Blood For Wine

Cal Claxton #5

by Warren C. Easley

Cal Claxton's old farmhouse sits high in Oregon's Red Hills where some of the finest and most coveted acreage for growing the premier pinot noir grape are located. When the owner and gifted vintner of an up and coming winery is accused of murdering his wife, his property is put in play, and when a blackmail plot is hatched against the owner of adjacent land, it begins to look like a brutal game of Monopoly.

Cal agrees to defend the vintner, a good friend, and is pulled reluctantly into the blackmail plot. Can he rid his beloved Hills of this murderous threat or will he become the next target of a vicious, cunning killer?"

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

292 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2017

About the author

Formerly a research scientist and international business executive, Easley lives in Oregon where he writes fiction, hikes, skis, and fly fishes. As the author of the Cal Claxton Mysteries, he received a Kay Snow national award for fiction and was named the Northwest's Up and Coming Author by Willamette Writers. His fifth book in the series, Blood for Wine, was short-listed for the coveted Nero Wolfe Award and his eighth book, No Witness, won the Spotted Owl Award for the best mystery written by an author living in the greater Northwest, including Canada.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello wine, goodbye problems? That’s not the case in Warren C. Easley’s newest Cal Claxton legal mystery novel, Blood For Wine. Claxton is a transplanted prosecutor from Los Angeles. Now he’s a solo practitioner in Oregon’s wine country. When Lori Kavanaugh, estranged wife of vintner Jim Kavanaugh, is found bludgeoned to death, Cal is called upon to advise and then defend his friend.

This is the fifth in the Claxton series, but I was able to jump in and follow along with no problem. Cal grew on me quickly, as did Archie, his Australian shepherd. Cal’s property in the hills above the small town of Dundee seems to suit him. He is described as a changed man from the driven prosecutor he was in the big city of LA. To say that his wife’s sudden death made an impact on him is an understatement, apparently. Now he struggles to stay afloat financially, but he doesn’t worry about it – much. He does pro bono legal work in Portland, which doesn’t make his accountant too happy. But in addition to allowing him to give back, it enables him to spend time with his ladylove, an intelligent and beautiful Native American woman named Winona Cloud, a Ph.D. biologist. Cal loves wine, especially Jim’s Le Petit Truc varieties. He whips up what sound like delicious meals and drinks cappuccinos. He runs. He takes Archie pretty much everywhere except to court and wine tastings. And, by the way, he’s a smart lawyer.

What about suspects? Well, there are plenty. There is Lori’s husband Jim, who claims that they were talking about reconciliation. There’s her stepbrother. But is there someone else? A man she was dating, perhaps? Or what about her psychotherapist? Could there be others? Another body is found; could this murder be tied to Lori’s death? Then a blackmail scheme comes to light, and suddenly Cal has almost more business than he can handle. But wait! There’s more! But you’ll have to read it to find out (she said slyly).

I loved the setting with its rainy weather, vineyards, proximity to Portland’s marijuana shops – all of these things contributed to a well-conceived plot with believable friends and foes. I appreciate the ARC opportunity from NetGalley, Poison Pen Press, and Mr. Easley. I think I will be backtracking to read the earlier books in the series, as this one was quite satisfying. Now, open Blood for Wine, pour yourself a glass of pinot noir, put your feet up, and enjoy!

4 stars

[Debby Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Cal Claxton novels! You won't be able to put it down. Easley's writing is reminiscent of Kellerman or Grisham at their best.

[Lisa Alber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easley's books get better with each that he writes in this series. In this installment, we find Cal embroiled in a mystery in Oregon's wine country. I loved the wine lore and information that the author sprinkles throughout the book. Cal has a love of good food and good wine, which makes him a protagonist after my own heart. Plot-wise, the mystery intrigued me to the very end: The wife of an up-and-coming vintner is murdered and Cal takes on the case in hopes of defending the vintner from a murder charge. Digging a little below the grapevines reveals darker truths about the wine-making community. A little cut-throat? You could say so!

