This is probably one of the best ideas for a book I have read in a long time! Such a clever idea, to make a Golden Girls cozy mystery. The girls must team up to figure out who killed Dorothy's date at a wedding event Rose is hosting - especially important because Dorothy is implicated! All while trying to ensure the wedding gets off the ground.

Nothing more really needs to be said about what is inside the pages of the books - this was pure fun! The characters' TV personalities were captured well in this written form, and I am super excited for another installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not for me, but for you. This was excellent in the Golden Girls vibes, capturing their personalities and everything. It was just a little too cozy for me. And that's a ME problem. I know so many will love this nostalgic read!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. This delightful book is the first in the series of the Golden Girls cozy mystery stories. I felt like I was reading an episode of the Golden Girls show. The story was about Rose’s niece from St. Olaf and her wedding plans to marry an “ outsider”. Sophia, Blanche, Rose and Dorothy all help to create the perfect wedding following all the St. Olaf wedding rituals. In the middle of all the wedding chaos a dead man appears in the freezer where the cheesecakes for the wedding are stored. The man happens to resemble a man Dorothy just had a blind date with. Dorothy becomes the prime suspect as the friends try to find the real murderer and plan the perfect wedding for Nettie and Jason.

This mystery featuring the beloved Golden Girls blends humor with suspense as Rose navigates wedding chaos while Dorothy's ill-fated date takes a deadly turn. The plot cleverly balances the quirky charm of St. Olaf traditions with Miami’s snobbish social scene, creating a delightful setting for both slapstick and sleuthing. The dynamic between the characters shines as they band together to solve the murder and keep the wedding on track, showcasing the strength of friendship amidst farcical chaos. Fans will relish the mix of comedy and intrigue that captures the essence of what made the show iconic.

The story was fun and definitely captured the sassy ladies from the Golden Girls. Will be a cute series if it develops further. I received this as an ARC from Hyperion Avenue via Netgalley.

This was cute. A bit average. I didn’t like the trust part with the St. Olaf family. Aside from that, it was decent. It was fun getting to spend time with the golden girls again!

I’ve been a Golden Girls fan forever, so l was excited for this book and it was really nice to revisit all of my favorite characters. The author included many references from the show into the book to tie them together, but it did feel excessive at times. The mystery itself was okay and I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit The Golden Girls again!

Such a fun book for a Golden Girls lover! As I was reading the book, I could hear the characters saying those words in my head. The author did a great job of nailing the personalities of each character.
I feel the book was very well written! I would highly recommend giving this book a read.

Set in 1980s Miami, this cozy mystery stars the beloved Golden Girls in a nostalgic adventure that will delight fans of the classic TV series. Rose is tasked with organizing a traditional St. Olaf wedding for her cousin in Miami, while Dorothy decides to try her luck at video dating. However, when her date abruptly leaves the restaurant, she doesn't think much of it—until he’s found dead in a hotel freezer, where the wedding is set to take place. Dorothy becomes the prime suspect, and it's up to the Girls to gather clues and clear her name. Will they solve the mystery before Dorothy is arrested for a crime she didn't commit?

While I had high hopes for this novel, some parts fell a bit flat. On the plus side, the characters’ distinctive mannerisms and catchphrases from the show were spot-on, and it was clear the author put a lot of effort into staying true to their personalities. The setting and interactions felt authentic, and I could easily picture the Girls in the kitchen, brainstorming their next move. The story is cozy, with a few twists, making for an enjoyable read.

However, there were moments when the St. Olaf references—so central to Rose's character—became overwhelming. Fans of the series know that Rose's St. Olaf stories are a frequent feature, but here they were stretched out too much, overshadowing other elements of the plot. The wedding and its associated traditions often took precedence over the mystery, which I felt diminished the focus on solving the crime. The novel sometimes felt more like a St. Olaf celebration than a murder investigation.

Still, the book offers a quick, fun read filled with nostalgia. I would recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries and anyone who fondly remembers the Golden Girls. It’s a light, entertaining experience that captures the heart of the show, even if some aspects could’ve used a little more balance.

A special thank you to NetGalley and publisher Hyperion Avenue for the advanced reader copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Overall, I enjoyed this fun, cozy mystery. I thought there would be more complicated and twists though.

