I was expecting something different because I hadn't rad MC Beaton before. It was a quick read and not at all unpleasant but I tend to prefer a bit more dense mystery and a bit less self-centered reflection. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

A perfect addition to the Agatha mystery series. Wonderfully fun characters written in enticing settings. Always a entertaining read with great who done it at the center!

Dead on Target is an Agatha Raison mystery. It takes place in the town of Carsely and Mircester, England. Agatha Raison is a private P.I. who owns her own agency. She has a good group of people who work for her. The village is having a weekend fete. While there she runs into Sir Charles Fraith who owns Barfield House, his family estate. Sir Godfrey Pride who owns Carseworth Manor who is also with him. He is Charles next door neighbor. Sir Godfrey tells her that he would like to discuss something and she gives him her card.. Agatha is eating food behind a tent when she sees the lab puppy that has been loose at the fete. She tries to catch him and he leads her through some bushes where she finds Sir Gregory with an arrow in his chest who dies. She calls her friend, Inspector John Glass who is also at the fete. He contacts his station and Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes comes and takes over the situation. He and Agatha dislike each other. He is determined to make Agatha the prime suspect.. She is determined to clear herself.

Roy Silver, a friend arrives at Agatha's house and tells her that he is there representing Freddie Evans, a gangster. who has been in contact with Sir Godfrey about buying Carseworth Manor.

This is where the story takes off. There is so much going on that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy the story with all the twists and turns to the surprising ending of who and why Sir Godfrey was killed.

I got a kick out of the story with Agatha with her relationship with the men in her life and how vain she is.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

Dead on Target is a very well written cozy mystery. I enjoyed the plot and character dynamics. I recommend this book.

Private detective Agatha Raisin once again crosses swords (or in this case, arrows) with Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes in the 34th entry is this enchanting cozy mystery series. In Dead on Target, Agatha finds a body near a village fete. It’s the house-rich, cash-poor and maid grabbing landowner, Sir Godfrey. He has an arrow in his chest and his pants around his ankles. Since there was an archery demonstration earlier with Agatha as its mostly unwilling star, the DCI immediately suspects an accident. Soon after, Sir Godfrey’s death is ruled a murder. The DCI wastes no time announcing that Agatha is his number one suspect. It doesn’t help that they have had words before about Agatha meddling in police business. Agatha vows to find the real killer with the help of her new man friend, Detective Inspector John Glass.

Dead on Target is a pleasant read. The mystery was well done with plenty of red herrings. Of course, the main joy of reading this series is Agatha herself. Her sarcastic view of life and her resulting cutting dialogue are just delightful. 5 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

I love Agatha Raisin!

The hawk-eyed, sharp-tongued, insatiably curious and colorfully couture Agatha Raisin and her entourage of friends and lovers—past and present—are back.

In Dead on Target, the London P.R. exec turned Cotswold Private Eye is investigating the murder of Sir Godfrey Pride, a lecherous landowner, whose body Agatha discovered with his pants down and an arrow through his chest, during one of those deadly English village fetes that cozy mystery fans read so much about.

Now fools Agatha doesn’t suffer wisely and that includes Carsely’s Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, who believes our heroine is the prime suspect when in reality, she could just be the next victim.

Throw in a gangster, counterfeit merch, ballroom dancing and Agatha in God forbid a Mirchester United Hoodie and track suit and Agatha Raisin and cozy mystery fans are in for a treat – a few laughs, a twisty plot and a satisfying ending.

R.W. Green has done an outstanding job of not only capturing the essence of Agatha’s character but also her cohorts and the village of Carsely that the late M.C. Beaton created 34 books ago.

I highly recommend Dead on Target for all M.C. Beaton/Agatha Raisin fans and lovers of cozy lighthearted, humorous mysteries. I received this advance reader copy from Minotaur Books, courtesy of NetGalley.

The Carsely Village Fete is once again being held on the grounds of Sir Godfrey Pride’s estate. Agatha Raisin has taken the day off to enjoy herself, but once again stumbles on a murder. A puppy that escaped its’ owner spoiled her shot at an archery demonstration. As she attempts to catch him he leads her to the body of Sir Godfrey with an arrow in his chest. DCI Wilkes initially calls it an accident. When it is finally judged to be murder, Agatha becomes his number one suspect. She had been seen talking to him earlier and her business card was in his pocket. Wilkes has never liked Agatha so that is enough evidence for him to take her in for questioning. She considers him incompetent and decides to investigate the murder herself.

Before M.C. Beaton’s death she sat down with R.W. Green to give him background and a clear picture of Agatha Raisin. His foreword is a must read. For anyone new to the series it is a wonderful introduction to Agatha. For long time fans it is a reminder of why we love her. Dead on Target not only shows her adversarial relationship with Wilkes, but brings back her ex-husband James, who suffers a health crisis, and Roy Silver, one of her former assistants. Roy usually shows up when he needs help. In this case his problem relates to Sir Godfrey, his estate and the involvement of an underworld figure who wants the property. Agatha also has a new love interest in DI John Glass. Their mutual love of dancing brought them together but has Agatha finally found a lasting relationship? She is vain and sometimes reckless, but there is also so much to love in this character. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s -Minotaur Books for providing this book for my review.

Reading an Agatha Raisin book is like giving my self a treat! Cozy mystery....but not too cozy....with a wealth of suspects who Agatha must work her way through, and a surprise ending where she again proves that age is no barrier to solving the murders.

Dead on Target: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by MC Beaton and RW Green

256 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date: September 19, 2023

Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Archery, Murder, Private Investigator

Agatha Raisin is at a local fair with friends. She participates in an archery presentation as a volunteer. As she is about to let her first arrow loose, she sees a puppy. Luckily the puppy gets away unharmed. Sir Charles Fraith introduces his friend Sir Godfrey. Pride wo asks if he can meet her later to discuss a possible case.

Agatha notices the puppy going into the woods follows trying to catch him but instead finds the body of Sir Godrey. Since she knew him and was the last one to see him alive, she is the prime suspect. Although DCI Wilks warns her not to get involved, she and her team launch into their own investigation to find the killer.

The story has a fast pace, and the characters are well developed, especially if you have read previous books in the series. It is also written in the third person point of view. I love quirky characters and this book and series are full of them. If you have watched the Agatha Raisin shows on BBC, BritBox, or Acorn and found them getting too silly, I suggest you read the books. They are so much better than the show.

There are 34 books in the Agatha Raisin series. This one, written by Ron Green (who took over the series with Ms. Beaton's blessing) is yet another solid, addition to the series. Agatha is her usual sharp witted, sharp tongued self. The mystery is entertaining with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. It's a fantastic book, and Mr. Green is doing a great job carrying on the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for and advanced digital copy of this book.

Well, Agatha Raisin has not slowed down a bit, despite being, as even she admits, "middle aged". AND, despite the death of M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green carries on splendidly, keeping the author's spirit alive through this series.

Agatha finds herself at the Carseley Village Fete, though it is NOT her "cup of tea". But things get interesting early on when she witnesses an argument between Stephanie and Gerald Pride, with Stephanie threatening to kill someone. So when Agatha later discovers Gerald's father murdered in the woods, she thinks she may know a suspect for the murder. But it turns out there are a LOT of people who might have wanted the old man dead, and the local Detective Chief Inspector seems intent on arresting Agatha for the crime.

There are several separate stories going on, all finally converging in the end to disclose who DID kill the old man and Agatha is, of course, in the midst of all of them, all while keeping three suitors in check.

This was 34th book in the Agatha Raisin series and the first book in the series that I have read. It did work as a stand alone but I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the other books in the series first. I thought that it was a fun, easy read and I found Agatha to be a fun, quirky female lead.

It’s time for the Carsely Village Fete, and Agatha Raisin in there for all the fun. She’s there for the fellowship, to have coffee with her friend, to watch her new beau John Glass as he joins in with the morris dancers, to see the cute Labrador puppies running around, to eat a delicious sausage roll, and to find a man with an arrow going through his heart. Because getting involved in murders is what Agatha Raisin does best.

After watching the demonstration by the Ancombe Archers Club, 6 archers with high tech bows, showing their skills with a quick competition. After, Agatha had the choice of learning more about archery or watching the dog show, she made her way to the archers. After all, as a private detective, she needs to learn about potential weapons when she gets the opportunity. She finds herself with the bow and arrow in her hands as the archers teach her (and the other observers) how to properly shoot an arrow. Her first one gets away from her, as she was momentarily distracted by a puppy. But her second shot hits the target, dead center.

An announcement over the PA lets the fete goers know that a puppy has run away from its owner, who is looking for little Ossian. So when a cute puppy comes to her, begging for some of her sausage roll, Agatha tries to capture the pup to return him to his home. But he has another idea and runs away. Agatha chases after him, finally finding what it was the puppy was trying to show her. It was the body of Sir Godfrey Pride, local landowner. He had an arrow through his heart.

Agatha calls the police right away and keeps an eye on the puppy. And while Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes wants to pin the whole thing on Agatha, she vows to find out who killed Sir Godfrey herself. Add in a couple of troublesome exes, a llama with a bad attitude, counterfeit soccer team merchandise, greedy family members, a London gangster, sexual harassment, a new baby, a fake love letter, the appearance of Agatha’s favorite former assistant Roy, and the usual Cotswolds shin kicking and dwile flonking, and you’ve got yourself a brand new Agatha Raisin murder mystery.

Dead on Target is book 34 in the popular Agatha Raisin series begun by M.C. Beaton and now written by R.W. Green. In this one, Agatha is up to her usual shenanigans, running her detective agency with precision and professionalism while finding herself in the middle of a murder investigation as the main suspect. Along with the murder mystery is the usual array of friends and exes, fashion and food, cats and Cotswolds that make the Agatha Raisin novels so much fun.

I have been a fan of Agatha for many years now, and I love how these stories keep coming my way. These might not be hard-boiled crime novels, but I love the brightness and humor that fill these pages. Reading a new Agatha Raisin is like going to the village fete and getting to see old friends, snack on some tasty treats, laugh a lot, listen to some good gossip, and watch a masterful detective solve a crime or two. It’s always a good time with Agatha, and Dead on Target is no exception. It’s the perfect escape for fall.

Egalleys for Dead on Target were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

When an arrow hits a body of a local landowner in the woods, Agatha is convinced the man was murdered. DCI Wilkes believes that Agatha is the prime suspect. Determined to find the real killer Agatha launches her own investigation. This is a lovely cozy mystery and a real fun read. It also has some humor that kept me reading until the very end. The ending was a good one and Mr. R. W. Green did a great job filling in for M. C. Beaton who has passed away. I will continue to read Agatha Raisin in the future.

Dead on Target is the 34th installment of the long-running Agatha Raisin series-- 34 and going strong, even though the series is now written by R.W. Green whose style lacks some of M.C. Beaton's panache. But it's still good fun. While you'll probably want to read some of the earlier books if this is your first foray into the series, Dead on Target works as a standalone. In this one, the redoubtable Agatha attends a country fete, where her newest suitor shows up in his Morris Dance finery, and Agatha's walk in the woods turns up a dead body. Her nemesis, DCI Wilkes, wants to pin the deed on her, but Agatha investigates-- with the usual detours and results. This is a fun cozy mystery for a rainy fall day.

A classic gem of an English country village cozy mystery !

MC Beaton passed away in December 2019. Fortunately for her readers she chose a successor and collaborator: R W Green to carry on with her Agatha Raisin series. "Dead On Target" is the third book completely written by Green, and it's a good one. He has managed to create a continuity and voice for the whole cast of characters who have survived their creator.

Many of the old and trusted characters are back - Mrs. Bloxby, of course, but also her husband the vicar, Agatha’s staff at the detective agency and the investigating police officers are in the book, and it was so good to revisit them and catch up.
The story was intricate and well- plotted, the murder victim is found at a village fete stabbed not shot by an arrow - he is the current heir and inhabitant of a crumbling local country manor but he wasn’t the nicest employer or father and actual money was always tight - an option to sell on the table may have been the catalyst for this murder. There were plenty of twists and turns. The setting in late summer early fall was nice to read now that it’s exactly that time - I was tabbing nature descriptions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it for an entertaining mystery read.

3.5 stars

A fun fast read. Nice for a change to read a British cozy mystery. Apparently this series has been around for some time as this is the 34th installment. I have not read any of the others but did not find it was necessary in order to enjoy this newest addition. Agatha, the protagonist is a formidable presence in her own bold way. The mystery was different, murder by arrow, accident or not? Agatha doesn't believe it was an accident and sets about to get to the bottom of it all, to the real picture of what happened.

The author of the series has passed away, but the series is continued by another talented writer. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and this offering may well pick up some new followers. Enjoyable and easy to read.

5 Stars to this 34th (!!) Agatha Raisin mystery.

After M.C. Beaton's death, R.W. Green took over writing duties for the Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. Mr. Green has breathed new life into Agatha Raisin, and Dead on Target is a delight (as usual!) to read. The series is set in a small village in the Cotswolds and full of great characters. This mystery is full of fun and plenty of suspects as Agatha investigates the death of a local landowner.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with humor and British flair, don't miss Dead on Target!

Agatha is at it again. She has a new love interest that is helping her on the case. You can't go wrong with this series and you don't have to read them in order.
Thanks to net galley for the ARC and Minotaur Books.

I have read all of M.C. Beaton’s Hamish and Agatha books. And I have read RW Green’s as well. I do think Agatha has toned down a bit under Mr. Green but generally the books are enjoyable. This newest Agatha book comes closest to the ones Ms Beaton wrote. Agatha is getting more upity and more like her old self. I can’t wait to read the next one, I think Mr Green has captured the true Agatha!