What do you think?
Rate this book
Drag Queen Detective #2
Divas, Death & Drag
A drag pageant where winning means not dying.
Maple Bay is hosting the Ms. Gay West Coast Pageant and Victor’s drag queen persona Raven Ronelle is the emcee and organizer. It’s a huge event for the town and everyone is excited. For someone, excitement means murder.
As the drag queens suffer multiple attempts on their life, Victor enlists the help of his best friend and his boyfriend, Sheriff Hottie, to sleuth out the truth.
As they place themselves in the crosshairs of the killer, they find that they’re not the only ones investigating. Unexpected help comes from drag queen reality star Ursula Moolay.
It’s a race against the clock to find out who wants the crown enough to commit murder.
Murder She Wrote… if Jessica Fletcher were a drag queen.
Maple Bay is hosting the Ms. Gay West Coast Pageant and Victor’s drag queen persona Raven Ronelle is the emcee and organizer. It’s a huge event for the town and everyone is excited. For someone, excitement means murder.
As the drag queens suffer multiple attempts on their life, Victor enlists the help of his best friend and his boyfriend, Sheriff Hottie, to sleuth out the truth.
As they place themselves in the crosshairs of the killer, they find that they’re not the only ones investigating. Unexpected help comes from drag queen reality star Ursula Moolay.
It’s a race against the clock to find out who wants the crown enough to commit murder.
Murder She Wrote… if Jessica Fletcher were a drag queen.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2021
41 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Shane K. Morton
65 books239 followersShane K Morton lives in California with his husband and their fur baby. His Novels include: The Point Pleasant Holiday Series, Bluegrass Boys Series, Moray University Collection- Adorkable, The Trouble With Off-Campus Housing, Private Waterloos and The Year of the Cock. Short stories: And We Call It Bella Notte, Ginger in the City and Get off of my Runway. Shane can usually be found at a film festival or performing in cabaret somewhere in a dark dive bar in LA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 10, 2022
3.5 rounded down. This is another good one. The drag pageant atmosphere came through and the mystery was good. It was kind of difficult to keep everyone's names straight (yes several people had several names) or the city they came from because there was a large cast of characters and some didn't get that much page time. But I guessed a bit of the mystery which is always a sign that the book works. When it comes the romance it was lacking for me. We barely see our two MCs together, we barely saw Harper at all for that matter. I'll continue with the series but I'm taking a break for now.
September 20, 2021
Words cannot express how much I enjoyed Divas, Death & Drag. It's a funny book with great characters, a gripping storyline, and a well-written mystery! I couldn't ask for more in a cozy mystery.
I love how Victor navigates his various identities and channels them to help him solve the mystery. Victor has two other personas: celebrity mystery author Vicki, and drag queen hostess Raven are all interesting characters. Each of these personas are very enjoyable to read about.
In general, I thought the mystery was well done. It's got great and believable suspects and it's an action-packed read. Gosh, does the drag pageant world seem cutthroat!
I also appreciated that this was a diverse read. It's got a large cast of LGBTQ+ characters and a bit of romance too! Sometimes, when there is romance in a cozy it sometimes distracts from the mystery and the larger plot, but I didn't think that was the case in this cozy.
Readers should know that this book contains foul language. I didn't think it was excessive, but I think readers who prefer very clean cozies may not like the language used.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
I love how Victor navigates his various identities and channels them to help him solve the mystery. Victor has two other personas: celebrity mystery author Vicki, and drag queen hostess Raven are all interesting characters. Each of these personas are very enjoyable to read about.
In general, I thought the mystery was well done. It's got great and believable suspects and it's an action-packed read. Gosh, does the drag pageant world seem cutthroat!
I also appreciated that this was a diverse read. It's got a large cast of LGBTQ+ characters and a bit of romance too! Sometimes, when there is romance in a cozy it sometimes distracts from the mystery and the larger plot, but I didn't think that was the case in this cozy.
Readers should know that this book contains foul language. I didn't think it was excessive, but I think readers who prefer very clean cozies may not like the language used.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
October 21, 2022
I adore this series! It just makes my heart happy. Listening to the audiobook got me through some difficult times. Next book is cued and read to go.
July 10, 2022
Book two the Drag Queen Detective series by Shane K Morton.
Victor Sommers is a drag queen living in the small northern California town of Maple Bay. Vic, now a retired hair stylist, still emcees the local bar's drag show as his drag alter ego Raven Ronelle and as such, the emcee and organizer of the Ms. Gay West Coast Pageant being hosted by the local drag bar. It's a lot of work for Vic and Cory, but everyone's excited about the event coming to their town and bar. That excitement takes a turn, however, when one of the queen's winds up dead. But it doesn't stop there. Attempts on the lives of others contestants take place -- seemingly hitting those who have a good chance at winning. But, the show must go on!
