Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Cordelia Graves wakes up (or comes to) to the ringing of her doorbell, but when she reaches to open the door, her hand goes right through the handle. That seems to have been happening a LOT lately. What is going on? When her visitor opens the door and comes in, they both realize what is happening - Cordelia's decomposing body is in the bathtub!! But that's only the beginning.

After Cordelia's death is ruled a suicide, the landlord rents out her apartment as furnished, after stealing anything that seems valuable, and the new tenant, Ruby Young, can't believe her luck at getting a fully furnished apartment at such a good price. A few weeks later, Jake, the tenant from across the hall, is found shot dead on the sidewalk in front of the building. Two deaths from the same floor of the same apartment building just a few weeks apart?

Ruby always feels like she is being watched and starts talking to Cordelia as though she is still there. Which she is. When Cordelia finds a way to respond, they work together to unravel the mystery of Jake's murder.

This was easy to read and I wanted to find out what was happening next. The ending makes me hope there will be a sequel.

This was a fun read and a great hook for a series! At the end I wanted to immediately be able to jump into the next book. I like that the rules of the ghost world are a little different and that we are unraveling that at the same time the characters are unraveling the larger mystery. I'm excited to see where this series goes.

In this darkly funny supernatural mystery about an unlikely crime-solving duo that launches a commercial, unique, and genre-blending series, death is only the beginning.

Thank you Minotaur Books & Netgalley for my digital ARC of this book! I decided to DNF this book after reading 194 pages. I liked the idea of a ghost and a human solving a murder mystery together and what I read of the book was fun but I can’t get into this book. It’s too slow for me.

3.5 stars

I love the premise of this mystery - the ghost of the previous tenant and the current tenant of the same apartment team up to solve the murder of their neighbor - and possibly the ghost’s, too? There were parts I really enjoyed, like Cordelia and Ruby getting to know one another and figuring out how to communicate with one another. Their interactions were at times hilarious, at times happy, and at times really sad. It was also fun seeing Cordelia learn how her ghost powers work, and maybe branch out of the comfort of her routine to meet others, even if those others are just Ruby and maybe another ghost or two. The mystery of Jake’s murder definitely had me guessing, and I was not on the right track.

For some reason, I thought Cordelia’s death was going to be related to Jake’s, maybe because Jake saw someone coming out of Cordelia’s apartment on the day she died. So not only was I surprised when they weren’t connected, but I was also surprised we didn’t learn the truth of Cordelia’s death in this book, but we were just left with the cliffhanger of Ruby figuring out it wasn’t a suicide (which, duh). As much time as they spend “together,” there’s a lot Ruby and Cordelia don’t know about one another, and that can be frustrating at times.

Both their lives also seem incredibly sad. Ruby was so broken over her boyfriend cheating on her that she left what seemed like a loving family and everything she knew to try to make it alone, and was barely surviving before Cordelia started helping her along. Meanwhile, Cordelia doesn’t seem to have anyone who truly mourned her loss. I’m not sure you can count Adam, no matter how “sad” he sounds when he finally says her name - he was basically using her for sex and his own ego, and even if he did care for her in some way, it wasn’t enough to actually give up his cushy life to try and make it work. Cordelia was messed up emotionally by her parents’ deaths and trying to raise and help her brother all these years - it seems like she had a hard time opening up to people, but you could tell she cared about people and maybe just didn’t know how to connect to them.

Overall, I found this book generally engaging, if a bit sad. The writing is a bit awkward at times, and the pacing felt off, but I wanted to get to know the main characters more. I love reading ghost stories, especially less spooky ones like this, and the idea that as a ghost, Cordelia believing in something makes it true is so original. When Jake disappeared the second he said, “I don’t believe in ghosts,” I laughed so hard. I’ll be recommending this one (with the caveats mentioned) and looking forward to book 2, where we will hopefully learn more about Cordelia’s murder, and look into the background of Penny the suspicious reporter more. Where are Cordelia’s laptop and phone? Where did the pills in her system come from? Why didn’t Adam come visit her the day before her murder? Who was the man Jake saw leaving her apartment?Was anyone notified of her death? How is it legal that the building super was just able to give all her stuff away to a random? I have so many questions I need answered!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

“No one seemed to know her well, but judging from the contents of her apartment, all she ever did was read books and drink booze.”

👻 Genre: Magical realism/murder mystery
👻 Profanity: Moderate
👻 Steamy rating: Mild

“A New Lease on Death” is a charming and quirky tale that follows Ruby, a young woman who relocated to Boston after a devastating breakup. With her finances tight, Ruby finds an affordable apartment in a questionable neighborhood, only to discover the previous tenant, Cordelia, has yet to vacate. She’s now a ghost.

Ruby and Cordelia’s friendship is a highlight of the book. It is unexpected and heartwarming. Cordelia is 20 years Ruby’s senior and a bit of an introvert. Ruby is quirky and eccentric. The unlikely pair team up to solve the recent murder of Ruby’s across the hall neighbor, Jake.

