FBI agent Lana Burrell is forced to go back go her hometown for a series of murders. She’s surrounded by rich people who all seem rather guilty. Meanwhile, she’s dealing with the fact that they put her father in prison for the murder of her best friend 22 years ago.
This is very much a police procedural mystery. That being said, Lana makes a lot of questionable decisions.
I will say that I didn’t see the killer coming which always makes a book more enjoyable.
Overall 3/5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

I gave this a 3.5 but you don’t allow for half stars

I really did enjoy this thriller!! I give it a 3.5 but rounded up for Good reads .
Lana is an FBI agent who grew up in wine country. She gets called back home to solve a few murders but all things lead to her past ……

Blood On The Vine by T.J. Falco, this was a new author for me. FBI Agent Lana Burrell grew up in Napa Valley, but left there after her father was convicted of murdering her best friend and is sent to prison. Lana is determined to make something of her life, and years later she is a FBI agent that will be sent back to her old stomping grounds to find the killer of two young women. What follows is an action packed story line, that kept me turning the pages until the very end. I certainly would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this thriller! Full of fast-paced twists and turns I was hooked from the creepy prologue and didn't look back. And here's the deal; this book hits all of the high notes that you expect from a well written thriller: a broody main character, a stunning backdrop (Napa Valley), multiple suspects and motives to keep you guessing, a fascinating murder mystery. But it also had something extra special that I personally find elevates a book for me; something that in my experience isn't often done in thrillers...education. Knowledge. I learned so much about wine making, soil composition, and Napa when it was a small farming community and not catering to the rich. This one really was the complete package and I highly recommend it to thriller lovers!

Thank you to Crooked Lane for my advanced copy of this one!

A different murder mystery thriller set thriller in Napa Valley, California, featuring FBI agent, Lana Burrell, who is called upon to investigate the mysterious deaths of two women. Not only that her father is in jail for murder.

I loved this book except for the slow start and drawn out ending. The cork message was also odd, but plenty of wine making knowledge to balance this out. Yes, the middle part of the book was excellent with many twists and turns.

An enjoyable thriller, well worthy of 4 stars.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Lana reluctantly returns to the Napa Valley to investigate two similar murders. She'll have to face people she knew before her father was sent to prison for murdering her best friend Jess (which she never believed he did). Investigating the cases she'll be paired with a new officer (although in her sixties) who knows everyone and everything that happens in town and will provide the attention Lana craved after losing her mother to cancer. The investigation will uncover secrets, a cult, will provide Lana with an unexpected ally, the town's sheriff, and will rekindle her relationship with her father. The story has an unexpected end that will provide closure for many in town. Blood on the Vine is fast-paced, with mystery and lots of action and is written with humor. Great entertainment!
I thank Mr. Falco, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.5 overall!

This thriller is going to be perfect for summer! It has murder, cults, and of course, plenty of wine. From the first chapter alone I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. I loved Lana she was such a badass and her field agent Essie had me laughing, their partnership was wonderful. I really enjoyed the mixed media that was sprinkled throughout and how it tied in with the overall story. There are so many twists and turns I loved seeing how it all connected and came together at the end. I also learned so much about wine and everything that goes into making it, which was a lovely plus.

Overall, I highly recommend this thriller to anyone who loves cults, police procedurals, and wine!

It's evident from the pacing of Blood on the Vine that J,T. Falco has a background in screenwriting, because this book would be a great series/movie. Lana is a gritty, well-constructed character that I think would translate well to the big screen. Blood on the Vine is a strong debut, and I'm looking forward to whatever J.T. Falco is working on next!

Lana Burrell grew up in Napa Valley and hasn’t looked back after leaving. Now an FBI agent she’s called into an investigation following the murder of two young women in the wine country. Lana has no desire to return, but after being assigned to the case devastating memories of the past resurface. With some big names in the wine industry high on the suspect list, Lana delves in deep and if she’s not careful, she’ll be the next victim. The storyline started out intriguing, but I didn’t care for the direction it ended up taking and it seemed a bit far fetched to be believable. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was a twisty, bonkers, and surprisingly fun read!

I really think you should just go into this one blind and enjoy the ride!

You won't regret it.

Thank you to Netgalley, JT Falco, and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced copy.

This thriller contains fast-paced twists and turns, starting from the prologue. It includes elements typical of a well-written thriller: a broody main character, a Napa Valley backdrop, multiple suspects and motives, and a murder mystery. Additionally, it provides information on wine making, soil composition, and Napa's history as a farming community. This book is recommended for thriller enthusiasts due to its comprehensive package of suspense and educational content.

Thank you to Crooked Lane for the advanced copy.

Happy #pubday to @joey_t_falco and his novel, Blood on the Vine! I saw @jordys.book.club recommend this one and I immediately went to @netgalley to request it 😆. Thank you @crookedlanebooks for the ARC!

Our main character, Lana, grew up in the Napa Valley with her father until her high school best friend, from a prominent wine-making family, is murdered…and her father goes away to prison for life for the crime. Twenty years later, Lana is an FBI agent living in San Francisco until the two bodies of young girls are found in Napa and she is summoned back to her hometown to help solve the case while simultaneously trying to clear her father’s name.

In short, I loved this! It was a fantastic thriller with great pacing, many twists and turns, and was a wild ride. Apart from it just being a great thriller, I LOVED the Napa Valley setting! We live about an hour away, frequent wine country regularly, and love wine (I want to get my somm certification and work in a tasting room as my retirement career one day!). All the tidbits about people and places in the valley, the “cult” of biodynamic winemaking, and just the beautiful but eerie setting was just the icing on the cake for this thriller. Highly recommend and would love to see this made into a series!

I really enjoyed this classic murder mystery thriller with some cult vibes set in Napa Valley, California amongst the grapevines and winemakers of the region. I spent a lot of time in California wine country when I lived in San Francisco, so I enjoyed reading a book in a familiar setting. I liked the main character with her rough edges and the book kept me guessing - I really did not see the identity of the killer coming until the last minute. Would definitely recommend to any mystery-lovers out there!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the eARC!

It's gripping me!
.
Set in Napa Valley, renowned for its premium wines, the narrative centers on the discovery of two female homicide victims. This makes Lana Burrel who raised in Napa Valley, to return to her childhood home, a place where her father was wrongly accused of murdering her best friend, Jess. Upon her arrival, Lana encounters a mysterious stalker, rumors of a dangerous cult, and a disturbing connection between the recent murders and her friend's unsolved case.
.
The fast-paced and captivating plot immediately draws the reader in. This crime thriller and police procedural, brimming with suspense, action, and multiple suspects, maintains a high level of engagement. The intricate plot unfolds smoothly, showcasing Lana's fierce determination to solve the murders and uncover links to the past. The story is rich with secrets. powerful families. vineyards. murders. trauma. a cult. drug. While the ending feels somewhat abrupt, leaving the fates of Lana's father unresolved, it leaves me wanting more..

I was so excited to read Blood on the Vine by J. T. Falco.
What a compelling read! This thrilling book was utterly impossible to put down and as the conclusion reached a crescendo.
Such a well paced and suspenseful book! The twists were believable and not predictable.
It had excellent writing and a fascinating plot.
Blood on the Vine is a book which kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

Blood In The Vine is a captivating,  thrilling and very twisty murder mystery with several murders that need to be solved.
💫💫💫💫💫

FBI Agent Lana Burrell is tough, determined and unconventional. That is why she is sent to Napa Valley to help with the murder of two women. Lana is hesitant to go back, it is the place where her best friend was killed but her body was never found and where her father was framed for her murder. Lana will be caught in a web of lies, deceit, guarded deadly secrets, a powerful family and even a sex cult!

A must read that will keep you at the edge of your seat and you won't see the killer coming!


Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, I loved this book!

Ahhhhh!!! This was such a great twisty thriller! &&&& I DID NOT see that twist coming!

Set up in the beautiful Napa Valley, Blood on the Vine, follows FBI agent, Lana Burrell, she finds herself headed back home when two women are found murdered. Only problem is...she hasn’t been back since her best friend was killed & her father was arrested!

I absolutely loved the setting of this book. Napa Valley is so beautiful & I loved the insight into the wine making industry…almost as much as I love drinking it! I was hooked from the start…they had me at FBI hunting a serial killer!

