Going in I had certain expectations of this book and it DELIVERED. Such a fun mystery that made you feel like you were watching an episode of the golden girls. The banter between Rose, Dorothy, Blanch, and Sophia was hilarious. Rose always looking for love but ultimately this gets her in some sticky situations. The storyline with Nellie was unique and fun with good pacing. I will absolutely read more from this author!

This was a fun quick read. It has all the nostalgia and humor as The Golden Girls show we all know and love. Throw in a side of mystery, and it's a great read for fans.

A cozy low-bar murder mystery AND the Golden Girls? Fill my library please! The first in a new cozy series based on the classic sitcom, Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, & Sophia are immersed in wedding prep for Rose’s beloved niece, determined to make every St Olaf tradition happen. During one of the first events, they happen upon a dead man in the hotel freezer…and soon one of the Golden Girls becomes prime suspect #1. Tasked with clearing their names and planning a wedding, a little bit of suspense and a whole lot of quirky hijinks ensue.
I had so much fun reading this and couldn’t wait to dig in (books and cheesecake are the same in that way!) This is definitely a cozy story with a lot of cheesy moments inspired by the show (maybe just a bit too much St Olaf shenanigans) so go into that prepared. The author perfectly portrays each personality that we’ve come to love (and see as friends) over the past 30-40 years.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This comes out 4/15/25.

If you adore the Golden Girls and also love cozy mysteries, definitely pick up this book! The four women we all know and love were perfectly portrayed in this book full of heart, wit, and cheesecake. This is one of my favorite reads of 2024!

Murder by Cheesecake is a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and nostalgia that brings the Golden Girls back into the spotlight, this time as amateur sleuths. Combining the sass and camaraderie of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia with a classic cozy mystery setup, this first installment in the Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series is as satisfying as a slice of cheesecake (just without the murder).

The story kicks off with Dorothy’s ill-fated VHS dating experiment, which introduces her to a date so obnoxious that his demise in a hotel freezer—smack dab in a cheesecake—feels almost poetic. Unfortunately, the murder derails Rose’s meticulously planned St. Olaf–themed wedding week for her cousin, leaving the Girls scrambling to clear Dorothy’s name, solve the crime, and salvage the celebration.

The charm of this book lies in its faithful portrayal of the Girls. Dorothy’s sarcastic quips, Blanche’s flirtatious antics, Rose’s endearing (if baffling) St. Olaf traditions, and Sophia’s sharp one-liners all shine, creating a narrative that feels like slipping back into an episode of the beloved TV show. The banter is sharp, the humor is relentless, and the characters’ personalities leap off the page.

The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, filled with quirky suspects, unexpected twists, and plenty of red herrings. The stakes are high but balanced by comedic moments, including fish-themed wedding events and Blanche’s relentless matchmaking attempts. The blend of humor and suspense keeps the pacing lively and ensures readers stay hooked until the final reveal.

Murder by Cheesecake is a deliciously fun cozy mystery that will thrill Golden Girls fans and mystery lovers alike. It’s a perfect recipe of murder, friendship, and cheesecake-fueled antics, proving once again that these Miami besties can tackle anything—even a murder investigation. If you’re looking for a lighthearted whodunit with plenty of laughs, this is the book for you.

I cannot get enough of this book! It is fast-paced, witty, and completely embodies the characters that we know and love from the Golden Girls. I can hear every passage in each character's voice and see their physical traits and characteristics. When reading about Blanche, you can see her in your mind's eye patting her hair and rushing to her room for perfume; Rose stopping mid-walk to count cheesecake's in her head; Dorothy and Sophia rolling their eyes at each other as they banter back and forth. This is such a cute, cozy read and I am loving every minute of it!

The story details the efforts that Rose goes through to plan a traditional St. Olaf wedding in the sunny weather of the Miami beaches. Meanwhile, Dorothy attempts to secure a date for the wedding and, in doing so, inadvertently meets the victim of a crime. The plot is a theatrical work of art that brings all the personalities from the show to life and provides fun twists and turns to keep you flipping to the next page. I highly recommend this book for a quick, light-hearted read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy to read and review.

