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!
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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.
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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.

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.