I’m so happy that RW Green has continued the Agatha Raisin series and love that they worked together on her vision for Agatha. The murders continue to keep Agatha busy and she’s still feisty, but perhaps a bit more friendly. All the old favorite characters make appearances.

Thanks to Net galley for providing this book in exchange for a fair review. I really enjoyed this book. I have not read many in this series but this piqued my interest to explore earlier effort. The writing was enjoyable and the story moved forward smoothly.

Although Agatha Raisin is perpetually in her early 50’s – the Bart Simpson of cozy mysteries – her creator, M.C. Beaton, is with us no more. R.W. Green has taken over, and here’s the problem:

R.W. Green, unfortunately, knows how to write, and as a result he has humanized some of these characters, including James Lacy, Margaret Bloxby, and Agatha herself, giving them depth and compassion. This isn’t a bad thing for those new to the series, but veteran readers know that Margaret would never actually banter with Agatha or anyone else, and James would never string enough words together to make the long declaration he spoke toward the end of the book. Readers must use their own judgment to decide if they like the new, slightly more human Agatha.

M.C. Beaton, after all, was delightfully, unapologetically terrible as a writer – complete disregard for the passing of time; repetitive description of Agatha’s apperance and other phrases bearlike eyes, glossy brown hair that she often “brushed ’til it shone'” and taking shortcuts by killing people off in two sentences or glossing over six months in five words or less – those were Agatha’s creator’s MO. Also, by the way – brushing one’s hair until it shines is absolutely impossible. Brush your hair that hard and you’ve got hair that sticks to your scalp and crackles with static electricity at the same time. It’s not a good look.

Does this mean I didn’t like the book? No! It’s still a good read. It’s not the first Agatha title that this author has written, and Green is as skilled as M.C. Beaton at world building.

R. W. Green is a good writer, and we just have to learn to live with that.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, which is due out in September 2023. I used the ARC to write this honest review.

RW Green certainly has maintain Beaton’s characterizations of Agstha and her friends. He has incorporated Beaton’s quirkness, shrewdness. and sensibility of her characters into his perception of them, I am glad that the Agatha Raisin series continues on with his widely imaginative plots.

M. C. Beaton does not disappoint her fans of Agatha Raisin. Dead On Target kept me riveted throughout the entire read. The archery was a unique addition to the plot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this advanced reader copy and thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity.
Future readers, this book will definitely entertain!
I just reviewed Dead on Target by M. C. Beaton; R.W. Green. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Step into a winter wonderland of mystery and merriment with "Dead on Target," the latest installment of the beloved Agatha Raisin series, now masterfully crafted by R.W. Green. As the snow blankets the picturesque village of Carsley, Agatha finds herself entangled in a festive fiasco when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of the local landowner with a cheeky arrow in an awkward spot. What ensues is an exhilarating adventure that keeps you guessing and chuckling all the way to the final pages.

Agatha Raisin is as delightful and sharp-tongued as ever, and Green captures her essence beautifully, making her feel as real and endearing as if M.C. Beaton herself penned the tale. The characters we've grown to love are back, each one adding their own dash of holiday cheer to the mix. From the quirky villagers to the clueless Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, every page is filled with witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments.

The plot is a sleigh ride of surprises and twists, with a plethora of suspects vying for the title of the true culprit. The author weaves a tapestry of secrets, family feuds, and unscrupulous dealings, creating a festive feast for mystery enthusiasts. And amidst the yuletide mayhem, Agatha's introspection adds a heartwarming touch, making her a character we can all relate to and root for.

"Dead on Target" is a Christmas cracker of a cozy mystery, guaranteed to keep you entertained and guessing until the very end. R.W. Green seamlessly carries on the legacy of M.C. Beaton, serving up a delicious slice of holiday cheer and intrigue. Whether you're a longtime fan of Agatha Raisin or a newcomer eager to dive into the delightful world of Carsley, this book is a must-read for cozy mystery lovers of all ages. So, snuggle up by the fireplace, sip some hot cocoa, and get ready for a jolly good time with Agatha Raisin and her quirky companions!

Ironically I began reading this at the same time I started watching the Agatha Raisin mysteries on BritBox. I could visually imagine the characters from the show. Not sure that is good. I prefer to let the author describe the characters. A light fast read. purely English village mysteries. If that is your kind of story, this is it

First off nice to have another Agatha Raisin advance from NetGalley. As I said in my review of the last Raisin book , the original author MC Beaton died a few years ago and has left her ghost writer RW Green continue the series.
My first cozy series was every Agatha Raisin book in publishing order. I like the continuity following the various characters. With the newest books I feel the author is just cut and pasting the same descriptions of Agatha's such as the Vicars wife Margaret Bloxby, Sir Charles Fraith, Bill Wong, and her ex-husband James Lacey. Even Agatha with her glossy brown bob and bear-like eyes. This book can be read as a stand alone but if you're new to the series, you owe it to yourself to read the beginning because they are written better and the plots are intriguing.
As for Dead on Target--yes, there is a murder at the town faire and Archery is involved.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
It was lovely to be back in Agatha Raisin's world again, she's such a ball of fire, smart and feisty.
This time she finds a man, dying of what seems to be a shot with an arrow. DCI Wilkes, antagonistic towards Agatha as usual, first deems it an accident, then accuses Agatha of being the murderer. Not taking that lying down, Agatha immediately starts her own investigation. The gloves are off and another great read starts!
Definitely recommended!

I was given Dead on Target by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green in exchange for a honest review by NetGalley. This is a lovely, fun read. I have watched the television series, but never read the other books in the series until this one. That will definitely change. This novel was excellent in every way!

We follow the detective, Agatha Raisin, as she discovers the body of a local titled landowner and her search for the killer. You do not have to have read any of the other books in the series to follow along with the plot.

I highly recommend this book for a fun, cozy mystery.

Agatha Raisin is my hero. Always and forever she is an automatic read and if I am so grateful for getting the ARC for Dead on Target from Minotaur Books/St. Martins Press.

Agatha is back again with her usual amount of sugar and spice. My favorite thing about Agatha is that she isn't always lovable. She's sometimes selfish and too vain but she is truly relatable because of those qualities because even if her first thought in a situation is how it may effect her, she usually does the right thing and always loves fiercely.

Dead on Target starts at a local fete and involves archery, a wealthy family of course, a dead body. I enjoyed the pace of the book and found it hard to put down at bedtime. If I had been able to forego my job and feeding my family, I certainly would've read in a day!

I think I prefer the ones in the series that have more interactions between Agatha and the recurring characters than Agatha and the suspects. This one was pretty heavy on the suspects. It was ok but not great.

The last couple of chapters were good but I was especially disappointed with how little Mrs Bloxley there was. I’ll definitely keep reading the series if there are more written.

I like the series so much I READ it on Kindle instead of waiting for an audiobook 🥰

Special thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

A nightmare for Agatha. A murder. A mystery. I like the authors. I like the story. Trying to solve the ending is not easy. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the gifted author.

Agatha Raisin is back with her short temper, insecurities, complicated love life and, oh yes, once again she's the suspect in a murder. What can she do but solve the murder herself? At the annual church fete Agatha is cajoled into trying out archery during a demonstration. Afterwards, while looking for an escaped puppy, she stumbles across the body of Sir Godfrey Pride with an arrow in his chest. He tries to say something to her but dies soon afterwards. As Agatha was recently seen flinging arrows around, as well as being the one who discovered the body, she immediately becomes the number one suspect in the eyes of her arch nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes. Agatha races to find the killer since she has no confidence in the abilities of the not-overly-bright Wilkes. There are no shortage of suspects as Sir Godfrey was considering selling the crumbling family estate to a shady businessman who intended to turn it into a spa hotel. His son Gerald was against the plan and daughter Elizabeth just wanted her share. There were rumors of misconduct involving female servants, possible illegitimate children, and threats of legal action on behalf of some of the women and children. When Agatha's long-term friend Roy Silver shows up, enmeshed in the shady dealings of the businessman who wants to buy the estate, things turn dangerous. Agatha must throw herself into dangerous situations (while looking mostly fabulous) to solve the murder as well as keep on top of her detective agency's usual run-of-the-mill cases.

It is always great to visit Carsley and see what Agatha and her crew have been up to. The only thing I found odd and somewhat off-putting with this latest outing was all of the odd "educational' asides. For instance, the action comes to a screeching halt on numerous occasions as the reader is informed about Morris dancing, the Cotswold "Olympicks," the rudiments and equipment involved in archery, the difference between straw and hay, the history of bedwarmers, etc. It's quite strange and I'm not sure why all that was thrown in (unless it was to pad the word count or something). Aside from that, Agatha is back in action and we even get a few "snakes and bastards!" thrown in for good measure!

This is the 34th in the series; it is the first I have read. I think it worked well as a stand alone. The creator aof the Agatha Raisin series, M .C. Beaton has passed away but the baton of continuing the series has been taken up by R.W. Green who was a friend of and collaborator with Beaton.

In this installment, Agatha, attending a town fair, discovers the body of a local landowner who only moments earlier had told her he wanted to discuss something with her. Was it an accident as the result of an archery exhibition that was part of the fair or was it murder? Her nemesis, DCI Wilkes, wants to charge Agatha with the crime. Of course, despite being warned away by Wilkes, Agatha investigates. There are a a number of suspects with nefarious motives. There is also romance for Agatha, but with which one of her suitors?

Agatha is quite the character….middle aged, competent, humorous, straightforward, and quite vain! The story was an entertaining, engrossing, fast read. I enjoyed meeting the various colorful characters who inhabit the Cotswolds town of Carsley

There are many Agatha Raisin fans out there. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with characters who are a force to be reckoned with and haven’t met her yet, I suggest you do.

What a perfectly wonderful new book in the Agatha Raisin series! This book brings Agatha to an archery competition at the local fete where she tries her hand at drawing back the bow and letting the arrow fly never realizing at the time just how big a part of her life bow and arrows are about to play thanks to a body that turns up a short time later. Agatha, of course, decides to take it upon herself to find out who is responsible for the murder of a local member of the gentry. This story is filled with the usual antics of Agatha, her friend, Roy, fellow detective, Toni, the others in her detective agency, and, of course, the members of the Carsley police department who are also trying to find the killer. As usual, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, wants to pin the crime on none other than Agatha but she manages to deftly stay one step ahead of him in her dangerously high heels. The cast of characters is wonderful, the storyline is fast paced, very interesting, and has moments that make your breath catch in fear and moments that might make you shed a tear or two. One thing you can always say with confidence about Agatha Raisin is that she is interesting ... and so is this book!
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the arc! Another great cozy mystery novel. Loved most of the characters! The author did a great job pulling the reader into the story. Will recommend!

Agatha has a new man and a new problem. Lots of fun and a satisfying ending. This series continues to deliver.

DEAD ON TARGET

I love Agatha Raisin and her friends and allies in Carsely, and I’m so grateful R. W. Green for continuing M. C. Beaton’s series. It was great fun to revisit them all, with twisty cases to solve, humor and romance, and interesting wordplay . . . getting plastered will now have a second meaning for me. It’s especially wonderful to see tough and independent businesswoman Agatha open up to friends and show her nurturing side a little. She is a loyal friend with unexpected tenderness toward those who need some TLC. The lesson is also brought home that we’re stronger, and safer, together and that a bit of flexibility and compromise makes many situations better . . . sorry about all the lovely ruined clothes, though.
This book will come in September . . . one could pass the time reading previous books in the series. Happy reading!

This was a fun and fast-paced read. I liked how the venerability was captured on the main character, Agatha. Her wanting to look best and still caring for her exes makes this a warm-hearted read while searching for clues to the murderer of a lecherous, local landowner. Entertaining mystery read. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC.