The Max Porter Paranormal Series in Order

About the Max Porter Paranormal series

Series Premise

The series follows Max Porter, a modern-day private investigator in North Carolina, who unexpectedly finds himself partnering with the ghost of a 1940s detective to solve cases that straddle the line between the real world and the supernatural. After discovering his office is haunted by Marshall Drummond—a sharp, old-school gumshoe from decades past—Max gets pulled into investigations involving witches, haunted locations, cursed artifacts, vengeful spirits, and dark historical secrets tied to Winston-Salem and the broader region. Cases often uncover hidden covens, resurrected villains, or lingering supernatural threats, forcing Max to navigate both mundane detective work and dangerous paranormal forces. With his wife Sandra by his side, the trio tackles mysteries where the past refuses to stay buried, blending clever sleuthing, supernatural confrontations, and the personal stakes of living with a ghost partner.

Main Characters

Max Porter anchors the series—a pragmatic, determined private eye who adapts to the supernatural world with reluctant humor and growing expertise. Sharp-witted and loyal, he balances skepticism with courage as he tackles cases beyond normal PI work. His partner, the ghost of Marshall Drummond, is a standout: a gruff, no-nonsense 1940s detective whose vintage slang, investigative savvy, and dry wit provide comic relief and wisdom from another era. Drummond's presence adds depth, as his unresolved past and ghostly limitations create ongoing tension and camaraderie. Sandra Porter, Max's intelligent and resourceful wife, rounds out the core trio—offering sharp insights, emotional grounding, and active involvement in cases, often proving as vital as the detectives.

Setting

The stories unfold primarily in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with its blend of modern urban life, historic architecture, and Southern traditions providing a perfect stage for paranormal activity. The city's rich history—old buildings, forgotten graveyards, and cultural landmarks—serves as fertile ground for hauntings and hidden secrets. Max's office becomes a central hub, often the site of ghostly manifestations and case breakthroughs. Investigations frequently take the team to haunted houses, abandoned sites, rural areas, or other North Carolina locales, where the atmosphere thickens with fog-shrouded nights, creaking floors, and the sense that the past is never far away. The Southern setting adds flavor through local culture, accents, and a subtle gothic undertone that enhances the eerie yet grounded feel.

Tone & Themes

The tone is lively and engaging—fun, funny, suspenseful, and scary in equal measure—with snappy dialogue, dry humor from the ghostly partner, and pulse-pounding moments of danger. Jaffe keeps the pace brisk, balancing light-hearted banter and clever investigations with genuine tension from supernatural threats and moral dilemmas. Themes explore the collision of past and present, the weight of history in the South (including echoes of old secrets and injustices), redemption and second chances (especially for a ghost stuck in limbo), partnership and loyalty across time, the cost of meddling with the supernatural, and finding one's place in a world where the ordinary and extraordinary coexist. The series celebrates resourcefulness, quick thinking, and the enduring power of teamwork—even when one teammate is incorporeal.

The Max Porter Paranormal Mystery series hooks readers with its irresistible mix of classic detective grit and spine-tingling supernatural twists, all wrapped in the atmospheric charm of the South. Stuart Jaffe creates a world where history haunts the present, ghosts crack wise, and every case uncovers something deeper than the crime itself. These stories deliver thrills, laughs, and genuine chills while celebrating unlikely partnerships and the stubborn pursuit of truth—no matter how otherworldly. Once you step into Max's haunted office, you'll find yourself eagerly turning pages late into the night, chasing the next mystery alongside a living PI, a dead detective, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried. A highly addictive ride that's equal parts spooky, smart, and Southern-sweet.