I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The only thing I got tired of was the author repeating herself over and over again. But the story plot was cute and I enjoyed the murder mystery. I can't wait for the sequel! How the book ends, it ends on a cliff hanger. :)

A mystery with humor, twists
Ruby moves into a new apartment but everything is not okay.
the apartment comes with a ghost Cordellia.
A good fun read.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. Black is truly a masterful storyteller. This novel took the reader on a journey through a land and with characters that were vibrant and tragic. The story was heartbreaking and gripping in its universal story that people will go to great lengths for those they love.

Gosh this was clever and fun and exactly what I needed at the time. If you’re in a slump this one will surely pull you out.

*A New Lease on Death* by Olivia Blacke is a darkly funny and engaging cozy mystery that has a clever blend of suspense, humor, and heart.

The story follows Ruby and Cordelia. One is alive and one is dead. They both live at a quirky modest apartment, where they soon find a way to communicate. Ruby & Cordelia find themselves tangled up in a mystery surrounding a death that may not be as accidental as it seems. The unlikely pair team up to solve the crime, with hilarious clumsy moments throughout. The author balances the mystery with light moments, creating a tone that’s both fun and fast-paced.

*A New Lease on Death* is a hidden gem. I would love to read another book by Blacke! Hoping this gets a sequel.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute little mystery that is definitely in the cozy genre. The snarky commentary by Cordelia the ghost, who just doesn't understand Gen Z Ruby, and Ruby's hilarious thoughts about what a sad "old" woman Cordelia must have been was highly entertaining.

The mystery itself engaging and definitely set itself up for a sequel. However, the pacing was a bit slow at times and I occasionally found my attention wandering.

This one would be great for fans of paranormal and cozy mysteries!

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one. I struggle with supernatural themes and ghosts which made this less appealing to me. Overall it was a cute premise and the idea of it was fun and different. For those who can get past the ghost aspect, I think you will enjoy!

I will fully admit I went into this one hoping for a fun read that would keep me glued to the page and I'm so glad I grabbed it.

Ruby and Cordelia are, without a doubt, my new favorite crime-solving duo; while they may not be the traditional team, they're just perfection.

Reading this is, first and foremost, fun; I laughed and thought about what I'd do differently, tried to solve the crimes, and considered what I'd do if I were a ghost; all in all, this book had me completely immersed and longing for more.

I'm so mad at myself for taking so long to read this book, it's phenomenal, and I can't recommend it enough; if you're looking for a who dunnit mixed with friendships and the unpredictable, this is the book for you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this e-book; I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A New Lease on Death is an unusual murder mystery. The story is told from the perspective of Cordelia's ghost and from the new resident of the apartment she died in, Ruby. When the tenant from the neighboring apartment is murdered, Ruby is shocked and somehow realizes that Cordelia can communicate with her despite being a ghost. They work together to uncover their neighbor's murder and realize that they need to investigate Cordelia's suspicious death as a murder, too. It's creative and a new take on the murder mystery.

*A New Lease on Death* by Olivia Blacke left me feeling underwhelmed. The premise—a cozy mystery involving a quirky cast of characters and a death tied to a real estate venture—had potential, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark. The pacing felt slow, and while the protagonist had promise, her development felt flat and the dialogue often lacked the sharpness I was hoping for. The mystery itself was predictable, with few twists to keep things exciting. Overall, it felt like it tried to be charming but fell short of being engaging or compelling. I wasn’t able to connect with the story, and by the end, I found myself not particularly invested in solving the mystery.

I told myself that I wouldn’t force myself to finish books, but here we are.

I don’t think I processed what was going on for most of the book. I felt like I was waiting for the actual mystery to start. I was bored and couldn’t focus on this book, but after seeing the many positive reviews, it’s clearly a me problem.

But I did enjoy listening to Cordelia. She has a fun and interesting narrative style that made her charming. Maybe she was the reason o stuck around.

Thank you, Netgalley and SMP, for the ARC!

I really tried to get into this story but it was just too slow for me. It also lacked the cozy murder mystery vibes I was looking for. Will try again in the future and see if maybe it was just right book wrong time.

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Black is a cozy mystery set in Boston. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the main character, Ruby, and how the author intertwined the storylines and multiple points of view.
cozy mystery isn’t my normal genre of choice, but I enjoyed reading this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy.
3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This mystery was unfortunately not a hit with me :(

Different murder mystery. I enjoyed Ruby and Cordelia. Wasn’t expecting the twist! Overall it was a pretty solid plot, I liked the lead into a sequel to. Clever.

the cover leaves something to be desired, but this was a fun and lighthearted mystery! i also liked the ghost element and thought it was fairly unique!

Review:

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke
3⭐️

First ARC of the year! Thanks, @netgalley…even though this came out back in September.

You may life this if you like funny murder mysteries. If you’re just along for the ride.

This book was too long in my opinion. And it took the MCs way too long to come to conclusions. I did enjoy the ghost/living person dynamic and I liked that Cordelia had flash backs. I wish they were part of the murder they were trying to solve and not just random filler.

Overall, I think it needed some work but it was fun. It is a series so maybe after book two comes out book one won’t seem too long.

My uber short, hardly any details, spoiler free, quick summary:

Cordelia is a ghost hanging out in her apartment who enlists the new tenant , Ruby, to help solve the murder of their neighbor.

St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, you know my type of books. "A New Lease on Death" was an absolute treat to read. I put this in the category of a cozy mystery where it never felt TOO high stakes and had JUST enough humor and intrigue to keep me invested.
The unlikely duo of Ruby Young, unemployed free spirit, and Cordelia Graves, middle-aged ACTUAL spirit, was a beautiful combination that brought heart, humor, and teamwork to the forefront. Trying to solve the mystery of who killed Jake Macintyre, these two are able to work together in a refreshing new take on a typical murder-mystery.
The writing was sharp and the switch between POVs gave readers something to look forward to. The only reason I took away a star was because of an abrupt ending. While it is setting up the book for a sequel, I was hoping for more answers than ultimately were revealed. Guess I'll just have to read more!

I am giving this 2.5 stars rounded up - mostly because it had some entertaining moments. The premise gave me hope due to the supernatural aspect and the promise of a crime-solving cozy mystery. But this sadly didn't live up to my expectations.

The characters are well written, and yes this is cozy, but there just wasn't enough mystery. There was also too much repetition, almost every scene was the same: character goes to interview someone who just might know someone with some knowledge about the homicide and then is let down when they don't learn anything helpful. I also hoped for a big ending with a big twist and, even though it twisted a little, it was definitely not enough. I needed much more from the whole story. This is a series, so hopefully Blacke will get better by the next one when developing the story.

This is a new author for me, and this cozy mystery read was ok. It was an average book. Maybe this is not the type of book for me.