Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Murder by Cheesecake serves up a nostalgic treat for Golden Girls fans, delivering authentic character voices that capture Dorothy’s wit, Rose’s sweetness, Blanche’s sass, and Sophia’s razor-sharp humor. The pages are sprinkled with nostalgic Easter eggs, making it feel like slipping back into a familiar living room in Miami. The tone stays light and fun—breezy entertainment that works well as a comfort read. The playful plot tie-in—a St. Olaf–themed wedding interrupted by a cheesecake-related murder—provides a quirky hook. However, the mystery takes a backseat to the character banter and wedding chaos. Some characters, particularly Blanche and Sophia, feel underutilized, and the mystery is not fully engaging, offering fewer opportunities for readers to piece together clues alongside the cast. A few pacing flaws—slow stretches of internal monologue and a too-quick wrap-up—keep it from reaching peak cozy mystery satisfaction. While the whodunit may not be the star of the show, Murder by Cheesecake succeeds as a witty, nostalgic romp that celebrates friendship, humor, and cheesecake-fueled chaos. Fans of the series will likely forgive its mystery shortcomings in favor of spending a little more time with four old friends.
Title: Murder by Cheesecake
Author: Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Series: Golden Girls #1
What to expect:
*St. Olaf wedding in Miami
*VHS dating service
*Dead wedding guest
Pros:
Very cute novel based on the Golden Girls television show, fans of the show will enjoy this book! There is absolutely no way to not picture those feisty ladies throughout this book.
Cons:
No cons, a very cute read.
Safety:
Death of a side character, no graphic details.
Format: Libby ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️
Characters: Sophia, Dorothy, Rose, & Blanche (FMC’s)
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
I’d rather just watch a re-run
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book it was such a fun cozy murder mystery. As a fan of The Golden Girls I could definitely see this playing out as an episode as I read it.
While Rose is trying to plan her cousins wedding, making sure all the traditions from their home are incorporated into the festivities, there is one addition that wasn’t in the list. A dead body face down in one of Rose’s homemade cheesecakes in a freezer at the Grooms family hotel.
Now the friends have to band together to try and not only solve this mysterious murder but also plan a wedding full of St. Olaf traditions.
While Rose is trying to plan her cousins wedding, making sure all the traditions from their home are incorporated into the festivities, there is one addition that wasn’t in the list. A dead body face down in one of Rose’s homemade cheesecakes in a freezer at the Grooms family hotel.
Now the friends have to band together to try and not only solve this mysterious murder but also plan a wedding full of St. Olaf traditions.
I mean. For sure I could hear the voices of each character in my head, but I had a hard time slugging through this one. There just wasn’t much to compel me to pick it up over other distractions.