I'm becoming more of a fan of the cozy mystery genre. It allows me to indulge my crime obsession, but the stories don't give me nightmares. This is a really cute mystery about a ghost who befriends the living girl who inhabits her old apartment. They decide to solve the murder of a neighbor, but working together is tricky because they can't communicate in traditional ways (because she's a ghost, obvi). There were some parts of the story that felt repetitive, but that's pretty much the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. Loved the characters and the premise, and I would definitely check out the next book in this series (especially since this one left off on a cliffhanger!).

Unfortunately this didn’t capture like my attention like I hoped it would after trying to read it for a few weeks. I think it may be something I come back to at another time because the synopsis is interesting and I made it about 35% in before not finishing and putting off to the side for now. Glad to have a copy of this because I will revisit.

This is a solid beginning to a new paranormal cozy mystery series. I found the two main characters, Cordelia, the ghost, and Ruby, the new tenant, engaging and relatable. There’s still plenty to uncover about both of them, and I hope to see that explored further in the next installment. My main frustration was their struggle to communicate more effectively, which seemed to drag on longer than necessary. Overall, I’d rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The plot was intriguing but it all fell flat when it ended with zero resolution for the main character. Felt like it was a waste of time. I feel like there’s a second book but not a fan of how this cliff hanger was done. It felt incomplete.

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke this was a new author for me, overall this was a decent read for me but not a great one. I had high hopes for the book, it just never reached those hopes. I would still recommend it to others because I know everyone does not enjoy the same things.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Cordelia Graves is dead, and Ruby Young is not. But that doesn't stop them from being roommates-sort of.
Cordelia, a recent ghost, is the former tenant, while Ruby is the new renter who just needed a place to live.
When their neighbor Jake is found dead with a bullet in his head, the police dismiss it as a mugging gone wrong, leaving Cordelia and Ruby to solve the case themselves. The only problem? Cordelia, being a ghost, can't speak to or be seen by Ruby.
The story takes creative advantage of their communication barriers, from Etch-A-Sketch messages to fridge magnets, and the unique perspectives of each character bring plenty of laughs.
This is a delightful, well-plotted mystery with a sweet found-family element. I loved the dynamic between Cordelia and Ruby-seeing Cordelia (who was in her 40s when she died) guide 20-something Ruby through life's challenges was heartwarming. And Ruby's eccentric, unapologetically joyful personality added so much charm.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, hinting at a second installment, which I'm now eagerly awaiting! With its smooth flow and engaging storyline, this is the kind of mystery you'll want to devour in a single sitting.

Olivia Blacke has written a darkly humorous supernatural mystery, A New Lease on Death, starring Ruby Young and Cordelia Graves. Ruby Young has just moved into a fully furnished Boston apartment that comes with noisy neighbors and the ghost of its former owner, Cordelia Graves. When neighbor Jake Macintyre is shot outside their building, Cordelia is determined to bring his killer to justice. Naturally, she needs to find a way to gain the help of Ruby. She can move things, but can’t be heard or seen.
This is a perfect book for spooky season. It is a cozy murder mystery that I could not put down. I love the multiple POV, the supernatural elements that gave us some insight on what's like to be a ghost and all the tricks and abilities that came along with it. I loved the inner thoughts of the characters that was shared throughout the book. I really helped with character development in my opinion. This is an enjoyable read and I look forward to the second book, to find out the cliff hanger from the end of the first book.

Thank you to Netgalley, St.Martin's Press and Minotaur for this digital advance readers copy.

What a great cozy ghost story mystery! This was the perfect read to end out October/beginning of November with!
Cordelia’s a 40-something year old ghost who still hangs around her if-y Boston apartment. She kept to herself for the most part while she was still alive, so having Ruby, her new “roommate” so to speak in her old apartment is taking some getting used to. Ruby is 20 & looking for a fresh start in the city. It all seems to be going okay until the neighbor across the hall, Jake Macintyre, is found shot to death with the bullet hole directly in his forehead. He was wearing his flannel pj’s, fuzzy socks & a Bruin’s hoodie…in the middle of a snowstorm.
Soon Ruby finds out about Cordelia & she convinces Ruby to help find Jake’s killer. Especially because the police just rule his death as a “mugging.”
The writing was really easy to follow, the characters were weird, but in the best way possible! & the story was just all around fabulous. I was only bummed at the ending & that’s just because I was left wanting more and it ended on a cliffhanger.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for a copy of this wonderful ARC! I look forward to reading more by this author. 😍💀👻🎃

2 roommates but one is a ghost. Cordelia has not left her apartment because she is dead. Ruby is the new tenant. She is a full of life, loves to talk, 20 year old. She lucked into a furnished apartment but needs a job and a way to communicate with the ghost. And why has another tenant on the same floor died. Are the 2 deaths related?
What a fun book! The story is full of humor and a mystery of Jake's death. And what about that last paragraph? Now I need to read the next book to find out if Cordelia really killed herself.

