Rachel Ekstrom Courage has masterfully crafted the first installment in the Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series with Murder by Cheesecake, a delightful blend of nostalgia, humor, and intrigue that captures the essence of the beloved television show while adding her own creative flourishes. As someone who grew up watching Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia solve everyday problems with wit and wisdom, I found this novel to be a loving tribute that transcends mere fan fiction to become a genuinely engaging mystery.
The premise is deliciously simple yet perfectly executed: when Dorothy’s date from a VHS dating service turns up dead—face-planted in Rose’s St. Olaf’s Kiss cheesecake—the four friends must solve the murder while ensuring Rose’s cousin Nettie’s wedding proceeds without a hitch. This setup allows Courage to weave together multiple plot lines that feel both organic and satisfying.
Character Authenticity That Honors the Original
The Golden Girls Quartet: Right at Home
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how accurately Courage captures each character’s unique voice and personality. Dorothy’s sardonic wit and intellectual superiority complex shine through every interaction, from her snarky observations about Miami Vice to her careful consideration of the murder investigation like a former substitute teacher approaching a complex problem. Rose’s midwestern naivety and tendency to launch into bizarre St. Olaf stories feel exactly right, especially when she’s explaining why eating your way out of a gingerbread house on Everybody Hide the Corn Day is a legitimate problem-solving technique.
Blanche’s Southern belle sensuality and romantic entanglements with the younger Jorgen provide both humor and heart, while Sophia’s quick-witted zingers and stories from Sicily maintain the perfect balance of exasperation and affection. The author’s ability to maintain these distinct personalities while moving the plot forward is particularly impressive, especially during tense scenes like the kidnapping sequence or the boat chase where each character contributes uniquely to the resolution.
A Mystery Worth Solving
The Investigation Unfolds
The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with enough red herrings and legitimate suspects to keep readers guessing. The revelation that the victim is actually Henry’s twin brother Morty, connected to a criminal enterprise using Miami’s sugar industry as a front, adds layers of complexity to what initially seems like a simple murder of opportunity. Courage deftly balances the investigation with the wedding planning, creating parallel timelines that converge satisfyingly at the climax.
The way the friends divide responsibilities—Rose infiltrating the Bryant family while Dorothy investigates the dating service angle, Blanche gathering social intelligence, and Sophia providing street-smart backup—feels true to their established dynamics while allowing each character to shine. The author particularly excels in showing how these four older women use their life experience and underestimated status to their advantage as amateur sleuths.
St. Olaf Wedding Traditions: A Subplot Rich with Humor
Cultural Clash and Comic Relief
The St. Olaf wedding traditions serve as both comic relief and thematic backbone to the novel. Rose’s desperation to honor these bizarre customs—from the ceremonial butter churning to the Bridal Ribbon Ballet—creates tension with the Bryant family’s sophisticated Miami expectations. This cultural clash provides some of the novel’s funniest moments, particularly when Rose must negotiate between traditions like the “Welcome Tuna Teatime” and the Bryants’ more conventional approach to wedding planning.
The author uses these traditions not just for laughs but to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the lengths we go to honor our heritage. Rose’s journey from feeling inadequate about her St. Olaf roots to proudly asserting them becomes a parallel to the murder investigation—both require her to dig deeper into herself than she initially feels comfortable doing.
Miami as a Character
Setting That Sings
Courage’s Miami pulses with 1980s energy, from the art deco architecture of Ocean Drive to the seedier underbelly where Chip Bryant conducts his illegal operations. The contrast between the sunny beaches where the St. Olaf visitors awkwardly make sand angels and the dark corners where murder plots unfold creates a vivid backdrop that enhances rather than overwhelms the character-driven narrative.
The author’s descriptions of locations—from Dorothy’s cramped positioning in Henry’s doggie door to the chaos of the Coconuts Disco bachelorette party—paint pictures that feel cinematic without slowing the pace. Particularly effective is the use of the Cabana Sun Hotel as both crime scene and recurring meeting place, allowing for natural character interactions while maintaining the mystery’s momentum.
Writing Style and Pace
Balancing Humor with Genuine Suspense
Courage writes with a light touch that honors the original show’s blend of humor and heart. Her ability to shift from laugh-out-loud moments—like Sophia crawling through the doggie door while the others watch—to genuine tension during the boat chase demonstrates impressive range. The dialogue crackles with the same energy fans remember, while the prose descriptions add depth and detail the TV format couldn’t provide.
