Thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Lana Burrell is a FBI agent in San Francisco who is sent to Napa after two women are killed. Lana grew up in Napa and hasn't been back in 20 years since her dad went to jail for allegedly killing Lana's best friend Jess. Fantastic audiobook that kept me wanting to keep listening. Some great characters and I hope to see more of Lana and especially Essie LaRue. Great debut and look forward to reading more from J.T. Falco in the future.

Excellent narration by Abigail Reno.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬

FBI Agent Lana Burrell was raised on a picturesque Napa Valley vineyard alongside her best friend Jess, until Jess was tragically murdered at the very place they once called home. Lana’s father was convicted of the crime and is serving a life sentence, but she has always believed he was innocent and has long sought the truth about what happened to Jess.

Though Lana chose her career with the FBI over the chance to clear her father’s name, when a new killer strikes in the Valley, she is drawn back to the case that has haunted her for years. Two women are found dead near the spot where Jess's body was discovered, forcing Lana to confront the painful past she tried to escape.

Now, working alongside the sheriff's office that imprisoned her father and reconnecting with the powerful family behind the region’s wine industry, Lana struggles with old resentments and personal distractions. As she uncovers evidence of a mysterious cult at the heart of Napa’s wine country, and a shadowy figure begins stalking her, Lana’s determination to solve the murders is overshadowed by a growing fear that she may be the next victim.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Wow, this one was a wild ride! The book was super fast-paced and twisty—I was hooked from the very beginning and ended up finishing it in just 24 hours. It’s one of those stories that totally pulls you in.
Lana, the main character, was such a strong and determined lead. I really enjoyed following her as she tried to solve the recent murders while uncovering connections to the past. There were so many secrets woven into the plot, and I definitely didn’t see that twist at the end coming! I have to say, the narrator did an awesome job too if you're into audiobooks.

Definitely recommend if you’re into twisty crime thrillers with lots of secrets and surprises. Just make sure to check for trigger warnings before diving in!

Thank You @Netgalley and @spotifyaudiobooks for allowing me to review this ALC.

FBI Agent Lana Burrell grew up on an idyllic Napa Valley vineyard with her best friend Jess–until Jess was murdered. Lana’s father is serving a life sentence for Jess’s murder, but Lana has always believed in his innocence. Lana gave up the chance to exonerate her father for a career with the FBI, but when a killer strikes the Valley again, those old wounds reopen and she grasps at the chance to solve the case that has haunted her entire life. Two women are slain near where Jess’s body was once found, and Lana is forced to revisit the site of the fraught childhood she tried to leave behind. And the investigation begins

I really loved and enjoyed the story! J. T. Falco did a great job! The story was interesting and engaged me until the very end!
Abigail Reno did a great job too narrating the book!

This one was just okay for me. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. It was a quick read which I appreciated, but I just couldn’t really connect with the characters or get fully into the story. Nothing particularly wrong with it, it just didn’t click with me. Might be a better fit for someone else

First of all, if you have any intimate knowledge of the FBI or any police department—this book is impossible. It just wouldn’t happen.

That being said, FBI agent Lana Burrell loses both her best friend Jess and her father when he’s convicted of Jess’s murder after a fire destroys a batch of wine Jess’s mother and her son (Lana’s boyfriend) were working on together.

Set in wine country, this thriller paints a shadowy version of Napa filled with twists and shocking revelations. The major reveal is disturbing and honestly, I’m glad it came so late in the book because I don’t think I could’ve stomached it any earlier. To give a trigger warning would ruin the story’s impact, so I’ll just say: go in with cautious eyes.

Lana is pretty annoying but so are most women in power when they’re written by men (especially men with a TV background). I couldn’t tell if the issue was the way she was written or the voice actor’s performance, but she grated on me enough that I almost stopped listening.
I’m glad I didn’t, though mainly because of the vivid descriptions of the wine, the vineyards, and the California landscape.

Still, the entire premise of an FBI agent investigating a case tied directly to her father’s conviction (and involving her ex-boyfriend’s family, her best friend’s murder, and the sheriff who put her dad away) is beyond unbelievable. Anyone with even a basic understanding of law enforcement knows that’s a massive conflict of interest. There’s no way she would’ve been allowed to work that case.

Wow I loved this! Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC of the audiobook.

This is a straightforward, solid mystery novel that really shines because of the unique setting of Napa wine country. If you like mysteries and you are looking for something thats the same, but different, you'll probably like this one. This book has just enough of other elements to set it apart - several interesting characters, backstory, wine knowledge, a cult, even a little tiny bit of romance. It's easy to follow with just enough twists to keep it interesting, and the ending wasn't obvious. Also, the audiobook narrator was superb. 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.

Also, this is a debut author, which makes it extra impressive! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for future works by JT Falco.

You know when you find a really good streaming series with a little drama, a little suspense, and a little romance? Add in a cult and the cutthroat business of Napa Valley. That's this book. I was thoroughly entertained and listened to it in just a few chunks. I'll look forward to more of Falco's books! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Blood On the Vine was an absolutely perfect suspense thriller. It was a police procedural which I love. It featured an FBI agent forced to return to Napa to investigate the murder of two young women – a place she swore she would never return to because of a teen age trauma, and a loveable and funny police detective who was new to the job but at 60 years old was full of wisdom and insight. Also front and center were feuding families, a possible cult based on ancient writings where drugs, wine and sex were the norm, and a fascinating look at the science of wine making. You will definitely be hooked by the prologue and will be fooled more than once as you try and figure out who killed Catherine and why.

This book definitely kept me on my toes! There are so many twists, and I legitimately had no idea what would unfold next as I was listening to this story. I enjoyed the character of FBI agent Lana Burell, but my favorite character by far was Essie LaRue, the sheriff deputy assigned to support Lana on the case. I think cults are fascinating, and I love a good twisty mystery, so this book was fun for me as a whole, though it's definitely dark, and has some upsetting content. All in all, I think it's a great pick for those who enjoy getting lost in psychological thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced audio book.

When FBI agent Lana Burell is sent to Napa Valley to follow up on two murders, she isn't excited. Napa is where she grew up with her dad and where her life fell apart after her dad was convicted of killing Lana's best friend. Now she'll need to confront her old demons in order to help solve these murders.

BLOOD ON THE VINE was a solid mystery/thriller that'll be great for a summer beach trip or a spring vacation. Lana is a compelling character to follow and while the details behind the death of her best friend more than a decade earlier get a little soft (in terms of how everything hangs together), the shock value is there.

Blood on the Vine is out April 22, 2025

"Lana Burrell grew up on an idyllic Napa Valley vineyard with her best friend Jess–until Jess mysteriously disappeared and Lana’s father was falsely accused of her murder. Over twenty years later, he’s still serving a life sentence, but Lana knows he’s innocent, just like she knows Jess’s real killer is still out there."

This debut novel from TV screenwriter and showrunner J.T. Falco is a glimpse into the inner machinations and fortunes of the people wrapped up in the Napa Valley wine machine.

Lana Burrell is sent to investigate two murders in the one place she never wanted to return to: the place where her high school best friend disappeared and where her father was arrested for her disappearance and likely murder. She doesn't want to confront the past but in order to solve the gruesome murders, she must.

So this is a pretty great story about a likeable detective and her fight against the past and for current justice. The story is interesting and engaging, with an unusual setting. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to Falco's next book!

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I really enjoyed this read and the descriptions of wine valley. This is one of the worst FBI agents? I will read their next book!

Ten stars for blood on the vine. This book is informative about wine country. It tugs at your heart of lost love ones. It is mysterious of who is killing these women. Highly recommended

This was a twisted sorry. If you like wine, rich people, cults, and serial killers then this book is for you. The narrator was great.