Given the craze over cozy mystery novels and the enduring popularity of the TV show “The Golden Girls,” it’s hardly any wonder that a book like “Murder by Cheesecake” would be far behind. I’m actually a little surprised that a book featuring these characters has taken this long to appear. But does the author, Rachel Ekstrom Courage, manage to recapture the magic?
Premiering on NBC in 1985, “The Golden Girls” was a smash hit sitcom beloved by millions of viewers. In an era of television centered around family stories like “Family Ties,” “Growing Pains,” and “The Cosby Show,” “Golden Girls” featured a family of a different sort.
Spanning seven seasons, the show followed the lives of four mature women—Dorothy Zbornak (the incomparable Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (television legend Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). They shared a home in the senior-living haven of Miami. Each character brought a unique charm: Dorothy’s sardonic and razor-sharp wit, Rose’s endearing naivety, Blanche’s Southern belle allure, and Sophia’s dry, candid humor.
Golden Girls tackled topics like love, loss, and societal issues, typically through witty banter over coffee and cheesecake in the kitchen of the shared home. On a personal note, it was one of my late mother’s favorite shows. We used to watch it together when I was a teenager.
Do the ‘Girls’ Work in Book Form?
“Murder by Cheesecake,” the first novelized version of the show, transports us right back to that famous yellow kitchen featured in the show, where Rose is having deep anxiety about a family wedding gone awry. Her cousin Nettie can no longer marry in their hometown of St. Olaf due to a fire at the only local hotel.The four women brainstorm solutions to the problem until Rose mentions that Nettie’s fiancé, a nervous but charming man named Jason, has family from Miami. So, why not host the wedding in Miami instead? It’ll be tricky, especially with the need to recreate every peculiar St. Olaf custom. That includes an ostrich ride and the traditional Welcome Tuna Tea, but Rose and the girls are willing to accept the challenge.
Rose becomes a whirlwind wedding planner, assigning roles to her friends and baking an epic number of cheesecakes for the reception. Accommodations are problematic, but Jason’s family offers to host the event at a family-owned hotel in Miami. Nettie and Jason are grateful but wary—afraid that the family’s tendency to be overbearing and controlling might interfere with their special day.
Dorothy and Blanche must also come up with dates for the big day. For Blanche, this likely won’t be much of an issue (those who know the show will get why). Dorothy reluctantly resorts to a VHS dating service to try to locate a suitable beau. She might’ve hit the jackpot with a handsome man named Henry, who’s into gourmet cooking and the saxophone.
Miami Magic
The magic of the original series had much to do with how these characters play off one another in difficult situations. They’re excellent foils, and I was pleased to see that Courage maintained the feel of the dialogue from the original show, including some great zingers.For example, Sophia’s first reaction to the body is to helpfully offer the services of a shady cousin who “knows how to make a situation like this disappear.” When Dorothy first mentions the dating service, Rose cautions to watch out for the Ted Bundersons out there. “Don’t you mean Ted Bundy?” asks Dorothy. Rose being Rose, she explains Bunderson was a man who wooed a friend in St. Olaf who only dated her to steal her cow figurines! Shocking!
While the book drags a bit at the start to get the wedding details and the new characters in place, it thankfully begins to pick up pace once the body is discovered and the mystery begins. Courage wisely tells the story mainly from the point of view of Dorothy and Rose, thus avoiding some of the more awkward thoughts of sex-positive Blanche and the Sophia’s blunt Sicilian attitudes.
Fans will love the book. Non-fans? Even if you’ve never seen the show, there’s a reason why these characters resonate with audiences so effectively—they’re charming, relatable, and a joy to spend time with. Well-recommended.