The pacing occasionally falters during the middle section, where wedding preparations and evidence gathering can feel repetitive. However, these slower moments allow for character development and red herring placement that pay off satisfyingly in the final act. The author’s decision to alternate between different character perspectives keeps the narrative fresh even when the plot might otherwise drag.
Technical Elements of Mystery Writing
Clues, Misdirection, and Fair Play
As a cozy mystery, Murder by Cheesecake follows the genre’s conventions while adding unique touches. The clue about the limp killer, Dorothy’s connection to the victim, and the mistaken identity twist all serve to misdirect without cheating the reader. Courage plants evidence carefully, allowing attentive readers to potentially solve the mystery alongside the characters while maintaining enough complexity to surprise.
The revelation of Chip Bryant’s involvement in smuggling operations using the sugar industry as cover feels both logical and unexpected. The author avoids the common cozy mystery pitfall of making the solution too obvious by giving multiple characters realistic motives and opportunities while maintaining the family-friendly tone the series demands.
Themes and Deeper Meaning
Friendship, Trust, and Second Chances
Beyond the murder mystery, the novel explores themes of friendship’s enduring power, the challenge of trusting new people after betrayal, and the possibility of second chances. Dorothy’s journey from cynicism about dating to cautious hope mirrors the larger narrative about redemption and growth. The friends’ willingness to literally risk their lives for each other reinforces the show’s central message about chosen family.
The contrast between the Bryant family’s wealth and dysfunction and the humble but genuine connections of our four heroines provides social commentary that never feels preachy. Rose’s struggle to balance her Miami life with her St. Olaf heritage speaks to universal experiences of immigration and cultural assimilation.
Minor Criticisms
While the novel succeeds admirably in its primary goals, there are moments where the plot conveniences strain credibility. The ease with which the friends repeatedly encounter suspects and gather information sometimes feels too coincidental, even for a cozy mystery. Additionally, some of the St. Olaf traditions, while funny, border on absurdist in ways that might distance readers unfamiliar with the show’s established comedy style.
The romance subplot between Henry and Dorothy, while sweet, resolves perhaps too quickly given the trauma of discovering a lookalike brother murdered. A deeper exploration of this emotional complexity might have added depth without sacrificing the lighter tone.
Cultural Impact and Nostalgia Factor
A Love Letter to Fans
For Golden Girls fans, this novel feels like reuniting with old friends. Courage captures not just the characters’ speech patterns but their underlying values and relationships. The references to past episodes—like the nudist hotel mix-up—reward longtime viewers while remaining accessible to newcomers. This balance between fan service and standalone storytelling demonstrates remarkable skill.
The 1980s setting, complete with VHS dating services and Miami Vice references, provides nostalgic comfort food for readers who remember the era. However, the themes of female friendship, aging gracefully, and finding adventure later in life remain timeless and relevant to contemporary audiences.
Series Potential
Setting Up Future Adventures
As the first book in a planned series, Murder by Cheesecake successfully establishes the premise for future installments while telling a complete, satisfying story. The epilogue hints at Dorothy’s potential romantic future with Henry while leaving room for new mysteries and relationships to develop. The introduction of supporting characters like Detective Silva and the various wedding guests creates a rich ensemble for future books to explore.
Final Verdict
Murder by Cheesecake achieves what many licensed properties fail to accomplish: honoring the source material while creating something new and valuable. Rachel Ekstrom Courage proves herself a worthy steward of the Golden Girls legacy, crafting a mystery that entertains while celebrating the enduring appeal of female friendship.
For fans of cozy mysteries seeking character-driven stories with humor and heart, this novel delivers abundantly. While it may not revolutionize the genre, it executes its formula with warmth, wit, and genuine affection for its characters that makes the reading experience thoroughly enjoyable.
Recommendations for Similar Readers
Readers who enjoy this book might also appreciate:
- Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy series
- M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin mysteries
- Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden books
For those seeking more Golden Girls content, the companion books and behind-the-scenes materials about the original series provide additional context and enjoyment.
In conclusion, Murder by Cheesecake has a solid mystery construction, faithful character representation, and genuine entertainment value. It’s a promising start to what could become a beloved series for fans of both the original show and cozy mysteries in general. Just don’t read it on an empty stomach—between Rose’s cheesecakes and various St. Olaf delicacies, you’re bound to develop cravings for some comfort food of your own.
