Murder by Cheesecake

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.

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.