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Lily Bard #4
Shakespeare's Trollop
The Barnes & Noble Review
Welcome back to Shakespeare, a charming little place in rural Arkansas filled with eccentric characters, small-town secrets, and captivating criminal conundrums. For more than four years now, Lily Bard has made her home in Shakespeare, cleaning houses for a living and honing her fighting skills at the local karate dojo. It hasn't been easy for Lily to put her tragic past behind her, but after years of prickly isolation she's finally beginning to build some real relationships. She has a lover she adores and friends who are more than sparring partners.
Welcome back to Shakespeare, a charming little place in rural Arkansas filled with eccentric characters, small-town secrets, and captivating criminal conundrums. For more than four years now, Lily Bard has made her home in Shakespeare, cleaning houses for a living and honing her fighting skills at the local karate dojo. It hasn't been easy for Lily to put her tragic past behind her, but after years of prickly isolation she's finally beginning to build some real relationships. She has a lover she adores and friends who are more than sparring partners.
Then one day, while walking down an unmarked road, an unexpected flash of bright red catches her eye, and Lily immediately senses that something is very wrong. Her worst fears come to pass when the flash of red turns out to be a car holding the naked remains of Deedra Dean, one of Lily's cleaning clients and a lifelong Shakespeare resident with a well-earned reputation for cheerful amateur promiscuity.
Cleaning up houses is Lily's job, and cleaning up crime is a matter for the police -- especially in when the list of suspects is long and evidence is in short supply. But Shakespeare is a small town. The police have questions, Lily's friends have concerns, and Deedra's mother hires Lily to sort through her daughter's belongings. Among the detritus of the dead girl's life, Lily finds not only proof of Deedra's secret sins but dangerous evidence of darker crimes. Charlaine Harris (who is also the author of the popular Aurora Teagarden mysteries) is sure to captivate readers with this fourth cleverly crafted and compelling Lily Bard adventure. Sue Stone
7 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2000
208 people are currently reading
4918 people want to read
About the author
Charlaine Harris
319Ìýbooks36.7kÌýfollowersCharlaine Harris has been a published writer for over forty years. Her first two books were standalones, followed by a long sabbatical when she was having children. Then she began the Aurora Teagarden book, mysteries featuring a short librarian (eventually adapted for Hallmark movies). The darker Lily Bard books came next, about a house cleaner with a dark past and considerable fighting skills.
Tired of abiding by the mystery rules, Harris wrote a novel about a telepathic barmaid that took at least two years to sell. When the book was published, it turned into a best seller, and DEAD UNTIL DARK and the subsequent Sookie books were adapted in Alan Ball's "True Blood" series. At the same time, Harris began the Harper Connelly books. Harper can find the bones of the dead and see their last minute.
When those two series wound to a close, the next three books were about a mysterious town in Texas, called Midnight.
A change in publisher and editor led to Harris's novels about a female gunslinger in an alternate America, Lizbeth Rose. The Gunnie Rose books concluded with the sixth novel.
She's thinking about what to write next.
Tired of abiding by the mystery rules, Harris wrote a novel about a telepathic barmaid that took at least two years to sell. When the book was published, it turned into a best seller, and DEAD UNTIL DARK and the subsequent Sookie books were adapted in Alan Ball's "True Blood" series. At the same time, Harris began the Harper Connelly books. Harper can find the bones of the dead and see their last minute.
When those two series wound to a close, the next three books were about a mysterious town in Texas, called Midnight.
A change in publisher and editor led to Harris's novels about a female gunslinger in an alternate America, Lizbeth Rose. The Gunnie Rose books concluded with the sixth novel.
She's thinking about what to write next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 541 reviews
April 23, 2019
This is the fourth book in the Lily Bard series and while I really enjoyed the first two books, at this point I think the series is starting to run its course. Lily is such a tough and strong female character but unfortunately her cattiness and victim blaming was on display much more in this book than her positive attributes.
Lily cleans houses and businesses for a living and she is shocked when she discovers the dead body of one of her clients. It's pretty clear to Lily when she finds Deedra in a parked car in the woods, she was murdered. Who killed Deedra and why?
Deedra liked sleeping with men and it's something she did quite often. This book was first published almost 20 years ago and that is something I had to keep reminding myself while reading. Maybe this story would have been written differently by the author if it came out today. It is so weird because it seems like the author was aware of the fact just because a woman sleeps around, it doesn't mean she deserves to die but yet there still seemed to be a lot of victim blaming going on throughout the story. Between that and the cattiness of Lily, I just didn't enjoy this book as much as others in the series.
Lily cleans houses and businesses for a living and she is shocked when she discovers the dead body of one of her clients. It's pretty clear to Lily when she finds Deedra in a parked car in the woods, she was murdered. Who killed Deedra and why?
Deedra liked sleeping with men and it's something she did quite often. This book was first published almost 20 years ago and that is something I had to keep reminding myself while reading. Maybe this story would have been written differently by the author if it came out today. It is so weird because it seems like the author was aware of the fact just because a woman sleeps around, it doesn't mean she deserves to die but yet there still seemed to be a lot of victim blaming going on throughout the story. Between that and the cattiness of Lily, I just didn't enjoy this book as much as others in the series.
January 27, 2016
"But it was not her weakness that had caused her death; it was one of her strengths that had killed her."
Many readers have been turned off by the disparaging inner thoughts from the main character, Lily, about victim's lifestyles and "slut shaming." I've seen from reviews that some wouldn't even continue the series. Now, I wouldn't stop the series over something such as that since I know many books start with a character that needs to grow more into realization and knowledge. This book highlights the annoyances so many hold about Lily, not apologizing and actually enhancing the prejudice.
Shakespeare's trollop is even named after the 'town trollop' that Lily mentally disses in each book. I'm not a fan of slut shaming either, but Harris did make it clear the victim has always been ridiculous undiscriminating with who she sleeps with, how often, the toys, the tapes. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel, however, as Lily closes her eyes on the last page, thinking deeper about Deedra and her life.
There was a scene that especially irked me. Lily felt violated and angry about Deedra's death eventually, and in one scene was angry while using her anger against the punching bag. She was trying to reassure herself by saying, "She was nothing," "She was nothing," while punching. That's a low blow. Deedra may have been slutty by Lily's terms, but a nothing because of that? For shame, Lily. For shame, Harris.
There's not a high mystery this time around either. Lily ponders here and there but does not do actual snooping. Things just kind of fall into place as she encounters a situation after another.
There is a development with Jack, of course, that's big for Lily. I'm not feeling realism in their relationship or spark from him. Claude and Carrie are sweet and that development was quick. The villains turned out very surprising, as the person's been around for awhile and this kind of came out of nowhere. That said, it wasn't unrealistic because of that....but it was impossible for a mystery reader to ever guess. It was more of a thriller/suspense book shock ending, not a reasonable conclusion a detective could solve until one of the last page clues.
Many readers have been turned off by the disparaging inner thoughts from the main character, Lily, about victim's lifestyles and "slut shaming." I've seen from reviews that some wouldn't even continue the series. Now, I wouldn't stop the series over something such as that since I know many books start with a character that needs to grow more into realization and knowledge. This book highlights the annoyances so many hold about Lily, not apologizing and actually enhancing the prejudice.
Shakespeare's trollop is even named after the 'town trollop' that Lily mentally disses in each book. I'm not a fan of slut shaming either, but Harris did make it clear the victim has always been ridiculous undiscriminating with who she sleeps with, how often, the toys, the tapes. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel, however, as Lily closes her eyes on the last page, thinking deeper about Deedra and her life.
There was a scene that especially irked me. Lily felt violated and angry about Deedra's death eventually, and in one scene was angry while using her anger against the punching bag. She was trying to reassure herself by saying, "She was nothing," "She was nothing," while punching. That's a low blow. Deedra may have been slutty by Lily's terms, but a nothing because of that? For shame, Lily. For shame, Harris.
There's not a high mystery this time around either. Lily ponders here and there but does not do actual snooping. Things just kind of fall into place as she encounters a situation after another.
There is a development with Jack, of course, that's big for Lily. I'm not feeling realism in their relationship or spark from him. Claude and Carrie are sweet and that development was quick. The villains turned out very surprising, as the person's been around for awhile and this kind of came out of nowhere. That said, it wasn't unrealistic because of that....but it was impossible for a mystery reader to ever guess. It was more of a thriller/suspense book shock ending, not a reasonable conclusion a detective could solve until one of the last page clues.
May 17, 2010
I've discovered that one of the things I like about all of Charlaine Harris series is that the characters change, and grow.
When we first meet Lily Bard in the first book of the series she is an almost totally isolated victim of a horrific crime. But almost without her noticing it some things have changed. She is no longer running from town to town trying to be invisible. She has created a cleaning business from scratch, even though she calls herself a maid and even though she only has one "employee", herself. She has put down roots and bought a house. She has joined a gym and is making herself someone who is no longer a victim by learning how to protect herself with karate and weight lifting.
In that book she also begins to make some real friends and also begins to date.
By book four, she has become part of the life of her town. And she isn't invisible any more. Her life has become entangled in the lives of the other town members. This time the body belongs to one of the people she cleans for. And she spends the entire book being entangled with the County Sheriff and the mystery of who Deedra Dean really is really going on with Deedra's extended family.
Her personal life also changes as her friendships entangle her with life and as her love for Jack intensifies.
When we first meet Lily Bard in the first book of the series she is an almost totally isolated victim of a horrific crime. But almost without her noticing it some things have changed. She is no longer running from town to town trying to be invisible. She has created a cleaning business from scratch, even though she calls herself a maid and even though she only has one "employee", herself. She has put down roots and bought a house. She has joined a gym and is making herself someone who is no longer a victim by learning how to protect herself with karate and weight lifting.
In that book she also begins to make some real friends and also begins to date.
By book four, she has become part of the life of her town. And she isn't invisible any more. Her life has become entangled in the lives of the other town members. This time the body belongs to one of the people she cleans for. And she spends the entire book being entangled with the County Sheriff and the mystery of who Deedra Dean really is really going on with Deedra's extended family.
Her personal life also changes as her friendships entangle her with life and as her love for Jack intensifies.
April 10, 2019
I keep reading the series as there is just something about Lily that I like ; and the way Harris writes characters makes her books so appealing and hard to put down.
It is just that the way the people in this town treat anyone who is different ; and the way they treat women ; is really quite awful and gives me that love/hate feeling about the series. I will finish the last book soon and hope for a bright and shiny ending to Lily's tale :)
It is just that the way the people in this town treat anyone who is different ; and the way they treat women ; is really quite awful and gives me that love/hate feeling about the series. I will finish the last book soon and hope for a bright and shiny ending to Lily's tale :)
August 8, 2012
Alas poor Deedra, we knew her well. This fourth book in the Lily Bard series is Deedra's story in the worst way, as Lily finds her dead and violated in her car at the beginning of the story. Since fans of the series know Deedra, town slut and one of Lily's employers, from the first three books it has an extra poignancy and the depth it adds to the mystery is another reason why I think this series is Charlaine Harris at her best. Lily Bard is a rape survivor with PTSD, making her way in a small southern town, cleaning houses and building up her fighting skills so that she will never, ever be victimized again. Lily has complicated feelings towards Deedra and knowing full well that you don't blame the victim for the crime she looks further into a case that pretty much everyone assumes is just the outcome of Deedra's promiscuous ways. The investigation takes her through the complex web of small town relationships, and I found it entirely satisfying. I love this series and I love the way it is read, with a world-weary doggedness that encapsulates Lily's approach to life.
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May 17, 2015I was so wrong and glad I revisted this book. Thanks for all the commentators who gently advised me to ride the book out. A full review soon.
**
I am giving this another chance but commentators to my review has said that the comment that bothered me is actually examined further on in the book. Plus I miss Harris at her best.
Origianl thoughts:
I am not going to rate this because I am only maybe 30 minutes in to listening to this audio. But I can't finish it given the comments by the main protaganist indicating that a murdered woman put herself in line for this happening because she was promiscuous.
**
I am giving this another chance but commentators to my review has said that the comment that bothered me is actually examined further on in the book. Plus I miss Harris at her best.
Origianl thoughts:
I am not going to rate this because I am only maybe 30 minutes in to listening to this audio. But I can't finish it given the comments by the main protaganist indicating that a murdered woman put herself in line for this happening because she was promiscuous.
February 12, 2023
Dobre na odstresowanie po ciężkim dniu.
June 13, 2024
Deedra Dean, Shakespeare’s favorite good-time girl, has been murdered. She was left naked and violated in her car in the woods, unfortunately found by poor Lily Bard. Why was Deedra killed? One of her many boytoys? Or was it related to her great-grandfather’s will? Or yet something else?
Author Charlaine Harris doesn’t disappoint, and this fourth novel in the series is no exception. I loved the twisty plot and the evolution of Lily’s relationship with detective Jack Leeds. I can’t recommend this page-turner highly enough. (Those new to the series will be fine, but , newbies, do yourself a favor and at least read the debut to this series, Shakespeare’s Landlord first, and you’ll enjoy the book much, much more.
Author Charlaine Harris doesn’t disappoint, and this fourth novel in the series is no exception. I loved the twisty plot and the evolution of Lily’s relationship with detective Jack Leeds. I can’t recommend this page-turner highly enough. (Those new to the series will be fine, but , newbies, do yourself a favor and at least read the debut to this series, Shakespeare’s Landlord first, and you’ll enjoy the book much, much more.
December 23, 2013
I hated this book. This series hasn't been a great series. Interesting enough to keep reading, and I did because I don't like to start series and not finish them
This one infuriated me.
Charlaine Harris is a survivor of rape. The lead character, Lily Bard, is a survivor of a brutal gang rape and stabbing. Yet, this character, in this book, engaged in so much much slut shaming and victim blaming.
This one infuriated me.
Charlaine Harris is a survivor of rape. The lead character, Lily Bard, is a survivor of a brutal gang rape and stabbing. Yet, this character, in this book, engaged in so much much slut shaming and victim blaming.
May 23, 2023
I really like Lily! She's feisty and fun and super smart. The fact that she had to run away from something that was done to instead of something done by her just makes her that much more likable. She is so unflinchingly independent that you can't pity her.
One of my favorite things about Charlaine Harris' female characters is just how real they are. They work for their living and Harris doesn't let you forget it. Lily is no exception. It's that very work that seems to always put her on the spot, in the thick of things! She is just so observant, and like I said before, smart.
This was just one more little mystery for Lily to solve and she does so on the last five pages, just like always. I love reading these and it feels like coffee with an old friend, but they are pretty formulaic. Won't keep me from reading the next one, though!
One of my favorite things about Charlaine Harris' female characters is just how real they are. They work for their living and Harris doesn't let you forget it. Lily is no exception. It's that very work that seems to always put her on the spot, in the thick of things! She is just so observant, and like I said before, smart.
This was just one more little mystery for Lily to solve and she does so on the last five pages, just like always. I love reading these and it feels like coffee with an old friend, but they are pretty formulaic. Won't keep me from reading the next one, though!
February 29, 2016
Difficult book to finish. lily is so judgemental and just really awful that I don't like her anymore. She's consistently horrible and snappy to everyone and obsessed about herself and her needs to the exclusion of all others.
I'm unlikely to continue the series.
I'm unlikely to continue the series.
August 16, 2023
Największy minus tych książek? Są strasznie krótkie! A ja nie wierzę, że został mi tylko jeden tom przygód Lily Bard! Kobiety na wskroś nieidealnej, jedynej w swoim rodzaju i wiecznie pakującej się w kłopoty. No bo kto inny, jak nie Lily może nadziać się na rozkładające się ciało swojej pracodawczyni, wracając do domu?
Świetnie się bawiłam podczas słuchania, chociaż nie popieram niektórych decyzji Lily i w wielu innych na pewno bym się z nią nie zgodziła, ale myślę, że spokojnie mogłybyśmy zostać przyjaciółkami :). I owszem, często łapię się na myśli, że dana sytuacja albo zbieg wydarzeń jest aż nazbyt nierealny, ale wiecie? I don't care, bo bawię się wyśmienicie i nie jestem gotowa na zakończenie tej serii.
Świetnie się bawiłam podczas słuchania, chociaż nie popieram niektórych decyzji Lily i w wielu innych na pewno bym się z nią nie zgodziła, ale myślę, że spokojnie mogłybyśmy zostać przyjaciółkami :). I owszem, często łapię się na myśli, że dana sytuacja albo zbieg wydarzeń jest aż nazbyt nierealny, ale wiecie? I don't care, bo bawię się wyśmienicie i nie jestem gotowa na zakończenie tej serii.
December 17, 2017
I just finished this audiobook. I've followed some of Charlaine Harris's works in the past and thought I'd give her another try. This is an entirely different genre than what I've read before. There is no paranormal activity at all.
Lily Bard has the misfortune to discover the naked body of Shakespeare’s trollop, Deedra Dean, in her car in the woods. As the new sheriff, Marta Schuster investigates the list of possible suspects which seems unbelievable. Given Deedra’s promiscuity, and includes her own brother, Marlon, lately close to Deedra. Lily’s cleaning job leads her to talk to many Shakespeare residents, and she begins to wonder if the staging of the body to look like a sexual crime. In this version, Jack and Lily’s relationship progresses enough for her to declare her love. Lily’s decides she wants to stay in Shakespeare, she likes having friends and a steady relationship, she is stronger and sees herself less a victim. Harris has created a very likable heroine with standards and principles, wisdom and thoughtfulness. The plot had enough twists to keep the reader engrossed, and the dialogue is realistic and often humorous. Recommend if you like this type of reading. I once again didn't get a #1. The libraries rarely have them.
Lily Bard has the misfortune to discover the naked body of Shakespeare’s trollop, Deedra Dean, in her car in the woods. As the new sheriff, Marta Schuster investigates the list of possible suspects which seems unbelievable. Given Deedra’s promiscuity, and includes her own brother, Marlon, lately close to Deedra. Lily’s cleaning job leads her to talk to many Shakespeare residents, and she begins to wonder if the staging of the body to look like a sexual crime. In this version, Jack and Lily’s relationship progresses enough for her to declare her love. Lily’s decides she wants to stay in Shakespeare, she likes having friends and a steady relationship, she is stronger and sees herself less a victim. Harris has created a very likable heroine with standards and principles, wisdom and thoughtfulness. The plot had enough twists to keep the reader engrossed, and the dialogue is realistic and often humorous. Recommend if you like this type of reading. I once again didn't get a #1. The libraries rarely have them.
February 1, 2019
This is #4 in the series and it was a good mystery and good fun. I can always read these in a day or two and it's nice to put away a shorter novel or "cozy" between longer works. Lily is growing and changing, and I'm not sure I'm on board with her future plans right now. But she's still a hard worker and that pays off in this outing. She's also clever and easy for me to root for. Not sure how many more are left in the series, but I intend to read them. If you also want to try them, be sure to go in order.
October 26, 2019
Lily confronts her feelings about relationships and vulnerability, making a connection with young Bobo and then a commitment to Jack, while examining her feelings about the sexually promiscuous woman who was her client and is now a murder victim. It's not really about the mystery, although the clues are there (as I noticed while listening to this, as a reread).
February 16, 2021
ocr:
p13: Since Deedra had been in her twenties, the mere fact that she was dead should have been shocking, but there again... it wasn't.
AMW, huh? Lily is starting to grow on me. I need Roe to make a comeback.
p13: Since Deedra had been in her twenties, the mere fact that she was dead should have been shocking, but there again... it wasn't.
AMW, huh? Lily is starting to grow on me. I need Roe to make a comeback.
December 29, 2020
I simply love Lily Bard mysteries. I know this is truly a character who is not everyone’s taste but she rings my bell, she keeps me focused, I just wanna make sure she’s safe. I’m frustrated I can’t explain what it is I like about this character. I guess that’s why I’m a reader and Charlene Harris is a writer.
June 30, 2012
Although I actually correctly predicted who the killer was this time, which is unusual for this series of books as it's usually fairly well hidden, I could not have foreseen why she was killed or the other circumstances which led to her death. There were certainly many other events which took me by surprise in this one too.
I am enjoying this series tremendously. I love Lily Bard and the way her character is developing through the series. I like Jack and he is obviously the right person for Lily, however, it would also have worked for me if she'd stayed with Marshall, the hot karate sensei!
Now reading the final book of the series, after reading them all one after another, I feel sad it is the last. It's been good to read one after another as the stories link smoothly to one another. There is enough character development and variety in plot to give each book individuality and keep the storylines fresh, yet the subtle references to previous events ensure that each book can be read in isolation while not missing key information and that readers going through the series one book after the other, as I am, do not have to plough through the same recap of events each time.
How will the series end? I'm excited to find out!
I am enjoying this series tremendously. I love Lily Bard and the way her character is developing through the series. I like Jack and he is obviously the right person for Lily, however, it would also have worked for me if she'd stayed with Marshall, the hot karate sensei!
Now reading the final book of the series, after reading them all one after another, I feel sad it is the last. It's been good to read one after another as the stories link smoothly to one another. There is enough character development and variety in plot to give each book individuality and keep the storylines fresh, yet the subtle references to previous events ensure that each book can be read in isolation while not missing key information and that readers going through the series one book after the other, as I am, do not have to plough through the same recap of events each time.
How will the series end? I'm excited to find out!
February 19, 2014
a LOT of victim blaming in this one. apparently sleeping with more than a dozen men in years means you're basically asking to be raped, mutilated and left dead in the woods. i'm aware that this was published 14 years ago and attitudes toward sexual assault have come a long way in that time, but there's still no excuse for the ridicule doled out by the main character and everyone around her towards the murdered girl in this novel. Lily makes the unconvincing statement at the end that because Deedra's death resulted from a 'strength' of hers (efficient use of a VHS recorder) rather than her 'weakness' (promiscuity), she didn't actually deserve the contempt heaped on her. this means next to nothing to Lily however, and she resolves to continue thinking of Deedra how she did when the girl was alive - still with contempt. how that makes sense, or excuses any of the victim blaming (from a main character which has undergone rape and mutilation herself!), i don't know. i'll read the last one in this series, as i want to know what happens with Lily in the end, but I've lost a good deal of respect for her character.
August 10, 2016
The fourth outing for Lily Bard (and my fourth in three days), this was as easily readable as its predecessors, but also managed to irritate me more than some of the others thanks to Lily's constant judgement of the victim, the titular town 'trollop' (the title in itself winds me up some) Deedra Dean.
Throughout the series Lily has very much disapproved of Deedra's lifestyle, with many visits from many men, but when she finds Deedra's naked body in her car in the woods, Lily's judgement ramps up even more. Whether blaming Deedra for getting murdered (which she obviously assumes is because she liked sex) or telling herself that 'she was nothing' when wondering why she cares about her death, Lily seemed to constantly be looking for new ways to make me twitch. And Lily doesn't so much do any investigating this time around, but merely be in the right place at the right time for the answers to fall into place around her.
As I'm still feeling cruddy, I know I'll now be reading the next (last?) in the series, but that'll be it for me and Harris again for a while.
Throughout the series Lily has very much disapproved of Deedra's lifestyle, with many visits from many men, but when she finds Deedra's naked body in her car in the woods, Lily's judgement ramps up even more. Whether blaming Deedra for getting murdered (which she obviously assumes is because she liked sex) or telling herself that 'she was nothing' when wondering why she cares about her death, Lily seemed to constantly be looking for new ways to make me twitch. And Lily doesn't so much do any investigating this time around, but merely be in the right place at the right time for the answers to fall into place around her.
As I'm still feeling cruddy, I know I'll now be reading the next (last?) in the series, but that'll be it for me and Harris again for a while.
June 25, 2017
3 1/2 stars out of five. I liked this better than the second. Not quite as much as I liked Shakespeare's Christmas, more than Shakespeare's Champion. I did enjoy Lily's growing realization that Deedra Deen's promiscuity did not cause her murder and that no woman deserves to die like that no matter who she has sex with. In the previous novels and in the early parts of this one Lilly was often extremely judgmental of Deedra's choices even though they were none of her business. I was a bit surprised at the scene between Bobo and Lily, I thought that crush went only one way.
I read the Midnight Crossing books a couple of months ago. It was nice to see that Bobo did grow into a good man, and I think that is why I started reading this series. I had read a couple of them years ago and I barely remembered them. It was nice to read all of them back to back in less than a week and see the progression of Lily's character.
I read the Midnight Crossing books a couple of months ago. It was nice to see that Bobo did grow into a good man, and I think that is why I started reading this series. I had read a couple of them years ago and I barely remembered them. It was nice to read all of them back to back in less than a week and see the progression of Lily's character.
May 7, 2015
Reread of this book.
Not my favourite in the series but deals with some very important topics. Many of the low star reviews on goodreads come from people who haven't fully understood or fully read the book. Charmaine Harris was tackling difficult issues in this whole series, writing about them almost 2 decades ago when many of the issues were viewed as secretive and closed door issues. I only give 3 stars because I like to enjoy my books throughly and this deals with such hard issues and is a bit too close to my heart on many points that I loved the mystery and the relationships but just couldn't enjoy the dark aspects of the real issues being addressed.
A book to read and to learn from.
Not my favourite in the series but deals with some very important topics. Many of the low star reviews on goodreads come from people who haven't fully understood or fully read the book. Charmaine Harris was tackling difficult issues in this whole series, writing about them almost 2 decades ago when many of the issues were viewed as secretive and closed door issues. I only give 3 stars because I like to enjoy my books throughly and this deals with such hard issues and is a bit too close to my heart on many points that I loved the mystery and the relationships but just couldn't enjoy the dark aspects of the real issues being addressed.
A book to read and to learn from.
October 14, 2017
Clearly when the author wrote this, she had serious body issues. There is outright distaste for any female with the most remote hint of a figure or attention paid to her by a male for her figure. The character development is non-existent, and the plot is thready at best. While the author has finally moved away from her continued use of the n----- word, if this is the best that can be said for the book? Well, there's something wrong there.
March 19, 2021
The Lily Bard books are always a good read. The mysteries are interesting and I do like Lily; it's been a developing process watching her grow and move on from the issues that she experienced before her move to Shakespeare, Ark. It's unfortunate that the series is finished as I would have enjoyed seeing more of her and her friends. Good, solid read.
October 14, 2024
This is my first Lily Bard - and it's the second last in the series, which is never ideal - but its been sitting on the shelf for ages so I thought I'd have a read. And I enjoyed it. In fact I'm going straight on to the next one. I suspect that the resolution to at least one of the earlier books may have been spoilt though!
June 29, 2012
I didn't like this one as much because Lily was so damn judgemental of the "trollop" that it annoyed me and took me out of the book. I see that it's true to her character but it still rubbed me the wrong way.
December 29, 2019
So, Lily found the corpse and then did a lot of cleaning and then she was there when the killer decided to reveal the reason why. It was a "pull out of the hat" ending. I saw better, more believable (and fairer) possibilities.
June 26, 2016
I didn't really appreciate the victim blaming and slut shaming going on in this one.
June 4, 2017
Didn't even finish it.
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