3.8 (460 ratings)

Dead to the Max : A Dark Paranormal Mystery with a Slow-Burn Romance (Max Starr Series, Book 1)

Name: Dead to the Max : A Dark Paranormal Mystery with a Slow-Burn Romance (Max Starr Series, Book 1)
Rating: 3.8 (460 reviews)
Author: Jasmine Haynes
ISBN: B003XRE4XG

by Jasmine Haynes

ghosts

About this book

Grief is a heavy burden, but for Max Starr, it is a constant, spectral presence. Living with the lingering spirit of her deceased husband, Max tries to ignore the chilling visions that plague her waking hours. That is, until a gruesome premonition forces her into the orbit of Detective Witt Long. As a reluctant psychic, Max must navigate a world where the boundary between the living and the dead is dangerously thin, and a sadistic killer is closing in on her secrets.

This gripping urban fantasy masterfully blends high-stakes mystery with a simmering, slow-burn romance. Witt is the quintessential grumpy detective—relentless, brooding, and entirely unwilling to let Max fade into the shadows. Their chemistry is electric, marked by a tense friction that threatens to consume them both as they hunt a predator who craves Max’s silence. It is a dark, atmospheric dance where desire serves as the only defense against the encroaching dark.

Perfect for readers who crave paranormal romance with a sharp, sensual edge, this novel refuses to play it safe. It is an intense, addictive journey that balances raw emotional stakes with pulse-pounding suspense. If you are looking for a story where love haunts the living and danger waits in every shadow, this haunting series opener is your next obsession.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B003XRE4XG

Reader Reviews

This story will hook you! Hard to put this book down.

September 17, 2011

Wow. Where to start.......... First of all, there is graphic sex in these books. Some erotica books are just graphic sex and that's it. This book has an amazing gripping story that just happens to have really graphic sex......If you can't handle graphic sex, don't buy this book. Otherwise, come along for an amazing story. I actually just finished reading Book 2 in this 5 book series, and I just had to stop and write. I wish there were 10 books in this series, and I hope she writes more. I just...

Odd, interesting, and funny!

May 10, 2016

Friend-Swap Dead to the Max begins when Max Starr gets a vision about a woman being murdered. The problem is she doesn't want to believe she is psychic, but her dead husband encourages her to help and find the murder. The problem is she's not only feeling the dead girls emotions, she's also having to relieve some of her emotions from dark times in her life. Then add in the detective and you've got a crazy combination of suspense, and paranormal. This book was very odd, but in a good way. I...

A Sexually Explicit Fantasy Paranormal Mystery

February 20, 2014

As clearly indicated by the array of low and high ratings obviously this book won't be for everyone. Contrary to what reviewers seems to think erotica can include soft porn and \"X-rated material. Yes, the storyline does reference child sexual abuse in relation to two of the characters but it was neither specifically detail neither was it glorified. Rape was also mentioned. However, sadly these atrocities occur and frequently shape the personalities, level of self-esteem and life styles of the...

VERY Entertaining and I'm Not Wild About Paranormal or Suspense

March 26, 2012

I've read a few paranormal romance novels that I enjoyed but they are VERY few and far between. Generally, I just can't get into them and I quit reading suspense about a year ago because my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I have a lot of other things going on in my life that are making me anxious/worried so I don't want to read anything that might add to that. However, I started this story and just could NOT put it down. I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect of it and the suspense...

I so wanted this book to be a good read.

November 6, 2013

I love mysteries, but \"Max\" came across as a \"nympho\" and with all the gratuitous sex, it was really too much, too much like porn. The ghost in her head was supposed to be her husband, he was controlling and a pervert. Like a voyeur. Really? I read through 30% of the book and couldn't read anymore. )