Book Review: Shakespeare's Counselor

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Shakespeare's Counselor     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Charlaine Harris
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Lily Bard # 5
St. Martin's, Nov 2001, $22.95, 240 pp.

Following a gang raping and a media feeding frenzy, Lily moves to Shakespeare, Arkansas accepting work as a cleaning woman. The small town has had several homicides and usually Lily is found in the middle of the investigation. She does not expect to ever have a normal relationship ever again until Lily meets private investigator Jack, who convinces the scarred woman that she is beautiful inside and out.

Jack and Lily marry, but she still suffers nightmares from that brutal attack and enters group therapy under the auspices of Tamsin Lynd. The therapist has some problems caused by a stalker who actually kills one of her patients. A reporter who wants to do a story about Tamsin is also murdered. Lily and Jack decide to take down the stalker though it places them in danger from a homicidal maniac.

SHAKESPEARE'S COUNSELOR is the best work in this fine series because the audience empathically feels the healing of Lily predominantly due to her bond with he beloved Jack. The mystery is loaded with red herrings that hide the villain in plain sight so that the audience is stunned when the culprit is revealed. The vulnerable facet of Lily's personality emerges turning her more likeable and less of an object of pity. This strengthens a strong character and turns a wonderful series into a powerhouse.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner