Blood On Vines, the thrilling new crime novel set right here in Matakana has hit shelves, and it’s a gripping read. 

Blood on Vines is the debut novel from author Madeleine Eskedahl, and it explores the lives of four friends with a shared past, and a common enemy.

In New Zealand’s Martinborough, an ex-wine maker is murdered. The precise planning and execution by the unknown assailant begins a series of vile attacks. Meanwhile, north of Auckland, the long, hot summer is over and the tourists have left the Matakana wine country. A tranquil atmosphere descends, and warm autumnal winds sweep across the grape-laden valleys. With the harvest due, grapes sit bursting upon the manicured vines awaiting the pick. Within this vista of peace, a rampage of death is about to rock the local community to its core.

Blood on Vines is Madeleine's first novel, but she has always been a writer, especially stories for her daughters when they were small. 

She chose Matakana as the setting for Blood on Vines as it is such an incredible area, one that no author has yet utilised as a setting. The landscape itself is rich, with the rolling hills, stunning vineyards and quaint little village, and the diverse mix of people who call the area home all come together to make for the perfect setting. The seemingly perfect exterior also makes the darkness under the surface that we see in Blood On Vines that much more shocking, drawing the reader in. 

Blood on Vines has been in the works for around three years, and Madeleine used last year's lockdown as a chance to pull everything together and send the book to be published. “I tormented my friends and family with questions about the book, so I’m sure they’re relieved its finally finished”, she laughs.

So far, the reception to Blood On Vines has been overwhelmingly positive. The book launch held a few weekends ago went wonderfully.

Madeleine at The Matakana Village Bookshop Signing over the weekend. Photo Instagram

“Mike from the Vintry and the ladies from Matakana Village Bookshop have been amazing! It's been a real community project. It was really humbling to see all the people that came to the launch. I had to take a step back and take a mental snapshot so I would remember it,” says Madeleine.

Her second book in the Matakana series, Rings On Water, is set to come out early next year, and will include some of the characters we see in Blood On Vines. Local law enforcement officer, Bill, returns and we get to know more about his past, along with his partner Niko who is dragged back to Matakana when a body washes up on Tawharanui Beach. Rings On Water is set in winter, so we see the slower paced Matakana, when all the holiday makers have left the area.