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Blood, Wine & Chocolate
A blackly comic murder mystery involving very expensive wine and an overdose of chilli chocolate.
Two little boys start out as friends but their lives take two different paths. One becomes all he wants to be and is 'saved' by marrying a woman with the strength to keep him on the right side of the law and he has something to live for. The other is a boy who is given no choice about his life and the person he will become and the things he will do. When they meet again the contrast is stark. Like the 'Cain and Abel' story, but more violent.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Julie Thomas
7 books85 followersJulie started writing at the age of eight, stories about pre-revolutionary Russian princesses who rode troikas through the snow. She has worked in the media for over 25 years, radio, TV and film. She has written three novels and seven feature film scripts. In 2011 she sold her house in Auckland and moved two hours south to Cambridge, a glorious English style village, not unlike St Mary Mede. She shares her house with a highly intelligent and manipulative, but affectionate cat, Chloe, and is passionate about music, cooking and sport. She writes from the heart about subjects that she feels passionate about and her motto is "To dream of the person you could be is to waste the person you are." And also, "It was a brave man who ate the first oyster."
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 17, 2016
Life growing up in the United Kingdom wasn't a bed of roses for Vinnie Whitney-Ross, what with gangland family connections, childhood friend problems and general law and disorder. Whitney-Ross found himself in the role of sort of reluctant hard-man, but the chance to escape to New Zealand and a life of Wine and Chocolate with his chocolatier wife feels like a chance for him to start again, make good, and live happily ever after.
When BLOOD, WINE & CHOCOLATE starts out in the United Kingdom, in Vinnie's early life, there is a strong sense of the nastiness of life in gangland society. There's a vicious and quite ruthless streak running through all these families, and in particular, Vinnie's childhood friend, that you know is going to mean lifelong problems. So it is that Vinnie's move to New Zealand and a new life is derailed by vengeance. There are interesting contrasts drawn between life, climate and environment which contribute to the starkness of this change.
After Vinnie's relocation and family reunion, and life starts to settle into a wine and chocolate induced sort of bliss, the revenge aspect becomes increasingly inevitable, and the trail leading to Vinnie so obvious that things start to feel a little less convincing. Certainly the promised blackly funny doesn't really materialise. It's possibly because the inevitability of aspects of the plot, combined with a sort of archness to Vinnie's tone make for something that feels more forced than it needs to. Somehow there's not quite enough surprise, or tension to the threat elements to carry the attempted gallows humour, and make it completely convincing.
Luckily readers will be able to distract themselves with the sumptuous descriptions of wine and food along the way, and perhaps that's the point. BLOOD, WINE & CHOCOLATE is entertaining, but it's more of a blend than the single varietal that the blurb is telegraphing.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
When BLOOD, WINE & CHOCOLATE starts out in the United Kingdom, in Vinnie's early life, there is a strong sense of the nastiness of life in gangland society. There's a vicious and quite ruthless streak running through all these families, and in particular, Vinnie's childhood friend, that you know is going to mean lifelong problems. So it is that Vinnie's move to New Zealand and a new life is derailed by vengeance. There are interesting contrasts drawn between life, climate and environment which contribute to the starkness of this change.
After Vinnie's relocation and family reunion, and life starts to settle into a wine and chocolate induced sort of bliss, the revenge aspect becomes increasingly inevitable, and the trail leading to Vinnie so obvious that things start to feel a little less convincing. Certainly the promised blackly funny doesn't really materialise. It's possibly because the inevitability of aspects of the plot, combined with a sort of archness to Vinnie's tone make for something that feels more forced than it needs to. Somehow there's not quite enough surprise, or tension to the threat elements to carry the attempted gallows humour, and make it completely convincing.
Luckily readers will be able to distract themselves with the sumptuous descriptions of wine and food along the way, and perhaps that's the point. BLOOD, WINE & CHOCOLATE is entertaining, but it's more of a blend than the single varietal that the blurb is telegraphing.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
March 18, 2019
A sink your teeth into it kinda thriller. Loved that some was set in nz and also east end London. Chapters were good bite site snippets of the characters
October 22, 2023
2.5 or so stars, mainly from the intrigue of Julie Thomas being the author (not my mum but a completely different one!). Didn't love or hate anything about it, really. Took forever for the actual murder and witness protection promised in the blurb to actually take effect. Lot of stuff just randomly happening. No real Gravitas (haha) despite it being about murder etc.
