Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 0-425-20686-6

Creating a hero that is outside the norm is a risky and gutsy move. And Harris has done it successfully in Shakespeare’s Landlord. Lily Bard is a cleaning lady in the small town of Shakespeare. She keeps to herself and lives an ordered and austere life to counteract the emotional turbulence she still suffers as a result of being brutally raped several years before. But circumstances are conspiring against her. An insomniac, she secretly walks the streets while the rest of her neighbors sleep. As she is returning from a long walk in the middle of the night, she sees someone use her garbage cart to dump a body in the park across from her house.

Shakespeare is a small town and the number of possible suspects in the murder of her neighbor is even smaller. The police investigate everyone and dig up the past that Lily has tried to escape. Suddenly her anonymity, security, and emotional stability are all threatened. It is fascinating to watch the character of Lily develop as she is required to interact with people and to break up her ordered routine. She is amazed to discover that she is ready to re-enter the world she has avoided – but slowly and definitely with care.

If you have read Harris’ other books you may be surprised at the literary muscles she flexes here. She is able to juggle some serious themes without making the book depressing. She crafts great characters in a book that is both a mystery and a personal awakening and keeps the attention of the reader throughout.

Favorite character? Claude Friedrich, next door neighbor and cop. Did I guess it? Actually, this was a re-read for me and I can’t remember if I did or not. Will I read another? Yes, I have done so and will read still more.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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