Madeleine Eskedahl has written an immensely enjoyable murder mystery set in wine country in the north of Auckland, New Zealand. Word pictures are drawn of a beautiful part of the world, the Matakana area with its vineyards, markets, restaurants and beautiful food, and the lives of some of its inhabitants. Lexi and Avery own and operate a vineyard and live there with their children; they are friends with Bill, the officer in charge of the local police station, and his wife, Annika, an artist, and their children.
A shocking discovery sets in motion a dramatic turn of events for Avery and his old friends from his University days and the mood of the story changes from recording an (almost) idyllic lifestyle to a hurtling, twisting and turning series of events which will keep you on the edge of your seat or biting your nails or both of the above.
There are lots of nicely drawn characters including Niko, the police officer assisting Bill, and especially Lexi and Annika. The mounting tension is handled well and there is just enough gruesomeness to satisfy the most discerning of aficionados of the crime fiction genre. The attractions of a wine growing area are beautifully evoked and, having once lived in such a place in Australia for many years, I felt a close connection.
Blood on Vines is the first in the Matakana series and I look forward to reading more.
A well deserved 5 out of 5.
Published by Squabbling Sparrows Press 2021
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