Avid Series Reader's Reviews > Shakespeare's Champion

Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris is the second book of the Lily Bard mystery series set in contemporary Shakespeare, Arkansas. Lily is an extremely private person. Her past is no one's business. She keeps her body lean and strong with martial arts and body building (bordering on obsession). She cleans houses by day, often walks through the town late at night.

A fellow body-builder at her gym is murdered just before his chance at a championship. A bomb goes off at the funeral service, killing several and injuring many, including Lily and the police chief. Just weeks before, Lily had intervened to save the victim of a racially-motivated beating.

Lily is saddened by the increasing violent racism in her town. She's suspicious of a recent newcomer. She begins to investigate covertly as she cleans houses, and discovers links between the crimes. As suspense mounts, her actions inevitably lead to a violent confrontation with a gang of amoral thugs.