I don't usually read murder mysteries but when I saw this book on NetGalley and saw that it was a cozy, Golden Girls themed murder mystery, I just knew I had to read it!

The characters are perfectly written and the fun part about characters you already know and love is that you can virtually hear them speaking their parts in the story. I loved how true to the original they were while telling a completely different kind of story with them.

The murder mystery was cozy indeed, nothing graphic or horrible which I really appreciated as a more sensitive reader. It happened and then we moved on to solving it. It felt a little like there was too much time spent explaining the St. Olaf wedding traditions at times and I was wishing there was more hints and clues found about what happened to the victim. When you do find out there wasn't really much in the story looking back that would have pointed that way. My curious mind wanted to try and find little clues along the way and found they were kind of missing. There was lots of humour along the way with hidden identities, misunderstandings and shenanigans to keep it lighter and cozy. There was also a fair bit of action where our Golden Girls are in some pretty dire situations that you are hoping they will find a way out of.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would love to read more mysteries starring Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia (who was always my favourite).

I received a digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I grew up watching the Golden Girls and still rewatch it frequently. So when I saw this I was so excited. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. Maybe I just got my hopes up too much. I was hoping it would be similar to the Thursday Murder Club series but it’s not quite up to par with that

As someone who loves The Golden Girls, a cozy mystery featuring the girls was a must buy for me. The narrator did an amazing job voicing all the girls and making them sound just like they did on the show. The story was good and really was a sort of extension of the show. I could see it as a storyline in the show.

A cute fun read! As a Golden Girls fan growing up, I the nostalgic of it all. The author really nailed the characters and it was fun to love able to clearly picture them, voice and all, while reading the book. A fun cozy mystery. Would only recommend for true Golden Girls Fans

I loved the idea of this and was hype to read it when I found out and it was super fun. The characters were perfect and spot on, exactly what I would expect from each Golden Girl.

The mystery was a little bit on the lacking side and I think there are a couple of loose ends that take away from this a little.

I still really enjoyed it and would love to see more from this series!

If you love the Golden Girls t.v. show, then this book is for you! I felt like I was experiencing a multi episode arc from the beginning of this book to the end! 5⭐️. Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC ebook copy!

This book was truly a delight to read. Who doesn’t love The Golden Girls and cheesecake? Mix those two with some murder and it’s a crazy ride.

I can’t wait to read what’s next for The Golden Girls and their crime solving adventures. I enjoyed the story and the wit and banter was very nostalgic.

This was fun!
I was skeptical at first but it surprised me.
Golden girls will always be one of the best shows ever and this cozy mystery is perfect for fans like me.

Author Rachel Ekstrom Courage absolutely nails the voice of each of the beloved Golden Girls characters in this cozy mystery! It wasn't especially suspenseful or serious, for the most part, but the plot kept moving at a good pace. GG fans will feel loads of nostalgia with this story, including chats around the table while eating cheesecake, Saint Olaf stories a-plenty from Rose, and the ever-present sarcasm of both Sophia and Dorothy. My only negative was that the voices were so spot-on that I felt like I was waiting for a non-existent studio audience to laugh. The way the jokes were paced felt almost like laugh pauses were expected. But saying this is also a compliment because it is a testament to how fully Courage captures the voice of each character many of us fell in love with decades ago.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

I’m going to be honest this book just wasn’t for me. It took me from the time I received it back in February until April 30th to finish it. I started it the day I got it and didn’t open it up again until late April.

JUST BECAUSE IT WASN’T FOR ME DOESN’T MEAN IT ISN’T FOR YOU!

It took forever for something to happen and then once something happened it was almost like to much happened and it was hard to keep up with. I loved the idea of the book I just don’t know if I completely expected it to be like it was.

This was SUCH a fun read! Rachel definitely nailed the characters voices, it really feels like you’re watching the show! I used to watch with my grandma when I was little, and reading this book, I felt like I was a kid again sitting on the couch with her.

The murder mystery aspect was very well done also. I loved reading about the antics of the women as they tried to solve the murder of Dorothy’s wedding date, a crime for which Dorothy herself is a suspect! The killer reveal had me on the edge of my seat and wasn’t too easily spotted from far away. Very excited to learn this is the first in a series and can’t wait to read the next one!

This book was a HOOT to read! It's clear the author is a true fan of The Golden Girls and captured their personalities and mannerisms. The mystery was decently intriguing but also delightfully over the top. A fun light-hearted mystery and I'd happily read more in this series!

What a treat! It's a huge challenge to live up to the over-the-top characters and sharp sense of humor that made Golden Girls a hit. I think Rachel Ekstrom Courage did a fantastic job of honoring the original show while weaving in a cozy mystery plot. The '80s of it all made it an especially fun read. I can't wait to see what trouble the girls get themselves into next!

I loved this! Was fun take on a beloved, classic group of characters. The humor was there just as I had hoped. This met all of my expectations!

BOOK REVIEW ✨

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Courage

“When Dorothy’s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf themed wedding Rose is hosting.”

Rating: 4⭐️
Genre: Cozy mystery
Yes, no, or maybe: Duh yes!

Read if you like:
-hilarious one liners
-plot twist
-amateur sleuths
-Golden Girls meets Murder She Wrote

This book was everything I love in a cozy mystery! Lovable amateur sleuths, funny one liners, and a plot twist to keep you on your toes! I will 100% be continuing this series, so keep ‘em coming Rachel!!!

Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia are at it again along with more characters to fall in love with. Rose is desperately trying to throw together the ideal St. Olaf wedding for her sweet niece and the girls are there to help. While Dorothy is helping Rose find the best venue, she is looking for a nice date to take to the wedding. But all the sudden Dorothy’s wedding date is found dead in the hotel freezer and now she’s the number one suspect! Between making the famous herring wedding balls and finding a donkey for the groom to ride (don’t ask), the girls are trying to clear Dorothy’s name and save this wedding!

Why wasn’t this book 5⭐️?
Honestly, it was just missing the “5⭐️” feel! I’m pretty picky with that final star. But this book is the ideal cozy mystery!

This book was a lot of fun! It was easy to read and very entertaining. Pick this one up when you’re looking for a good time.

When I read the synopsis I thought this sounded interesting and fun. When I started the book it took me a long time to get into it. It was really dull in the beginning with a lot of random details that I didn't think needed to be in there at the time. The story started picking up midish way, but really the last 30% of the book was the best part. It ended up being funny and cute, but it was a little bit longer than I thought it needed to be. Also the details were important to the end of the story because it all tied together.

Murder by Cheesecake is the first book in the Golden Girls mystery series and it did not disappoint. What happens when Dorthoy's date ends up dead and a St. Olaf themed wedding is threatened that Rose is hosting? Make sure to pick up this page turning read to find out. All the characters in this were great and it kept me guessing until the end. The author wrote this well and I hope that this will be a series. Overall, this is one that I enjoyed reading and would recommend to any reader who loves mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this read in exchange of my honest review of Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage.

As a longtime Golden Girls fan, I loved getting the chance to jump back into the world of Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia. The characters felt spot-on—true to the originals and not overly modernized or off-base, which made it easy to settle in and enjoy the ride. The St. Olaf references were a bit over-the-top at times, but it felt true to Rose’s history of wild storytelling. The writing was slower than I usually go for, and not entirely my style, but it fit the tone and gave space for nostalgia to breathe. I also really appreciated how easy it was to picture the scenes in my head - the author leaned into familiarity just enough to make it comforting, without over-explaining. All in all, a fun little return to Miami that fans will appreciate!

This was...ok. It was fun for what it was: fan fiction. It was very fun to see the Golden Girls in a different format, and come to life on the page instead of watching them on TV. I feel like Rachel captured the essence of the Golden Girl's personalities, and although the descriptions of things happening were a bit too much, I enjoyed the witty banter. That's about where the fun ended for me, I enjoy the occasional cozy mystery, but this one didn't hit like I had hoped. That being said, this isn't a frequently read genre for me, so please take my review with a grain of salt.

This is a cozy mystery, featuring the Golden Girls that we all know and love from the television show. Rose is busy helping plan a wedding in the traditional St. Olaf fashion for her niece. Dorothy has been searching for a man to bring to the wedding, but after finally going on a date with one, she finds him dead in a freezer at the hotel the wedding is being held at. As the women all work to make the wedding, and all it's absurd traditions, happen, they now also must clear Dorothy's name.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but was pleasantly surprised. It balances cozy and mystery perfectly, and I enjoyed the comedic relief built into the story. The author did a great job with the character's personalities, and I loved the way that they all worked together to make the wedding happen while simultaneously helping Dorothy. It definitely felt unrealistic at times, but was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC!