shot through the heart
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.
