Cozy murder mystery with likeable characters. This may be a little too tame if you are a hard core thriller reader. Perfect way to dip your toes in the "who-done-it" world

I thank the author, St. Martin's/Minotaur and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC and provide a review.

This was an enjoyable cozy with a supernatural twist. I liked the Boston setting, the two main characters and their developing relationship. Much of the story deal with the challenges of communicating between the living and the dead, with some amusing and creative methods. The pace was quite leisurely, with lots of different threads getting started. One mystery had a gratifying conclusion in this story.

And that's my key issue with this novel. it is setting up for the next installment in the series. It didn't feel like a full meal, if you take my analogy. There's obviously something going on with Cordelia's history and her death, and I'm interested in learning more.

I'll watch for the next stage of this story from Ms. Blacke, and hope for a more satisfying feast of murder and supernatural cooperation.

3 stars.

What an AWESOME discovery- author AND book! I am so very thankful I stumbled upon this one!

A New Lease on Death was a delight! I highly enjoyed the humor, the characters, the relationships, and how the main characters Cordelia and Ruby interacted with one another.

When I read the description, I had a feeling that this book would be exactly what I was looking for and it did not disappoint! The writing and humor reminded me a little of Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents, but Olivia Blacke definitely has her own unique style and humor!

I love that Ruby and Cordelia solved Jake's murder, but I REALLY love that the books ends with in a "to be continued..." fashion because I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! 👏👏👏

Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

I don't read many ARC's but I received an email asking me to review this one and it sounded like something 1 would really enjoy.
This is a cozy, paranormal mystery that follows a pair of roommates - one who happens to be a ghost! I found the evolution of their relationship to be really fun. Ruby is a 20 year old who needs to get herlife together, and Cordelia is a 40 year old whose life has just ended. One night their neighbor is shot and now they are trying to figure out who may have done it.
This is the first in a new series and I'm interested to see how the second book goes.
Thanks, @netgalley
for the ARC.

Ruby, new to Boston, moves in to a good deal - a fully furnished apartment. What no one knew was Cordilia, the past occupant, is still around as a ghost. As Ruby and Cordilia learn to share the space as room mates their neighbor is murdered.

I enjoyed the premise, story line and characters. Can't wait to read the 2nd novel.

I thought this book had a great deal of potential and I did enjoy aspects of it. However, it seemed to move at an exceedingly slow pace and it was hard to focus at times. I did enjoy parts of it but overall, it just wasn’t my favorite.

I personally love a good cozy mystery, and this hit the spot! I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves cozy mysteries.


Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke is a fresh and entertaining supernatural mystery featuring Ruby Young and Cordelia Graves, an unlikely crime-solving duo. Ruby's new Boston apartment comes with an unexpected roommate—Cordelia, the ghost of the former resident. When their neighbor is killed, Cordelia convinces Ruby to investigate, leading to a suspenseful journey filled with clever clues and red herrings. The dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia, along with the seamless blend of supernatural elements, keeps readers engaged. With its smart writing and engaging characters, this novel will appeal to readers of quirky whodunits looking for a mystery with a supernatural twist.

Marvelous!

What would you do if you woke up dead? At first Cordelia didn’t realize she was dead, although it soon became apparent. For some reason, though, she was still in her apartment, all alone, and no one could see or hear her. Then the apartment is rented to Ruby, a young woman who is out on her own for the first time, and slowly things began to change. The story is constructed with each of the woman alternating chapters to tell her side of the story. When the man living across the hall is murdered in front of the building, the story develops into a pursuit by them both to find the killer.

A big thank you to the publisher for the invite as well as to the author and NetGalley, because I'm so glad I picked this up it kind of give me the vibes of other series I love and this one I liked ,in fact I liked everything about this book from the characters, to the cover and let's not for get the title .

This was such a fun book about a young woman and roommate ghost that solve a mystery together! Lighthearted but full of female friendship! I can’t wait to read the next one!

Fun, cozy, hilarious… what’s not to love? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

🗣️ If a you are a fan of supernatural stories that are less horror/thriller and more mystery with a few laughs, this book is for you. This was a cozy mystery that got better the more I read it. I enjoyed the premise of the book and I liked the way the relationship between Ruby and Cordelia developed. This was a great start to the series and I am excited for the next book to come out!

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

Olivia Blacke’s "A New Lease on Death" is a refreshingly original supernatural mystery that masterfully blends dark humor with a gripping whodunit. The story introduces an unconventional crime-solving duo: Ruby Young, a vibrant and quirky twenty-year-old, and Cordelia Graves, the sarcastic ghost of the apartment’s former resident. This unlikely partnership sets the stage for a novel that is as entertaining as it is suspenseful.

Ruby Young’s move to her new Boston apartment is far from ordinary. Along with the typical urban nuisances—like barely functioning heat and noisy neighbors—she finds herself sharing her space with Cordelia, a ghost who died under mysterious circumstances a few months prior. The narrative takes off when their neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is shot dead in an apparent mugging gone wrong. Cordelia, convinced there's more to Jake’s death than meets the eye, enlists the somewhat reluctant Ruby to help solve the mystery.

Blacke excels in character development, bringing to life (and afterlife) the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia. Ruby’s energetic and somewhat clumsy nature contrasts sharply with Cordelia’s ghostly frustration and sharp wit. Their evolving friendship adds depth to the story, making their investigative journey as emotionally engaging as it is thrilling. The contrast between Ruby’s warm, albeit chaotic, life and Cordelia’s spectral existence creates a compelling dynamic that drives the narrative forward.

The mystery itself is intricately plotted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Blacke’s keen eye for detail shines through in the clever clues and red herrings that pepper the investigation. The supernatural elements are seamlessly woven into the plot, adding an extra layer of intrigue without overshadowing the central mystery. Ruby’s interactions with suspects and her dogged determination, coupled with Cordelia’s spectral insights, make for a captivating detective duo.

Advance praise highlights the book’s cleverness and fun, and these qualities are evident throughout. Eliza Jane Brazier praises the book as a detective novel with a twist, while Amanda Jayatissa commends Blacke’s attention to detail. Lyn Liao Butler and Darcie Wilde emphasize the novel’s addictive and suspenseful nature, and Celeste Connally applauds the humor and heart infused in the narrative.

In conclusion, "A New Lease on Death" is a standout addition to the supernatural mystery genre. Olivia Blacke has crafted a delightfully dark and humorous tale that will keep readers glued to the pages. With its smart writing, engaging characters, and a mystery that unfolds with perfect pacing, this novel is sure to appeal to fans of quirky, character-driven whodunits. Blacke’s new sleuthing odd couple, Ruby and Cordelia, are poised to become favorites in the world of mystery fiction. This is a must-read for anyone looking for a mystery with a supernatural twist and a lot of heart.

This was a fun, cozy, supernatural mystery! I love the premise of this series and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Cordelia and Ruby. I liked the author's easy to read writing style, but I was hoping it would be funnier. It was cute and quirky, but not really laugh-out-loud funny. Some parts were a bit repetitive. We frequently are told that Ruby is perky, Boston is cold, and ghosts fry the electronics. I think some of that could be trimmed up a bit. The mystery was interesting, and I liked how the clues were there so it made sense at the end. It seems like a sequel will be coming out, and I am looking forward to it. There are definitely some things left unsolved and I am looking forward to seeing more of Penny, Harp, Ruby and Cordelia!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

This is so fun!! I like the plot and the murder mystery was so good. I love Ruby and how she interacted with Cordelia, it was so Gen Z/realistic/fun comparing a 40 yro to a 20 yro! I cannot wait for the next one where we can move on to the other mystery.

What a fun, cozy read! I can’t wait for book two so we can (hopefully) get an answer to that cliffhanger! I loved the dual POV from both Ruby and Cordelia. I also want to hear more about Harp. Cordy needs a ghost friend.

This was a fun cozy mystery that was a lot more enjoyable than the other book I read by this author. It was more authentic and the dynamic between the main characters was delightful. I enjoyed the mystery and though the main characters really didn't solve it, the adventure to get there was intriguing and they saved someone's life, so I'll take it. I feel cheated that one of the big mysteries wasn't actually solved, but I get it, we need room for a sequel, and that's (annoyingly) fine.

Okay…but what happened with Cordy?? Like I really just went through this whole book for it to end on a cliff hanger and not find out what happens to the main character?!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
What a fun cozy mystery this was, and such a different concept for a book having one of the two main characters as a ghost.

I really loved having the dual perspectives as the narration for this story. It was great being able to hear from Ruby’s POV since she was the character actually alive and conducting the murder investigation in person, but I also LOVED having Cordelia’s POV as the ghost of the previous tenant of Ruby’s apartment. Both characters were very unique and had traits which I really liked, and made reading the story that much more enjoyable.

As for the plot, I thought the storyline was really good. It was pretty intricate, but was easy to follow along with based on all of the clues throughout the story. I do have to say I caught on to the murdered very early on in the book, but all of the twists a turns throughout made for an entertaining read.

Since this is the first book in a new series, I’m excited to see where the author will take Ruby and Cordelia’s story next. I feel like she lined up enough info to possibly get into Cordelia’s past a bit more, and I’m hoping the next book looks into what actually happened to Cordelia and how her old work and the reporter play roles in it👀

This book is perfect if you want a bit of a paranormal read (especially in October), and also if you love cozy mysteries which are easy to read.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
- 🕵️‍♀️ Cozy mysteries
- 👻 Friendly neighborhood ghosts
- 🧐 Interesting cast of characters

𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 2022 Rosé - Trius Winery🍷

Thank you to Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.