In A New Lease on Death, Olivia Blacke delivers a quirky, genre-blending mystery that combines ghostly intrigue with sharp humor and an unlikely friendship. Ruby Young’s less-than-perfect Boston apartment becomes the backdrop for a thrilling whodunit when her across-the-hall neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is killed in what seems like a mugging gone wrong. But when Ruby discovers her apartment already has a ghostly tenant—Cordelia Graves, the former occupant who met an untimely demise—things take an even stranger turn.

Cordelia, bored of her afterlife and determined to solve Jake’s murder, ropes Ruby into her amateur sleuthing. The contrast between Ruby’s chaotic, plant-killing, twenty-something energy and Cordelia’s sardonic ghostly wit provides much of the charm and humor as the two reluctantly team up to uncover secrets about Jake’s death—and each other.

The novel is packed with memorable twists, a richly atmospheric Boston setting, and a cast of colorful characters, both alive and spectral. Blacke’s writing shines in the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia, whose unlikely friendship evolves in tandem with the unraveling mystery.

A New Lease on Death is a delightful mix of cozy mystery, supernatural fun, and heartwarming character development. Perfect for readers who love an offbeat detective duo and a ghostly twist, this book is an engaging and enjoyable ride that leaves you eager for more from Olivia Blacke’s creative imagination.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱🎧 "A New Lease on Death" by Olivia Blacke
Supernatural Mysteries #1

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
published October 29, 2024

A funny mystery where a ghost and the young girl who moves into her apartment solve the crime of who killed their pizza loving neighbor. Ruby Young's new Boston apartment comes fully furnished after the last tenant died in the bathtub. And yeah the apartment comes with a friendly ghost too. The story has some funny, cute moments, but it also has some real-life struggles. Overall, a charming, and entertaining mystery and a new cozy series on ghosts.

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I wanted to enjoy this, it seemed to be the perfect cozy mystery to read during spooky season but sadly it fell flat for me.

Ruby moves into a new apartment and quickly realizes it’s haunted because Ruby has been interacting with ghosts for as long as she can remember. Cordelia died in said apartment months ago from an apparent suicide and is now stuck haunting her old digs. When their neighbor Jake ends up shot and killed outside the building, Cordelia tasks Ruby with helping her solve his murder.

The relationship between Cordelia and Ruby was cute and the hijinks they managed while solving the murder were fun but I can’t say that this left an impact on me, I honestly don’t remember much of what happened weeks after reading it. Definitely for fans of other cozy mystery series like Finlay Donovan.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this; all opinions are my own.

“It’s okay for weird people to believe in ghosts, but if they tell people there’s a ghost living with them, then they’re not weird, they’re not eccentric, they’re crazy.”

Synopsis: A dead middle aged woman haunts her former apartment where a new young (19/20) female has moved into it (fully furnished). The across the hall neighbor is murdered and the two work together to solve the case.

Review: This was great! I listened to the audio and there were two narrators for Ruby (young FMC) & Cordelia (ghost FMC). The voices matched perfectly and so did the energy. The cozy mystery was just that. We went along and got to see into Cordelia’s life along with seeing Ruby trying to get her feet under her in this new place that she moved to. There was character development, funny moments, and a murder to be solved. I enjoy the way Cordelia and Ruby interacted and worked together.

This one ends with a statement that will lead directly into book 2.

Read if you like:
😜 Quirky female main characters (FMCs)
🧩 Mysteries to be solved
🕵️‍♀️ Sleuthing
👻 Interactions with ghosts! (The not scary kind)

Audiobook length: 9.5 hours
Narrators: Stefanie Kay & Petrea Burchard

Thank you to NetGalley & Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A New Lease on Death is the first book in the new “Supernatural Mysteries” by Olivia Blacke. I grabbed this one on audio, and it is an entertaining listen I did not want to put down.

When 20-year-old Ruby Young sees an ad for a fully furnished apartment to rent, she jumps at the chance. She’s ready to move to Boston and away from past events. She needs a fresh start. The apartment might not be in the best area, but it truly is fully furnished – it even includes clothes and books, and oh, by the way, also the ghost of Cordelia Graves, former resident of the apartment.

Cordelia thinks Ruby is young and perky (two words Cordelia would not use to describe herself), and she wishes Ruby would stop killing all her house plants. But Cordelia is bored stuck in the apartment. That is until 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. To do so she must enlist Ruby’s help.

This is such a clever and creative start to a new mystery series. So many details are well-thought out from the complicated mystery the two must unravel, to the creative way Ruby and Cordelia find to communicate with each other. There are silly parts and slightly darker parts that make this such a unique entry into the cozy mystery genre.

The contrast between Cordelia and Ruby is delightful and watching them become friends despite some pretty big differences added so much to my reading experience. They are the true odd couple. I love how bubbly (and a little bumbling) Ruby is in comparison to Cordelia. The dialogue is spot on and had me chuckling to myself.

I could easily picture every detail of the apartment and the cold Boston area. I especially enjoyed time in Cordelia’s apartment – each little discovery Ruby makes helps to reveal part of the more reserved Cordelia.

The two new friends will wrap up the central mystery of Jake’s death, but the book ends on a spectacular cliffhanger that had my mouth hanging open. Now we must wait until book 2 arrives – the struggle of readers everywhere!

A New Lease on Death was so wholesome! It brought me joy with its unique premise, likable characters, and witty banter. This is a supernatural mystery mixed with some romance, and the best kind of humor. The story follows an unlikely duo, Ruby and Cordelia. Ruby and Cordelia work together to solve the murder of their neighbor, but here’s the catch. Cordelia is dead, but for some reason Ruby can sense her. Through ridiculous tactics they are able to communicate with eachother and work together to uncover some secrets. It was so funny and especially Cordelia’s POV had me laughing all throughout.

