This is definitely a cozy read. Where a ghost and the new tenant resolve a mystery murder. This was supper fun to read . And it set ups for a fabulous series . Cant wait to get more of this two

3 stars

This is a charming little paranormal mystery starring the detective duo of Cordelia, a fussy plant-mom ghost, and Ruby, the impulsive and disorganized Gen Z girl who moved into Cordelia’s old apartment. Another resident of their apartment building is murdered (and his ghost moves on before Cordelia can ask him who killed him); as he’d been a pretty good neighbor, Cordelia and Ruby join forces to track down his killer.

I think Blacke makes too much of the generational difference between Cordelia and Ruby, really trying to squeeze every joke she can out of their differing priorities and values, in a way that I didn’t find funny. That said, Cordelia’s increasing fondness for and protectiveness over Ruby is genuinely sweet, and I like their ‘roommate’ relationship a lot.

While reading, I expected there to be two mysteries for Cordelia and Ruby to solve, but one is saved/teased for a sequel. This made the book feel a little empty for me, like a sandwich with not enough filling, and so at the moment I feel ambivalent about whether I’ll pick up said sequel or not. That said, I’d still recommend the book to fans of paranormal fiction, cozy mysteries, and slice-of-life, odd couple whimsy.

3.5 stars.
Full of humour, a growing friendship, and a murder mystery, this novel launches a series with a pair of investigators: Cordelia Graves, a ghost, and Ruby Young, the young woman now living in Cordelia's former apartment.

Opening with the death of a man who lived across the hall from Cordelia, and her trying unsuccessfully to teach him the ways of ghosts, we discover that Cordelia is lonely, and really frustrated with how Roby has let all of Cordelia's plants die, and by how Ruby dresses in obnoxiously cheery colours and patterns.

Ruby is in Boston to rebuild her life after a bad breakup, and find a job as her financial situation is not good. When she accidentally discovers that Cordelia is still inhabiting her apartment, the two slowly figure out a way to communicate, and decide to figure out who killed the man across the hall.

Cordelia convinces Ruby to apply for her old job as receptionist at a tech startup, giving Ruby some financial stability. And Ruby questions people in the dead man's life to determine what his relationships were, and who could have wanted him dead.

Cordelia does her best to help, figuring out the limits of her ghostly abilities, all while pining for the man she loved, the owner of the tech startup Ruby is now at.

A dangerous confrontation concludes the story, and also opens the door to tackling the questions surrounding Cordelia's death, which seemed suspicious from the outset of the novel.

I liked the two main characters, with all their quirks and biases. They both are hurting and lonely, and discover how much they need the other as the entertaining mystery progresses. Each bring different skills to their amateur sleuthing, making a good team, once they also worked out some of their issues with each other. I look forward to the next instalment of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Have you ever had a ghost as a roommate? Or wondered what that might be like? 🤔

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke is an entertaining and cozy murder mystery that had me flying through the pages!

Bright and bubbly Ruby Young was lucky enough to score her first apartment fully furnished, and that includes the ghost of the previous tenant. Cordelia Graves has had long and boring days since she’s been dead. But Ruby believes in ghosts, and once Cordelia makes her presence known to Ruby, the two team up to solve the murder of their across the hall neighbor.

From the very first page, even the very first sentence, I was hooked. I thought the first chapter was so well done in such a fun way. It does a great job of establishing the rules of death in this universe and introducing our dead characters.

I thought roommates Ruby and Cordelia were such an entertaining duo, and I felt like I could connect with their characters. I found them so compelling that I found myself speeding through this book not necessarily for the plot, but because I loved reading about their adventures together!

I loved that this book ended on a cliff hanger. It sets everything up for the next book perfectly, and I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Olivia Blacke for this arc!

Interesting read. A young lady moves to a new town after a breakup with her boyfriend to start over and moves into an apartment where the previous tenant committed “suicide” and now occupies the apartment as a ghost. Then the neighbor across the hall is murdered and the new tenant and the ghost are determined to solve the case which they eventually do. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Solid premise with a decent execution. It didn't work for me, but will definitely work for many readers. I didn't jive with the sense of humor or the ghostly FMC.

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 :(