What a fun and fresh start to a cozy mystery series! I really enjoyed the unique premise of pairing a ghost (“Cordelia”) and a “breather” (“Ruby”) together to solve a crime. It’s not something I’ve seen before in a cozy, and it sets up the potential for a lot of creativity in future installments.

The author did a good job balancing the challenges of a ghost trying to communicate and interact with the living world—those limitations added both humor and tension to the story. I’ll admit, a few character choices along the way were frustrating, but that feels true to life and kept the plot moving.

What really worked for me was the setup: the mystery was intriguing, the tone had that light, cozy feel, and the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia left me curious to see how their partnership will grow. The book doesn’t try to be more than it is—it’s a fun, engaging cozy with a supernatural twist, perfect if you’re looking for something light but a little different.

I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series. If you’re a fan of cozies and enjoy an unusual detective duo, this is one to add to your TBR.

I went into A New Lease on Death hoping for a fun, clever mystery with engaging sleuths in Ruby and Cordelia. While the setup is promising, the story never quite finds its footing. The mystery itself feels thin and predictable, with clues and red herrings that are either too obvious or not fleshed out enough to build real suspense.

Ruby and Cordelia have potential as a dynamic duo, but their banter sometimes comes across as forced, and their character arcs don’t develop in meaningful ways. Instead of growing more layered or intriguing, they remain static, which makes it hard to stay invested. The pacing also suffers, dragging in places where the tension should be ramping up.

There are a few entertaining moments and some quirky charm, but overall, this installment feels more like filler than a fully realized mystery. For me, it lacked the spark that makes a cozy mystery satisfying, and I closed the book feeling underwhelmed.

Ruby Young was not aware she was getting a roommate when she took the fully furnished apartment in Boston, much less one she can't see. Newly deceased Cordelia Graves also was not anticipating a roommate, but the ever spunky and cheerful Ruby is growing on her. Together they form an unlikely friendship and try to solve a murder.
Normally I don't like books that end on a cliffhanger, but this one was so enjoyable that I will let that slide. The characters are well developed and the conversations were witty and realistic. Funny, poignant and a little suspenseful made for a great story that was engaging from the very beginning. i can't wait to read the sequel. Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed the dynamic and connection between Ruby and Cordelia. It was such a fun time and that cliffhanger of an ending definitely makes me want to pick up the 2nd in the series. I can't wait to see what happened and what else these two can get into and solve.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh, the cliffhanger! I hate cliffhangers! And I also don't know if I enjoyed this book enough to get back into it for book 2. The premise was there, and it was enjoyable, but I also think it was rather forgettable after the fact. It had cozy mystery vibes and was cute and fun, but 1 book would have been plenty.

Cordelia is dead. Ruby is her new live roommate. They team up to solve the murder of their neighbor Jake. We go back and forth between Cordelia's POV and Ruby's POV. It's a fun and cozy little murder mystery. Nothing too crazy, but it's an easy and fun read. I enjoyed reading all the weird little quirks that a Cordelia goes through as a ghost, or the ways they have to come up with to communicate with one another. Even though Ruby was a little annoying, I liked the two of them together, it was enjoyable.

What a fun quirky mystery! It says thriller but I think it cozier than thrilling and the two main characters are fun and engaging! It's tough to write about a ghost and someone who has no friends, but the author does a great job on connecting the two and letting us know their inner thoughts!

The ending felt a little rushed and was a little predictable but doesn't take away for the enjoyment of the book!!

Wou8ld definitely read something else by Olivia Blacke.

Thank you to Olivia Blacke, St Martin's Press and Net Galley for the EARC.

3.5 stars, imagine moving into a new apartment to not only have a neighbor die but also find out you have a resident ghost living in your unit. Fun cozy style murder mystery with an unlikely duo of crime solvers. I will definitely be reading a sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A New Lease on Death
By: Olivia Blacke
Publisher: St. Martin Press
Pub Date: 10/29/24
Ruby Young is a 20 year old who has just moved to Boston to escape a bad relationship. When she moves into a fully furnished apartment she inherits the previous tenants ghost, Cordelia Graves. When their neighbor Jake is suddenly murdered Ruby and Cordelia team up to figure out what’s really going on. It was a cozy mystery that left you on a cliffhanger waiting for the next book.
#oliviablacke
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #netgalley #booksofinstagram #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreviewer #bookworm #bookish #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bibliophile #ireadromance #instabooks #booknerd #arcopies #romancereads #advancereaderscopy #booklover #readersofinsta #igbooks #bookclub #fiction #womensfiction #historicalfiction #contemporaryromance #read #readers #bookaholic

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
What an enjoyable read! Ruby and Cordelia are so much fun as the “unlikely roommates”. I’m assuming the next book will delve more into the mysteries of Cordelia’s past, and I am here for it!

I loved this book! It was fast paced and a great story! I finally read a great book! Cordelia and Page make a great team and I loved how they got around Cordelia not being able to speak with her directly. Will definitely be checking out the next book! For sure recommend!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

This was a solid cozy mystery with a fun setup and two likable main characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between the protagonists and the small-town charm that Olivia Blacke does so well. The mystery kept me intrigued throughout, and the writing had a nice, easy flow that made it an enjoyable read.

That said, I was a little disappointed that the book ended on a cliffhanger. I understand why, since it's part of a series, but I would’ve preferred a bit more closure. Still, I’m invested enough in the characters and the story to want to keep reading and see where things go next.

Fans of light mysteries with engaging leads will likely enjoy this one!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I started this book on 06/01/24 and I still haven’t finished it. I’m at about 47% in just over a year. I’m bound & determined to finish it….eventually. But I just feel no compulsion to sit & read it consistently. I’m not sure whether it’s the writing or the characters that aren’t engaging me. I usually read well over 100 books per year. I was waiting until I finished it to write a review, but it occurred to me that the fact I haven’t finished it is a sort of review in itself.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, detective, ghosts

This was so fun and interesting. I have never read anything with a similar premise. I highly recommend this!

A New Lease on Death is a fresh, fun take on the cozy mystery genre, complete with quirky characters, a lovable amateur sleuth, and just the right amount of small-town drama.

Blacke brings a playful tone to murder and also weaves in themes of starting over, building community, and the importance of second chances in her writing which gives the story depth.

The protagonist Cordelia Graves is smart, curious, and delightfully relatable—her voice carries the story with humor and heart. The mystery itself is well-plotted and will keep you guessing!

While some of the side characters could’ve used more development, and the pacing dipped slightly in the middle, the twisty ending and warm vibes made up for it!

If you love cozy mysteries with a bit of sass and a lot of heart, A New Lease on Death is well worth the read.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC and the chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

A New Lease on Death is a cozy mystery with a fun setup, quirky characters, and a small-town vibe that’s easy to settle into. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it a light, entertaining read...even if the mystery itself isn’t super twisty. Some of the dialogue felt a little forced, but the charm mostly made up for it. It’s not groundbreaking, but if you’re in the mood for something warm and murder-y, it does the trick.

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.