Thank you so much to Olivia Blacke, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this ARC of A New Lease on Death! I’ve been a fan of Simone St. James’ books for a while and this is a similar, supernatural vein. While this books is more cozy and whimsical, it was still a good read! My complaint is that the ending seemed so rushed?! I feel like I still have a few unanswered questions but the cliffhanger really got me and I can’t wait for the sequel!

Ruby has moved to Boston fleeing a cheating boyfriend. She lucks into a completely furnished apartment she can sort of afford, and by completely furnished that means everything including the last occupants clothes. Oh - and the ghost of the last occupant, Cordelia. Not long after Ruby moves in the man across the hall ends up dead in the street in front of their building. Once Cordelia manages to find a way to communicate with Ruby they set out to solve the murder because both f them are convinced it was not just a random mugging gone wrong.
This is an intriguing cozy. While Ruby is aware of Cordelia’s existence their communication is complicated using either magnets on the fridge or a Etch-a-Sketch. While we are sure Jack, the across the hall neighbor, was murdered we have lots of questions about Cordelia - did she really kill herself or was she murdered? The chapters alternate between either Ruby’s or Cordelia’s viewpoints and gives us glimpses into each woman’s personality with Ruby being an optimistic 20-year-old while Cordelia was 40ish when she passed. While we find out what happened to Jack - and I’ll grant it wasn’t what I suspected - we still aren’t sure whether Cordelia was murdered or killed herself so that mystery lingers until the next book. This was an enjoyable read, I like both women and hope to see the next entry in the series soon. Recommended

I was lukewarm on this one. It was mildly entertaining, mildly amusing, and just felt pretty slow. Cozy mystery? I guess so. Would I read more from the author? I'd have to think about it.

The cover was a pretty good representation of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

A New Lease On Death, is the first book in the Supernatural mystery series by Olivia Blake, Ruby Young has recently fled a heartbreak and moved from Marilyn to Detroit trying her best to get over it this is how she got such a great price for an already furnished apartment and the not so great part of town.
Ruby has heard about the previous tenant who “committed suicide“ and the reason for the fully stocked apartment and cheap rent. What she doesn’t know is Cordelia Graves is still living in her apartment only now she’s a ghost. Ruby is open to having a ghost roommate and even talks to Cordelia long before she is certain of her existence win Ruby‘s neighbor Jake is shot in the face in front of their apartment building things just get confusing because Ruby believes Cordelia is encouraging her to investigate the murder even though she is trying to do the exact opposite. There’s a lot of great suspects and LOL moments in this new cozy mystery and I was down for all of it. I was so excited when Cordelia met the dead guy at the pawnshop and that’s when I knew the book had sucked me in. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and I do want to say you may think you know the suspect but OMG it was a total surprise to me because I certainly didn’t see that twist coming. I loved how Cordelia got Ruby a job, money but then again I loved a lot of things about this book. I really like ruby and Cordelia and hope they investigate what they talked about at the end of the book in the next book. If you love para-normal cozy mysteries then you’ll definitely enjoy this one with Ruby and her ghostly sidekick Cordelia.#SaintMartin’sPress, #NetGalley, #OliviaBlake, #ANewLeaseOnDeath, #ParanormalMysteries,

This is a cozy murder mystery with ghosts. I like the cover and that is what initially drew me in along with the synopsis. That being said, this book did fall a bit flat for me but I seem to be the outlier here so if this is your vibe, definitely check this one out. I think maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this type of book and so I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This novel was so much better than I had expected! I like that this novel goes back and forth between our two lovely detectives, the deceased Cordelia and the new tenant, Ruby. I love their dynamic and their friendship when it seems terribly hard to communicate! The ending/last few chapters were absolutely WILD and such a whirlwind and I desperately need the next novel right now!!! I have so many Cordelia questions that I so need answered!!!!!! Totally worth the read and highly recommend to mystery readers, maybe even those who love cozy mysteries!

This book was such a fun paranormal mystery.

Cordelia died in the bathtub of her apartment, and within a few months Ruby has moved into her apartment and while weird things keep happening she doesn't think much of it until her next door neighbour gets killed outdoor and Ruby suspects more is at play then a simple mugging.

When Ruby finally realizes Cordelia is still in the apartment they decide to investigate together, however as one would expect communicating with a ghost is not as simple as one would hope when trying to solve a murder.

This was such a fun and witty mystery and I couldn't put it down, the only thing I'll say is that the whole book gives the impression both the murders have a connection and in the end it just ends without resolution to one of the two murders and it left me frustrated instead of eager for more!

DNF @ 43%

The premise of this books seemed interesting but it missed the mark for me. Both main characters were so immature and childish, despite one of them being in her 40’s. All of the side characters were so one dimensional and annoying. Every interaction the main characters had, either with each other or with anyone else, was so absurd and didn’t feel like how people actually talk. Also, at almost 50% into this book pretty much nothing had happened and I was fighting to stay interested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Now this was such an entertaining read!

There are multiple POVs, a ghost, a mystery, and unlikely "detectives". I am really in my mystery/thriller era and this book gave me some comedy mixed in. Kind of like when you're deep in your dark romance era and get to Butcher and Blackbird. This book also ends on a cliffhanger!

A woman named Cordelia passes in her apartment (more develops with that) and the landlord rents it out to Ruby with all of Cordelia's stuff still in it! Once another neighbor gets un-alived outside the building, the ghost and new tenant join up to try and solve the mystery. This was surprisingly cozy and comedic and I ate it up.

I will definitely be reading the next one!

This was an interesting take on a murder mystery. I loved the dual POV, and the search for self/answers. Wildly funny and engaging!

I am generally a reader of horror, scifi, and thrillers, but this cozy mystery jumped out to me as something to request because the premise sounded really interesting.

The story opens with a ghost, a murder, and a new tenant living in a recently-vacated apartment. Our new tenant is quirky and disorganized and terrible and keeping houseplants alive, which annoys its former occupant to no end. When their neighbor is murdered though, they find a way to communicate and try to solve things on their own.

I really tried to get into this story, but it was incredibly slow moving. I think that if you are a fan of cozy mysteries you might really like this one, but for me it felt like a book where very little happened. I even skipped ahead in the story towards the end and I found that I missed basically zero of the plot. This unfortunately wasn't for me, but other people might like it if it's their normal reading vibe.

A murder and a ghost is usually all I need to pick up a book and this title was no exception. I was intrigued in the beginning by the "mechanics" of Cordelia's ghost who apparently committed suicide in her bathtub and is now learning the perks and limitations of ghostly living. When Ruby, the next tenant, moves into the apartment they are able to establish a sort of communication. Together they investigate the recent murder of neighbor Jake and a series of interviews with neighbors, old girlfriends and workmates ensues.

While there were some fun ghostly scenes I found the rest of the book rather slow. Not a problem as most of my reading is done in bed but I would have liked a bit more action and forward movement in the storyline. The wrap up and reveal were well done, however, I was unpleasantly surprised by the cliffhanger ending which seemed abrupt and left unanswered the question (no spoiler here) I was pondering throughout the book.

This book is so much fun! I was really drawn to the premise of this book. The former tenant of an apartment dies and her ghost befriends the new tenant and together they solve a murder. All of the characters were likeable and quirky. The writing style was easy to read and enjoyable. I really enjoyed tagging along on the adventures of Ruby and Cordelia.
I was surprised that some things were left unresolved at the end of the book but I'm hoping that means this series will continue!
This was my first book by this author and I'm eager to read more! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Dual POV goodness with a paranormal mystery twist. Really couldn't have asked for more. But then Olivia Blacke had to throw in the comedic gold.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I'll admit it, I requested a copy of this book completely based on the cover. It looked fun. And it absolutely lives up to expectations! It's a classic whodunnit but with a ghost twist, a good mystery with some laughs and just a little sadness along the way. The story is told in 2 point of views, always a favorite of mine. First there's Cordelia, 40-something, recently deceased ghost still hanging out in her old apartment. And then there's Ruby, 20-something, who has just moved into Cordelia's old apartment and doesn't know she has a "roommate." When the man across the hall is murdered, Cordelia decides to solve the case when the police don't investigate. She has to make herself known to Ruby to enlist her help. The two make quite the odd couple and somehow find ways to work together without conventional ways of communication.

