Kristen Bird

"Dakota, a spunky, modern sleuth, doesn’t let high heels or outdated gender roles get in the way of her relentless pursuit of the truth and her quest to build a new life... a charming romp, featuring a quirky cast of characters with big hearts and witty humor, all set against the unforgettable backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grab your sequins and tiara—this one’s a sparkling good read!”—

Bestselling author Ellie Alexander

“Readers can count on author Bird to write a twisty tale about the dark side of suburban perfection. Recommend to fans of authors Kimberly McCreight and Freida McFadden.”

— Booklist Review of USA Today Bestseller, Watch it Burn

Stable hand Dakota Green would rather compete in the Hunger Games than Aubergine’s annual beauty pageant. But her late mother's last wish is about to see her trading her muck boots for Jimmy Choos – and uncover a decades-old mystery of a missing beauty queen.

Welcome to Aubergine, Virginia, where the mountains are blue, the air is sweet, and the beauty queens have secrets darker than last year's spray tan.

Armed with more sarcasm than sequins, Dakota reluctantly enters the cutthroat world of sashes and smiles to save her family home. But when the pageant owner vanishes faster than she can shimmy into an evening gown, suspicion lands on Dakota's beloved Aunt DeeDee.

Now Dakota must navigate a minefield of catty contestants, skeptical judges, the infuriatingly handsome new sheriff and the unsolved beauty queen mystery – all while mastering the art of walking in heels without looking like a newborn foal. Can this reluctant pageant star unmask a killer, clear her aunt's name, and claim the crown? Or will she be the next to disappear?

Hilarious and heartfelt, A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem is perfect for fans of small-town mysteries with big laughs. If you love the wit of Janet Evanovich and Elle Cosimano, the charm of Only Murders in the Building, and beauty queens with a penchant for trouble, this book is a must-read.

Writer. Teacher. Book Coach.

My name is Kristen Bird, and I love both writing and talking all things books. You can hear me on several podcasts, including Killer Women, Thoughts from a Page, and The Shit No One Tells You About Writing.

I’m the author of three novels with MIRA, an imprint of HarperCollins. These include The Night She Went Missing (Feb 2022), I Love It When You Lie (March 2023), and Watch It Burn (March 2024), and the Dakota Green Series (launching in 2025). Find out more on my Books page.

I’m also a certified book coaching through Author Accelerator.

If you’re interested in finding out more about book coaching and how you can work with me, please check out my Book Coaching and FAQs page or drop me a note at kristenbirdwrites@gmail.com.