Eric and Andrea dig into the first Golden Girls–branded cozy, unpacking how a date gone wrong in a hotel freezer collides with Rose’s over-the-top St. Olaf–themed wedding week—cheesecake, snobbery, and all. They flag that this opener reads like “Book 1” in a series and centers Rose more than Dorothy, with Sophia and Blanche taking a back seat this round.
The verdict: fans of the show’s rhythms and in-jokes will likely vibe with the voices (Rose’s Minnesota quirks, Sophia’s purse-and-punchlines energy), the 80s/90s nostalgia, and the VHS-dating cringe that feels perfectly on brand. As a mystery, it’s unmistakably cozy: light stakes, a clean twist both hosts admired, and an ending Eric found a bit too “silly” even if the reveal lands.
They split on craft: Andrea thought the character voices and structure worked; Eric felt the prose had a self-published sheen and pointed to print-format hiccups others noticed (typos and odd paragraph breaks). Still, both agree it scratches the Golden Girls itch and sets the table for future installments.
Highlights include a spoiler-free Mystery Minute on the twist, a quick Romance Roundup (Dorothy’s ill-fated date plus wedding mayhem), and Character Corner picks—Dorothy for propelling the plot; Sophia for her blunt, tender beats. They wrap with “Hallmark & Chill” read-alikes like The Thursday Murder Club and pancake-house cozies for listeners craving more feather-light sleuthing between cheesecake slices.
If you love the show’s cadence and want a cheerful, low-stakes whodunit with plenty of lanai-level banter, this one’s a sweet bite to start the series.
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