When I was offered the opportunity to read Kitty Murphy’s cosy mystery Death in Heels, I have to say I jumped at the chance. The novel is due to be published early in 2023 and readers are in for a treat with this fabulous ‘whodunnit’.

Death in Heels is the first in the Dublin Drag Mysteries series. Set in Ireland’s drag queen community, it follows characters Mae B, Miss Merkin, Del, Thora and their friend Fi, who are all shocked by the apparent brutal murder of one of their own. When Fi stumbles across the body of not-so-well-liked queen Eve after leaving the TRASH nightclub, she is convinced Eve’s death is no accident. Is someone threatening her drag queen friends? If so, who might be next on the hit list? Fearing for Mae B, aka her best friend Robyn, and frustrated when her suspicions are dismissed by the guards, Fi has no choice but to channel her inner ‘Hagatha Christie’ to find out who is behind the murderous plot!

Murphy’s debut creates the perfect balance between serious plotline and glamorous, sequin-filled fun. All of the characters in Death in Heels are immensely likeable and readers won’t be able to resist being drawn into the adventures, and misadventures, of Dublin’s quirky drag ‘family’. This is commercial mystery writing at its very best.

Death in Heels will be published in January 2023 by Thomas and Mercer but is available to pre-order now. Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.