No Cure For Regret

DI Sam Winter #1

by Ed James

A missing baby. A desperate woman on the run. A truth nobody wants uncovered.
A newborn is taken from a locked house in Edinburgh. No ransom. No witnesses. Just an empty cot and parents with power to burn.

DI Sam Winter is called into the abduction of nine-week-old Kai Drummond, taken while his wealthy parents were out celebrating the launch of their high-profile charity foundation. The family want results fast, the press want blood and the politicians circling the Drummonds want the story buried.

The abductor is already moving, changing her appearance, gambling everything on a plan she can’t afford to get wrong. Because the truth nobody wants to say out loud is the most dangerous one.

As Winter races the clock across Scotland, the case cracks open old grief, addiction and a family history built on money and secrets. And with every mile Kai is taken further from home, the chances of bringing him back alive get thinner.

No Cure for Regret is a propulsive Scottish crime thriller packed with tension, dark humour, and razor-edged emotion, and is the first book in the DI Sam Winter sharp, darkly funny Scottish crime thrillers set in Edinburgh and wider Scotland.

Book 2, No Time To Grieve, is coming 15th July 2026.

Genres: Scotland, Crime, Procedural, Fiction, Mystery

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2026

Reviews

[Andy Umpleby · Rating 3 out of 5]

As books go, this was the weakest Ed James book that I have ever read.
To me it lacked the certain something his other books have.
I would have liked to have more about the workings of DI Winter, in the book with Marshall she seamed to have a better presence on the page.
I will read the next instalment to see how the character develops.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio version of this book 📕- book 1 in the DI Winter series, a great listen

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every new parent is naturally nervous about leaving their baby for the first time but nine-week-old Kai Drummond's family have a big night ahead and his nanny is there with him as usual, so no worries there then, right? Wrong. When Rory and Jennifer Drummond return home the nanny is still there but their son is gone! DI Sam Winter has only been working in Edinburgh for a month when she's thrown into the middle of a baby kidnapping case where every minute and unfamiliar mile matters and the survival of the baby boy is by no means guaranteed. Something however, doesn't ring true to Sam and as she asks the awkward questions secrets are finally revealed which paints everyone involved in a very different light.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to the author and Grey Dog Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. Ed James is a perfectionist and has been known, on occasion, to rewrite novels he isn't happy with. This is what happened with this title which was Gone in Seconds when it was first released in 2020 meaning that although it was still a good read I recognised the storyline and what was happening way before I usually do which did lessen its impact a bit! It was however a 5 star read first time round and without previous knowledge taken into account that's what it would have been this time too. Sam Winter looks set to become another successful main protagonist and the ending was a surprise which looks likely to continue into the second book in this series which will be released in early autumn.

[Alan Middlemass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not got the feel of usual Ed James

Putting a time on chapters and changes of location as characters moved doesn't give a feeling of tension like a Fenchurch or other Scottish procedurals.

Not convinced that Winter got to Arran after switching back to Edinburgh from Glasgow but some of Marshall's sojourns in that series seem to take liberties with time. Probably similar in his others but my ignorance on geography.....

Limped to unsatisfactory conclusion that is not the end of the book but maybe a precursor to future episodes that would be better introduction to next in series.

[Carolien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the start of this new series and look forward to getting to know the new characters. Overall the story is not as complex as a Marshall or Fenchurch, the plot depending on an unexpected legal twist and a protagonist who one can only root for which reduces the overall tension. An enjoyable read, but not the author's best.

[Little Smurf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this book and did not enjoy it as much as the Rob Marshall series. I found it dragged on a bit and was a bit predictable. After a few chapters I guessed that Kaitlin was the surrogate mother and she had kidnapped Kai.

I hope that the next DI Sam Winter book is better

[Michelle Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this book. I found it hard to get into at the beginning, the story then ramped up & I couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately the end was a let down, there wasn’t a closure to the story. So I felt slightly left in limbo. The precious Ex James books that I have read, have been much better.

[Ken Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and different

Having read the Marshall books I was looking forard to this new series. This first book had a different scenario involving matters new to me, which I enjoyed learning about. It was a fast moving story with interesting characters set in a range of Scottish locations. I was pleased to have had a successful guess at an outcome too. A enjoyable read.

[J L NICOL · Rating 5 out of 5]

BABIES

Considering that the author has written lots and lots of books this book with Sam Winter is hopefully the start of something new.
Well written and thoroughly enjoyed by us both, looking forward to the next book in the series.

[David Quick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good thriller from a skilled writer

A new lead character and plenty of different locations around Scotland. Enough twists to keep up the interest, and complex relationships played out. A good read, as is usual from this writer.

[Crooked Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a police procedural, this had very little police or procedure. However, I did appreciate that it was NOT about a serial killer. I also liked that it was quite a different story from the usual and how things turned out.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! Oh my word. This twisted in ways I didn’t expect. Fabulous book. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had this one worked out and to a certain point I did, but I was not prepared for what was revealed at the end. Neat twist there

[Brian Seare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kidnapped

A story that I would not normally read.However lt is good that you follow many false trails until the truth comes out.

[Sylvia Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I had figured out most of the storyline but it was an interesting read. Lots of loose ends, questions at the end. Will certainly read the next DI Sam Winter book.

[S Nicholls · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as some of his other work, bit lacking in substance and the ending was well...... not much to say about that either

[Douglas Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters & locations plus a good few twists & turns.

[Susan Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the first of Ed James new DI Sam Winter series. Lots of characters weaved into an active plot. Off to book 2!

[Ms Isobel Morrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting twist to the story

The book took quite a long time to to moving and establish the characters.
They look promising.
Time will tell.

[Bill · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I like the writing a plot quite a bit. A little tamer than my usual mystery with no murder.

[Joanne Fairbrother · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Engaging if a ittle far fetched. I will read the next and the third soon to be published

[Chris McMeekan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite sure about this series yet, but I enjoyed the story and its telling from multiple viewpoints