Shakespeare's Counselor

The Lily Bard Mysteries, Book 5

By: Charlaine Harris

Narrated by: Julia Gibson

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 who 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 a horrendous crime, and who is the intended recipient of the message?

Investigate more mysterious doings with Lily Bard.

©2001 Charlaine Harris (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"Infectious prose, engaging characters, crafty plotting." ( Library Journal)

Interesting!

If you read Lily Bard, start at the beginning with Shakespeare's Landlord. This is book 5, the end of the series, and I really hate to see it end. Lily is an unusual woman and reading about her life in Shakespeare is well worth the credit. Lily is intelligent and self-sufficient (that black belt helps). This book did not disappoint, and the counselor and her husband-humm-- I don't know...(no spoilers coming atcha). Very entertaining, from beginning to end. The narrator is also excellent, and listening to her voice reading the story was a combination to engage and delight.

interesting

Wow this was a lot darker than expected. The culprits of the main mystery was really dark and twisted people. I was hooked by the red herring and did not see the ending until it was pretty obvious. I'm wondering if there is a short story or something out there that ties the period between this and when the couple shows up in the Southern Vampire series.

Again, a very easy listen and I thoroughly enjoyed it

Weakest of the Series

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Only if they have read the entire Lilt Bard Series. And then only to reach the conclusion for Lily.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Make the bad guys not so obvious and make people we could care about at the center of the mystery. Too many new characters and no real emotional connection to any of them.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Lily was in the hospital and Jack was with her. They really connected as a solid couple and it was so true to life.

Did Shakespeare's Counselor inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

This was the final book of the series and I only finished it to get the payoff with Lily. Sadly the mystery never got off the ground and I was left feeling Lily had lucked out in solving the case.

Lily comes full circle, but a crazy mystery

What did you like best about Shakespeare's Counselor? What did you like least?

I have to say that out of the series this is the worst mystery, requiring the most suspension of disbelief and highest tolerance for weird behavior. It is also uncharacteristically gruesome in parts. However, I am still glad I listened to it. It may be that the only real attraction people would have for this book is to watch Lily's personal growth. After Lily became the victim of a hideous violent crime years ago, she became a very different person. The Lily of book 1 doesn't get close to people. She goes about her life stressing routine, not interacting with people if she can help it, taking karate and walking at night when she still can't cope. She's a recluse with serious issues. The Lily of book 5 has done some therapy, is in a relationship, has developed friends etc. As she became a more normal person she would of course lose some of her uniqueness. I suppose Harris felt she had done what she could with the character and moved on to other things. However I was glad to have stuck with Lily throughout the series to see her to this end.

Best book in the series.

Sorry that the series is over. Loved it. Really glad I read(listened) to it. Very nice to get background info on Jack and Lily. Bobo too.

definitely a great read

loved it. Hard to put any of the books down until the end. Plan to read more by Charlaine Harris.

Counseling and moving forward

Lily wakes up from a nightmare knowing she’s hurt Jack and agrees to try counseling. She wants a life with him.
Lily is keeping the number of clients low for her cleaning business, and has started working for Jack’s detective business. This is allowing them more time together.
When stalking and murder visit members of her counseling group, Lily is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Gibson does an ok job of narration.

It’s Time For A Return to Shakespeare

I have loved listening to the tales of Lily Bard and watching her change throughout some very unique situations. I would appreciate a revival of Lily”s life. Her approaches to problem solving are thought provoking in many ways. Her honesty is legend. She’s just too “damn” smart to be retired.

Moves character along

Lilly is an interesting/compelling character. The mystery at the heart of this story was not as believable as others in the series. As well, I was distracted by some continuity issues. A cell phone that came off a belt holster was replaced in a pocketbook; a phone call to 911 was followed by one to the police, why have both? That said, I would happily give another book in the series a listen. I'd like to learn what Lilly does next.

Another great time

I love all of her series and never want them to end. Brava I am so thrilled with this story