I love these samplers! They are my favorite for learning about new books to look out for in the next few months!

Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur and Netgalley for this e-ARC Sampler which provides the first few chapters of some upcoming releases from Peter Blauner; Stacy Willingham; Anastasia Hastings; Juan Gómez-Jurado; Alex Finlay; Thomas Mullen. I loved, loved, loved this snapshot into so many great upcoming releases!

My reviews are in the order the stories appear and are as follows:

Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner; expected pub Jan 3, 2023
This is the story of a Grandfather writing to his Grandson who is struggling with his identity. The Grandson has suddenly left the US and his family to join the muslim fighters overseas. The method of letters between the 2 narrators setting up the following chapters works very well. I think this will be an interesting story where the Grandfather hopes to change the Grandson's mind about coming home to the US by telling the Grandson his life story in war times. This is one I will watch for!

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham; expected pub Jan 10, 2023
I am a HUGE Stacy Willingham fan after reading A Flicker in the Dark. I will definately be purchasing this novel about a mother trying to find who kidnapped her son using her own research and by speaking at true crime events to keep the case alive and open. I can tell this one will be fabulous!

Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings; expected pub Feb 7, 2023
This is a snippet of a historical fiction mystery where the Miss Hermione (think Dear Abbey) stand-in finding that the author of the letter she's responding to, of a new bride having difficulty with her marriage, has already died. I do like historical fiction and will watch for this one when published.

Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado; expected pub Mar 14, 2023
I received an e-ARC for this book so needless to say, I am excited about this one. This is based in Spain where an inspector has gotten himself into trouble when he gets caught setting up a drug dealer. He receives an unusual deal to make the charges and media coverage go away if he can get a certain woman into a car and on her way to resolving a specific crime. This one has really intrigued me so I plan to start it very soon!!

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay; expected pub Mar 7, 2023
This is about 5 people who grew up in a group home and committed a terrible crime when they lived together. Fast forward to today, where they are all adults, living their lives and being targeted one by one by an unknown source. Several are murdered and several escape. This is one that I will be purchasing!!!

Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen; expected pub Apr 4, 2023
This one reminded me of the Violence by Delilah Dawson. Basically the setting is post - the next plague which causes blindness in everyone. A device has been made available to everyone that restores their vision and then some. The story is about a sting operation to take down some drug dealers. At first I was unsure about this one but it quickly ramped up and I know I will be purchasing it.

I highly recommend all of these!

I seriously love these. Although, I’m not sure my TBR list, bank account or husband do. Such great sneak peeks and a lot of wonderful books

I loved this sampler. It gave me the opportunity to read an extract of several new novels and add some to my TBR list. I think I will add The Red queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado and Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings.
Thanks NeGalley and Minotaur book for the ARC

Blurbs are all well and good, But samplers are so much better. They are such a great way of getting a better understanding of a book that you may want to read. And as I found myself drawn in to several of the stories in The Minotaur Sampler, I can tell you that this is a particularly good one. I found Alex Finlay‘s What Have We Done, and Anastasia Hastings’ Of Manners and Murder particularly intriguing. So intriguing that at the end of each sample I was perturbed that I couldn’t read on! While not all were to my taste, I know that I will be recommending Peter Blauner's Picture in the Sand and Thomas Mullen‘s Blind Spot.

Source: NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 7 has given me just a taste of each book to see if it tickles my fancy.
All but one most certainly did. What amazing authors we have with such vivid imaginations.
Now to add my favorites on my to be read list!

This is a great way to sample some upcoming releases. It gives you more than just a small sample that you would get on Amazon or through blurbs. It got me excited about several books that I put them on my wishlist so that I can get them as soon as they are published.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for offering Volume 7. I love these samplers. A bit of six books to try is simply great. Not just any book either, all by good reliable authors - Finlay and Willingham to name just two. I liked all six snippets, but the two that interested me the most are The Red Queen and All the Dangerous Things. I’ve already requested them. Hoping for good reading and reviews.

Some really promising titles. I’m most excited about Stacy Willingham’s book, as I loved A Flicker in the Dark. Based on this preview, I think it will be a winner!

I really enjoy these samplers. Choosing books from blurbs is okay. But getting to read some of the book to get a feel for the style of the writing is a much better indicator of my future enjoyment of a book. After reading the beginnings of these stories, I decided that I would like them all and requested review copies.

Wow what a selection! I cannot wait for these books to come out! I’ve been looking forward to Alex Finlay and Stacy Willingham’s books since I finished their last one!

Such a solid collection. After loving a Flicker in the Dark, I'm most excited for All The Dangerous Things! Enjoyed this sampler and looking forward to these tittles release dates.

I always love these samplers because they open my eyes to authors I would otherwise not read. I enjoyed the 1-4 chapters that were shared within the sampler and I now have additional books to add to my wishlist for the holidays!!

Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur via Netgalley for this Sampler to read the first few chapters of some upcoming releases from Peter Blauner; Stacy Willingham; Anastasia Hastings; Juan Gómez-Jurado; Alex Finlay; Thomas Mullen.

My thoughts in the order the stories appear:

Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner; expected pub Jan 3, 2023
I think this will be a beautifully written story. I liked the writing style and descriptions provided in the first few chapters. I like the story layout being a Grandfather writing letters to his Grandson that suddenly left the family and country. The Grandfather hopes to change the Grandson's mind about coming home to America so he will be telling the grandson his life story. I may or may not grab this one upon release. It sounds good indeed.

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham; expected pub Jan 10, 2023
This seems like something I'd like to read. The premise that someone could survive an entire year without getting a long stretch of sleep is intriguing and I'd be interested to see how Izzy's story plays out. The aspect of her speaking at True Crime conventions/ etc is cool as I know there is a big interest in true crime podcasts these days.

Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings; expected pub Feb 7, 2023
This is first in a series
Admittedly I didn't think I'd get into this and that I'd end up skimming it. I didn't skim! I think I will like this story. It ends at the perfect moment with the Miss Hermione stand-in finding that the author of the letter she's investigating has already died. Was she murdered by one of the people alluded to in her last letter? Loved the descriptions and writing style. I tend to end up liking historical stories more than I think I will so I believe I will grab this story after release.

Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado; expected pub Mar 14, 2023
This is first in a series
This starts with readers finding out there is a police officer that has gotten himself into trouble -- he planted evidence for a pimp to be arrested for drug possession -- but he got caught. To clear this from his record he needs to convince a woman to get into a car with him. We know that there is a complex, mysterious crime this woman is needed to help investigate, but no one can seem to get her to leave her (very impersonal) home. I think this story seems great and something I'll definitely enjoy.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay; expected pub Mar 7, 2023
Definitely seems like a story I'll enjoy. This starts with a bang (literally, there is an explosion). The three main characters all have seriously stressful situations happen to them within the first few chapters. Can't wait to read this one.

Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen; expected pub Apr 4, 2023
The blurb for this one sounds really intriguing and interesting. I found myself drawn into the Mark Owens character and the story premise that there is a device people use to "see" after all losing their vision. I hope this will be a really interesting read and I'll be excited to dive into this story.

A fantastic selection of six new titles to sample - for me personally there were three standout novels;

All The Dangerous Things
I loved A Flicker In The Dark so this is the book that drew my attention to the sampler to start with. I am already so invested in this storyline. A missing child is always going to be an emotional and tense topic for a thriller, and I'm a huge fan of mixing in elements of true crime podcasts into a crime novel.

Red Queen
I hadn't heard anything about this trilogy or author before but I love translated crime fiction and what an opener! That short introduction to Antonia was all I needed to want to read on. I am so intrigued by the characters and I am desperate to find out what was waiting for them inside. I cannot wait to finish this book!

What Have We Done
You can't go wrong with Alex Finlay. I thought the storyline was really unique and the things that happened to each of the main characters were so unexpected. This seems like a fun read and a book I could race through in one night.

I love, love, love these samplers. I love being able to bounce between different voices. I love being able to imagine the setting and mood in which each of these books would appeal to me.

My favorite sample was Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner. A grandfather tells the story of his youth in Egypt in hopes of connecting with his U.S.-born grandson who has left home to join the armed jihad in Syria. The grandfather's voice is a delight to read: thoughtful and exact and empathetic. It's a voice I could listen to [read] all day long.

Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hasting is the first volume in an historical mystery series featuring a (s)hero who writes an agony column. The diction here is a perfect fit for the setting in 1885 London. The central character is brave, unconventional, and resourceful.

Finally, there's Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado introduces an exceptionally intelligent female detective who has refused both to leave her apartment and to engage in work as a detective after a personal trauma. The language here is quick and hard-boiled. I can already tell that this title will be a noir I'll have trouble putting down.

The Minotour Samples Vol. 7 took me by suprise. This book has 6 different samplers, roughly 2-4 chapters each, of heart racing, keeping you on the edge of your seat mystery thrillers. This gives you the chance to see if they are something that catches your attention. Samplers are so great for those of us looking for a next read. With so many options this lets us take a moment, read a few chapters and see which we enjoyed and want to continue reading.

My favorite sampler and the one I am eager to know what happens next are What have We Done by Alex Finlay and All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham.

A wonderful tool I enjoy and appreciative to help me decide which books I should order for our library.

It is no secret that I adore samplers. They are free and so helpful in making decisions about what to read next. In this latest one from Minotaur, there are excerpts from upcoming books by Peter Blauner; Stacy Willingham; Anastasia Hastings; Juan Gómez-Jurado; Alex Finlay; Thomas Mullen. There are definitely books that I want to read here.

One nice feature of this title is that readers can click to receive email updates on each of these authors. Great, never miss a book again! I also enjoyed reading the info on the authors; it is always fun to have a sense of who is writing what I want to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press-Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

To say I look forward to the Minotaur samplers would be an understatement. I get really excited for them and even search periodically to make sure I haven’t missed one! I know total nerd alert. But seriously, these are the best samplers. Excellent choices and they offer books that i likely wouldn’t have chosen on my own, which is one of the main reasons I like them so much. Sometimes those are the books that end up being my favorite so I am so grateful to have been introduced to books I otherwise might not have known about. The selection is always top knotch and does not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley for continuing to offer early opportunities to read these!