Murder by Cheesecake is book 1 in the new Golden Girls cozy mystery series by Rachel Ekstrom Courage, and it was a nostalgic, fun romp with the four characters from the 80s television show.

Rose is planning a wedding for her young cousin. Just as the wedding events start to kick off a man turns up dead at the hotel owned by the groom’s family and the girls are drawn into the mystery.

This was a fun nostalgic read. Throughout the book, there were little Easter eggs and reminisces of events from the television show. The characters were written true to their television versions with just as many sarcastic zingers as you might expect.

With so many people in town for the wedding, there were lots of suspects to investigate, as well as an unexpected link to Dorothy, which had her facing off against a hard nosed detective.

For anyone familiar with The Golden Girls this was like a trip down memory lane and I would recommend it to fans, especially if you love a cozy mystery.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

🎶Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the road and back again.
Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant🎶

This is the real deal. Sophia, Dorothy,Blanch and Rose are THE main characters.Some cozy mysteries tout they are about the Golden Girls but are really about women of a certain age.
The author definitely nails their different personalities brilliantly. All four friends become sleuths when a man is found dead inside a freezer at the hotel where Rose's neice is getting married. There are hilarious moments during their investagation, and some intense moments. I highly recommend this book and very much hope it will be a series.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue Digital and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you for being a friend! Oh my goodness, as a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s, this was such a fun, nostalgic treat! Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia feel like extended family members, and their voices are wonderfully captured in this gem of a whodunnit. It’s definitely cute, cozy and full of mischievous twists and turns! Thank you so much NetGalley and Hyperion for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery - full of all the nostalgia, one-liners, and St. Olaf lore you could wish for! If you've missed your daily dose of The Golden Girls lately, then get your hands on this one! It felt like an extended show - a special murder mystery one!

Rose is pulled into planning her niece's wedding - in Miami, no less! But it must be full of all the St. Olaf traditions so they can move to St. Olaf and live happily ever after. Dorothy, feeling a bit lonely and sad at the prospect of no date to the wedding, she decides to get some of those dating site VHS tapes to see if she can spot a potential date on there. But, after an awkward date, her date is found dead - at the wedding venue no less, Dorothy becomes the #1 suspect in the murder and starts to derail all the wedding plans!

This is a silly cozy, full of Dorothy's "oh maaaa!", Sophia's zingy one-liners, Rose's odd St. Olaf lore and amusing naivete and Blanche's raunchy dips at romance and love at every turn! It truly felt like I was in the show, as we bopped around between each of the group, as they tried to clear Dorothy's name and investigate this murder - all while still planning the wedding!

It was cute, silly and full of so many great moments, I really loved the tribute to such an amazing group of women who truly stand the test of time in their wit, humor and friendship. Now I'm anxious and excitedly awaiting the next in this series!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This is an amusing read and a nostalgic revisiting of the beloved characters in the Golden Girls television series. In terms of a mystery, this one is long on comedy and lovable characters and short on suspense. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia leap right off the television screen into the action of this novel; they are completely recognizable, and hit off the TV characters perfectly. Rose is more or less the star of this adventure, as her niece and fiance have come to Miami to be married, and it is up to Rose to bring off their wedding in the St. Olaf tradition required. The far-fetched and hilarious shenanigans that ensue as Rose and her roommates navigate solving a murder of which Dorothy is suspected and the machinations of the groom's family, owners of the wedding venue hotel, keep the reader entertained through ever more unlikely developments. Lovers of the Golden Girls should enjoy this cozy mystery and look forward to further adventures for the ladies.

This was a delightful Golden Girls-inspired mystery. It's a cozy whodunit that perfectly captures the charm and wit of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia as they find themselves tangled in a murder mystery. The story is light, kitschy, and filled with humor, making it an easy and enjoyable read.

While its been a while since I've watched the Golden Girls, it was easy to pick up back in the lives of these four women living their best life in Miami! Courage does a great job of bringing the characters' personalities into her story and it was easy to visualize them. Their personalities ended up being my favorite part of the book! I did get annoyed at times with Rose and the St. Olaf-themed wedding as it seemed super repetitive at times. The mystery was so-so and more of a subplot than the actual storyline. I definitely see potential for the series in the future and would be a fun addition to add to my cozy mystery rotation!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the ARC!

The story kicks off when Dorothy’s date (found through a VHS dating service, hey it’s the 80s!) ends up dead, face-down in a cheesecake at a wedding event Rose is hosting. With an entire guest list full of potential suspects and Rose’s cousin’s wedding on the line, the Girls must work together to solve the murder while navigating the chaos of strange St. Olaf traditions, snooty in-laws, and Miami mishaps.

