Blood On Vines: The Matakana Series

by Madeleine Eskedahl

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 begin 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?

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Fiction

314 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, a big thank you to the author for sending her book across to me in Australia. I love a good crime thriller and Blood on Vines had me intrigued. Once I started reading it I found it hard to put down and I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The setting for this book was beautiful and sounded a lot like the Hunter Valley region in Australia. I have never been to New Zealand but would love to visit this area, without the vicious killer of course. This book is graphic and violent but all within reasoning of the story. It is a police procedural, serial killer thriller. A group of friends find themselves confronting their pasts when somebody starts to terrorise them and their families. Sounds good right... it is!

[Pauline Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts .... this is a gory and horrifying mystery centred around a severed hand, found underneath somebodies floorboards. Who is it and where is the owner?

Not really a book I would pick up, but I would like to thank Madeleine Eskedahl for contacting me via Instagram and for mailing me the paperback of Blood On Vines and putting enough faith in me to give her a honest review.
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Two things I extremely enjoyed is, the beautiful nature of NZ, ok I'm biased because I live here, but it played like a melody within this story, so I was pleased to see pohutukawa trees and fantails, but ew gross wetas! Not surprisingly this book takes us to a farming area, so there are cows, hens that lay free range eggs, a worm farm and a house that has solar panelling. Noice, 👍 with me living in a city environment this was totally blissful. That and ... how the odd swedish food displayed itself, the reason why is, the author was born and raised in Sweden. The Swedish Socker Bullar, which is cinnamon rolls with pearl sugar on top sounded delicious along side other yummy mentionables.

The author herself has such impeccable plotting skills, and this is definitely well worth picking up if you are into this genre. Warning crime & violence involved - scaled as mediocre. As for me I'm very squeamish.

4 star rating.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintessentially kiwi, Blood on Vines is the first book of Madeleine Eskedahl and I hope it isn't the last, and the signs are good, book 2 in this series is on the way we're told at the end of this one. Set in the gorgeous wine growing area of Matakana near Auckland, it is a lovely place to go for great food, warm weather, nice beaches and a warm vibrant community, all that comes across in this novel. This is the story of a group of friends who were there working on a vineyard during their uni holidays. Time has passed, they have families and settled down, or they have high flying jobs. Time as gone by, some keep in touch, some not so much. When a human hand is found under one of the friends houses it seems creepy but nothing to do with them, but as bodies start to mount up, threatening notes are left and generally things get creepier and nastier, there is cause for a great deal of concern. Something connected to their experience in their youth is putting them in grave danger. Things are getting very dark. This puts pressure on the team of two police officers, one of whom is best friends with a victim. I so enjoyed reading about the police officers, the young rookie and the sage older man.

It is a nicely complex mystery. I thought I had it figured out, then I didn't, ah ha I thought, got it, but no. Fooled again! I did figure it out in the end and was very satisfied with the red herrings laid and clever management of the reveal. This book is an excellent beginning to what I hope if a great crime writing career. If you like your crime novels nice and dark with some great gore, this'll make you very happy.

Thanks so much to the author who sent me a copy to review. I really enjoyed it and will look forward to the next one.

[Synøve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. Reads like a high school creative writing piece where excessive descriptive language is used to hit an arbitrary word count. Could've really used a good editor in parts. For example "...the soft leather couch sighed softly..." is crimes against literature and I'm pretty sure is outright illegal.

Also not a fan of the flagrant self-insertion by the author with regards to the character of Annika, whose marriage is (unsurprisingly) the only one not plagued with issues, and who is somehow much more capable an investigator than her cop husband...

I understand that if you're familiar with the Matakana area then it's fun to read about settings that you know. For those who aren't, this book is nowhere near as engaging.

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Σαν συμμετοχή σε διαγωνισμό γραφής που πήγε άκλαφτη. Αδιάφορο και χάσιμο χρόνου.

[Vicki Antipodean Bookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery and Lexi run Matakana Valley Vines and they’re about to head into their busiest harvest season yet. Life is busy with teenage children, running the vineyard, frustrating neighbours and their marriage is starting to suffer. One morning, the plumbing breaks down and when Avery goes to investigate the water pump under the house, he finds a severed human hand. As one of a group of four friends working in the wine industry, it’s a race against time to save Avery, his family and friends from an old and rather skilled adversary


I love supporting a kiwi author and I particularly love reading books set in places that I know, although I think if I found a dismembered hand underneath my house I might think twice about living there!! I really enjoyed the small-town feel of Matakana where everyone knows each other and the pharmacist to the publican lend a hand. Roll on book two Rings on Water

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only finished this book because I had to know who dunnit and why, and it was a quick read.
I found the writing style amateurish and there was far too much description of food, locations, what people were wearing, what they looked like, their surroundings, e.g. gardens and their overly detailed domestic arrangements, especially with their children. I felt no connection with the main characters. It irritated me that the setting of Matakana had to be real and even most of the cafes and other features of the town and surrounding area had their real names [it's a year or so since I was there but I recognized a lot of them] . This does not help the reader enter into what is a fictional story with rather a lot of horrible detail, it is not a real life murder story so why put so much real life into it?

And on another aside to this I could not believe there were so many police personnel available at a moment's notice in the Matakana, Warkworth area.

The plot was fairly well laid out and I didnt notice any glaring inconsistencies but my discomfort with the book is wondering why the perpetrator had to resort to murder about his gripe when blackmail or a kidnapping might have achieved the same thing and wondering why if he was such a psychotic character he hadnt had to have treatment or be in jail as it was many many years since the events that set him off his murderous rampage. There was a point where I nearly didnt carry on as it got gruesome and bloody but as I wasn't attached to the characters I managed to read on.

I did think there were inaccuracies e.g. iceberg roses and bougainvillea apparently being scented - but maybe the author has come across new varieties that do have a scent. There were some typos and spelling mistakes and possibly once a character was referred to by someone else's name but maybe I didn't read that part carefully enough. I skipped the descriptions after a while.

For most of the book there was another suspect who acted suspiciously but we have no real explanation about what he knew and why he acted the way he did - i.e. if he knew the identity of the killer why didnt he go to the police and stop the killing and captures? Ah well , I guess because that would end the story too soon.

Maybe more about this person will be revealed in part 2 or 3 , but I wont be reading them..

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treat to read a solid crime novel set in our own backyard. Blood on Vines was exactly what I hoped for, a twisty and dark, fast paced crime novel that’s full of recognisable places, and people, and things. Such a fun read, I am looking forward to the next in the series.

[Nicky Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with interesting characters and a who-dunnit mystery. What better place to set it in magical Matakana. Looking fwd to the next book in the series.

[Cheryl Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing that I want to rave most about this book is the setting. The beautiful area of Matakana is brought to life within it's pages, and is such a perfect place to set a thriller. I'm looking forward to meeting the characters again in the next book and seeing them develop with whatever terrifying deeds Eskedahl comes up with next in such an idyllic setting.

There was a part of the book that I thought was particularly clever in its subtlety in giving us the impression that the killer is truly evil, I'll say no more but this part of the story disturbed me far more than the other graphic violence in the book.

I love the cover, it sets the scene perfectly.

On a final note, be prepared, the delicious food described in the book will make you hungry!

[Vanessa Evetts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood on vines certainly grabs your attention on the first page with a gruesome murder. Madeleine Eskedahl does well to create a community that readers will care about as they journey through a turbulent, murderous season.

Personal taste comment: I would have preferred more intensity and attention given to the murderer/victim moments and a little less of the community building.

Great debut from a Kiwi Author and I'm looking forward to reading the second book of the series when it is released.

[Julie Schooler · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the violent prologue, this murder mystery was a slow burner for a while but you could almost taste the tension in the air amidst the lush wine country setting. I loved that this thriller was set locally, in Matakana, New Zealand but had a Scandi crime noir feel to it. I am slightly annoyed because as the story progressed, I couldn't put it down so read far too late into the night! Can't wait for the next book by this author.

[Hastings75 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome first novel.
Made even more enjoyable by purchasing it from the Matakana Bookshop and then reading whilst staying on a Matakana Vineyard!! Only way to do it! 😉😉😉
Will definitely be back for the second book!
#bloodonvines #thematakanaseries

[Therese Malcon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-paced crime fiction, with a beautiful setting in Matakana. Once you start this book you won't want to put it down. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Philippa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it needed more work before publishing.
The prologue drew me in - a grisly murder in Martinborough - but then chapter one almost spat me out, with its cliches (the dewdrops "sparkle like diamonds"), purple prose ("nut-brown tresses"), and awkward phrasing ("the soft yellow two-storey villa's crisp white trim"). I thought I'd walked into a second-rate romance novel. Chapter one was quite unnecessary - any scene setting or character introduction could have been incorporated organically into the following chapter, where the action starts.
The murder motive was flimsy, as were the characters. There's too much "telling" the reader things, and not enough "showing". For example, we're told that one of the police is Māori, but this doesn't seem to be further borne out in his speech or actions - felt tokenistic. This leads to psychic distance - the characters remain two-dimensional; I didn't relate to any of them except funnily enough, perhaps briefly for one of the lesser characters, James. I didn't care about any of the characters particularly, and didn't feel immersed in the story.
The saving grace of the book was that it did have pace and momentum, leading to an alarming climax, and I wanted to finish it to see what happened. I thought it was fairly obvious for a long time who was behind the murders, so no surprises for me there, although there was a bit of a twist near the end. I wanted more clues, more red herrings, more suspects (including some of the main characters), and I wanted to feel like I could see and understand things from at least one character's point of view. There were several point-of-view changes that I don't think were all necessary.
I was surprised that - given the title and ostensible setting of Matakana vineyards - there's very little about the actual vineyards themselves. I didn't get the sense of being there, of the burgeoning bunches of almost ripe grapes, the colours of the leaves. Were the vines netted against birds? Were there shelter belts? Rose bushes planted at the end of the rows? There could have been "hide and seek" among the vines!
Also, it may seem like a small thing, but the title "Blood on Vines" sounds wrong - either like shorthand, or like a non-native English speaker speaking. "Blood on the Vines" sounds more fluent - the definite article makes it more specific. Same goes for the publicised second novel coming: "Rings on Water".

[Johanna M Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prologue of this book throws the reader into the deep end of some very grisly goings on! A vivid depiction of a nightmarish end sets the scene well, defining the direction of the story in no uncertain terms. The first few chapters slow down a little, as scene setting and world building occur, giving a great sense of community and bringing realistic characters to life. A myriad of tiny and seemingly insignificant details merge to create a rich canvas on which the story will unfold. While the early part of the story seems quite a contrast to the prologue, there is much for the reader to observe and learn about Matakana and its inhabitants. The proverbial carrot on a stick is juicy enough that the reader is drawn into the more complicated web of events, eager to understand the bigger picture. As the story progresses, the pace increases rapidly, with delightful and shocking twists and turns. It seems obvious who the culprit is, until… it doesn’t! Just when the reader is convinced everything has fallen into place, another plot tangent emerges, making the second half of the book a real page turner. This book is a fantastic read, particularly from a debut author. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment. This is a recommended read!

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin with I would like to say a big thank you to @madeleineeskedahlauthor for sending me this fabulous book all the way to Australia.

✍️ This crime novel is set in picturesque New Zealand. The story starts off unanticipatedly when a wine maker is mercilessly murdered in Martinborough. We then fast forward to Matakana where we meet husband and wife duo Avery and Lexi who own a vineyard and abruptly come across a severed human hand at the back of their house. Thereafter, strange things start happening and four University friends are becoming targeted, harmed and frightened for their lives and families. Who is after them and what secrets lie between them?

At first glance I was a little worried that it may have been hard to get into this book however as soon as I started it I just couldn't put it down!! It was very gracefully written with an impressive storyline. I liked that the chapters were essentially short and the outstanding use of the vivid and fastidious narrative throughout. The plot was cleverly mastered and had me intrigued from start to finish. I loved reading about the quaint landscapes of New Zealand. I found the characters to be gripping and look forward to revisiting them again in the second book of the series. ✍️

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading for the usually peaceful setting of Matakana, north of Auckland and the friendly, family-oriented cop with his trusty side-kick, but this novel offers much, much more. A gruesome prologue sets the tone and this only increases the tension as the reader is left wondering how such dreadful events can happen in such idyllic surroundings.
Past actions, seemingly trivial, come back to haunt a small group of friends, all with busy, complicated lives, and the local police officer is suddenly handling (no pun intended!) the discovery of a severed hand under a home in the community. Finding its owner becomes a priority as it is unlikely the owner is alive. It isn't long before another death occurs. And the race is on to find the killer before he or she kills again.
A pacy tale of revenge!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid first outing from a NZ author. They have clearly done a lot of work profiling all their characters and locations, even if in the earlier stages of this book this did comes across as a bit of an info dump. Later locations are introduced with much more subtlety, still evoking a sense of place and giving us all the information we need for the story. It’s great to see a local setting (although the idea of Matakana as a hotbed of violence can stay fictional, thank you very much!) The writing in the last two-thirds of the book felt very natural and the pacing and flow was spot-on.

[Keri Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a New Zealander living in Denmark I loved that this book mixed the best (murders aside) of my two worlds with its references to both New Zealand and Scandinavia. And even though I'm normally a wimp when it comes to reading thrillers, I very much enjoyed Blood on Vines. Although i do admit to skimming the opening scene because as I said..I'm a wimp and this book really starts off with a hell of a bang that makes you grab the book quite tightly.

Looking forward to book number two in the series.

[Helen Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never considered reading a thriller but when I gave it a go I was pleasantly surprised. I live an hour from Matakana and it was lovely to read about places that were reasonably familiar. The characters are interesting and very believable. I don't normally like gruesome scenes but I skimmed over them safe in the knowledge it was all fiction. The book kept my attention and I wanted to pick it up again.

[Nikki Crutchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much to like about this debut by Madeleine Eskedahl. The unique Kiwi setting, a diverse range of characters and a fascinating plot line that kept me guessing to the end. I especially found the pace of the book great. There was a lot happening from different POVs which kept the pages turning for me. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Peter Newbon · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK , Peter gets murdered on page 1 and that’s my name. Loved the NZ feel and descriptions of food and surrounds. More importantly I was drawn into the characters and the whodunnit aspect. As an Australian it was a breath of fresh air reading it compared to my usual US fare. Well recommended

[Danielle Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed all the Matakana references, lovely characters (well, except for the ones who kill) and page-turning plot. Thank you for making dog-walking so much more pleasant!

[Ann Tuxford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read Madeleine!

[Stephen Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madeleine Eskedahl’s murder mystery, “Blood on Vines” is a thrilling mystery/suspense hooking you from the prologue and won’t let go until the end. This reader made intuitive guesses early on as to the actual criminal(s). The author cleverly disguised the answers until the surprising end. But on reflection, the author provides subtle hints along the way as to the true criminals and those set up for blame.


Four college buddies working a summer job in a NZ vineyards discover a fraud scheme that would create havoc to the winery, its owners and employees. Fast forward several years and the four college mates have gone their separate ways, faced their personal challenges, and then find themselves targets of revenge and deadly mayhem. The ensuing murders are graphic in nature but necessary to explain the criminal’s motivation and psychology. One of the novel’s best aspects was how the women became part of the investigation to identify the suspects and ensure justice. Without them, local and regional law enforcement would be stuck with a cold case.

The author introduces numerous characters and at times it seemed too many. But as the story progressed and their character traits revealed, they seamlessly integrated into the total picture. Each character was described in vivid terms enhancing the reading experience.

The scenery descriptions were authentic and reminded this reader of why he enjoyed the wine country in NZ. The author also wove in some Swedish culture that added value to the unfolding drama.

In conclusion, this novel is worthy of a film screenplay for a Netflix series. It combines the all the elements one could wish for - fast paced, escalating suspense, frequent plot twists and secrets, subtle clues, psycho-thriller, and best of all, wait for it… a surprising end.

[Casey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous debut novel from a talented nz author. I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline and the nz references.

A killer, a solid group of friends, some marriage challenges all while running businesses and raising kids.

I was lucky to borrow this book from my sister and will be looking out for the second book in the Matakana series!!!

[Carne Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving Madeleine's book 3.5 stars (even though clicking on the stars won't let me).

It is always good to find a book set in the country you live in. This story is good. The plot keeps you wanting to read more to discover what is happening. There are places where the writing, editing and proofreading could be tighter, but as I know, this comes with experience, and I have yet to read an error-free book (including mine).

I think the plot will intrigue crime readers; therefore, they will find this book favourable. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.

[Jack Spoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just a well-plotted, character driven mystery, this allows you to travel through the pages and enjoy the scenery of Matakana, NZ, which is as much a character as the people the reader gets to know. There is an obvious love for the country that leaps from the page. It's got an opening few lines that are hard to forget. Good work! Can't wait for the 2nd book in the series.

[Irene Cranstoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, it was intense and thrilling. Great characters and amazing locations, I couldn’t wait to read how things would end.

I am really looking forward to the next book!