Samplers are such a great way for me to decide whether or not to request ARCs of upcoming titles. I make a point to read every ARC I request and receive, so the chance to read the beginning before I do so really helps me make informed decisions.

I am especially excited to read the thriller Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell, by Gillian French, and after reading the beginning, my suspicion that I'd love it has been confirmed.

Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for allowing me to review this sampler.

I always look forward to this because it helps me decide my next read. I am especially excited about The Witches Orchard. Please keep these samplers coming!

It’s rare to feel that invested after just a few chapters, but these debuts make it look effortless.

The perfect samples from Minotaur including a cozy mystery by a Bipoc author, a MM romance, some suspense and a book described as the perfect summer read.
This is exactly the type of sampler I enjoy, one that offers a spectrum of genres instead of focusing on just one type of book.
Thank you to Minotaur for the opportunity to dive into a few upcoming summer reads!

This was a great sample of the thrillers that are forthcoming from Minotaur. I really liked the inclusion of cozy mysteries and more "serious" ones. All seems extremely interesting, and I hope to read the majority of them when they are released.

Thanks for this great sampler. I will be looking for HE’S TO DIE FOR. I loved the Brooklyn 99 blurb which sounds right up my alley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing these excerpts from the upcoming publications.

I find the Minotaur Sampler volumes to be a good way to decide if a book is for me. This sampler contains excerpts from the following books:

He’s To Die For by Erin Dunn
Savvy Summers and The Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell by Gillian French
The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols

Reading the excerpts confirmed that I was interested in two of the books on my watch list and that the one that was not on it was the correct choice for me. The remaining two books were ones that I was considering reading and after reading the excerpts, I concluded that despite the appeal of the descriptions, there were aspects of the stories that did not appeal to me. After reading this I chose He’s to Die for and The Witch’s Orchard for my selections. I’m excited to read the next sampler and find more books that will fit with my tastes and TBR.

I really love these samplers! This time around, I really enjoyed The Witch's Orchard and I cannot wait to read that one!

This review was also published on Goodreads.

The Minotaur Sampler Volume 14 is an absolute treasure trove for anyone who loves to dive into a mix of gripping, unique, and thought-provoking stories. Each volume in this series brings something new to the table, and this one is no exception. From start to finish, it delivers an eclectic mix of narratives that keep you on your toes, ranging from intense thrillers to deep, introspective tales.

What I appreciate most about this volume is the diversity of voices and genres. Every story offers something different, yet they all share a certain undercurrent of tension or mystery that makes the collection feel cohesive. Whether it's the psychological twists or the dark, surreal elements, there's a sense of unpredictability that makes each story stand out in its own right.

The authors in this volume are masters of building atmosphere. Each tale is crafted with such detail that you can almost feel the weight of the words, the suspense building around you with every page. There’s a perfect balance between plot and character development, with each story offering insight into the human condition—whether it’s the exploration of fear, desire, or the unknown.

The pacing is fast but never rushed, and each story feels complete in its own way. What I love about the Minotaur Sampler series is that it doesn’t just give you quick bites of entertainment; it gives you narratives that linger, leaving you with something to think about long after you’ve finished reading.

By the end of this volume, I was left with that bittersweet feeling you get when a really good anthology comes to a close—satisfied, but already wanting more. The Minotaur Sampler Volume 14 is a must-read for fans of unpredictable, well-crafted stories that leave a lasting impression. Highly recommend picking this up if you're in the mood for something fresh and diverse in the world of short fiction.

The Minotaur Sampler Volume 14 is again a great sample of upcoming new books. From this volume, I will be reading The Witch’s Orchard, which sounds like a great read for me! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this sampler.

This sampler includes a variety of mystery/suspense books: we have classic cozy mysteries in the form of Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes and The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective then a paranormal mystery The Witch's Orchard, mystery mixed with a queer rom-com in He's to Die For and then a thriller Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell.

I love the fact the publisher is promoting new or new-to-genre authors. I think only Gillian French is a returning name here.

I especially love that we have some lighter reads in the form of The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, He's To Die For and Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes. Would be looking forward too them as an escapist summer beach read.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the sampler!

This sampler was EXACTLY what I was needing! What a perfect idea to help you decide which book to add next to your TBR (or how about all of them?!). This needs to be more common for publishers to do this! I struggle to start a new book every few days (once i'm intrigued it's easy to stick with a book though!) so this sampler was the perfect way to get the ball rolling on so many books I've got my eye on for the spring and summer!

Looking forward to vol.15 and beyond!

As usual, a sampler that makes me want to read every book in the collection! They look like great summer read. I especially appreciate the "About the Authors" section. I wish that every book on NetGalley had a sampler.

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 14 is always a great way to get a sneak peek at some titles before they publish.
I’m always excited when they release TMS.
Here we have five can't-miss novels publishing Spring/Summer 2025.

Erin Dunn's He's to Die For, Gillian French's Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell, Sandra Jackson-Opoku's Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes, Archer Sullivan's The Witch's Orchard and Jo Nichols's The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective.

I enjoyed diving into the first couple chapters. It definitely ramped up my excitement.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

St. Martin's Press is an excellent publisher partner and I deeply appreciate that they make these samplers available. I am looking forward to requesting (and hopefully reading!) Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell and The Witch's Orchard.

The Minotaur sampler. Just sample of five novels. I enjoyed the He’s to Die for and Savvy Summers and the sweet potato crimes.

I like the idea of getting to read the first few chapters of a book before deciding whether I want to purchase a book. I know most of the sample we get of books tend to be just the first few pages or the first chapter if we are lucky. I think this gives a better idea of whether or not a book will be a good fit for you. This was my first time reading one of these Minotaur samplers and I think I actually will end up buying Shaw Connolly Lives To Tell for my wife when it comes out in June. It seems like something that’s up her alley. All the books in this sampler are mystery books but they could not be more different when it comes to overall vibes.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the authors of these books for the chance to preview them early.

I always love reading these Minotaur Samplers, and I get super excited to finish the works of which I get a sneak peak!

He's To Die For: great character development & inventive storyline! A police procedural with a queer love angle.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes: excellent character voice - I could hear the two main female characters as if they were speaking in my head as I read.

Shaw Connelly Lives to Tell: the main character is developed in a way that I love - giving the reader hints as to what's to come without spelling everything out right away. She is a flawed character, and incredibly complex.

The Witch's Orchard: it's important to me when the location is such a strong piece of the narrative that it's practically another main character, and this preview doesn't disappoint! Appalachia is such a special place, and depicting it as such is revelatory.

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective: a well-written take on a modern cozy mystery. Characters are on-point, and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

What an excellent selection of samples to choose from. I can't wait to dive into these full books and see what all they entail.

Always up for a Minotaur Sampler!! This one had a queer romantic mystery, a sweet potato pie murder, California cottages that experience a murder, a cold case kidnapping mystery and a woman looking to find her missing sister. The one that interested me most was Archer Sullivan's The Witch's Orchard.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to sample these books.