One of the highlights of the book is how effortlessly it brings the characters of Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia to life. Their banter, quirks, and personalities shine through, making it feel like an extended episode of the show. Blanche is as flirtatious as ever, Dorothy’s signature sarcasm is sharp and on point, and Rose is as earnest and well-meaning as she is hilariously oblivious. Sophia, of course, remains the quick-witted matriarch we all love. Murder by Cheesecake is a fast-paced, lighthearted read that never takes itself too seriously, making it the perfect cozy mystery for fans of the series.

What makes this book truly shine is its dedication to preserving the humor and dynamic relationships that made The Golden Girls such an enduring classic. The dialogue is snappy and filled with the kind of witty jokes that fans will immediately recognize. Dorothy’s dry humor, in particular, is a standout, and it’s easy to imagine Bea Arthur delivering each line with perfect deadpan timing. Blanche’s over-the-top flirtatious comments, Rose’s naive yet endearing storytelling about St. Olaf, and Sophia’s sharp-tongued wisdom all feel completely in character.

The mystery itself is engaging without being overly complicated. The plot of Murder By Cheesecake moves at a brisk pace, ensuring there’s never a dull moment. While the stakes are relatively low compared to grittier crime novels, the book’s feels like a classic whodunit with laugh-out-loud moments.

Rose’s role as the wedding planner adds an additional layer of amusement to the plot. Her struggle to meet the expectations of both the St. Olaf traditions and the high-society demands of the groom’s family creates plenty of comedic moments.

The book also does a great job of maintaining the warm, found-family dynamic that made The Golden Girls so beloved. The friendships between the four women remain at the heart of the story, providing moments of genuine affection and support amidst the comedic chaos. Their loyalty to each other and their determination to get to the bottom of the mystery (even when Dorothy is a prime murder suspect) reinforce the friendships that defined the original series.

While Murder by Cheesecake is a treat for fans of The Golden Girls, it also works as a standalone cozy mystery for those who may not be as familiar with the show. The story is engaging enough on its own, and the humor is universal. However, longtime fans will undoubtedly appreciate the many references and nods to classic moments from the series. The book captures the spirit of the show in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

Overall, Murder by Cheesecake is an entertaining, well-crafted cozy mystery that successfully blends humor, friendship, and an engaging whodunit. It’s a quick read, perfect for a relaxing weekend or a nostalgic trip back to Miami with some of TV’s most beloved characters. If you love The Golden Girls and enjoy a fun whodunit, Murder by Cheesecake is a must-read.

This book was a perfect, classic whodunit, but made infinitely better because the characters are the Golden Girls! I could hear the ladies’ voices in my head any time there was dialogue, which just felt perfect to me.

I loved how there were two storylines – getting the perfect St. Olaf wedding together and solving the murder mystery. It made the story more three dimensional and gave everything some extra depth.

It took a while for me to get into the book, but I enjoyed the whole thing. I didn’t figure out who committed the murder until right before the reveal (and even then I wouldn’t say I “figured it out myself”). The ending was really satisfying and I enjoyed it.

Overall, this was a good, entertaining read and I’m happy I picked it up! I recommend this to anyone who is a Golden Girls fan and a cozy mystery fan.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review!

Murder by Cheesecake
By Rachel Ekstrom Courage
“Murder by Cheesecake” transports readers to a delightful and nostalgic moment in time, blending cozy mystery elements with a touch of humor. In this charming whodunit, Rose’s cousin is about to tie the knot, but in keeping with tradition, the wedding must take place in Miami instead of their hometown of St. Olaf. Eager to make the event perfect, Rose and her friends dive into wedding preparations. However, things take a turn when Dorothy, decides she needs a date – and ends up with a dead body on the cheesecake. Now, it's up to Rose and the gang to unravel the mystery and discover who is behind the crime.
The strength of Murder by Cheesecake lies in its witty banter and the sense of familiarity that fans of the series will appreciate. The dynamic between the characters, combined with the cozy mystery atmosphere, creates an enjoyable reading experience.
While I loved the nostalgic feel of the story, the pacing and flow could have been smoother. The plot felt a bit slow at times, which slightly hindered the overall enjoyment. That said, for fans of cozy mysteries, this book provides a solid dose of entertainment.
Overall, I’d rate Murder by Cheesecake 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a fun read with a great atmosphere, but it could benefit from a bit more refinement in terms of pacing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the opportunity to read Murder by Cheesecake.

