This is my first book I have read by this author and the 5th in this series.
This is a excellent thriller that will please any mystery reader. I enjoyed the authors writing style and the fast pace of the book.
Cal Claxton left Los Angeles’ prosecutor office for the wine country of Oregon. His life is idyllic as he spends his time with his dog, visiting wineries and enjoyable time with his girlfriend. He does some pro bono work and as such takes on a case of a neighbor accused of murdering his wife The case takes on many different aspects quickly and mysteries as the two were co-owners in a business and his neighbor becomes suspect number one. The neighbor stands to lose his business if he is convicted
The characters are richly drawn, the pace of the writing is fast and the plot flows well with many surprises. As a avid mystery reader i enjoyed the many sub plots throughout the book.
This is a very enjoyable read and a fun thriller . I look forward to many more by the author.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

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!

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

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.