Reading Murder By Cheesecake is like reading a script for the Golden Girls series. I’m old enough to have watched and loved that show when it first came out even though the characters were my Mom’s age. Being born and raised in Minnesota, I identified most with Rose. Although her expressions of her life back home were exaggerated and funny, they weren’t all entirely wrong!

When I started this it was initially really slow going as I would read a sentence or two as written, just like any other book but then had to go back and read it by imagining it being said by the character. Sophia’s put downs and Dorothy’s sarcastic remarks. Blanche’s southern drawl and Rose’s outrageous St Olaf-isms in her innocent voice all resounded in my head. But eventually I had to stop reading it that way, at least most of the time, because although enjoyable, it slowed me down too much.

I have to admit to eventually scanning or entirely skipping several pages though, as Rose’s extravagant wedding plans guided by St Olaf’s extensive and pretty unbelievable “requirements” just got to be too much. The story was fun and at times intriguing but probably would have been better if made much shorter. Love the concept, just got overwhelmed y the details.

This book is entertaining and gets into the flustered friendship that is often Golden Girls. The book is a nice little nostalgic book, like sitting down with an old friend.

I ended up getting hung up on how often it seemed popular quotes from the show were thrown in. It was like they were there simply to check off the boxes, not to help the plot along. I think it's difficult to translate something on the screen into a book, this showed up sometimes with how often the book relies on dialogue.

Overall, this was a fun, cozy read.

What a nostalgic read! I think Rachel did great job taking the essence of Golden Girls and truly making this read feel like an episode you could have watched. From Sophia’s sarcastic ways and calling Dorothy “pussycat,” to all things St. Olaf, it was extremely relatable. I think readers who LOVE Golden Girls like myself will really appreciate this book.

It was completely aligned to how Rose talks and views her hometown. I found myself watching episode of Golden Girls in between to compare and I will say, this novel is an amazing depiction of Golden Girls. Susan Harris should be extremely proud of this work.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for an advance copy of Murder by Cheesecake.

What a fun, cozy mystery! I am a huge fan of the Golden Girls, and this book felt pretty true to all of their tones. As Rose struggles to plan the perfect St. Olaf wedding, including all of the traditions, Dorothy finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. Can the girls crack the case before the wedding, and Dorothy's reputation, are destroyed?? I enjoyed this and will definitely check out more if the author continues her Golden Girls cozy mystery series!

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is an absolute must read for any Golden Girls fan! I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book as I am a huge fan, and loved how perfectly it aligned do the show. The characters mannerisms and voices were flawless, and picked up on various side characters or locations.

It was a cozy, fun mystery with family and friend dynamics built in as well, all revolving around a wedding. So enjoyable and definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for a completely honest review.

Golden Girls is my ultimate comfort show and I've lost track how many times I've watched every episode.

From the beginning this book made me smile. It felt like I was watching an episode (with a murder mysery to solve).

The author described things so well and nailed all of the personalities perfectly, I could hear their voices in my head as the story unfolded.

If you are looking for a cozy and nostalgic read, grab a piece of cheesecake, settle in and give this a read.

Picture it: January 17, 2025. It’s Betty White’ birthday and I was approved to receive an ARC of Murder By Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage!

First, I must say that I am the absolute biggest Golden Girls fan ever and know anything and everything there is to know about the show and actresses. I could instantly tell that the author knows The Golden Girls inside and out as she completely captured the characters and settings perfectly. It was just like watching an episode as I read.

The story takes place in beautiful Miami with the Girls working together to plan a wedding for Rose’s cousin but they soon find themselves working together to solve the mystery of how Dorothy’s one-time date ended up dead in the hotel freezer! The Girls take us along for the ride as they do their best to incorporate the strict St. Olaf wedding traditions while trying to win over the groom’s family and solving a murder.

The only negative feedback that I have is that I wish the book had focused a little more on the murder rather than the wedding but it is still a great read, especially for fans of The Golden Girls and I cannot wait for the second book to be published!

Thank you, Hyperion Avenue, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Golden girls, cheesecake, and mystery...need I say more? I really enjoyed reading this one. Thank you for the opportunity!

I really liked the idea of this book and am thankful for the arc but unfortunately I wasn't able to finish it. It was unnecessarily descriptive and trying too hard to embody the girls.

When Dorothy’s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf–themed wedding Rose is hosting.