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A.L. Lester

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.allester.co.uk/

Twitter

CogentHippo

Genre

Mystery, Paranormal, Gay and Lesbian

Influences

Ursula Le Guin, Dorothy Dunnett, Robert Heinlen, K.J. Charles, Dorothy ...more

Member Since

December 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/allester

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Hi! I write queer, paranormal, historical, romantic suspense, mostly, with some contemporary short stories and novellas thrown in. I live in the middle of nowhere in the south west of England with Mr AL, my family, various animals, a rewilding native woodland and a regenerating orchard. I like permaculture gardening but I don't really have time or energy these days. I'm not musical, I don’t much like telly, I like to read. I'm non-binary. I'm chronically disabled and have fibromyalgia and seizures. My pronouns are she/they.

Subscribe to my newsletter for monthly-ish updates and an exclusive story. Find my self-published stories on itch.io and my publisher-work at JMS Books. Find me on social media at BlueSky.

I also write higher-heat contempo ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?

A.L. Lester Without a doubt, Francis Crawford and Philippa Somerville from Dorothy Dunnett's 'Checkmate' series. Their relationship covers six (fat) books and a d…moreWithout a doubt, Francis Crawford and Philippa Somerville from Dorothy Dunnett's 'Checkmate' series. Their relationship covers six (fat) books and a decade, from when he is twenty-two and she is twelve. Writing that down sounds extremely creepy and inappropriate, but actually, no romance actually happens until a good deal later.

Because of the long story arc, their characters and those of the people around them are fully fleshed out. Dunnett uses their characters to explore sixteenth centure Europe, the Ottoman Empire and Russia under Ivan the Terrible. As a historian - a proto-historian when I first discovered the series at the age of about fifteen - I find her attention to historical detail and the political twists and turns of the plot fascinating.

The driving force behind the novels is Francis Crawford of Lymond, the second son of a Scottish noble family who is accused of treason at the start of the first book. Philippa hates him because she misinterprets something that she witnesses during his attempts to prove his innocence. Over the next five books, she grows up - and so does he. I think if I had a fictional alter ego, Philippa Somerville would be it.

An honourable mention must also go to Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, created by Dorothy L. Sayer. They are so awfully AWFULLY 1920s British Upper Class. Well, he is. She is middle class, one of the first women to hold a degree from Oxford University (like Sayers herself) and has disgraced herself in the eyes of society by living with a man outside of marriage.

Further honorable mentions also to Silas and Damien by K. J. Charles.

I think I like my couples educated and snippy, basically. Possibly a bit up themselves if you met them in real life. I could analyse what that says about me. But let's not.
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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

A.L. Lester Soooo many :). I'd like to know why my horrid boyfriend in my mid-twenties never had any cash. I'd like to know why I used to hear mysterious footstep…moreSoooo many :). I'd like to know why my horrid boyfriend in my mid-twenties never had any cash. I'd like to know why I used to hear mysterious footsteps upstairs in our new house (like NEW BUILD HOUSE) when there was no-one but me at home. Why did was the electric always off when I came back from my friend's meditation circle on a Wednesday night? I'm more likely to write a story about why the hedgehog stopped coming into the garden, though!(less)

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A.L. Lester’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 1,443 ratings · 688 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	Lost In Time (Lost in Time 1920s, #1) 3.38 avg rating — 149 ratings — published 2017 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Taking Stock 4.17 avg rating — 115 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Gate 3.33 avg rating — 143 ratings — published 2017	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	As the Crows Fly 4.26 avg rating — 106 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Playing Chicken: A St Dwynwen's Day Short Story 4.27 avg rating — 74 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Fog of War (Bradfield Trilogy #1) 3.77 avg rating — 83 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Taking Flight really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 75 ratings — published 2021	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Out of Focus 3.88 avg rating — 74 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Inheritance of Shadows 3.66 avg rating — 76 ratings — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Warning! Deep Water 4.30 avg rating — 64 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by A.L. Lester…

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A.L. Lester's Blog

Mel and Penny #3

Well. Penny had a bit more about her than Mel had initially thought. She’d lay money that skirt had been new, and probably cost a…

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Published on May 05, 2026 02:59

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Series by A.L. Lester

Border Magic, 1920s London (3 books)
by

A.L. Lester (Goodreads Author)

3.69 avg rating — 263 ratings

The Bradfield Trilogy (2 books)
by

A.L. Lester (Goodreads Author)

3.91 avg rating — 136 ratings

Border Magic, 18th Century (1 book)
by

A.L. Lester (Goodreads Author)

4.33 avg rating — 43 ratings

A. L. is Currently Reading

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Reading it Wrong

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Aug 20, 2023 01:55AM

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Second Wind

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A. L. Lester said: " Are you looking for a low angst gay romance with a trans MC set in a little Welsh town with a truly terrible community orchestra?
I've got you covered.
Out today! ...more "

Nov 19, 2022 01:30AM · see review

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Naked Gardening Day Box Set

by Holly Day (Goodreads Author)

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A. L. Lester said: " The Naked Gardening Day gay romance stories are now out in a box set! Get all your naked gardening loveliness here! "

Oct 30, 2022 03:58AM · see review

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A.L. Lester wrote a new blog post Mel and Penny #3 Well. Penny had a bit more about her than Mel had initially thought. She’d lay money that skirt had been new, and probably cost a…
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