4.25/5⭐️
First - thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of Murder by Cheesecake ahead of its April 2025 release.

This Golden Girls themed mystery sends our old friends on QUITE the journey when Rose is tasked with hosting the perfect St Olaf themed wedding for her cousin Nettie. All is going according to Rose’s (very strange) plans, until Dorothy’s (ex) date ends up dead - in the St Olaf’s Kiss cheesecake, no less! When Dorothy becomes the prime suspect, our girls are sent on a truly twisty path to clear her name!
Murder by Cheesecake is a truly cozy, nostalgic, wholesome mystery featuring some of my favorite Golden Girls!
Firstly, aesthetically, this book is amazing! The cover, the little illustrations on each chapter title, the chapter names, everything!
This book is a witty, bantering, funny gift!
Using the Golden Girls characters in a mystery like this is truly a unique and exciting concept that I really enjoyed! Seeing our girls on an new and unexpected adventure like this was truly a treat!
The author did an amazing job of capturing our favorite girls’ personalities on paper (specifically Sophia!) ! It transported me back to my teenage days , laying at home enjoying a Saturday afternoon with the Golden Girls! The story itself was fun and exciting and kept me guessing, there’s definitely unexpected twists all around and everyone is a suspect! This story will grab hold of you and won’t let go until the last page!
The only reason it’s not a 5 star for me personally, is I felt like the plot took a good chunk of the book (probably about 150pgs) to get REALLY super exciting for me , but it was still really pleasant and easy to read!
The plot was unique, easy to follow, and captivating! If you love the Golden Girls and a wholesome mystery, definitely pick this one up in April 2025!

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Hats off to Rachel Ekstrom Courage for bringing our beloved Golden Girls to life in the pages of this cozy mystery! She did a fantastic job of writing these characters and keeping them true to their TV persona's.

I was both excited and hesitant to read this book. I have been a Golden Girls fan for decades and was worried the author wouldn't do them justice. But she did! From Blanche's flirtatious ways to Sophia's sassiness to Rose and her St Olaf ways to Dorothy's dry humor, the author brought these characters to life in a new way. I could hear their voices as I read the book and it brought back great memories of watching the show. It was also a nice trip back to the 80s with references to music, products, etc.

This story had all the vibes of the Golden Girls and was easy and fun to read. I am hoping the rest of the series is just as good as this one. I am also hoping we will get an appearance from Stanley.

This book definitely gets my recommendation. It's fun, entertaining, and a great way to spend time with the Girls again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

I have loved the Golden Girls since I was a little girl and was excited to read a cozy mystery in this world. I always enjoy cozy mysteries and was invested in what was going on. The plot of this was perfect and was invested in what was happening in this. The characters felt like they were supposed to and enjoyed getting back to this. I enjoyed how good Rachel Ekstrom Courage wrote this and hope there is more to these Golden Girls cozy mystery series.

I was really excited to find out there was a Golden Girls cozy mystery. I grew up watching Golden Girls and have watched the entire series on streaming several times. I also love cozy mysteries so this should've been a match made in heaven. However, I found some issues with this book that were hard to ignore. First of all, Sophia doesn't use a cane in the series. I'm not sure why the writer had Sophia using a cane. But it's a very glaring error throughout the book that could've been avoided had the author done some research on the show itself instead of maybe relying on past memory of watching the show. Another thing that simply felt wrong was how horrible Rose treated Dorothy. The Rose in the show was never that mean. I also feel like the author made Sophia a little too mean with her wisecracks to everyone compared to how the character was on the show. And the author failed to bring forth Dorothy's dry wit and sarcasm. The mystery itself was good, but the characterization of the Golden Girls failed for me with the exception of Blanche.

