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Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery #3.5
The Colour of Death
A short story
Seb Foxley and his wife, Emily, have been forced to flee medieval London to escape their enemies. They find a safe haven in the isolated Norfolk village where Seb was born. Yet this idyllic rural setting has its own murderous secrets and a terrible crime requires our hero to play the sleuth once more.
Even away from London, Seb and Emily are not as safe as they believe - their enemies are closer than they know and danger lurks at every twist and turn.
The sixth Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery from bestselling author Toni Mount brings the medieval era to life once again.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2018
131 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Toni Mount
31 books108 followersToni Mount is a writer, teacher and speaker, specialising in ordinary lives and fascinating characters from history. She has an MA by Research from the University of Kent. Diplomas in European Humanities, Literature and Creative Writing and a first class honours degree from the Open University.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 7, 2022
The Colour of Death (Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery #6)
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 5, 2022
Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Month continues with #6 in this series, The Colour of Death. For the first time in this series, we get a story told by Seb himself. Stories told in the first person are not necessarily my favorites, but there are times when the style works and especially so when the author wants to give us a look at what is going on in her main character’s mind.
It was nice to get Seb’s take on his wife, Emily, who he loves more than anything but who can be something of a shrew. In this story we see a kinder Em, but maybe that’s because we’re seeing her through Seb’s eyes?
As to the story, this is another short story about 70 pages in length, so the plot is not as intricate as those in the full length novels.
At the conclusion of book #5 (The Colour of Murder), Seb and his pregnant wife Em were forced to leave London and escape the machinations of the queen’s brother, Anthony Woodville. For more about how this came about, you’re going to have to read book 5 yourself. So they make their way to Norfolk and the village of Foxley, where Seb was born.
There, Seb is thrilled to find so many relatives he never knew he had – nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives young and relatives old, relatives by marriage and relatives by blood. In a small village where just about everyone is connected to just about everyone else, one is always bumping into a relative. (Personal note here – one of the families is named Oakenshaw and for the life of me, every time I read that name my mind kept conjuring images of Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit. Not that imagining Richard Armitage is ever a bad thing.)
Having been a city boy all his life, Seb finds himself easily adjusting to country life. After London, the beauty of the countryside appeals to his artist’s eye. Never having been a robust man, an agreement is reached that in exchange for the empty cottage they’ll be living in, Seb will repaint the fading mural on the church wall.
Em, on the other hand, misses her friends even though Seb’s new-found extended family do their best to make her feel welcome.
Much of the story is taken up with giving us a good look at village life, but in spite of what should be an idyllic time, things end up having a dark side. After Seb accidentally gets caught up in an altercation at the local tavern (yes, I was reminded of that old Western standard – the barroom brawl) Bayard Armitage, one of those many cousins who is both Steward and Bailiff of the local manor, decides to punish him by insisting Seb help with the haying. It is while haying that the body of another cousin, Luke Forrester, is found. Seb’s revelation of the culprit reminded me of something Sherlock Holmes would do, depending on logic to solve the mystery.
One of the highlights of this story is the birth of Em & Seb’s first child with Seb fussing and fretting while Em is in labor, and his cousins providing questionable moral support in the form of ale. Then there is the naming of the child and the choosing of godparents, something many of us can relate to.
The Colour of Death tells a good story more about family life with the mystery almost secondary, and it was nice to see Seb and Em happy together for a change.
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 5, 2022
Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Month continues with #6 in this series, The Colour of Death. For the first time in this series, we get a story told by Seb himself. Stories told in the first person are not necessarily my favorites, but there are times when the style works and especially so when the author wants to give us a look at what is going on in her main character’s mind.
It was nice to get Seb’s take on his wife, Emily, who he loves more than anything but who can be something of a shrew. In this story we see a kinder Em, but maybe that’s because we’re seeing her through Seb’s eyes?
As to the story, this is another short story about 70 pages in length, so the plot is not as intricate as those in the full length novels.
At the conclusion of book #5 (The Colour of Murder), Seb and his pregnant wife Em were forced to leave London and escape the machinations of the queen’s brother, Anthony Woodville. For more about how this came about, you’re going to have to read book 5 yourself. So they make their way to Norfolk and the village of Foxley, where Seb was born.
There, Seb is thrilled to find so many relatives he never knew he had – nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives young and relatives old, relatives by marriage and relatives by blood. In a small village where just about everyone is connected to just about everyone else, one is always bumping into a relative. (Personal note here – one of the families is named Oakenshaw and for the life of me, every time I read that name my mind kept conjuring images of Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit. Not that imagining Richard Armitage is ever a bad thing.)
Having been a city boy all his life, Seb finds himself easily adjusting to country life. After London, the beauty of the countryside appeals to his artist’s eye. Never having been a robust man, an agreement is reached that in exchange for the empty cottage they’ll be living in, Seb will repaint the fading mural on the church wall.
Em, on the other hand, misses her friends even though Seb’s new-found extended family do their best to make her feel welcome.
Much of the story is taken up with giving us a good look at village life, but in spite of what should be an idyllic time, things end up having a dark side. After Seb accidentally gets caught up in an altercation at the local tavern (yes, I was reminded of that old Western standard – the barroom brawl) Bayard Armitage, one of those many cousins who is both Steward and Bailiff of the local manor, decides to punish him by insisting Seb help with the haying. It is while haying that the body of another cousin, Luke Forrester, is found. Seb’s revelation of the culprit reminded me of something Sherlock Holmes would do, depending on logic to solve the mystery.
One of the highlights of this story is the birth of Em & Seb’s first child with Seb fussing and fretting while Em is in labor, and his cousins providing questionable moral support in the form of ale. Then there is the naming of the child and the choosing of godparents, something many of us can relate to.
The Colour of Death tells a good story more about family life with the mystery almost secondary, and it was nice to see Seb and Em happy together for a change.
October 13, 2018
Short but interesting
Not being a fan of short stories myself, this book has a good plot and strong characters.
This book picks up the story of Sebastian and Em a few months after having to flee for their lives from their London home and business. A new life in the country is the setting and new characters are introduced. As usual, author Mount creates a colorful picture of a lifestyle very different from London's. Sebastian and Em now live in a small cottage amongst relatives aplenty.
Here we meet the many diverse characters of the small village and who are well described for their individual attributes. Mount artfully paints a picture identifying the individual quirks, personalities and assets of each. The scenic backdrops are artfully and wholly described so well I was mentally taken away to the 15th century settings.
Needless to say, a murder is committed in this idyllic new location and Seb is embroiled in another mystery and investigation. The who-dun-it, as always, is another genius stroke from this author.
Although short, the story is well thought out and employed, and I believe readers of historical fiction and murder mystery fans would enjoy this one as I did. Highly recommended. I look forward to the next installment in this fascinating series.
Not being a fan of short stories myself, this book has a good plot and strong characters.
This book picks up the story of Sebastian and Em a few months after having to flee for their lives from their London home and business. A new life in the country is the setting and new characters are introduced. As usual, author Mount creates a colorful picture of a lifestyle very different from London's. Sebastian and Em now live in a small cottage amongst relatives aplenty.
Here we meet the many diverse characters of the small village and who are well described for their individual attributes. Mount artfully paints a picture identifying the individual quirks, personalities and assets of each. The scenic backdrops are artfully and wholly described so well I was mentally taken away to the 15th century settings.
Needless to say, a murder is committed in this idyllic new location and Seb is embroiled in another mystery and investigation. The who-dun-it, as always, is another genius stroke from this author.
Although short, the story is well thought out and employed, and I believe readers of historical fiction and murder mystery fans would enjoy this one as I did. Highly recommended. I look forward to the next installment in this fascinating series.
October 13, 2018
Very enjoyable return of Seb
The character development in this was one of the best so far. Although it was a murder mystery, it was more upbeat than the last book and I appreciated that. I realized that Seb, Jude, the Duke of Gloucester and others have become like real people to me just as she portrayed them. It takes talent indeed to build a world that feels so real. Thank you.
The character development in this was one of the best so far. Although it was a murder mystery, it was more upbeat than the last book and I appreciated that. I realized that Seb, Jude, the Duke of Gloucester and others have become like real people to me just as she portrayed them. It takes talent indeed to build a world that feels so real. Thank you.
May 4, 2019
This is Sebastian Foxley 6th Medieval Mystery Book set in 1478.
Having fled London to escape the wrath of the Woodvilles the Foxley family have arrived in the village of Seb's birth - Foxley. Unfortunaelty his life is disturbed when he discovers the body of one of the inhabitants.
A short but enjoyable well-written mystery, another in this character driven series.
Having fled London to escape the wrath of the Woodvilles the Foxley family have arrived in the village of Seb's birth - Foxley. Unfortunaelty his life is disturbed when he discovers the body of one of the inhabitants.
A short but enjoyable well-written mystery, another in this character driven series.
September 26, 2018
A welcome addition to the Seb Foxley medieval mysteries this e-short leaves you wanting more its so well written and researched and you get a real sense of medieval times the sights sounds and smells. Toni Mount literally transports you back in time.
November 11, 2018
Short but good
A quick visit with friends. The mystery is almost an afterthought in this installment of the saga. The slice of village life is interesting.
A quick visit with friends. The mystery is almost an afterthought in this installment of the saga. The slice of village life is interesting.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews