Shakespeare’s Christmas (#3)
From Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author behind HBO’s hit series True Blood and NBC’s Midnight, Texas, the third in a series that proves death never takes a holiday…
For Lily Bard, the idea of “going home for Christmas” summons nothing but dread. She wants to stay in her real home in Shakespeare, Arkansas, where her friendships are blooming, nobody dares mess with her, and her new private-eye boyfriend could make it a very cozy holiday indeed.
Back in Bartley, all people see when they look at Lily is a victim. But her sister is getting married, and Lily’s determined to give her family what they want. She’ll be present, be pleasant, and let her sister have the spotlight. Or so she thinks, until she discovers her boyfriend in town on a case, chasing a lead that could blow up the whole celebration.
One of the little girls in Bartley isn’t who she thinks she is. And one of the town’s respectable parents is a cold-blooded kidnapper ready to kill to hide their secrets. For her sister—and her sister’s eight-year-old stepdaughter-to-be—Lily will find the truth. Even if it means she’ll never go home again…
Reviews
“Fresher, more unusual, than any other mystery I’ve read lately. This novel is the third in the series; the other two had better be waiting for me under the Christmas tree.”Washington Post Sunday Book World
“A fascinating mystery […] Ms. Harris has written a wonderful novel that adds much to this top rate dark cozy series.”Midwest Book Review
“Lily Bard is one of the best-drawn and most compelling characters in contemporary mystery fiction – complex, smart, streetwise, tough. Add tight plotting and a smooth style, and its no surprise that Harris has reached a new high. Don’t miss it.”Booklist
“Harris tells a forceful story with a complex, flawed heroine. The denizens of Bartley form a memorable gallery of secondary characters. Harris’ blend of cozy style with more hard-boiled elements isn’t always smooth, but it’s interesting to see her working toward a deeper complexity.”Publishers Weekly
“Rural flavor, small-town wedding activities, and the psychological remnants of Lily’s long-ago ordeal temper an increasingly involving plot. For fans of this series as well as of Harris’ Aurora Teagarden books.”Library Journal
“Harris blends a noirish atmosphere with a traditional mystery. Rather than just another amateur sleuth mystery, Harris conjures a seamless story that delves below the surface of small-town life.”Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“SHAKESPEARE’S CHRISTMAS is without a doubt the best book in the Lily Bard series so far. The pace and story just felt much better than the previous two books and for the first time we found ourselves enjoying Lily’s adventures as much as we do Sookie Stackhouse and Aurora Teagarden.”
“Harris writes her 214 page gem in a crisp, clean and taut style […] a nail-biter.”Tulsa World
“Harris has a gift for depicting small-town Southern life with humor and candor. The Lily Bard series has a sharper, grittier edge than her Aurora Teagarden series […] if Lily flinches, it’s not for long, no matter how much it hurts. She just keeps getting stronger and better.”Mostly Murder
“Well written, thought provoking and it’s a cracking read all in that I absolutely couldn’t put down. It really does show how far Charlaine has come on in these series and why she’s one of the biggest names in the Urban Fantasy genre today.”
“I loved it […] Fast, fun holiday read that will have me looking for more Charlaine Harris books.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think Charlaine Harris should be congratulated for her fantastic characterization and plot pacing.”