The Golden Girls became a huge comfort during 2020 so when I saw this was going to be a series, it was a must read for me. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of the nostalgia it brought and being able to reunite with friends wanted me to rate this book higher but there are a few things this cozy mystery could improve on.

This truly felt like I was watching an episode of The Golden Girls. The vibes felt the same, the humor 🤣. It was so easy to step into this world and era.

I could have done without so much St. Olaf. The traditions got so over overwhelming and I just wanted more of the mystery without having something be explained for the wedding. The author truly found the groove of the mystery portion the last 20% of the book and I wish it would have been like that the entire time.

Overall, a perfect cozy read and I’m so happy to revisit these ladies. 🥹 Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Super cute cozy mystery! Loved the banter between the girls, just wish there would have been a little more focus on the mystery instead of the wedding.

Let me preface by saying I was incredibly excited to read this book.

Murder by Cheesecake follows our favorite group of women, Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia, as try to figure out who murdered Dorothy's date. It's filled with one-liners and satire that Golden Girls is famous for.

However, I could not finish this book myself. The writing felt very dense and overly detailed. I think I was expecting something like Murder She Wrote. Instead, I received a lot of information regarding this wedding and very little to bring me into this mystery. That left me disappointed.

I believe art is subjective and not everyone is going to love everything. This book might have left me disappointed, but it doesn't mean not everyone will be. I applaud the author for coming up with an original idea. I can see the potential in a series like this.

Let's get three disclaimers out of the way now:

1. I know of the author and her husband (a writer in his own right) through their work as founders and creators of Littsburgh, an incredibly resourceful frequent compilation of events, news, happenings, etc. in and around Pittsburgh's literary community. They're wonderful people who are passionate about and supportive of all things books, writing, and Pittsburgh, and I hope they're not angry with me for this review.

2. Through NetGalley, I received an ARC of this debut novel from Hyperion Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for being a friend, NetGalley.

3. I usually don't read cozy mysteries, but I requested this because of Disclaimer #1. Also, I'm doing a bit of work travel lately and tend to prefer lighter reads during those trips, especially when flying. (Indeed, I read this during a flight this week.)

I know, I know -- this review is sounding like one of Rose's rambling monologues about St. Olaf. Which is a major theme of the novel, but we'll get to that in a second.

I'm a proud child of the 80s with a strong appreciation and fondness for The Golden Girls, the acclaimed TV sitcom starring four iconic actresses: Bea Arthur (Dorothy), Rue McClanahan (Blanche), Betty White (Rose), and Estelle Getty (Sophia). I say this because before diving into Murder by Cheesecake, I think it's pretty essential to have a more than working knowledge of the show's plot points, along with these characters' personalities and proclivities.

(Maybe that's a fourth disclaimer.)

What the book is about: Rose's niece is getting married to the son of a Miami hotel owner, and the Golden Girls are thrown into wedding planning mode. But of course, it isn't just any wedding: according to Rose the festivities must have all the requisite St. Olaf traditions and customs -- and there are a LOT of them. Meanwhile, Dorothy uses a video matchmaking service to go on a date that ends mysteriously, which leads to a shocking discovery at the wedding...and worse of all, a ruined cheesecake.

What I liked: The characters. I mean, of course. Rachel Ekstrom Courage remains 110% true and faithful to the four women, capturing all of their quirks and catchphrases. I didn't listen to this on audio but I didn't have to: if you've watched the show, you can hear the ladies' intonations which is good because the dialogue is probably the best thing about the book along with the fun and nostalgic '80s references. And there's a fun little nod to Pittsburgh.

What didn't work as well: The plot and pacing. As other reviewers mentioned, there is entirely too much St. Olaf in this book. It felt like on every page we were introduced to yet another ridiculous ritual (yet whimsical and imaginative, for sure) that Rose insisted on being part of the wedding, to the point well beyond overkill. And I'm sorry but Rose herself is a grown-ass woman who constantly acted like a petulant child by demanding everything be done to St. Olaf specifications. (I'm probably in the minority on this but Rose's St. Olaf shtick always was annoying to me in the show. It's probably fair to say the over emphasis of it in the book impacted my enjoyment and low rating. YMMV.)

I wanted a lighthearted book to occupy me during my flight, which this did, but I'd hoped for more substance. Instead, I found myself skimming through much of the St. Olaf traditions and particularly as I guessed the "mystery" and got towards the end. All in all, just an okay read for me, but others who are more devoted to The Golden Girls fandom might have more of an appreciation.

