Murder by Cheesecake brings back the 80s friend group from The Golden Girls. In the book, they plan a wedding, try to find a date for the wedding (and life in general), and solve a murder.
The jokes (and the sarcasm) are still as funny as ever. However, I did notice a few missed notes with the characters. Rose seemed even ditzier than in the series. I don’t recall Dorothy wearing a skirt even once during the show. Both Blanche, the sexpot, and Dorothy’s mom, Sophia, do seem exactly as I remember them from the television series all those years ago.
The story had a great start with Rose trying to stuff all the crazy St. Olaf traditions into a Miami wedding. However, it just goes on and on well past funny. I enjoyed the 80s references to items long forgotten that were ubiquitous during that decade. Video (tape) dating, indoor malls, big hair, freakishly large shoulder pads, and Ovaltine (cocoa that tasted like the iron it was fortified with) are just a few that I enjoyed. The mystery was easy to solve without many red herrings distracting the reader from the who benefits question of motive.
Overall, Murder by Cheesecake will be fun for Golden Girls fans or anyone who remembers the 1980s. It is light on mystery but humorous throughout. 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me with an advanced review copy.