Nothing like a ghost in your new digs! This was a super fun and funny read! This was my not 1st book by
Olivia Blacke and she did not disappoint! She is now on my always-read list and her books are on my TBR!

#ANewLeaseOnDeath
#NetGalley

This was such a fun spin on a mystery thriller!! A ghost teaming up with a human to help her solve a murder!!

I’m usually not a huge thriller reader but I enjoyed this. I did not expect the ending either!!

This cozy mystery would be a great book for spooky season. It was a light read, with great characters. I thought the humor added in was great as well! Another bonus. I love the cover! Thanks for the chance to read this cute story!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"A New Lease on Death" by Olivia Blacke is a delightfully intricate mystery that seamlessly blends suspense, wit, and charming characters. Blacke’s ability to weave together a tightly-knit plot with rich, atmospheric settings makes this novel a standout in the mystery genre.

This story follows Quinn, a former librarian turned amateur sleuth, who has recently moved to a quaint small town to start anew after a tumultuous past. However, her hopes for a peaceful life are dashed when she stumbles upon a dead body in her newly leased apartment. As the local police seem to be getting nowhere, Quinn takes it upon herself to solve the mystery, uncovering hidden secrets and dark undercurrents within the seemingly idyllic community.

Blacke's writing is engaging and clever, drawing readers into the world she has created with vivid descriptions and a keen sense of place. The pacing is expertly handled, with each revelation and twist keeping the reader hooked and eager to discover the next piece of the puzzle. Quinn is a relatable and endearing protagonist whose tenacity and wit make her a joy to follow. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and intrigue to the story.

One of the highlights of "A New Lease on Death" is its exploration of themes such as starting over, trust, and the complexities of human relationships. Blacke deftly portrays the challenges and rewards of forging new connections while facing one’s past. The novel’s small-town setting adds a layer of charm and authenticity, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the community.

"A New Lease on Death" is a captivating and well-crafted mystery that showcases Olivia Blacke's talent for storytelling and character development. It is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and anyone who enjoys a clever, engaging whodunit. This novel will leave readers eagerly anticipating Quinn’s next adventure and wanting more from this talented author.

This was unexpected. I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s funny, cozy, and relatively light for a murder mystery.

Cordelia is a ghost, who died in her apartment, and she doesn’t have anywhere to go. Ruby is an unemployed young woman who loves the supernatural and moves into the apartment. The two become some of the most unconventional roommates, but they find ways to make it work, especially when Jake, the neighbour, suddenly dies from a suspicious gunshot.

The book is darkly funny and kept me engaged throughout, and that cliffhanger… just waiting for the next book now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

I love a good dark humor mystery. This story scratched that itch well. Nothing like a fun but captivating read on a cold day!

The unlikely duo of Ruby and Cordelia join together in this mystery to solve a murder (or two?) and it was such a lovely entertaining read! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Parts of the story move slow, others seem a little repetitive but the story uses such detail and emotion in the real life scenarios that the characters solve that it doesn’t take away from the story.

I am looking forward to more of these characters!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

The best way I can describe this book is a mix of Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella and Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano. I laughed at times and it kept me intrigued for a majority of it. I wish that Ruby was older, she wasn’t the most likeable character in my opinion. Cordelia was hilarious and I really did like her. That cliff hanger at the end tho, I will be reading the next one. If there is a next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

A New Lease on Death started out really strong but really started to fizzle out towards the end. It was entertaining and funny at times but I couldn't quite figure out why they were so intent on trying to solve Jake's murder. I also got annoyed at the author's constant need to explain why broke people behave the way they do. Is it not common knowledge that if someone has an older pre-paid phone that they might be strapped for cash? Is the target audience of this book rich, white ladies who have their book club meetings at a country club? The author also repeatedly reminds us that Cordelia doesn't need to worry about being cold or hungry or worry about things that might kill her because... well she's dead.
Despite those annoyances, Cordelia and Ruby do make for an interesting mystery solving duo. The ending did set up for a sequel so I'm sure we'll see more of them.

A New Lease on Death* by Olivia Blacke is a quirky and entertaining paranormal mystery that pairs an unlikely duo—a ghost and her living, reluctant roommate. With sharp humor, an intriguing murder to solve, and a dash of supernatural charm, the story keeps readers engaged. "A New Lease on Death" is a perfect read for fans of cozy mysteries!

A darkly humorous, supernatural mystery with a cast of peculiar characters that was atmospheric, cozy, and quirky! Very well done. 👏🏻

This book wasn't for me or I wasn't in the mood when I read it. I got super into it in the beginning and then the guy disappeared and I was a bit lost for a while again. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of it and thought the plot was really unique but this is one I will try and pick up at another time but just didn't work for me this time around.

A New Lease on Death was a murder mystery and that is not my usual genre, but something about it made me grab it, and I’m glad I did. Tbf, it had the supernatural aspect of ghosts, and a ghost and her roommate were the mystery solving duo. Cordelia Graves died in her apartment which Ruby Young then rents, excited to find it’s fully furnished, and not at all scared of the ghost she discovers!

This book had great gal pal vibes as well as comedy! The mystery wasn’t overwhelming and the investigation was realistic. The characters were silly caricatures of Boston townies, which I thought was fun.

In the end, this book that I wouldn’t have normally picked up was 4 stars, and I’m excited to see how the next book plays out because this one very clearly set up a bigger mystery about Cordelia’s own death!