J.T. Falco’s Blood on the Vine is a darkly twisted thriller that grabs the reader by the throat and doesn’t let go. From the very first page, the novel pulses with a sense of unease, as multiple storylines snake their way through a labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and bloodshed.

What begins as a tangled web of seemingly disconnected events quickly evolves into a tightly wound narrative that barrels toward an explosive climax. Falco masterfully juggles numerous characters and plot threads, and while the sheer number of twists and revelations might leave some readers breathless, it’s all part of the book’s wicked charm. Every detail matters, and each turn of the page brings new consequences, culminating in an eruption of violence and truth that leaves both characters and readers reeling.

The strength of Blood on the Vine lies in its ability to maintain suspense while peeling back layers of deception. Falco doesn’t shy away from the psychological or the grotesque, pushing the boundaries of what we expect from crime fiction. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s really going on, the ground shifts again.

This is not a book for the faint of heart, but for readers who enjoy intricate plots, morally ambiguous characters, and a narrative that dares to shock, Blood on the Vine delivers a wild, unforgettable ride. Falco has crafted a story that feels like a slow burn until it explodes in a finale that will leave your head spinning.

This is a captivating thriller set in Napa Valley. It features FBI agent, Lana Burrell, who is called upon to investigate the mysterious deaths of two women. The catch is, these murders have taken place near where her best friend was killed years before. And, did I mention, her father was imprisoned for that murder?

There are lots of twists and turns and high stakes to jeep the story engaging. However, there were some erotic scenes that I could have done without and didn’t think added much to the story. Also, there is some difficult subject matter to contend with.

Overall, it’s a thriller worth a read. 3.75 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC

2.5 Stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this fast-paced, intense, and suspenseful debut thriller by J. T. Falco. The plot was well-organized, and it shows that he is a promising author. The Napa Valley setting was lush and atmospheric.

I disliked the protagonist Lana Burrell. Almost all female investigators are portrayed with emotional problems. I have rarely read one where the female detective seems well-adjusted. Lana has many issues that linger from her past. She is introverted and relies on alcohol and sex for distractions. I found her to be rude and crude. I am not against swearing in a story, but it should be used rarely for shock and emphasis. I found the overuse of profanity annoying and added nothing to the story.

Lana is a determined and dedicated detective when she focuses on an investigation. About twenty years earlier, she lived in Napa Valley with her father, who worked in wine production. Her best friend was Jess, Holly's daughter, from one of the wealthiest wine families. Her boyfriend was Jonah, Jess's brother. Jess was murdered, and a foreign grape picker was also found dead. All attention was on Jess's death. Lana's father was accused and convicted of her friend's murder and is serving a life sentence in prison. She moved away to San Francisco while still a teenager to distance herself from the painful memories. Lana never believed her father was guilty, but her visits to him decreased. She trained to become a successful FBI agent.

She has returned to the Napa Valley and finds the assignment stressful. Two women have been killed in an identical manner. Is there a serial killer, and are more women at risk? Can these murders be connected with Jess's death long ago?

Lana is to partner with Essie from the sheriff's department that sent her father to prison. Essie is about age 60 and recently trained in the police academy. Her boss, Sheriff McKee, admits to Lana that he is beginning to doubt her father's guilt. The motherly Essie keeps Lana focused and grounded on the current murder investigation. Lana must deal with the manipulative Holly, the mother of her dead friend, Jess, and her former boyfriend, Jonah. Years ago, Holly warned Lana to stay away from Jonah. Jonah is now married and partnered in a wine business with a man Lana finds instantly attractive. Distracting sex scenes follow.
Lana learns that Holly and other major wine producers are members of a strange cult related to an esoteric spiritual movement. She observes them branding a new initiate, a step in joining the group. Holly says it is not a cult, but "a church for slutty wine -loving mystics". Can they be involved with the murders?

Lana is being stalked by a mysterious stranger, and worries that she may be the next victim. The solution to the mystery of Jess's terrible secret before her death is revealed in a disturbing, heartbreaking video. Later, a letter from Holly explains everything.
The ending is action-packed and frightening. Although there were many suspects in the crimes, the killer was unexpected. Does Lana have sufficient information to have her father released from prison?
The book is due to be published on April 25/2025.