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83rd out of 660 books
—
636 voters
Shakespeare's Trollop (Lily Bard Mysteries #4)
Shakespeare, Arkansas, is home to endless back roads, historic buildings, colorful residents--and the occasional murder. It is also home to Lily Bard, the local karate expert/cleaning woman with a particular knack for finding skeletons in closets.
But when the local woman of ill repute is found murdered, being familiar with her dirty laundry could make Lily the next Shakesp...more
But when the local woman of ill repute is found murdered, being familiar with her dirty laundry could make Lily the next Shakesp...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
May 4th 2004
by Berkley
(first published August 14th 2000)
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"I really enjoy the Lily Bard series as a whole, and I think this is a good contribution to the series. In this one, a minor character in previous books is ""elevated"" to the status of murder victim - if you've read those books, the title will probably tell you who it was.[return][return]Due to the nature of the victim (i.e., ""trollop""), everyone simply assumes she slept with the wrong guy, and pretty much got what was coming to her. Since Lily knows at least a few other aspects to Deedra's c...more
Shakespeare, Arkansas, is home to endless back roads, historic buildings, colorful residents--and the occasional murder. It is also home to Lily Bard, the local karate expert/cleaning woman with a particular knack for finding skeletons in closets.
But when the local woman of ill repute is found murdered, being familiar with her dirty laundry could make Lily the next Shakespearean to die.
From Publishers Weekly"There's nothing more revealing about people than the mess they leave for someone els
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 s...more
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,...more
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,...more
Mar 13, 2012
Marianne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
borrowed-copy-returned
Shakespeare’s Trollop is the fourth in the Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris. 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 seems daunting, 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 t...more
In the fourth book of the Lily Bard series, another murder has taken place in Shakespeare, Arkansas. Lily moved to the sleepy town of Shakespeare to escape the spotlight after her brutal rape in Memphis four years earlier. But Shakespeare turns out not to be so sleepy, after all.
Lily finds the body of Deedra, a local “trollop” for whom she used to clean, and is pressured by the police to try to help find the killer. Since it looks like a crime of sexual passion, the suspects are legion, and Lily...more
Lily finds the body of Deedra, a local “trollop” for whom she used to clean, and is pressured by the police to try to help find the killer. Since it looks like a crime of sexual passion, the suspects are legion, and Lily...more
Poor housecleaner Lily Bard once again finds herself coming across the body of one of her employers. This time the body is that of Deedra Dean, a young woman who has a reputation for entertaining most of the unmarried men in Shakespeare, Arkansas. It was clear the murderer knew of her reputation because poor Deedra was not just murdered ... her body was also left in a violated condition in her own car on an out-of-the-way road. Everyone quickly assumes the murderer was one of her beaus.
After wor...more
After wor...more
I'm... not really sure how to feel about this. The book is entertaining, definitely, and I'll probably be picking up more by her. But on the other hand, it was so chock full of slut shaming that it was very awkward to read, especially when our heroine says in one of the first pages that she's the last person to victim blame.
But she does. EVERY character in here does. She slept with a lot of men. She had her rules, but she wasn't extremely picky, and it's always spoken of in terms of some deep ch...more
But she does. EVERY character in here does. She slept with a lot of men. She had her rules, but she wasn't extremely picky, and it's always spoken of in terms of some deep ch...more
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 "emplo...more
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 "emplo...more
This is the fourth book in The Lily Bard Mysteries Omnibus, and I once again really enjoyed it. This series is very cool. I really like Lily. She's not your conventional heroine and doesn't hide her flaws, or sugarcoats how she really feels. Although, I have to say that there's been a huge change in her attitude towards other people since the first book... which is awesome. Character growth is always an awesome thing. :)
Deedra Dean enjoys the company of men. A lot of different men. She lives in...more
Deedra Dean enjoys the company of men. A lot of different men. She lives in...more
This books started with an almost poetic opening. It was different than any of the other books, which gave me really high hopes. It didn't take long for me to figure out who was behind the killing, but I kept hoping I was wrong. Reading mystery books is a lot more fun when you're still guessing right up until the end. Even at the end, I was saying to myself "There are five more pages! Hit me with something unexpected!" Nothing ever happened like that.
This is the 4th in the Lily Bard series and...more
This is the 4th in the Lily Bard series and...more
After the fairly readable Shakespeare's Christmas in which we seemed to have finally gotten away from all the monotonous details of Lily's life as a cleaner/at the gym Shakespeare's Trollop brings us back full-circle.
Perhaps my least favourite of all the books, it wasn't so much the awful title or that the who-dun-it (and why) side of the book was any worse/better than the rest of the series as that some of the views of the characters (and at times Lily herself) came across as so judgemental as...more
Perhaps my least favourite of all the books, it wasn't so much the awful title or that the who-dun-it (and why) side of the book was any worse/better than the rest of the series as that some of the views of the characters (and at times Lily herself) came across as so judgemental as...more
This was a good mystery. I liked Lily's observations about various townspeople and how she comes to terms with her preconceived notions about the victim. There was also a nice twist at the end as not everything is as it seems.
Lily found the nude body of Deedra Dean posed behind the steering wheel of her car which was parked on a small side road in the woods just outside the Shakespeare city limits sign. Deedra had an extremely active sex life so it was logical to assume one of her sexual partners was the guilty party.
This book is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. If you are interested in the Lily/Jack romance portion of the series their relationship continues to deepen. Based on their brief appear...more
This book is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. If you are interested in the Lily/Jack romance portion of the series their relationship continues to deepen. Based on their brief appear...more
Just realized I skipped the third book by mistake. Luckily, it didn't seem to matter. These books are amazing in their way-- very tightly written, with deft plotting and pacing and an engaging transparent prose style. Lily Bard's character is always entertaining (if unlikely). Although they seem light and fluffy and are very quick reads, their simplicity is deceptive. Harris handles the difficult issues of sexual violence against women and racism thoughtfully. She also manages within the limitat...more
Featuring cleaning woman/karate expert Lily Bard, Charlaine Harris's series puts a unique spin on the traditional cozy to create mysteries that "work on every level. The writing and plotting are first rate [and:] Lily is appealing in her own prickly way" (Washington Times).In the latest installment, Lily discovers lifelong Shakespeare resident Deedra Dean murdered inside a car parked in a woodsy area outside town. Determined not to get involved, Lily wants to leave the police work to Sheriff Mar...more
Definately not as good as the first two books but enjoyable all the same. The 4th book in the Lily Bard series and she's a character that never fails to capture my interest. Short and easy to read I got through it super quick but I always feel Lily's story is moving forward and there's plenty to think about including lots of suspects even if none some to hae a strong motive.
This is the first mystery book where I've actually guessed whodunnit and did so in the first half of the book. Even so I wa...more
This is the first mystery book where I've actually guessed whodunnit and did so in the first half of the book. Even so I wa...more
Every book I read in this series just makes me want to get to the next as soon as possible. I love this story for much the same reason as I love all of the other books by Charlaine Harris: they're just really good (sometimes supernatural) mystery/thriller books. What sets this series apart from her the Sookie Stackhouse and Harper Connelly series is the protagonist: Lily Bard. She's just an ordinary woman who has gone through extraordinary hardship and become pretty badass as a result. Trollop i...more
Man! I hated to see Deidra killed. Actually, she was a great character...okay, she was a trollop, but... I'm not throwing rocks at the poor girl just because she had a receding chin and a hotcha personality. Even chinless wonders should get to have fun. Then again, the reason she was killed was so realistic, so right on target. I mean she had to die for that! And, I'm not saying what "that" was, so this review is not telling the end.
This is yet another great book in this series. One more to go...more
This is yet another great book in this series. One more to go...more
The murder mystery set up in this book is quite different from previous stories. Deedra, a client of Lily's and the town's sexually adventurous woman, was discovered murdered in her car. She was naked and had a beer bottle inside her. Lily was the unfortunate soul who found the body. However, the police force took a much more active role in this investigation and Lily simply brooded over the facts as she knew them.
Since Lily was not in the foremost investigator role we learnt of other developme...more
Since Lily was not in the foremost investigator role we learnt of other developme...more
I'm conflicted on rating this, I'm obviously in love with the Lily Bard character. She totally speaks to me because of all the crazy crap she's been through and has risen above to some degree. It also gives me hope to read her adventures and I'm sorry that this is the penultimate book in the series.
I am very much aware that I am extremely biased when rating this series so take my rating with a grain of salt.
I enjoyed this mystery and it kept me going from start to finish. This is another quick...more
I am very much aware that I am extremely biased when rating this series so take my rating with a grain of salt.
I enjoyed this mystery and it kept me going from start to finish. This is another quick...more
a good, solid summer ready. Very easy, but I found completely engrossing. I wish the woman who died had not had to do so, and I hope the author doesn't start killing off every one of the residents of this tiny, little town, just for something to write about. But I love how Lily is now trusting her boyfriend SO much, they are talking about living together! I really do hope this relationship works out, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!! The bad guys, btw? Totally yanked out the author's...more
Narrative Evaluation:
This being Book 4 in a series, I have said most of what I can say about this book in my reviews of the first three books. The same small town murder. And it is now starting to feel like same old, same old... The main saving grace of this book is Charlaine Harris' masterful story telling ability. So if you have become addicted to her books, this book is a good dose to feed your addiction. Elsewise, there is naught much different. So, what can I say about this book.... As soo...more
This being Book 4 in a series, I have said most of what I can say about this book in my reviews of the first three books. The same small town murder. And it is now starting to feel like same old, same old... The main saving grace of this book is Charlaine Harris' masterful story telling ability. So if you have become addicted to her books, this book is a good dose to feed your addiction. Elsewise, there is naught much different. So, what can I say about this book.... As soo...more
I can't think of a better way to recover from surgery than with a good book. And this series got me through some rough days. In this book Lily finds the body of her neighbor,who is also the town trollop. There are too many suspects and the sheriff thinks Lily might be one of them. It is in her best interest to find the real killer. She also wants to understand just why someone would kill Deedra. She might have been a "loose woman", but she was also harmless as far as Lily could tell. It was a fu...more
Why do I let myself keep buying Charlaine Harris' books?
Seriously people! Stop me next time you see me add one of her books to my "to-read" pile! I'm holding you accountable.
But it's too late now, now I have to read the entire Lily Bard series. This is going to SUCK!
First off, Harris' publishers really need to do a better job putting the book's number in the series ON THE BOOK!!!! Did you hear me Charlaine Harris's publisher??
I picked this book up, looked in the jacket, and this was the first b...more
Seriously people! Stop me next time you see me add one of her books to my "to-read" pile! I'm holding you accountable.
But it's too late now, now I have to read the entire Lily Bard series. This is going to SUCK!
First off, Harris' publishers really need to do a better job putting the book's number in the series ON THE BOOK!!!! Did you hear me Charlaine Harris's publisher??
I picked this book up, looked in the jacket, and this was the first b...more
This is not the best of the Lily Bard books. I felt it was the weakest of all of the books, for a few reasons. First, I felt like there was nothing to draw Lily into this mystery until the very end. She usually doesn't want to solve them, but this plot had to go out of its way to rope her in.
The second thing that bothered me about the book is the notion, promoted by Lily, that the town slut somehow brought her fate upon herself for being promiscuous. It's later contradicted, but not to my satisf...more
The second thing that bothered me about the book is the notion, promoted by Lily, that the town slut somehow brought her fate upon herself for being promiscuous. It's later contradicted, but not to my satisf...more
Lily returns in this fourth book in the Lily Bard (Cozy) Mystery series.
Another murder has taken place in Shakespeare, Arkansas. This time it's Deedra Dean, a well-known woman about town who's known for her somewhat promiscuous ways. Has her lifestyle finally managed to get her done in? And if so, it's not going to be easy for a small town police department to find her killer among the many men of Shakespeare who've been to her bed.
Of course, being the local cleaning woman to many Shakespeare r...more
Another murder has taken place in Shakespeare, Arkansas. This time it's Deedra Dean, a well-known woman about town who's known for her somewhat promiscuous ways. Has her lifestyle finally managed to get her done in? And if so, it's not going to be easy for a small town police department to find her killer among the many men of Shakespeare who've been to her bed.
Of course, being the local cleaning woman to many Shakespeare r...more
I like this series. I am sad that Ms. Harris only wrote 4 books in this series; I feel like this story could go so much further. Then again I am not a writer. I like this character more than I liked Aurora Tea garden. I feel this series is a better written set of books than the aforementioned series. Lilly is a strong female lead and I wouldn't want to meet up with her in a dark alley.
I liked this one, but aside for the shocking double life of the murderer I felt the book was pretty predictable....more
I liked this one, but aside for the shocking double life of the murderer I felt the book was pretty predictable....more
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Despite the violence in Charlaine Harris' novels I always have a feeling of peace and comfort when I start one of her books. I know I'm going to be in a nice little town where I can get to know the characters and sometimes I find that her characters are so damn relatable it's scary. I enjoyed this volume immensely. I'm only sorry that I've just got one book left before this particular series draws to a close... Also, I wish her books lasted longer, particularly the Lily Bard Mysteries.
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Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over twenty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Now she lives in southern Arkansas with her husband, her three children, three dogs, and a duck. The duck stays outside.
Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was wr...more
More about Charlaine Harris...
Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was wr...more
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“We can’t leave this world without leaving a lot of detritus behind. We never go out as cleanly as we come in; and even when we come in, there’s the afterbirth.”
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Jul 02, 2012 10:55pm