Death In Heels (The Dublin Drag Mysteries Book One) by Kitty Murphy

 

Death in Heels by Kitty Murphy.

Published 1st January 2023 by Thomas and Mercer.

From the cover of the book:

When Fi went to support her best friend’s drag debut, she didn’t imagine a killer would be going to watch it too. And they’re waiting for their grand finale…

Fi McKinnery is full of nerves as the gorgeous Mae B (aka her best friend Robyn) takes to the stage for her debut at drag club TRASH, but Mae B is dazzling…that is until local queen Eve lampoons her performance and ruins the show. So when Eve turns up dead later that night, face down in the gutter of a rain-soaked Dublin street, the timing seems awfully suspicious…

The police are quick to rule Eve’s death an accident, but Fi is convinced it was foul play. When her ‘Hagatha Christie’ amateur sleuthing backfires, it drives a wedge between Fi and Robyn. But when another friend is targeted in a hit-and-run, she’s determined to get this twisted killer caught, no matter what the consequences.

Even as the rest of the gang start to distance themselves, Fi is certain that they’re all in terrible danger. Something dark is lurking beneath the feathers, glitter and sequins of Dublin’s drag scene. And it’s not just the sticky floor and cracked mirrors. Someone is targeting the queens. When another member of the group is gunned down, it’s clear the danger is coming ever closer. Can Fi stop the killer before any more of her friends are hurt?

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The night has finally come for Fi's best friend Robyn to make their debut on the stage as their drag queen alter-ego Mae B, and she is there front of house at Dublin's drag club Trash to support her through an epic performance.

But the night ends with a sour note, when bitchy rival drag queen Eve upstages Mae B with a mocking rendition of her set, and has to be dragged from the stage. To make matters even more complicated, Eve then turns up dead in the alley behind Trash. The police are sure Eve's death is an accident, but Fi is certain there is more to it, especially since everyone at Trash had a motive to want Eve out of the way.

Fi is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened that night, even if it means alienating her Trash family by delving into their secrets. Someone is out to get Fi's drag queen friends, but as violence targets more members of the little group, she is not sure if it is a stranger or one of their inner circle. In her 'Hagatha' Christie guise she cannot rest until the culprit is brought to justice - even if it means putting herself in danger in the process.

I was sure that this book was going to be lots of fun (how could a whodunit set around the drag scene of Dublin fail to be anything but?), and, it was absolutely full to the brim with all the drama and passion that I hoped for!

Kitty Murphy immerses you completely in the drag scene of Dublin, taking you on and off the stage to bring alive all the glory of the performances, and the complex relationships that exist between the Trash family members, and their friends and blood family - using this as a rich backdrop for a very entertaining tale.

Shy, fleece-loving Fi drives the story as the unexpected sleuth, contrasting beautifully with a cast made up of vivid showbiz types. She comes out of her shell as the story progresses through thrills, spills, and emotional turmoil to an exciting climax on the streets of Dublin. I loved that she has her own journey to make alongside solving the twisty murder mystery, with a lovely little romantic thread of her own too. And, if you ever wanted a fascinating look beneath the glamour of the drag scene then you are in for a treat!

At its heart, this is a cosy murder mystery, but once the dramatic beginning hooks you in, it soon reveals itself to be so much more. There is layer upon layer of really interesting exploration of the dynamics between characters whose vulnerabilities are exposed over the course of the story. For the most part, the brash exteriors crack to offer a glimpse of the insecurities that lie within when the Trash family is targeted, taking you through a whole range of emotions. Murphy injects a lot of real world grittiness into the story beneath all the feathers and sequins in the menacing form of prejudice and hatred of those in the LGBTQ+ community, but there is a tonne of wry humour in the telling, and it is love that shines through in the end.  

This is the first part in a new mystery series, the Dublin Drag Mysteries, and having taken the Trash family into my heart, I cannot wait for them to reunite for book two.

Death in Heels is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to FMcM Associates for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting neto be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Kitty lives with her husband, Roger, on the very westerly edge of Co. Clare, Ireland. She adores drag in all its forms and crime fiction in all its chilling splendour. 

Kitty is bi/queer. From a well-spent youth divided equally between the library and the LGBTQ+ scene, it was only a matter of time until both worlds collided in a flurry of fictional sequins.