Murder by Cheesecake

Food in Murder by Cheesecake functions as a symbol of community, comfort, and conflict, reflecting both the traditions of St. Olaf and the sustaining bond among the four protagonists. Cheesecake in particular, imported from the television series, represents the women’s shared ritual of processing hardship together. It is both a domestic comfort and a stage on which conflict plays out. The fact that Morty’s corpse is discovered in a freezer full of cheesecakes literalizes this dual symbolism—turning a familiar emblem of safety into a grotesque reminder of mortality.

Meals and celebrations consistently carry this doubleness. Rose’s St. Olaf’s Kiss cheesecake highlights her determination to uphold tradition, while the Corzons’ Cuban restaurant wedding shower integrates Miami culture, illustrating the possibility of blending old and new. Cookies after Nettie’s near-kidnapping symbolize healing and survival, suggesting that food restores emotional balance after danger. Even acts of betrayal are framed through food, as Chip uses cheesecake and a “rehearsal dinner” to lure the women into his trap, showing how hospitality can mask menace. The novel closes by restoring food to its original role, as Sophia comforts Dorothy with cheesecake, reasserting that shared meals are not only traditions but also emotional lifelines, affirming the theme of