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Ashley McCoy #1
A Walk Into Darkness
Twenty-five years after a young girl goes missing from her home in South-East England, most have given up hope of ever finding closure. But when a renowned psychic has visions of a murder the police reopen the case, placing the puzzle of the ‘woodlands killer’ in Ashley McCoy’s capable hands.
Firmly set in the harsh reality of a world where the young and beautiful are not safe from dangerous hands, A Walk Into Darkness navigates the ups and downs of Ashley’s life; desperate to solve the cold case without letting the trials and intrigues of life get in the way. When the delectable Tasha comes onto the scene, both women struggle to find a balance between their responsibilities and the undeniable chemistry behind their growing friendship.
A story of murder, intrigue and the twisting path of life and love.
Firmly set in the harsh reality of a world where the young and beautiful are not safe from dangerous hands, A Walk Into Darkness navigates the ups and downs of Ashley’s life; desperate to solve the cold case without letting the trials and intrigues of life get in the way. When the delectable Tasha comes onto the scene, both women struggle to find a balance between their responsibilities and the undeniable chemistry behind their growing friendship.
A story of murder, intrigue and the twisting path of life and love.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2013
44 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Jade Winters
119 books215 followersWhile Jade Winters has been putting words together since she was a child, it wasn’t until 2010 that she became a serious writer. Today, as a full-time author, she has published four novels in the lesbian fiction genre as well as several short stories. Jade was born and educated in London where she studied journalism for three years at a London University. She is the youngest of 6 children born to a Nigerian father and English mother and blames her love of spicy food on her African heritage. Jade now makes her home in Dorset in the South of England with her partner and furry companions Zorro, Buttons and Zeus.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 23, 2017
Great series! nice plot twist & turns,good balance combining the mystery and romance,well developed characters and decent dialogue..well written
October 31, 2017
Pretty good crime mystery. Liked it. Not sure I want to tackle book 2 as it eludes to trope 139 and a break up. Prolly give that one a pass. But Ash was a cool MC. Dunno. Sigh. Maybe.
June 22, 2014
Best mystery I've read in ages! And a very cute love story, too.
Well placed twists, a few shocks nearing the end and an unexpected ending that will leave you checking the internet, looking for book two of the series. Please, have it published soon!
I was already hooked after the first book I've read of Jade Winters ("Guilty Hearts"), but after this one now there is no doubt anymore that I am going to read all of her books, one by one, and maybe not as quick anymore, so I can enjoy them a bit longer. This is a great author!
Well placed twists, a few shocks nearing the end and an unexpected ending that will leave you checking the internet, looking for book two of the series. Please, have it published soon!
I was already hooked after the first book I've read of Jade Winters ("Guilty Hearts"), but after this one now there is no doubt anymore that I am going to read all of her books, one by one, and maybe not as quick anymore, so I can enjoy them a bit longer. This is a great author!
October 1, 2013
Detective Sergeant Ashley McCoy’s latest case isn’t going to be easy to solve. Twenty five years previously a young girl went missing in South East England. Almost everyone had given up any hope of solving the mystery of her sudden disappearance. Her family had never given up wanting the closure they were so desperate for though.
When psychic Aaron Davies has a vivid vision of a murder, the cold case of the ‘woodlands killer’ is re-opened and given to Ashley and her team to delve in to.
As Ashley and her work partner Dale begin their investigation, more questions than answers are thrown up.
During the investigation, Ashley meets Tasha through the dog walking agency she contacts to walk her dog, Muffin. Both women are attracted to one another, but struggle against their feelings. Tasha has family commitments that she feels obligated to fulfil. She can’t set herself or Olivia up for the heartbreak of leaving Ashley in the near future. Both women feel that their love could be the real deal. Is there any way for Tasha to stay in England? What will they both decide? The decision may well be taken out of their hands entirely by circumstances beyond their control.
This well written mystery, murder, intrigue, romance had me totally hooked from the very first page through to the last page. To say it is a page turner is an understatement. I couldn’t get through the book fast enough to find out how it ended.
I knew Jade Winters was a talented writer from reading some of her short stories. But, she has really excelled herself in penning this full length book that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
This is the first in a series with Ashley McCoy and it’s off to a flying start. The next book can’t be published soon enough.
Ashley McCoy is a well formed and rounded character. She has her faults like anyone else. When she meets Tasha, it is very apparent they are made for one another. But nothing in life and love is simple. Whether they get together or whether they don’t is secondary to the murder mystery. The romance is gently interwoven between the on-going investigation. The balance between both is perfect.
I liked the minor characters too. Dale, Ashley’s work partner and Ashley’s family all integrate into the story enabling it to trickle along in between the gruesome findings.
There is plenty of intrigue and romance to satisfy both mystery and romance lovers.
I’ll be looking out for more from Jade Winters, hopefully very soon.
When psychic Aaron Davies has a vivid vision of a murder, the cold case of the ‘woodlands killer’ is re-opened and given to Ashley and her team to delve in to.
