#TheMinotaurSamplerVolume23 #NetGalley

Pub date: 06 October 2026

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

I always look forward to the new editions of this FREE compendium of forthcoming mysteries and thrillers. Here is information on 12 titles and their authors, along with generous samples of the titles. There are definitely books here that I will want to read. To name one, I am excited to see that Susan Elia Macneal has a new book coming out. This sampler is most definitely worth a look!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? The twenty-third edition of The Minotaur Sampler — our largest sampler yet! — compiles the beginnings of 12 can’t-miss novels publishing Winter 2027 for free and easy sampling.

Speechless is a twisty, inventive thriller that follows a communication facilitator whose coma patient begins to share chilling messages about what really caused the accident that led to his vegetative state. Chasing Demons is a horror-thriller following a young man who survived a terrible massacre and must confront the demons of his past when years later, his former therapist is murdered in the same grotesque manner. Last Mission to Paris follows three women, decades after they served as secret agents during World War II, who reunite to uncover the truth behind the murder of their fellow agent in Nazi-occupied Paris. Scream City is an electrifying thriller where a former police officer and the granddaughter of a notorious serial killer must work together to clear both of their names when a new string of copycat murders emerges. On the Ice is a chilling mystery where a screenwriter’s desperate search for her missing brother on an Antarctic research station leads her into a tangled web of secrets, love, and wilderness. The House at Hanger Hill is a searing debut about three generations of women and their family home, which has been haunted by chilling deaths and a terrible, hidden truth.

Famous Last Lies introduces a pop music golden girl in the heart of Hollywood whose cost to her success threatens to be revealed when her producer’s remains are found in the California desert. Tell Me What You See follows a woman who must confront the pain of her past when a teenager goes missing, and the case feels strangely tied to the death of her psychic late mother. Mother Dearest is a pulse-pounding thriller that follows a woman writing letters to her estranged mother about the man she wants to marry, except he already has a wife and family. Gone at First Light follows a detective who is assigned to uncover the murder of a beloved Laguna Beach therapist—except she isn’t just a victim, but a woman woven into his own past, and the killer may be closer than anyone dares to believe. The Haunting of Rosa Sinclair is a supernatural thriller where a therapist must question her past after she receives a new client who is nearly identical to her long deceased daughter. The Spring is an alluring thriller about a young woman who must navigate the mystery of a cult-like community in order to find and save her adoptive sister.

#TheLittleItalianHotel #NetGalley

Phaedra Patrick has become one of my favorite authors. I very much enjoyed both The Messy Lives of Book People and The Secrets of Love Story Bridge, so was very excited to read this forthcoming book.

Patrick’s talent for creating wonderful settings and people with whom readers will enjoy spending time are very present here. Much of the story takes place at a small, Italian, old fashioned hotel. This spot contrasts with a much more modern hotel that is nearby. Readers can decide where they might rather be as they read the story.

Protagonist Ginny has, for many years, had a radio show in which she offered help to others as a kind of agony aunt. To her surprise, Ginny learns that there are issues in her own life when her husband says that he wants to separate. This occurs just as Ginny had been planning a romantic getaway for them.

Needless to say, Ginny is distraught. When she finds that she cannot get a refund, the plot leads her to invite some of her listeners on her trip to Italy. They then stay at the hotel mentioned above.

The travelers include an elderly widow grieving her special needs daughter, a teacher whose mother is unwell, a man who has lost his best friend (a dog), and a property developer. Readers also get to know the hotel owner and his daughter.

One of the plot threads has to do with what happens when Ginny, posing as Jenny, and Aidan (her husband) start to communicate without Aidan knowing that he already intimately knows “Jenny.” Will they want to try again? What will happen to the other characters, all of whom become quite close to one another as they visit museums, hike, quilt, eat and do other activities together? Readers will enjoy finding out.

This book is recommended to those who enjoy women’s fiction. Those who know the author will be delighted to read another one of her books. Those new to Patrick are in for a treat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP for this title. All opinions are my own.

#AFoundingMother #NetGalley

The U.S. just noted 250 years as a country. I imagine that this means that there will be many new books published that look back at the country’s early years. I was intrigued to read this one, in particular, because I very much enjoyed an earlier book by Dray (Becoming Madam Secretary).

Here Dray and her co-author look at the U.S., beginning before the Revolution, through the eyes of Abigail Adams. She is portrayed as forthright, intelligent, an able manager of her family, a woman willing to move out of her small community for the sake of the country (of course, she enjoyed some of these travels), a wife, a daughter, a sister, a mother (one who faced losses), both the wife and mother of a president. Her roles were many and varied. All come to life in these pages.

One thing that readers might look out for as they read is the ways in which Abigail’s past and our present resonate with each other. To give one example, Abigail lived during the time of smallpox and decided to inoculate her family and herself. More recently many faced Covid and decisions about that vaccine, and others are again arousing some controversy. Another to ponder is how Boston was treated in terms of issues that seem similar to some with ICE in the present. For example, soldiers entering homes without permission. These connections made reading this book feel immediate even though the time was many years past.

The authors of this title tell their story well. Even those who have read other books about Abigail Adams will, I think, enjoy this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 May 2026

Post first published on 23 February 2026

Description:

from the publisher

In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton.

In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.

When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.

From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.

#ChaoticCats #NetGalley

64 pages

Pub date: 03 November 2026

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

This book of cat stickers is absolutely adorable! I will most definitely buying the hard copy when it is released.

Here are cute cats, holiday cats, mischievous cats…all sorts of cats.

Sticker fans and cat lovers, definitely (!) take a look at this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

Warning: Contains cats.

Side effects may include sudden urges to adopt more cats.

This sticker book is packed with 500 adorably unhinged stickers celebrating the delightful disaster that is cat ownership.

If you’ve ever owned a cat, you already know: they’re equal parts adorable companion and tiny agent of chaos. One moment they’re purring sweetly on your lap, the next they’re knocking over your favorite mug just to assert dominance. Chaotic Cats recognizes that beautiful, hilarious contradiction with vibrant, playful stickers dedicated to the unpredictable world of cats. From cuddly cuties with murder in their eyes to mastermind loafs plotting world domination, these stickers perfectly capture the daily drama of life as a cat owner.

Inside you’ll find:

• Over 500 premium-quality stickers featuring chaotic, cute, and utterly relatable cats
• Evil geniuses knocking things off tables (on purpose, obviously)
• Sleepy angels turned 3 a.m. parkour champions
• Grumpy loafs, zoomie demons, and affectionate headbutters
• Stickers perfect for decorating laptops, water bottles, journals, planners, and anywhere else that needs a dose of feline mischief

Whether you’re a proud cat parent, a sticker hoarder, or anyone in-between, this book is your ultimate tribute to the furry chaos that rules our homes (and hearts).

Transient Desires

A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery

by Donna Leon

Transient Desires is Donna Leon’s thirtieth (!) book about Guido Brunetti. What an accomplishment to have kept a series fresh over so many novels..

In thinking about this title, I concluded that it is a story of place and character, as compared to a classic mystery. There are people good and bad, those with and without morals, those who get caught up in situations with difficult consequences, vicims, various types of love and more. Venice is also critical part of this story. Areas of the city that were new to me were in this book as were the canals, cafes and tourist sites along, of course, with Brunetti’s home.

My favorite of all of the people in this novel is Brunetti. His desire to do right, his willingness to apologize when wrong, his trying to help others and his love of lunch and Paola (his wife) all play their part.

The plot is not dense. Two young girls are injured and left at a hospital. The story goes from there as it impacts a number of others.

If you are going to be a new reader of Brunetti, start at the beginning with Death at La Fenice. All other Leon fans welcome our Commissario back!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

#BrokenGround #NetGalley

Val McDermid writes a number of series; of them all, the Karen Pirie novels are my favorites. Broken Ground is the newest of these.
I enjoy Karen. She is a quirky woman who has faced a significant loss and is still recovering. In this novel, she gingerly considers a new relationship. She is an old fashioned copper who cares about justice and what is right. She is loyal to those on her team who are still learners.
Karen is the head of the Historical Cases Unit in Scotland. Spending time with her, the members of her team (including her adversaries) and her cases is always time well-spent. In this novel, there are several stories; one relates to events of WWII, another to a serial rapist, and there is also a present day murder. Each of these plots is explored satisfactorily.
I finished this book today and am already looking forward to what happens next in the series. I highly recommend both this book and the series.

Many (!) thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this satisfying read.

#DeathatKingsCross #NetGalley

Mystery & Thrillers-Historical Fiction

326 pages

Pub date: 21 July 2026

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My thoughts:

The Four Queens of Crime were among the very best of the best writers of detective fiction’s Golden Age. They were Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh. Anyone who loves classic crime stories knows their names and all serious mystery readers have a treat in store for them if, somehow, these authors passed them by.

Limoncelli has included these four as key characters in two books, of which this is the second. She also includes an historical personage in Lilian Wyles, a police inspector. I thought the first book was very good and found this second title to be even better.

In this story set during WWII much happens. There is murder, at least one missing person, stolen pharmaceuticals, spies and many suspicious activities. There are also friendships and other relationships.Everything comes together in a crackerjack plot.

I highly recommend this title to those who enjoy historical mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

DCI Lilian Wyles is confronted by a troubling case, one that only the four queens of crime can help solve—even amidst the ongoing war efforts.

Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh are back in the follow-up novel to The Four Queens of Crime.

1941, London. When DCI Lilian Wyles finds a young woman murdered at King’s Cross Station, she needs the help of someone she can trust, but Richard Davidson, her former Scotland Yard partner, has joined MI5 and is busy tracking black market routes outside of London, so for now, she is on her own. 

After having met the four queens of crime during a murder investigation two years earlier, DCI Wyles has kept in touch. But Agatha, Dorothy, Margery, and Ngaio are all involved in the war effort and have problems of their own.

Agatha is volunteering at the University Hospital Pharmacy, where a dangerous anesthetic has been stolen. Dorothy has heard unsettling information from her connections at the BBC regarding members of the Royal Navy. Margery, who has been in the countryside helping families escape the city from the bombing, is worried about one of her charges whose older sister has gone missing. And Ngaio, who has relocated to New Zealand and is volunteering as an ambulance driver, has begun gathering secret intelligence from wounded soldiers and sailors that may put her in danger. 

When the four queens contact DCI Wyles for help, the information they share makes the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place. DCI Wyles once again finds herself collaborating with her old partners in crime to solve the mystery and close the case in this thrilling sequel, perfect for fans of Nicola Upson and Anna Lee Huber.

Editorial Reviews:

“An intricate and tense whodunit . . . Fans of British historicals will appreciate the challenge.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Limoncelli skillfully handles bringing four iconic mystery writers to life, as well as highlighting women pioneers in law enforcement . . . This twisty mystery delivers.”
—Library Journal

“London and the English countryside in 1941 are vividly brought to life . . . Limoncelli skillfully weaves facts and fiction to create an exceptional, page-turning historical mystery.”
—Booklist

#OrdinaryAltars #NetGalley

Pub date: 26 January 2027

Religion & Spirituality

Description:

from the publisher

You don’t always get to change the world, but you do get to love it.

From “one of our most important progressive Christian voices” (Jen Hatmaker), an urgent invitation to actually love the world even when it breaks your heart

Many of us were taught to look for God in the extraordinary: in big callings, dramatic transformations, affirmations of constant achievement, or in lives that inspire millions. But what if that way of seeing has left us unable to recognize that God is also present in the everyday—especially now, when headlines are overwhelming, our systems feel broken, and hope seems naïve? What does it mean to actually live a faithful, meaningful life when the world is on fire and nothing turns out as advertised?

Drawing from her own story of faith, disillusionment, motherhood, and decades of work as a spiritual guide, Sarah Bessey believes there comes a time when you decide that being earnest and sincere is better than being defeated. She names what she calls “ordinary altars”: places and people where the holy and the commonplace meet, not as an escape from our daily lives but as full-bodied engagement with the questions of our time and an encounter with the God who is with us in it all. Blending rich storytelling and compassionate spiritual insight, Ordinary Altars is a declaration of choosing stubbornly, again and again, to keep loving your small patch of the world when it would be easier to shut down or walk away or even become what you despise.

For readers who are spiritually tired but still hopeful, deconstructed but longing to rebuild, grappling with despair but determined to make room in their spirituality for the ache in their chest, Ordinary Altars offers honest field notes for a sturdy faith that can bear the weight of the world—rooted in reality, loving defiantly, and being stubbornly faithful enough to make the world feel like home again.

My thoughts:

Many people currently feel some despair about the state of the world. There is so much that causes concern and there are those who want to figure out ways to manage at this time, and to have some belief while living life in these era. This is what Bessey offers to her readers in this personal title that includes reflections about daily life and finding ways to love the imperfect world as it is.

Bessey notes that, in her belief, God can be found in the dailiness of life, for example, when her young child spills cereal all over the floor and she needs to clean up yet again. Her thought is that one does not have to be in an organized setting like a church to feel a spiritual presence/connection. For those who have a religious faith, this will, I think, resonate. Those who do not have a strong religious grounding may also find her thoughts to be interesting, heartening and thought provoking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books for this title. All thoughts are my own.

poisonedpen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/BN-Oct-26.pdf

Women’s fiction-Mystery

Pub date: 10 September 2026

384 pages

Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

Sally Page’s novels are must reads for me. I love the way that she tells her stories with warmth and heart. She does exactly that here.

This title, was as enjoyable as any of her other books but, was a bit different in that it included a cozy mystery. Nonetheless, it was vintage Sally Page with its characters who come to life and some life lessons as well.

Lara, a florist, has become close to Lady Porter after many visits with her. She is dismayed when Lady Porter dies and questions the cause given for her death. As a result, Lara wants to dig deeper. Imagine her surprise when Abigail appears to help her. The two will work together and readers will wait to see what they find out as various characters and motivations come to life. Readers will also become engaged in Lara’s life and relationships.

Readers will hope for a happy ending for Lara. They will also be delighted to have spent time getting to know (ghost) Abigail.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

Escape into the world of Sally Page with the perfect armchair read! From the author of phenomenal bestsellers The Keeper of Stories and The Book of Beginnings comes another novel that will warm your heart.

An unexpected guest. One mystery to solve…

All Lara wanted was a quiet life as a florist when she moved to North Dorset. But the death of her close friend Lady Porter changed everything.

Lara suspects foul play – she just can’t prove it.

That is, until The Hon. Abigail Rossmore arrives. An unexpected guest with an extraordinary story to tell, this maybe Lara’s only chance at justice.

Together, can they uncover what really happened to Lady Porter, and will Lara rediscover herself along the way? Readers LOVE Sally Page!

‘What a gem of a book!’★★★★★

‘I am in awe of Sally Page’s writing’ ★★★★★

‘So refreshingly original’ ★★★★★

‘You just have to read it’ ★★★★★

‘A read cover-to-cover-in-one-sitting book that gives all the feels’ ★★★★★

‘Wonderful, just wonderful’★★★★★

From the Publisher: