I was unaware when I first started that Dead on Target was book #34 in the long running Agatha Raisin mystery series. It worked find as a standalone but with a lot of other series that I've jumped into the middle of, I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had the past background on the main characters. The mystery was fine but I did feel like there were a lot of minor characters to try and keep track of and found mystery confused at times. But overall it was enjoyable enough if you're in the mood for an UK set cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Dead on target is another fun Agatha Raisin novel. If you love this series you're gonna love this book. who doesn't love agatha and her nosy ways of solving a crime

MC Beaton was one of the queens of mystery writers. She has an easily recognizable style. Her books will continue to delight mystery lovers for years to come.

R.W. Green continues to write Agatha Raisin and the rest of the Carsley characters as if M.C. Beaton was still whispering in his ear. Agatha is not for everyone, but these stories are wonderful to pick up when you need something mysterious, but light. Well done, Mr. Green.

A visit to the local village fete for a spot of fun and relaxation turns into a nightmare for Agatha Raisin when she discovers the body of the local landowner in the woods―with an arrow in his chest and trousers round his ankles. Agatha’s old adversary, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, declares the death a tragic accident, believing the victim has been hit by a stray arrow from an archery demonstration. Agatha is convinced of foul play, however, and is shocked when Wilkes eventually agrees...with her as his prime murder suspect. I am so glad this series is carrying on. This is classic Agatha and I can't wait for the next one!

Dead on Target is the 34th village cozy featuring Agatha Raisin, created by M.C. Beaton and ghost written by R.W. Green. Released 19th Sept 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in June 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a such a perennial beloved series that it needs no introduction. Irascible but almost certainly good on the inside Agatha, is drawn into a *situation* again when a harmless trip to the local village fete sees her stumble across a local landowner with his pants around his ankles and inconveniently and permanently pierced by an arrow to the chest.

The cast of returning characters are there (including her earlier nemesis DCI Wilkes). The fun of the series comes from Agatha's simmering annoyance with nearly everyone's incompetence apart from her own.

The series has continued despite the author's sad departure in late 2019. It's always dicey whenever a very long running series is overtaken by another author, but in this case, Mr. Green does an impressive job of capturing the characters and the spirit of the story respectfully and more or less seamlessly.

Four stars. It works perfectly well as a standalone, but as always it would make a superlative choice for a very long binge or buddy read with other volumes in the series.

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

Always love a good mystery by M.C. Beaton and this one didn’t disappoint! If you’re into cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out!

R.W. Green opens with a defense. In the forward to Dead on Target, number thirty-four Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series, Green reveals previous discussions he had with M.C. Beaton, the late author whose characters inherited. According to Beaton, Agatha, cantankerous with a certain lack of patience for most recreation, has no time for sport. Yet Green goes on to explain that in this title, his fourth since taking over the series, Agatha agrees to participate in a bit of archery, but it's okay—he promises he has a very good reason as to why she does it.

These early reflections are amusing, and it's great to get a glimpse of what the original author really thought about one of her most popular characters. However, this pre-story talk also left me somewhat apprehensive. If Green felt the need to justify a portion of the story, just what exactly was I about to read?

Fortunately, within the first chapter, I realized I had very little to worry about. Just like in his past three installments, Green has more than proven Agatha and the rest of the gang in the Cotswolds village of Carsely are in more than capable hands. And really—he does have a good reason for her to be taking up a bow and arrow.

During what's supposed to be a relaxing day at a village fête, Agatha agrees to be a good sport and help during an archery demonstration. All seems festive and well until she stumbles across the body of a man with an arrow in his chest in the woods. With her arch-nemesis Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes attempting to pin the man's death on her, Agatha must once again both solve a murder and clear her name.

On its face, Dead on Target feels like such a classic Agatha Raisin mystery. A quaint village celebration. Agatha regularly losing her temper. An incompetent local police force. A genuinely interesting mystery with plenty of twists and turns. It's the basic ingredients that have carried the series along for so many books.

Yet R.W. Green has made Agatha and her cadre of investigative usuals feel fresher than ever. The writing is tighter. There's a clearer vision of the case at hand, and the justification for Agatha running her own investigation is compelling. Even the subplot involving Agatha's potential relationships with the dashing men in her life has some new energy behind it. Perhaps best of all, Agatha herself has come into her own. There's more confidence in her actions and, though she still has plenty of stumbles with her sleuthing, all of her trademark humor has been amplified.

No need to be defensive—Dead on Target shows Agatha Raisin, with a few refreshing tweaks from R.W. Green, is just as fun as ever.

I really enjoy this series, and this one didn't disappoint. Agatha Raisin is such a fun character. She reminds me a bit of Jessica Fletcher and if you love Murder, She Wrote, you will enjoy these books too. I think anyone who loves a good cozy mystery will like it.

Another murder needs to be solved by Agatha and her friends! A wealthy landowner is found killed by an arrow at the local fete. Roy is in trouble with a mobster who was trying to purchase the landowner’s house. The gang tries to outsmart policeman Wilkes and solve the murder first!

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

I am sure I will be a broken record on this review. I love Agatha Raisin! And I'm so happy that Green is continuing the series with M. C. Beaton's approval! He certainly has my approval.

Agatha is at a fete in a neighboring village and stumbles upon a dead body. Somebody that she had actually just interacted with. There are puppies and bows and arrows, but rest assured that no puppies were harmed during the bow and arrow demonstration. But Agatha finds herself in the middle of a family at war.

The characters - the regulars and the newcomers for the book - are all fantastic and Agatha does what Agatha always does. This is a great addition to the series.

My thanks for Beaton and Green for the continuation of the wonderful series!

This is Beaton's 34th Agatha Raisin book - thirty fourth. I haven't paid any attention to how long she's been utilizing the services of another author (or if, in fact Green is the person who actually wrote this book, a la the way Agatha Christie novels continue to be written*). It's got to be getting hard to come up with new story ideas, new ways to kill people off and bury the mystery of who-done-it into a book. I've noticed in the past few books that more and more characters are being introduced into Agatha's circle, giving the author(s) more to play with. And, over time, there has started to be more of a softness to Agatha. Yes, she's still incredibly self-centered and absorbed in her appearance. But we're seeing more affection for those around her.

As with any series (book or t.v.) that lasts any length of time at all, particularly those set in small town areas, it begins to stretch credulity that so many murders would occur in so small a place. Perhaps it's because the police, at some level, see so inept - maybe would-be murders have no fear of being caught? Perhaps it's because these particular areas seem to draw in people who can be murdered without much being missed.

The beauty of the Agatha Raisin books is that you never have to have read the previous books to enjoy the book; but for those who have, it's always a pleasure to get to know the characters that much better. Will it win any awards? Not likely. Do these books always make for lively entertainment, the kind of thing that it's complete froth but also clears the mind after meatier reads. I enjoyed it, as I usually do, and I'm almost certain to pick up book #35 when it appears.

*Yes, in fact, Beaton has selected Green to carry on writing Agatha's stories.

A delightful cozy mystery! I enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy mysteries or stories with an amateur sleuth, and do not need the graphic reality with descriptions of gore and violence, this is a good choice. You can follow the clues to solve the mystery without any threat of nightmares.

Another excellent Agatha Raisin mystery to enjoy! As with all the other books in this series you will not want to put it down! A stray arrow or murder? What will Agatha do when she becomes the suspect? An all-around entertaining read that I enjoyed from cover to cover!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for accepting my request to read and review Dead on Target on NetGalley.

A fun cozy where the main character actually is a private investigator with her own business. Agatha reminded me of a modern day snarky Margaret Rutherford Miss. Marple.

This is book #34 in the series and my first read. Early on I enjoyed the change of pace and could see myself picking up another when I had few choices. While fun, there wasn't a magnet draw for me.

It was clean with no foul language. I would gift this.

The latest installment in the Agatha Raisin series is just as unique and hilarious as the previous mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I can't begin to tell you how much I love this series! I was concerned that the voice of Agnes would change with the loss of M. C. Beaton, but R. W. Green has captured her beautifully.
In this story, Agnes must find the murderer before she is arrested for the crime herself. Meanwhile she solves a few more cases and juggles romances.
Excellent story!

This was another adorable Agatha Raisin read. I loved how spunky she is. Now that I've seen the show, I have he actor in my mind whenever I read these and it really adds to the fun. This mystery was well done. I like that it starts with the puppies helping find it and, from there, Agatha is off racing. I thought the police were a little silly, almost too bumbling, but I loved Agatha's word-sparring with them and the fun of the interview room. I did like the twists. I had guesses on what was going on and I enjoyed the adventure of it. Another fun read! I highly recommend it as an audio, the narrator was great!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This was a fun read. I’ve watched the Agatha Raisin television show, but I’ve never read any of the books. It was fun diving into a familiar setting where I knew most of the characters, although I was surprised Agatha wasn’t intended to be a blonde!

TV or book, Agatha has once again found herself in hot water. Her private investigation firm is up and running. She attends yet another village festival. This time she has the opportunity to try her hand at archery and unfortunately also finds the body of a man with an arrow piercing his chest. She becomes the top suspect and must clear her own name and solve the crime.

Great read for anyone who loves British cozies.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Dead on Target from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think R.W. Green has done a great job taking over the Agatha Raisin franchise. She has changed a little bit, but in understandable ways - she's still very feisty, but I don't get nearly as frustrated with her. This was a good entry in the series (and a fine stand alone) story - when Agatha finds a body that has been killed by an arrow, she is compelled (of course) to investigate. The mystery is ok, but to me the favorite part of these books has always been the interplay of characters.