As Ashley and her work partner Dale begin their investigation, more questions than answers are thrown up.
During the investigation, Ashley meets Tasha through the dog walking agency she contacts to walk her dog, Muffin. Both women are attracted to one another, but struggle against their feelings. Tasha has family commitments that she feels obligated to fulfil. She can’t set herself or Olivia up for the heartbreak of leaving Ashley in the near future. Both women feel that their love could be the real deal. Is there any way for Tasha to stay in England? What will they both decide? The decision may well be taken out of their hands entirely by circumstances beyond their control.
This well written mystery, murder, intrigue, romance had me totally hooked from the very first page through to the last page. To say it is a page turner is an understatement. I couldn’t get through the book fast enough to find out how it ended.
I knew Jade Winters was a talented writer from reading some of her short stories. But, she has really excelled herself in penning this full length book that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
This is the first in a series with Ashley McCoy and it’s off to a flying start. The next book can’t be published soon enough.
Ashley McCoy is a well formed and rounded character. She has her faults like anyone else. When she meets Tasha, it is very apparent they are made for one another. But nothing in life and love is simple. Whether they get together or whether they don’t is secondary to the murder mystery. The romance is gently interwoven between the on-going investigation. The balance between both is perfect.
I liked the minor characters too. Dale, Ashley’s work partner and Ashley’s family all integrate into the story enabling it to trickle along in between the gruesome findings.
There is plenty of intrigue and romance to satisfy both mystery and romance lovers.
I’ll be looking out for more from Jade Winters, hopefully very soon.
July 24, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much. It’s the perfect blend of suspense/mystery and romance.
Ashley is a kind of no nonsense detective. She doesn’t really tolerate work politics and follows her instincts. Due to this she has her enemies and allies in the precinct. She comes from a loving, supportive, and accepting family. She lives alone with her dog that her lover who died left behind. Her lover had died a tragic death and she’s still trying to cope with her grief about it.
Tasha is a woman who doesn’t have the support and love of her whole family. She is living in England, but will be moving back to Australia to take over the family business, something she really does not want to do. Her aunt though is very supportive of her. Tasha meets Ashley when Ashley looks for someone to walk her dog because she’s on a case that is keeping her away long hours.
The romance: I’m very fond of a slow burn romance. One that isn’t all flashy and intense initially. I like a more subdued initial attraction and this is exactly that. Tasha and Ashley both have an instant attraction to each other. But even though both are aware of it, they are both rather mature about it as Tasha will be leaving. This allows them to just be together and get to know each other in an easy, drama-free way with no expectations. When they do finally come together, it’s sweet, it’s soft, and it’s deep and comfortable at the same time.
The suspense/mystery: I felt the way Ashley and her partner Dale go about trying to find a killer of a young girl who went missing was nicely done. It’s a cold case, so they don’t have much to go on. And of course as the investigation moves forward there are many suspects. They go about it methodically, which I liked. It gets more and more suspenseful as the book nears the end and there is a surprising twist.
If I would have any complaint about this book though, it would be in this area. Some parts are cleared up a little too easily with no explanation. Sort of like they do on TV shows when suddenly a nasty situation is resolved but we are not shown completely how. Also, I think the killer makes a mistake that felt a little too stupid and convenient. Although most killers having huge ego do make stupid mistakes, never believing they will be caught. Even so, I was quite satisfied with the overall way in which it’s written.
Liked this so much, I just downloaded the next book in the series.
Ashley is a kind of no nonsense detective. She doesn’t really tolerate work politics and follows her instincts. Due to this she has her enemies and allies in the precinct. She comes from a loving, supportive, and accepting family. She lives alone with her dog that her lover who died left behind. Her lover had died a tragic death and she’s still trying to cope with her grief about it.
Tasha is a woman who doesn’t have the support and love of her whole family. She is living in England, but will be moving back to Australia to take over the family business, something she really does not want to do. Her aunt though is very supportive of her. Tasha meets Ashley when Ashley looks for someone to walk her dog because she’s on a case that is keeping her away long hours.
The romance: I’m very fond of a slow burn romance. One that isn’t all flashy and intense initially. I like a more subdued initial attraction and this is exactly that. Tasha and Ashley both have an instant attraction to each other. But even though both are aware of it, they are both rather mature about it as Tasha will be leaving. This allows them to just be together and get to know each other in an easy, drama-free way with no expectations. When they do finally come together, it’s sweet, it’s soft, and it’s deep and comfortable at the same time.
The suspense/mystery: I felt the way Ashley and her partner Dale go about trying to find a killer of a young girl who went missing was nicely done. It’s a cold case, so they don’t have much to go on. And of course as the investigation moves forward there are many suspects. They go about it methodically, which I liked. It gets more and more suspenseful as the book nears the end and there is a surprising twist.
If I would have any complaint about this book though, it would be in this area. Some parts are cleared up a little too easily with no explanation. Sort of like they do on TV shows when suddenly a nasty situation is resolved but we are not shown completely how. Also, I think the killer makes a mistake that felt a little too stupid and convenient. Although most killers having huge ego do make stupid mistakes, never believing they will be caught. Even so, I was quite satisfied with the overall way in which it’s written.
Liked this so much, I just downloaded the next book in the series.
October 6, 2022
Good cop, good cop
Jade Winters’ character DS Ashley McCoy has become one of my favorite crime fighters, based on her sensitivity, intuitiveness, and tenacity. I also enjoy the collegial relationship she has with her partner, DC Dale Taylor.
A Walk Into Darkness is Winters’ second title featuring McCoy, with both being taut crime dramas coupled with a view into McCoy’s life as a relationship-challenged lesbian.
Winters writes gripping investigative stories that profile the impact of personal crimes upon the victims, their loved ones, and the detectives themselves.
The only shortcoming is the novel’s annoying number of grammatical and proofreading errors.
Jade Winters’ character DS Ashley McCoy has become one of my favorite crime fighters, based on her sensitivity, intuitiveness, and tenacity. I also enjoy the collegial relationship she has with her partner, DC Dale Taylor.
A Walk Into Darkness is Winters’ second title featuring McCoy, with both being taut crime dramas coupled with a view into McCoy’s life as a relationship-challenged lesbian.
Winters writes gripping investigative stories that profile the impact of personal crimes upon the victims, their loved ones, and the detectives themselves.
The only shortcoming is the novel’s annoying number of grammatical and proofreading errors.
December 28, 2024
It is a slow burn romance/thriller about detective Ashley McCoy who has to use all her knowledge and smarts to find a serial killer from long-buried cold cases involving a string of murders of some teenage girls. Pretty well written and enjoyable. Low steamy scenes, but high angst. Sometimes these thrillers with low steam and higher angst are actually better to tell the mystery elements of the story.
I was a little let down by the twist only because I knew it was the usual suspect.
I hope the sequel does justice for Ashley and Tasha and their relationship.
I was a little let down by the twist only because I knew it was the usual suspect.
I hope the sequel does justice for Ashley and Tasha and their relationship.
September 6, 2018
DS Ashley McCoy investigates a 25-year-old cold case. Hailey Campbell visits a psychic show and he tells her where her sister’s body is buried. More bodies start reappearing and DS McCoy and her team are on the trail. Ashley hires Tasha to walk her dog Muffin. Romance follows, but Tasha has to go to Cairns Australia to help run her family’s hotel, so can their romance survive?
Ashley has a good supportive family. Good believable characters. Sound murder mystery with a bit of romance.
Ashley has a good supportive family. Good believable characters. Sound murder mystery with a bit of romance.
September 26, 2022
Wow another amazing storyline
Wow another amazing storyline I loved it so much I read it twice it's intense intriguing and your on the edge of your seat screaming loved it congratulations
Wow another amazing storyline I loved it so much I read it twice it's intense intriguing and your on the edge of your seat screaming loved it congratulations
June 23, 2024
Ashley McCoy Is My Kind Of Hero!
I love this character. I love this writer. I love the story. Crime stories need to hold your interest through the body with a rush towards the ending. This has everything you need for a good story that has you guessing to the end. Loved It!
I love this character. I love this writer. I love the story. Crime stories need to hold your interest through the body with a rush towards the ending. This has everything you need for a good story that has you guessing to the end. Loved It!
September 8, 2019
Ah the twists..
A great read with plenty of twist and turns to keep those brain cells on high. With a sweet falling in love story within.
A great read with plenty of twist and turns to keep those brain cells on high. With a sweet falling in love story within.
March 22, 2023
The blatant misuse of punctuation grated my nerves.
June 13, 2014
Even though I enjoyed the book it skipped around a lot story did flow at all and there was mistakes. When Tasha asked Ashley about seeing a friend of hers she mention his name Michael Watts but when they go to meet him his name is Mark. I could go on with the mistakes but like I mention I did enjoy despite the mistakes.
October 2, 2025
Wow, I’ve listen to Amy Putt narrating a few books at this point; she hasn’t disappointed me yet. I feel she was the perfect person to perform Ashley and Tasha’s story. As for the book itself, I didn’t know what would happen. I think the ending was satisfactory, but there was enough of a cliffhanger to make me want to read or listen to the next in the series. Thank you for this.
October 20, 2013
Really enjoyed this story, loved the characters and the story line, can't wait for the next issue.
January 11, 2014
Would like to give it 3 1/2 stars, but I rounded up.
March 19, 2014
Loved it
great twist and cliff hanger. Loved the budding relationship. Couldn't put the book down.The story was written wonderfully.The characters meshed together so well.
great twist and cliff hanger. Loved the budding relationship. Couldn't put the book down.The story was written wonderfully.The characters meshed together so well.
November 29, 2015
2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
October 25, 2016
Intense
An excellent thriller. Loved the story and characters. Highly recommended this book. I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading more Ashley McCoy.
An excellent thriller. Loved the story and characters. Highly recommended this book. I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading more Ashley McCoy.
June 28, 2015
Well written book
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews