Review: Murder By Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

Picture it. Adelaide 2025. I'm walking through my favourite bookshop, passing the crime section when I turn around and I just happen to spot ...

The Golden Girls?

The hilarious 1980s sitcom, back in the form of a delightful cosy mystery titled Murder by Cheesecake?  

Bring it on!

Murder By Cheesecake is the first in a soon to be series of cosy mysteries staring Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia. Rose has been tasked with organising a traditional St Olaf style wedding (complete with lots of silly traditions) for her beloved niece and the others are doing their best to pitch in, especially as the groom's snobbish family aren't all that keen on the idea of a small, quirky wedding. However, things don't truly go awry until Dorothy's unpleasant date for the wedding is found dead in the freezer, his face buried in a traditional St Olaf cheesecake. Worse still, Dorothy is the prime suspect and she and the girls need to move fast to clear her name and keep the wedding on track.

This was a delightful read from start to finish. The author keeps a steady flow of nostalgia as she stays true to the characters, even whilst taking them out of their traditional half hour sitcom setting. Consequently, it was a joy to read, and I found myself laughing along as they bumbled their way through detective work and planning a wedding. The plot mostly features Rose and Dorothy, so I am wondering if the next book will focus on Blanche and Sophia. (Time will tell, I suppose.)

Overall Murder By Cheesecake is a fun read that is sure to impress old and new fans of The Golden Girls alike.

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