The plot was quirky and silly. It kept me engaged the entire time. I do hope the sequel sheds light on why Cordelia took her own life- if that’s truly what happened. Throughout the book, Ruby has her doubts. As do I. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read an ARC of A new lease on death by Olivia Blacke and is the 1st book in the Supernatural mysteries. This is a quirky cozy mystery and is narrated by a ghost, Cordelia and Ruby who moved in to Cordelia's apartment after she died. It was a nice read especially around the Halloween season, but I was a bit disappointed because as with some other series, it has a cliffhanger ending, setting up the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this electronic ARC of "A New Lease on Death" by Olivia Blacke, publishing on October 29, 2024!

This was a fun read! I liked that it switched viewpoints between Cordelia and Ruby. I loved seeing Ruby grow as a character and the relationship between her and Cordelia blossom as they try to solve Jake's murder. I was so stressed when I saw I was at 98% and there were still so many loose ends, but the ending just leaves at a great spot to lead into a sequel. Highly recommend if you like mysteries. It was a super fun read, great for spooky season!

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal aspect you will like this book.

When Ruby moved into a new apartment she didn’t know she was getting a roommate or that the roommate was going to be a ghost! Cordelia used to live in the apartment, but was found dead in the bathtub, she can communicate with Ruby and they spark a friendship. When the neighbor across the hall dies, Ruby and Cordelia work together to solve the mystery.

I liked this book, but it wasn’t a new favorite cozy series. I found the characters to be likable, but the plot moved slowly. Not much happened, I wish there was a bit more action or more at stake. We are following the death of Jake the neighbor, but to be honest I didn’t care too much about him. I wished the book was more about Cordelia’s death, we didn’t even know Jake so I didn’t really care to solve his murder. I think the book could have been a bit shorter because not a whole lot was going on. It ended on a cliff hanger so I’m assuming the next book will be about Cordelia, that could be interesting and I am more interested in her story.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I am always on the lookout for a new mystery series, and when I saw A New Lease on Death has a paranormal aspect, I was intrigued. What a sweet mystery duo Olivia Blacke has created with Cordelia and Ruby! Cordelia, the ghost of a woman who was found dead in her bathtub (suicide? or murder?) and Ruby, the young woman who is now living in that apartment, team up to solve the murder of Jake, the man who lived across the hall. From their issues with communication to the situations they find themselves in as they investigate, I was charmed from beginning to end of this fun read.

I absolutely loved Ruby and Cordelia, and also the cast of characters who appear throughout the book. The possibilities for an ongoing series are endless, and I look forward to reading the next installment. This book will appeal to fans of the Stephanie Plum and Finlay Donovan novels.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke. The opinions in this review are my own.

A New Lease on Death is a great cozy mystery with a ghostly twist! It’s told through the dual POV of Cordelia, the ghost of a 43 year old woman who recently died in her apartment and Ruby, the new 20 year old tenant looking for a fresh start. It doesn’t take long for Ruby to suspect there’s a ghost in her apartment but thankfully, she’s okay with it. When their neighbor is killed in what the cops deem a mugging gone wrong, this unlikely duo team up to solve his murder.

I loved the friendship that develops between Cordelia and Ruby. It was so much fun seeing them try - and sometimes fail - to communicate. There are a lot of entertaining one-sided conversations and I love how creative they get during the investigation. I could relate to Ruby’s inability to keep a plant alive and Cordelias annoyance at this was hilarious.

The whodunnit aspect may be my favorite part though. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! I'm satisfied with the way the main storyline wraps up but it does end on a cliffhanger. Since this is the start of a new series I kind of expected this but man, that last line was exactly what I'd been waiting for. I can’t wait for the next installment!

I definitely recommend this if you enjoy paranormal mysteries with charming characters and unique storylines.

I really enjoyed this cute, spooky cozy mystery. I found the premise of a ghost working with the next occupant of her apartment to be unique and entertaining. I don’t usually like cliff hanger endings but felt that it was a perfect ending for this story. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book! 😀 I was intrigued by the premise of this a ghost and the girl living in her apartment working together to solve a mystery. I liked the characters and was interested in the plot. At times this was a little too boring and too descriptive for me. It could have moved a little faster. Overall I did enjoy this and it was a great read for fall!

The story is told in dual POVs, Ruby and the ghost of Cordelia. This is a funny, charming, supernatural mystery. The premise is unique, and I really enjoyed the scenes where Cordelia is figuring out how to be a ghost. There is a lot to learn and one misstep and poof you are gone. The two main characters made the solving of a murder entertaining. Ruby and Cordelia are a quirky, but likeable, pair and it is easy to root for them. The cliffhanger ending set up book #2 nicely.

If you are searching for a cozy mystery for Halloween, this is it!

ARC REVIEW | PUB DATE 10.29.24

so I really did enjoy this book more than I thought I would! I read 85% of it yesterday alone and finished it up first thing this morning.

