Capturing the scenic beauty of the Matakana wine country, Blood on Vines is a page-turning, thrilling read. Avery and Lexi run Matakana Valley Wines, and it’s undeniably stressful running a vineyard and family life with teenage children. But things are about to get a whole lot more stressful when Avery discovers a severed human hand under their house. Why would someone put this under their house? Whose hand is it? Are they in danger?
Avery is one of four old friends in the winemaking industry who have a shared past, but it now seems they have a common enemy who is out to pick them off, one by one.
In the opening chapter, the reader discovers one person has already been brutally murdered. Who will be next?
Local cop, Bill, is looking forward to autumn and fewer tourists in the region, but now his peaceful patch is about to be rocked by a series of vile attacks, shocking the close-knit community.
Madeleine Eskedahl has written an atmospheric crime novel, with just the right combination of well-drawn characters to care for and increasing suspense to keep readers turning the pages. Blood on Vines is the first in The Matakana Series, so I’m looking forward to reading the second novel, Rings on Water, when it publishes in the future.
Reviewer: Karen McMillan
Squabbling Sparrows Press, RRP $34.95