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Faukon Abbey Mysteries #1
Remember Me?
'What happens when your past catches up with you? If what you did then, shows up now? A man is found dead in Tersel Woods, with no identification, not even a mobile phone. Who is he? And why would anybody kill him? Faukon Abbey CID officers, DI Greene and DC Ford and their friend Carter, a journalist at Abbey Chronicle uncover all hidden tragedies, murder being just one. They uncover what really happens behind the old town elegant facades - where evil crimes go unseen and unreported because they don't happen to people like us - - Or do they?
And what happens when we find out? A tale of hidden secrets brought to light - about what happens when Pandora's box is opened, and revenge is unleashed.'
And what happens when we find out? A tale of hidden secrets brought to light - about what happens when Pandora's box is opened, and revenge is unleashed.'
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2016
About the author
A.K. Lakelett
5 books9 followersAuthor of Faukon Abbey Mysteries.
Growing up as a lonely kid in the Frozen North had one thing going for it, libraries! I was a frequent visitor in every library in every place we moved to. Read a lot books and created my own worlds. Finally this year, I decided to publish one of the stories.
My books, which are traditional detective stories, are set in the small town of Faukon Abbey, near Exeter in Devon, England. Devon is in the center of England’s West country, with wild moorlands, ancient history, and a lot of mysteries.
Growing up as a lonely kid in the Frozen North had one thing going for it, libraries! I was a frequent visitor in every library in every place we moved to. Read a lot books and created my own worlds. Finally this year, I decided to publish one of the stories.
My books, which are traditional detective stories, are set in the small town of Faukon Abbey, near Exeter in Devon, England. Devon is in the center of England’s West country, with wild moorlands, ancient history, and a lot of mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 23, 2016
This clever mystery threw me a little at first, organised as it is into the format of a play, but the structure soon became invisible once I got engrossed in the story. Normally I'm pretty good at working out the ending of crime stories but this one genuinely threw me! Highly recommended.
October 21, 2016
Definitely a Different Type of Story (In a good way)
It took a bit for me to get used to the format but, I really enjoyed "knowing" what every character was doing and thinking. It rounded everything out.
The storyline has some amount of disturbing information and I will caution some readers to keep that in mind.
Overall, it was a well developed, creative, and intelligently designed book. There are so many angles and perspectives that readers are privy to that connects pieces in a way that you miss out on, in general, of other story-telling.
After getting used to the style, it sucks you in and you become invested.
It took a bit for me to get used to the format but, I really enjoyed "knowing" what every character was doing and thinking. It rounded everything out.
The storyline has some amount of disturbing information and I will caution some readers to keep that in mind.
Overall, it was a well developed, creative, and intelligently designed book. There are so many angles and perspectives that readers are privy to that connects pieces in a way that you miss out on, in general, of other story-telling.
After getting used to the style, it sucks you in and you become invested.
March 19, 2017
This is a novel with a difference. It’s written as a Greek Tragedy and what a tragedy it is for all those unlucky enough to become involved with Eric Warner. So we have, mystery, murder and mayhem as in all good Greek Tragedies.
The play opens with a body being found, sitting on the ground and resting against a tree in Tersel Woods. The man has no identification, no wallet, and no cell phone. Added to that is the fact that the woman who called the emergency services has given an incorrect phone number and a non-existent address. The police in the form of DI Peter Greene and DC Terry Ford, are baffled.
They call upon the reporter for the local paper, Jimmy Carter for help and a photo is printed in The Abbey Chronicle asking that anybody who knows who this man is to get in touch with the police. From here comes a phone call from the manager of the local bank who recognises the photo as that of Eric Warner.
Warner and his second wife, the beautiful Estelle, have recently moved to the area with plans, according to Estelle, of starting a family.
But Warner is not as he seems. He has a nasty, murky past and has left a well-hidden trail behind him. He has at least one former wife and it seems, a fairly long-term and disastrous relationship with another woman. There were two children from the earlier marriage, one of whom dies in mysterious circumstances, and a daughter of the woman with whom he had the earlier relationship.
The story and its characters are well thought out, the characters are deftly drawn, places are well researched and in all, it is totally believable.