The way these two figure out how Cordelia can talk to Ruby was fun, the age gap between them making for some good frustration and laughs. They are both likable and witty. I didn't find one point of view better than the other, but enjoyed them both. Cordelia helps Ruby like a big sister and their friendship is pretty touching. The cast of characters is a bit much and that's my only complaint. There's quite a few people to keep track of, most of the Boston Southies with genetic Southie names. But that's a very small issue for an overall good book. It was a quick read, perfect for July because it takes place during a snowy Boston winter. The ending is fantastic and I was a little angry when I flipped the page to see "acknowledgments" and not another chapter! That last line is a doozy!

I definitely recommend this for anyone that likes mysteries, classic whodunnits, and just general light comedies.

In a New Lease on Death, the first book in a series by Olivia Blacke, Ruby Young finds herself working a murder case with an unlikely partner—a ghost named Cordelia Graves.

A cozy murder mystery with a twist of the supernatural sounded good.

I liked the cover which featured a ghost hand passing a key into person’s hand on a dark green background.

The story is told from the first person point of view alternating between Cordelia and Ruby.

I loved that a ghost was working on solving a murder with a human. I also enjoyed Cordelia showing us what it is like to be a ghost.

The book has a lot of potential. The plot could be moved forward faster. The characters could be given more depth. The repetitious aspects of the story could be made to be less so. With some revision, I think this could be a very good book.

Olivia Blacke has created a new cozy mystery series and I'm a fan. A New Lease on Death starts with an interesting premise - the ghost of a woman who recently passed away finds the dead body of her neighbor, Jake, living across the hall. Cordelia is also living in the apartment she used to occupy - even though Ruby is the new tenant and initially has no idea Cordelia's ghost exist. As they work together to solve the mystery of who killed Jake, they utilize different communication methods and look out for each other in the way that only friends do. It's interesting to think about the practical details of what a ghost can and can't do , and the mystery takes a few twists and turns...but that cliffhanger! That is the question that was top of mind throughout the book and I can't wait to get some answers in book 2. I have my own ideas but I'm looking forward to reading the reveal.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

This was a fun murder mystery that featured a 40 year old ghost helping a 20 year old, which made the first half of this book super intriguing and funny at times. However, except for the last 30 pages, the second half of the book was just alright. It felt equally rushed yet slow paced, if that makes any sense haha.

This was such a charming read! I will admit that when I first requested this book I mistook Olivia Blacke as Olivie Blake so I was a bit skeptical but I’m glad I took the chance on this one.

When twenty year old Ruby Young moves into her first new apartment, she’s met with a ghostly roommate, Cordelia, and the apartment’s previous older tenant who enlists her help to discover who killed her neighbor Jake. This was the cozy mystery I needed after my heavy binge in campy thrillers.

I really loved the relationship between Ruby and Cordelia and the way they had to work together both with the murder mystery and the help in their personal lives. It was also fun to get two POVs and one being a ghost. This gave me Only Murders in the Building vibes minus the podcast. Fun, cozy, and surprisingly it ends with a cliffhanger so that should be interesting.

Definitely a cozy mystery with a fairly unique premise. I enjoyed the pacing - it wasn't a fast paced, high stakes thriller, but wasn't so slow I was yawning. A solid 4 star read for me. Entertaining and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series because I have questions and am now invested in Cordelia and Ruby.