Sheriff Wolfe needs some one who can navigate the drag world and enlists the help of Vic's alter ego, mystery novelist Vicki Dean. But how can Vic assist the Sheriff as Vicki when he's hosting the pageant as Vic and emceeing the event as Raven? Vic turns to friend, fellow drag queen, and reality star Ursula Moolay. Together they run the pageant, investigate the murder, and work to keep Vic's other secret identity a secret.
This was another good mystery. Vic/Raven and Ursula travel outside of Maple Bay gathering information about contestants, the pageant management and organization, as well as the participants' sponsors. While the ending was satisfying, the real reason behind things was never really hinted at. There were red herrings and clues, and maybe I missed something, but while some pointed me to a who and part of a why, none seemed to lead to the overall why. There are still issues with editing, but nothing horrible, just things that make you stop to make sure you've read things correctly.
That being said, it was still a good read overall. Watching Vic maneuver between personas while trying to hold together a pageant and investigate a murder as Vic and as Vicki is just as intricate as weaving a mystery. WOW! Plus, we get immersed into the world of Drag pageants, albeit a small one. I wonder of Ursula Moolay will get her own cozy series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series (three more books, to date). I'm still loving the characters.
This book was not complimentary. I am reviewing it of my own free will because the book, or the experience of reading it, moved me to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own, biased only by my experience(s).
#DivasDeath&Drag; #DragQueenDetective; #ShaneKMorton; #CozyMystery
Victor Sommers is a drag queen living in the small northern California town of Maple Bay. Vic, now a retired hair stylist, still emcees the local bar's drag show as his drag alter ego Raven Ronelle and as such, the emcee and organizer of the Ms. Gay West Coast Pageant being hosted by the local drag bar. It's a lot of work for Vic and Cory, but everyone's excited about the event coming to their town and bar. That excitement takes a turn, however, when one of the queen's winds up dead. But it doesn't stop there. Attempts on the lives of others contestants take place -- seemingly hitting those who have a good chance at winning. But, the show must go on!
Sheriff Wolfe needs some one who can navigate the drag world and enlists the help of Vic's alter ego, mystery novelist Vicki Dean. But how can Vic assist the Sheriff as Vicki when he's hosting the pageant as Vic and emceeing the event as Raven? Vic turns to friend, fellow drag queen, and reality star Ursula Moolay. Together they run the pageant, investigate the murder, and work to keep Vic's other secret identity a secret.
This was another good mystery. Vic/Raven and Ursula travel outside of Maple Bay gathering information about contestants, the pageant management and organization, as well as the participants' sponsors. While the ending was satisfying, the real reason behind things was never really hinted at. There were red herrings and clues, and maybe I missed something, but while some pointed me to a who and part of a why, none seemed to lead to the overall why. There are still issues with editing, but nothing horrible, just things that make you stop to make sure you've read things correctly.
That being said, it was still a good read overall. Watching Vic maneuver between personas while trying to hold together a pageant and investigate a murder as Vic and as Vicki is just as intricate as weaving a mystery. WOW! Plus, we get immersed into the world of Drag pageants, albeit a small one. I wonder of Ursula Moolay will get her own cozy series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series (three more books, to date). I'm still loving the characters.
This book was not complimentary. I am reviewing it of my own free will because the book, or the experience of reading it, moved me to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own, biased only by my experience(s).
#DivasDeath&Drag; #DragQueenDetective; #ShaneKMorton; #CozyMystery
May 7, 2021
Amazing!
What a wild ride! I feel like I have gotten an in depth look into the life of drag queen beauty pageant. From the claws coming out, the name calling, big hair, bling, and the sisterhood. This book started off with a bang, well a stiletto, and never stopped. This was sit on the edge of your seat action with so many twists and turns. Raven and Ursula are amazing! I loved how they bantered back and forth. Cory is still super adorable and can't forget about Sheriff Hottie. I'm still chuckling at one of his lines. I laughed out loud so many times and gasped in suspense when I was blown away by what happened. Can't wait for the next one!
What a wild ride! I feel like I have gotten an in depth look into the life of drag queen beauty pageant. From the claws coming out, the name calling, big hair, bling, and the sisterhood. This book started off with a bang, well a stiletto, and never stopped. This was sit on the edge of your seat action with so many twists and turns. Raven and Ursula are amazing! I loved how they bantered back and forth. Cory is still super adorable and can't forget about Sheriff Hottie. I'm still chuckling at one of his lines. I laughed out loud so many times and gasped in suspense when I was blown away by what happened. Can't wait for the next one!
