Agatha Raisin dodges slings and arrows in “Dead on Target”
M.C. Beaton, with R.W. Green, hits the bulls-eye with her latest, and 36th, Agatha Raisin mystery, “Dead on Target” (Minotaur). Feisty, middle-aged Agatha is attending the Carsely Village fete when she’s enticed to participate in an archery exhibition presented by the Anscombe Archers. Before a large crowd, Agatha nails the golden circle with her bow and arrow, but this is just the beginning. Afterward on a walk in the adjoining woods, she stumbles upon the body of a wealthy landowner, Sir Godfrey Pride, who has been shot with an arrow. Miraculously, Sir Godfrey is still alive. He whispers a cryptic message to Agatha and dies in her arms. Sir Godfrey had wanted to professionally meet with Agatha before his death, and now the reason for the meeting will remain a mystery along with the identity of his killer.
However, her nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, has other ideas. He believes that this death scene scenario provides proof that, along with the intended meeting, Agatha is the prime suspect in Pride’s murder. Desperate for a reason to pin the murder on her, Wilkes argues that one of her stray arrows from the exhibition accomplished the evil deed.
Determined to clear her name, Agatha and her quirky investigative team—Toni, Patrick, and Simon, set out to uncover the real killer. They quickly discover that Pride’s son and daughter are at war over Sir Godfrey’s vast land holdings, and the siblings are fraught with inheritance issues, infidelity, and paternity scandals. An dangerous London gangster named Freddy Evans is mixed up in the plot when Agatha’s former protégé Roy Silver reveals that Sir Godfrey backed out of a real estate development deal with Evans, which Roy was brokering. In “Dead on Target,” there are more suspects than arrows in a quiver, with motives as deadly as their tips.
While on the hunt and fending off Wilkes’ wild accusations, Agatha still has time for love. She strategically juggles the three men in her life—the reliable and lecherous Sir Charles Fraithe, her loyal ex-husband James Lacey, and her current beau and dance partner Detective John Glass. Each suitor holds a special place in her life, but with whom will she share a future?
As in all Agatha Raisin mysteries, mayhem trails Agatha throughout the murder investigation. Neither fashion disasters, nor pesky reporters, nor the sales of fake sporting team apparel will deter her hot pursuit of the killer. Once again, Agatha finds her life and freedom imperiled as she ducks Wilkes relentless accusations, and the flight of arrows at every turn.
“Dead on Target” proves, once more, that Beaton is the gold standard of cozy English village mysteries. She and her co-author, R.W. Green, provide a fun and fast read where vain and dependable Agatha continues to tickle your funny bone until the last page.
Dead on Target
However, her nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, has other ideas. He believes that this death scene scenario provides proof that, along with the intended meeting, Agatha is the prime suspect in Pride’s murder. Desperate for a reason to pin the murder on her, Wilkes argues that one of her stray arrows from the exhibition accomplished the evil deed.
Determined to clear her name, Agatha and her quirky investigative team—Toni, Patrick, and Simon, set out to uncover the real killer. They quickly discover that Pride’s son and daughter are at war over Sir Godfrey’s vast land holdings, and the siblings are fraught with inheritance issues, infidelity, and paternity scandals. An dangerous London gangster named Freddy Evans is mixed up in the plot when Agatha’s former protégé Roy Silver reveals that Sir Godfrey backed out of a real estate development deal with Evans, which Roy was brokering. In “Dead on Target,” there are more suspects than arrows in a quiver, with motives as deadly as their tips.
While on the hunt and fending off Wilkes’ wild accusations, Agatha still has time for love. She strategically juggles the three men in her life—the reliable and lecherous Sir Charles Fraithe, her loyal ex-husband James Lacey, and her current beau and dance partner Detective John Glass. Each suitor holds a special place in her life, but with whom will she share a future?
As in all Agatha Raisin mysteries, mayhem trails Agatha throughout the murder investigation. Neither fashion disasters, nor pesky reporters, nor the sales of fake sporting team apparel will deter her hot pursuit of the killer. Once again, Agatha finds her life and freedom imperiled as she ducks Wilkes relentless accusations, and the flight of arrows at every turn.
“Dead on Target” proves, once more, that Beaton is the gold standard of cozy English village mysteries. She and her co-author, R.W. Green, provide a fun and fast read where vain and dependable Agatha continues to tickle your funny bone until the last page.
Dead on Target
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