Ahhhh - I loved this book! The perfect crime mystery. I enjoyed that the main investigator was FBI rather than local police. The story of her going back to her hometown as an agent to investigate was top notch. And - spoiler alert - the guilty party is not who you think it is!

3-Star Review: Blood on the Vine

I was pleasantly surprised by Blood on the Vine. Going in, I expected a run-of-the-mill thriller, but what I got was something much more unique. The storyline took some unexpected turns, and the originality of the plot really stood out. While it didn’t quite blow me away, it was a refreshing change from the usual formula and definitely worth a read for anyone looking for something a little different in the thriller genre.

Blood on the Vine by J.T. Falco  is a crime mystery novel about women being slain in the Napa Valley.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
FBI Agent Lana Burrell returns to the Napa Valley when two young women are viciously killed near the vineyard where she grew up, and where she had vowed never to return. 

Over two decades ago, Lana's best friend, Jess Bancroft, disappeared, and Lana's father is still serving a life sentence in San Quentin for her murder.  Lana has always felt he was framed.

So Lana returns to the area to find that Jess's Mom is still owner of one of the biggest vineyard's in the area, but she is hiding something.  Lana finds the whole area changed, with an undercurrent of darkness that she doesn't remember from her youth.

The same Sheriff that railroaded Lana's father is still there, and so are a number of other players, but there is something else going on, and Lana finds herself in the line of fire.




My Opinions:
First, I am so sick of authors making their female protagonist (usually a detective) solve all their problems with alcohol.  Talk about an over-used trope.  Most of the male authors make the women having sex with men they just meet.  And here we go again....  So, unless you try feeling sorry for her,  it is almost impossible to actually like the protagonist.

I did find the book a little overly detailed at times, and found myself skimming parts about the wine industry, and about the history of some of the historical characters, like Steiner.  So if I am skimming, I am not enjoying....

It started off a little slow, but eventually the pace picked up.  Character wise, I loved Essie.  She was wonderful.

The actual plot was quite good. There were enough suspects to make me question and change my choices quite often, so that kept things interesting.

Overall, it wasn't bad for a debut novel, and I will watch this author.

Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for an eARC ❤️❤️❤️

That’s what chilled me most about this story—how Napa’s sun-soaked rows of grapes, postcard-perfect to tourists, cradle decades of bloodstains and whispered horrors.😳Lana Burrell knows this better than anyone. The valley made her, then broke her: her father rotting in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, her best friend Jess swallowed by the earth like a bad vintage poured down a drain.

Now an FBI agent, Lana’s the kind of woman who stares down killers without flinching—until two fresh murders crack open the past like a barrel of spoiled wine. The crime scenes are grotesque theater, echoes of that long-ago nightmare. Worse? Someone’s watching her. Not just watching—*remembering*. The valley’s most powerful family smiles with veneered teeth at charity galas while their hired hands dig in the dirt. And then there’s Essie, Lana’s human knife of a colleague, slicing through pretense with one-liners sharper than a sommelier’s corkscrew.

Here’s the truth this book seared into me: terroir isn’t just about soil and climate. It’s the tang of copper in the roots, the way trauma ferments across generations. The finale didn’t just surprise me—it *gutted* me, a reveal so brutal I actually checked my own door locks afterward. 🫣

“Blood on the Vine” a debut novel from TV writer and showrunner J.T. Falco, is the story of FBI Agent Lana Burrell and her quest to get to the bottom of the murders of two unrelated women in Napa Valley, while also hopefully proving her father innocent of the murder of her childhood best friend. Phew, that’s a lot going on, right?

This book was slow to start for me, and Lana was tough to get a read on, but once I hit the 20% mark I was into it. The cast of characters in this book will keep you on your toes. I especially enjoyed newly minted Sherrif’s Deputy Essie Leroux, Lana’s senior citizen sidekick on this case. There was also a secret cult storyline, and a romance, and a lot of fun facts about wine making that made this book feel different than a lot of other mysteries. And what an ending! Didn’t see it coming at all!

If you like wine and mysteries, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. Would make for a great quick summer vacation long weekend read.

This was the right amount of tension, mystery and trawling through the tendrils of the past in such a flourishing landscape. This was the perfect balance for hostility and anxiety: the lushness of the vineyards, the richness of the fertile soil, and the depth of sinisterness in the unfolding story.
Lana’s connection to this investigation was still quite raw, even though the events of the past were years ago when her best friend Jess died. We can see that she was an expert as an investigator. Her eye for detail was wide and clear, and not a lot seemed to miss her attention. The trouble was that coming back to the Napa Valley would open a lot of wounds that she would need to keep in check to maintain her objectivity, including reuniting with people from her past that she just could not seem to trust. I loved the fact that her sixth sense was on overdrive, and the things that didn’t sit right with her were they pay off as she moved closer and closer to solving the recent murders. There was a little bit of comic relief in Essie, deputy in charge who worked in parallel to Lana (because Lana preferred to always work alone), with home baked muffins to win Lana over. Their banter and cross overs worked really well, with enough space for them to shine as characters on their own, and add value when they were working in tandem.
There was a rawness and honesty to Lana’s story, and I think that this led to the discovery of so much innocence lost when all the pieces started to fit together. It was distinct in the reuniting of Lana and her father, in prison accused of a murder she knows he did not commit. It was also in the space where Lana and Jonah, Jess’ brother reconnected. This is the kind of story where you are wondering what will happen next, there’s a skilful level of writing here to keep the tension simmering away through all of the police procedural details. Lana and Essie have to trawl through a number of potential suspects in a short amount of time, and the way in which they undertake this is also well practiced. These characters are well crafted and elaborate as equally as the storyline. This is how I like my psychological thrillers !

This one sounded like a perfect vacation book - a twisty thriller set in wine country. Unfortunately I had a hard time with this one. The main character was very unlikable and the plot was a bit too far fetched for me. I think many will enjoy this boo, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Spotify Audio for my gifted ALC! And thank you to Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy!

Blood on the Vine was lusciously atmospheric. It’s exactly what I wanted, a glimpse into wine country. But, I guess with a little bit more culty drama than I expected. That said, I enjoyed it even if I had to get adjusted to the type of FBI agent Lana was. She gave Elle Woods from Legally Blonde vibes. There is nothing wrong with that - I just expected her to be like Agent Lee Harker from Longlegs, or Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs. Buttoned up, stern, serious, voracious. So it took a little bit of mental gymnastics to change that image of my head to somebody more bubbly. This book was full of some solid sleuthing and twists. I was genuinely surprised by whodunit in the end. I definitely would recommend this as a good popcorn thriller!

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!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

A former resident of Napa Valley, FBI agent Lana Burrell, returns over twenty years later to investigate what may be a situation with an active serial killer. The complications in returning involve the case of her father who is in prison for killing her best friend Jess many years ago at a Napa Valley vineyard. Returning to the area after being gone for years mean Lana must face her memories but she will also have insight into the area and the residents. Once there, Lana notices a man who is following her and she has questions if a cult might be involved.

I originally gave this 4/5⭐️ but as I continue to think about the book, I love it even more, so maybe it’s more of a 4.5/5 ⭐️ as I genuinely had no idea which way the book was headed.

The author drops subtle clues throughout the book of “who dun it,” but I did not catch them at the time until closer to the reveal. The book pulls in high profile people, politicians and vineyard owners, guests of the vineyard, and long time Napa residents who’ve seen the valley change over the years. There’s police interviews, a potential cult, lavish parties, and more.

How the book ended truly wrapped up all of the pieces of the puzzle and I never saw it coming. Now don’t get me wrong, we went in some bizarre directions, but it all makes sense in the end!

I didn't love this one as much as I was anticipating. However, it was a quick read and I still liked the twists and suspense.

Lana discovers there is something to be said for going home again no matter how painful. Now an FBI SA, she's struggled with knowing that her father did not kill her friend Jess and with the fact that he's in prison. She's tapped when there are murders in the Napa Valley and as it turns out, she discovers information no one knew. This is a familiar plot line but Falco has done a good job with her protagonist and the atmospherics. And there's good twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This thriller was near perfect. Wine country, good characters, romance, cult vibes, murder, all the things, I thought this was really well written and extremely enjoyable!

Okay, so let's get the obvious out of the way: this story was definitely written in a manner to make it transferrable to the screen. Not saying that is a bad thing, but it does impact the presentation. Second, I want this to be the start of a series. FBI agent Lana Burrell is a great character! I think this book probably cleared up too much of her past for it to start a series, but a girl can hope, right? In response to her dad being found guilty of killing her own best friend, Lana has a chip on her shoulder for most of the people back in her home town. When forced to go investigate other murders in the same Napa Valley wine town, she uncovers a lot more than she could ever have imagined. The action kept me turning the pages and trying to guess what happened next. A thoroughly wild ride of a read!

Blood on the Vine is a twisty thriller set in Napa Valley, full of murder, dark secrets, generational trauma, and struggles of power within a wealthy family-owned vineyard. When Lana Burrell, a FBI detective, is tasked to return to her childhood home at Napa Valley to investigate the grisly murders of two women last seen at Golden Eagle Winery, she must also face the powerful Bancroft family. The Bancroft family built an empire from their family-owned vineyard in Napa Valley, with the two founding brothers’ families eventually splitting into two separate factions, a long-standing feud between both. Lana is no stranger to the inner workings of the Bancroft family. Her father worked for Holly Bancroft, one of the present-day owners, and went to prison after Jessica, Holly’s daughter and Lana’s best friend, went missing years ago. Not to mention that Jonah Bancroft, Holly's son, was her first love.