Now, for things that annoyed me but didn't affect the rating since this is an eARC. To the publisher, please put a version of the eARC out that at least is formatted correctly and has at least been proofread by an editor. This appears to be almost like a first draft with all the spelling and grammatical errors in it. Also with the formatting, words kept running in together to make one huge word instead of a sentence. And paragraphs ran together so it was difficult to figure out who was saying what sometimes. And what is with the giant clip art before each chapter? Just... no.

To be honest I don't know if I'll read the next book in the series. I may give it one more chance to see if the author corrects the characters to be like they were on the show. But, then again, life is short and my TBR list is long.

When I saw that there was a Golden Girls cozy mystery coming out, I knew I would enjoy it, but I was totally unprepared for how much I loved this book! It was great to be back in Miami with some of my favorite characters, and you can tell the author is a fan since there are several references throughout the book to episode plots and she uses the established history.

Dorothy was always my favorite character and I enjoyed being in her head as she tries to clear her name when her date is murdered and she’s accused of the crime. We also get a fair amount from Rose’s perspective as she plans her cousin’s wedding in Miami and helps Dorothy. The characters are true to their personalities in the show and sound exactly like you’d expect leaving you feeling like you’ve just watched an episode but with murder.

Overall, I cannot recommend this enough and really enjoyed the mystery element as I wasn’t quite sure who was the culprit until the very end. There were some minor editing errors that I’m sure will be fixed in the final version, which I’ve already preordered for my shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this early copy!

A laugh out loud funny book. With lots of nostalgia of the Golden Girls
Grab a cheesecake and decor this book! Can not wait for the second book in the series.

A cozy mystery featuring the Golden Girls? Sold. This is a must read for all of my fellow elder millenials who grew up with the Golden Girls.

Poor Dorothy getting the rotten end of the stick, per usual, but the girls all coming together to solve the mystery and clear her name.

Cozy. Cheesecake. Golden Girls. Mystery. St Olaf, VHS dating service.
If any of things appeal to you, this is your sign to go buy this book.

I, for one, will be reading this whole series as it comes out.

I watched the Golden GIrls when it first aired, despite being a child - I watched it with my grandmother, and on my own. I rewatched it when I was a mother of very young children and it was on the Hallmark channel. I love The Golden Girls, I have always loved it and now that I’m the same age as Rue McClanahan was when she first began filming as Blanche, I still love it. I will always love this show.

The second I saw the cover of Murder by Cheesecake on NetGalley I requested it, and was absolutely thrilled to receive an early copy of it. Within the first chapter, I was transported back to sitting on the couch with my grandma.

Ms Elkstrom Courage is obviously a big fan of the show, and she captured the vibe of the show, the characters and their dialogue so well. I laughed out loud and loved every page.

Reading this made me happy 🙂, I read it one evening and can’t wait to read more. I’m definitely looking forward to future titles of this brand new series.

An absolute must read for fans of the show!



Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the DRC

This cozy mystery was a delight- Courage did an impeccable job of capturing the personality of each of the Golden Girls and crafting an engaging and fun story. I highly recommend this for any GG fans, you will enjoy this as much as your favorite episode!

I requested and received an eARC of Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage via NetGalley. The Golden Girls in novel form!? Sign me up. When I saw this title I knew that I had to read it. Like so many people The Golden Girls have long be a source of comfort for me. In Murder by Cheesecake, Rose’s cousin is getting married in Miami. The groom’s snobby family want complete control of the young couple’s wedding, but Rose knows if Nettie’s wedding doesn’t follow the traditional St. Olaf wedding week guidelines then her groom may never be accepted by the people back home (he already blew his chance with the hay throwing!) Everything goes smoothly until Dorothy’s date is found dead — face-down in a cheesecake. As everyone becomes a suspect and it starts to look as if Nettie and her fiancée may not make it down the aisle, the girls come together to clear their names and make the sure wedding goes on without a hitch!

