Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke: Book Review

Death at the Door is the second book in the Ruby and Cordelia Mystery series by Olivia Blacke. Released on October 21, 2025, it transports readers back to Boston and the apartment shared by Ruby and Cordelia. While at work, Ruby finds herself with the dead body of a favorite delivery driver in the bathroom.

I want to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Death at the Door. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Ruby Young is slowly adjusting to her new life in Boston. A big part of that is her unexpected roommate—the ghost of the woman who lived there before. For Cordelia Graves, she may no longer be breathing, but it’s still her apartment, and Ruby is the somewhat unwanted houseguest. They’re both happy they’ve managed to become friends, which is a miracle considering they struggle to communicate with each other. Cordelia even set Ruby up with her old job.

When Ruby discovers the body of a delivery guy at work, the new life she’s been building hangs in the balance. The last time Cordelia dragged Ruby into a murder investigation, it was almost two ghosts living in the apartment, not one. Determined to protect Ruby, Cordelia tries to shield her from the investigation, but Ruby has other ideas. It will take both of them working together to navigate the fine line between the dead and the living to bring a killer to light.

My Opinions

Death at the Door is the second book in the Ruby and Cordelia mystery series. What makes this cozy mystery series stand out is the fact that one of the characters is actually a ghost. That’s right, a ghost! This makes for an unusual investigation.

The book is told from both Ruby and Cordelia’s points of view. There’s no need to worry, as each chapter is labeled at the beginning. It’s pretty interesting to see things from Cordelia’s point of view, as she can perceive them but struggles to interact with the living people around her. I’ve enjoyed watching how she and Ruby work together to communicate.

While the death in the book is resolved, it does raise more questions. The overarching mystery remains unresolved, although that isn’t a huge surprise. Why would Blacke want to solve the mystery that ties everything together?

Overall, Blacke’s writing style is a bit hard to get into unless you have the time to really focus on reading. I guess what I’m trying to say is this isn’t the easiest of cozy mysteries to read, at least in the beginning. Once you get the rhythm, it’s easy to read.

I must say that this is one of the few cozy mystery series I would recommend starting from the beginning. The first book in the series, A New Lease on Death, was released in October 2024 and should be readily available.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.