[Don Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this series when I moved to Portland, in hopes of learning from the author's take on some of the local businesses, neighborhoods and surrounding towns. Now two books in, Easley and his Cal Claxton series have over-delivered. Portland and the Dundee wine country are key characters in the books. But Claxton himself is a solid character - friendlier than Bosch, but not as jokey as Sheriff Longmire - and his social orbit is filled with other interesting characters. And the two cases I've read have each been solid on their own. This one, as the title implies, concentrates on the wine industry, mixing in several actual wineries and businesses. (Post-pandemic I may have to go on a little Cal Claxton site pilgrammage.) Meanwhile, I'm enjoyin the series enough to keep going.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a good read for the mystery, the characters, and (in some ways most of all) the wonderful setting in Oregon wine country. I'd not read a Cal Claxton and wasn't familiar with his past but that was no problem- Easley summed up his background and reasoning for being in Oregon in a way that made me want to first go forward and read this one and then go back and read the others. I liked the interplay between Cal and his dog, Cal and Winona, Cal and Jim and so on. This was a very believable story with well rounded characters. Easy reading but also fun. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. Try this one!

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good addition to the series - have now read them all, albeit not in order!

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story set in Oregon. Especially fun if you know the wine country south of Portland

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warren C. Easley, author of “Blood for Wine,” has a stated dislike for research. He calls it, “the bane of my life.” That’s a bitter admission to me, a reader with an intense aversion for writers that don’t do their homework. I think it always shows in the final product. Fortunately, the extensive research necessary for his novel became a “labor of love” producing a great read that, combined with Easley’s usual strong storytelling ability, provides a striking backdrop of making wines in Oregon’s famed wine country.

Cal Claxton, a small town lawyer with a past as a big time L.A. prosecutor, has a good friend, Jim Kavanaugh, who owns an up-and-coming winery in the Dundee Hills area near Portland, Oregon. A gifted vintner, Kavanaugh is accused of murdering his wife, something we all know he didn’t do, but his reputation and his business begins to suffer. Cal agrees to defend his friend and the complex situation begins to indicate that ruthless land grabs are the prime instigator of a treacherous plot. Murder and blackmail become rampant as Cal becomes a target in the intrigue.

The storyline is strong. The plot is well developed and the dialogue is masterful, something for which Easley is well regarded. Perhaps more intriguing is the author’s connection with the region in which he lives. Wine, food, landscape, and weather play a big part in his story, a fact that the reader can constantly enjoy as the tale rolls along. Portland’s famous food scene is front and center with many of its food and drink spots spotlighted. The travels through Oregon’s spectacular landscape is pleasing and almost touristy.

Easley’s writing is commercial; he wants to sell books. There’s no attempt to be literary or excessively thought motivated. It’s a straightforward presentation of dirty deeds, honorable and dishonorable intentions, naughty behavior, and murderous stunts. The author wants it to be real. It’s a book with which to sit, sip a little wine, munch some savory snacks, and enjoy the ride. When it’s over, the reader can close the book, move to something more thought provoking, and never worry about time wasted.

A little side note. This book is one of five nominated for the coveted 2018 Nero Award, presented for excellence in the mystery genre. Past winners have been Mosley, Connelly, Bloch, and Penny. Good company, for sure.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Blood for Wine". Set in my cherished Dundee Hills, the author does a great job of surrounding this murder mystery with the growth and making of Pinot Noir. You can tell he learned a lot about it in writing the novel and that he enjoys wine, good food and Oregon.
This was my first Cal Claxton novel, and I'm sure I'll read more. Claxton is a very likeable character, as were his friends Winona and Nando.
The mystery story itself was a little formulaic and a couple of the players as described a bit stiff and cliché, but all in all a nicely driven tale that was hard to put down. 3 stars/like for the story; 4th star for the Pinot. And yes I had some while reading it.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and it just keeps getting better and better. I like to learn something new when I’m reading, or be taken to a country or place that I don’t know. In this book I learned about growing grapes and producing wine. I also learned about the Oregon wine country, an area that I’m not too familiar with. From the fast beginning to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, ‘Blood for Wine,’ is a winner.

[Cindy Ladensack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling story with no shortage of vile suspects, a battle to pursue justice for a man wrongly accused, and a truly captivating setting (with just enough wine lore but self-consciously avoiding wine snobbery--though the foodie details border on too much)..... Ordinarily I don't do many contemporary mysteries but this one had just the right mix of atmosphere and action. Might have to look up the earlier entries in this series.

[Ken Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently one of a series, this can easily be read as a standalone.

Set in the Dundee Hills, the protagonist is a lawyer defending his neighbor, a winemaker and farmer, for the violent murder of the winemaker's estranged wife. Threaded through the narrative is bits and pieces of oenology and viticulture, visits to Portland, the beauty of the Hills. Good cast of characters, a clever climax. Nicely paced and well written.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Kavanaugh is right in the middle of his pinot noir harvest when he is arrested for the murder of his wife. He is not nearly as worried about the charge as he is about staying out of jail to start the grapes on their way to becoming wine. He cannot really afford an attorney but his neighbor Cal Claxton agrees to defend him, hoping to keep the costs down. An intriguing plot in a lovely setting.

[Alison (Ali of Worducopia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love losing myself in Cal Claxton's world, and this latest book in the series did not disappoint. The details about the wine country were fascinating without bogging down the plot in the least. If you haven't read any of the other Cal Claxton mysteries you will not be lost--each works just fine as a stand alone.

[Dede Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm generally not a murder or mystery reader - but I loved this page turner. Easley does a great job of portraying this part of Oregon as it really is - as a local I tuned in to the well crafted descriptions and commonly shared current observations. Good characters and suspense. I had only read his first in the series and found it easy to jump in to this one. Great work....

[Bruce Downs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhhh...I am obviously in the minority here, should have bailed but I did like the plotline hence three stars. I'm neither an Oregonian or a wine enthusiast so just not my style. The tedious overload of detailing every single meal and cup of coffee just wore me down. I did like the plotline though. One and done with this author.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Mr. Easley writes another home run! Although I am not a wine enthusiast, I do love the beauty of a sprawling vineyard and especially the Dundee hills. Beautiful countryside! I wish there truly was an Airie with Cal and Arch! Loved the latest mystery a lot!

[Mignonne Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, fun. Loved the country side descriptions, live in the area and Mr. Easley knows what he is talking about. Yes you can get beautiful, fine drinking wines in the area & some that are only fine costing.

[Stuart Shiffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. One of his earlier books had some worthwhile courtroom scenes. This one was pretty much all detective. I don’t like books where average people become supermen defeating all in their path. That describes this book. I did like the dog.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery for Lawyer in Portland . He is the lawyer for man accused of murdering his wife . A very good mystery in twists and turns all the way Through

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery has good clear writing and is a good read

[Gail Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Mostly a lawyer who lives in Oregon investigating a winemaker friend’s murder charge. Love the setting in the wine country west of Portland.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.8/10 Mystery series set in PDX metro involving deaths in Dundee’s wine country. Moves along with constant action. Oregon author. Enjoyable read!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and the winery setting but I didn’t like it as much as the other four that I have read.

[Bernadette Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an easy read. Not my favorite but good enough.

[Michelle Conniff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Another fun mystery in the Willamette Valley. This one concerns wineries in our main character’s town of Dundee. A good read.

[Jethro J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

another fun ride with Cal

Like Easley’s other books, this one is poorly proofread/edited but weaves a great tale that is a real page turner.

[laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good crime story

I read constantly but lately I have struggled with the relationships and side stories. Not with this book! Finally! Good relationships and I lived the wine talk! Ill definitely keep this author in mind for another read!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Cal Claxton left Los Angeles’ prosecutor office for the wine country of Oregon. Now a widower, he lives in the hills with his dog. He takes occasional cases in his part-time practice in nearby Portland.

Cal’s neighbor and friend, Jim Kavanaugh calls one evening and reports to Cal that his estranged wife has been murdered. He is at the scene now with the police. Not sure whether Jim needs a friend or an attorney, Cal sets out for the scene.

Jim is then charged with murder and everything starts to snowball. Cal agrees to defend Jim against the charge of murder.

More is at stake than just Jim’s freedom. His vineyard, his livelihood and his sanity are at stake too. While Cal searches for a way to defend Jim and seeks the killer, this book turns out to be a high stakes thriller.

The book is very well written and plotted. The characters were believable and (for the most part), likeable. The language is clear and concise and the story moves along well. This is a very good read. This is a very well written and plotted book. I truly enjoyed it. It is both suspenseful and gives enough background on the characters to know them, but not so much that it detracts from the main story. This is my first Warren Easley novel, but it won’t be my last. I very much look forward to the next installment in the Cal Claxton series – or whatever he writes next.

I want to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read.

[Peter Eichstaedt]

Warren Easley is my kind of writer and Blood for Wine is my kind of book. It's a wine-soaked murder mystery that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the very end, whether you like the fruit of the vine or don't. He's a skillful writer with a compelling story and sympathetic characters. Do yourself a favor and crack the covers of this noir novel, after pulling the cork on a good Oregon pinot noir.