Freelance writer Jaine Austen thought she knew what she was getting herself into when she landed a gig working behind the scenes at a teen beauty pageant. But between the vicious stage moms, exacting judges, and trash-talking teens, sheβs not sure sheβs the woman for the jobβespecially when the catfights turn deadlyβ¦
Jaine has been hired by ΓΌber-pushy stage mom Heather Van Sant to write lyrics for her daughter Taylorβs song in the talent competition for the Miss Teen Queen America pageant. Itβs different from anything Jaine has done before, but if nothing else, sheβs looking forward to a free weekend in a swanky hotel and a chance to see what really goes on backstage at a beauty pageant. But the hotel is a dump, the cattiness is out of control, and Candaceβthe perfectly- coiffed, whip-cracking pageant directorβis making even Jaineβs life miserable.
When Candaceβs assistant Amy is found bludgeoned to death with a silver tiara, there are more suspects than sequins on a pageant gownβand Heather is first on the list. Taylor begs Jaine to help clear her momβs name, but the search for the killer hits a dead end as Jaine quickly realizes that finding the culprit is going to be trickier than walking the stage in stilettosβ¦
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