Attempting to replicate the magic of such a beloved television show is surely a difficult task to tackle. What immediately struck me was the familiarity I found within the pages of Murder by Cheesecake. Although, there were a few lines that may have incited a raised brow, for the most part I could absolutely hear the character’s voices in the the dialogue. Within reading the first chapter, I was found myself fighting to contain my smile. I definitely think that the author succeeds in replicating the unique and adored humor of the girls. I don’t think I could cut it in St. Olaf judging by some of the wedding traditions, but the silliness and all of the herring definitely tickled my funny bone. A delightful surprise as well were all the delightful little details brewed up by the author that definitely ring true to the late 80s/early 90s.

This seems to be a very Rose and Dorothy centered story, which is fine, but as someone who loves Sophia I was hoping for more from her, and perhaps a bit more from Blanche as well. This is touted as the first novel in a new series of Golden Girls cozy mysteries, so I’m sure the other ladies will have the opportunity to take the lead at some point and I can’t wait to read them when they do! Murder by Cheesecake was a really fun read, all wrapped in nostalgia and the familiarity of visiting old friends. The plot was was also decent and definitely had a Golden Girls quality to it, but let’s be honest: I would have wanted to read this book no matter the situation the characters find themselves in

(3.5 rounded up) This is for a specific subset of people, and that is people who have watched and loved Golden Girls. If you have, you’ll find this book to be a hoot. The mannerisms, fashion sense, dialogue, and location all make clear that the author is an avowed Golden Girls fan. Everything feels comfortingly familiar. The writing isn’t mind-blowing, the mystery is fairly easy to solve, and the dialogue can occasionally be cringey, but I didn’t mind any of that. As an adult woman who watched a lot of Golden Golden Girls with her grandma when she was younger, this was the perfect cozy mystery. I hope this will be a long-running series.

Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage is an absolute delight. Ekstrom Courage perfectly captures the wit and charm of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia, bringing their distinct voices and humor to life. It feels like you’re right there with them as they work together to solve a mystery—clearing Dorothy’s name and ensuring Rose’s niece’s wedding goes off without a hitch. The plot is fast-paced, funny, and full of surprises—drag queens, outrageous disguises, a thrilling chase, and yes, a whole lot of herring and St. Olaf stories. But what really makes this book shine is how Ekstrom Courage nails the deep, unbreakable friendship between these women that has made them beloved for 40 years.

'Who's that you're talking to, Rose, a new beau?'
'Oh, it was just one of those prank calls.'
'For twenty minutes? I've had dates that ended quicker than that.'

WOOHOO WHAT A RIOT!!! I hope every Golden Girls fan has a chance to read this, it's just as fun and witty as the show, with great heart. I expected a lot because it's my favourite thing on TV, but this was even better.

My favourite Goldenverse episode is an episode of The Golden Palace, the sequel to The Golden Girls where Blanche, Rose and Sofia decide to run a hotel in Miami. In the best episode of Palace, a food critic drops by to test their restaurant and ends up dead at the table - the girls spend the next 20 minutes of screen time trying to hide the body from other hotel guests, journalists, and a health inspector. I only laugh this much reading P.G. Wodehouse. It's THE BEST and I've always thought a cosy mystery version of the show would do so well!

Enter Murder by Cheesecake, which is everything I hoped for - deeply funny with killer lines, our four girls being their own fabulous selves and a plot that's so bonkers it works. Rose decides to throw the perfect St Olaf wedding for her niece in Miami while Dorothy tries to find a plus one. When her date is found dead in a freezer full of cheesecake and Dorothy is the main suspect, our girls have no choice but to investigate, with hilarious consequences.

I LOVED THIS!!! It's so brilliant, I don't know how the author managed to get each voice right but every girl is perfection and even though we get a lot more of Rose and Dorothy's perspectives than Blanche and Sofia's, the dialog felt exactly right and razor-sharp. Rose's catalogue of St Olaf traditions had me kicking my feet laughing and the writing is incredibly immersive. This is a must-read for any fan of the show and of cosy mysteries, I'm BEGGING for a sequel!

My endless gratitude to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC! Thank you for being such great friends!