I absolutely loved this book. Ruby is 20 year old who’s just trying to survive in the world. She’s moved out to Boston from Maryland to escape a relationship gone south. But, Ruby is dead-broke. So, when she stumbles upon a fully furnished apartment in an okay-ISH neighborhood, she snatches it up. Her apartment is fully furnished with clothes, silverware, a couch, books, a bed, oh and the previous tenant’s Ghost, Cordelia Graves! Cordelia is in her 40s, DEAD, and has no idea how to co-habitate with a 20 year old. She died of an apparent suicide just months before Ruby moved in. Just shy of Cordelia’s death, another body turns up right outside their apartment building. Jake Macintyre of Apt 4H. There is just something about Jake’s murder that doesn’t sit right with Cordelia. Rules as a possible mugging-gone-wrong, Cordelia isn’t buying it. But, with no way of investigating Jake’s murder herself, she convinces Ruby to help her do what she can’t.

This book was such a cute and cozy read. I had such a clear picture in my head of Ruby and Cordelia. The apartment building, the neighborhood, everything. I find that with cozy mysteries like this the picture just paints itself in your head. Ruby was a breath of fresh air as a main character, I enjoyed her quirky gen-zish personality. Though she is a gen-z she just had that old soul aura about her, and I think that’s why her and Cordy got along in their own way. It was so cute to see a relationship form between Cordelia and Ruby when they couldn’t even speak to each other normally. I found myself not wanting this cozy mystery to end. It’s definitely going to turn into a comfort series for me.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for my e-copy! Sincerely appreciate being considered to review this book.

A New Lease on Death is a paranormal mystery told in alternating povs between a ghost and a young woman who lives in the ghost’s apartment. Ruby moved into her new apartment well aware that the previous owner had committed suicide in the bathroom but Cordelia Graves never left. When a neighbor is murdered outside the building Cordelia finds ways to communicate with Ruby as they go searching for a murderer. An unlikely investigating duo has never been seen but Ruby and Cordelia impress as they find ways to make it work on a twisted, unpredictable case. The story ends one case but leads into Cordelia’s own possible murder for kind of a cliffhanger ending. The characters are fun and amusing while the case keeps you guessing for an interesting read. I look forward to the next book! My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

I started this book and had to stop reading about 15% in. It reads as if the author has never been to Boston, and the descriptions of the city are extremely annoying to read about. I also found both of the main characters to be whiny and annoying.

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke tells the story of Cordelia Graves who happens to be a ghost living in her apartment. Her apartment is leased out to Ruby Young who is not a ghost. Things start to happen when one of the neighbors is murdered. It’s a good story line. The dialogue is great! It’s fun to see how they are going to communicate with each other. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I came for the cover but stayed for the story. I absolutely loved this book. I read it in two days. It would have been one but I had to work. The characters were interesting and likeable. The story kept me on the edge of my seat. Hopefully this becomes a series. I can’t wait for it to be released so I can buy a copy!

A New Lease on Death is a supernatural cozy mystery. The story begins with the ghost of one of the main characters, Cordelia, meeting another ghost, her recently murdered neighbor. Just when I thought this was going to be about Jake and Cordelia solving Jake's murder, the author throws a curve.
Ruby is a twenty year old who just moved into Cordelia's old apartment. We're told that Cordelia didn't really have anyone in her life so Ruby gets the apartment completely furnished because the landlord was too cheap and lazy to clean it out. Ruby is so broke she doesn't even care that Cordelia killed herself in the bathtub.
However, Ruby believes in ghosts and soon realizes that Cordelia hasn't really left. The two form an unlikely friendship and learn to coexist and communicate. They solve Jake's murder, but in doing so Ruby starts to wonder if Cordelia's death wasn't what it appeared to be.
I enjoyed this odd couple detective duo and would love to read another book about them. Hopefully, Cordelia's death will be solved in a sequel.
Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Blacke and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the arc.

This cozy mystery is definitely on the slower more character focused. While I enjoyed the characters there were times where I was bored. However, I hope there's a next book that focuses on Cordelia's death. That I'm excited about.

This was a very enjoyable paranormal cozy mystery. I loved the dual povs of Cordelia and Ruby and how Cordelia was a ghost! I enjoyed following them as they teamed up to solve the mystery of their neighbor’s death. I really liked their characters and the overall mystery and plot of this one. I’m looking forward to reading future books in this Supernatural Mysteries series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the gifted copy.

While this had a good start, I found myself bored halfway through, and the ending was VERY lackluster.

This was a fun read! I enjoyed the characters, the humor, and the mystery. I liked the supernatural elements and the ending has me very excited for another book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC!

"A New Lease on Death" by Olivia Blacke is a captivating cozy mystery that combines charm, wit, and a touch of suspense. The story follows Sarah Weston, a recent divorcee who moves to a small town to start anew, only to find herself entangled in a local murder investigation when a body is discovered in her newly rented apartment.

Blacke's writing is engaging and delightful, creating a vivid small-town setting filled with quirky and endearing characters. Sarah is a relatable and plucky protagonist, whose determination to clear her name and uncover the truth drives the narrative. The interactions between Sarah and the townsfolk add warmth and humor to the story, making it an enjoyable read.

The plot is well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end. Blacke skillfully blends the elements of a classic whodunit with contemporary themes of starting over and finding one's place in a new community.

Overall, "A New Lease on Death" is a thoroughly entertaining cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. Olivia Blacke delivers a fun and suspenseful tale that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end, making it a perfect pick for a relaxing and enjoyable read.

This was a very fun read, though I wanted a bit more from the mystery plot! The characters were quirky and engaging, and just over-the-top enough. The pacing was decent and I enjoyed the world-building around haunting rules. I ultimately wanted the mystery plot to be a bit more satisfying and, it seemed very straightforward and simple. However I still enjoyed the read!

This was a fun read for fans of cozies, mysteries with a supernatural element, and those seeking a light, humorous mystery with quirky, likeable female characters. Kudos to the author for not going for the obvious…solving the death of the ghost character. Establishing the relationship between the main characters provided the perfect setup for the continuation of the series. I’m thoroughly invested…waiting for the next installment to learn what truly happened to Cordelia.

I really liked this book. It kind of reminded me of the Charley Davison series but not as funny. That’s not to say this isn’t a good book though. It’s a good old murder mystery. It’s a promising start to the series and I’d definitely pick up #2. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc.

This was an entertaining read. I love cozy murder mysteries and this was exactly that. A quirky whodunnit with a cast of peculiar characters that kept me engaged.

Cordelia is a ghost. She unalived herself (or did she?) in her own bathroom by overdosing on alcohol and pills. Her landlord didn't even clean out her stuff before renting her apartment to someone new. Ruby is an unemployed, eclectic young woman who soon realizes she is not alone. Cordelia has never left the apartment. So when Jake, a next door neighbor, inexplicably dies by a gunshot wound on the street in front of their building, Cordelia and Ruby team up to solve a murder.

I loved the premise of this book. It was unlike any murder mystery I've ever read so I loved the fact that it was different. I will probably read the second one as it is a series. It definitely ended on a cliffhanger. I don't think it was very memorable for me. I give it 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so fun and fast-paced! I loved the Boston vibes. Everything was so thoroughly described - the city, the workplace, the dynamic of the apartment building - I felt like I was really there. With this being the first in a series, it's hard to know what was important versus what was fluff. For the sake of this mystery, so much of it ended up being irrelevant, but I have to believe it'll all be tied up in the next book(s).

I loved the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia, and the mystery was quick and fun!

An interesting mystery with an unlikely pair of amateur sleuths.

Ruby Young was just trying to put some space between herself and her cheating ex by moving to Boston from Maryland, figuring the distance would keep her from breaking down and taking his cheating butt back. Most twenty year olds don't have vast bank accounts, so of course when a fully furnished apartment was offered to her she didn't ask too many questions--such as why someone left behind all their furniture, and their books,...and their clothes? A google search showed that the prior owner, Cordelia Graves, died in the apartment a few months ago. Apparently, that tidbit of information dissuaded all takers but the really desperate--which Ruby certainly was but she has also always has a positive outlook on life. Except, Ruby does notice odd things going on in her apartment, such as 'Who put out that outfit for her upcoming job interview?' since it certainly wasn't her.

Instead of being freaked out about the idea of a haunted apartment, Ruby is excited to get to know her ghostly roommate. A ghostly roommate would be cool, except Ruby hopes she isn't being watched while she undresses, although she does notice that she doesn't feel Cordelia's presence whenever she goes into the bathroom--probably has to do with the whole found dead in the bathtub thing.

Cordelia liked having her own quiet space. She never invited anyone over...ever! Now she is has this energizer bunny, who never stops talking, even to herself. They are the polar opposites but she is finding Ruby to be growing on her, even if she has systemically killed all of Cordelia's houseplants.

When their across-the-hall neighbor turns up dead outside of their building, and the cops quickly write it off as a mugging gone bad. Cordelia is certain there was no mugging and wants to figure out who killed Jake. She desperately tries to get Ruby's attention and her help since being alive would make asking questions so much easier.

THOUGHTS:
I really enjoyed Ruby and Cordelia trying to work out a friendship between them even with the whole you're alive and I'm dead thing. Ruby begins to figure out when she can feel Cordelia near her but they can't speak to each other thing.

Cordelia was in her 40's when she died, something she thankfully can't remember. As we learn about Cordelia throughout the story, we find that while Cordelia was older than Ruby, she no more has her life together than young Ruby. Cordelia had a hard life growing up, part of why she likes her own private space, but she makes more than her fair share of grown up mistakes.

Ruby is perky and bubbly and didn't think the whole 'let's move far away from her cheating ex-boyfriend' thing through too well as she has no job, no warm clothes for the winter and very little money left. It is Cordelia that suggests that Ruby apply for a job at Cordelia's former company so she can go crazy and buy food and heat and other fun stuff so she can stay alive.

This is the second story I have read recently which involved ghosts communicating by way of magnetic poetry but as Ruby points out, it is not a great system unless they plan to drag the fridge with them whenever they go out. I liked that while both were frustrated, they keep trying to figure out their communication issues.

There is definitely going to be a second story and I foresee some of the happenings in this story shining a light on how they can communicate in the future. There is also a lot of sketchy information about Cordelia's death which need to be addressed and which wasn't...yet. I am absolutely looking forward to more Ruby and Cordelia.

I appreciated getting to read an ARC, because the premise sounded cool! In execution, though, it was less than stellar. I did not enjoy the way the characters were portrayed - there wasn’t enough depth and it ended up feeling more like a caricature. Like, Ruby was quirky and liked unicorns and was young! And Cordelia was an old soul and had weird hobbies and drank too much! And that was about all we know. Also, the “detective work” was way too dumbed down. I thought the interesting parts were the world-building about what ghosts can do and the mystery of Cordelia’s death but then that ended on a cliffhanger. Unfortunately this did not hit the mark for me!

This was my first supernatural cozy mystery, and it’s my new favorite genre! I loved the pov from Cordelia, but Ruby was my favorite character! The ending felt a bit rushed, and it did end on a cliffhanger which tells me there will be a second book, which I will be picking up if it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

This was a fun book! I loved the paranormal aspect mixed with the thriller and while parts were a little predictable, it was a great read! Thank you!