April 10, 2018
New Zealand author Thomas had quite the auspicious authorial start, with her self-published historical romance The Keeper of Secrets selling tens of thousands of copies before being snapped up by a big publisher. Now she shows a deft hand for multiple genres as she spins an intriguing yarn in this, her first crime thriller.
Described as “blackly comic”, Blood, Wine & Chocolate is certainly a tale with moments dark and light, though comic is a bit of a stretch. Former East End semi-hard nut Vinnie Whitney-Ross has found middle-aged bliss as a Waiheke Island winemaker married to his chocolatier sweetheart, an idyll a world away from his former life on the periphery of one of London’s most psychotic gangland families. But his Kiwi lifestyle dream was bought with the betrayal of a childhood pal who won’t forgive or forget, and soon Vinnie faces a collision between lives old and new. There will be blood… and wine, and chocolate.
Thomas skillfully evokes the gritty violence of Vinnie’s East End life before switching gears as he moves from small-time hood to loved-up wine merchant. The food and wine descriptions become mouthwatering. A thriller that’s more a mixed case of quality quaffables than a bottle of Petrus, Blood, Wine & Chocolate is an enjoyable read.
Described as “blackly comic”, Blood, Wine & Chocolate is certainly a tale with moments dark and light, though comic is a bit of a stretch. Former East End semi-hard nut Vinnie Whitney-Ross has found middle-aged bliss as a Waiheke Island winemaker married to his chocolatier sweetheart, an idyll a world away from his former life on the periphery of one of London’s most psychotic gangland families. But his Kiwi lifestyle dream was bought with the betrayal of a childhood pal who won’t forgive or forget, and soon Vinnie faces a collision between lives old and new. There will be blood… and wine, and chocolate.
Thomas skillfully evokes the gritty violence of Vinnie’s East End life before switching gears as he moves from small-time hood to loved-up wine merchant. The food and wine descriptions become mouthwatering. A thriller that’s more a mixed case of quality quaffables than a bottle of Petrus, Blood, Wine & Chocolate is an enjoyable read.
May 24, 2016
Love reading stories set in NZ and also stories about childhood friends and where their lives take them.
This book ticks both boxes and had me enthralled throughout. No major surprises or twists - just a good ol' crime read!
Picked the book up at the NZ Readers and Writers Festival along with a couple of other NZ authors. Can't wait to read my next one!
This book ticks both boxes and had me enthralled throughout. No major surprises or twists - just a good ol' crime read!
Picked the book up at the NZ Readers and Writers Festival along with a couple of other NZ authors. Can't wait to read my next one!
November 29, 2016
LMAO not bad for a NZ book
January 26, 2023
This wonderfully creative murder-mystery is not something I would usually enjoy reading, but every sentence in Blood, Wine & Chocolate was worth my while. The story of three people whose lives have been tangled together lead to a triple murder, betrayal, and of course, blood, wine and chocolate. The plot leads to some very interesting events, and in the end, all characters are somehow tied together in a surprising way. One of the things that I really liked about the book was the ending, which was very fit and satisfying. I would recommend Blood, Wine & Chocolate to anymore interested in a unique murder-mystery full of surprises.
September 17, 2022
I went into this book blind, and I am glad I did! Overall, I found it to be a gripping read, and smashed through it in a day. Loved how the author managed to combine a crime thriller with wine and chocolate - truely the perfect story
August 21, 2020
What a superbly tangled story, full of intrigue and surprises. Also some very interesting information about chocolate. My two favourite things - a good mystery and chocolate. Loved it.
November 8, 2021
Wow so many twists and turns, thoroughly enjoyed this book
December 23, 2021
Very easy read - a good crime thriller … actually couldn’t really put it down . Well written for a light holiday read.
August 27, 2023
I liked the descriptive chapter titles.
September 10, 2024
My first mystery/thriller/action that I’ve closed when finished and been like ok I actually enjoyed that. Good little find for four bucks at a Melbourne op shop 🙃
April 12, 2016
***3.5 out of 5 Stars***
I saw this book in a bookshop on sale after speaking to the Author at the signing for her new book Rachel's Legacy in Cambridge last month.
Having read The first book in the Horowitz Chronicles #1 The Keeper of Secrets I knew that I was keen to read another by this local author.
I was not disappointed and Ms Thomas wove a story spanning from the Seventies to the early Millennium years. This is more of a Black comedy/suspense tale, where the need to do the right thing can quite often lead you on a path unexpected.
As with Ms Thomas's books based on WW2 Ms Thomas has done her research, the book starts laying the background for the final Murder and mayhem.
We start with the Prologue giving us a reason to start in the past, and onto the early years of our 3 main characters. Some readers may see this as overkill, I got why the author did this.
We get to see how 3 young boys, Vinnie, Marcus and Tom are shaped by their upbringing's.
The boys are from different social circles but are connected via their fathers. Ms Thomas has woven a rich tapestry of the live in the East End of London where the underbelly of the criminal element shape the lives of the youngsters.
The life of the criminal families in the 70's is well described and the boys childhood experiences at school painted a familiar picture of the Bullies ruling the roost. Marcus Lane the son of the local mobster crime family grows and learns that he needs to show no fear, manipulate his peers to do his dirty work, while reaping the benefits.
Tom - I felt sorry for him, he was a good strong son, to take a stand up for his mum against his abusive father at such a young age, it really tugged my heartstrings, but the area he lives in shapes him to be an enforcer in Marcus's Fathers employment and that little spark of good is soon dimmed, but he has a quick mind and this will eventually cause the tables to turn on the Lane's hold on the Criminal Dynasty.
Vinnies life may have followed a familiar path as Marcus's but thanks to his Mother he managed to get out of the clutches, but skirted the edges of the underbelly of London working the markets, until he meets the love of his life Anna, she is the catalyst to him using his wit and sharp mind to get a leg up into the wine selling industry.
I really loved Anna, she is a strong but kind character, who after spending her life feeling not worthy of notice by most of her family, she wants to make her mum proud, and uses her talent as a Chocolatier to set upon that path. one of my laugh out loud moments in this book was when the Lawyer is explaining the golf balls, the subtle humour in this book is well integrated making this an enjoyable read.
All is well for Vinnie and Anna for a number of years until fate places Vinnie in the wrong place at the wrong time. But his sense of justice can't let him ignore the incident and he ends up paying the ultimate price. Witness protection, but he does get the chance to choose the country they are moved to... New Zealand.
Vinnie and Anna start a new life in Waiheke Island. As they enjoy their new life amongst the vines, they settle into the community life with the owners of the winery's, orchards and Artistic galleries. But their success in their little paradise of Rocky Bay brings them into the spotlight of an international wine buff with a blog and he can sniff that there is a story behind the mystery of the vineyard owner ( you never know who reads blogs you know!) And when someone recognises the occupants in a grainy picture he takes without the couples knowledge their lives are put back into danger...
I really enjoyed this book, I am now wanting to save up for a trip to Waiheke Island and have a craving for Tequila Lime and Salt Chocolates!
I saw this book in a bookshop on sale after speaking to the Author at the signing for her new book Rachel's Legacy in Cambridge last month.
Having read The first book in the Horowitz Chronicles #1 The Keeper of Secrets I knew that I was keen to read another by this local author.
I was not disappointed and Ms Thomas wove a story spanning from the Seventies to the early Millennium years. This is more of a Black comedy/suspense tale, where the need to do the right thing can quite often lead you on a path unexpected.
As with Ms Thomas's books based on WW2 Ms Thomas has done her research, the book starts laying the background for the final Murder and mayhem.
We start with the Prologue giving us a reason to start in the past, and onto the early years of our 3 main characters. Some readers may see this as overkill, I got why the author did this.
We get to see how 3 young boys, Vinnie, Marcus and Tom are shaped by their upbringing's.
The boys are from different social circles but are connected via their fathers. Ms Thomas has woven a rich tapestry of the live in the East End of London where the underbelly of the criminal element shape the lives of the youngsters.
The life of the criminal families in the 70's is well described and the boys childhood experiences at school painted a familiar picture of the Bullies ruling the roost. Marcus Lane the son of the local mobster crime family grows and learns that he needs to show no fear, manipulate his peers to do his dirty work, while reaping the benefits.
Tom - I felt sorry for him, he was a good strong son, to take a stand up for his mum against his abusive father at such a young age, it really tugged my heartstrings, but the area he lives in shapes him to be an enforcer in Marcus's Fathers employment and that little spark of good is soon dimmed, but he has a quick mind and this will eventually cause the tables to turn on the Lane's hold on the Criminal Dynasty.
Vinnies life may have followed a familiar path as Marcus's but thanks to his Mother he managed to get out of the clutches, but skirted the edges of the underbelly of London working the markets, until he meets the love of his life Anna, she is the catalyst to him using his wit and sharp mind to get a leg up into the wine selling industry.
I really loved Anna, she is a strong but kind character, who after spending her life feeling not worthy of notice by most of her family, she wants to make her mum proud, and uses her talent as a Chocolatier to set upon that path. one of my laugh out loud moments in this book was when the Lawyer is explaining the golf balls, the subtle humour in this book is well integrated making this an enjoyable read.
All is well for Vinnie and Anna for a number of years until fate places Vinnie in the wrong place at the wrong time. But his sense of justice can't let him ignore the incident and he ends up paying the ultimate price. Witness protection, but he does get the chance to choose the country they are moved to... New Zealand.
Vinnie and Anna start a new life in Waiheke Island. As they enjoy their new life amongst the vines, they settle into the community life with the owners of the winery's, orchards and Artistic galleries. But their success in their little paradise of Rocky Bay brings them into the spotlight of an international wine buff with a blog and he can sniff that there is a story behind the mystery of the vineyard owner ( you never know who reads blogs you know!) And when someone recognises the occupants in a grainy picture he takes without the couples knowledge their lives are put back into danger...
I really enjoyed this book, I am now wanting to save up for a trip to Waiheke Island and have a craving for Tequila Lime and Salt Chocolates!
March 23, 2015
After reading the synopsis I was pretty interested in reading this book. For starters, it sounded like an interesting thrillerish crime novel which I am always interested in, and secondly I am trying to read more books by New Zealand authors, which Julie Thomas is.
I felt like the story was slow to get into the murder aspect, as it took quite a few pages to set up the story. It was probably about a third of the book that was spent setting up the backgrounds of the characters. I did find it quite interesting.
This book wasn't as much of a thriller as what I was expecting but focused more on the crime aspect. The book was set in a mob boss kind of scene but at the same time it tended to follow Vinnie's life a bit more which was less involved in the whole mob scene.
There are so many things that happen in this book that when I finished it I felt a little overwhelmed by all of the events. I did enjoy this book, it just wasn't what I was completely expecting. I really did enjoy the dark comedy aspect that was thrown into the mix a little bit.
I will definitely be interested in checking out more of Julie Thomas' books in the future as her writing was quite nice.
I felt like the story was slow to get into the murder aspect, as it took quite a few pages to set up the story. It was probably about a third of the book that was spent setting up the backgrounds of the characters. I did find it quite interesting.
This book wasn't as much of a thriller as what I was expecting but focused more on the crime aspect. The book was set in a mob boss kind of scene but at the same time it tended to follow Vinnie's life a bit more which was less involved in the whole mob scene.
There are so many things that happen in this book that when I finished it I felt a little overwhelmed by all of the events. I did enjoy this book, it just wasn't what I was completely expecting. I really did enjoy the dark comedy aspect that was thrown into the mix a little bit.
I will definitely be interested in checking out more of Julie Thomas' books in the future as her writing was quite nice.
March 12, 2015
New Zealand writer, Julie Thomas, hit the jackpot on her first novel, A Keeper of Secrets, which first appeared as a bestselling e-book.
Blood, Wine & Chocolate is a different kettle of fish. Listed on the blurb as a ‘blackly comic murder mystery,’ it’s certainly black, though not very comic ˗ I found the humour a bit thin. And it’s not really a murder mystery, since we know each time who kills who. It is surprisingly violent, with a lot of peripheral deaths as well.
It’s mostly set in the ganglands of London until the last third, when the main characters arrive in New Zealand to become first vintners and then chocolate makers. The wine and chocolate are both described in loving terms, though some of the wines seem to be overwhelmingly dense in their aromas, and the chocolates have fillings that make your mouth water but also make you wonder what they'd actually taste like.
Be that as it may, it’s a suspenseful thriller, and you’re likely to read it in a couple of great gulps.
