The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 9

by Jess Armstrong, Amy Chua, Celeste Connally

Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? The ninth edition of The Minotaur Sampler compiles the beginnings of six can't-miss novels--either standalone or first in series--publishing Fall 2023 for free for easy sampling.

With over three million copies sold worldwide, Ragnar Jónasson, along with Katrin Jakobsdottir, the Prime Minister of Iceland, brings us a gripping and chilling new Reykjaví A Crime Story .

Amy Chua's debut novel, The Golden Gate , is a sweeping, evocative, and compelling historical thriller that paints a vibrant portrait of a California buffeted by the turbulent crosswinds of a world at war and a society about to undergo massive change.

First in From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan A Traitor in Whitehall .

First in Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie meets Bringing Down the Duke in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord , this dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era cozy series with a feminist spin.

First in In Perfect Shot , a former Army sniper must fall back on her Special Ops skills when a friend’s death uncovers a global nuclear threat, in this electrifying new series featuring Special Agent Alexandra Martel.

First in The Curse of Penryth Hall is an atmospheric gothic mystery that beautifully brings the ancient Cornish countryside to life, Armstrong introduces heroine Ruby Vaughn in her Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut.

Genres: Fiction

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2023

About the author

Jess Armstrong is the USA Today best selling author of the Ruby Vaughn Mysteries. Her debut novel, The Curse of Penryth Hall, won the Mystery Writers of America/Minotaur First Crime Novel Competition. She has a masters degree in American History but prefers writing about imaginary people to the real thing. Jess lives in New Orleans with her historian husband, two sons and an ever growing number of pets and plants. And when she’s not working on her next project, she’s probably thinking about cheese, baking, on social media or some combination of the above.

Reviews

[Mairy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good selection of Minotaur books. There is one that stands out above all others: Amy Chua's The Golden Gate. The peologue is eerie, spooky. It immediately reeled me in, and I so want to read it to find out what happened to that politician found dead in this haunted hotel. I want to know who the kids in the beginning are, and how the interview knits into all of it. I requested the book on Net Galley. Keeping my fingers I will be approve for an advanced copy :-)

[Elaine LaBonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samples from this book can be found in six thrillers that will be published in the fall of 2023. Every book has a cover, an introduction, and a few chapters. I am appreciative that Minotaur Sampler #9 was provided for me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. It's a great way to quickly scan a few recent releases. I've already chosen three new mysteries for my fall reading list using it.

Perfect Shot, historical fiction by Steve Urszenyi, is a page-turner. Urszenyi was a paramedic and police combat medic for many years. He introduces Special Agent Alexandra Martel in this initial installment of a series. Alex is an Interpol-lent special agent with the FBI. While investigating the murder of an MI5 officer, Alex uncovers a nuclear threat to the world.

Evelyne Redfern tracked combat statistics in Churchill's battle headquarters during World War II, in Julia Kelly's book A Traitor in Whitehall. Evelyne discovers a colleague's body and begins investigating the murder. Kelly is the best-selling historical fiction author in the entire world.

Amy Chua's book "The Golden Gate" is the most outstanding in this sampler. Her nonfiction books can be found anywhere. The charismatic presidential contender Walter Wilkinson was assassinated twice, not just once. Sullivan will take any and all risks in order to solve this bizarre set of murders.

Ragnar Jonasson and Katrin Jakobsdottir, "Reykjavik, A Crime Story" Who better to write a thriller about a missing 14-year-old Icelandic girl? The master's thesis for Prime Minister Jakobsdottir was on Icelandic literature. Jonasson has sold a million or more books. Journalist Valur Robertsson investigates Lara's case thirty years after she vanished and on the city's 200th anniversary. No effort will be spared by someone determined to keep Lára's disappearance a mystery.

The initial installment of Celeste Connally's Regency-era mystery series is titled Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. Strong-willed Lady Petra Forsyth often "smells like a horse" since she prefers riding over gossiping about people. A trusted friend of many years died from "melancholia" despite receiving questionable medical care. Petra discovers a shocking, underground prison where men can pay to lock up their wives and children. I can't wait to read this book's further chapters.

American heiress Ruby Vaughn makes her debut in the suspenseful gothic mystery by Jess Armstrong, "The Penryth Hall Curse". Ruby pays her friend Tamsyn and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth, a visit at Penryth Hall in Cornwall. Edward tragically died the next day in the orchard. The locals think Tamsyn will soon become the subject of a thirty-year curse. Ruby must work with the man the villagers believe can break the curse to save Tamsyn's life.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

They have a lot of great books in here from the Regency Reed Think Like a Lady, Act Like A Lord by Selest Connelly, they even have general fiction books like the curse of Penryth Hall by jess Armstrong they have so many good books and I was surprised to see I had most of them like the one written by Jess Armstrong I’ve already mentioned, a traitor in Whitehall written by Julia Kelly a historical fiction book I cannot wait to read they have so many books and that is the reason I love the Minotaur sampler it really helps you decide what books you will enjoy in the ones you can skip it totally fills up your TV or way too fast. I love these sampler‘s and cannot wait for the next one. I want to thank Minotaur books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for once again offering this Minotaur Sampler. This is such a great way to get a quick look at a few upcoming books.

As always this was a great selection of thrillers and mysteries from several sub-genres. I loved three of them and plan on devoting time to read the entirety of Reykjavik, The Golden Gate and A Traitor in Whitehall. The three of them appeal to me the most, but it’s not to say the remaining three aren’t worthy offerings. Just not my favorites.

Again, offering these tidbits of great reads is well worth it in my eyes. It really wets my appetite for some upcoming reading pleasure.

[Dani Boise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, I usually read the Minotaur Samplers without doing much (any) research into the titles included. This Volume is almost entirely Historical fication/ mysteries. Which isn't a bad thing at all (I am always thinking I should read more historical as I tend to like the ones I do read) but was unexpected when I started this volume.

Overall, a good assortment; and I am interested in reading a few.

In order of appearance:

Reykjavik By Ragnar Jónasson & Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Available 09/05/2023
Iceland, 1950s; 60s; (seems like it'll get into the 1980s)
Case of a missing woman and the detective that is investigating her disappearance. She is presumed dead but he isn't so sure. I thought this had a good start. The man seems like he doesn't want to let the case go, and will keep investigating despite being told not to.

The Golden Gate by Amy Chua (Debut novel)
Available 09/19/2023
California, 1940s
This starts with a bang, literally, with a murder of a wealthy man in a prestigious hotel. The detective investigating seems like he could be an interesting character.

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly
Available 10/03/2023
England, 1940s
We are introduced to Miss Redfearn and discover she is requested to 'observe' the PM's office (read: spy) after being offered a job as a secretary. I thought this one started out good with just enough aspects of mystery (being locked in a room with a dead body?).

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally
Available 11/14/2023
England, 1810s
This seems to be a story of English (as the title suggests) Lords & Ladies; there were a LOT of names thrown around in the first chapter and may have confused me a bit (admittedly I was skimming :-D lol). I didn't make it to the mystery aspect of this story. Might not be for me but those that like reading this era may find it enjoyable.

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi
Available 11/14/2023
Special Agent Alex Martel seems super badass and awesome. Love reading about a strong female lead character. This looks like it'll be the first in a new series featuring this character. After these first few chapters I'm interested in reading this one. Action-packed beginning and characters I'm interested in reading more about!
***A big shoutout to the author -- there are several references to a Huey in the first chapters and not once did the author use the word "chopper" to refer to the helicopter. It irks me to NO END when this word is used to refer to a helicopter. As a Huey Pilot's wife I have never once in the years of being around pilots heard someone refer to the aircraft as a 'chopper' so I've always noticed when it is used in novels. The author used words like aircraft, helo & bird which are all commonly used among this pilot community. Probably not something most readers would even notice but it made me immensely happy!

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong (Debut novel)
Available 12/05/2023
UK, 1920s
These characters (Ruby & Mr. Owen) seem fun and there is a mystery surrounding Ruby's past. When she meets Mr. Kivell it is both a funny and endearing moment.

Thank you Minotaur Books for offering the Samplers to start reading the first few chapters from several upcoming novels!

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all the Minotaur Samplers I have read, The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 9, I am sorry to say, was my least favorite. There are six selections, and there were only two that really whet my appetite for more, although I was on the fence with a couple others.

The first selection is Ragnar Jónasson’s Reykjavík: A Crime Story, which tempts me because I have read two previous works by this author. This work features a young officer named Kristján Kristjánsson who takes a boat to a small island to inquire about a missing maid. She was working for a highly esteemed Supreme Court judge and suddenly gave notice but never arrived at home. The judge and his wife are less than welcoming, so Kristján does a cursory search of the home and the island before catching the next boat back to the mainland. Years later, the girl has never surfaced; his superior officer had brushed off the case, but it haunts Kristján, who wishes he had searched the island more thoroughly. My instincts told me that the young officer was correct…

Second is a debut novel by Amy Chua, The Golden Gate, which is a historical thriller set in 1944. Homicide detective Al Sullivan is caught up in a case of a presidential candidate who is found murdered in a hotel room. The hotel has an unsavory history, as it’s the scene of another unpleasant event more than a decade earlier. This story shows promise, but the transitions in the time periods did not connect well for me. Perhaps in a longer sample it would flow better, but in a few short chapters, I found it difficult to engage.

Next up is an intriguing This one is Julia Kelly’s A Traitor in Whitehall. Set in 1940 England, this begins by featuring “The Parisian Orphan,” Evelyne Redfern,” a young woman whose mother died when she was young. She is estranged from her father and is working in a munitions plant doing her part for the war effort. One night, while out with her roommate, she bumps into an old acquaintance of her father, who insists that she report to him the following morning. Intrigued, she winds up being hired as a secretary – not just an ordinary secretary, however, but one who will be indirectly working for Winston Churchill. The blurb hints at secrets and danger. This promises to be a good one!

The following choice, however, struck a hollow note with me. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a Regency era novel by Celeste Connally, was not my cup of tea. Lady Petra Forsyth has vowed never to marry after her fiancé died shortly before their wedding date. She prefers to wear her brother’s riding gear instead of her own, much to the dismay of those around her. Never mind that she smells like a horse! This just could not gain nor hold my interest.

Steve Urszenyi’s Perfect Shot: A Thriller is the first in a new series. For those who like action, lots of action, this one will be a must! Former Army sniper, Alexandra Martel, now an FBI Special Agent is the star player in this action thriller. The initial setting is Arnhem, the Netherlands. Our Special Ops professional is on assignment to recover stolen nuclear material. There is plenty of tension as the scene develops. Scratch that. High tension! Action ensues. Did I mention that there’s a lot of action? This is just the first few chapters, folks! Oh, there might be a hint of a bit of romance too. We’ll see.

Last is Jess Armstrong’s The Curse of Penryth Hall, a Gothic mystery. The heroine is Ruby Vaugh, an American heiress, who lives with and works for an octogenarian in Exeter. Together they run a rare bookstore, and on occasion, he has her make trips to deliver books to a folk healer. One day he sends her to a place where she had promised herself that she would never go back to – Penryth Hall. It is the home of her best friend and her husband, whom Ruby does not like. I’ll admit that the term “Gothic” was a bit off-putting, but if this short sample is any indication, this book might be worth a read.

I received The Minotaur Sampler as an ARC in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and the six authors.

3 stars overall

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samplers of the upcoming season's reads are always fun. Some titles will be ones I'm already excited about, some will be completely new to me, some will make me eager to read a particular book, and some will make me say "meh"—which is the nature of samplers. The point is to find what one appreciates most. However, none of the pieces in the Minotaur Sampler 9 is a "meh." Nonetheless, I have my favorites and will highlight them here.

Rekjavik: A Crime Story, written by Ragnar Jónasson and Katrin Jakobsdottir (who just happens to be the Prime Minister of Iceland), opens with a missing persons case. The detective who is investigating is discouraged from pursing the case with too much energy. Then, the novel moves forward in time, looking at the same crime from a point further in the future where it's being investigated as a cold case. The characterizations are detailed and quirky in the best of ways. The descriptions of the setting in which the novel takes place make real an environment that will be unfamiliar to many readers.

Amy Chua's The Golden Gate also involves a cold case which becomes increasingly relevant after a new murder takes place at the same location, the famed Claremont Hotel in Berkely. (If you're not familiar with it, you can check it out here—be sure to look at both interior and exterior photos.) This second murder occurs while WWII is underway, and that time period is a key part of the novel. Biases, distrust, and "othering" of various groups affect the case. The investigator is a mixed-race police detective who is both insider and outsider simultaneously.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong is set in the aftermath of WWI. Ruby Vaughn, the central character, has been shipped overseas following a scandal. She now works in a bookstore in Exeter. When she has to deliver a collection of books to Cornwall, she finds herself confronted with her past in the form of a beloved friend who left Ruby to marry a landed, but not wealthy, member of the English nobility. Ruby quickly realizes that her friend is unsafe in this marriage, and realizes she'll need to take action.

The first two titles are stand-alones. The Curse of Penryth Hall is the first volume in what will be a continuing series. Since this was the preview I enjoyed most of all, I'm delighted to know I'll have future volumes to look forward to. If you enjoy any kind of mystery/thriller, you'll want to keep an eye out for Minotaur's fall and winter releases. I tend to prefer historical mysteries, but they've also got contemporary thrillers in the line-up.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lara is fifteen years old. After leaving her work site, she disappeared. Years later she has never been found. This Mystery is interesting because it happens in such a distant place. The missing girl lived in Reykjavik. No one would expect something like this to happen,not in such an isolated area like Greystone. Katrin Jakobsdottir writes very quietly. Still, your emotions are very sensitive to this crime. The title "Reykjavik" is an alert that location is very significant to what happens.

In "The Golden Gate" by Amy Chua, a granddaughter is charged with murder. Reading a grandmother's testimony about three granddaughters left me cold with shock. Who has the strength to speak unemotionally about the ones you love so much? It is the nineteen thirties. If you do not mind feeling frightened, this one might cause you to bite your fingernails. It is a good whodunnit. There is also a few pages of History. Both of these mysteries are treasures There are four more puzzles to solve. I say hurrah to Minotaur.

Oh my, I would die. Finding myself locked in a room with a dead body dripping blood would cause me to scream until I lost my voice. This is where Evelyn Red fern finds herself. I am looking forward to seeing a woman react during wartime to shocking and dastardly conditions that hit her without warning. Thank goodness, Julia A. Kelly has given her a Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery to carry with her. Dorothy L. Sayers can relieve stress and she also can cause brain cells to reclaim their rightful chemicals. The title of this WWII Mystery is "A Traitor in Whitehall."

In the Regency Era, women are not suppose to show any independence. Lady Petra Forsyth is different. There is a need for justice and she intends to find it. Dear, dear, dear, usually I love Regency novels. I would have riding horseback and wearing high waist dresses. I looked forward to reading "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord" by Celeste Connally. Also, I love a good Mystery. I don't know what's wrong. Something is awry. It is taking too long for the mystery to appear on the pages. Since I can't undue the problem, I can only, sorrowfully, lower the score. I wanted to become acquainted with Lady Petra. So sorry.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 9 is a new collection of chapter excerpts from six current or upcoming Minotaur books. Released on 27th June 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 202 pages and available (possibly for a limited time) as a free download in ebook format.

These six books from Minotaur are all top shelf fiction. For anyone (and let's face it, that's almost all of us) who has ever wandered around and browsed in a book store or library to read a few pages of random books and see if we are drawn in, this sampler provides the same experience without having to leave the house. The books all have upcoming release dates from Sept - Dec 2023, and it's nice to get a sneak peek before release.

All of the books are very well written - thriller, suspense, and mystery. There are at least 4 of them I'm planning on picking up and reading myself.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a great fan of samplers; there is no better way to add to one’s reading list. In this title, there are excerpts from a number of upcoming mysteries that will intrigue readers. I look forward to reading just about every one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, I have already begun reading A Traitor in Whitehall. It offers an involving read. Try out this title and the others that are included here, including one by Amy Chua (of Tiger Mother fame). Each sample is long enough to give a reader a good sense of the title. For each, there is a cover photo, description and a few chapters, while the end of the title includes the authors’ biographies.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sampler introduces six books that will be published in the fall. There are two stand alone and four first-in-series books. I am always happy to see this sampler to find books that I will know I will enjoy reading. I like being able to read the different titles to up me choose which ones I want to read. I must admit that I usually want to read all six books. They are thrillers and suspenseful. Don’t miss out on this sampler!

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[HappyBookWorm2020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these samplers.. They have long excerpts which allow the reader to get a good sense of the author's writing style and pacing, and also include works by new authors. Two of these books are standalone books, and the other four are first in series. I liked every single one of them, but particularly the gothic mystery by Jess Armstrong, Amy Chua's book set in California during WWII, and Celeste Connally's mystery set in the Regency period.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost always find a book or two that I want to read in every Minotaur Sampler. The sample chapters give me an opportunity to taste Minotaur's upcoming books. In Volume 9, The GoldenGate by Amy Chua is definitely a book I want to read.
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Net Galley for the free copy of this Sampler.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books that Minotaur publishes. Each volume contains novels from a select group of authors. So you can read a short novel to see if you like the way each author writes. These volumes have introduced me to many authors that I didn’t know. I have found many new authors to add to my book collection.

Thanks so much Minotaur for letting me read this volume of books.

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great way to get some samples of books. There were several that I would never have thought to try. Now I will have to look for them when they are released for publication. I like getting these samplers

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Once again, the Minotaur Sampler provides an excellent glimpse into six novels soon to be published. All look intriguing (especially "The Golden Gate," "A Traitor in Whitehall," and "Act Like a Lade, Think Like a Lord," and my TBR list has grown!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually really enjoy these samplers and almost always end up reading every book included. However, none of these books really grabbed me. I will absolutely continue to read these samplers and I hope the next version has some more engaging options!

[Maria Ortiz Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always excited to read the Minotaur Sampler. This year I especially enjoyed the excerpts corresponding to “Perfect Shot” and “Reykjavic”. The sampler is a great way to explore new genres without having to commit to the whole book. I highly recommend it.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction collection. I prefer the thriller samplers, but this was a nice genre change.

These samplers allow me to find my favorite, then order the full-length book.