This is my favorite sampler to read. I look forward to it every time it comes out as I find new authors to read. This sampler is great. I found myself wanting all of the books this time — I really do, There are seven mysteries. They each come with a short “appetizer” in front of the sample.

These samplers are great for getting a sneak leak inside books before deciding if these books are ones you would request.

I have just finished reading the Minotaur sampler provided to me at work for free four review by All thoughts? And opinions written Are my own and I did not receive any compensation whatsoever for this review.
Since this book contains many stories. I'm breaking up this review by story

Story one: The Lost house
By Melissa Larsen

When I Finished reading the small excerpt from The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
And the small bit of the story that I was able to read covers The disappearance of another girl in addition to the murder of the main characters, grandmother and babby would be aunt . The main character Agnes is trying to clear her grandfather's name of the murder of his wife and child. With the help of a true crime podcaster
Many mysteries surround this family. Not sure if more more of the story will be revealed later in the book. Pat, I'm a little bit disappointed that I wasn't given more to go on for a review of the book

story2: she doesn't have a clue

By Jenny Elder Make

Kate is a mystery writer trying to finish her book by its deadline. And strangely attending her ex-fiance's wedding (Spencer) . Jake (who Kate still has feelings for). is another one of her exes. They are both attending this wedding. I almost get the feeling that Kate has too many exes so early on in this story. I find this disappointing and a little bit. Tacky as if the author couldn't find another reason and then to say that maybe he wasn't supposed to be there at all for the male character to be there, do they all have to be Kate's ex's? At this wedding there is a murder somewhat matching the plot of Kate's latest book. But I feel like she's making it do that because that's how she writes her books. Already I am finding it difficult to differentiate from the story told here and the story written by Kate, that is being told at the same time it's almost making me dizzy. So to finish this excerpt, there are many foreshadowing that allude to the standard murder mystery tropes. It turns out that the lady of the House of this very rich family has many enemies and probably skeletons in their closet as well.

Even The author only shares with us the beginning of the story in this body of work and it's supposed to wet the raiders appetite for more, just like the story before it. I have to say this one did not do that for me. I'm actually glad I didn't have to read the whole book.

Story 3 : Head cases

by Johnny McMahon

In this story, detective Cannon is part of a special patterns and recognitions department of the FBI and is brought in to solve a case involving a serial killer that it's supposed to already be dead.
This story feels a little bit like the show. Monk because the guy seems to have some mental peculiarities but nothing extreme. It is easy for him to memorize things and notice details and he picks up on things that others would not, much like Monk. His partner and his mother also help him in his work. This book feels a little like I mashup between Monk and Dexter, a serial killer, killing serial killers and someone like Monk to solve the case.There are clues to this case that only someone from Police bureau would know like the baseball score used as an alibi by the killer in the past I and then there's this new kid joining the team fresh out of academy who actually requested to work with the agency, no one had requested to work with them before fresh out of school.

This is definitely the type of murder mystery that I would enjoy reading. I enjoyed both Dexter and monk in the past and to have them both mash together like this, but also this story different enough to definitely be its own creation I would definitely check out the full manuscript given the chance.

Story 4: something in the walls
By, Daisy Pierce

Mina is weaving over her brother who passed away. Her parents seem to be behaving strangely after his death. She goes to a grief group many years after he passes away and she finds someone named Sam there that invites her to help two sisters who think they have a witch in their walls. So far this book is hard to follow because it feels like Mina is starting to cheat on her fiance already at least emotionally. It is very possible that her fiance is also doing the same thing with a colleague of his from work. Mina goes to interview. Sam in a cafe and she finds out something that scares her.
From the very beginning of the story, I find it hard to follow and I don't think I would continue to read this book even if I had the full manuscript. There are some intriguing parts but not enough to get me really interested in purchasing the book

Story 5: The splinter effect
By Andrew Ludington

Rabbit is a time traveling. Archaeologist that's sent to retrieve artifacts and bring them back to the present. There's an American woman that seems to be following rabbit wherever he time travels to, to complete an assignment and stealing the artifacts from him or destroying them. Robin also has to face the loss of someone. He was mentoring the son of his biggest sponsor. It does make me wonder though if this book is a sequel or if there's going to be a prequel or something. I think something like that would make it easier.
This one leaves me. Not really sure if I would want to continue it. It has the feel of Indiana Jones with a modern twist and a little bit of sci-fi thrown in for good measure.

Story 6: I would die for you
By Sandie Jones

The main character Nicole a. Wildlife preservist and activist has to revisit her past when her 6-year-old daughter goes missing. It also has to do somewhat with her younger sister Cassie who is jealous of Nicole at least at the time as they are both sort of following a band as a pair of groupies. Zoe comes to Nicole's home who is riding a book about the band that Nicole and her sister used to hang with something happened to them. That is the secret that Nicole is hiding that she doesn't want to relive.
Somehow or another Nicole got her foot run over by a limousine that I guess this guy been was part of a band and they were riding it when Nicole was a teenage fan girl.
In this sample it doesn't even get to the part where there's any real emergency and it doesn't give any clue as to why Zoe would want to steal Nicole's little girl to get her to relive. Whatever is in her past I might finish this one. but it just doesn't make any sense. I'm a little disappointed by that

Story: 7 such a good mom
Julia Spiro

Brian is a new mom with a healthy newborn baby and good husband. Living on Martha's vineyard When out of nowhere one hot summer an acquaintance watch washes up on the shore dead. Brynn's husband is blamed for the crime. Or did his dad kill the girl?
Brynn is a writer and a work from home. Mom, Lucas is 3 months old and has trouble sleeping. Also, Brent is dealing with postpartum symptoms and has trouble sleeping also.
As a standalone mystery, I think I might have liked to finish this one this seems like a decent enough mystery.

I was worried these might be too creepy/thriller for me but most were actually just great mysteries based on the samples I read! There was great range in the stories I read, and I especially liked The Lost House, She Doesn't Have a Clue, Head Cases, and Splinter Effect. The last two are the first in a series so I will be excited to read the full books and perhaps continue with those stories.

As always, The Minotaur Sampler was a great read and a fun way to find books and authors that you may not have otherwise tried. Something in the Walls is right up my alley, and I will definitely be reading that book. Really almost all of the books in this volume sounded like books I would enjoy! Thank you for allowing me to read this sampler. I very much look forward to them!

I absolutely LOVE The Minotaur Samplers and this one did not disappoint! Each featured title gives a little taste of what to expect and will pull you right in!

There were TWO that really stood out!
I. I Would Die for You, by Sandie Jones: Reading the first few chapters of this book is what made me request the title from NetGalley!
Nicole Forbes appears to live a quiet life in the small California coastal town of Coronado with her loving husband and young daughter. One day Nicole has an unexpected visitor knock on her door to question her about the downfall of the most popular British boy band of the 1980s, dredging up memories and a past she long since has put behind her. That same day, her daughter goes missing, said to have been picked up from school by her aunt... only she doesn't have an aunt. Is the visiting journalist and her daughter's mysterious disappearance linked?

I have torn through the first half of this book and it's a page-turning wild ride of family drama and secrets, and what the frenzy of fandom can lead to.

II. Something in the Walls, by Daisy Pearce: The vibe I am getting is witchy and suspenseful, and I'm into it!
Mina, a newly minted child psychologist, is grief stricken 5 years after her brother's death and believes she can see him in the back of a photo her fiancé recently took of her. She attends a support group where she converses with others like her; some have gone to psychics, some still looking for answers between their tears. This is where she meets Sam.

Mina, clearly struggling to make ends meet and having second thoughts about marriage, takes a call from Sam, the journalist from the support group.... he has an interesting proposition for her involving ghosts and wants to meet up to talk. At the meeting Sam discloses information about a 13-year-old girl, Alice Weber, who claims a witch is spying on her and hearing "a voice" in her bedroom walls. Mina dismisses Alice's claims as environmental only to have Sam play a tape recording from his time in the Weber's home... she can hear the voice, too....

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 13

The Minotaur Samplers give the reader a taste of what are the best upcoming books to buy. Sometimes just reading a book review is not enough. These samplers can tease you in a good way, letting you decide if the the author is your kind of writer and how good the story is apt to be.

I love reading samples from upcoming releases. It's helpful in determining what I will buy in the new year.

I always love getting the newest Minotaur sampler! It's such a great way to figure out what books I should read next. Daisy Pearce's novel especially piqued my interest and wasn't on my radar!

The Minotaur Sampler is something I look forward to and appreciate the oppurtunity to read snippets of books prior to publication. This helps me know if there is a book coming out that my audience may enjoy, or if there are any books I want to prioritize reading to review.

I was most eager to read Something in the Walls excerpt because it is one I already had on my radar. It did not dissapoint, I was sucked in immediatly and am looking forard to reading the remainder of the book.
I also was pleasantly surprised by the other titles. I especailly liked The Lost House by Melissa Larsen, the atmosphere was immediatly set and the characters experiences were viseral. Looking into reading the rest of that one as well.

Overall this sampler contains a lot of great upcoming titles and my TBR has just gotten longer!

I need all of these to come out ASAP! I am drawn to every single one, right by the first line. I feel as if you are drawn in by the first page, you know if it’ll be for you or not.

I love Minotaur samplers, and this one is a great way to read excerpts of upcoming books you'll want to add to your TBRs. Enjoy!

As always, The Minotaur Sampler hits the mark by providing excerpts from upcoming books. And, as always, the latest edition has increased my TBR list once again. I look forward to the next edition!

A sampler of very generous excerpts from several upcoming books. I added most of them to my TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Great sampler. Lovely way to be able to see releases and figure out what interests you. Great time ..

The Minotaur Samplers are always a great way to find out about new authors! Especially enjoyed the excerpts from Sandie Jones and John McMahon..

I like being able to sample upcoming releases before I request them on Net Galley This sampler has two books that caught my interest.
Thank you, Minotaur and Net Galley for providing this sampler.

I love this resource! It helps me know what to read next. I'm definitely going to read four of these. Please continue to make this resource!

Having read a number of the Minotaur Samplers in the past, I was excited to have the opportunity to sample seven new titles from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books. Of the seven, there were two that particularly interest me. One, I am on the fence about, and the others, while I am sure that some readers may enjoy them, are not exactly my cup of tea.

The first title, The Lost House by Melissa Larsen, is set in Iceland. While the premise is promising, I found the initial chapter rather sluggish. I may revisit this one down the road. Jenny Elder Moke’s She Doesn’t Have a Clue is half mystery, half romance. It’s set at a high-end destination wedding on a private island. It’s both funny and a bit eerie. The intro grabbed me, and the characters, Kate and Jake, have a “history”…

The other one that really intrigued me is Head Cases by John McMahon. This features FBI Agent Gardner Camden, who’s part of the Patterns and Recognitions Unit. Riddles are his specialty. He’s called in to handle a case seems to be a serial killer killing serial killers. This one’s a keeper.

The fourth one was a bit iffy for me: Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce. Inexperienced child psychologist, Mina is convinced by a journalist, Sam Hunter, whom she meets in a support group to take a job living with a family in a remote village. The daughter claims she’s haunted by a witch, and Sam, the journalist, gets a big story to write. Intriguing…a ghost story, sort of…This one is really Iffy for me.

The last three are no-goes. Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington. Dr. Robert “Rabbit” Ward travels through time to recover precious artifacts, in this case, a menorah, which he had previously lost. Now, he has a chance for redemption. Best there’s a woman vying for the same article in what is a dangerous quest….Rabbit has something to atone for…. Just – not for me. Then there is Sandie Jones’s I Would Die for You. It’s a suspense mystery about an 8-year-old girl who is presumed kidnapped. Could it be related to an incident with a pop star when her mom was a girl. Thanks, but I’ll pass on this one. Finally, there’s Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro. It’s set on Martha’s Vineyard. New mom, Brynn Nelson, is struggling with the baby, and her husband has not been helpful. He sleeps soundly, works too much, and plays too much golf. Then, a friend of family washes up on shore. The blurb reveals a tad more. I’ll skip this one too.

However, I’m happy to have found several good reads in the bunch and look forward to reading them. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for this sampler. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 stars

GREAT sampler. I had several of these books on my list, so happy to get a start on them. Perfect way to find new books to read without committing to the entire thing! Thanks!