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Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. HTML: In this bare-knuckled adrenaline ride from New York Times bestselling author Erica Spindler, Alex Clarkson's worst nightmares are about to come true... A sinister, hooded figure... When Alexandra Clarkson starts having terrifying visions filled with blood and ceremonial images, she tries to find a rational explanation �?? maybe her mind is playing tricks on her, resurrecting creepy tableaux from her research on religious ceremonies and sects. But when Alex's mother, Patsy, commits suicide without leaving behind any information, Alex is left wondering: could she be haunted by something from the childhood she doesn't remember? Naked, writhing bodies... Detective Daniel Reed was the last person to speak to Patsy. What he reveals to Alex is shocking. Twenty-five years earlier, Patsy was married to Harlan Sommer, one of Sonoma County's most prominent vintners, when their infant son disappeared without a trace. The loss destroyed the Sommers' marriage, causing Patsy to leave and take Alex with her. A dead child... Called on to investigate the identity of a baby's remains unearthed in a Sonoma vineyard, Reed had picked up a trail that led him to Patsy in San Francisco. Now Reed and Alex both wonder if the cold bones could be her baby brother Dylan, and Alex decides to accompany Reed back to Sonoma for the investigation. No sooner does she arrive, however, than she is drawn deep into the search for a twisted killer...… (more)
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Blood Vines is about a woman, Alexandra Clarkson, trying to find out about her mother's life and their past. As Alex digs for information
I usually would not read this type of thriller. The story touches on ritualistic sacrifice/paganism and the like and this type of thing is usually off limits in my mind. I find that type of thing disturbing, distasteful and out of my comfort zone. I, however decided to give it a chance after reading the book jacket. I found that even though certain parts of the book made my skin crawl, they didn't taint the overall book enough to make me stop reading. As I said in the beginning, I will look into more of Mrs. Spindlers work in the future
The characters feel secondary, as if they've been placed there as accessories. I didn't find them particularly well developed or believable. Given the circumstances of Alex's upbringing and her impulsive decision to move to new area, she should have been, for the most part, an independent person. But she's often needy and unstable.
The plot is interesting and has some good twists. It also has a couple holes that were never filled in, and it sometimes feels forced.
Despite all this, there is no denying Spindler's storytelling ability. I just did not feel this story lived up to her ability.