Book excerpt: 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. Standalone: 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 thriller: Reykjavík: A Crime Story. Standalone: 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 Series: From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series: A Traitor in Whitehall. First in Series: 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 Series: 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 Series: 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.