Thank you Netgalley!
I really liked this book. It is a solid first book in a series and the twist at the end makes me excited to continue the series. I loved both of the main characters. I do think it was a little slow in the middle but it's the first book so we needed the storytelling. This is a fun, kinda spooky mystery perfect for spooky season.

If you're looking for a cozy, lighthearted mystery with a paranormal twist and a touch of humor, 'A New Lease on Death' by Olivia Blacke is the perfect pick!

In 'A New Lease on Death,' we follow the unlikely partnership of Ruby Young, a living tenant with a less-than-green thumb, and Cordelia Graves, her ghostly roommate who has taken up residence in their shared apartment after her unfortunate demise. When their neighbor, Jake—a notorious party boy—ends up murdered in what looks like a robbery gone wrong, Ruby and Cordelia take it upon themselves to solve the case. The catch? Cordelia can’t be seen or heard by Ruby, which leads to all kinds of hilarious hijinks and miscommunication!

I loved the dynamic between Ruby and Cordelia. It was such a sweet, found-family storyline, with Cordelia guiding Ruby and helping her get her life together. Ruby’s eccentricity brought so much life to the narrative. I’m all for quirky, imperfect characters—petition for more of them, always!

The supernatural elements were a fantastic touch. I appreciated how the book explored the nuances of being a ghost, including all the unique tricks and limitations that come with it. The multiple POVs kept things fresh and engaging, and while this is more of a cozy mystery than a high-stakes thriller, it was such a fun and relaxing read. The writing style was straightforward and easy to follow, making this a perfect pick for a lazy evening on the couch with a cup of coffee.

However, brace yourself for a cliffhanger ending! I’m super excited for the next book to answer all the lingering questions!!!

Such a fun and cozy read! I really enjoyed myself and loved trying to figure out who the killer was. (I was wrong about 3x. HA!)

I usually don’t enjoy current lingo in books but the way the author sprinkled it in, it didn’t make me want to throw my phone across the room. The sense of humor was right up my alley as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read and review this book!

This book was funny and witty! I was happily surprised how much I enjoyed this read. The ending felt a little rushed even though it ends on a cliffhanger. I’m excited to read the rest of the series, see where it goes. Love being introduced to authors who I haven’t heard about. Thank you Olivia Blacke, NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this fun digital copy.

This is a cozy ghost mystery. We have murder solving duo only one of them happens to be the ghost that didn't leave the others apartment. And man oh man the cliffhanger, I sure hope the next book comes soon.

This is a cute and fun cozy murder mystery with a ghost at the center. I appreciated the snark and humor as well as the generational difference between the two main characters.

The writing is simple and literal so it’s a quick read. One issue I have is there are multiple things unnecessarily repeated, in almost the same wording, written fairly close to each other. Maybe that’s on purpose for some reason but I’m not a fan.

It isn’t my usual type read but I did enjoy it more than not. It’s the first in a series and I will at least read the next one.

This book’s upcoming expected release date is Oct. 29, 2024. Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the early e-book.

The first book in new series featuring a murdered ghost and the girl who moves into the ghost's apartment. Set in Boston, the duo embarks on their first case - the murder of their neighbor. Very slow pacing and not many twists and turns. Hopefully, the series will get a bit more exciting as it progresses.

I really enjoyed this new series. This author is new to me as well, and I will definitely be reading more of her books.

This story was funny at times and at others very sad, to me. The thought that someone could die and no one would miss or mourn them is tragic, unfortunately true, but tragic.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Ruby. I look forward to going back to Boston to see what trouble Ruby gets into next.

A cute little mystery. It got a little repetitive towards the end. I am a little disappointed that clues were dropped throughout about the ghost's death only to be left on a cliffhanger.

3.5

The book was good, not great.

The story we find ourselves in is one between a ghost (Cordelia) and her “roommate” (Ruby). While the story takes us through the two MC’s solving a murder that happened after Cordelia’s untimely death we are also presented with questions regarding her death as well. We never actually find out if what happened to Cordelia, and I think with all of the investigating we would have gotten something. Anything!

All in all, the book was good. I just didn’t enjoy leaving the ending completely open.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc copy of this book!

I loved the story "A New Lease on Death", by Olivia Blacke. It's an absolutely fun and charming read. A perfect cozy weekend book! It would make a cute movie too.

The main storyline of A New Lease on Death was exciting and well-written. It is split into two POVs (Cordelia and Ruby) and then further divided into two separate storylines (Jake’s murder and Cordelia’s suicide).

The storyline of Jake’s murder was interesting. First off, I liked how Cordelia was first on the scene and waited for Jake to wake up (for lack of a better word). When that goes sideways, Cordelia returns to her apartment and Ruby. I liked how Cordelia revealed herself to Ruby (she was worried about her last living plant) and how they started investigating Jake’s death together. Ruby had me chuckling throughout the book as she struggled to communicate with a ghost and not look insane.

The storyline that involved Cordelia and her death was sad. The author deliberately kept the facts of her suicide few and far between. There was an acknowledgment that her drinking was a little much and that it could have been a factor in her death. Then, the author puts a neat spin on that angle and sends the storyline in a different direction.

Both mystery angles were well written. I was shocked at who killed Jake and the reason why. Everything said about the guy up until the reveal contradicted it. I also want to give Ruby kudos for bravery because I know I would have freaked out. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, I was surprised by the twist the author put on Cordelia’s death.

The end of A New Lease on Death was mixed for me. I loved that the author could wrap up the storyline with Jake. However, she left Cordelia’s storyline open, and I was slightly frustrated at how it was left. That frustration made me want to read the second book, so it worked.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Kristyn J. Miller for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Given Our History. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

This is a quick, cozy mystery ft. some quirky and supernatural elements. Ruby is an unemployed young woman who moves into a new apartment only to discover it is still inhabited by its former resident - Cordelia. Cordelia may have died under mysterious circumstances. After a neighbor is found dead, Ruby and Cordelia team up to solve the mystery.

While enjoyable this book fell flat from what I expected and was slow to get moving. I also struggled with some inconsistencies in the plot and the rushed ending.

If you're looking for an easy-to-read cozy mystery this fall, this might be worth at least checking out yourself.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was so intrigued when I was offered an advanced readers copy of this book because the blurb sounded like something I would love. However, I’m not sure where I end up with this title. Did I enjoy the main female character, yes, did I enjoy the ghost aspect of this book, absolutely, but I think the book fell a little flat for me with the “who dun it”. There was so much background and information about the characters and those that live in the building but not much connected, or was built in to the final reveal which was slightly disappointing. Overall a good reading experience.
I am super interested in seeing if this author makes this a series/ checking out additional books by this author because I did find the book easy to read and the prose light which made it a very quick read.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copy.

A clever, funny and witty supernatural crime thriller. Ghosts, murder and humor. What’s not to love? The premise hooked me immediately and Cordelia’s character was endearing yet flawed, human. I could t help but giggle at some of the scenes and dialogue. The camaraderie of Cordelia and Ruby is so great!
I’m excited to read the sequel!!

A New Lease on Death was such a fun take on the classic murder mystery but add a paranormal element! I absolutely love magical realism, and thought this one was really well done. I loved the characters, and had so much fun with this cozy mystery.
Would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a light, magical cozy mystery.

I really enjoyed Cordelia, but Ruby was a bit annoying at times. It wasn't as funny as I was expecting based on the description, and there was quite a bit of repetition, such as the number of times it mentioned that Boston is cold.. The pacing was a bit uneven, but I did enjoy the alternating POV's, as well as their friendship which formed under unusual circumstances. Overall, this is a quick read which ends with a cliffhanger, showing that there will be a sequel.

This book is setup from two persepctives, Ruby Young, the current and very much alive tenant of an apartment in Boston that used to belong to Cordelia Graves, a ghost that now haunts it. I enjoyed the relationship between Cordelia and Ruby as they each learned about one another. When the tenant across the hall dies, they end up investigating it together. The mystery took some twists and turns, but didn't engage me as much as I would have liked. I was more curious about Cordelia's past life then the actual mystery. This mystery has a strong, young voice and perfect for those looking for a Gen Z sleuth in their cozies!

3.5 stars

This was a fun take on a murder mystery. I enjoyed the sense of humor and the way the narration switched between Ruby and Cordelia. There were moments that felt so simple like figuring out a better way to communicate that I found annoying at times, but overall a fun story. I will probably continue with he series to see what Ruby and Cordelia get up to.

This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the interactions between the ghost and the living. Cordelia and Ruby have an unusual relationship, and together they try to solve the death of a neighbor. The result was surprising twist. I feel this story really set the groundwork for future installments. I’m interested to see what happens next!
Thank you to St.Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.