If you watch the credits roll on the finale episode of The Golden Girls and think to yourself "I want just one more adventure with the girls", then look no further. If you ever though to yourself "Sophia Petrillo seems like she would be handy during a murder investigation", this is the book for you. If you long for 80s fashion, technology, and pop culture, you need this book in your life. This is a sweet, charming cozy that contains everything we love about our four favorite ladies of a certain age. From the biting wit to the supportive conversations, to the reliance on cheesecake as a coping mechanism, it's all here for fans of the show. I hope this is a series starter and readers will be able to look forward to many more mysteries with Miami's golden-est detectives.

This is the perfect book for anybody who is a golden girls fan and enjoys all of the references From the 80s. It really is a cozy mystery. The author was able to capture the essence of all four ladies. As I was reading it, I was hearing their voices in my head and seeing them like I was actually watching this as a TV show. I will admit there were some parts that were a little silly, but it was a great read to just cozy up on the couch and experience. My favorite ladies solving a mystery. I really hope they are going to be more in this series.

A Golden Girls mystery series is something I didn't know I wanted but I am so happy it exists. I have watched this show throughout my whole life. I have fond memories of watching with loved ones, some of them aren't here anymore. One memory in particular I was watching with my grandma. And it was the one where they went away for the murder mystery weekend!

So it's safe to say Golden Girls means a lot to me and I was delighted to discover this book. I don't really read cozy mysteries but I have tried them when they seem not so cozy. I would say Murder by Cheesecake is the perfect blend of sitcom and crime show. And yes, it does feel like you're watching The Golden Girls just in a mystery setting. The author did a great job bringing the characters to life and staying true to them. I was laughing within the first few pages and felt so happy the whole time I was reading.

The whole plot is definitely something the Girls would get wrapped up in. Rose goes out of her way to host a wedding for her cousin and she makes sure every single St. Olaf tradition is upheld. She also has to keep the groom's family from taking over. Meanwhile Dorothy needs a date for the wedding and she thinks she found the right guy through a video dating service. She meets him in person beforehand and it doesn't go well.

When that guy is found dead, Dorothy becomes the main suspect. That's when the Girls play detectives in the hopes of clearing Dorothy's name and having the wedding go off without a hitch. It was fun reading about them donning disguises and snooping around. There was plenty of humor to balance out the darker stuff. The plot unfolded perfectly and had some good twists.

I'm certain 99% of the people that will read this book are already fans of the show. But I would definitely recommend Murder by Cheesecake to anyone who likes a fun cozy mystery. I already can't wait for the next one in the series!

Thank you Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early and thank you Rachel Ekstrom Courage for writing it!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have never read a cozy murder mystery before but I had to read a book about the Golden Girls.

It was a cute read. Easy to see the characters getting into the shenanigans. I think having a prologue to explain the wedding situation may help with the flow of the book. Introducing Nettie and her wedding and then the wedding woes felt a little rushed. One thing I had to remind myself is the that the book is set in the 80s, so the week of planning for the wedding may have been plausible.

The murder investigation was a fun ride. A few of the third act twists happened that felt slapped together. And could have been drawn paced out a little or connected better to the plot.

The moment I saw this book I knew I had to read it, and it did not disappoint! I'm so glad to hear that it's the first in a series.

Rose's niece is getting married to an "outsider" - a young man who hasn't quite proven himself to the St. Olaf crowd, and with the wedding now taking place in Miami, Rose needs to make sure every single tradition is honored. Meanwhile, Dorothy gives a new dating service a try and it does not quite go the way she hopes, to say the least!

This was pure comfort - 100% sitcom shenanigans and wacky characters, but our Golden Girls are treated so well and I am sure looking forward to the next adventure.

Being a huge fan of The Golden Girls, I was really excited when I heard about this book. Would it live up to my expectations? How closely would it be to the actual show as far as the characters went and how the area was described? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The way the author wrote about Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophie, it was like going back to visit old friends. She did a great job with the whole story. I highly recommend Murder by Cheesecake whether you're a Gold Girls fan or not..

ARC provided by NetGalley/Hyperion Avenue for an honest review.

3.75 stars. As a huge GG girlie, I wanted to absolutely love this. I mean, Rose planning a St. Olaf wedding (numerous odd traditions and all) in Miami and throw in Dorothy’s unfortunate dating life, mix in a dead body and the senior citizen best friends bumbling around trying to solve the case to keep the wedding on track…what more could you want?

It just wasn’t what I was hoping for completely. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, it made me chuckle out loud a couple of times, but I feel like Rose specifically was a tad too out of character for me for the first third of the story. I understand that it’s different writing for the characters and they quite obviously wouldn’t be the same, I just felt it was a little too far from the original at first. It righted itself about midway for me, so I still found the read pleasant, it just wasn’t my favorite cozy mystery. Still worth the read if you are a GG fan.

I felt like I was watching the tv show. The descriptions in this book you could totally picture everything. It made me sentimental making me miss the show. It was a fun/funny book and enjoyed reading it.

Thank you Netgalley & Hyperion Avenue for providing this ARC! All opinions are my own.

Murder by Cheesecake is a delightful and fun whodunit that will charm both cozy mystery lovers and Golden Girls fans. The story cleverly weaves in references to the beloved show, making it easy to smile at the familiar nods, especially if you’re a fan. One of the highlights was learning about Saint Olaf’s quirky traditions, adding a unique and funny layer to the story. Overall, this was an engaging and lighthearted read, perfect for anyone looking to solve a mystery while reminiscing about the Golden Girls’ world.

As a Golden Girls fan this did not disappoint! I felt like I was reading an episode, so well written and researched. I never wanted it to end, loved it. I can’t wait for the next book. Thank you NetGallery.

I felt like I was watching the Golden Girls show! The dialogue, the outfit and decor descriptions were so good and so 80s! The mystery itself was good, but I think the main aspect for me was the Golden Girls nostalgia. Great read.

Thank you to Net galley for the arc! This was the book of my dreams! Such a comforting, cozy book inspired by my absolute comfort show! Something I really loved about this book was the fact that it felt like watching the show with a twist of murder mystery. Such a fun read and I hope the author never stops writing these.

Picture it, Miami and you feel as though you are on an epic adventure with the amazing Golden Girls.
First I have to thank Net Galley for the advanced reader copy, as well as Hypertension Avenue. The girls, Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia are along for the ride with Rose as she plans the wedding for her niece who really isn't her niece, lets face it anyone from St Olaf is confusing at the best of times let alone trying to figure out the gene pool that well , to be honest isn't very deep. Between making sure there is enough tuna and herring, Rose has also decided to make , what else? cheesecakes for the wedding rehearsal . Upon opening the fridge at the hotel, the girls are faced with more than cheesecake when a dead body is found in the fridge. This book was a very easy 5 star read, if I were able to give it a million stars, it still wouldn't be enough . Murder by cheesecake gives us an amazing reunion with our favorite ladies as well as a great plot, many laughs with mystery and murder. I stayed up well past my bedtime reading this, and have zero regrets. I only wish I could read it again for the first time, because this masterpiece will forever hold a special place in my heart.

I love anything Golden Girls - so I was excited to see there was a cozy mystery featuring the girls. It did not disappoint. Loved the witty banter between the array of characters (and suspects) A fun whodunit mixed with GG flair = perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really felt like I was watching an episode of Golden Girls!!

With that being said, I really didn’t enjoy the writing of this book. The banter was great, but the whole book was like reading a conversation or filler information. Too much St. Olaf traditions to keep up with and not enough murder mystery.

There’s a lot of potential for this book and it was a great palette cleanser for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC copy!

Murder by Cheesecake was an absolute joy. It was spot on for what a Golden Girls book should be. Five stars!!

This book is a joy to read, especially for Golden Girls fans! The author expertly captures the essence of the beloved characters, bringing them back to life with witty banter, heartwarming moments, and even a light mystery. The references to the show are spot on, making it feel like the girls are right there with you, sharing their laughs and friendship. If you love cozy mysteries or the original series, this is a must!

4.00 stars
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This was such a fun read! If you're a Golden Girls fan this would be the perfect book for you, the author does an amazing job at portraying characters we all know and love. There's so much banter and witty jabs in the conversations, it made me fall in love with these girls all over again!

In Murder by Cheesecake, Rose is tasked with planning the wedding (including several St. Olaf) traditions for her cousin Nettie's big day. Everything is going as swimmingly as possible, that is, until a body is found dead in the hotel freezer. To make matters worse? Dorothy recognizes it to be the man she went on a date with a few days ago - making her a prime suspect.

I was cackling while reading, I can only imagine the group getting up to their antics while trying to solve the murder all while trying to prove Dorothy's innocence. If you're looking for a solid mystery, you may not find it here, but I think the characters make up for it. I can't wait to continue on with this series, and I hope that the others bring just as many nostalgic vibes as this one did.
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I would like to thank Hyperion Avenue, Rachel Ekstrom Courage, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Murder by Cheesecake in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions formulated are my own. Murder by Cheesecake is scheduled to be published on April 15th, 2025. You can pre-order your copy today.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this cozy Golden Girls themed mystery. Many times I was reading it, it took me back to a specific episode and mixed right in seamlessly with the show. The characters were accurately portrayed and the murder mystery theme was perfect! Highly recommend if you are a Golden Girls fan!

2.75

This cozy murder mystery brings together two of life’s greatest joys: cheesecake and Golden Girls. As a fan of true crime and the sassiest seniors on TV, I was SO pumped to get my hands on this ARC. But alas, like a cheesecake left out in the sun, this one didn’t quite set.

The premise: Rose’s niece is getting married, and in the midst of planning the nuptials, a dead body turns up in a freezer full of cheesecake. Unfortunately, what starts as a promising whodunit turns into a plodding tale that’s heavy on St. Olaf folklore and light on the actual crime-solving.

Let me be clear: I love Rose and her quirky St. Olaf stories as much as anyone, but by the 57th recounting of Scandinavian wedding rituals, I felt like I was in a hostage situation. Meanwhile, the murder itself was treated like a party guest no one invited—barely acknowledged and shoved to the back. Murder She Wrote this was not.

And for a book that drags through 90% of its runtime, the ending felt like it came hurtling at me like a pie to the face. One minute, I’m drowning in filler; the next, the mystery’s wrapped up with all the care of Blanche shoving her latest date out the door before dawn. Bye y’all!

That said, I do think there’s potential here, tighter editing and a better balance of murder-to-wedding ratios, this could be a delightful series. I’ll keep an eye out for book two and hope the kinks get worked out.

Final grade: C-, not enough murder or cheesecake