Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 10/29
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

I dabble in cozy mysteries, especially in the fall, but I typically shy away from paranormal stories. I'm glad I decided to give "A New Lease on Death" a try. The main character being a ghost who is trying to solve a murder made the story more lighthearted in nature, and I'm curious to go back and read Olivia Blacke's other works.

This book was so fun! It was a great cozy mystery with paranormal mystery as well. I really enjoyed the characters, their banter was great and I found myself drawn to them. I think it was a perfect fall read and look forward to reading more from this author! 4 stars!

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this work!

A darkly humorous supernatural mystery and a great start to a new series. I loved the characters and I think Ruby and Cordelia make a good team. The writing is witty and engaging and the plot is filled with twists and turns.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ruby just moved to Boston and she found the best deal on an apartment and it comes fully furnished.....however, the old tenant Cordelia is not fully out of the apartment herself. When Ruby moves in she senses that something is not quite right with the apartment, the curtains open by themselves, things move on their own, Ruby finally figures out the Cordelia is still living with her in the apartment, but as a ghost. The two of them work together to figure out how the neighbor across the hallway was killed.

A New Lease on Death is a funny, paranormal, amateur sleuth, novel. There are witty jokes and I thought the relationship between Ruby and Cordelia was amazing. I really enjoyed this book, it kept me entertained from beginning to end and there were not so many details to pay attention to which I loved. It was the perfect paranormal clean slate book and just what I needed. I can't wait for the next one in the series.

Thank you Olivia Blacke, Minatour Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb sounded incredible and I had really high hopes for this book. I've tried to force myself to finish it one too many times, so unfortunately I have to DNF.

The writing was very clunky for me, but I think it's in large part to Cordelia's character. She is a little bit clunky and all over the place, causing her dialogue to drag on. She notices every mundane detail and really slowed the pacing of the book down. The mystery element is a fun twist, and I was interested to see if we heard from Jake again, so the beginning started out strong. The constant communication issues between Cordelia and Ruby, along with both parties frustration, also slowed the book down. They had so much trouble communicating, that it left me wondering why they hadn't figured out a solution, even if the paranormal element, or magic or sorts played a part.

I will read the author again in the future, and I think a different mix up of characters would lead to a more enjoyable reading experience. This book had more of a cozy mystery aspect, which would be fun for readers that don't want anything too intense, but still has a mystery at its core.

I thought this story had a pretty neat premise! I enjoyed following Ruby and Cordelia as they solved the murder. There were two things I didn't like. The end/wrap up moved super fast and, to me, came out of nowhere. And the ending, what the crap? I waited all book for them to tie up Cordelia's story and now I have to wait. I need to know what happened to Cordelia but I won't be jumping at the chance to get my hands on the second book. Hopefully, my library will get it.

A New Lease on Death is the first in a new supernatural mystery series by Olivia Blacke and it is a fun fast read with a most unlikely duo of amateur sleuths. Cordelia is a fortyish woman, smart, a bit grumpy and very quiet, partly because her new roommate keeps killing her plants but mostly because she’s a ghost. Ruby, the unintentional flower killing roommate, is an extremely cheerful, perky 20- year-old who moved into the apartment after Cordelia’s demise. When Jake, their next door neighbour is murdered and the police write it off as just another mugging gone wrong, Cordelia is sure there's more to it than that and she’s determined to look into it but she she needs a still breathing sidekick. Since Ruby is her only option, she makes her presence known and, together they set out to solve the case, well, just as soon as they can figure out how to communicate, not easy when one of them is non-corporeal.

I really enjoyed this tale full of twists and turns and dark humour. Cordelia and Ruby are both very likeable and make appealing protagonists and the mystery was interesting with a satisfying outcome. The story ends with a hint to what to expect in the next installment and I am so looking forward to seeing where this dynamic duo goes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Review: This book is the perfect example of making sure you’re the right audience for a book. I was in a hell of a book slump a few weeks ago, started this book, and then soft DNF’d it because I knew I was not the right audience for it at the time. When I picked it up again yesterday? I couldn’t put it down. I laughed and I loved this cozy paranormal mystery. I found pieces of myself in both Cordelia and Ruby and I loved the way they interacted (even while they really weren’t able to). This was my first book by Olivia, but I’ll for sure be reading more!

Synopsis: Ruby Young's new Boston apartment comes with all the usual perks. Windows facing the brick wall of the next-door building. Heat that barely works. A malfunctioning buzzer. Noisy neighbors. A dead body on the sidewalk outside. And of course, a ghost.

Since Cordelia Graves died in her apartment a few months ago, she's kept up her residency, despite being bored out of her (non-tangible) skull and frustrated by her new roommate. When her across-the-hall neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is shot and killed in an apparent mugging gone wrong outside their building, Cordelia is convinced there’s more to it and is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Unfortunately, Cordelia, being dead herself, can't solve the mystery alone. She has to enlist the help of the obnoxiously perky, living tenant of her apartment. Ruby is twenty, annoying, and has never met a houseplant she couldn't kill. But she also can do everything Cordelia can't, from interviewing suspects to researching Jake on the library computers that go up in a puff of smoke if Cordelia gets too close. The roommates form an unlikely friendship as they get closer to the truth about Jake's death…and maybe other dangerous secrets as well.

A New Lease on Death
by Olivia Black
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 336
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pub date: 10/29/24

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

A ghost is certain her former neighbor’s death is murder, but she needs help from the living to find the killer.

Cordelia Graves is certain her former neighbor’s death is murder, and not a mugging gone wrong as the police think. But since she’s dead, she needs help to bring a killer to justice. The closest living being she can get to is Ruby Young, the current tenant of Cordelia’s former apartment. But Ruby is unaware she has a roommate. What’s a ghost to do?

A New Lease on Death is a quirky, dark, debut cozy mystery I enjoyed reading because of that quirkiness. Cordelia doesn’t fit the stereotype of a ghost. She’s lonely, bored, and even though she’s been dead a few months, she still has questions about how to be a ghost, and no one to ask. Ruby Young is Cordelia’s opposite in many ways. Ruby is young, perky, and has killed off all but one of Cordelia’ many houseplants. Humor is woven throughout the novel, helping to lighten the dark tone.

The mystery isn’t easy to solve, which is always good. If you’re looking for a quirky, but quick read, then give A New Lease on Death a try. Suicide is mentioned in the book, for anyone sensitive to that topic.
4/5 stars.

I enjoyed the plot line and the creativity behind it. It felt very similar to episodes of Angel, where Cordelia, played by Charisma Carpenter, moves into a haunted apartment (if you don’t know what I am talking about, please look it up.) This also didn’t resonate as a thriller for me. I just didn’t feel a lot of suspense, or hang off the edge of my seat. I did want to undercover what happened to the book character Cordelia, which is why I kept reading.

Everything felt sort of rushed, though. As if this mystery wasn’t the main investigation, but more like a filler investigation to set up the main one. I just felt this sense of something was missing throughout the novel. Everything made sense, but there’s a feeling of more.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.