By Angie E.

Murder by Cheesecake: a Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom reads like a “recently unearthed” never-before-seen episode of the beloved sitcom and delivers everything you’d want from a sun-soaked Miami murder romp: sass, suspense, and cheesecake-fueled sleuthing. And It nails the tone, rhythm, and warmth of the original show. 

The book opens with the ladies doing what they do best—confiding in each other over sweets. But when a suspicious death rocks their retirement rhythm, the girls ditch bingo night for crime-solving. Picture Dorothy’s deadpan deduction skills, Rose’s delightfully backward logic, Blanche’s irresistible charm, and Sophia’s spicy zingers, which you can practically hear in Estelle Getty’s voice. 

Dorothy’s date-turned-dead-body is found face-first in dessert, threatening to derail Rose’s cousin’s nuptials and ruin a perfectly good buffet. With every guest a suspect (including Dorothy), the Golden Girls must juggle wedding chaos, Blanche’s romantic escapades, and Sophia’s sass to crack the case. It’s a cozy whodunit frosted with friendship, frolic, and just a hint of fish-themed hors d’oeuvres (St. Olaf, anyone?). 

Every clue, every misstep, and every sugary morsel of cheesecake drips with vintage Golden Girls flair and familiar humor. It’s not just a mystery, it’s a nostalgia-packed escape and a reminder of sitcom television at its best.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.