Death on a Lanai: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage - Paperback

The Girls are back! And this time, a glamorous island party comes with one very inconvenient guest: murder.

When a mysterious invitation arrives at 6151 Richmond Street promising an extravagant celebration of “the greatest artist of the century,” Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia can’t resist. A lavish party on a private Biscayne Bay island sounds a lot more exciting than another Saturday night of gin rummy.

But the evening takes a very personal turn for Blanche.

Their secretive host is Declan, now a famous artist known as El Toro—and a man Blanche once knew decades ago. To Blanche’s delight, he reveals that she has remained his muse throughout his rise to fame.

Dorothy, however, is less impressed.

The island is filled with people whose careers and fortunes are tied to El Toro: his assistant, his dealer, his critic, and others who may have far more to lose than they’re letting on.

Then a tropical storm cuts the power. Blanche, naturally, insists everyone looks better by candlelight. By morning, Declan is dead.

And suddenly, his longtime muse is looking a lot more like a suspect.

Stranded on the island with a house full of possible killers, the Girls must sort through old secrets, tangled motives, and plenty of suspicious behavior before the real murderer gets away with it.

Because nothing ruins a glamorous getaway quite like homicide.

And the Girls would really like to get back to card games, friendship, and cheesecake.

Why Cozy Mystery Readers Will Love It

• A brand-new mystery featuring Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia
• Classic Golden Girls humor and friendship
• A remote-island setting with a locked-room mystery feel
• An eccentric group of suspects
• Stormy-night atmosphere and plenty of secrets
• Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, nostalgic TV, and lighthearted whodunits
• A fun gift for Golden Girls fans and mystery lovers

About the Author

Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a writer, literary agent, and cheesecake enthusiast based in Pittsburgh. She has worked in publishing for more than two decades, including with some of the mystery genre’s most beloved authors, and is the co-founder of Littsburgh, a literary community in Western Pennsylvania.

Book Details - Paperback

Author: Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Pages: 384
Dimensions: 5.52" x 8.22" x 1.04"
Publication Date: June 2, 2026

A glamorous island. An old flame. A suspicious death. And four women who know a thing or two about solving problems over cheesecake.