The Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries #1

A New Lease on Death

A Ruby and Cordelia Mystery

By: Olivia Blacke

AMERICAN LITERATURE

Description

Death is only the beginning in Olivia Blacke's A New Lease on Death, a darkly funny supernatural mystery that introduces an unlikely crime-solving duo.

The Anthony Award Winner for Best Paranormal

Ruby Young's new Boston apartment comes with all the usual perks. Windows facing the brick wall of the next-door building. Heat that barely works. A malfunctioning buzzer. Noisy neighbors. A dead body on the sidewalk outside. And of course, a ghost.

Since Cordelia Graves died in her apartment a few months ago, she's kept up her residency, despite being bored out of her (non-tangible) skull and frustrated by her new roommate. When her across-the-hall neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is shot and killed in an apparent mugging gone wrong outside their building, Cordelia is convinced there's more to it and is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Unfortunately, Cordelia, being dead herself, can't solve the mystery alone. She has to enlist the help of the obnoxiously perky, living tenant of her apartment. Ruby is twenty, annoying, and has never met a houseplant she couldn't kill. But she also can do everything Cordelia can't, from interviewing suspects to researching Jake on the library computers that go up in a puff of smoke if Cordelia gets too close. As the roommates form an unlikely friendship and get closer to the truth about Jake's death, they also start to uncover other dangerous secrets.

Death is only the beginning in Olivia Blacke's A New Lease on Death, a darkly funny supernatural mystery that introduces an unlikely crime-solving duo.

The Anthony Award Winner for Best Paranormal

Ruby Young's new Boston apartment comes with all the usual perks. Windows facing the brick wall of the next-door building. Heat that barely works. A malfunctioning buzzer. Noisy neighbors. A dead body on the sidewalk outside. And of course, a ghost.

Since Cordelia Graves died in her apartment a few months ago, she's kept up her residency, despite being bored out of her (non-tangible) skull and frustrated by her new roommate. When her across-the-hall neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is shot and killed in an apparent mugging gone wrong outside their building, Cordelia is convinced there's more to it and is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Unfortunately, Cordelia, being dead herself, can't solve the mystery alone. She has to enlist the help of the obnoxiously perky, living tenant of her apartment. Ruby is twenty, annoying, and has never met a houseplant she couldn't kill. But she also can do everything Cordelia can't, from interviewing suspects to researching Jake on the library computers that go up in a puff of smoke if Cordelia gets too close. As the roommates form an unlikely friendship and get closer to the truth about Jake's death, they also start to uncover other dangerous secrets.

This Edition

Format
Hardback
Pages
336
Published
October 29, 2024
ISBN-13
9781250336675
Language
English
Publisher
St. Martin's Press
Imprint
Minotaur Books

NetGalley Reviews

Rebecca W, Reviewer

To start, the cover art is everything to me. It’s primarily what drew me in, second being the title. The writing was witty as well as packed an emotional punch to it. I really felt connected to these characters lives by the end. As someone who works in the deathcare industry, there were numerous sections where I sat back and thought, “wow. what a perfect way to describe that”. It’s a great paranormal, cozy mystery that can also double as an easy going escape route for those grieving a loss in the real world. I’ll be featuring a review of this on my bookclubs insta for a “mortuary Monday” post I do.

Mary D, Reviewer

A New Lease on Death is a humorous mystery with a spooky twist. Cordelia and Ruby have become housemates in very unusual circumstances. Cordelia is no longer alive, and Ruby has only recently moved into her apartment. When their neighbor Jake is murdered, Cordelia and Ruby work together to solve the case. This unusual team must devise novel means to communicate, such as refrigerator magnets, spilled drinks, and an etch-a-sketch. Each chapter is written from either Cordelia's or Ruby's point of view and is labeled at the top to make it easier to follow. Overall, I really enjoyed this book; I didn't expect the surprise at all. However, certain loose ends have not been tied, and the finale is abrupt. Thank you NetGalley!

Barbara M, Reviewer

A New Lease on Death is a lighthearted mystery with some supernatural elements. Cordelia and Ruby have become roommates under some interesting circumstances. Cordelia is dead and Ruby just moved into her apartment. When their neighbor Jake, gets murdered, Cordelia and Ruby team up to try to solve the case. This unlikely duo must find interesting ways to communicate, such as, refrigerator magnets, spilling drinks and an etch a sketch. Each chapter is told from either Cordelia or Ruby’s point of view and is marked at the top, making it easy to understand. Overall I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t see the twist coming at all. However, there are some loose ends not tied up and the ending is pretty abrupt. Hopefully that means we will get a sequel. A New Lease on Death comes out just in time for Halloween reading! If you’re looking for a fun twist on a murder mystery and like supernatural elements this one is for you! Thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Athena G, Reviewer

The cover of this book is what peaked my interest and I ended up really enjoying this book. The book follows a grumpy, recently deceased ghost and her new, annoyingly perky living roommate as they form an unlikely alliance and put aside their considerable differences to solve a series of seemingly unrelated murders in their Boston neighborhood. I thought the idea of this book was fun and I enjoyed reading the relationship between the dead and alive. It was a quick read that kept me engaged. I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, St. Martin's Press.

Arlene A, Reviewer

Entertaining and fun read! This book has all the right characters to make this cozy mystery a must read. A lonely ghost trying to solve a murder with the new living tenant of her former apartment. A sketchy neighbourhood that could only lead to trouble, and a secret guarded by the main character. I hope there is a second instalment soon. Can’t wait to follow on this story and will definitely check out the previous books by this author :)

Trade Reviews

Praise for A New Lease on Death

MARIE CLAIRE—ONE OF THE 15 BEST PARANORMAL BOOKS OF ALL TIME, FROM SHIRLEY JACKSON TO STEPHEN KING

“This pair of amateur detectives just works, and readers will root for them and the friendship they’re building.” –Booklist

“This clever take on hauntings, with tinges of that old classic Topper, and the newer television series Ghosts, puts both haunter and hauntee into some unique and entertaining situations. . . This novel is by turns funny and tingly scary, with a bit of gumshoe work thrown in.” –New York Journal of Books

“A lot of twists and turns. . . I highly recommend A New Lease on Death for readers who enjoy paranormal novels, as well as a detective duo with vastly conflicting but complementing personalities.” – Aunt Agatha’s

“A fun, supernatural mystery.” –Red Carpet Crash

“Droll, a touch maudlin, and featuring two outstanding characters.” –First Clue

“A hauntingly good time!” –Elle Cosimano

“Bursting with cleverness and fun, A New Lease on Death is a detective novel with a twist. . . I can't wait to tell everyone about this book!" –Eliza Jane Brazier

Witty, fun, and propulsive, A New Lease on Death was an absolute delight. Blacke’s keen eye for detail really shines through!” –Amanda Jayatissa

"Absolutely addictive. . . I didn't want it to end." –Lyn Liao Butler

“Smart. Quirky. Suspenseful. Everything you could want in a whodunnit.” –Darcie Wilde

"My new favorite sleuthing odd couple. . . This delightfully dark mystery is well-crafted with humor and heart." –Celeste Connally

Olivia Blacke's Mysteries Are:

"Colorful [and] winning." -The New York Times Book Review

"Charming." - Elle Cosimano

"Fantastic." - Mia P. Manansala

Additional Editions

Unsaved Changes

You have unsaved changes. Are you sure you want to leave? Your changes will be lost.

Welcome, fellow Booktrovert

So glad you're here. Sign in or register to access ebook giveaways, sweepstakes, exclusive reader perks, and so much more!