Blood into Wine

Inspector Renzo Dante #1

by Julia George

Inspector Renzo Dante has never witnessed a crime scene as vicious as the bizarre ritualistic killing at the San FRancisco Opera House. The strangely mutilated victim is the most famous winemaker in Napa Valley. He's also an old family friend. For Renzo, it's personal. The secret lies in Napa Valley - America's Eden. But before Inspector Dante can get there, he must cross swords with the politically powerful of San Francisco, and Inspector Dante doesn't play well with politicians. Pressured by time, hounded by the brass, resented by the Valley elite, Renzo follows his own unorthodox road through a labyrinth of politics, greed and lust to find a cold-blooded killer in the heat and dust of Napa Valley, where wine is thicker than blood. Somewhere in this intoxicating paradise, the killer waits like a serpent in the vines, watching through the scope of his high-powered rifle. And Renzo is in the crosshairs.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2015

About the author

Julia George is the pen name of a husband and wife writing team - Julia Odegard and George Kovach. Julia and George haven't always been writers. Many of their adventures have been in the world of the theater. They've both acted and directed. George also produced plays and made documentary films. Julia has designed costumes and sets and performed in commercials. Along the way she ran her won interior design business. George did a stint as a talent agent in Manhattan, represented a Russian artist, and crossed swords with the Soviet KGB in the Evil Empire. Together they also raised a terrific son. "Galya Popoff and the Dead Souls" is their first novel. Their second detective novel is a bit more serious than "Galya." "Blood into Wine" is set in Napa Valley and features a new detective - Renzo Dante. Julia recently published a science-fiction novel for middle grade and young adults. "The Mars Seven" follows seven young Terra/Mars high school kids on the most awesome junior year abroad ever. Mars!
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Reviews

[Georgia]

What a team!

Liked the characters and the mystery. Intelligent writing with humor interspersed that dazzles. Learned about grapes and wine. The only criticism is that some parts needn't have been so lengthy but did help to show us who and what was happening.