But to find out who did it, you’ll have to read the rest of the book. For me? I was completely baffled until the unveiling at the end, the Final Action. This is only the first book in a new series, but one that will continue to get better, involving us more deeply into the three protagonists, Greene, Ford, and Carter. I look forward to reading the second book.
Disclaimer – I received a copy of this book, enjoyed it and chose to review it.
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The play opens with a body being found, sitting on the ground and resting against a tree in Tersel Woods. The man has no identification, no wallet, and no cell phone. Added to that is the fact that the woman who called the emergency services has given an incorrect phone number and a non-existent address. The police in the form of DI Peter Greene and DC Terry Ford, are baffled.
They call upon the reporter for the local paper, Jimmy Carter for help and a photo is printed in The Abbey Chronicle asking that anybody who knows who this man is to get in touch with the police. From here comes a phone call from the manager of the local bank who recognises the photo as that of Eric Warner.
Warner and his second wife, the beautiful Estelle, have recently moved to the area with plans, according to Estelle, of starting a family.
But Warner is not as he seems. He has a nasty, murky past and has left a well-hidden trail behind him. He has at least one former wife and it seems, a fairly long-term and disastrous relationship with another woman. There were two children from the earlier marriage, one of whom dies in mysterious circumstances, and a daughter of the woman with whom he had the earlier relationship.
The story and its characters are well thought out, the characters are deftly drawn, places are well researched and in all, it is totally believable.
But to find out who did it, you’ll have to read the rest of the book. For me? I was completely baffled until the unveiling at the end, the Final Action. This is only the first book in a new series, but one that will continue to get better, involving us more deeply into the three protagonists, Greene, Ford, and Carter. I look forward to reading the second book.
Disclaimer – I received a copy of this book, enjoyed it and chose to review it.
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March 28, 2017
Firstly, I try to review every book I read, as most of them are books that I find for free on various websites. This book was also sent to me for free by the author, and I was pleasantly surprised at the writing style. It's written in the present tense, which was really good to read. The story is excellent - if you pay very close attention to names (that's all I'm saying about that lol), you could possibly be able to figure out who killed a well to do man with a beautiful second wife and a past that caught up to him rather quickly....
It's a very good whodunnit. I read it in two days, I love British mysteries and thrillers and boy, this one had me guessing. The author takes the reader on a journey with the characters every step of the way. You wonder, as do the detectives, the pathologist and the reporter, what could have been in the coffee? Was it in the coffee? Was it a heart attack? But he was such a fit man....No obvious motive for this murder, but loads of suspects and an excellent ending. He got his just desserts! But why?? Well, I'm not telling you that. For that you have to meet the people of Faukon Abbey. Especially the newer inhabitants. Enjoy and see if you can figure out who and why before the ending. Betcha you dont! I would now read A.K. Lakelett's books any time.
It's a very good whodunnit. I read it in two days, I love British mysteries and thrillers and boy, this one had me guessing. The author takes the reader on a journey with the characters every step of the way. You wonder, as do the detectives, the pathologist and the reporter, what could have been in the coffee? Was it in the coffee? Was it a heart attack? But he was such a fit man....No obvious motive for this murder, but loads of suspects and an excellent ending. He got his just desserts! But why?? Well, I'm not telling you that. For that you have to meet the people of Faukon Abbey. Especially the newer inhabitants. Enjoy and see if you can figure out who and why before the ending. Betcha you dont! I would now read A.K. Lakelett's books any time.
April 29, 2017
This is certainly an unusual style of murder/mystery book, it is written as a sort of amalgamation of play, prose and poetry, the format works quite well, but whilst it makes the book stand out, I'm not sure that it actually improves the experience of reading the book, but neither should it put a potential reader off.
The plot is clever, and provides plenty of twists and turns and red-herrings, and I have to admit that I didn't spot who was guilty until it was revealed. The characters are also well described and believable. It made for an involving read which I enjoyed.
I did think that the impact of the reveal was somewhat reduced by the amount of text which followed it, although it was interesting to find out what happened after the case was closed. Another minor quibble is that the book was written by an American, but set in Dorset, and yet there was the constant use of 'pants' when referring to 'trousers', which grated in an otherwise very English feeling book. I also have to mention that the proof-reader didn't do a particularly good job, as there were several minor grammar typos.
