This was a cozy mystery with a twist, where a dead girl’s ghost helps the gal who moved into her apartment solve the murder of the guy from across the hall. Did you follow that? Cordelia is a ghost and she is learning the ropes of what that entails.

I love a good paranormal read so this was right up my alley. Getting to know the characters is spread out through the book and I am still questioning why some of them were they way they were.

I did enjoy this one and suggest it if you like paranormal activity.

New Lease on Death

I understand penny pinching but reusing the same coffee grounds?! No money for sugar?

1. They’ve said this girl is poor 100x … no data for her phone to FaceTime?? There is WIFI!
2. Red herring of the pizza fliers - I swear if these don’t matter I’m gonna be confused (update: I think they ended up mattering? The pizza chain is owned by the family of the girlfriend?)
3. They have been searching for this watch for 70% do we care
I didn’t post this on instagram but I probably will not continue the series. I think cozy mysteries are not for me — I was more shaking my head at this while reading instead of being engrossed by it. Sorry!!

I am not a huge fan of the cozy genre I don’t think. I will never rave about one but I do think they are a relaxing time, and it never takes much to read one. This story follows a ghost ( Cordelia) who is haunting the apartment they dies in and the woman (Ruby) who rents the apartment after the death of Cordelia. The two team up to solve the murder of another resident in the building. I like the parts where they are trying to figure out how to communicate with each other, but it never quite works out the way they planned. I will say there is one part that was very uncomfortable. I can’t remember why but Ruby clearly states that she does not want to drink to the point of drunkenness. Cordelia ignores that possesses Ruby and forces her to drink. All in all a fine book.

This was a cute ghost story. I love the setting in Boston, and how Cordelia and Ruby have to work together after getting used to each other. I will definitely read the next in the series.

This book was a LOL read. The characters were amusing, the story moved along quickly and kept my attention. I loved Cordelia, one of the main characters, her supernatural presence was humorous. The sheer comedy of how she was trying to help solve the mystery of her neighbor’s death, all the while trying to communicate and guide Ruby, the new occupant of her apartment. Ruby’s character was also hilarious, just the complete opposite of Cordelia, but I loved her spunk and ability to not be quiet. I do have to admit that how Ruby more or less took over Cordelia’s previous life was a little far-fetched, but I still found it entertaining. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that was looking for a quick light read and want to laugh out loud. In researching other books written by Olivia Blacke, I see that Book #2 in this series, “Death at the Door,” will be published in October 2025. I can’t wait to see what adventures Ruby and Cordelia get into next.

This was a fun take on a cozy murder mystery. I enjoyed the dual POV between the two main characters, especially with one of them being dead. The mystery added up nicely at the end, but there's plenty of plot left over for a follow-up book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery of accidental roommates Ruby and Cordelia and how they get entangled in their neighbor's murder. The ghost/living person ("breather") dynamic was fun throughout and I found myself particularly enticed by Cordelia's backstory and murder. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book.

This book wasn't entirely what I expected - the idea of a ghost teaming up with a human "roommate" and them playing amateur sleuths to a murder mystery sounded like such a fun time and while this ended up being less comedic than I thought it would be, it also was a lot deeper than I anticipated. The characters are definitely quirky in this one but Cordelia had a much sadder and more depressing existence than I anticipated, she actually reminds me a bit of sadness from Inside Out. That being said, I enjoyed watching her and Ruby iron out the challenges with investigating a murder together. I also did enjoy the elements of the afterlife the author put in - this was interesting and multi-layered and I want to know more! That and the characters definitely levelled out the weaker murder mystery plot. Starting a new series is never easy and I'm hoping the author can come back stronger in the sequel!

Thank you to St-Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

A nice twist on every day mystery novels. A ghost, Cordelia, helps her human roommate solve a murder. Though some parts can be figured out right away, there are parts that leave you wanting more. There aren't any romances between the main characters in this book.

I can see this becoming a Hallmark Halloween movie series.

This was a disappointing read for me. The synopsis had promise, but the story was long-winded and had very little payoff in the end. Unfortunately, with the lack of intrigue and disappointing ending I wouldn’t rush to recommend this novel. I saw this is going to be a series (?) and it seems to be quite a stretch.
I did love the cover, it is what first drew me to this novel!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this novel!
2.5/5

I am so sorry I'm late reading this book. It was hilarious and yet real at the same time. I fell in love with Cordelia and can not wait to read more of her adventures.
Thanks so much to the publisher, author and netgalley for the chance to read this fun cozy mystery.

4.5
I am all in for a cozy mystery at any time so this book was like coming home. Its comfortable and you're never afraid to return.
Cordelia and Ruby team up to help solve the death of Jake who dies by a gunshot. While this was still a mystery it was great to read the bond Cordelia and Ruby had.



The cliffhanger was such a tease so hopefully to read the second book in this series.

Went on a bit too long for me, particularly given the cliffhanger. I found myself skimming sections that didn't tell me anything new about the characters or advance the plot. OK premise, with the ghost helping the young woman, but felt labored at times, and some of the characters were simply cardboard stereotypes.

This was my first time reading a book by Olivia Blacke. I enjoyed this cute, cozy murder mystery, complete with ghosts helping to solve the crime.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun mystery with a paranormal twist. The dialog is really good and the characters are likable. I thought at first this would be a "cozy mystery", but the story and plot line were solid and really quite good. I enjoyed reading it and still think about the characters. I thought the ghost POV was very well done.

A new lease on death is a surprisingly fun paranormal mystery that introduces a new detective duo. Cordelia is a ghost who hasn’t left the apartment in which she does by suicide. Ruby is the new tenant in the apartment and Cordelia is trying to get used to having a roommate. One night, Cordelia discovers another ghost-her neighbor across the hall who was murdered in the snow outside the building. After his body is discovered, Cordelia makes contact with ruby and the two begin an unlikely relationship trying to track down Jake’s murderer. While ruby can’t see Cordelia, they communicate through magnets on the fridge as Cordelia guides ruby through the investigation and tries to keep her from
Joining the spirit world. All the while, Cordelia tries to come
To terms with her own death and the life she lived.

Fast-paced, engrossing, funny and poignant, this was a pleasant surprise. The abrupt ending leaves the door open for a sequel and potential series!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read an advanced reader's copy of Olivia Blacke's new book A New Lease on Death. This was a very fun book. The primary protagonist is a ghost - a woman who died (suicide) and is in a sort of purgatory in her old neighborhood in Boston, in the apartment she lived (and died in). Cordelia Graves encounters another neighbor who has been murdered outside the apartment building, and is determined to find the killer. The twist is Cordelia find a way to communicate with the new resident of her apartment, Ruby, and the two work together to solve the mystery. My description of it isn't as clear as Blacke's story, but the plot device works, and the book is a fun read. The story is interesting. The book comes to a satisfying end. Good read!

"A New Lease on Death" presents an intriguing premise, blending mystery with psychological depth. The protagonist’s journey is engaging, as they navigate complex relationships and unravel dark secrets. The writing is solid, and the author successfully builds tension throughout the narrative. However, the plot sometimes feels predictable, with a few twists that fail to fully surprise. The pacing can be uneven at times, particularly in the middle, where the story lags. While the characters are well-crafted, some feel underdeveloped. Despite these flaws, the novel offers a suspenseful read for fans of mystery, though it doesn't fully reach its potential.

4.5 Stars

This was my first time reading anything by Olivia Blacke and it certainly won't be my last. A cozy supernatural mystery with a dose of wry humor was just what I needed and Blacke certainly delivered.

A New Lease on Death focuses on the ghost of Cordelia Graves and her new roommate Ruby who has moved into Cordelia's former apartment where Cordelia was found deceased in the bathtub surrounded by a bunch of empty booze and pill bottles. Despite being complete opposites and with a 20 year age gap and the fact that Cordelia is dead, Ruby and Cordelia find themselves able to communicate and team up to solve the murder of their neighbor Jake. Both Ruby and Cordelia are extremely likeable and well-written characters and whose interactions with one another reminded me of a mother and her teenage daughter who leaves her exasperated (ask me how I know).

With a fast paced plot and a few not so subtle twists and turns that have a resolution for the mystery at hand, but leave open an even bigger mystery to solve in the next installment, A New Lease on Death kept me turning pages while putting a smile on my face at the same time. The lack of a romance subplot was also a nice reprieve from most books on the market these days.

Although I love the word play in the title, I do think the book deserves a better cover as this one comes across as a bit amateur for such an excellent read.

Extremely enjoyable and I can't wait to continue reading this new series, as well as checking out the author's backlist. Recommended for fans of supernatural mysteries with a bit of humor and zero spice or those who enjoy books with unlikely duos.

Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Blacke, and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think Cordelia is a bad person. I was bored by her POV
She treating Ruby wrong and this is not for me