Shakespeare's Landlord

Shakespeare's Landlord
By Charlaine Harris
Fiction/Mystery
$7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Released November 1,2005

This book is one of five in the Lily Bard Mysteries. The book is a quick, easy read. The plot is fast moving and Harris writes with a no-nonsense style, just like the characters she writes about. The chapters are short and sweet. Harris is a master at this genre. She creates gritty, funny characters; almost always southern and not complete without with a dark streak. Her women are fearless and her men are rough and tumble. The characters should come with the warning, "All Sharp Edges-Handle With Care".
"Shakespeare's Landlord" is a classic who-dunnit but instead of Sherlock Holmes we get Lily Bard.
Bard, a mysterious, intensely private woman has recreated a new identity for herself  in the small town of Shakespeare. Trying to recover from a traumatic event in her past and heal from mental and physical scars, Lily has thrown herself into martial arts and body building. Lily Bard is a bad ass (and a blonde!). In her past life she was a white collar professional; now she's a cleaning lady. An under the radar job that involves very little interaction with others.
At her apartment complex Lily stumbles upon the body of her landlord and finds herself thrown into the middle of the unsolved murder case.
The novel hosts an odd cast of characters-true to form for  a Harris novel. We are introduced to some key characters that we get to read about again in the next few books in the  series. Marshall,martial arts instructor, gym owner, and potential lover. Deedra, a neighbor in Lily's apartment complex. She also happens to be the town hussie. And Bobo, an employee at the gym, who has the hots for Lily. Quirky southern charmers for sure.
I have yet to find a Charlaine Harris book I didn't enjoy or wouldn't recommend.  Great read for the modern day sleuth!

Recommend it: Yes!
But: Graphic violence.