The plot is clever, and provides plenty of twists and turns and red-herrings, and I have to admit that I didn't spot who was guilty until it was revealed. The characters are also well described and believable. It made for an involving read which I enjoyed.
I did think that the impact of the reveal was somewhat reduced by the amount of text which followed it, although it was interesting to find out what happened after the case was closed. Another minor quibble is that the book was written by an American, but set in Dorset, and yet there was the constant use of 'pants' when referring to 'trousers', which grated in an otherwise very English feeling book. I also have to mention that the proof-reader didn't do a particularly good job, as there were several minor grammar typos.
November 9, 2017
An unconventional murder mystery—a remarkable feat!
From its opening sentence to its last, Remember Me? remains a pleasant surprise. Lakelett’s unique use of the play format for her tale of mystery is both refreshing and intriguing. She effortlessly pulls the reader in and succeeds, one scene at a time, to complicate the plot, accelerate the pace, add twist upon twist, and add layers to her distinct mystery. Only on the last page is the reader allowed to take a breath, and then some! A remarkable feat to pull this format off and make it work.
From its opening sentence to its last, Remember Me? remains a pleasant surprise. Lakelett’s unique use of the play format for her tale of mystery is both refreshing and intriguing. She effortlessly pulls the reader in and succeeds, one scene at a time, to complicate the plot, accelerate the pace, add twist upon twist, and add layers to her distinct mystery. Only on the last page is the reader allowed to take a breath, and then some! A remarkable feat to pull this format off and make it work.
July 31, 2021
Thank you A.K. Lakelett for the opportunity to win a Kindle edition. A man is found with no identification slumped against a tree dead in Tersel Woods. This story is told by the local CID and the local newspaper reporter as they start to investigate the murder. A cleverly written murder mystery.
April 25, 2017
Kindle Unlimited but got some freebie days or giveaways set up on freebie sites by the writer. The last one was supposed to have another Faukon but writer decided it was better as standalone of somewhat different type instead.
Faukon Abbey Companion: Maps, Locations and Tea Time Reading (Faukon Abbey Mysteries Book 0)
Remember Me? (Faukon Abbey Mysteries Book 1)
Missing Alibi (Faukon Abbey Mysteries Book 2)
The Good Riddance Project: A Project Management Mystery (Occupational Hazard Book 1)
Better but not 'have to' read in order, because 0 gives the background of how the sleuthing started and then really goes to work in 1 and then 2. Always did luv a series so can follow characters.
Faukon Abbey Companion: Maps, Locations and Tea Time Reading (Faukon Abbey Mysteries Book 0)
Remember Me? (Faukon Abbey Mysteries Book 1)
Missing Alibi (Faukon Abbey Mysteries Book 2)
The Good Riddance Project: A Project Management Mystery (Occupational Hazard Book 1)
Better but not 'have to' read in order, because 0 gives the background of how the sleuthing started and then really goes to work in 1 and then 2. Always did luv a series so can follow characters.
July 24, 2017
Interesting style, the plot was strong enough to stand up without the unusual format. A little bit predictable in parts. 3.5
July 18, 2021
Great murder mystery!
Book keeps you guessing the whole time. You do not figure the plot out until the very end.Great mystery writer.
Book keeps you guessing the whole time. You do not figure the plot out until the very end.Great mystery writer.
December 31, 2017
Remember me. This was a different kind of book. It starts out as a Greek tragedy and gives you many different suspects for a murder that's hard to solve. I love a good mystery that takes a while to solve. And when you find out who did it, it's surprising. I did get a little confused with some of the people and who was who. I enjoyed this book! *** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
October 21, 2016
Written as a play. Good mystery.
June 4, 2017
Good read. different beginning which is intriguing, draws one in and definitely keeps one's interest. Good characters which helps pull the reader into the plot. Definitely worth your time to read.
October 24, 2016
Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Book Review Team
3.5 stars
'A tragedy in three acts' ~ this is an unusual take on the murder mystery novel. It's part play, part narrative, part poetry, revolving around a dead body found in Tersel Woods. An experimental structure indeed, it's one that works very well on some levels and less so on others.
An excellent start reveals the story of Julia, from the years 1993 ~ 1995, as she tells her mother about the joy she's found with her new love, that quickly deteriorates into domestic abuse. There's a terrific poem that gives such stark insight into the emotions such victims experience, with the excuses they give to both themselves and others. For Julia, though, there is a dramatic end to this tale. I was very impressed by this part.
