Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. While I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of the book, I felt like it carried on too long and left a lot of questions unanswered. I do know a second book was announced but I’m not sure if I will read it if I’m being honest. I did like the characters and the dual POV but a lot of the dialogue and interactions felt forced and awkward. I just don’t think the mystery genre is for me though so you may enjoy this one a lot more!

this book was not anything wonderful, but i had a really fun time with it. i loved the characters, the mystery was fun if nothing groundbreaking, and i will absolutely be reading the sequel.

I had the pleasure of reading *A New Lease on Death* by Olivia Blacke, and it was an absolute delight! This cozy paranormal mystery introduces readers to Ruby, a young woman who moves into a new apartment in Boston, only to discover that her deceased neighbor, Cordelia, is still lingering as a ghost. Together, they embark on a mission to solve the mystery of Jake's murder, a neighbor who died under suspicious circumstances.
What truly stood out to me was the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia. Their evolving relationship was both heartwarming and humorous, with Cordelia's ghostly antics and Ruby's youthful energy creating a perfect balance. The dual perspectives offered a unique insight into both the living and the afterlife, making for an engaging narrative.
Olivia Blacke's writing is clever and filled with red herrings that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was steady, and while there were moments of repetition, they didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. The ending was satisfying yet left room for more, and I'm eager to see where the next installment takes these characters.
Overall this is a fun, charming, and entertaining cozy paranormal mystery. It's a delightful escape into a supernatural whodunnit that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

Too cozy for my taste. I don't mind some humor in thrillers but it is a fine line for me and often reads as too silly.

A New Lease on Death is a fun, quirky, cozy mystery. Cordelia and Ruby are sort of roommates, one is alive and one is a ghost. It's a mystery with some interesting twists with an ending I didn't expect. Hopefully there is another book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy of this book.

I saw Olivia Blacke’s newest book on NetGalley, Death at the Door, and I realized that I had the first book in the series unread on my Kindle! 👀

A New Lease on Death is about a woman, Cordelia, who killed herself in her home and came back as a ghost. She stumbles upon her neighbor, Jake, outside their apartment who’s slumped over with a bullet hole to the head and talks to his ghost for a moment before he disappears.

Ruby started renting Cordelia’s apartment after her demise. It came furnished since Cordelia had no family to clean it out and Ruby doesn’t have the money to redecorate. Cordelia hates Ruby living amongst her things and has tried to run her off, but now that their neighbor has been murdered outside their apartment building, they team up to solve the case.

I loved the banter between Ruby and Cordelia and plan on jumping into the new book soon! While the book was a little slow in the beginning, the investigation started developing, and the ending took me by surprise! I listened to the audiobook while reading and the narrators were fun!

This was a great story but I don't love the writing style-I've felt this way with her other books. They are always a great concept but don't love the editing (or lack thereof) and writing. Sorry but this was not my favorite

Enjoyable, lighthearted, ghostly mystery with good characters and interesting premise. I enjoyed the story and the characters and would definitely read another book by this author.

The first book in a new series by author, Olivia Blacke, is a quirky and funny supernatural tale. I have enjoyed the books in the Record Shop series and was excited to explore a new adventure. The characters are well developed and I loved getting to know Ruby Young and Cordelia Graves. Even though Cordelia is deceased, she is still present and tries to figure out how to communicate with Ruby so she can help solve the murder. It was entertaining to watch how they worked together to discover clues. The ending will grab you unexpectedly and have you anxiously looking forward to the next book in the series. I can’t wait to see what Ruby and Cordelia get themselves into!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Cozy Mystery
Fantasy
Fiction
Ghosts
Mystery
Mystery Thriller
Paranormal

I'm afraid the time has come to admit defeat. I have tried A New Lease on Death a few times and haven't been drawn in. I loved this author's other books in the Record Shop Mysteries series, starting with Vinyl Resting Place. I was hopeful this series would work for me as well and was excited to try a paranormal story. Unfortunately, I never got very far into the book because I simply couldn't get into it.

I was not able to read this book and review it before its publishing date but now that I read it I have given it 4 stars.

I loved A New Lease on Death. A ghost and the new tenant of her apartment team up to solve the murder of their neighbor across the hall. This is a cozy, quirky mystery with Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters vibes-I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am so excited to read the Blacke's second installment in this series Death at the Door coming in October 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC in a exchange for an honest review. (And apologies for the delay in getting my review posted!)

I love the idea of this plot so much! But unfortunately, it sounded too good to be true. I thought the comedy was a bit forced and that the plot with its twists was a bit predictable.

I really liked the cover on this book, I love a different style of cover with a green background. More green cozy mysteries pls. With a hauntingly good mix of humor, spectral shenanigans, and a dash of amateur detective work, you'll find yourself rooting for this living-dead duo. A delightful read that’s more LIVEly than it has any right to be

This wasn’t really within a genre I enjoy yet it was a fun and charming book that really hits on some deep issues as well.

I DNFed this at 39%. I just could not get into the writing style and the mystery part dragged too long. Never felted connected to the character or really cared about solving the mysteries.

Every once in a while, I find myself needing a change of pace of my usual reading habits. Between that and my exposure to Only Murders in the Building, this cozy murder mystery seemed like it would do the trick. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story was predictable and the characters were hard to connect with.

3.5 stars - This was such a unique take on a murder mystery. Cordelia is a ghost that died in her apartment and Ruby is now living in Cordelia’s apartment. Together they form an unlikely friendship to solve the mystery around Jake’s (Ruby’s neighbor) death.

This was entertaining read full of witty banter and quirky characters. While I was more interested in the mystery behind Cordelia’s death the story put more focus on Jake’s. This does on a cliff hanger and can’t wait for book 2 to come out this year!

Olivia Blacke’s A New Lease on Death is a charming and engaging cozy mystery that blends humor, intrigue, and a touch of romance. With an irresistible small-town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth who won’t back down, this novel is a perfect pick for fans of lighthearted whodunits.


The story follows Ruby Young, who unexpectedly finds herself entangled in a murder mystery when a suspicious death shakes her quiet town. As she digs deeper into the case, secrets unravel, and the list of suspects grows, keeping readers on their toes until the very end. Blacke’s writing is witty and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the twists and turns of the investigation. Overall, A New Lease on Death is a delightful and fast-paced read that delivers both mystery and heart. Olivia Blacke’s once again proves her talent for crafting engaging stories with memorable characters.Whether you’re a longtime cozy mystery fan or new to the genre, this book is sure to entertain.

3.25 stars

This was so fun! This is one of those books that instantly hooked me with a hell of an opening and continued to captivate with a concept thats so interesting and fun. And I mean whats not to love? A murder mystery with ghosts, relatable characters, and an overall charming quality that kept me captivated.

The only thing that took away was the pacing. Essentially there are two mysteries that we explore throughout the novel and by the end only one is solved. The first is the main focus and the second is alluded to all throughout although the reader is left wondering it’s not a key focus. This also ended on a rushed cliffhanger in anticipating for a sequel and to be perfectly honest I think this would’ve been so much better tied up into one novel with both mysteries solved. However, I’m definitely intrigued to see where the author continues the story and had a great time with this cast of characters that I’m looking forward to spending more books with them!