Dye by Design (The Fairhope Murder Mystery Series) by Ashley Brandt #Review

I spotlighted this book in May and promised to review it today.
I wish I had read it before I spotlighted it.

Dye by Design (The Fairhope Murder Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Alabama
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sutra House
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1972806033
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1972806036
Kindle
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H135MPJ1
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1972806043

Berlynn Wallace has made a quiet life for herself in Fairhope, Alabama – a charming coastal town where she spends her days surrounded by books, her cat Mr. Whipley, and the company of her best friend Vaughn, a sharp-tongued fashion designer with exquisite taste. The fact that Vaughn has been dead for two years is, between them, just a detail.

But when a body turns up near her driveway, Berlynn’s peaceful routine is cut short. As she begins pulling at the threads of the victim’s past, what unravels is a dangerous pattern of secrets, betrayal – and more bodies. Suddenly, Berlynn isn’t just a curious bystander. She’s the one asking questions a killer doesn’t want answered.

With Vaughn whispering observations only she can hear, Berlynn is determined to hem together the truth – before someone cuts her loose for good.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Dye by Design follows Berlynn Wallace, who works at Reed’s Reads in Fairhope, Alabama. She also has a ghost friend only she can see: fashion designer Thurston Vaughn. Vaughn is the most unghostly ghost I have ever read about. He has impeccable hair and flawless skin, takes 45-minute showers, cooks, eats, and drinks earthly fare, and designs and constructs clothes with many bolts of real fabric at his disposal. He tries to counsel Berlynn on her style, applies her makeup, carries real luggage for his vast wardrobe, gives hugs, and is willing to help her catch a killer. Unlike most ghosts, he cannot go through walls, and he can travel all over town without staying near Berlynn. I can only imagine all the tangible items floating in the air wherever he goes.

Sounds like a great premise for a cozy mystery, right? It could have been. The book is divided into two parts, with Part 2 beginning six months after Part 1 ends. It feels as though this may have started as two separate books that were later combined. Unfortunately, Part 1 is a mess. It was obvious that no one proofread or completed a final edit before the book went out to reviewers. Chapter 2 gives away the entire plot and appears to belong at the start of Part 2, where it is repeated later if you keep reading. Chapters 23 and 24 are exactly the same, which is also reflected in the table of contents. A full paragraph is repeated in two different chapters as well. Other typographical errors pepper the text, too numerous to list.

I finished Part 1, put the book down, and decided it was going to be a DNF. The next day, though, I picked it back up in hopes of finding something worthwhile in Part 2. It was better and had fewer glaring errors, but there were still several repeated text and details that only made sense if Part 2 had been intended to stand on its own. I did enjoy learning more about Vaughn’s backstory, but it was not enough to save the book for me.

I did reach out to the publicist with my concerns and asked whether the errors had been corrected in the version now for sale on several book sites, but I have not received a response. For that reason, I cannot recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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About the Author

Ashley Brandt is an award-winning author of mysteries and paranormal fiction. Born and raised in Southern California, she now lives in North Texas with her husband and two sons. A paramedic and proud foster mom, Ashley balances a demanding career with a lifelong passion for storytelling. In May 2026, her two paranormal cozy novels, Dead by Design and Hurry Up and Dye, were published together by Sūtra House in a combined edition, Dye by Design: A Fairhope Murder Mystery. When she’s not writing, Ashley enjoys hiking scenic trails and spending time by the beach. Find out more on her website here.

Author Links
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Purchase Links

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Find all of Ashley Brandt’s Books HERE.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.