Cordelia died a few months ago
But she’s glad she doesn’t live alone
Ruby moved in to the apartment
Where Cordelia met her bitter end
A dead body appears on the sidewalk outside
It’s Jake - their neighbor - a nice enough guy
Can Cordelia and Ruby team up to solve the case
To make sure the killer gets locked away?

What a fun and fresh story! I absolutely LOVED it. It was a total blast to read. Cordelia and Ruby were both such unique, dynamic characters. I loved that we got to read both of their perspectives, and they both felt distinctly different.
The mystery was well done, too. And the background mystery (that I totally saw coming and was thrilled to be validated) will prove a delight in later books. I’m so happy that there will be more in this series! I can’t wait to see what these gals get up to next and what clues they uncover.

This was such a fun book! I knew from the start that I was going to like the characters of Cordelia and Ruby. I loved the idea of a paranormal mystery where a ghost, Cordelia, is helping a "breather" as they are called, which is Ruby, solve a murder case. I thought it was definitely well done and appreciated the character development the reader got for both narrators. While the reader did have to suspend some belief, I thought elements of the book were so unique, like how Cordelia and Ruby communicated. I appreciate that the book ended where it did, because it obviously set us up for another book which I am so excited for. It was a little quirky and a lot of fun, and I definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this and LOVED that it ended with a cliffhanger! I sincerely hope this is book one of many following the escapades of Cordelia and Ruby!

Cordelia might be deceased but that doesn’t mean she’s going quietly into the dark. Lingering at her previous apartment, she is felt by the new tenant, Ruby. The two unlikely women, quickly find a way to communicate and help one another.

Cordelia was in her forty’s when she was found deceased in her bathtub after ingesting prescription meds and alcohol. It’s believed to be a suicide albeit a possible accidental one. She has one brother who was in jail at the time of her passing.

Ruby is a young 20 year old, living on her own, doing what she can to make ends meet. While it seems she comes from a large family, I’d be interested to learn more about what caused her to jump out of the nest at such a young age.

I really enjoyed this light and entertaining story from a new-to-me author. I can’t wait to check out her other works and will keep my fingers crossed that a sequel will be coming soon!

The supernatural elements made this a delightful cozy mystery and easily earned four stars from me! Go check this one out!

A New Lease on Death is a quirky, fun new take on a haunted apartment. When Ruby moves into a pre-furnished apartment, she doesn’t realize she has a roommate in its previous tenant, who just happens to be of the paranormal variety. When her neighbor dies on the sidewalk outside the apartment, things look fishy, and Ruby is roped in by her ghostly roomie to help solve the murder.

This was such a fun read - I loved the characters from the start. Cordelia is such a fun ghost - she is a dynamic, deeply written character who just happens to walk through walls. And Ruby is a sweetheart who I felt protective of from the start. This was a fun, cozy mystery vibe and the ending…!!!!! Well let’s just say I will be dying to read the next book in this series.

Dollycas's Thoughts 

Cordelia Graves died a few months ago in her Boston apartment but her spirit did not pack up and leave. Twenty-year-old Ruby Young had no idea her new furnished apartment comes with its own resident ghost. It also comes with a dead body on the sidewalk outside. Jake Macintyre, her across-the-hall neighbor is dead. Pretty sure the bullet in the center of his forehead is the cause of death for the Boston Bruin hoodie, flannel pajama pants, fuzzy sock, wearing man lying in the snow. The police declare it a "mugging gone wrong". Cordelia tries to help his ghost by that goes badly. Now she wants to find out who killed him. One problem, she's dead too. She going to need help. Someone who can talk to suspects and do some research. Who better to help her than her new roommate?

_____

Cordelia was a busy woman before her death and she is not slowing down as a ghost. Ruby is "petite, perky, and alive". When she saw the ad for the "fully furnished" apartment she jumped at it, and found fully furnished included furniture, books, clothes, tons of plants, and a ghost. She has killed most of the plants. If she was going to stay there she needs to find a job. Both women are cleverly crafted. They make a unique sleuthing team. A way to communicate is their only real problem. I appreciated this didn't have a quick fix and that one way would work in one place but not in another.

The author has written the story from alternating points of view. This does cause some repetition but makes the story easy to follow and sets a good pace through most of the story. Ms. Blacke adds an abundance of humor as Cordelia figures out just what she can do in her ghostly state and Ruby learns to live with a roommate she can't see or hear who keeps trying to make choices for her and moves objects or opens the drapes without warning. Ruby is also dealing with some real-life issues which made her feel more real.

The mystery is complicated. There was no shortage of suspects between all the women he had wronged and any friends or family who wanted to avenge them, his own family members who wanted something from him, bookies he may have owed money, and maybe something sketchy happening where he worked. Ruby and Cordelia had to find a way to interrogate the suspects and follow the clues. Cordelia had a few different theories but I as the armchair sleuth knew there had to be another twist, and there was. The showdown was surprising and effective and I was delighted.

While Jake's murder mystery is solved, the author ends the book with a cliffhanger I had hoped for and expected. I just hate that I have to wait for book two.

A New Lease on Death is a special mystery with curious characters that immediately piqued my interest. I found these roommates to be very entertaining and I am excited to see this series continue. I can only imagine the possibilities.

Note - This story contains some explicit language.

Cozy mystery, I thought the pacing was a big slow and parts really dragged.

Thanks for the advanced reader copy Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.

I loved getting to know Ruby and Cordelia in this funny, paranormal cozy mystery. I enjoyed how these two characters solve this mystery. I could not put this book down. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Really fun cozy mystery! I really like the friendship between Cordelia and Ruby! Their banter (or attempts at banter) was really entertaining.
The story flowed really nicely, I never felt like there was a lull.
The ending was good, the solution to the mystery wasn't something I saw coming. The "twist" ending (I put quotes because l'm not sure if it would be considered that or not) was predictable but didn't take away from anything! It was the perfect set up to continue the series!
Also really liked that this story didn't have a romance story intertwined with the mystery. Not often you see a straight forward women's story without a romantic subplot. Not that I wouldn't be open to that in the future with this series but it was refreshing to see!

𝑨 𝑵𝑬𝑾 𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑬 𝑶𝑵 𝑫𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑯 𝒃𝒚 𝑶𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆 was such a fun read read, out this week!

When @minotaur_books offered this to me via @netgalley I thought it looked like a fun story, and I was not disappointed, so thank you!!

When Cordelia discovers that she is a ghost, she has to learn all the rules of this weird new existence. Then her neighbor is shot and she is unable to help him. It doesn't help that now Ruby has moved into her apartment and as a young woman 20 years her junior, it feels wrong somehow. But then Ruby grows on her, and it doesn't hurt that she is just as curious about the neighbor's death, so they begin a tricky investigation to figure out the real story.

This was just a lighter, fun read. I really enjoyed both Cordelia and Ruby, though both were humanly flawed. The way they had to learn to communicate and work together taught them both lessons about the values of the generations! The mystery portion was clever enough to keep my attention and surprised me with the conclusion. I will be happy to keep up with this new mystery duo as they look to solve a mystery that was teased through this first installment.

Cordelia and Ruby are an unusual pair of roomates. One of them is a ghost. When a neighbor, Jake, dies under suspicious circumstances the women join together to solve the murder. I enjoyed the dynamics between the two & there were humorous moments. It did get a bit repetitive with the constant mentioning of Jake being a player & having a rotation of women. I thought the mystery was good & I loved where it ended. I'm excited to read the next one in the series.

3.5*

Ruby Young though she lucked out when she was able to find a fully furnished apartment in Boston. Unfortunately, the apartment was haunted by the woman who left everything behind. Shortly after her across the hall neighbor, Jake, was found murdered outside the building, Ruby realizes that Cordelia Graves ghost is still in the apartment and that Cordelia is also trying to figure out what happened to Jake. With the help of some magnetic poetry and the occasional drunken night, Ruby and Cordelia must work together to find out who killed jake.

I love a good cozy mystery and throwing in ghosts made this even more interesting. I liked how Cordelia went from resenting the fact that Ruby had moved into her home and killed her plants to being so protective of her that she pushed herself to burnout to protect her. I liked the way that Ruby and Cordelia had to find a way to communicate and that even when they couldn't necessarily figure out a set way they were more than likely thinking the same thing.

This is the first book in a series and I think that's what bothered me. A lot of the plot felt like it was trying to build up a story for the next book and that left the plot that was relevant to this book feeling rushed. There were so many hints towards Cordelia's death not being a suicide or an accident as well as references to Ruby's past that I kind of forgot that they weren't the true plot at times. I would be interested in reading the next book, though, especially since the backstory has already been laid out.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing this ARC to me!