As Lana steps back into the wealth and inner workings of the Bancroft dynasty to investigate the murders, long-hidden ties to secretive societies and cult-like rituals begin to emerge. As she confronts her traumatic past and faces Jonah and Holly, she also begins to investigate Jessica’s disappearance all those years ago, wondering if all of these women are somehow linked. Lana knows that the Bancroft family’s influence runs deep, with ties to powerful people. And the more she uncovers, the more danger she finds herself in.

This was a fast-paced thriller that was hard to put down! I loved the setting in Napa Valley, and I would love to visit there someday. The author discusses winemaking in-depth, and I enjoyed learning more about the entire process. I also liked Lana’s character and her portrayal. She’s blunt and honest in a refreshing way, and I enjoyed her development throughout the novel. I will say that although I somewhat suspected the twist, I was shocked and unsettled when it was eventually revealed. Some details were very hard to read and can be triggering. I highly encourage readers to view the content warnings before reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this gifted eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review Blood on the Vine by J.T. Falco. All opinions are my own.

Lana Burrell is from wine country and grew up really fast when her father was sent to prison for the death of her best friend Jess. She left that behind and eventually started a career with the FBI. Lana is asked to return to the same town twenty years later to help solve the murders of two woman with suspected ritualistic characteristics present.

I loved this story. I enjoyed the mixed media that was spread throughout the book as well as all the different characters. Wine lovers will also appreciate all the information about wine and wine making. I liked the fact that the explanations from the detective work was very plausible and not outlandish like some thrillers. I enjoyed the setting, characters, plot, and ending of the book very much. It kept me in the dark of the culprit for much longer than usual. I could easily see Lana's FBI character go on to solve other mysteries. Blood on the Vine will be available on April 22 to purchase at all major book retailers. Happy Reading!!

Hm, my initial impression is…bored. I didn’t feel like the prologue was especially tense or unique and I also don’t feel like Lana has any real interesting personality. She seems pretty cliche, unfortunately. In general, everything seems a bit cliche - the writing style, the characters. I guess I just didn’t really manage to immerse myself in the thriller. The setting is interesting enough but that didn’t tip the scales for me towards excitement. All in all, it felt a bit too much like a drag.

Blood on the Vine by J.T. Falco

Excellent ~ Couldn’t put it down!

What I Liked:
* Lana Burrell: FBI Agent, lost her mother when young, Father in prison for life, focused on work, tenacious, bright, problem solver, somewhat closed off at first, attracted to Caleb
* Essie Leroux: Sheriff’s Deputy, married, older, baker, talker, wise, paired with Lana on the case
* Caleb Roche: winery owner and wine maker, a bit quirky, open, honest, attracted to Lana
* The location in Napa wine country
* The twisty plot with more than one new and old murder mystery to be solved
* The plot and pacing with great story telling
* The relationship between Lana and her husband and how the connected
* The way the threads of the story all wove together through the story and were tied up neatly by the end
* Finding out who the murderer was and glad that they were caught
* Learning about biodynamic farming – the history of it, the part it played in the story, and the tie-in to Mystica Aeterna group
* The hopeful ending with so much to look forward to
* Reading a new author and loving his work

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about wealthy families and their sense of entitlement
* Not being able to tell you everything I liked about the story for fear of giving something away ;)

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is m y honest review. .

5 Stars

Impressive debut thriller!

After Lana Burrell’s high school best friend, Jess, disappears and is assumed to be murdered. Lana’s dad is convicted of the crime and is spending the rest of his life in prison. Lana went on to become an FBI agent and she is called back home to Napa Valley when two more girls are found dead surrounding very bizarre circumstances.

Could these murders be connected to Jess’s disappearance? Has the killer been loose all these years? Is her dad actually innocent? Lana will discover that the wine country she thought she knew is full of deep dark secrets involving some very powerful people. And the shocking answers she finds just could cost her everything.

This story is everything a thriller lover is looking for: intricately plotted with ZERO fluff; every twist and turn propels the plot line, it contains a captivating murder mystery to solve, nail biting suspense, complex characters to either loathe or root for, and a shocking but satisfying ending leaving the reader breathless and a little sad it’s over. This is definitely an author to watch and I can’t wait to read what he writes next!

Thank you Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on April 22, 2025

Wow! Loved it. As an avid thriller/mystery reader I sometimes find that the stories start to sound familiar, follow the same pattern, etc. This one was not that. The murder mystery element, with a strong female lead, and a fun and interesting backdrop was the perfect combo. I was hooked from the start, entertained throughout, and did not predict that ending!