Southern Bound

Max Porter, Book 1

By: Stuart Jaffe

Narrated by: Stuart Jaffe

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

When Max and Sandra Porter moved down to North Carolina, they thought they were getting a new beginning - good job, good pay, and a lovely little place in Winston-Salem. But the family that hired him to research land deals in North Carolina is not all that they seem.

And when Max discovers that his office is haunted by Marshall Drummond, PI - a ghost from the 1940s - what started as a simple research job sinks him neck-deep in a world of old mysteries and dangerous enemies. One in which ghosts, witches, curses, and spells exist. One in which something as innocent as a book can turn deadly.

Real North Carolina history mixes with fantasy magic in this pulse-pounding, paranormal-mystery series.

©2012 Stuart Jaffe (P)2013 Stuart Jaffe

The unwilling detective with a nose for history

Rescued from debt and unemployment and moved to North Carolina by a mysterious employer and his underlings, Max and Sandra learn many new things. The history of Winston-Salem. The ghost of PI Drummond. Danger. Got you hooked yet? A good read well performed by the author.

Fun

This is a fun read with an equally fun storyline. Characters are perfect and believable.

SOUTHERN BOUND, A MAX PORTER MYSTERY

A fascinating mystery that has its beginnings in the early 1940s. Max Porter is a Private Investigator who is trapped by religious sect that dabbles in witchcraft. Discover how Max wins his freedom and solves that age old case he was working on. Did I mention Max is a ghost?

Good intro to the series.

Good introduction story with good character development. I enjoyed the way the author played with some of the tropes of the genre.

Held my attention throughout!

Where does Southern Bound rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ranks high!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Southern Bound?

Without giving it away, when Sandra tells the truth about her gift.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Max discovers Drummond the ghost haunts his office.

My First

This is my first ever mystery book. I really enjoyed it. Wish I had Drummond ghost.😊 Loved how the plot twisted and thickened.

definitely give this one a chance

Any additional comments?

Free audio copy for honest review **
Yup, I judged the book by its cover. I thought, meh, crappy noir. But I do like listening and writing reviews. And since the author traded a free copy for the review, what could it hurt?

Nothing, as it turns out. Southern Bound was interesting from the beginning. Even though I’m used to characters who either completely flip out when faced with a ghost or are a bit complacent, I thought Max was just a pansy. He at first chose to ignore what was obvious right before his eyes. For a researcher, the initial lack of curiosity, the passive interest in solving a mystery completely through me off.

But then, it gets under his skin. Picking up one clue after another, interviewing people, putting the pieces together starts to work for him despite or in spite of the danger that comes with it.

The story flows easily without force from one scene, one clue to the next. The characters have led Stuart Jaffe to a fantastic conclusion.

Mr. Jaffe does a wonderful job with the narration. Sometimes, I wonder if listening to the book makes a difference in how much I enjoy it. The narrator has to be good. The story has to be engaging. So I definitely recommend the audible version having skipped the printed one.

I enjoyed this book so much, I’m already thinking of spending an audible credit on the sequel and kind of irritated that the next two books aren’t already there.

Southern Bound:Max Porter 1

Any additional comments?

I thought this was a very well written story.A man is hired as a private detective,but he doesn't know by whom.During his investigation he receives some unusual help....from a ghost.
Stuart Jaffe is a perfect choice as narrator.He can switch characters in a flash!
I was gifted a copy for an honest review by Audioblast.

very entertaining .

enjoy the narrator voice. listen to the whole audio in less than two day.

Really good story, and the Author Narrated Great!

I am a big fan of Urban Fantasy books, and this one looked intriguing, so I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad i did. The main characters, Max and Sandra Porter, are moving on from some a events at his old job that lead to them needing a fresh start. Max, a college professor, is hired to do historical research in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for a mysterious Employer. Max, glad to be able to leave Michigan and his troubles behind, starts the research, but he meets Marshall Drummond, who happens to be the ghost cursed and bound to Max's office. Marshall needs Max's help to break the curse, which was placed on him by a witch in the 40's, and just happens to be tied to Max's research. Max's wife Sandra is drawn into the mystery, especially when she reveals she can see ghosts. Not just Marshall, but all ghosts. After a series of adventures and setbacks, the mystery is slowly peeled back to reveal...well, if you want to know, you'll just have to listen to the book. It is very worth it. the characters are well rounded, with Max and Sandra both being compelling characters. Marshall is also sympathetic, but very much a product of his era, the 1940s. There is a lot of actual North Carolina history mixed in to the story, which is well blended to make the story compelling. The author does a great job of drawing you into the story, making you feel your right in the middle of the action. He also self narrates, which is always hit or miss with self narrated titles, but this one is a definite bullseye. he does a great job with the voices, making the characters really come alive and keeping the story flowing.
I would recommend this book to any fan of Mike Resnick's Stalking series of Urban Fantasy books, as well as the Nightside books and Dreden FIles.