The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 2

New Books to Make Your Heart Race

Minotaur, a division of St. Martin’s Press, consistently publishes excellent mysteries. Gathered here are generous samples of new books by Mary Dixie Carter, Ragnar Jonasson, Joanna Schaffhausen, Ashley Weaver and Brian Klingborg.

The domestic suspense novel by Mary Dixie Carter is her first. Brian Klingborg takes readers to China. Jonasson, Schaffhausen and Weaver have each written a number of books. Here, Weaver starts a new WWII set series. Schaffhausen’s protagonist is involved with a cold case while Jonasson sets his stories in cold places.

Take a look. Readers are sure to find a good read here.

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

A Greer Hogan Mystery

by M. E. Hilliard

This book grabbed my interest immediately because, on the first page, a favorite childhood fictional character of mine was mentioned. You may not know her, but she was Trixie Belden. She, her brothers, Honey and Jim had adventures and solved mysteries with their club. They had exactly the life that I wanted .I loved Trixie more than Nancy Drew. As this was exactly how the fictional detective in this book felt, I knew that I wanted to read more.

The amateur sleuth in this title is Greer. Her husband had been murdered (not a spoiler as this is mentioned early in the novel) and she has sought a new life away from New York City. Greer goes to library school and moves to a small town in upstate New York. A library patron and friend to Greer is murdered. What is behind the murder? Who did it? How will intrepid, amateur sleuth Greer fare? Will the solution tell her more about her husband? Find out in this cozy mystery.

In addition to Trixie, I loved the library setting and the mention of various books and authors. Readers will wish for a library like this, despite the crimes.

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

A Charles Lenox Mystery

by Charles Finch

Charles Lenox has been engaging readers since his first appearance in A Beautiful Blue Death. An Extravagant Death, fourteenth in the series will be enjoyed by those who already know the series and those who want to begin here.

It is now 1878. Lenox is an established detective who also has a full and busy personal life. However, he cannot turn down an opportunity that is brought to him by Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. The situation leads him to the U.S., upper crust Society and a murder. Will Charles’s reputation remain intact? Will he solve the case of the debutante’s death? Readers will delight in turning the pages as they wait to find out.

This book has interesting characters and settings. I especially enjoyed spending time in Newport.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Keep those Lenox titles coming, please. All opinions are my own.

First, there were the murders a couple of years ago but now, there is another one. The case needs to be solved. Involved in all three in terms of trying to find a killer is Detective Eddie Mahler. He is invested but is suffering from migraines that impede his ability to solve the case. So, a new member comes on the case. She and he work to obtain justice for the women who can no longer speak for themselves.Are the cases related? How and will they be solved? Read this one to find out. This is a police procedural that will be enjoyed by those who like that genre.

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

The Paris Dressmaker

by Kristy Cambron

This is another book set in France during WWII. Before you think that you’ve read enough of these, give this one a chance. It is an engaging and involving read.

The Paris Dressmaker follows several women and the men and families that surround them. Lila is a talented dressmaker and designer. Lila’s closest friend is Amelie, another seamstress. Then there is Sandrine and her close friend Michelle. Sandrine works at the Jeu de Paume. Each of these characters faces moral decisions, choices and moments of fear and courage.

The settings in this book are wonderfully rendered. There are the dress salons, a bookstore, the Jeu de Paume, a bakery, The Ritz..and the list goes on. Each is vividly portrayed as are the streets of wartime Paris.

This is a novel that tells moving stories of love, friendship, resistance, traitorous behavior, courage and consequences. The narrative moves back and forth in time from 1939 and into the 1940s.

I became quite involved in the lives and stories of these characters. I think that readers will as well.

I alternated between reading this book and listening to it. The narration was excellent with characters well delineated and the French accents of the characters.

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

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Debut Fiction Sampler, Spring 2021

by Various

Penguin Random House Library Resources

This (free) sampler includes excerpts from ten upcoming fiction titles. These books cover quite a range so there is sure to be something for everyone who enjoys reading. How about a book about a dictionary, a southern family, an elephant in Belfast, an “opium prince,” or chickens? The included titles are The Opium Prince, The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, The Music of Bees, Highway Blue, Things We Lost to the Water, Brood, Dial A for Aunties, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, The Elephant of Belfast, and The Dictionary of Lost Words.Take a look. Decide on your next read. Highly recommended for those looking for new books.

A Brittany Mystery

by Jean-Luc Bannalec

This title is one of six in a mystery series set in Brittany. The detective, Inspector Dupin, has been sent there from Paris. He is not thrilled. In this case, someone close to Dupin is murdered. Lilou was investigating something to do with the salt marshes that provide the well known fleur de sel. What did she discover? Why did she die? How will Dupin and his team manage to work with Inspector Rose on this case? (I wonder if she will be a recurring character.) Read this title to find out and along the way, get to know Dupin. Readers may well want to follow all of his adventures.

A note: This book series has been made into a TV one called Inspector Dupin. It is available on the MHZ streaming service.

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

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder

by Joanne Fluke

Fans of small town Lake Eden and baker, Hannah Swenson, will no doubt enjoy this 24th entry in the long running series.

Here is the publisher’s synopsis of this title:

When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting of a star-studded TV special about movies filmed in Minnesota, Hannah hopes to shine the spotlight on her bakery—not the unsavory scandal swirling around her personal life. But that’s practically impossible with a disturbing visit from the shifty character she once believed was her one and only love, a group of bodyguards following her every move, and a murder victim in her bedroom. Now, swapping the crime scene in her condo for her mother Delores’s penthouse, Hannah and an old flame team up to solve a case that’s messier than an upended chocolate cream pie. As suspects emerge and secrets hit close to home, Hannah must serve a hefty helping of justice to an unnamed killer prowling around Lake Eden…before someone takes a slice out of her!

So, as readers can see a lot is going on here. It is good to know that Hannah always comes out okay in the end. Readers will be treated to a good story line, some vicarious baked goods and a number of recipes.

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