I would give this 3.5/5. Rounded to 4.

This is a cute and cozy little mystery that's great for golden girls fans. The author does a great job of showcasing each of the girls personalities with some really funny zingers.

I found it to be mostly centered on Dorothy and rose but has all the girls in it.

The story is not plausible but that's not why I was reading it. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, and you should too !!

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia are the stars of this new cozy mystery series.

Rose finds out her cousin Nettie is getting married, but the venue in St. Olaf has burned to the ground. Nettie and her betrothed have decided to elope, but Rose has other plans. She will plan a perfect wedding in Miami with all the St. Olaf traditions. With help from Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia, she should be able to pull off the week-long events. Blanche is more worried about what she will wear, while Dorothy is pulling out all the stops to come up with a date for the big event. She has decided to try a new VHS dating service.

While Rose tries to find enough herring necessary for all the traditional events, Dorothy goes on a date with a man she connected with on the video service. She soon learns he is not the man she thought he was and decides to attend the wedding with the girls and whoever Blanche brings.

When it is time for the first meeting of the families, Rose has big plans, including cheesecakes, but when she opens up the freezer door at the hotel, she finds much more than her favorite dessert. A dead man face down in one of the cheesecakes. The man just happens to be the man from Dorothy’s awful date. This is bad. Dorothy is the prime suspect, but anyone could have put the man in the deep freeze.

With the wedding coming up fast and all the traditional events that have to happen, the girls become amateur sleuths to catch the real killer, so by the end of the week, Nettie and her groom are hitched, and the killer is behind bars.

I am a huge Golden Girls fan and was so excited to read this book. Being based on a popular television show, readers can easily visualize the characters and hear the voices as they read their words. Their home, the living room, that front door, the kitchen, and the lanai are all firmly planted in our memories. The author had a huge task to capture the characters’ personalities, mannerisms, and actions. That being said, the first interactions felt forced, but they felt more true as the story continued. Blanche, the ever romantic, is set on a younger man, Dorothy, trying to find a man that isn’t Stanley, Sophia with her sharp barbs in every direction, and ditzy Rose brings her St. Olaf stories to life when her relatives come to Miami for the wedding she knows has to be just perfect.

All of that would have made a great episode, maybe a two-parter when you throw in the dead body, but for me, this story missed the cozy mystery mark. The St.Olaf traditions were fun at first, but soon they completely overtook the mystery in the story. Like the show, the book is set in the 1980s, and I loved all the references, Ovaltine, the fashions, and big hair. But every time the murder mystery came to the forefront, it was beaten back by herring, herring, and more herring, and I don’t mean red herrings that are popular in cozy mysteries. I didn’t give up and kept reading. The ending was exciting, the girls were brave and resourceful, but I had the guilty party pinned down early in the story.

Murder by Cheesecake is an entertaining read for fans of the series nostalgic to reconnect with the girls and their humor and sarcasm, but it is very light on mystery. Those who read cozy mysteries and enjoy following the protagonists and clues to solve the whodunit may be disappointed, like me.

This book was utterly delightful.

Rachel Ekstrom Courage brings new life to those hysterical Golden Girls characters - but sprinkles in a cozy murder mystery along the way. She captures those beloved characters in an authentic way, and I laughed out loud on every page.

Rose shares some classic St. Olaf tales in the way only Rose can.

Dorothy's no-nonsense sassy snark rings true.

Blanche flirts with everything that moves to Southern Belle perfection.

The stakes are high. if our Golden Girls can't figure out the true guilty party, Dorothy might go down for murder. All the while, Rose has to throw herself into planning her niece's wedding.

What could go wrong?

Thank you to Hyperion and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions my own.

I loved Golden Girls and had high expectations for this book. I did like it, but it was not anything special compared to other cozy mysteries. I found myself getting bored in the middle of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC and allowing me to give an honest review of this book.

This was perfect for any Golden Girls fans. It was a cozy mystery that was written perfectly to align with the characters we already know and love. I loved it

This was an okay read. If you don’t love golden girls you’re probably not gonna love this one. It’s mostly vibes and golden girls Easter eggs. The audio narrator did a perfect impression of the charecters! 👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me for read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Picture it…Miami…1980 something.
This was incredible! I am a huge Golden Girls fan and this was just the ultimate cozy read about one of my favorite comfort shows. As I was reading through this even the voices inside my head belonged to Rue, Betty, Estelle, and Bea.
This had the sweet people of St. Olaf visiting Miami for the wedding of Rose’s cousin. Rose and the girls have arranged a perfect wedding full of all of the St. Olaf wedding traditions. But what happens when a dead body turns up? A full on Golden Girls investigation, that’s what. This book is so full of humor and heart. And cheesecake.

Ended up DNFing at about 50%. By no means did I think this was a bad book. In comparison to a lot of cozy mysteries I’ve read this was pretty well written. I think this is a very fun premise and the author really does capture the spirit of these characters. The reason for the DNF is I just didn’t find the mystery itself intriguing. I think the wedding/tradition stuff in the first half of the book was too overdone and the character interactions started to feel a little repetitive to me. I think this something I would maybe revisit because like I mentioned I think the concept is a good one and I feel like a lot of people will really enjoy this.

Thanks to Net Galley, who gave me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've never thought of myself as a fan of Golden Girls but I was surprised and impressed that as I read this book, I could hear the characters' voices clearly in my head. In other words, the author captured the personalities, ways of speaking, and essential mannerisms of Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia perfectly. It may be fan fiction, but it's seriously a cut above-- and I think the girls would have loved it.

A mystery in a golden girls episode promises a silly romp and it delivered all the best parts you may or may not remember from the show-- Sophia throwing batty, provocative barbs, Rose with her sunshine and inscrutable St Olaf blorgens, Blanche horny on main while dignified, and Dorothy being righteous yet tolerant of everyone's shenanigans. 

Recommended for: fans of the show, Betty White enthusiasts, adults who grew up without cable in the 90s and saw all the reruns, people about to get on airplanes who want to watch an episode of classic TV in their minds, and anyone who likes a low stakes but not cloyingly cozy mystery.

Review also published on goodreads.

It felt like I stepped into the world of Golden Girls. The book is very cozy and depicts the characters extremely well.

When I got approved to read an ARC of Murder by Cheesecake, I did a happy little Snoopy Dance. Then I got nervous, and sadly, I put off reading it. What if she's not able to capture the feel of the show, of The Girls? What if I don't like the mystery aspect? I am happy to say None of those are true.

The major storyline is about Rose trying to throw a traditional St. Olaf wedding in Miami for her cousin Nettie. She will need a lot of Herring and some help from her friends. Meanwhile, Dorothy is trying to find a date for the wedding. She just wants to find one good man, which she thinks she has done. They have talked and are finally ready to meet. It's not the meet-cute she was hoping for.

Let's get back to the main story. Rose is determined to show her St. Olaf Relatives that she can give Nettie a Traditional Wedding. Even if the Groom's Parents have their own plans. Rose is going to do what's best for Nettie. With everyone's help, she just might do it. Until they find a body in the freezer of The Hotel Nettie's soon to be In-laws' own. Surrounded by Cheesecakes.


Murder by Cheesecake is like sitting down and recapturing the joy you had when you watched an episode. Rachel Ekstrom Courage perfectly captured the feel, the laughter, the sass, and the ambiance. I wish we could watch them act out these stories. If you want to enjoy the Nostalgia, the 80s, Miami, and Stories of Sicily and St. Olaf. Go Buy a Copy Today

I have so many memories of watching The Golden Girls with my mom, grandma and aunt. Even now, when I need a nice show to just relax and watch, I find the reruns and turn back time, just to laugh and enjoy those great actresses and their banter. So when I saw Murder by Cheesecake as a Golden Girls mystery, it seemed right up my alley. Initially, it was just like stepping back into the tv show. The characters, the dialogue and the setting were all spot on. It was like being right in that living room or kitchen with Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia. As the story continued though, I found myself losing interest in the mystery plot of things. That part of the story just didn't grab me and pull me in. That said, I think this book could be exactly the right book for another person and if you like the Golden Girls, I'd say definitely give it a try.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a lovely cozy mystery that warmed my heart because I could hear the characters' voices as though I were watching their television show. I will read any other books in this series to hear their voices again.

When Rose learns her cousin is eloping to Miami, she is determined to throw her a St. Olaf-themed wedding that will guarantee the approval of the family. Unfortunately, the groom's family is equally invested in honoring their own traditions--of pretension and promotion of their business. The two visions have very little overlap.

Dorothy is determined to bring a date to the wedding, even if it means turning to the new VHS-based dating "site." Her first choice seems promising on video and over the phone, but when they meet in person, he seems totally different and ditches her halfway through lunch. When his dead body turns up in the hotel freezer, Dorothy is immediately a suspect. Rose, Blanche, and Sophia are determined to prove Dorothy's innocence--as is she--while helping Rose bring the wedding to fruition.

I confess I have never watched The Golden Girls--too young when it first came out--though I do have a bit of an addiction to watching Instagram reels. From what I can see, this book relies on caricatures of the characters, but it doesn't stop it from being amusing. The portrayal of life in the 1980s was spot-on (as someone who did live through that era). Hopefully the future entries in this planned series will iron out some of the exaggerations. #MurderbyCheesecake #NetGalley

This book did not disappoint! Filled with the suspense of a murder mystery along with the nostalgic humor from the original Golden Girls foursome, this book is best read in one sitting with coffee and cheesecake nearby. Loved it and I want many more! I hope this becomes a series as I was truly impressed with how accurate the characters were portrayed and how clever the storyline was. There is even a cheesecake recipe in the back! I truly felt like I was inside a Golden Girls episode. From references to the show to the way the characters interacted with one another, the authenticity is solid, as is the storyline and writing style. Loved it from beginning to.end!

I'm not even sure how to start with this review. It was like traveling back in time to the 1980's and sitting down in the kitchen wiht Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia, eating cheesecake. The book really mirrored the characters and captured them perfectly. It was amazing and a little weird at the same time. Since I am used to watching the show, and not reading it, I had to shift my perspective while reading.

The girls are getting ready for Rose's cousin's wedding, and yes, of course it is a St. Olaf-ian wedding. The St. Olaf crew has come to Miami for the wedding, but the only way the happy couple can be accepted back in St. Olaf is to abide by the strict St. Olaf wedding traditions. Rose is on it though! She is rearing and ready to go, herring and all.

Dorthy is trying to prep for the wedding by finding a date via a VHS (right???!!!) dating service. She quickly learns that something is off with her date, especially when they find him dead in the freezer at the wedding venue.

I really hope there are more of these. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley! I wanted to like this so much, but it wasn't for me.

After reading a few heavier books, I was looking for a fun, light-hearted mystery. I live in Minnesota, and I'm trying to figure out if the author has any ties to the state or Norwegian heritage because it was over-the-top with the stereotypes and wedding traditions that I think were all made up. Maybe that's the whole 'golden girls' storytelling style that I'm not familiar with, but I wanted more focus on the character development vs. the ridiculous herring balls, a donkey, a clown.... Perhaps I felt a little offended as well? I'm all for making a little fun of silly traditions, but this one went too far for me. Sorry!

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

I unabashedly love the Golden Girls. I grew up in the 80s and watched it in its original run with my mom. We also used to watch the reruns all the time on Lifetime. I own the entire series on DVD. And I always get compliments when I wear my “Stay Golden” t shirt with the girls on it. (FYI, Dorothy is my favorite, hands down).

But I still couldn’t believe it when I found out that they were publishing a Golden Girls tie in series of cozy mystery novels! What a ridiculous,0 wonderful concept! I was very excited when I got an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley right before a family vacation to Miami and the Florida Keys.

This book was so much fun! Some parts of it were a tad clunky, but the author really knows the characters and was able to find their voices. The murder mystery wasn’t bad, but I was mostly just along for the ride. I got a paper copy of the book and gave it to my mother to read - I think she’ll enjoy it too. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

What I Loved:

The Girls. For anyone unfamiliar with the Golden Girls, the popular show followed Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Dorothy’s mother, Sophia as they navigate being "older" single women living in Miami. Three are widows and one is a divorcee, and they all live together in a house Blanche owns. Each of them have strong personalities and can differ in a lot of ways, but at the end of the day, they commiserate over ice cream or cheesecake in the kitchen. Murder by Cheesecake does an excellent job of capturing each woman's voice and mannerisms: Rose's naïve but sweet outlook on life, Blanche's flirtations, Dorothy's practical and brusque tone, and Sophia's wild stories and spontaneous actions. While the plot focuses on Rose's cousin getting married, it is Dorothy whose inner thoughts we spend the most time with as she contemplates finding love in a way she rarely vocalizes. Reading this feels like hanging out with your favorite aunts.

The St. Olaf Traditions. I loved how progressively absurd each wedding tradition is, from the donkey to the outdoor showers, clowns, and of course, cheesecake. Rose's niece must follow them all to access the famous St. Olaf family trust, and intrigue abounds when Rose accuses the village elders of making the task seem Herculean to prevent the new couple from spending the money. I love microcosm cultures, and Murder by Cheesecake had me looking up more references and learning about St. Olaf culture more than the show did.

What Didn't Work for Me:

The Murder. For a cute cozy mystery, the murder felt like a major afterthought to the overall plot. Dorothy's date Henry is found in the freezer dead, and the only reason the Girls get involved is to save the wedding and clear Dorothy of the murder. While there was some good bonding moments as the Girls try to solve the murder, the overall sleuthing process feels very ancillary to the wedding and the resolution of the murder was out of left field. More murder, please.

The Pace and Tone. Similar to the above, because the murder was a secondary plot point, Murder by Cheesecake was all over the place pacing wise. Some moments were all action as the Girls run around looking for clues, some were glacial as the wedding gets sorted in fits and starts. There was a lack of dialogue in parts when the Girls are all split up to try and interview suspects, and all you have is inner monologue that drags a little. The over the top descriptions of all things eighties also slowed the plot down. The author spent too much time telling the reader about how eighties this book is and less time letting the reader feel like they were in the eighties.

I am a huge Golden Girls fan. I have watched the series several times and I adore it each time. So, I was extremely excited about this one. Mystery solving and GG, yes!

I appreciated seeing the girls on paper but this just didn't work for me. There was a mystery. It wasn't great but the storyline was there. It felt secondary to the other plotline. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!