Moving on, I felt the dialogue was not always convincing. Some colloquial/character illustrating speech does not come across, and one aspect I found unrealistic, thus: 'Oh no, they are very private ... I have not played with him. I do not know his wife ...'. In speech, people tend to say 'they're', 'haven't' and 'don't'. This lack of abbreviation in dialogue occurs throughout the book, and when there are several in one paragraph of dialogue it feels very stilted. The other thing that confused me was English people referring to their mother as 'Mom', for some reason I couldn't see. On a good note, there are many quietly humorous observations: 'He claims and insists that he is not overweight, just a bit round. His wife begs to differ ... As with most pathologists, he's not very good at dealing with the living, and always assumes nobody knows anything about anatomy'.
The plot itself is interesting and, generally speaking, the characterisation is cleverly done (I thought Estelle Warner was particularly good). The story fitted well into the short format; it was a bit like reading a mystery novel without all the less interesting scene setting and incidental stuff, which is a plus for the short attention spans of many of today's readers! And I didn't guess whodunnit...
3.5 stars
'A tragedy in three acts' ~ this is an unusual take on the murder mystery novel. It's part play, part narrative, part poetry, revolving around a dead body found in Tersel Woods. An experimental structure indeed, it's one that works very well on some levels and less so on others.
An excellent start reveals the story of Julia, from the years 1993 ~ 1995, as she tells her mother about the joy she's found with her new love, that quickly deteriorates into domestic abuse. There's a terrific poem that gives such stark insight into the emotions such victims experience, with the excuses they give to both themselves and others. For Julia, though, there is a dramatic end to this tale. I was very impressed by this part.
Moving on, I felt the dialogue was not always convincing. Some colloquial/character illustrating speech does not come across, and one aspect I found unrealistic, thus: 'Oh no, they are very private ... I have not played with him. I do not know his wife ...'. In speech, people tend to say 'they're', 'haven't' and 'don't'. This lack of abbreviation in dialogue occurs throughout the book, and when there are several in one paragraph of dialogue it feels very stilted. The other thing that confused me was English people referring to their mother as 'Mom', for some reason I couldn't see. On a good note, there are many quietly humorous observations: 'He claims and insists that he is not overweight, just a bit round. His wife begs to differ ... As with most pathologists, he's not very good at dealing with the living, and always assumes nobody knows anything about anatomy'.
The plot itself is interesting and, generally speaking, the characterisation is cleverly done (I thought Estelle Warner was particularly good). The story fitted well into the short format; it was a bit like reading a mystery novel without all the less interesting scene setting and incidental stuff, which is a plus for the short attention spans of many of today's readers! And I didn't guess whodunnit...
November 24, 2016
Bravo to the author for taking a chance by using a combination of a very untraditional format for a novel — a play — and yet combining it with a standard novel storyline that's suspenseful, skillfully paced, and intriguing. When I started it, in fact, I was dubious such a thing could be pulled off, but the author did.
At its essence, REMEMBER ME? is the story of a man found dead, propped against a tree. By everyone's account, the man was in superb health and nothing immediately points to a cause. But clearly, someone wanted him dead because nothing screams suicide. His wife is distraught. Investigators are stumped. But in a twist you likely won't see coming, everything evolves into a very satisfying conclusion.
(No, don't ask me to give up the ending! That's something I never do.)
This is book #1 in A.K. Lakelett's series, and you would do well to pick up a copy and enjoy. The only reason I've not given it a full five-star review is that the author needed a better editor to deal with improperly placed commas throughout. That didn't stop me from enjoying the novel, but it occasionally annoyed me. That said, I sure wish Amazon and other review sites would allow for a 4.5-star review.
Keep your eyes on this author. I know I will.
At its essence, REMEMBER ME? is the story of a man found dead, propped against a tree. By everyone's account, the man was in superb health and nothing immediately points to a cause. But clearly, someone wanted him dead because nothing screams suicide. His wife is distraught. Investigators are stumped. But in a twist you likely won't see coming, everything evolves into a very satisfying conclusion.
(No, don't ask me to give up the ending! That's something I never do.)
This is book #1 in A.K. Lakelett's series, and you would do well to pick up a copy and enjoy. The only reason I've not given it a full five-star review is that the author needed a better editor to deal with improperly placed commas throughout. That didn't stop me from enjoying the novel, but it occasionally annoyed me. That said, I sure wish Amazon and other review sites would allow for a 4.5-star review.
Keep your eyes on this author. I know I will.
June 5, 2021
British Mystery as Greek Tragedy?
I thought the conceit of ascribing different chapters to elements of Greek tragedy just didn’t work. I simply ignored them after a while. The ending is not satisfying. Without spoiling it for anyone, I will simply say it left more questions than it answered. Some of the plot seems really contrived. I kept hoping I would like it if I read a little more, but alas, I liked it even less. I will not be reading others in this series.
I thought the conceit of ascribing different chapters to elements of Greek tragedy just didn’t work. I simply ignored them after a while. The ending is not satisfying. Without spoiling it for anyone, I will simply say it left more questions than it answered. Some of the plot seems really contrived. I kept hoping I would like it if I read a little more, but alas, I liked it even less. I will not be reading others in this series.
September 26, 2016
Let me start by saying this is not my usual kind of book. I'm a lazy reader. I read romances and easy mysteries. I read the first few pages of this book and thought I wasn't going to like it since it's written in a play style. I persevered though, and I'm so glad I did! The mystery of this story was great. The characters were interesting, and there were loads of secrets, which I do love! After the initial pages you don't notice the style of writing, and soon you are engrossed in the story. Really interesting premise and I love not knowing what happened until the very last pages.
December 31, 2016
I took my time getting around to reading this book (the Greek Tragedy thing concerned me, I don't like change)! But I needn't have worried, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way it was constructed. It was full of suspense and kept me guessing throughout. I'll be anxiously awaiting the second instalment in the Faukon Abbey series!
February 10, 2019
It’s a good mystery with plenty of interesting characters and twists in the plot. The underlying motif is incest which only emerges as the denouement. Unusually the book leaves the ending unresolved in that whilst the murderer is clear, her motivation is left to lie. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I will look for other books by the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2019
Great book to read if you're into English murders
Loved this story from start to finish. I hope more are written in this style. Loved it so much. Everyone should read if you like small English town murderers.
Loved this story from start to finish. I hope more are written in this style. Loved it so much. Everyone should read if you like small English town murderers.
March 20, 2019
What an odd book. All in the present tense told from several different points of view. it was intriguing to work out the solution. A bit of twist at the end.
September 13, 2021
Review by BookViral
As with the best of crime novels, Remember Me proves a tense and compelling debut as A K Lakelett takes a tried and tested formula and adds her own impressive twist. Creating something innovative in such a popular genre is no mean feat and here she shares her story as a play, cutting between action scenes and chorus. Green, Ford and Carter are deftly drawn and in eschewing the genre tendency towards stoic stereotypes Lakelett delivers rich protagonists who are plausibly imbued with the depth and characteristics of their roles. This makes them feel both authentic and refreshingly original and with an enticing plot she manages to maintain intrigue and a satisfying balance between suspense and transparency which armchair detectives will undoubtedly appreciate. The pace is measured, the twists are well pitched, we become involved in her narratives web of mystery, but more importantly she’s built the foundations for what appears to be an innovative and promising new series.
An intriguing debut and an author to watch in A K Lakelett, Remember Me? is definitely recommended.
As with the best of crime novels, Remember Me proves a tense and compelling debut as A K Lakelett takes a tried and tested formula and adds her own impressive twist. Creating something innovative in such a popular genre is no mean feat and here she shares her story as a play, cutting between action scenes and chorus. Green, Ford and Carter are deftly drawn and in eschewing the genre tendency towards stoic stereotypes Lakelett delivers rich protagonists who are plausibly imbued with the depth and characteristics of their roles. This makes them feel both authentic and refreshingly original and with an enticing plot she manages to maintain intrigue and a satisfying balance between suspense and transparency which armchair detectives will undoubtedly appreciate. The pace is measured, the twists are well pitched, we become involved in her narratives web of mystery, but more importantly she’s built the foundations for what appears to be an innovative and promising new series.
An intriguing debut and an author to watch in A K Lakelett, Remember Me? is definitely recommended.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews