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Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery #6
The Colour of Evil
Every Londoner has money worries. Talented artist and some-time sleuth, Seb Foxley, is no exception.
When fellow craftsmen with debts to pay are found dead in the most horrid circumstances, fears escalate. Only Seb can solve the puzzles that baffle the authorities.
Seb’s wayward elder brother, Jude, returns unannounced from Italy with a child-bride upon his arm. Shock turns to dismay when life becomes more complicated and troubles multiply.
From counterfeit coins to deadly darkness in London's worst corners; mysterious thefts to attacks of murderous intent, Seb finds himself embroiled at every turn. With a royal commission to fulfil and heartache to resolve, can our hero win through against the odds?
Share Seb Foxley’s latest adventures in the filthy streets of medieval London, join in the Midsummer festivities and meet his fellow citizens, both the respectable and the villainous.
When fellow craftsmen with debts to pay are found dead in the most horrid circumstances, fears escalate. Only Seb can solve the puzzles that baffle the authorities.
Seb’s wayward elder brother, Jude, returns unannounced from Italy with a child-bride upon his arm. Shock turns to dismay when life becomes more complicated and troubles multiply.
From counterfeit coins to deadly darkness in London's worst corners; mysterious thefts to attacks of murderous intent, Seb finds himself embroiled at every turn. With a royal commission to fulfil and heartache to resolve, can our hero win through against the odds?
Share Seb Foxley’s latest adventures in the filthy streets of medieval London, join in the Midsummer festivities and meet his fellow citizens, both the respectable and the villainous.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2021
About the author
Toni Mount
31 books110 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 3, 2021
The Colour of Evil is the 9th book in Toni Mount’s Sebastian Foxley medieval mystery series, and it draws the reader into 15th century London just as completely as the previous installments. Toni is a well-known historian, and her deep knowledge of the era shines in her fictional portrayal of the good-hearted scrivener who seems unable to avoid becoming involved in murder investigations.
With just the right balance of Seb’s sweet innocence and his brother Jude’s unapologetic ruthlessness, Toni creates a world with characters who are complex and relatable. The reader not only cheers for Seb, who is easy to love, but even longs to see dastardly Jude mend his ways and find lasting happiness. I have to admit to laughing along with Jude at Seb’s naivety at times. I enjoy watching the characters evolve and their relationships grow as much as solving the mystery in each of Toni’s books. There is Rose, who waits patiently for Seb to notice her as more of a fixture in his household, Adam, who not-so-patiently points out when Seb is being dense, and lovely Kate, who is growing up. None of them is perfect, yet the reader learns to love them all in their own way.
As for the mystery, that too takes us on a little journey into 15th century Italy where banking and murder go, ahem, hand-in-hand. Jude finds a way to be just helpful enough that Seb still goes through the effort of saving his life, again, even as he contemplates killing the troublesome brother himself. This mystery wasn’t completely tied up tightly, so I wonder if we will see more of Jude's Italian connections in the future. As for personal secrets, there are a few that I’m wondering if Seb will ever uncover.
To the point, Toni is simply brilliant. If you love CJ Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake – and I do – you will love Toni’s Sebastian Foxley. From learning how a 15th century scrivener created illuminated manuscripts to venturing within the dank tunnels beneath the Tower of London, Toni is an artist who completely immerses the reader in another time and place and always leaves one eager for the next book.
Thank you to MadeGlobal for my early copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
With just the right balance of Seb’s sweet innocence and his brother Jude’s unapologetic ruthlessness, Toni creates a world with characters who are complex and relatable. The reader not only cheers for Seb, who is easy to love, but even longs to see dastardly Jude mend his ways and find lasting happiness. I have to admit to laughing along with Jude at Seb’s naivety at times. I enjoy watching the characters evolve and their relationships grow as much as solving the mystery in each of Toni’s books. There is Rose, who waits patiently for Seb to notice her as more of a fixture in his household, Adam, who not-so-patiently points out when Seb is being dense, and lovely Kate, who is growing up. None of them is perfect, yet the reader learns to love them all in their own way.
As for the mystery, that too takes us on a little journey into 15th century Italy where banking and murder go, ahem, hand-in-hand. Jude finds a way to be just helpful enough that Seb still goes through the effort of saving his life, again, even as he contemplates killing the troublesome brother himself. This mystery wasn’t completely tied up tightly, so I wonder if we will see more of Jude's Italian connections in the future. As for personal secrets, there are a few that I’m wondering if Seb will ever uncover.
To the point, Toni is simply brilliant. If you love CJ Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake – and I do – you will love Toni’s Sebastian Foxley. From learning how a 15th century scrivener created illuminated manuscripts to venturing within the dank tunnels beneath the Tower of London, Toni is an artist who completely immerses the reader in another time and place and always leaves one eager for the next book.
Thank you to MadeGlobal for my early copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
April 2, 2021
It has been less than two months since the death in childbirth of his beloved (although unfaithful) wife Em, and Sebastian Foxley is in mourning. The ever-devoted Rose has stepped up to become housekeeper, cook, and foster mother to Seb’s older son Dickon, while his infant daughter Julia is being nursed by Mercy Hutchinson, cousin Adam’s intended bride. Rose and Adam must also keep a wary eye on the younger members of the household, apprentice Kate and the incorrigible Jack who have fallen into lust with one another.
When a commission arrives from the king to produce a luxurious and elegant Latin copy of Vegetius’ De Re Militari as a gift for Lorenzo de’ Medici, the workshop’s fortunes seem bright, but are they? When the king’s brother, Richard of Gloucester, commissioned works from Seb, he always paid at least half the agreed sum in advance. This commission did not mention payment, however, and the king is notorious among London merchants for not paying his debts as if he believes that the honor of serving him is enough to make up for the loss of cash. This leaves Seb in a quandary. Purchasing the highest quality material could cost a small fortune with no assurance of recompense. Should he do the work to a reasonably high standard but trim the use of materials (using the cheaper azurite instead of lapis, for instance) or complete the work to the highest standards and hope for payment? There is only one answer for the conscientious Seb: he cannot give less than his very best in working for the king.
Even without distractions, Seb will be hard pressed to complete the commission on time, but here, as usual, he will have to solve some murders, cope with domestic problems, and answer pleas for help by various and sundry folk with money problems. First, Guy Linton, an apprentice for Master Collop at the same time as Seb, had undertaken a commission to do a portrait of a rich vintner—a task beyond Linton’s competence. Linton, desperate for money, asks Seb to complete the portrait. This is against Seb’s scruples, and besides Linton had treated him with contempt during their apprenticeship days, calling him Lame Duck (Seb used to be a hunchbacked cripple—don’t ask, just read book 1, The Colour of Poison). Seb agrees to the deception, however, because he does not want to bring dishonor on Master Collop and because he is something of a wimp.
In the meantime, Seb was asked by his friend, the bailiff Thaddeus Turner, to investigate the grisly murder of a cutler, Philip Hartnell. The man was found with tiny cuts all over his body and his hand, painted with ersatz silver, nailed to workbench. A bag of what prove to be counterfeit coins is on the counter. Only a few days before, Seb came into contact with Hartnell when he was obliged to chase a thief in response to a hue-and-cry. The thief was Hartnell who, apparently desperate for money, had stolen a pair of candlesticks. More and more counterfeit coins are found in circulation. When Linton is found murdered in the identical manner as Hartnell, Seb not only must discover the identities of the counterfeiter but of those who punish debtors in the most gruesome manner possible.
On the home front, Seb removes Jack from his household after he learns that Kate has lost her maidenhead. (No need to worry that the young lovers will suffer any separation anxiety. Jack is too busy feeling aggrieved, while Kate is just relieved she isn’t pregnant—and she soon finds a new admirer, