Into the Shadows

by Marie Jones

Arriving home from a short holiday in Dingle, Lily Crossways makes a staggering discovery – on one of her photos taken on 'Inch' beach, a woman's desperate face is staring directly at her. Yet Lily knows she was alone that day on the beach.

Who is she, is she even real, and why has she appeared to Lily?

Unable to let the woman go, Lily makes the uncharacteristic decision to leave behind her safe world in England and return to Dingle to try and find her. Her search eventually leads her to cafe owner David Carson, this woman's brother, who hasn't seen his 'missing' sister in five years.

Lily must now convince him to trust in her, taking bold steps to prove herself to him, and together track down his sister before it’s too late.

Yet are either prepared for the hidden secrets they are about to uncover in their earnest desire to find her, and the impact it will have on those they love?




* Number 1, Amazon Kindle/Literary, April 2016

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2015

About the author

Author of multi award winning romantic suspense/thriller #ThoseWeTrust, #ThoseWeSeek
#ThoseWeBurn Published with GenZ Publishing
‘Every sunrise we’re given, we don’t waste a single moment of the day that follows it.’
Quote from Those We Trust

Readers Favorite Gold Award Winner 2022
NYC Big Book Award Winner 2022 - Romantic Thriller
Finalist American Fiction Awards 2022

Marie’s passion for writing and creating stories began from a young age, where she loved nothing more than writing stories into her special A4 lined book.

She went on to study creative writing and published her first novel, Into The Shadows, which was well received (awarded 5 star reviews). Her favourite place to write is in her lounge when the house is quiet (though have learnt to write around noise!). Wherever she is, everyday men and women with all their amazing complexities always fascinate and inspire her.

Reach her on:
www.mariejonesbritishwriter.com (join her writing community)
www.Facebook.com/mariejoneswriter
Instagram: @mariejoneswriter
Twitter: @MarieJones14057

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins with a paranormal feel that bring lily back to an Irish beach. She finds a mystery that has been hidden for years and sets off to help the man she meets at the coffee shop solve it.
The story is rich with emotion and great characters. My full review will be on the page turner during mystery thriller week.

[booksofallkinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Crossways lives a controlled, uninteresting life where she keeps a tight rein on everything to ensure she never experiences hurt or disappointment. But the problem with this is that Lily never experiences anything at all. So when she returns from a short holiday in Dingle, which made her begin to question her choices, to find an image of a woman in one of her photographs, Lily knows that she must find out who this stranger is. Because there was no one else on that beach that day, and Lily feels a strange connection to this haunting woman. Going against her usual rigid control, Lily returns to Dingle to try and solve this mystery. But when she meets David, things will never be the same again.

With plenty of intrigue and suspense, INTO THE SHADOWS by Marie Jones is an enjoyable read which catches the essence of Dingle perfectly, while keeping the reader gripped with the storyline. While Lily got on my nerves at certain times, I still really enjoyed the characters and their development. Overall, INTO THE SHADOWS by Marie Jones is well worth a read if you like an intriguing mystery in a beautiful setting.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book for the author

[Joan Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lilly’s camera captures the eerie image of a woman on what should have been a deserted beach, she is compelled to return to Dingle. The woman seems to be calling to her, as if only Lilly can find and rescue her. But nothing can prepare Lilly for the secrets she uncovers about herself, her own family, and the missing woman. And especially not for the man who will turn her life upside down.
I found this book to be heart-warming yet suspenseful with twists and turns that kept me enthralled until the very end. I loved the changes that Lilly goes through in finding that she can feel love and is worthy of receiving it. I loved the settings that came alive off the pages and made me feel as if I was there. And I loved the characters who were drawn so realistically, they made me cry and cheer for them.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of sweet romance with a twist of mystery.

[Neats · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was contacted by the author, Marie Jones and read the above blurb for her book Into The Shadows, I knew that it was something I wanted to read. I like books that have an air of mystery in them and this one didn't disappoint.

Protagonist Lily can be described as a control freak. She goes through her day-to-day life with her head down, trying to avoid confrontation but never really experiencing life due to her shyness. When she returns from a short break in Dingle she's looking through her photographs and as she's flicking through them she's stunned to see a woman staring straight at her in one of them. The reason she's so shocked is that Lily is convinced that she was the only person on Inch beach that particular day.

No matter how hard Lily tries to put the image out of her head, she just can't shake the feeling that there's a reason behind why this woman chose to appear to Lily and that the mysterious woman is silently asking for her help. Lily decides that she needs to throw caution to the wind and heads back to Dingle armed with the picture of her mystery lady in search of answers.

After a few false starts Lily shows the photo to cafe owner David, whose sister disappeared five years ago. Thinking that it's an elaborate hoax, David is angry and demands answers that Lily doesn't have but she manages to convince him that she has no reason to lie to him and so the two of them set out to try and solve the mystery.

I really enjoyed reading this book and thanks to the author's wonderful descriptions of Dingle and Inch beach it's a place I want to visit. Into The Shadows is beautifully written with just the right mix of romance and mystery to enable the story to flow nicely and the little touch of supernatural kept me guessing. I found Lily to be an endearing character and I liked the way she talked to herself, which was a lovely way to give the reader a glimpse into what's going on in her head so that you can understand her insecurities.

This is the perfect book for reading snuggled up on your sofa or in your favourite chair, with a big mug of hot chocolate and maybe even a few biscuits, while you let yourself be transported to the picturesque Emerald Isle by this talented author.

With kind thanks to author Marie Jones for the review copy.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arriving home from a short holiday in Dingle, Lily Crossways makes a staggering discovery – on one of her photos taken on 'Inch' beach, a woman's desperate face is staring directly at her. Yet Lily knows she was alone that day on the beach. Who is she, is she even real, and why has she appeared to Lily? Unable to let the woman go, Lily makes the uncharacteristic decision to leave behind her safe world in England and return to Dingle to try and find her. Her search eventually leads her to cafe owner David Carson, this woman's brother, who hasn't seen his 'missing' sister in five years.
Lily must now convince him to trust in her, taking bold steps to prove herself to him, and together track down his sister before it’s too late. Yet are either prepared for the hidden secrets they are about to uncover in their earnest desire to find her, and the impact it will have on those they love?

Absolutely wow!! An absolutely fantastic read that I am devastated to have finished. Please tell me there will be another book!! Grabbed my attention from the first page and refused to let go until even after finishing!! Brilliant and very realistic characters. A mix of romance, mystery and suspense this is a perfect holiday read as well as a read now read!! Really would recommend to anyone. I think the next book will struggle to come up to these standards!! xx

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into The Shadows is a romance set in Dingle, Ireland. Lily Crossways recently found a ghostly figure in the background of a beach photo she'd taken whilst on holiday. Lily swore the beach was empty when she took the photo, yet Lily is convinced the woman needs her help.

The draw to return to Dingle is so strong that Lily sets out for Ireland once more. She begins showing around her photo and finds she opens a Pandora's box of suppressed memories.

David's sister has been missing for several years, searches have been fruitless, but when Lily shows him the photo, he can't believe his eyes. At first he thinks it is a hoax, but Lily wins him round and they begin a new search. Their digging also opens old wounds which link Lily's family to Dingle and more than one person needs to face their past before they can move forward.

This is a light easy read in a lovely setting and the paranormal thread was an interesting storyline, I wasn't quite convinced with Lily's character leaping from a shy introvert type to a strong adventurous leader and all round heroine, perhaps she just hadn't found her passion in life and Dingle was meant to be her true life path? Recommended for lovers of Irish themed romances.

[Nadine Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a visit to the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland, Lily Crossways takes a photo at Inch Beach. Though she was alone at the time, a woman's image shows up in the photograph. Compelled to return to find out the woman's identity -- and why she appeared to Lily -- Lily's life takes some twists and turns, causing her to discover unexpected truths about her own past.

Into the Shadows is an interesting, sometimes riveting read, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. The only reason I knock off a star is, it could use some finessing by a quality editor. Jones's tale is worthy of that. The issues are minor, however. Is it a good story? Yes. Did I enjoy reading it? Absolutely.

With themes of love, betrayal, and painful family relationships and secrets, Into the Shadows is definitely worth a reader's time and energy.

[Jan Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet read

What a lovely read this is, I was able to picture myself at the beautiful inch beach, I could almost feel the sand underfoot. A romance with a touch of mystery with some great twists and turns. Nicely written and well flowing, this book kept me sighing wistfully and hoping for a good end. Only downside for me was the main character lily, her talking to herself she could get a bit to carried away with her thinking but hey don't we all at times. would recommend for those who enjoy romance with an edge

[Ginny Clyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the way the book started, with a mysterious woman appearing in someone's vacation photograph. I was attracted to find out the mystery behind it as is as is the main protagonist. The story follows Lily's journey in an Irish town called Dingle as she begins to look for the mysterious woman. Saying anything further would be giving out spoilers!

I enjoyed the story as a beautiful romance builds up among all the suspense and thrill.

[Ryan Cek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the genre of fiction I normally read or enjoy, but this book definitely keeps you interested. I kept wanting to find out what happened next in the story. There's romance, mystery, and plenty of drama. The main character goes through a transformation.

[Scherry at The Novel Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to comment on the cover... simple and gorgeous. I love it! And it sets the mood for what you are about to read.

Lily Crossways lives a fairly non-existent life in England. She enjoys a quiet vacation in Ireland where she has vague memories of a vacation long ago when she was a child. Upon her return to England she proceeds to review her photos taken on Inch Beach and is bewildered and shocked to see the image of a woman beckoning her in one of the photos. Lily knew that she was alone on that beach, so who is this woman?

Here is where I got a bit confused. To me, this sounded like a "paranormal" genre of book, and as I continued to read, I was a bit disappointed to see that it wasn't. Okay. That's my own fault. No where in the description did this author or publisher suggest that this was a paranormal romance. So, as I write this review I need to put that out of my mind. My fault... not the author's.

Marie Jones beautifully described the town of Dingle. She pulled me into the scenery to where I felt like I was right there... the beach... the cafe... the pubs... the B&B... all of it! I loved the main character, Lily, and I loved how her life was turned around and her heart was opened. This book was beautifully written and the author did a fantastic job for a debut novel. Marie Jones is an author to keep your eye on for more in the future.

My reason for 4 stars glasses instead of 5 is that the big mystery turned out to be not such a big mystery. The story was good and the whole concept of secrets being revealed and finding love when you can, made for a good read.

This review will also be posted on The Novel Lady blog.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Shadows is centred around Lily, a young woman who has an ordered life, and knows exactly where she is headed in life. Her life is run on routine and, if she was being completely honest with herself, somewhat dull. But, she is happy, or is she? It is only when she returns home from her holiday in Dingle, Ireland, that her life begins to get exciting. When looking at photos that she took while on Inch beach, she sees the face of a woman staring back at her. The only problem is that the beach was empty, so who is the woman? This is where the story really begins to get interesting, as Lily returns to Dingle to find the woman from the photograph.

This book is a fascinating read and one which I found hugely enjoyable. I won't spoil the plot by telling you how the story unfolds, other than to say that she meets the woman's brother, David, who tells her that his sister has been missing for the past five years. It is then that their journey to find his sister begins.

The story is told through Lily's point of view and I loved her inner dialogue, that gave much needed insight into her character. We need to identify with her, and understand her needs and motives for this book to work, and the author achieves this with great skill. I really identified with Lily. In many ways I am very much like her, that need to be in control. I liked her a lot.

This is a novel of many layers. We have the beautiful and lyrical descriptions of the Dingle area, and I found myself smelling the sea air and running my hands through the sandy beaches. I also wanted to taste one of David's cappuccinos. I have never been to Ireland, but while I read this book, I was there in spirit.

We also have a beautiful love story told between Lily and David, but also in the undercurrents of the story about siblings and mother and daughter. Then of course we have the mystery element, in the woman who was seen in the photograph. All of these elements fuse beautifully together and create an interesting story which is fast paced and has you flipping the pages, in your need to find out what happens.

This is a novel of self discovery, of the realisation that we need to change and move on with our lives. The Lily that we meet at the beginning of the novel, is not the same woman at the end of the story. But this change is gradual and natural, and we go through this self realisation with her.

Into the Shadows is a romantic read with a mystery edge, it's a different kind of romantic read and if you love your romance novels to be a little bit different, then this is perfect escapism.

With thanks to the author who provided the book for review purposes.

[pat goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book

I really e joyed reading this book, it gave a view of Ireland and its beauty ,also I couldn't put the book down

[D.A. Henneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We gazed at each other, the silence charged with words we were both trying to form with neither knowing how to.” – Into the Shadows

A very intriguing story that follows a young woman’s journey to find answers to a mystery that comes to her by way of a photograph. Lily has no way of knowing that the picture she took while on vacation, reflecting an image of an unknown woman, will not only change her life, but also the lives of many others in the small town she is compelled to re-visit.

What I connected to most was Lily’s personal journey. The realization that she is changing comes to her slowly and allows us to experience her growth along with her. Her impulsive desire to solve the mystery of the woman in her photo pushes her outside her comfort zone, and a growing hope that she could find true love causes her to reach for things she never thought could be hers. The overall message I took away from the story is that opportunity for true happiness may only come to you once in a lifetime and when it does, you should hold onto it with all you’ve got.

This was a story about love and loss; of hope and regret. I absolutely loved the idea that something as simple as a photograph, could force secrets from their shadows and change the destiny of so many people. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl, Lily’s, life is well-organized and rather predictable. Only, when a trip to Dingle – a strangely familiar place for no apparent reason – reveals something almost paranormal (a face of a young woman appears on one of her pictures even though Lily could swear that she was on a beach alone that day) Lily picks up and leaves to help this mysterious stranger. However, the population of this small Irish town is very reluctant when it comes to helping Lily with her research. As she gets acquainted better and better with the locals, and the missing woman, Nat’s, brother – David, Lily realizes that a quiet town hides its own skeletons in its closet, some of them even concerning her own family…
I won’t reveal the plot so you can dive into this mystery yourselves, but it certainly was a thrilling ride. I loved watching the protagonist, Lily, transform from a shy, reserved young woman into a determined and passionate one, while slowly unraveling a mystery dating back years ago. A great read.

[Frances Hoelsema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right at the start of the novel, we see Lily determined to head back to Ireland because of a mystery woman that showed up in a picture she took on a beach. Lily was absolutely certain that the woman wasn't there at the time she took the picture, and so she is on a search for who the woman is and why she showed up to her. Upon arriving in Ireland, she eventually figures out more than she ever imagined she would.

I loved this story for many reasons. First, it takes place in Ireland - a place near to my heart. I feel like the characters were well developed and that the story had a great pace. The idea of a mystery girl in a photo is intriguing. It was easy to read. It was enjoyable. And at the end of the novel, I was really getting nervous about how it was going to end. Thankfully, I got the ending I wanted.

There are only two reasons I rated this four stars instead of five. The first reason was the love story. It was cute and interesting, but I just wasn't feeling it. The second reason being that the main mystery of the woman in the photo wasn't as big of a mystery as I would have thought.

All in all, I'd recommend this novel. It has a good mix of suspense and romance, and it held my attention the entire time.

[Rosa Fedele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the description of INTO THE SHADOWS, set in Ireland and a part of the world that I love. This is the story of a British girl, Lily Crossways, who is drawn back to the village of Dingle to investigate the unexplained figure which mystifyingly appears in a holiday photo. The portrayal of the sleepy Irish village and its beautiful beach is beautifully drawn, and I enjoyed many of Ms Jones’ expressions: “the open suitcase with my neatly folded clothes, looking like rows of soldiers preparing for battle …”

Lily is a conservative character, who tends to overthink things but, when she starts showing the photograph to the villagers, a myriad secrets are revealed and suppressed memories return.
Although the book started with the mystery of the unknown woman in the photo, touched with a hint of the paranormal, I feel this book is actually more of a romance novel, a charming and gentle story, which meanders quietly – perhaps a little too quietly for my personal (and slightly dark-edged) taste. I would have loved Ms Jones to ramp up the paranormal thread and the foreboding and thrill that I would expect from a mystery novel. I also feel that with a professional edit, this book would be easier to read and potentially rate five stars.

Recommended for those who love a light and cosy romance.

I wish to thank Ms. Jones for the copy of her novel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Adrienne Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Shadows, by Marie Jones, is a new take on a romance. Lily returns from a vacation and reviews her pictures only to find the face of a woman on one shot taken at Inch Beach. The only problem? She knows without a doubt that the woman was not in the shot when she took it, as the beach was nearly empty.

This story is a typical romance but broken up nicely by a very interesting search for a missing woman. The author uses some beautiful prose that gives the reader great visuals while moving through the story, including “neatly folded clothes looking like rows of soldiers” and others.

Without spoiling the story ending, I feel it’s safe to say that the character goes through a deep change, finding that in Dingle, she feels free to become the real or best version of herself. The challenge at the end is whether to remain in Dingle and figure out whether she can continue to grow, or just chalk it up to a vacation fling and fun and head back home to her normal life.

I enjoyed how the character went through times where she questioned herself, but at the same time, she pushed herself to be more than she thought she could be. She also learned what love really was, all while attempting to solve a mystery. At the end, I enjoyed a beautiful quote: “by letting my life hold a greater purpose, I have found a release from fear, and from a sense of worthlessness.”

I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I didn’t give it five stars purely because there were some grammatical issues that I had a hard time getting over. But the story was very interesting and fun to read, pulling me in from the beginning. I didn’t give it three stars because I feel like it is a romance with a twist of mystery that almost anyone who enjoys romance would like.

[Jacqueline Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the Shadows is an exquisitely told romance laced with mystery and intrigue. The mystery centers around interwoven backstories between the characters, which are foreshadowed and/or alluded to. The author's pacing of the reveals is perfect, keeping the suspense to know continuous and unrelenting - by the middle of the book I couldn't put it down. Each time something is revealed, more questions come up and there are layers upon layers of buried family secrets.

The author also does a wonderful job of building sexual tension between Lily and David. Impressive, really. I was dying for them to get together - finally, as I felt their desire growing and growing. As their feelings burgeon, so do all of the obstacles in their way. Jeez... the author really had me wondering how they would ever get there. The cherry on top: There are gems of wisdom about life, love and family relationships nestled into the narrative, offering the opportunity for self-reflection.

In case you couldn't tell, I loved the book. And I highly recommend it.

[Anna Kingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no expectations as I picked up this first book by unknown author, Marie Jones. However after a couple of pages I was already hooked! Written in the first person, this book has a clever and intricate plot which leaves you constantly wanting to know what happens next and totally unable to put the book down!

The characters are as real as life and mystery and suspense runs through the story along with heart- warming romance, to create a compelling read. Many will relate to Lily, the central character, on her journey of discovery.

I can not wait for Marie Jones' next book!

[Heidi Angell · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this, I'm not sure how I felt about it. There was a lot more drama than thriller, and more romance than I am usually a fan of, though that was kind of my favorite part. I loved the glimpse into Ireland and it put me in the mood for another Irish adventure.

But there were so many things that I didn't like. The biggest struggle I had was the editing. All of the dialogue is done with single quotes, instead of the double I am used to, which left the author with no choice in how to demonstrate ones thoughts to oneself except to say "she thought to herself." But it was consistent, so I can't really say that it was wrong, just very distracting. And then there was the adaptation to English and Irish accents and spellings, which was kind of fun as she didn't do it too heavily, but still had me double reading things at times. There were several consistency errors, like at one point the main character took off her coat and set it on a chair, then a page later took it off again.
Most of those probably should make me rate it far lower.

Then there were aspects of the story that I didn't care for. I'm not sure if it's a cultural thing, but from the back I was sure that the sister was dead, and her ghost was showing up in the photo. But that never crossed their minds. I really couldn't stand David. I mean, I get that he was in a very emotional state over everything going on, but how she could fall for him instead of the friendly light-hearted and always kind bartender was kind of beyond me. It had this Twilight feel that I am just so over.

The myriad twists and turns felt very contrived, but I suppose one could say that it comes down to whether you are a person who believes in fate and meant to be's. I'm not.

But there were no major plot holes, the pieces all fit together in a rather predictable puzzle, and the romance was clean with a touch of spice, so if those are your kinds of jam you will probably enjoy this book.

I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't read it again and I don't think I was invested enough in the characters to read the second book, if there is one. Unless it's about the bartender Greg. I would read his story.

[Christine Keleny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the book is interesting and Jones makes the mystery of why Lily (the protagonist) is in Ireland and where is this woman she took a picture of worth finding out but I had a hard time caring about the characters and once their search is over, the story seems to lose momentum.

[Rose Verde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently began to read books in first person POV. This was beautifully crafted. Great characters, lovely setting with nice twists and cliffhangers. I loved reading it and I highly recommend it.