Firstly, thank you NetGalley and Hyperion avenue for my ARC!! As someone who grew up watching The Golden Girls, Murder by Cheesecake immediately caught my attention, and it delivered exactly what I was hoping for, a nostalgic, cozy mystery that stayed true to the humor and likeness of the TV show. The mystery itself is lighthearted and fun, perfectly in line with the cozy mystery genre. I think fans of the show will appreciate the familiar banter between the girls and the engaging whodunit aspect of the story. Overall I think it was a great story and a good palate cleanser from the books I typically pick up but I look forward to continuing this series!

This had so much potential and it’s not bad. But there are a few issues that I hope the author works out before writing the second in the series.

First, the pacing is off. I’m assuming this has to do with it being the first book, but so much time is spent on the backstory of the wedding and the banter at the beginning that I actually forgot this was a murder mystery.

The book also has some weird tonal issues. It’s starts so broad that I felt like the author was writing for a laugh track. But there are some lovely notes with Dorothy dating at a certain age and the support between the ladies. They don’t exactly gel well yet.

I also thought there were too many plot elements that weren’t logical. I can’t share much beyond that without spoilers, but this seems to be a cozy mystery problem for me, so take it with a grain of salt.

The best thing I can say is that this author obviously loves the Golden Girls. And the idea of the ladies solving murders in Florida is a delight, so I really want more of these. But I want her to fix the kinks before the second one.

The premise that a funny, cozy mystery with the characters of the TV show The Golden Girls was an immediate attraction.

Sadly, this book did not meet my expectations. As I was reading it, I kept trying to match the TV characters with the protagonists in the book, but unfortunately that did not work for me. I also could not disengage and try to imagine brand new characters… that also did not prove possible.

The plot was a bit unbelievable, and I expected to laugh at funny passages like in the TV show but instead found most scenes a bit absurd.

The book was well written, and I enjoyed some parts of it, but it did not motivate me to continue reading this series if more books are published in the future.

I thank Net Galley and Hiperion Avenue for making an advance reader’s copy for me to read and write a personal review.

What a fun read! I felt like I was right there sitting at the kitchen table with Rose, Sophia, Dorothy, and Blanche in an episode of The Golden Girls!

Right off the bat, I could tell that our author has probably binge-watched GG a time or two... and may even have a special place in her heart for Rose. (But who doesn't, right?!)

I did spot a few inconsistencies, which distracted me from the story, but I expected that going into this story. While our author did an amazing job and did her homework on the '80s, I couldn't help but feel some disconnect between this book and the TV show I loved so much.

My overall experience with this book was very positive. I especially enjoyed the recipe at the end! ;) I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries or The Golden Girls!

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC!

If you’ve watched the golden girls you will love this book. It combines a mystery and the funny antics of the girls. Rose’s family has always been a little crazy so the events at her niece’s wedding are expected. Dorothy makes a bad decision and the trouble begins. You definitely need to know the characters and their personalities to understand much of the references, especially the St Olaf references.
The book was amusing and typical golden girls with a twist.
Some of the scenes seemed like something out of the Flintstones or like watching a cartoon, but it was fun and enjoyable. Can’t help but love anything related to the Golden Girls because of their humor and their heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue Publishers for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun with Murder by Cheesecake! I loved the nostalgic Golden Girls vibes and the cozy mystery charm. It was so witty just like the show and I’ll recommend this to my Golden Girls loving family and friends.

As a big fan of the "Golden Girls" back in the day, I was excited to read this book.

Rose is busy planning a St Olaf wedding with all the town traditions for her niece. Dorothy is tired of going by herself to events and decides to join a dating service. After viewing many potential candidates on VHS tape (yes, VHS) she contacts one of the men and sets up a time to meet. At the meeting, the guy is acting weird and eventually, excuses himself from the table to use the restroom and never returns. Dorothy is upset and throws herself into helping Rose with the wedding plans. At the first event for the wedding, Rose discovers a dead body in the hotel freezer. The police questioned all the girls but particularly focus on Dorothy because her name and phone number were in the decease's pocket. The girls take it upon themselves to solve the murder.

It's a cozy and the over usage of adjectives just about drove me nuts but it was a quick read and bought back fond memories of the show.

Rose’s niece is getting married to a young man from Miami and due to complications in St. Olaf, the wedding is moved to Miami where chaos ensues. Just like watching an episode of the classic television series “The Golden Girls”.

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

This was my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last! It kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

If you can read this without hearing the voices of their television counterparts, I can only assume you’ve never seen the Golden Girls. I was looking forward to settling into this cozy mystery, but the nostalgia of the characters was the main thing going for it. The solution to the mystery was unearned; I won’t spoil it, but there were no clues that led to the solution, so reading the book won’t spoil it either until it drops it on you. And if you don’t already know the Girls, you won’t get to know them, as more time is spent on the huge supporting cast than on the main characters. I do hope to see more in the future, for nostalgia’s sake, but I hope they are better.

Rose is helping to plan a St. Olaf wedding in Miami. Dorthy finds a date through a VCR tape type service. She wants a date for the wedding. When the girls find a dead body in the hotel freezer things get interesting.

When I saw this book up for request, I couldn't click fast enough. It's truly a dream come true. This show is my favorite show ever!! I loved every second of this mystery. It was like being dropped into any episode of Golden Girls. Right down to the yellow phone in the kitchen and the witty dialogue. The characters were right on and so perfect. The author did her homework. I thought it was well written and just FUN! I hope there will be more!!

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries and nostalgic friendships, Murder By Cheesecake is an absolute treat. The perfect blend of humor, heart, and mystery, this debut novel shines a spotlight on Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia as they navigate a web of family drama, wedding shenanigans, and, of course, a murder investigation.

The plot kicks off with an unexpected twist—Dorothy’s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, and suddenly, a perfectly planned St. Olaf wedding and an elaborate cheesecake are ruined. What follows is a delightful romp through the complexities of Miami’s wedding scene, mixed with all the sassy, quick-witted banter we know and love from the Golden Girls.

The characterization of each beloved friend is spot on. Rose’s overly enthusiastic hosting skills, Blanche’s flirtatious antics, and Dorothy’s sarcasm are all captured with such charm that it’s impossible not to smile at every page. And of course, Sophia’s dry humor is the perfect punch to each scene. The dynamic between the four women brings an infectious energy to the story, making the investigation just as fun as the mysteries themselves.

The murder investigation itself is cleverly woven into the narrative, keeping you guessing with every new lead. The unexpected date, the potential suspects, and the looming wedding give the plot a delightful sense of urgency, while the cozy atmosphere keeps things lighthearted and enjoyable.

This book strikes the right balance between mystery and humor, and if you’re looking for a light, fun, and thoroughly entertaining read, look no further. It’s perfect for fans of *Golden Girls* who want to revisit their favorite characters in a new setting, or anyone who enjoys a well-crafted cozy mystery. Whether you’re a St. Olaf native or not, you’ll love the witty banter, the intriguing mystery, and the heartwarming moments that make this book a must-read!

Maybe this would have a degree of charm if you were a Golden Girls superfan, but for those of us who were only ever casual viewers at best….. no. This is not for us.

It is SO LONG. The series quirks that are entertaining for 23 minutes at a time will kill you dead when stretched out over 300+ pages. Shut the fuck up about St. Olaf’s unholy wedding traditions, Rose. Just shut up.

And the author is so concerned with seeing how many references to the show and the ‘80s in general she could cram into the book that she didn’t bother developing the mystery (also, the Girls don’t solve the mystery — they stupidly accept an invitation from the killer who confesses while trying to kill them as well — so I don’t see a lot of promise in a series of books with them as amateur detectives).

Someone else described this book as reading as though the author had fed a bunch of Golden Girls episodes into AI and told it to write a mystery novel, and that’s the most accurate thing I’ve read in

This was such a quick and fun/cozy read. I love that it’s going to be a series and I can’t wait to read more. Reading it definitely felt like watching an episode of the Golden Girls which took me back to my childhood and watching it with my grandmother. The author captured the personalities of all the women just perfectly. I don’t want to spoil the story but what happens at the wedding shower is a big shock and just had me wanting to read more! If you love cozy mystery books or even if you don’t normally and just want a fun read, definitely give this book a try! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

Thank you for being a friend~

Murder by Cheesecake is like a 3 hour Golden Girls Special about Rose's Hometown of St. Olaf and Dorothy trying to solve a murder mystery. I think the best way to imagine this book is as if you were watching Golden Girls. The imagery and the words perfectly encapsulate how the show would have looked. While we get some new perspectives of the inner thoughts of the girls and new cast and local. This was a dream to read and imagine my favorite show come out with murder mystery special.

The author has respect for the original source material with clever easter eggs of the Butter Queen incident, the time girls got arrested in a Ladies of the night sting, and Sophia telling people to imagine Sicily back in her day. There is something for everyone, but for new comers. They should definitely take some time to watch a couple episodes to enjoy this novel to the fullest.

I really enjoyed reading this book. If felt like I was reading and visualizing an episode. I hope there are more books in the series. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

A cute cozy mystery featuring our favorite ladies!
If you take the book at a surface level for what is it, this is a great cozy easy read. It did feel a little long winded but overall it was an entertaining read.

This is a quaint and cute cozy mystery that was so fun to read. The author stays true to the characters we know and love. If you're a Golden Girls fan, you will definitely want to pick up this series starter.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance readers copy.

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. I loved this book. I am a big Golden Girls fan. When I found out that there was going to be a cozy mystery about the Golden Girls I was very excited. This book is very well written and very humorous. Rose throwing a St. Olaf wedding in Miami for her Nettie. Dorothy wants to find a date for the wedding and all goes wrong. Blanche never changes with her always talking about men and her beauty. Sophia and her famous quotes and sayings... A man is found murdered at the hotel where the wedding is being held Dorothy prime suspect. I love how all the women get together to clear Dorothy's name and find the killer. I hope there will be more in this series.

This was a fun Golden Girls mystery! I would slate this under cozy mystery with a touch of quirkiness. You will love this book if that's your go-to genre. As a Golden Girls fan this book hits all the fun references and sass of our four ladies.

The vibes:
st olaf themed wedding
murder mystery
cheesecake
video dating of the 80's
miami hotels
goats and mackerel (thanks, Rose!)
golden girls go in disguise

Dropped a star because the plot twist and a couple plot points were a little too cheesy for me, but was in keeping with the show theme, so I still gave it four stars. It was a fun adventure!