Murder by Cheesecake

Share your knowledge of The Golden Girls. If you came to the book already familiar with the characters, did you feel like the book lived up to your expectations? If you’re new to the Golden Girls characters, would you recommend this book as a good entry point to their world?

Friendship is a central theme for The Golden Girls. In what ways did you see their friendships tried and strengthened here?

The past weighs heavily on the shoulders of characters in this book. Rose grapples with proving she’s still a St. Olaf girl, Dorothy sifts through old hurts on the road to new love, Jason seeks to stop his family’s history of taking control over his life, and more. Discuss how you see this theme playing out throughout the novel.

For a portion of the book, Rose says Dorothy is the reason “they were in this mess to begin with.” Did you think her feelings were justified or did you believe that they were misdirected? Why or why not?

As you were reading, which characters were you suspicious of and why? Did you think Henry was a con man or an innocent bystander caught up in some trouble?

Did you ever suspect Henry was a twin? What was your reaction to the reveal?

Were you suspicious of Chip while reading? What clues indicated that he wasn’t to be trusted?

Wedding traditions are very important to Rose in this book. Are there any wedding or marriage traditions from your family or culture that you love?

While all of the Girls are in Murder by Cheesecake, the book largely focuses on Rose’s connection with her past and Dorothy’s desire for a relationship. What are elements of Blanche and Sophia’s lives you’d like to see explored in a future series installment?

As a reader, what draws you to cozy mysteries? What elements do you think are essential for a book to be considered a cozy mystery?

Which would you rather do: plan a last-minute wedding or solve a murder?

Who in this book club is the most likely to be accused of murder, and who’d be the most successful at clearing their name?