August 6, 2021
A fun cozy mystery. Victor is now a retired hairstylist, since becoming a famous mystery writer under a secret drag persona as Vicki Dean. But Victor’s also well known as drag queen Raven Ravonne, Emcee to a regional drag queen competition. Lo and behold, one of the queens is murdered, and attempts are being made on others. And Vicki Dean has been asked to help investigate. So now the craziness begins. Victor secretly swapping identities with every turn.
Ursula Moolay visits this book and becomes Victor’s main partner in the investigation. Which was fun, but I prefer Sheriff Hottie and Cory more in the fore front. And I loved that Cory now has a love interest!
Ursula Moolay visits this book and becomes Victor’s main partner in the investigation. Which was fun, but I prefer Sheriff Hottie and Cory more in the fore front. And I loved that Cory now has a love interest!
May 11, 2021
I agree with the other reviewers that this is a series that will only get better. I am already wanting the next book now. Victor/Raven/Vicki, along with Sheriff Hottie and Cole his best friend are embroiled in a new mystery. What a mystery it was too, a competing drag queen is murdered, and several others are injured. The team, along with infamous Ursula Moolay, solve the murders and assaults with a great ending. Defintely recommend.
May 8, 2021
So good
I love this series half the fun is keeping up all the different personas Vic Vicki and raven are the best love it
I love this series half the fun is keeping up all the different personas Vic Vicki and raven are the best love it
June 19, 2021
** 3.5 Stars **
November 18, 2021
4.25 stars
May 9, 2021
Amazing
This book was fabulous and not just because of the drag queens. If you want murder and mystery in drag you got it with this book. Many familiar faces and a few new ones. This has become a series I think I will love more and more as each new book releases.
This book was fabulous and not just because of the drag queens. If you want murder and mystery in drag you got it with this book. Many familiar faces and a few new ones. This has become a series I think I will love more and more as each new book releases.
July 12, 2021
Awesome story. I just love this series. Funny, snarky and oh so hilarious. I have already pre ordered the next book. Can't wait.
June 25, 2022
Update 23/6/22: DNF. Realised I didn't care a jot about the characters and everything they did annoyed me.
Changes from present to past tense in the space of a paragraph and it's exhausting.
Changes from present to past tense in the space of a paragraph and it's exhausting.
June 19, 2021
I am in love with Victor, Vickie and Raven! This is the second book in the series and it continues to delight and amaze me with the plot and characters. Victor is a former hair stylist, part-time drag queen, and full-time mystery write incognito! My hat is off to Shane for actually keeping each of these characters very distinct throughout the novel. You clearly get a sense of just which of them are speaking right now. I would never be able to juggle this in my own life without serious professional help.
The story is also just plain fun to read. If you have every watched RuPaul's Drag Race and wondered about the behind the wig drama, this series is for you. I learned so many details about the life of a drag queen and the processing that is necessary for a true transformation.
The supporting characters are just as much fun and very well defined. Shane added a new friend to this book, Ursula, who become a partner in crime to assist Victor along the way. This is exactly perfect since having Cody (her other best friend), wouldn't feel appropriate. Rounding out the team is Sheriff Hottie....just a perfect partner for Vicki!
This isn't a heavy serious book, but it made me laugh out loud several times. The plot is solid but not complex.
You can start with book one or just dive into book two. Book three was just released and it's on my list right now. Shane, please don't stop writing Victor's story!
The story is also just plain fun to read. If you have every watched RuPaul's Drag Race and wondered about the behind the wig drama, this series is for you. I learned so many details about the life of a drag queen and the processing that is necessary for a true transformation.
The supporting characters are just as much fun and very well defined. Shane added a new friend to this book, Ursula, who become a partner in crime to assist Victor along the way. This is exactly perfect since having Cody (her other best friend), wouldn't feel appropriate. Rounding out the team is Sheriff Hottie....just a perfect partner for Vicki!
This isn't a heavy serious book, but it made me laugh out loud several times. The plot is solid but not complex.
You can start with book one or just dive into book two. Book three was just released and it's on my list right now. Shane, please don't stop writing Victor's story!
May 31, 2021
I went hurtling from Book One . . . right into Book Two . . . because WHO would want to leave these great characters??? I sure didn't!
This time we find Vic, Cory, and Sheriff Hottie enmeshed in a drag beauty pageant. as if the backstabbing, name-calling, and trickery aren't enough, the contestants are dropping dead all around. And Vic is determined to get to the bottom of things.
Morton has done it again. There's a flair for the dramatic - well of course - but a well-honed sense of mystery too.
I love these characters, and it's clear to see Morton loves them too. I'm willing to bet he has a lot of fun as they tell him how the story unfolds; entertaining, intriguing, a mystery without a doubt, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading from start to finish. My only question now is: how do I wait for Book Three?
This time we find Vic, Cory, and Sheriff Hottie enmeshed in a drag beauty pageant. as if the backstabbing, name-calling, and trickery aren't enough, the contestants are dropping dead all around. And Vic is determined to get to the bottom of things.
Morton has done it again. There's a flair for the dramatic - well of course - but a well-honed sense of mystery too.
I love these characters, and it's clear to see Morton loves them too. I'm willing to bet he has a lot of fun as they tell him how the story unfolds; entertaining, intriguing, a mystery without a doubt, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading from start to finish. My only question now is: how do I wait for Book Three?
May 25, 2025
Jejku Drag są gorsze niż kobiety, normalnie wredne sucze :D Do samego końca nie byłam pewna kto za tym stoi, ale Viktor z pomocą Ursuli rozwiązał zagadkę. Kto by pomyślał, że konkurs Drag może być tak zabójczy dla niektórych. Na szczęście tylko jedna osoba poniosła śmierć, a inne wpadki to były tylko odwróceniem uwagi. Victor przeszedł samego siebie, jego zmiany wizerunku były nie tyle błyskawiczne ale i udane, ale gdyby nie Ursula pewnie by się nie udało :D Współczuję Harperowi, ma pelne ręce roboty z tą kobietą, ale gdyby nie ona pewnie by tak szybko nie złapali złoczyńcy. Vicky miała niezły pomysł, a oślizgły drań wpadl w jej łapy tym sposobem finał konkursu przeszedł bez zakłóceń i wygrała osoba która na to zasłużyła 😊 Przynajmniej Vicky ma pomysł na kolejna książke po tym co przeżyła.. małe miasteczko a ciągle coś tam się dzieje 😉 nie sposób tam się nudzić.
May 10, 2021
Drag queens, murder, sabotage and mayhem! What a wonderful follow up to the Drag Queen Detective series :) Victor/Vicki, Sheriff Hottie, and Cory are back for another adventure as drag queens descend on their small town for the upcoming Ms. Gay West Coast Pageant. A murderer is on the loose and someone is trying to sabotage the other contestants but don't worry! Victor/Vicki, Cory, and Sheriff Hottie are on it :) This was a deep-dive into the world of drag queen pageantry with the nails, sass, heels, and snark coming out in full force! Ursula made a surprise appearance and the banter with Raven (Victor/Vicki's drag queen alter ego) was snarky, sassy and hilarious. Another great addition to one of my favorite series of 2021 :) Can't wait for Drag Queen Book 3 to come out :)
May 15, 2021
Shane K. Morton's Drag Queen Detective series has been a pure joy to read. I finish each one with a smile on my face. In Divas, Death & Drag, a drag pageant has come to Maple Bay. When one of the contestants is murdered, Victor is called into service once again, as his mystery writer alter ego, Vicki Dean, to help the police solve the murder. What I love so much is Victor's relationship with his friends. Victor, Cory, and Ursula are a formidable team. And you can't forget Victor's boyfriend Harper, the sheriff, who always backs him up. I can feel the love Shane Morton has for these characters, and I can't wait to see more of them in book 3.
October 29, 2021
Enjoyed catching up with Vic/Raven/Vicki and sherrif hottie again
The competitive world of pageant drag queens is highlighted as one is murdered and a number are being frightened off.
The writing is easy to read, generally fun to read.
I had a perpetrator pick early but then it kind of was and wasn’t right - not sure I got the full motive for murder there, other than money so that left a question mark in my head (though it could have been me as I was having to read the end in short goes).
Looking forward to more
The competitive world of pageant drag queens is highlighted as one is murdered and a number are being frightened off.
The writing is easy to read, generally fun to read.
I had a perpetrator pick early but then it kind of was and wasn’t right - not sure I got the full motive for murder there, other than money so that left a question mark in my head (though it could have been me as I was having to read the end in short goes).
Looking forward to more
December 17, 2024
RuPaul fans, there's another game in town.
This is the second in the Drag Queen Detective series, and it ups the ante by being set during a drag pageant that's drawn some deadly attention.
Shane P. Morgan's detective, drag queen and author Vicki Dean, has a front row seat and an important role to play as murder attempts plague the pageant. As expected, Vicki is up to the challenges--and the personalities in the dressing room--that Morgan throws at her.
This book has all the fun, sass, clues and mystery you could ask for. And it can tide you over till the next Drag Race season begins
This is the second in the Drag Queen Detective series, and it ups the ante by being set during a drag pageant that's drawn some deadly attention.
Shane P. Morgan's detective, drag queen and author Vicki Dean, has a front row seat and an important role to play as murder attempts plague the pageant. As expected, Vicki is up to the challenges--and the personalities in the dressing room--that Morgan throws at her.
This book has all the fun, sass, clues and mystery you could ask for. And it can tide you over till the next Drag Race season begins
June 7, 2021
Fabulous!
I love a good mystery. Throw in drag queens, secret identities, and Sheriff Hottie, and you get an irresistible series. This book is no different as Victor and friends try to figure out who's killing off contestants in the drag queen pageant. This book is so good, I couldn't put it down. Shane Morton keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
I love a good mystery. Throw in drag queens, secret identities, and Sheriff Hottie, and you get an irresistible series. This book is no different as Victor and friends try to figure out who's killing off contestants in the drag queen pageant. This book is so good, I couldn't put it down. Shane Morton keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
May 8, 2022
Any yet another great tale for my Jessica Fletcher lovin' heart. While poor Victor and his many persona's are run off their feet for this one, it did not feel too frantic. With not only the help of course from Sheriff Hottie and our trusty sidekick Cory, we have the delightful addition of Ms. Ursula Moolay (which apparently I need to do some reading about...) our team figured it out in the end. Well done!
July 25, 2023
The sheer number of characters, several of whom had two names, made this story difficult to follow. It didn't help that there were several places where the wrong name was said to be speaking and even once where the hotel names were mixed up. Also, there was even more mean comments and name calling aimed at both well known acquaintances and supposedly good friends in this book than in the first, which effected my rating. The mystery itself is interesting though.
May 26, 2021
Grab your high heels and read this killer of a plot!
I loved the first book and I love love the second book and change wait for the next one. It has everything, mystery, suspense, romance, awesome characters and plot of epic proportions. Love murder mysteries and Drag Queens then this is a must read. You must read it, I highly second this book.
I loved the first book and I love love the second book and change wait for the next one. It has everything, mystery, suspense, romance, awesome characters and plot of epic proportions. Love murder mysteries and Drag Queens then this is a must read. You must read it, I highly second this book.
June 6, 2022
Good one
I liked this book. The story was pretty good. I only had part of it figured out so that was good. I just wish the main characters had more depth. I like them, but really sometimes I’m trying so hard to keep up with which personality it is today that I don’t really see the character. Will still read the next one.
I liked this book. The story was pretty good. I only had part of it figured out so that was good. I just wish the main characters had more depth. I like them, but really sometimes I’m trying so hard to keep up with which personality it is today that I don’t really see the character. Will still read the next one.
June 8, 2025
I enjoyed this, but the culprit was pretty obvious from near the beginning so it was a bit frustrating to listen to the overlooked clues.
Not any romance, but this it really is a cozy murder mystery.
Narrated by BJ Whimpey. New to me narrator. Pretty good but his Vicki Dean impersonation was too high to be believable ;)
Not any romance, but this it really is a cozy murder mystery.
Narrated by BJ Whimpey. New to me narrator. Pretty good but his Vicki Dean impersonation was too high to be believable ;)
Read
May 21, 2021Drag Queen Love
I learned more about Queens than I ever thought, and they are fabulous! Fantastic story with the Queens front and center and the mystery was so good, I was completely wrong!
I learned more about Queens than I ever thought, and they are fabulous! Fantastic story with the Queens front and center and the mystery was so good, I was completely wrong!
June 22, 2021
Good mystery
Okay this story was nice had the same flow as the first so if you liked it, you’ll love this. The mystery portion even had that added bonus where you honestly get a little surprise with the guilty party.
Okay this story was nice had the same flow as the first so if you liked it, you’ll love this. The mystery portion even had that added bonus where you honestly get a little surprise with the guilty party.
September 3, 2022
Reading like a cross between Miss Congeniality and a Ru Paul drag race series ... this installment wasn't as engaging as the first episode. That said - I'd be happy to continue with reading on with the series.
May 8, 2023
So - the second book in this series. And again it was fun, entertaining, a bit faulty, a bit unbelievable and quite entertaining. This series stays on my radar, defintely going to read the next books, too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews