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Lily Bard #5
Shakespeare's Counselor
Cleaning woman and karate expert Lily Bard is a woman with a complicated past. Trying her best to cope with her terrifying memories and horrible nightmares, she decides to join a weekly group therapy session in her hometown of Shakespeare, Arkansas. At first, Lily can hardly believe the number of her fellow Shakespeareans that share her life experiences. As it turns out, the group members' feelings aren't the only things that need sorting out -- they assemble for a session and find a woman dead, killed in bone-chilling fashion and deliberately left on display to send a twisted message. Who would commit such horrendous crime, and who is the intended recipient of the message?Before long, Lily becomes embroiled in this disturbing murder and its aftermath, one in which the brutal killer's motives are entirely unclear. The truth is, the situation has dredged up more than a few of her own terrible secrets, and she may not be able to rest until she can untangle the who and why of this terrible crime. But can she accomplish this before the killer strikes again, and before her nightmares send her over the edge? Shakespeare's Counselor is the most complex and absorbing installment yet in Charlaine Harris's engaging, original, and more than slightly dark mystery series.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2001
212 people are currently reading
4795 people want to read
About the author
Charlaine Harris
203 books37k followersCharlaine 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 572 reviews
April 23, 2019
This is the fifth and final book in the series although I'm not sure when the author wrote this book if she did so with the intention of ending the series here or if it was a decision made by the publisher. Either way, you do feel a reasonable sense of closure by the time you finish the book. I do think while the series started off strong, it has run its course and it's probably for the best this was the final book.
There have been some changes in Lily's life since the last book. She doesn't clean houses as much anymore for a living as she now is working for Jack. She also has begun attending group therapy sessions for survivors of horrific crimes. It wouldn't be a Charlaine Harris mystery if someone didn't get murdered, and in this one the murder victim is found by Lily at the same location as her group therapy meetings. Gee, I sure hope Lily will be able to figure out what happened by the end of the book.
I loved the idea of Lily meeting with other survivors and opening up about what happened to her but I wish it had been more of a side plot and not part of the actual murder mystery. It just made me feel uncomfortable that there are all these women sharing with one another the traumatic events in their lives and then you have them stumble upon a murder victim? I just wish the author would have come up with a different storyline for the murder so these poor women could attend their therapy sessions in what should be a safe environment. The mystery itself is pretty weak but I did enjoy the parts that featured Lily's personal life. Overall, an okay conclusion to the series.
There have been some changes in Lily's life since the last book. She doesn't clean houses as much anymore for a living as she now is working for Jack. She also has begun attending group therapy sessions for survivors of horrific crimes. It wouldn't be a Charlaine Harris mystery if someone didn't get murdered, and in this one the murder victim is found by Lily at the same location as her group therapy meetings. Gee, I sure hope Lily will be able to figure out what happened by the end of the book.
I loved the idea of Lily meeting with other survivors and opening up about what happened to her but I wish it had been more of a side plot and not part of the actual murder mystery. It just made me feel uncomfortable that there are all these women sharing with one another the traumatic events in their lives and then you have them stumble upon a murder victim? I just wish the author would have come up with a different storyline for the murder so these poor women could attend their therapy sessions in what should be a safe environment. The mystery itself is pretty weak but I did enjoy the parts that featured Lily's personal life. Overall, an okay conclusion to the series.
May 17, 2010
I'm giving this book 5 stars. The others in the series only got 4 stars, but this one has something extra.
Charlaine Harris writes the best final books for a series I've ever seen. Her characters grow and you can see them moving on from where they were in the first book. Whatever the threads were that moved from one book to the other, get tied up, while making it obvious that life did go one even if we didn't get to see it do that. As with the Harper Connelly series, there could easily be more books although it is unlikely that there will be.
Jack and Lily have gotten married, but they haven't told anyone about it. So many of Lily's cleaning customers have died that she is having problems finding homes to clean, so she has begun to help Jack in his PI business, doing the required apprenticeship under his license. And Lily has finally realized that she needs to get some therapy for her kidnapping and rape issues so she can move on.
Lily finds herself in a group of women, all of whom have been raped. The group includes the minister's wife, and both white women and women of color, and a therapist who has issues of her own. On the very first night of therapy, Lily hears the therapist getting a harassing phone call, and it all goes downhill from there.
The individual mystery was interesting. Seeing Lily doing stuff that has nothing to do with cleaning was interesting. Watching the group of rape survivors come together, even though most of them wouldn't normally have even known one another touched my heart. But most of all, seeing the end of Lily's old situation, and how much she has grown, made this book and the whole series a keeper.
Charlaine Harris writes the best final books for a series I've ever seen. Her characters grow and you can see them moving on from where they were in the first book. Whatever the threads were that moved from one book to the other, get tied up, while making it obvious that life did go one even if we didn't get to see it do that. As with the Harper Connelly series, there could easily be more books although it is unlikely that there will be.
Jack and Lily have gotten married, but they haven't told anyone about it. So many of Lily's cleaning customers have died that she is having problems finding homes to clean, so she has begun to help Jack in his PI business, doing the required apprenticeship under his license. And Lily has finally realized that she needs to get some therapy for her kidnapping and rape issues so she can move on.
Lily finds herself in a group of women, all of whom have been raped. The group includes the minister's wife, and both white women and women of color, and a therapist who has issues of her own. On the very first night of therapy, Lily hears the therapist getting a harassing phone call, and it all goes downhill from there.
The individual mystery was interesting. Seeing Lily doing stuff that has nothing to do with cleaning was interesting. Watching the group of rape survivors come together, even though most of them wouldn't normally have even known one another touched my heart. But most of all, seeing the end of Lily's old situation, and how much she has grown, made this book and the whole series a keeper.
June 15, 2024
I have loved every single one of Charlaine Harris’ books in the Lily Bard series, and I feel as if I were about to declare a favorite child. Reluctant though I may be, the fifth novel — and, sadly, final — in this fantastic series is probably my favorite.
Lily Bard has been carrying the trauma of her abduction and rape for years. It’s changed her so much that her own family doesn’t really know her. But the years haven’t made anything easier, so, at the behest of her boyfriend Jack Leeds, Lily joins a rape survivors group therapy weekly meeting. Lily’s surprised about what she discovers in the counseling sessions, but she’s more taken aback about what is traumatizing the group’s counselor, a Yankee transplant named Tamsyn Lynd. I couldn’t stop listening!
I have loved every moment with Lily Bard — well, maybe not every minute, as she’s suffered some pretty harrowing experiences; I’m simply grieved that this appears to be the final book in the series. Shakespeare’s Counselor was released in 2001, and, since then, Harris has moved on to different — and more lucrative — things, like the True Blood TV series on HBO. It’s pretty bittersweet to have to say goodbye to Lily Bard and her friends, but the final novel helped to soften the blow.
Lily Bard has been carrying the trauma of her abduction and rape for years. It’s changed her so much that her own family doesn’t really know her. But the years haven’t made anything easier, so, at the behest of her boyfriend Jack Leeds, Lily joins a rape survivors group therapy weekly meeting. Lily’s surprised about what she discovers in the counseling sessions, but she’s more taken aback about what is traumatizing the group’s counselor, a Yankee transplant named Tamsyn Lynd. I couldn’t stop listening!
I have loved every moment with Lily Bard — well, maybe not every minute, as she’s suffered some pretty harrowing experiences; I’m simply grieved that this appears to be the final book in the series. Shakespeare’s Counselor was released in 2001, and, since then, Harris has moved on to different — and more lucrative — things, like the True Blood TV series on HBO. It’s pretty bittersweet to have to say goodbye to Lily Bard and her friends, but the final novel helped to soften the blow.
August 15, 2009
This, alas, is the last of the five Lily Bard mystery novels that Charlaine Harris wrote before the Sookie Stackhouse gold mine arrived at her literary doorstep. And they are probably my favorite series of hers. The main character is a housekeeper who is living somewhat off the grid in small town Arkansas after a brutal gang rape a few years before. She fills her spare time taking karate lessons and working out with near obsessive fervor. She is also trying to make room in her solitary life for her boyfriend Jack who was introduced in the second book. After she wakes up from a nightmare to find herself choking him though, he suggests some counseling wouldn't be out of line for her. But someone in her nascent rape recovery group soon ends up dead and Lily ends up in the middle of another mystery.
Some people have suggested that it's unrealistic that a housekeeper in a small town would continually stumble on murder victims and elaborate conspiracies. For me, the series is so well-written (and Lily obviously isn't ordinary in any respect) and the characters are so engaging that I don't mind or notice. You could say the same about any number of mystery novels for that matter. This book ended well and maybe that's why I like this series the best as it didn't keep grinding on till there was nothing left but memories of characters once loved that have grown tedious. Still, I'm sad there are no more Lily Bard books out there. I'd like to think though that by granting Lily some peace and happiness, Charlaine herself found some too.
Some people have suggested that it's unrealistic that a housekeeper in a small town would continually stumble on murder victims and elaborate conspiracies. For me, the series is so well-written (and Lily obviously isn't ordinary in any respect) and the characters are so engaging that I don't mind or notice. You could say the same about any number of mystery novels for that matter. This book ended well and maybe that's why I like this series the best as it didn't keep grinding on till there was nothing left but memories of characters once loved that have grown tedious. Still, I'm sad there are no more Lily Bard books out there. I'd like to think though that by granting Lily some peace and happiness, Charlaine herself found some too.
March 29, 2015
3.5
Besides the first, this closing book is probably the best of the series.
Lily Bard may still be stiff and socially awkward, but she's grown on me more. A lot of her past gets explored as she attempts a help support group after attacking Jack in her sleep during a routine nightmare. The women's group meetings were interesting - I do think they should have been followed up with a bit more in the second half, but they dropped off the radar page completely. I also wish we could have witnessed the reaction of her parents and family about a development with her and Jack, not to mention a big tragedy that happens to her in this book. I know she feels strange around them now, but keeping that kind of information that cut off from such good people is ridiculous.
Bobo makes a few scenes, which I enjoyed. I do wish that may have been explored a bit more, but oh well, no way to realistically do it. Jack stays true to character, although I still don't find much realism with him. There's a few new characters that come on-board for plot sake only.
The mystery is rather weak since the pool of suspects is ridiculously small - 3. By the end of the book I didn't really care who the villain ended up being. Still, the murders and twists with it were interesting enough to keep reading. I dug detective Stokes.
There is a big development in the book about something which happens to Lily. It's dark but realistic. There is not much follow-up with it, but this isn't a romance novel where everything is magically okay in the end, so that's okay. This is a personal tragedy which I think Charlaine Harris wrote quite well, from Jack's emotions to Lily's. The details were graphic enough and she didn't shy away from showing this new development to the reader. It doesn't have to do with the mystery much, although it connects very loosely in the end. The point was that this is a series about changes within Lily Bard, who I've followed for five books now.
At the end, Lily is open to more change and knowing she has become a shadow of the girl she used to be, but not seeing a way to reconnect, or if even trying that would be why. It doesn't end on a hopeless and bleak note, but it's doesn't end up on a bubbling, happy spirit. That's just never who Lily Bard will be again.
Besides the first, this closing book is probably the best of the series.
Lily Bard may still be stiff and socially awkward, but she's grown on me more. A lot of her past gets explored as she attempts a help support group after attacking Jack in her sleep during a routine nightmare. The women's group meetings were interesting - I do think they should have been followed up with a bit more in the second half, but they dropped off the radar page completely. I also wish we could have witnessed the reaction of her parents and family about a development with her and Jack, not to mention a big tragedy that happens to her in this book. I know she feels strange around them now, but keeping that kind of information that cut off from such good people is ridiculous.
Bobo makes a few scenes, which I enjoyed. I do wish that may have been explored a bit more, but oh well, no way to realistically do it. Jack stays true to character, although I still don't find much realism with him. There's a few new characters that come on-board for plot sake only.
The mystery is rather weak since the pool of suspects is ridiculously small - 3. By the end of the book I didn't really care who the villain ended up being. Still, the murders and twists with it were interesting enough to keep reading. I dug detective Stokes.
There is a big development in the book about something which happens to Lily. It's dark but realistic. There is not much follow-up with it, but this isn't a romance novel where everything is magically okay in the end, so that's okay. This is a personal tragedy which I think Charlaine Harris wrote quite well, from Jack's emotions to Lily's. The details were graphic enough and she didn't shy away from showing this new development to the reader. It doesn't have to do with the mystery much, although it connects very loosely in the end. The point was that this is a series about changes within Lily Bard, who I've followed for five books now.
At the end, Lily is open to more change and knowing she has become a shadow of the girl she used to be, but not seeing a way to reconnect, or if even trying that would be why. It doesn't end on a hopeless and bleak note, but it's doesn't end up on a bubbling, happy spirit. That's just never who Lily Bard will be again.
May 14, 2018
Sorry to say this is the last of this series, which I have really enjoyed. Lilly Bard is a most unusual protagonist. I would love to continue to read her evolution and growth. Good supporting characters, too. It seems that I've come to like cozy mysteries. I'll take a look at Harris's other books.
December 22, 2008
The fifth (and to my knowledge, last--I don't know if any more are forthcoming) Lily Bard book is almost more about developments in Lily's life than it is an actual crime. This is not to say that there isn't one in Shakespeare's Counselor, because there is, and a pretty warped one at that. Our heroine, now that her relationship with her lover Jack has progressed to a point where she's willing to take his suggestion to start addressing some of the issues in her life, joins a rape survivor therapy group. And is shortly thereafter confronted with a dead body, violently killed, found where her group has been meeting. At the same time, Lily learns that the counselor running the group is apparently herself getting stalked, struggling with serious issues of her own even as she's trying to help them all.
Quite intense stuff there, and Harris does a good job of handling the ramifications of her plot points in her compact page count. I found it a little odd jumping to this one after recently reading the first Lily Bard (in which her original backstory is told in detail)... and yet, reading the books so close together did show a nice story arc of Lily dealing with what she's suffered as her life in Shakespeare has progressed through the five books. On the other hand, I'm not sure whether I also needed a subplot of Lily suffering a miscarriage in this book. It's handled well, like the survivor group issues, and yet it made reading it a bit too... much.
So, I do still recommend this as well as the series as a whole, but with a cautionary note that the plotlines may be a bit triggery for anyone with history in these areas. Three and a half stars.
Quite intense stuff there, and Harris does a good job of handling the ramifications of her plot points in her compact page count. I found it a little odd jumping to this one after recently reading the first Lily Bard (in which her original backstory is told in detail)... and yet, reading the books so close together did show a nice story arc of Lily dealing with what she's suffered as her life in Shakespeare has progressed through the five books. On the other hand, I'm not sure whether I also needed a subplot of Lily suffering a miscarriage in this book. It's handled well, like the survivor group issues, and yet it made reading it a bit too... much.
So, I do still recommend this as well as the series as a whole, but with a cautionary note that the plotlines may be a bit triggery for anyone with history in these areas. Three and a half stars.
February 13, 2023
Cała seria bardzo w porządku. Na oderwanie się. Choć ta część już mi się dłużyła.
June 26, 2017
4 1/2 stars. Definitely the best book in the series. Reading all five in such quick succession was really the way to go. I really enjoyed the arc, the way Lily grew as a person, became more self aware, more aware of how her kidnapping and rape had changed her into the woman she is. It was lovely very to see her start to open up with people, make friends, fall in love after all of the trauma she had gone through. Lily has a miscarriage half way through the book and she is astonished at how people she has worked for, friends she has made care for her, bring over food and flowers and gifts because they care about her.
I was touched by the scene when one of her clients comes over with her daughter and the little girl hugs her and asks her when she is coming back to their home to work. While Lily has never talked about a desire for children, this scene and the one in Shakespeare's Christmas where she helps Eve and Jane hide from their father shows that Lily can be good with children, they trust her especially the little girls. Maybe someday Lily and Jack will have a child (although I can't picture them with more than one). Anyhow this was a satisfying conclusion to the series. I don't think there will be anymore but I would read them if there were.
I was touched by the scene when one of her clients comes over with her daughter and the little girl hugs her and asks her when she is coming back to their home to work. While Lily has never talked about a desire for children, this scene and the one in Shakespeare's Christmas where she helps Eve and Jane hide from their father shows that Lily can be good with children, they trust her especially the little girls. Maybe someday Lily and Jack will have a child (although I can't picture them with more than one). Anyhow this was a satisfying conclusion to the series. I don't think there will be anymore but I would read them if there were.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2011
This is one of the highest ratings I have given a Charlaine Harris book. It is the final book in her Lily Bard series and by far the best. It took me two books to really like Lily, because she reminded me a lot of myself. In fact, she embodied a lot of the things I wish I could change and move past. We are not identical by any means, but share similarities. Half way through this books, I knew that I had really grown to love and sympathize with her, because I found myself shedding a few tears over a loss she experiences.
Though I sort of had the killer figured out, this book did a good job of making me doubt myself. I flip flopped a few times, then gave up trying to figure it out. It made the ending much more satisfying as it unfolded. There is no sense reading this book if you have not read the first 4. Lily is a package deal. You have to see who she was at the beginning to appreciate her growth by the end. It saddens me that there will not be any mre books about Lily, but at the same time, I can't see where else the series could go from here.
Though I sort of had the killer figured out, this book did a good job of making me doubt myself. I flip flopped a few times, then gave up trying to figure it out. It made the ending much more satisfying as it unfolded. There is no sense reading this book if you have not read the first 4. Lily is a package deal. You have to see who she was at the beginning to appreciate her growth by the end. It saddens me that there will not be any mre books about Lily, but at the same time, I can't see where else the series could go from here.
July 30, 2017
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this series. I hope the author will return to it like she has with Aurora Teagarden.
I really enjoyed this series. I hope the author will return to it like she has with Aurora Teagarden.
February 21, 2021
Fun wrap up to the Lily Bard series!
Lily joins a group for victims of sexual assault. Surprising to her is that she actually is enjoying it. The happy feelings fade away when the group arrives to find a grisly murder scene. A new member was brutally murdered. Is the perpetrator taunting the group or the therapist?
It turns out their therapist has been the victim of a stalker. Lily and Jack are pulled right into the story. Meanwhile, Lily is taking to her new job as Jack's assistant, but she's been feeling a little sick.
I enjoyed this bit of fluff and can see myself returning to this series again.
Lily joins a group for victims of sexual assault. Surprising to her is that she actually is enjoying it. The happy feelings fade away when the group arrives to find a grisly murder scene. A new member was brutally murdered. Is the perpetrator taunting the group or the therapist?
It turns out their therapist has been the victim of a stalker. Lily and Jack are pulled right into the story. Meanwhile, Lily is taking to her new job as Jack's assistant, but she's been feeling a little sick.
I enjoyed this bit of fluff and can see myself returning to this series again.
August 11, 2016
And so we come to the end of the series, to find Lily now working to get her PI license alongside Jack while still cleaning part-time, and having been talked by Jack into attending a therapy group for rape survivors. Which is how she comes into contact with Tamsin Lynn, Shakespeare's Counselor and target for a particularly nasty stalker. When the stalking escalates into a woman being found dead in the therapist's office, Lily can't help but start nosing around.
A decent end to a decent series, but I'm going to need a little holiday from Charlaine Harris for a while - the things that had started to bug me in the Sookie series (every man with a sex drive lusts after her, people have overheard conversations around her about how awesome she is, yada yada yada) were all present and starting to irritate - but I'm grateful that it got me through a particularly unpleasant cold without taxing my poor brain too much.
A decent end to a decent series, but I'm going to need a little holiday from Charlaine Harris for a while - the things that had started to bug me in the Sookie series (every man with a sex drive lusts after her, people have overheard conversations around her about how awesome she is, yada yada yada) were all present and starting to irritate - but I'm grateful that it got me through a particularly unpleasant cold without taxing my poor brain too much.
March 29, 2017
Oh how I have loved this series. And I am sad that there are no more books. I hope someday Lily pops back into Ms. Harris' head and demands another book be written about her. I would be first in line to buy that one. :-)
November 29, 2009
Of all the heroines in Charlaine Harris' books, I like Lily Bard the best. She is believable and grows emotionally throughout the books. I sure hope Charlaine will be writing more Lily Bard mysteries.
June 17, 2022
eponymous-ey sentence:
p38: As far as I could tell, no one in Shakespeare knew that someone was stalking our counselor.
construction:
p32: It puckers a very little.
cement:
p54: I hit the cement of the path a lot faster than I wanted to, and I made an awful noise doing it.
subject-verb agreement:
p80: I wish Jack were there to advise me.
ocr:
p101: He has rented a room in his friend Roy Costimiglia's house, the room vacated by Roy's son when he'd gotten married the year b t ,;e.
spelling:
p123: "...I can't believe I feel asleep."
I feel like I didn't go back to this series fast enough to have forgotten most of its nuances.
p38: As far as I could tell, no one in Shakespeare knew that someone was stalking our counselor.
construction:
p32: It puckers a very little.
cement:
p54: I hit the cement of the path a lot faster than I wanted to, and I made an awful noise doing it.
subject-verb agreement:
p80: I wish Jack were there to advise me.
ocr:
p101: He has rented a room in his friend Roy Costimiglia's house, the room vacated by Roy's son when he'd gotten married the year b t ,;e.
spelling:
p123: "...I can't believe I feel asleep."
I feel like I didn't go back to this series fast enough to have forgotten most of its nuances.
July 16, 2019
Very dark topics are interwoven throughout this book! The plot is twisted
and then twisted again with many characters hiding much of themselves. As
this is the final book in the series, the loose ends of the plot are masterly
braided together.
ReadAlike: The Harper Connelly series by the same author is somewhat similar.
Find Shakespeare's Counselor at Westminster Public Library today!
and then twisted again with many characters hiding much of themselves. As
this is the final book in the series, the loose ends of the plot are masterly
braided together.
ReadAlike: The Harper Connelly series by the same author is somewhat similar.
Find Shakespeare's Counselor at Westminster Public Library today!
September 5, 2017
I read this book to match the “Amateur Sleuth” square of my 2017 Halloween Bingo Card.
Another small town mystery and quite a contrast to “A Murder is Announced.” I enjoy Charlaine Harris’ mysteries, but she cannot hold a candle to Dame Agatha!
However, Harris does use the small town environment quite effectively. Where else but a small town would the cleaning lady, Lily Bard, be friends with the chief of police and his wife the doctor? And true to the nature of a small town, Lily knows most of the people in her counseling group and her counselor is a near neighbour.
Without all of these believable details, Lily couldn’t end up in the middle of a crime as often as she does! And, as with Agatha Christie’s small towns, people are people wherever you go and will surprise you with their reasons, logical or otherwise, for the things that they do.
This seems to be the last of the Lily Bard mysteries, so I will bid her farewell now. It seems a shame that she finally is getting her life together when her author has lost interest in her!
Another small town mystery and quite a contrast to “A Murder is Announced.” I enjoy Charlaine Harris’ mysteries, but she cannot hold a candle to Dame Agatha!
However, Harris does use the small town environment quite effectively. Where else but a small town would the cleaning lady, Lily Bard, be friends with the chief of police and his wife the doctor? And true to the nature of a small town, Lily knows most of the people in her counseling group and her counselor is a near neighbour.
Without all of these believable details, Lily couldn’t end up in the middle of a crime as often as she does! And, as with Agatha Christie’s small towns, people are people wherever you go and will surprise you with their reasons, logical or otherwise, for the things that they do.
This seems to be the last of the Lily Bard mysteries, so I will bid her farewell now. It seems a shame that she finally is getting her life together when her author has lost interest in her!
August 26, 2008
The fifth and final installment in the Lily Bard series wraps up Lily's story quite nicely.
In addition to finally settling down with Jack, Lily has decided to face her past and begin attending group therapy sessions. Of course, these sessions become the scene for yet another murder in cozy little Shakespeare. And as usual, Lily is right smack in the middle of the action.
As others have said, this wasn't the best in the series. I think some of that was because there weren't any loose ends to leave you craving the next book. But with Lily's settling down and everything, it did have a hint of finality to it. I for one am sorry to see her go... though I hear she may be making cameo appearances in some of Charlaine Harris's other books from time to time. :)
In addition to finally settling down with Jack, Lily has decided to face her past and begin attending group therapy sessions. Of course, these sessions become the scene for yet another murder in cozy little Shakespeare. And as usual, Lily is right smack in the middle of the action.
As others have said, this wasn't the best in the series. I think some of that was because there weren't any loose ends to leave you craving the next book. But with Lily's settling down and everything, it did have a hint of finality to it. I for one am sorry to see her go... though I hear she may be making cameo appearances in some of Charlaine Harris's other books from time to time. :)
August 22, 2023
Jako zakończenie rozczarowuje i nie zostawia mnie usatysfakcjonowanej. Mam wrażenie, że to urwana seria, na która albo zabrakło pomysłu albo budżetu - brakuje mi takiego konkretnego zakończenie, uczucia, że to naprawdę jest koniec.
Jako po prostu kolejna przygoda Lily Bard - też nie do końca. To wciąż dobra rozrywka, ale poprzednie tomy po prostu podobały mi się bardziej, a tu odczułam trochę absurdy, które nie do końca pasują mi do postaci Lily, jaką poznałam na przestrzeni poprzednich czterech tomów. Trochę mi przykro, że tak to się kończy, bo oczekiwałam więcej, ale fajnie było poznać zwariowaną Lily Bard.
Jako po prostu kolejna przygoda Lily Bard - też nie do końca. To wciąż dobra rozrywka, ale poprzednie tomy po prostu podobały mi się bardziej, a tu odczułam trochę absurdy, które nie do końca pasują mi do postaci Lily, jaką poznałam na przestrzeni poprzednich czterech tomów. Trochę mi przykro, że tak to się kończy, bo oczekiwałam więcej, ale fajnie było poznać zwariowaną Lily Bard.
March 31, 2021
Finally, I have managed to finish the fifth and last book in her Lily Bard series. I don't know if I liked it or not. Lily is a rape survivor, and a very angry person. She tends to see the worst in people and doesn't want to get very close to them. Over the series, we see her change a little, and admit to herself that she does have people who care for her, and that she does love Jack, who she secretly married in book 4. She cleans people's houses, takes karate lessons, helps investigate murders. I think she will continue to heal.
September 3, 2020
"Shakespeare's Counselor" is the final book in the Lily Bard series. I was surprised to find that I took great pleasure in this series. In some ways it is one long novel, charting Lily's journey from isolated, insomniac, night-walker, to a woman with a life that she has built through her strength, her integrity and finally by being courageous enough to allow herself to have something to lose.
The final book thankfully doesn't go down the path of unlikely happy endings. Bad things happen to Lily in this book and, at the end of it, she still has significant problems, but the book delivers credible growth for her and the people around her.
One of the ways this growth is achieved is that Lily enters therapy, with the Counselor of the title, to try to end the nightmares that rule her sleep. I was surprised at this. I'm not a fan of therapy. I'm with Willy Russel in changing Pschotherapist into Psycho The Rapist. I've never been convinced that the response to trauma should be a platitude-driven talking-tour of the route back to normalcy. I very much doubt that, after a significant trauma, normal is an option.
I was pleased to see that the therapy in the book worked less because of the skill of the counselor, than because the rape survivors in the group were willing to extend their trust and support to each other. There are some hard-to-take tales in therapy sessions. Sadly, none of them are difficult to believe. I was impressed that, even in therapy, Lily did not change her view that people are not naturally good and safety can only be obtained through vigilance and strength. Her counselor found the view bleak and wondered how Lily could live with it. I see it as a reasonable, fact-based conclusion, that provides a foundation for good choices.
The plot of "Shakespeare's Counselor" is a little complex, requiring some suspension of disbelief as the bad guys are not exactly run of the mill. The action is occasionally violent and brutal. The events in Lily's personal life add grief to an already tough situation and challenge Lily's definition of herself and her future.
By the end of the series, Lily has moved from loner cleaner, to an apprentice private detective with a husband and friends in a community that she now feels part of. Yet this is not a "Hallmark" sugar-sweet transformation. This book, even more than the rest of the series, is raised above the mundane by the authenticity of Lily's rage against what was done to her and the strength of her commitment to live her life to her own standards. It's a fine close to a series that I am sure I will read again.
I listened to the audiobook version of this series, performed by Julia Gibson. She did a wonderful job, not just in being "the voice of Lily Bard" but also in creating and sustaining voices for the other characters. She was the perfect choice for these books.
The final book thankfully doesn't go down the path of unlikely happy endings. Bad things happen to Lily in this book and, at the end of it, she still has significant problems, but the book delivers credible growth for her and the people around her.
One of the ways this growth is achieved is that Lily enters therapy, with the Counselor of the title, to try to end the nightmares that rule her sleep. I was surprised at this. I'm not a fan of therapy. I'm with Willy Russel in changing Pschotherapist into Psycho The Rapist. I've never been convinced that the response to trauma should be a platitude-driven talking-tour of the route back to normalcy. I very much doubt that, after a significant trauma, normal is an option.
I was pleased to see that the therapy in the book worked less because of the skill of the counselor, than because the rape survivors in the group were willing to extend their trust and support to each other. There are some hard-to-take tales in therapy sessions. Sadly, none of them are difficult to believe. I was impressed that, even in therapy, Lily did not change her view that people are not naturally good and safety can only be obtained through vigilance and strength. Her counselor found the view bleak and wondered how Lily could live with it. I see it as a reasonable, fact-based conclusion, that provides a foundation for good choices.
The plot of "Shakespeare's Counselor" is a little complex, requiring some suspension of disbelief as the bad guys are not exactly run of the mill. The action is occasionally violent and brutal. The events in Lily's personal life add grief to an already tough situation and challenge Lily's definition of herself and her future.
By the end of the series, Lily has moved from loner cleaner, to an apprentice private detective with a husband and friends in a community that she now feels part of. Yet this is not a "Hallmark" sugar-sweet transformation. This book, even more than the rest of the series, is raised above the mundane by the authenticity of Lily's rage against what was done to her and the strength of her commitment to live her life to her own standards. It's a fine close to a series that I am sure I will read again.
I listened to the audiobook version of this series, performed by Julia Gibson. She did a wonderful job, not just in being "the voice of Lily Bard" but also in creating and sustaining voices for the other characters. She was the perfect choice for these books.
August 6, 2013
The series finale for Lily Bard ranked a disappointing 'ok' for me; Lily had been such a well-constructed heroine up to this point - she had a brutal backstory that shaped her into the person she was: wary, distrustful, solitary and standoffish. I truly believed this novel would provide her the opportunity to complete her character arc. I was not expecting a fairy godmother-like transformation but hey - a likeable Lily would have been nice. Instead she's standoffish, at times openly churlish (and unprovoked to be same) and even describes herself by saying 'I know I was being a pill' and 'I was being purposefully balky'. Ooo-kay. It's hard to cheer for a protag who is intentionally acting like an ass and doing not one thing to change or be proactive about it.
Then there were the purposeless scenes - Lily's miscarriage. Another ooo-kay. What was that slid in there for? Sympathy, maybe? Very tough to give - the character was back in ass-kick mode within hours of a D&C. (which really tried the whole Willing Suspension of Disbelief, that). And then that strange dinner she and Jack had with his partners. An ex lover of Jack's literally drops in out of the blue and (again unprovoked) starts a nasty verbal catfight with Lily (who of course kicks her ass). The whole point of that scene still has me mystified and what's more is that people don't act like that! And if these two women really *did* act like that good ol' Jack would be wise to kick 'em both to the curb.
As for the mystery itself, whoa. The idea of a married couple playing psychological chess with each other is very cool but the way this was executed reminded me of a suitcase being tossed together at the very last moment before the trip; some stuff needed to be there, some stuff just did not belong, and a whole lot was missing altogether.
I really loved this series and had high hopes for this book. Oh well ....
Then there were the purposeless scenes - Lily's miscarriage. Another ooo-kay. What was that slid in there for? Sympathy, maybe? Very tough to give - the character was back in ass-kick mode within hours of a D&C. (which really tried the whole Willing Suspension of Disbelief, that). And then that strange dinner she and Jack had with his partners. An ex lover of Jack's literally drops in out of the blue and (again unprovoked) starts a nasty verbal catfight with Lily (who of course kicks her ass). The whole point of that scene still has me mystified and what's more is that people don't act like that! And if these two women really *did* act like that good ol' Jack would be wise to kick 'em both to the curb.
As for the mystery itself, whoa. The idea of a married couple playing psychological chess with each other is very cool but the way this was executed reminded me of a suitcase being tossed together at the very last moment before the trip; some stuff needed to be there, some stuff just did not belong, and a whole lot was missing altogether.
I really loved this series and had high hopes for this book. Oh well ....
August 26, 2016
Almost two weeks ago I decided to re-read the first two books of this short series. At the time I had enjoyed the first one, but been more reserved regarding the second one. As with any other book you have to be in the mood to enjoy the peculiarities of it, and I find that Harris' particular brand of habits, and ramblings, does not sit well with me most of the year.
However the Lily Bard series was what I wanted, needed, these past few days, and I spent a nice time with it. I enjoyed the down to earth feeling of Lily, the description of everyday tasks (however how often can you describe a character doing the laundry in a single book, that's my question), the attentive attention given to the healing of the victim of a violent crime. I also enjoyed seing Lily evolving, and even if sometimes her thoughts and judgements were hard to sallow you could still see where they come from.
There is however a particular brand of slut shaming that pervades the book, even accounting what I've mentionned before and obviously I don't enjoy it.
I found that past the third book, the plots were not the best that Harris has crafted but as the books are short it's quite easy to not waffle on that.
I enjoyed that she was able to wrap up most of the stuff at the end of the fifth, and wouldn't say no to a another re-read of the first ones.
However the Lily Bard series was what I wanted, needed, these past few days, and I spent a nice time with it. I enjoyed the down to earth feeling of Lily, the description of everyday tasks (however how often can you describe a character doing the laundry in a single book, that's my question), the attentive attention given to the healing of the victim of a violent crime. I also enjoyed seing Lily evolving, and even if sometimes her thoughts and judgements were hard to sallow you could still see where they come from.
There is however a particular brand of slut shaming that pervades the book, even accounting what I've mentionned before and obviously I don't enjoy it.
I found that past the third book, the plots were not the best that Harris has crafted but as the books are short it's quite easy to not waffle on that.
I enjoyed that she was able to wrap up most of the stuff at the end of the fifth, and wouldn't say no to a another re-read of the first ones.
March 31, 2015
I'm sad to see the Lily Bard series come to an end. I really admire her. In this book Lily finally seeks counseling for the horrible ordeal she went through. She was encouraged to seek help after attacking her boyfriend Jack. I was happy to see that they got married, although I don't understand why they did not want anyone to know. Lily didn't even tell her parents.
Of course there was a murder. One of Lily's fellow group member's sister in law was murdered. Lily as always saves the day, but this time she did not know who was the real murderer. She knew it was one of two people. Hopefully Charlaine writes another Lily Bard book.
Of course there was a murder. One of Lily's fellow group member's sister in law was murdered. Lily as always saves the day, but this time she did not know who was the real murderer. She knew it was one of two people. Hopefully Charlaine writes another Lily Bard book.
May 10, 2017
So sad to get to the end of this series! Maybe Harris will go back to Lily Bard as she's going back to Aurora Teagarden after many years. I listened to the whole series in less than 2 weeks! I made more time for listening than I usually do because I couldn't stop! This was a very serious book. I think it was wise for Lily to join a support group but dang, this one was a mess! It was interesting getting to know some new characters and old characters with more information. There was a lot of heartbreaking moments in this book, it was hard to listen to. Very sad to have gotten to the end of this series! I will miss Lily, Jack, Claude, Carrie, and Bobo!!
March 24, 2014
Shakespeare's Counselor - the 5th book in the Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris.
Picked up this book after reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by the same author. While it's a fairly enjoyable read with plenty of action and twists that left me guessing right up until the end it's also pretty dark, with very little humour. The main character Lily is a strong woman who is working to overcome her trauma and while she's got plenty of depth I couldn't really say the same for the rest of the cast.
Picked up this book after reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by the same author. While it's a fairly enjoyable read with plenty of action and twists that left me guessing right up until the end it's also pretty dark, with very little humour. The main character Lily is a strong woman who is working to overcome her trauma and while she's got plenty of depth I couldn't really say the same for the rest of the cast.
November 14, 2013
Well, the series didn't exactly end with a bang. I like Lily and Jack enough that it was worth the read, but this particular plot(especially the resolution) didn't do it for me. Felt like she was trying to pack too much into one book and ended up with kind of a haphazard result.
More like a 2.5 star book for me, but I'm rounding up since I liked the series overall, mainly on the strength of the Lily Bard character.
More like a 2.5 star book for me, but I'm rounding up since I liked the series overall, mainly on the strength of the Lily Bard character.
December 28, 2015
Another good one. Very convoluted mystery this time. It's the last one I have, thank goodness. These books are like candy. Very hard to quit reading, but not especially fulfilling. Still, they're fun.
August 21, 2009
I was a little disappointed in the end of the series. It just seemed to end with no really epilogue as to how Lily's life turns out.
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