Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage is the first book in the Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series. The story was a cute cozy mystery as Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia navigate a murder investigation intertwined with a St. Olaf-themed wedding. Which any GG fan would know about the St. Olaf bits Rose talked about frequently. But in the book it was just too much. I would have liked more mystery in the wedding shenanigans. It needed more balance.
Was it a cute read yes. Would I reccommend this to someone who wanted to dabble in a light cozy mystery sure. The nostalgia saved this one. But I dont know if I'd go back and pick up the second book?

Rachel Ekstrom Courage’s Murder by Cheesecake is an absolute treat for fans of cozy mysteries, nostalgia, and plenty of laughs! Set in the beloved world of the Golden Girls, this first installment of the Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series is as warm and delightful as a late-night chat over a slice of cheesecake—just with an extra dose of murder and mayhem.

The story perfectly captures the essence of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia, bringing their humor, quirks, and undeniable chemistry to life. The mix of a St. Olaf-themed wedding, a VHS dating mishap, and a murder mystery involving a cheesecake is pure comedic gold. Each of the Girls shines as they band together to solve the mystery, blending their wit, charm, and loyalty in a way that feels true to the iconic characters we love.

Courage’s writing is sharp, engaging, and full of the humor and heart that made the Golden Girls a cultural treasure. The mystery keeps you guessing, with every guest a suspect, while the entertaining subplots add richness to the story. Fans of the show will adore the nods to classic moments, and new readers will find themselves charmed by these clever, dynamic women.

Murder by Cheesecake is a fun, lighthearted read with plenty of twists and laughs along the way. Perfect for cozy mystery enthusiasts and anyone who loves the idea of murder served with a side of friendship (and, of course, cheesecake).

Murder by Cheesecake was an incredibly enjoyable cozy mystery! While reading, I could clearly hear the voices of the Golden Girls and vividly imagine their antics! The author did an amazing job capturing their essence! It felt like I was right there with them in the middle of a Golden Girls episode! The book blended humor with suspense, making it a delightful read!

As a devoted fan of The Golden Girls, I was eager to dive into this book. I thoroughly enjoyed being swept into Dorothy’s journey as she reenters the dating world. Only she discovers that it’s not quite the romantic adventure Blanche makes it out to be. And soon things take an unexpected turn when Dorothy’s disastrous date turns up dead at Rose’s cousin’s wedding. How did he end up there and who’s responsible?
While the mystery was fun, I did find myself missing some of the show’s signature charm. Rose’s whimsical stories about Olaf and Sophia’s sharp tongued wit were noticeably absent, and I felt there were missed opportunities to truly capture the essence of these beloved characters. The connection to the show’s original magic didn’t fully land for me.
That said, I appreciated the continued theme of deep female friendship and found family, which is at the heart of what makes The Golden Girls so special. I’m looking forward to the next installment and hope it brings more of that classic dynamic we know and love.

*Thank you to Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

DNF @50%
In the beginning, I felt like this definitely gave the signature Golden Girls vibe; however, as the story progressed, I found myself not really enjoying anything that was going on and disengaging from the story.

Thank you to Netgalley, publishing house and author for the opportunity to read this book.
It was such a a fun and silly read, definitely refreshing after all the thrillers I’ve been binging.

I preface this by saying I adore the golden girls, and this truly feels like an episode that was never written. the author has done such a great job of making the characters authentic and real. As I read I could picture it all, and hear it.

I think anyone would adore this book but especially thinking of might nana for it, it follows the show to a tee, set in the 80s, and characters have not changed at all.
I really enjoyed this golden girls murder mystery and look forward to the others to follow this series

What a fun book to read! I felt like the golden girls were back again. Story is solid and this is a series to look forward to. I love these characters come to life. Rose is especially enjoyable, and we feel like we are getting to kniw her better. Comedy is hard to wrote in a book. Rachel seems to have it down so well. It's hard to kniw everything that should be said. So enjoyable to read! Can't wait for more

Fun take on the TV show if you're a fan. Mystery was cozy and played our as expected. A simple enjoyable read

Rose Nylund is quite excited. Her niece is coming to Miami Beach, Florida to get married and Rose will be hosting the event. Rose fully intends to incorporate all of her hometown’s traditions. It won’t be easy, but she’s going to bring St. Olaf to Miami. She’s hoping the three friends she shares a house with will help her out - Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia.

Dorothy Zbornak is concerned about attending the wedding solo, so she decides to try her hand at a new VHS dating service. Things don’t quite go as smoothly as she had hoped they would and her date winds up dead, face down in one of Rose’s cheesecakes at a pre-wedding event.

Things go from bad to worse when Dorothy becomes the prime suspect in her date’s death. The women desperately conduct their own investigation while juggling the planning for the wedding and dealing with the groom’s wealthy parents, who don’t seem too impressed with the St. Olaf ways.

What a surprisingly fun book this is. I loved the TV show, but I haven’t seen it in years. As soon as I started reading this, it all came back to me. I could hear each voice vividly. The author portrayed each Golden Girl to perfection. It felt as if I was watching a Golden Girls reunion TV movie.

The story is set in the 1980’s just like the TV show. The humor ran through each page from start to finish. Some of it is kind of silly, but it had me smiling. It’s very well written and it’s obvious the author knew the characters well.

It helps if you are familiar with the show before reading this book, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary. There are no carryover storylines. It’s a mystery contained in this book. It’s intriguing to figure out who the culprit is and how the Golden Girls will get out of this one. I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series and see what crazy antics the girls get into next.








FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ll preface this by saying I’ve never watched the Golden Girls or been a big fan of the show! This was a fun little murder mystery mixed with a wedding and some very interesting Midwest culture all run by four older women. Their banter was fun and believable, and they were all as sarcastic as I’ve been told the women are on the show! I figured out the murderer just before the women did, so the suspense dragged on enough, and the action bits were very fun! Overall a good cozy mystery. Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for an early copy!

I struggled to get into this book. The nostalgia was great and the author really did her research but the pace dragged and the dialog was a little flat. It wasn’t for me but hardcore Golden Girls fans should definitely give it a chance.

This was a wonderful trip down nostalgia lane for a Golden Girls fan such as myself. The spirit of the characters was well captured. I do think if someone wasn’t a fan of the show they would miss some jokes but overall an enjoyable cozy mystery!

A golden girls mystery? YES please!

Murder by Cheesecake is the first installment of a 4 part series by Rachel Ekstrom Courage.

Fans of the show will enjoy spending time with our favorite four, Blanche, Dororthy, Rose and Sophia. This cozy mystery reads like an episode of the show.

I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I had to DNF this book. Although it was very reminiscent of Golden Girls the comedic value did not come through as well and just felt a little boring to me.

I couldn't get into this one personally; but it was still a fun read! The dialog fell little flat for me, but still brought back lots of good memories of the Golden Girls for me!

This was such a fun and heartwarming read—a perfect cozy mystery that brought plenty of laughs and nostalgia. It followed the beloved 80’s sitcom so well, it truly felt like a missing episode of the four iconic roommates bonding over cheesecake… with just a bit more adventure thrown in! The author absolutely nailed each character’s voice and quirks, making it easy to picture every scene.

It was a refreshing break from the more serious reads I’ve been into lately, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy—I’m happy to leave this review voluntarily!

As a big fan of the Golden Girls television show, I wanted to love this. Reading the characters in print is a different experience than hearing their deadpan delivery and pacing on television. I love the idea in theory, but it did not work for me as I hoped.

Vibes:
➤ Murder Mystery
➤ Golden Girls Cast
➤ Cozy Mystery
➤ Light Humor

Recommended For:
Anyone looking for a cozy murder mystery with a lighthearted plot. Would only recommend for those who have watched and enjoyed The Golden Girls as most of the appeal is in the nostalgia. The humor and voices of these characters was authentic, so if you enjoy The Golden Girls, you’ll love this!

Thoughts:
I personally enjoyed the dialogue so much between these characters, it felt so much like watching an episode of the show. I am personally not much of a cozy mystery fan, they move too slow for me and the stakes feel so low. So although I love The Golden Girls, I am afraid I am not the target audience due to the genre.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was hard to read. I am a huge Golden Girls fan and love reading a good mystery, but this wasn't it. It was written too simplistic for me. Maybe if I wasn't a fan of the show it might have worked for me? There just seemed to be parts of the story that were so slow and the writing was wordy when it wasn't necessary.

I wanted to love this one. Truly. A murder mystery inspired by The Golden Girls? Say less. I’m already picturing myself in a caftan with a cheesecake in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other. I'm pretty sure I’m going to grow up to be Dorothy Zbornak. But alas… this book and I were not meant to be.

I gave it a solid try. But the writing? It just didn’t work for me. It was too simplistic to hold my interest—and at the same time, weirdly trying too hard. Every object in the scene had a name, a color, a fabric type, and maybe a memoir. When I tripped over a sentence that included “coral-upholstered rattan sofa,” “fan-armed chairs,” “cream-colored carpet,” and “low-heeled pumps”—all in one breath—I had to tap out. My brain whispered, “Babe… you don’t have to do this to yourself.”

I’m sure there’s a reader out there who will vibe with this book more than I did. But it’s a DNF for me.