hail Misty Divine! I devoured this wonderful novel...how brilliant to have a proud, unapologetic voice like Misty's to speak out for the LGBT community. Plus - it's a cracking good detective story; as salty and humorous and compelling as the very best drag acts...a rollercoaster read

bestselling author of The Retired Teacher Mysteries

Drama from the very first sentence...this mystery is a real action adventure and thrill ride from beginning to end

author of Murder at the Matinee, shortlisted for the CWA Whodunnit Dagger

Misty’s back and camper than ever in this dramatic, OTT mystery. Witty and fun, this is a story of getting justice and learning to trust your instincts. I need more!

Blood, gore, and the sound of sparkling high heels on Soho Square. More fun than you can shake a foundation stick at - I loved it! Misty Divine rules the fictional London drag scene with quick wit

A brilliantly funny mystery, with a sleuth as sharp as a stiletto heel...will keep you hooked until the final curtain!

Smart and sassy, a sequin-studded murder mystery...detective fiction has never been so glam!

Move over Miss Marple, there's a new amateur detective in town...cosy, clever and camp, with a truly unique heroine to cheer for

Entertaining, touching and a lot of fun

As the owner of Lady’s Bar in the heart of Soho, no one knows the city – and its secrets – better than drag queen Misty Divine. 
 
So when private detective Sylvester Green arrives at the club one night, it’s no surprise that he needs Misty’s help. A young photographer has vanished without a trace. Last known location? Soho. 
 
Who better to help the detective follow this missing man’s trail, than the Queen of Soho herself? 
 
But no sooner has one mystery landed, when another takes Misty by surprise. 
 
Because the next day, Sylvester is back. The difference? Yesterday, he was alive. Today, it’s his dead body on her doorstep. 
 
With danger at her door, Misty must take Sylvester’s investigation into her own hands. Can she solve the case, and find the missing man? Or will the next murder to solve be her own…

Holly Stars

Praise for Missing in Soho

Misty Divine has me holding my breath as if I were right there, investigating with her. She's the superhero the world needs right now and forever

The LGBT community has its own Warrior Queen! All hail Misty Divine! I devoured this wonderful novel...how brilliant to have a proud, unapologetic voice like Misty's to speak out for the LGBT community. Plus - it ...

Drama from the very first sentence...this mystery is a real action adventure and thrill ride from beginning to end

Misty Divine has me holding my breath as if I were right there, investigating with her. She's the superhero the world needs right now and forever

The LGBT community has its own Warrior Queen! All hail Misty Divine! I devoured this wonderful novel...how brilliant to have a proud, unapologetic voice like Misty's to speak out for the LGBT community. Plus - it ...

Drama from the very first sentence...this mystery is a real action adventure and thrill ride from beginning to end

Misty Divine has me holding my breath as if I were right there, investigating with her. She's the superhero the world needs right now and forever

The LGBT community has its own Warrior Queen! All hail Misty Divine! I devoured this wonderful novel...how brilliant to have a proud, unapologetic voice like Misty's to speak out for the LGBT community. Plus - it ...

Drama from the very first sentence...this mystery is a real action adventure and thrill ride from beginning to end

Books by Holly Stars

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter