Another mystery book by a New Zealand author: Blood on Vines by Madeleine Eskedahl. I think this one might be her debut novel. It is also the first of a planned series.

This was an interesting story, and while I kept trying to figure out who was doing what and why, I didn’t figure it out until either very close to the reveal, or at all (for the different aspects). Always a good thing when reading this type of book. I’m planning to get the next book in the series when it is released too, but this one came out early in 2021 and we’re still waiting for book 2, so I’m not sure if it is going to happen, or when.

As I’ve mentioned before, I like going into mystery books knowing as little as possible, and I don’t want to risk saying anything that spoils your own detective work and the reveals, so here is the book blurb.

Four friends, a shared past, a common enemy.

In New Zealand’s Martinborough, an ex-wine maker is murdered. The precise planning and execution by the unknown assailant begins a series of vile attacks.

Meanwhile north of Auckland, the long, hot, summer is over and the tourists have left the Matakana wine country. A tranquil atmosphere descends and warm autumnal winds sweep across the grape-laden valleys.

With the harvest due, grapes sit bursting upon the manicured vines awaiting the pick. Within this vista of peace, a rampage of death is about to rock the local community to its core.

Will it be their shared history that sees the four friends being picked off one-by-one?