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!

MC Beaton was a delightful writer, and I sincerely mourned her when she died. Partly, I was sad for me, because I thought that was the end of Agatha Raisin and Hamish Mavbeth. Fortunately for us devotees, RW Green has picked up the dropped torch and skillfully continued Beaton's work.

Although this is the 34th book in the series, it would read well as a standalone. I am not going to give any spoilers, the publisher has provided a blurb for that. I will say that the plot is interesting and holds the reader's attention. As usual in an Agatha Raisin book there is a lot going on.

I was so pleased to read this book, and so grateful to RW Green for continuing to provide us with Agatha Raisin and the other beloved characters of this series

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: 3.5 rounded up. I devoured the original M.C. Beaton mysteries. These post humous mysteries are perfectly fine, well crafted cozy mysteries. What has been lost is the sly, subtle humor. Agatha used to be a middle aged woman of vanity and insensitivity who could never understand why her new neighbors didn't appreciate her. The "new" Agatha has lost her sharp edges. I read a previous book of the new series and I found this book to be improved. As stand alone cozy mysteries they're great. They're just not M. C. Beaton--but getting a bit closer.

Agatha is suspected of shooting an arrow through the newest victim in the Agatha Raisin series and of course, DCI Wilkes believes Agatha is involved. I enjoyed this story although it’s the first one I’ve read in this series , but I’m going back to start from the beginning so I can catch up!

Reading the latest book in a long-running series as your introduction to the series can be like starting a long-running soap opera on television. The barrage of new characters can be daunting, and the author’s references to earlier works can be puzzling. I hadn’t read any of M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin books before starting the newest in the series, “Dead on Target.” So, I’m trying to look at this objectively, without the benefit of long-time readers’ liking of the author and the characters. On this basis, “Dead on Target” is a decent mystery with some significant issues.

M.C. Beaton was one of many pen names used by the prolific author, Marion Chesney. Under the Beaton name, she wrote 30 novels featuring Agatha Raisin, a retired PR executive turned private eye. Since Beaton died in 2019, another author, Rod (or R.W.) Green has written four more Raisin novels, presumably with the approval of the Chesney estate. So, it’s difficult for me to come into “Dead on Target” fresh and determine how closely Green kept Beaton’s style. All I can say is that I find it hard to believe that this version of Agatha Raisin could have sustained the devoted following the author had in her 30 novels.
In “Dead on Target,” Agatha literally stumbles across the dead body of Sir Godfrey Pride, a local landowner with extensive holdings and more extensive financial problems. She’s attending a local country fair where an amateur archery competition is one of the chief attractions. When she goes for a walk in the nearby woods, she discovers Pride dying of an arrow wound, possibly a stray shot from a competitor. Agatha soon determines that Pride was murdered. The suspects list includes relatives and a shady London entrepreneur trying to make a deal with Archer for some of his properties.

I enjoyed the mystery aspects of “Dead on Target.” Agatha Raisin isn’t a Jessica Fletcher or Miss Marple. She runs a professional detective agency with operatives she assigns to tail various suspects and perform similar PI functions. And her agency has other clients, including a man trying to find a missing llama. I guess that’s the type of case you take if you’re trying to keep several investigators employed in rural England. It’s also the type of case that begs for more comic detail, even though it’s irrelevant to the book’s central mystery. But the author dispenses with it in two pages. The llama’s primary function is to sneeze all over the stylishly dressed Agatha. (It’s a running joke in the book that her attire winds up the worse for wear on several occasions.)

Most of the characters in “Dead on Target” are nondescript stereotypes. Agatha has a new boyfriend, an old boyfriend, and an ailing ex-husband, all of whom appear in the book. None of them made much of an impression. I liked some aspects of Agatha’s character, such as her willingness to lie through her teeth to manipulate an unsavory person. But overall, I didn’t feel the same identification with her as with the best fictional detectives.

While the mystery in “Dead on Target” is good, sleuthing fans will be hard-pressed to identify the killer other than by lucky guesswork. That’s not because of the author creating a brilliant puzzle, but rather because key information is withheld from readers until Agatha reveals it all in the last few chapters. This revelation occurs at a traditional gathering of all the suspects, a get-together that seems contrived here.
Even more contrived is the character of the local police inspector. Dimwitted police who obstruct private investigators are a staple of detective fiction, but Inspector Wilkes here takes dimwittedness to ridiculous levels. He is determined to pin the murder on Agatha (after first assuming it was an accident), but his determination is matched by his idiocy and the degree to which he annoys readers. Wilkes isn’t a good comic or serious foil, just one who detracts from reader enjoyment of “Dead on Target.”

Author Green explains in the book’s Foreword how much he studied Agatha’s character from Beaton’s earlier books and why he involved archery in this book’s plot. He may have done his homework, but the results weren’t quite there for me. This is a good mystery and an occasionally interesting story around it, but not one that would compel me to keep reading Green’s books. (I felt much the same way when reading the new Nero Wolfe books by Robert Goldsborough.) I will try to pick up some of Beaton’s original Agatha stories to see how her character differs from Green’s version. Based on what’s contained in the pages of “Dead on Target,” I’m giving the book a mild recommendation. It hits the edge of the target, but it’s not a bullseye by any means.

NOTE: The publisher graciously gave me a copy of this book. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of that review are entirely my own.

I continue you to enjoy Agatha Raisins adventures and series.Even though there’s been a change in author they still draw me in and keep me entertained.#netgalley #st.martinsbooks