“Dead bodies were heavy, but angry women got things done.” 

Dead bodies, beauty queens, and a whole lot of sass, what’s not to love? Dakota Green would rather wrestle a rabid raccoon than compete in a beauty pageant, but her late mum’s last wish has her swapping stable muck for sequins. Just when she’s getting the hang of fake smiles and sky-high heels, the pageant owner vanishes, leaving her Aunt DeeDee in the crosshairs. Now, Dakota’s got to uncover a decades-old mystery, dodge backstabbing contestants, and deal with a sheriff who’s as infuriating as he is handsome.

This one had me hooked, a little Miss Congeniality, a little Miss Marple, and a whole lot of drama. The mum’s letters gave it a touching thread, with a final bombshell that left me reeling. And the audiobook? Chef’s kiss. The narration was top-tier, with distinct voices, charming accents, and best of all, no awkward re-recordings to pull me out of the story.

Verdict: Murder, mayhem, and pageantry? Absolute winner!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.