Dances With Ghosts

Murder by Design #7

by Erin McCarthy

Spring has sprung in Cleveland and home stager (and lousy spiritual medium) Bailey Burke is facing all kinds of major life changes. Both her grandmother and her boyfriend Jake Marner have moved in with her, she is contemplating a career change, and Marner’s mother needs her help planning a thirtieth birthday party for him.

Party plans include dance lessons for Bailey and Jake. Which would be fun, except their instructor appears to have tangoed with the wrong partner. She’s found dead on the dance floor, a butchered ballroom teacher with multiple stab wounds.

It’s a classic case of overkill, but there are no suspects and no ghosts hanging around to offer any insight. It’s time to call on Bailey’s old friend, Ryan, who happens to be a dead detective with a rude sense of humor.

Can Bailey and her two favorite guys solve the case of the killer Cha Cha?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Ghosts, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Audiobook

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2020

About the author

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the series—murder by design. Super fun and easy. Especially with audio to entertain me during chores

[Angieleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my FAVORITE of the seven books in the Murder by Design series and I am so sad that it's the last one! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW, ERIN MCCARTHY?! I NEED TO KNOW WTFudge RYAN IS HIDING!!

Grandma Burke and I would be BFFs, I'm pretty sure, as we both enjoy Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife. Seriously, I'm in the midst of watching nothing but both of those shows thanks to my ADHD. Grandma also likes crime shows, thanks to Jake. I can handle those.

I absolutely LOVE how much Bailey has GROWN. Not just as a woman, a partner, and best friend, but as a medium. She is FINALLY standing up for herself and letting her "clients" know the ins and outs of what it's like to have her as their medium.

SIDE NOTE: I may not believe in mediums, but I do believe in ghosts (especially the Holy One, ha ha). Stepping out of my comfort zone and reading this series, threaded with Catholicism (I'm not Catholic, but I am a Christian and enjoyed the references sprinkled here and there), made me appreciate how sensitively Erin approached both things. Yes, Jesus' name was used as an expletive a time or two, but sometimes I interpreted it as a prayer when things started to get a bit rough.

Anyway...

I very much dislike Bailey's father and it's been building throughout the series. He's just...ugh. Her mom, on the other hand, she's kind of growing on me. It's about time she realized her worth and kicked the girls' father to the curb.

Since this is the last in the series, I'm off to start the llama-themed series. Erin's writing has really grown on me and I'm not ready to say goodbye to her characters just yet!

[Loretta TheMoodyRedhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance competition is killer

Not much to say except that I'm enjoying this series and I'm sad that there is only one more book and the series will be completed... Although, maybe McCarthy will continue to write more books for it!

I'm loving the ghost aspect. In fact, the only thing missing from most small town cozy mysteries I read is a paranormal aspect of some kind.

Next is the latest book which was published only a week ago on March 7, 2025. The other 7 - which includes this book - were published from 2018 - 2020. Wow, so there has been a 5 year hiatus. I just noticed that! Cool! That means there WILL be more books in this series. Awesome!

Next is book 8, "A Midsummer Night's Ghost."

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey and her boyfriend are going to swing dance lessons to please her boyfriends mom who paid for the lessons. She paid for 5 lessons and they are on their way to the dance studio for lesson number 4 when, oh oh, The ghost of their dance instuctor is hitching a ride in the back seat. Bailey doesnt tell her boyfriend because hes still pretty skeptical about her being able to see ghosts and hes a detective for the police department. Her boyfriend finds the body laying in a pool of blood when they enter the studio so he sends Bailey home while he and other cops investigate. When Bailey gets home, another ghost is on her porch but he doesnt know he is a ghost and he happens to be the dance instuctors much younger dance partner.. So now the fun begins trying to figure out who wanted them both dead and why and to help these two spirits cross over.

I just love this series..... It reminds me alot of the TV show called The Ghost Whisperer which I loved as well.. Thank you Erin McCarthy for a great series

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that's a wrap for now. Murder By Design is a pretty fun and entertaining series about a home stager that can see ghosts. It gave me Ghost Whisperer vibes mixed in with a bit more comedy and a very sarcastic protagonist. When I started this series I was a bit concerned whether or not I would like it because cozy mystery series are hit or miss. This one was a hit, for me at least. Easy to follow along, on the shorter side and the narrators were both amazing.
I do highly recommend the audiobooks if you plan to read this.

[Marty Tool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. As always, Bailey has a mystery on her hands, but at least she wasn't the one to find the body this time. Ghosts are always talking to her, but this time not a lot of help. Good twists at the end along with her getting herself in pretty deep trouble make a good story. Always enjoyable stories.

[Kathy Urbanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, I’ve been a fan of Erin’s writing for years! I love Bailey & Marner, curious on the next book theme. What secret is Ryan keeping, he makes me laugh, along with Bailey’s grandma?
One thing that bothered me were the typos, I’m assuming this was proofed multiple times, hopefully for the next book

Keep the Bailey adventures coming!

[Toby A. Sursa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good ghost read ;-)

I like the way she integrates the ghosts with the main character (Bailey)in her stories. The book(s) need to be proof read more in depth prior to publication. There are several errors in all her books. Otherwise this and tge other books in this series are enjoyable.

[nikki vaghela · Rating 4 out of 5]

dances with Ghosts

I really like this series. However, it feels like the editor is AI because there are quite a few errors (maybe an autocorrected word that doesn’t fit) and a few inconsistencies between the books that I would hope a real person would catch. I will still continue reading. Maybe a friend or fan will edit in the future.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining read. Bailey is at it again, finding ghosts and solving their murder. I enjoyed the mystery and the way in which it was solved. The secondary characters – particularly Bailey’s grandmother and boyfriend Marner add to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

[Sarah Baines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best

Dances With Ghosts isn't my favourite book in the Murder By Design series, but it's still a good read. I like the characters but there's something about Ryan I just don't trust🤔🤔🤔 I can't believe this is the last book in the series. Hopefully the next book will follow in the near future.

[Jennifer Artiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dances With Ghosts

Another winner in this ghost/medium series. Bailey is amusing and intelligent as always, sorting through clues with humor while being hounded by ghosts. A cool twist at the end kept me on my toes. Highly enjoyable!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. It's a lot of fun. I had one issue with this book. The endless typos. Did no one proof read it? It really takes me out of the story.

[Elaine Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

Humorous and very entertaining, but could do with better proof reading as errors stopped the reading flow, but still good

[Heather Ore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it !

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, cozy mystery with an interesting storyline, believable, and likable characters. Many twists and she reveals the whodunit at the end. Enjoy.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scribd Audiobook

[Christine Georgiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book in the series. This was a good series, some errors timewise but overall not a bad read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable paranormal cozy mystery.

[Annie Deschamps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still 2 1/2 stars but perfect to listen to while doing chores.

[Juliet Minerva Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why it took me this long to review this book, I just kept putting it off until it’s too late and now I can’t remember much of what I thought.

ALl I can say is that it was definitely fun, I really enjoyed the last instalments in these series, way more than the first few.
I think I was a bit distracted with this one and found it hard to focus at times, but I was really sad that it was the last (so far I hope!)