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

This book was very cozy mystery that left me satisfied. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, however I found the 2nd half to be a lot slower. The book is set up that a 2nd book will be coming. I do plan to read the 2nd one when it came out, as I do like giving new authors a chance but I do hope that it is a bit faster and keeps me a bit more entertained.

3 stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun, Fresh, and Full of Mystery

A New Lease on Death was such a fun read! Olivia Blacke brings a fresh voice to the cozy mystery genre, and I really enjoyed the mix of humor, quirky characters, and suspense. The small-town charm and relatable main character made it easy to get into the story—and hard to put it down.

The mystery itself was well-paced with just enough red herrings to keep me guessing. I liked how the plot unfolded naturally without feeling rushed, and there were a few clever twists that kept things interesting. The dialogue had a nice spark to it, and the setting felt cozy but never dull.

The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that I wish we had a little more depth or backstory with some of the side characters, but overall, this was a super enjoyable read. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a modern twist, this one is definitely worth checking out!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Cordelia Graves is a ghost - plain and simple. She died by an apparent suicide and she is wandering around Boston.

Ruby Young moves into the apartment vacated by Cordelia. It is fully furnished with Cordelia's effect - super did not want to empty the apartment. While Ruby cannot see Cordelia - she knows she is there. The two of them start communicating through starts and fits, but it is not consistent. When their neighbor is murdered outside of their apartment complex, the cops do not seem too concerned about it. No witnesses, no video, no leads.

Ruby and Cordelia decide they need to figure out what happened since no one else seems to care. There are plenty of potential killers, but one they overlooked.

I really enjoyed this series - looking forward to the next one later this year.

When Ruby moves into a furnished apartment, it doesn't take her long to realize the previous tenant is still there, as a ghost. When the friendly neighbor across the hall is murdered, Ruby and Cordelia pair up to figure out what is going on.
Opinion
This book is quite unusual for a mystery and I love it. What better partner to have than a ghost, who no one can see, to help you solve murders. I love the struggle of them figuring out how to communicate with each other and with Cordelia helping Ruby to find a job.
I have high hopes for this new series.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A ghost and the young woman now living in her old apartment team up to solve a murder in the building. Dual POV. It’s quirky and different.

To be honest, not much happens in the first 65% of the book, in terms of solving the mystery. I’d for sure classify this as cozy mystery. So if that's your thing, check this one out.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my digital copy!

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

A pretty good novel about a newly ghosted ghost and the person that subsequently rents the same apartment she died in.
After a Jake, a neighbor is murdered, the two of them begin a search for his killer. Along the way, we learn more about Cordelia and ruby ad their lives prior to their meeting.
They do solve the murder. Except there may have been another?
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC.

The first in a new cozy series finds a ghost, Cordelia, and the woman living in what used to be her apartment, Ruby, investigating the murder of a neighbor.

I liked this premise a lot and liked parts of this debut. I thought the concept was really unique for a cozy series and liked the characters. I just found it really slow. I think it took a little too long to establish the ghost-human connection, and then the investigating was just not as good as other cozies. I would definitely give the second book another chance because I really love the setup here!

Juniper is a delight—smart, sarcastic, and just nosy enough to make sleuthing believable. Her inner monologue adds levity without undercutting the stakes. While enjoyable, the formula doesn’t break new ground—readers familiar with the genre will spot the killer early. A New Lease on Death is a breezy, entertaining cozy perfect for curling up with on a lazy afternoon. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it delivers exactly what it promises: a fun mystery with heart and humor.

In the acknowledgment, Blacke describes her cozy mystery as a ‘bananapants murdery ghostly romp.’ I’d say that about covers it. We alternate perspectives between, Cordelia Graves, a deceased 40something still lingering in the land of the living, and Ruby Young, 20 and full of life.

When their neighbor turns up dead, the police write it off. Cordelia, and eventually Ruby, suspect there’s more at play. Blacke balances Ruby trying to find her footing in a new city and a new job, Cordelia navigating her afterlife, grieving what she’s lost, and figuring out the rules of being a ghost, and both of them teaming up to investigate a murder.

