Olivia Blacke caught me off with the the first few pages of her new novel - A New Lease on Death. Well, with the title and the image on the cover, you might have an inkling of what you’re going to find inside…

Ruby moves into a Boston apartment that’s advertised as fully finished. It is, but the last tenant died in the bathtub. And all her items are still there. There’s another death and Ruby decides to investigate as the police don’t seem to think it is a crime.

I really liked Ruby as our lead character. She’s determined to do the right thing. But along the way she gets herself into some sketchy situations. Our supporting player is Cordelia and she’s a bit harder to get to know. She doesn’t talk much in the beginning of the book but things change for her too. And we know much more about her life as the book progresses.

A New Lease on Death is a mix of amateur detecting, supernatural elements, friendship and doing the right thing. I enjoyed the detective parts. I did wonder about Rudy's reasoning for and the impetus for her jumping in both feet. The who dunnit was a good one and it was one I hadn’t considered. Nicely done.

A New Release on Death is also setting up everything for a new novel using these characters. And there’s a burning question that I would love to know the answer to. All in all, it was an entertaining story. 3.5

I love a good Cozy Mystery and this was just that. Not on was it Cozy but it was also comedic
I see that this is the first in a series so I am hoping that we will get the next instalment soon

3.5 Stars

This was a fun take on a murder mystery. I liked both Ruby and Cordelia. I don't think the mystery itself was anything groundbreaking, but I liked the mystery solving duo enough that I read it in one sitting.

This book was so enjoyable. I was dragged into the pages from page 1 until the end because of the subject matter (afterlife) and what it is like being a spirit. I really felt bad for Cordelia because she had no idea how she had come to be a ghost and she had no idea why she was still around. As Cordelia began to ‘take care of’ Penny, they both became aware of how much they enjoyed being in each other’s company. As Penny looked into the death of her neighbor, she began to learn how lonely Cordelia had been. Cordelia’s life was quite unremarkable and while Penny discovered more about her roommate, she began to ponder that maybe Cordelia had not taken her own life…maybe something or someone got rid of her before she could tell any secrets. This lively cast of characters made this book so fun. I look forward to more books by author.

To be honest, this book took me a while to get through. I was initially intrigued with the premise of a ghost helping to solve a murder, but then where it should have been a faster pace it slowed and then right at the end it threw the sped up curve ball.
I enjoyed some of the witty ‘banter’ between the main characters, but I feel like the characters could have used more development. Too many things left out or not explained.
Will I pick up the next book in the series? Most likely as I would like to know the answer to the next “who dun’it.”

Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

What a cute and unique cozy mystery!! I LOVED the main character and all of her quirkiness. I also did not guess the killer at all which is usually fairly obvious in other cozy mysteries that I have read.

Thank you to St. Martin's for my copy of A NEW LEASE ON DEATH.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a nice light a funny mystery that made a great distraction for the current state of the world. If you're in the mood for something sweet and cute but also dark and morbid, this one is for you!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC for my voluntary and honest review!

This was a really interesting concept and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia. The pacing of the murder mystery was a little off for me, being quite rushed at the end. Overall a fun read and I’m excited to see where the story goes next. 3.5/5

This was an interesting twist on the 'whodunit' genre. The good: the author did a great job in developing personalities and characters. I found myself pulling for everyone as the story progressed. The less good: I spent a long time getting through the book because it didn't keep my interest enough to keep me wanting to take the time to finish it. Cordelia's power's seemed to conveniently develop as if the author needed to create them to keep the story moving.

It was a decent story and had a good final hook to create interest in a sequel but it felt like there were a lot of chapters and words added that didn't contribute to the final outcome.

I'm a fan of Olivia Blacke's Record Shop Mystery series, so I was excited to receive an advance copy of the first book in her Supernatural Mysteries (from Minotaur via NetGalley). It's a solid little cozy, pairing up the former and current residents of a small and dismal apartment. The catch is, one is alive and the other is dead. They have to navigate their shared space and communication barriers to stop a killer who is on the hunt for the next victim.



I'm ambivalent about this one. It's not bad, but for me, it dragged, and I really didn't like any of the characters. Cordelia, for all that she said she wanted the mystery solved, didn't give Ruby key information. Cordelia was critical and miserable and not a whole lot of fun to be around; I get it, she's dead, but still. The other characters weren't developed enough to be interesting.



Why you should read this book: The who and the why will keep you guessing.



Why you might not want to read it: There's a fair amount of repetition, and I found myself wanting to skip ahead.



3.25 out of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 10/29
•
A New Lease on Death was a different take on living with a ghost. Ruby moves into a new apartment; only that apartment is still inhabited by its former tenet Cordelia’s ghost. It isn’t until the newborn across the hall is murdered that Ruby and Cordelia find a way to team up and catch the killer.
•
This was a really cute start to a new series that I definitely plan to follow. I really enjoyed both Ruby and Cordelia and how they worked together. I found myself chuckling numerous times at their quirks and figuring out how to communicate with one another.
•
The mystery itself was not anything super complex with some mind blowing shocking twist, but I did enjoy how Blake brought me from start to finish. This is more of a slow burn. I will say though, that ending with that cliff hanger was the perfect way to end this book and lead into the start of a series. I am excited to see where the next book takes Ruby and Cordelia.
•
Overall, this was a fun read and I look forward to reading more of their story. Into ghost stories? Definitely check this one out. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Blake and St. Martins Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Solid 4 Stars!

What a fun, no-brain-needed book! This was so cute! And clearly the start of what’s to be a fun series. The author did a wonderful job with well-rounded, joyful, main characters, That said, it felt like the first couple episodes of a late 80's/early 90's sitcom - but I really enjoyed it!

You have a ghost who sees her fellow murdered neighbor and she wants to help him find out who did it. You have a living character who senses the ghost and communicates in all of the cheesy ways to help her solve the mystery. Again, so silly that it's fun! It's totally an easy read and I cannot wait for book 2!

Thanks to NetGalley and he publisher for the advanced copy in turn for a review.

A New Lease in Death was the perfect story for spooky October. Would you move in to a house knowing someone died there? And would you stay if your roommate was a ghost? I’m a hell no on both of those questions. I mean the ghost in this story seems very lovely and everything but I still think I’ll pass. If you’re looking for a supernatural twisty turn story here it is. Think Casper the friendly ghost.
Cordelia has died but still resides in her apartment she loves. Watching her “ roommate” Ruby killing off her previous plants is frustrating but not as bad as not being able to communicate with the living. Ruby seems to sense Cordelia’s presence and will talk to her, but she can’t hear or see her. When the neighbor Jake dies outside the apartment the police say suicide but Ruby knows that’s simply not true. Ruby decides to do some investigating herself to find out what actually happened and hopefully catch Jake’s killer.
As Ruby finds out details about Jake she’ll also learn about Cordelia and her death. She feels Cordelia around her and wants her help in solving the murder. Ruby will be putting her life at risk but in the end she might help solve a crime….or two.

Ruby Young is happy to get a real bargain on an apartment. Of course, you get what you pay for. The apartment may have its faults, but it did come fully furnished. This is because the former tenant killed herself and no one came forward to claim anything. Over time Ruby slowly gets hints that she is not totally alone. The ghost of Cordelia Graves is still hanging out and keeps showing Ruby that she is present. The problem is It's hard to communicate. After the body of another tenant named Jake is found dead right outside the building, the two women decide they need to find his killer. The police are not too worried due to the reputation of the neighborhood.
Ruby and Cordelia start on a journey that is filled with suspense and humor. It's hard to know who to trust. Ruby is only 20 and Cordelia wants to help her get ahead in life.
Even though most to the plot centers around the mystery, the author reveals some of Cordelia's back story and how she came to be a ghost. The secondary characters are well written also and play important roles. The paranormal parts are important and seem believable. It's funny the effect that Cordelia has on electronic devices, so she has to be careful when Ruby is doing research.
Ruby is steadfast to solve the mystery. She can be charming to find out clues from other people. Cordelia finds her a bit annoying at first, but comes to trust her.
This book is fun and easy to read. If you want something lighthearted and entertaining, A NEW LEASE ON DEATH is perfect. The ending suggests there will be another novel with Ruby and Cordelia. I will certainly be looking forward to it.

This was a cute murder mystery. Cordelia is a ghost and Ruby is the woman who now rents her apartment.

I think Ruby and Cordelia made a really good team even with it being hard to communicate. Cordelia as the story went along became protective of Ruby. I really like how they found different way to communicate with some being unconventional.

I was completely wrong about who was the killer and why Jake was killed. At one point, I really believed it was Bobby or Scotty.

A fun, easy read staring Ruby, a young twenty-something newly moved to Boston trying to make it on her own but it isn't easy missing your family and friends while struggling to find a job. Then she discovers that her furnished apartment has a ghost, Cordelia, who died in the apartment a few months ago. Together they struggle to communicate between the living and the dead, and perhaps the biggest struggle is between the age gap between Cordelia was forty-something, with a steady job and a perchance for drinking a bit too much. But they really come together trying to figure out who killed their neighbor.

There are some funny moments and Ruby is way to thrilled to discover a ghost in her apartment and an amateur trying to figure out how to questions suspects doesn't always go smoothly. But it isn't all laughter as both are struggling to adjust to a new way of life and Ruby is running out of money quickly. Then, of course, there is this murder...

Some parts floundered a bit but overall I enjoyed it. I really liked Ruby and Cordelia and would like to read the next one in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This one took me a bit to finish. It is very much a cozy mystery vibe…..but other than Ruby the other characters aren’t very loveable.
I will say I didn’t see the ending coming and I would be open to reading the next book in the series.
Rounded up to 3.5 stars. I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Ruby Young has recently moved to Boston to gain independence from her family and begin her adult life. However, her new apartment has an extra amenity - the ghost of Cordelia Graves, the previous occupant. When a neighbor is shot in the street Cordelia is determined to enlist Ruby in her efforts to solve his murder. A timid but open minded individual, Ruby struggles to accept her new roommate and to communicate with her. This cozy supernatural mystery was funny and heart warming. The themes of being on your own and meeting adult responsibilities as a young adult were introduced with a soft touch. I enjoyed the dual points of view and the contrast in personality styles. Cordelia was an independent single career woman while in contrast Ruby is tentative and filled with self doubt and uncertainty. As the story proceeds the two form a bond and learn to accept each other highlighting the concept that putting aside your differences can benefit even the most opposite adversaries. This was a quick and entertaining read enhanced by flights of fancy and humor. A new take on the classic ghost story.

This was an entertaining read. I would classify it as a cozy mystery with supernatural elements. While it didn't blow me away, it did manage to keep my interest even though some characters weren't as interesting others. The cliffhanger does leave me intrigued enough to continue with the series, although I do think it was kind of abrupt and rushed, especially the last part of the story.

I would recommend if you're looking for something quick, fun, and quirky to read.

4.5⭐
A New Lease On Death by Olivia Blacke
#urbanfantasymystery

Ruby has discovered that she has a ghost roommate, Cordelia, in her 4th floor walk up apartment in Boston. Their neighbor has been mugged. The 2 of them comically get together to try to figure out if this actually a murder and who did it.

Ruby is 20. Cordelia was a forty something. They see things very differently. It's really pretty funny. As well as the fact that Ruby can't hear Cordelia's voice or see her, though she can sense her presence. It's funny how they manage their communication.

I will definitely be picking up another book by this author. Super cute, fun mystery.

#netgalley
#stmartinspress #minatourbooks
#anewleaseondeath #oliviablacke @oliviablackeauthor