Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gone with the Ghost | 2017 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 2 | Silence of the Ghost | 2017 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 3 | Once Upon a Ghost | 2017 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 4 | How the Ghost Stole Christmas | 2018 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 5 | It’s A Ghost’s Life | 2019 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 6 | Ghosts Like it Hot | 2019 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 7 | Dances With Ghosts | 2020 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
| 8 | A Midsummer Night’s Ghost | 2025 | Erin McCarthy | Buy |
The Murder By Design series by Erin McCarthy features an interior designer whose renovation projects keep turning up ghosts with unfinished business. The series starts with Gone with the Ghost and continues through seven more books, each titled as a ghostly riff on a well-known movie or literary title (Silence of the Ghost, Dances With Ghosts, and so on).
McCarthy blends cozy mystery with paranormal elements in a way that is more playful than scary. The protagonist’s design work provides a natural reason for her to enter old homes with histories, and the ghosts she meets are as likely to be nuisances as they are to be helpful. The mysteries are satisfying puzzles, and the recurring cast of characters gives the series a warm, familiar feel.
The series has run from 2017 to 2025, with the most recent entry being A Midsummer Night’s Ghost. The punny titles and light tone make these books a good fit for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist and a protagonist who has a sharp eye for both decor and clues.