It’s Golden Girls and cheesecake…what’s not to like! The cover is cute!! I loved the characters. Can’t wait for it to hit the stores!!

I absolutely love The Golden Girls, and I was in awe and shock when I saw this book. I immediately had to look it up to see when it would be released. I'm so glad I was able to read it early. Having been a fan for many years and having seen every episode probably 1000 times, it was so much fun to read this. I could picture everything they were describing from clothes to what the rooms look like. I was able to know what their voices sounded like, and I even knew how to pronounce St. Olafian words. I also appreciated how things from the tv show were mentioned and I recognized characters talked about. I can't believe it's taken this long for someone to come up with this idea. It will be so hard to have to wait for more books to be published. I don't buy too many books these days, and even though I already read this book, I will still be buying it!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC.

I loved this book! Full disclosure - I honestly did not know what I was getting into with the 'Golden Girls' theme. I watch very little television and was not aware of the connection. I was looking for a fun read, and this one filled the bill. The characters were a pleasure and while the whole St. Olaf wedding tradition thing got VERY OLD, very fast, it was impossible, by the end, to not be rooting for Rose. Four elderly ladies, roommates and friends, work together to solve a murder. What could go wrong?! I think the plot was well thought out although I thought the police really glommed on to Dorothy a little too quickly. Even though I'm not a Golden Girls fan, I will definitely be looking for the next installment in this series.

This ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

3 stars. 🌟 Huge thanks to Hyperion Avenue for the ARC via NetGalley! 💌

Okay, confession time: I have never watched Golden Girls. I KNOW, I KNOW—how dare I?! But listen, when I requested this book, I had no clue it was actually tied to Golden Girls. Now, after reading this? I might watch it someday... just not, like, any day soon.

So what’s the tea (and cheesecake)? Dorothy’s awful date winds up dead in a freezer, ruining both the dessert and Rose’s elaborate St. Olaf-themed wedding plans. (Tragic, really.) Enter: Blanche, Sophia, and the sassiest amateur sleuthing squad Miami has ever seen. They’ve got wisecracks, VHS dating, wedding drama, and a mystery to solve.

Sounds fun, right? And honestly, it kinda was! The humor? Spot-on. The vibes? Pure nostalgia. The characters? Nailed. Dorothy’s sarcasm? Chef’s kiss. Sophia’s one-liners? GOLD. If you love the show, you’ll probably enjoy this cozy little trip down memory lane.

Buuut here’s the thing. The mystery? Weak. Like, “blink and you’ll miss the murderer” weak. The big reveal had me sitting there like… who? 🤨 It felt like the book was more focused on wedding shenanigans than, you know, the actual murder. And while St. Olaf traditions are quirky and all, I didn’t need that much detail about herring shortages.

Would I read the sequel? Maybe. It was fun, light, nostalgic, and definitely entertaining. But if you're in it just for the mystery? Might wanna lower your expectations.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I suddenly have an intense craving for cheesecake. 🍰

Well, this was a hoot!

Based on the "Golden Girls" TV show, we have the four friends living in Miami in the 1980s, when Rose's cousin Nettie decides to elope to Florida for her wedding.

Nettie's fiance Jason wants them to be welcome back in St Olaf, and in order for that to happen, they need to follow all the St Olaf wedding traditions - from the silly to the downright crazy! Rose works very hard to try and give her cousin the perfect wedding, while the groom's rich and snobby family want to take it over. When Dorothy chooses a VHS dating service to find a date for the wedding, the man she meets seems nice until he leaves her at the restaurant.

When a man is found murdered in the freezer at the wedding venue hotel, one of our four friends is suspected of being the murderer.

All four become amateur detectives, to save the wedding and their friend.

The author got the characters just right, and I enjoyed reading the book whilst hearing the familiar voices in my head. There was probably more wedding fun and foolery than there was mystery, but I enjoyed the balance in this quick fun read.

Perfect for fans of the TV series.

If you loved watching the Golden Girls you will absolutely enjoy reading this book!

Rose is in a pickle as she tries to prove to everyone in her hometown that she can pull off a wedding for her dear cousin following all the traditions of St. Olaf. Things are going as planned until a dead body shows up and one of the girls is a suspect!

Can Rose pull this wedding off? Can the girls solve the murder before one of them is falsely accused? Can Blanche think of anything besides men?!

This book was just like watching an episode on tv. I could hear and visualize all the characters in my head. All of Rose’s silly phrases did not disappoint. The story was bonkers- in a good way! The cozy mystery vibes added a fun layer to the story. I would definitely read more in this series.