Blood, Wine & Chocolate is a different kettle of fish. Listed on the blurb as a ‘blackly comic murder mystery,’ it’s certainly black, though not very comic ˗ I found the humour a bit thin. And it’s not really a murder mystery, since we know each time who kills who. It is surprisingly violent, with a lot of peripheral deaths as well.
It’s mostly set in the ganglands of London until the last third, when the main characters arrive in New Zealand to become first vintners and then chocolate makers. The wine and chocolate are both described in loving terms, though some of the wines seem to be overwhelmingly dense in their aromas, and the chocolates have fillings that make your mouth water but also make you wonder what they'd actually taste like.
Be that as it may, it’s a suspenseful thriller, and you’re likely to read it in a couple of great gulps.
June 28, 2016
Vinnie has grown up on the fringe of a London mob. His father was a mobster and his boyhood friend Marcus was a future crime boss. Vinnie however dabbles in small crime, selling counterfeit goods at a London market. When he witnesses a murder, he and his wife Anna are re-settled in New Zealand as part of a witness protection programme. They buy a vineyard on idyllic Waiheke Island where they can pursue their joint passions for wine (Vinnie) and chocolate (Anna). However when their wine starts to meet with international acclaim, they come to the attention of the very people that they are trying to hide from.
I really wasn't sure what to make of this book. It's a very uneasy combination of a dark London gangster thriller and an upbeat comedic tale about wine and chocolate. The best way I can describe it is is Simon Kernick paired up with Nicky Pellegrino to write a novel. One moment a gangster is breaking someone's kneecaps, the next we are getting mouth-watering descriptions of chocolates. The plot and the tone just don't work together.
I really wasn't sure what to make of this book. It's a very uneasy combination of a dark London gangster thriller and an upbeat comedic tale about wine and chocolate. The best way I can describe it is is Simon Kernick paired up with Nicky Pellegrino to write a novel. One moment a gangster is breaking someone's kneecaps, the next we are getting mouth-watering descriptions of chocolates. The plot and the tone just don't work together.
February 7, 2017
A fun thriller novel with a little bit of intrigue - a good book for a relaxing Waitangi Day
December 22, 2015
An odd mix of genres, which I read to the end but the mix of very dark and sunny lightness didn't quite work.
The crime gang violence didn't really fit with over-the-top descriptions of wine and chocolate. The characters were well set up from childhood, but it took a long time before something actually happened to propel the story forward. The witness protection angle is always interesting for a story, but in this case, setting up a new life not once but several times in the same area of knowledge as previously was just plain silly.
As happens too often, the blurb on the back gives away too much of the plot and covers at least the first 3/4 of the book.
The crime gang violence didn't really fit with over-the-top descriptions of wine and chocolate. The characters were well set up from childhood, but it took a long time before something actually happened to propel the story forward. The witness protection angle is always interesting for a story, but in this case, setting up a new life not once but several times in the same area of knowledge as previously was just plain silly.
As happens too often, the blurb on the back gives away too much of the plot and covers at least the first 3/4 of the book.
March 20, 2015
Life kept interrupting Moi as I enjoyed this yarn from a great Kiwi Author. It was brilliant to be able to just pic up anytime & jump back into the lives of the characters involved. The twists, turns & being in the run for 2 then 3 of the characters brought opportunity to read more about NZ. Loved the informative details of wine & chocolate & so want to taste the tequila/Lime & sea salt chocolate :).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2016
It’s a great book but unfortunately starts off a bit slow. The author spends the first 1/3 of the book building each of the characters background, so it does take a long while until we get to the murder part.
So my advise to you is keep reading it will become much more interesting and exciting after that.
So my advise to you is keep reading it will become much more interesting and exciting after that.
April 9, 2015
An Ok read but not nearly as good as Keeper of Secrets. This style of book - murder/thriller isn't my usual cup of tea which perhaps is colouring my thoughts. Solid writing with some great descriptions of NZ, the wine scene and delicious chocolate.
August 11, 2016
Predictable
A very predictable gangster tale, this story covers the lives of two childhood friends who part later in life but reconnect after a series of events. Save your money; you've read all this before.
A very predictable gangster tale, this story covers the lives of two childhood friends who part later in life but reconnect after a series of events. Save your money; you've read all this before.
April 13, 2015
1.5/5
March 28, 2015
Quirky! Enjoyable story. Would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews