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Murder by Cheesecake

Golden Girls #1 / 2
by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Murder by Cheesecake (Golden Girls #1) by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
⧗ 8.00 / 1
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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.

Things are heating up, and not just because of Blanche’s hot flashes. Rose’s cousin is eloping to Miami, and Rose is playing host. If she can't balance the groom’s family’s snobbery against the traditional St. Olaf wedding week guidelines, her hometown may never accept her cousin again!

Dorothy quickly realizes she needs a date with whom she can exchange wedding-related wisecracks. Turning to a newfangled VHS dating service, she believes she’s found the ideal conversationalist. Unfortunately, what looks good on TV can actually be a total jerk in real life. It seems she’ll just have to enjoy the company of Sophia, Blanche, and whomever Blanche has targeted for a hookup.

As the Girls all pitch in, Rose is thrilled that the tea-and-fish-themed kickoff event is perfect, not a herring out of place. That is until Dorothy’s date is found dead—face-planted in an otherwise scrumptious-looking cheesecake. With every guest a suspect (especially Dorothy) and a marriage on the line, the four besties must ID the real killer, get the should-be-happy couple down the aisle, and make sure nobody from St. Olaf gets lost in the wilds of Miami. It’s up to the Golden Girls to sleuth out a way for friendship and love to win the day!

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MysteryCozy MysteryHumor
Release date: April 15, 2025

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Rachel Ekstrom Courage

Rachel Ekstrom Courage

Rachel Ekstrom Courage has a gift for finding the unease hidden beneath everyday moments. Her thrillers don’t start with a bang—they start with a whisper, a flicker of doubt, the subtle unraveling of something once believed to be safe. That sense of quiet suspense has become a signature in her work, drawing readers into stories where trust is dangerous, the truth is slippery, and the most terrifying things are often left unsaid.

Before stepping fully into the spotlight as an author, Courage spent years behind the scenes in publishing, helping shape the careers of bestselling writers. That experience gave her a rare perspective—an editor’s precision combined with a storyteller’s instinct—and it's visible in the way she crafts tightly layered plots with emotional depth. Her latest young adult thriller, Nothing Bad Happens Here, has been making waves with its chilling portrayal of secrets in small-town America. Named a BookBub Readworthy pick and praised by authors like R.L. Stine, the novel showcases her knack for psychological tension that simmers rather than explodes.

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Courage doesn’t limit herself to one lane. Her foray into cozy mystery with Murder by Cheesecake—a playful homage to The Golden Girls—was selected as an Audible Editors’ Pick and featured in Booklist and Newsweek. It’s a testament to her range: whether she’s leading readers down dark corridors or into crime-solving with cheesecake and sass, she writes with heart and sharp intelligence.

Originally from the Midwest, Courage now writes from a place that feels a bit like her stories—rooted in the familiar but tinged with the unexpected. She shares her behind-the-scenes thoughts in a personal newsletter, Joyful Chaos, connecting with readers who appreciate the honesty, humor, and occasional unpredictability of her creative life.

Her stories might keep you up at night—but it’s the characters and questions they leave behind that will haunt you long after.

Golden Girls

In the Golden Girls mystery series, a familiar quartet of silver-haired icons returns—not just to reminisce over cheesecake, but to chase down killers with sharp wit and sharper instincts. This isn't just a nostalgic stroll down memory lane; it’s a clever, genre-blending twist where cozy mystery meets beloved characters in a new kind of whodunit adventure.

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Set against the vibrant backdrop of Miami, the series kicks off when a seemingly harmless wedding ends in a suspicious death. With Blanche’s flirtatious charm, Dorothy’s dry logic, Rose’s quirky tales, and Sophia’s biting wisdom, the women form an unlikely but irresistible investigative team. Each story brings a blend of light-hearted banter and real stakes, crafting mysteries that feel both fresh and comfortingly familiar.

The heart of the series lies in its tone—equal parts humorous and heartfelt—with layers of intrigue that unfold gradually, inviting readers into a world that balances levity and suspense. It’s not just the nostalgia that makes it work; it’s the way each character evolves through the mystery, their bond deepening as the stakes rise.

This series doesn’t lean on the past—it reimagines it, offering a cozy crime fiction experience that feels timeless and irresistibly fun. Whether you’re here for the clues, the camaraderie, or just a slice of cheesecake on the side, the Golden Girls mysteries are an unexpected delight waiting to be uncovered.


Golden Girls consists of one book and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Murder by Cheesecake (Golden Girls #1)
⧗ 8.00 / 1
Golden Girls Book 2 (Golden Girls #2)
⧗ 9.00 / 2


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