As with all good cozies, the murder gets solved and questions get answered. The book ends with a revelation I saw coming. I look forward to seeing where that goes in future books. A fun ride 4/5

New Lease on Death was a bit of a mixed bag. It is an instance of me enjoying the vibes and letting a ton of flaws go. The overall premise is fun, and I liked both of our main characters despite the overall lack of character development. Cordiela is a ghost haunting Ruby, the new tenant in her old apartment, when Jake, their neighbor, is murdered. They decide to team up and solve the case.

My biggest issue was the mystery itself. The resolution was rushed and unsatisfying. I will play armchair QB and say that I think they should have started the series by discovering what happened to Cordelia first. It would have allowed for better character development and might have helped smooth out the issues regarding the rules of the ghost world. My other issue was that it was so repetitive. Another thing that bothered me is that apartments are not run this way. At least not in the 15 or so I have ever lived it. It irrationally bothered me the entire time.

If you aren't a fan of unlikeable characters, you might want to skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to find out that I was approved for this ARC. I thought this was a super fun and unique concept for a book. I enjoyed it!

A sweet and hopeful murder mystery. Good fun and light.
Great Boston characters ! I would read this again!

Well, this was fun! Cordelia is a perfect unreliable narrator — and not just because she’s, you know, dead. I appreciate that this is a solid (no ghost pun intended) standalone story while still leaving some mysteries unsolved for the next book. This is a definite step up from a cozy mystery, while still having a lovely cozy feel with plenty of quirky characters and red herrings. Very much looking forward to the next.

Blacke masterfully balances humor and suspense, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

This book was such a fun, fresh take on the paranormal mystery genre! A New Lease on Death brings together dark humor, murder, and a ghostly roommate situation that had me genuinely entertained. Ruby and Cordelia are the most unlikely crime-solving due; one alive, one dead, both equally stubborn, and their dynamic made for a quirky, engaging read.

I really enjoyed the balance of lighthearted banter and darker mystery elements. Cordelia’s snark and Ruby’s chaotic charm played off each other perfectly as they navigated a murder investigation that’s anything but straightforward. The supernatural twist gave the cozy mystery feel a little extra bite.

That said, I think I would have loved this even more as an audiobook. The personalities of Ruby and Cordelia would be so fun to hear brought to life through narration, especially with the tone shifts between ghostly sass and murdery intrigue.

If you’re in the mood for something spooky, smart, and offbeat, this is a great pick.

Wow, what a fun, inventive read this was!

Cordelia Grave recently died, and her ghost is still haunting her old apartment when her neighbor Jake is murdered outside. With her new "roommate" Ruby, they decide to investigate and solve Jake's murder, while struggling with the challenges of interacting when one is living and the other is dying. Told in chapters alternating between Cordelia and Ruby, I thought the story was funny and charming while also having a compelling mystery at the center. Being from the Northeast, it was extra amusing watching Ruby get used to Boston winters. This is witty, smart, and a unique supernatural spin on cozy mysteries.

I am glad they left the ending as a sequel hook rather than jam in two mysteries to solve. Looking forward to the next book in what will hopefully be a lengthy series!

I couldn't resist picking this up with such an interesting premise, not to mention the small hope that this would be anything like another beloved series with a funny heroine who can see ghosts. And while this didn't (sadly) live up to the series I was hoping it would, it did hold its own in many ways. Overall this was an enjoyable read and was very different from what l expected it to be but not in a bad way. In fact I think this series looks promising and it will be interesting to see what the second book holds.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a really fun read. While Ruby is excited to move into her new apartment, she is about to discover that she has a new roommate. Cordelia is not thrilled about sharing her apartment, but she doesn't really have much of a say in the matter.

A New Lease on Death was a funny and engaging read. I look forward to reading the second installment in this series!

I thought this was a u pique and fun read! I was invested but did feel the end dragged a bit. I would recommend to those looking for something different to tap into for a read