It was comparable to Finlay Donovan, which is an all time favorite, and I could see the relation — two women solving murder, some humor and fun, a solid cozy mystery. Except in this book, one of the women is a ghost.

I’m NOT into ghosts because I’m an absolute wimp, but this was a fun ghost ☺️

Ruby moves into a new fully furnished apartment, and it turns out that’s because the former tenant, Cordelia, had died in it a few months prior. After the neighbor across the hall is murdered one night, and the cops write it off as a mugging gone bad, Cordelia and Ruby set off to solve the murder themselves.

A charming, fun read that I enjoyed and will read a follow up if it ever comes out. Recommend if you’re looking for something light hearted and fun.

Thanks so much to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my ARC!

This was a dark, amusing murder mystery. Ruby is a twenty-year-old newcomer to Boston during the winter. She was completely unprepared to move and fled home after a romantic breakup. She was unemployed and had very little money. She moved into an apartment in a rundown building where the heating rarely worked, plenty of noise, and nosey neighbours. The apartment came with the ghost of a forty-two-year-old Cordelia, found dead from an overdose in the bath. It came complete with her furniture and possessions.
Cordelia found Ruby annoying with her outgoing personality, incessant upbeat chatter, and the fact that her beloved plants died after Ruby moved in. Ruby can sense Cordelia's ghostly presence but, oddly, cannot sense when she is absent and keeps talking to her. Cordelia found Ruby employment with her previous tech company so she could afford groceries.

When a neighbour, Jake, from the adjoining apartment is shot dead outside in the snow, wearing pyjamas and without shoes and clutching his cell phone, the police conclude he is a mugging victim. Cordelia feels the murder was more personal, but being dead cannot investigate it without Ruby's help.

Jake seemed well-liked but was a serial womanizer and gambler. The amateur crime-solving pair had considerable difficulty in communicating. Cordelia could not be seen or heard unless the person was drunk, barely awake, or a ghost. She tried to find methods to make Ruby note and understand her directions: moving utensils, notes by fridge magnets, etch-a-sketch, etc. Sometimes, Ruby catches on and follows Cordelia's instructions.
Ruby loves to talk, so her interviews are direct and efficient. Internet searches cannot be done in Cordelia's presence, as tech devices and electronics blow up when the ghost is nearby. Cordelia can move objects but cannot be seen by live people. A stream of relatives, lovers, and friends enter Jake's vacant apartment, seeming to be looking for something or intent on moving into the empty place.

The plot was witty, but the pace was uneven and repetitive. I enjoyed the unlikely crime-solving duo but would have liked it more if they had found one predominant communication method. Their attempts to communicate became tedious. Many of Jake's friends and suspects frequented a bar, and Ruby was kicked out for an incident that was not her fault. This interfered with her investigation. Cordelia attacked a man on a bus after he bothered Ruby, and Ruby was blamed. They could have conversations when Cordelia caused the underaged Ruby to become drunk on vodka. Still, Ruby was unable to remember anything that was said or happened during that time.
The story is told in alternating chapters from Ruby's and Cordelia's perspectives, and the living woman and the ghost are interesting and likable. The supporting characters are flawed, but Jake's killer is finally revealed after a few twists. The finale leaves room for a sequel and a new criminal investigation, one I am anxious to read. I assume most readers have already anticipated this cliffhanger.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press (Minotaur Books) for this entertaining, whimsical, enjoyable ARC in return for an honest review. The date of publication is October 29.

This had such a strong start and premise and then fell a bit flat for me. Sharing your apartment with the ghost or the past tenant had me hooked.

I liked it enough but it felt like a lot of descriptions that told me nothing and it took the WHOLE book to really get any information and even then we only got half of it. I wanted more.

So it was enjoyable enough but forgettable.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were so great. It reminds me of Ashley Poston books but with a mystery. I was sucked in to the story start to finish. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke is about a woman, Ruby, who moves into an apartment where the previous tenant died. Unbeknownst to the new tenant, she is now sharing the apartment with the ghost of the woman who died. Eventually Ruby figures out she is roommates with a ghost and the two work together to solve the murder of the neighbor across the hall.

This was a so so read for me. I think someone who frequently reads and enjoys supernatural mysteries would enjoy it. It’s not really my jam and I felt like parts of the story dragged a bit for my taste.

This is a fun murder mystery! Ruby, the new tenant in 4G, teams up with Cordelia, the deceased tenant in 4G, to solve the murder of their neighbor across the hall. Ruby can't see or hear Cordy, but somehow they manage to communicate, sometimes in very entertaining ways. Picture a trail of Skittles. This is a fun read and I happily anticipate the next book!

Very exciting and different premise. Cordelia is dead, however she is still around- sort of- as a ghost. She considers the new tenant of her apartment to be her roommate of sorts. She talks to a newly dead neighbor the first time she’s been able to communicate since she was alive. Taking place in Boston during the winter adds to the mystery and fun of this book.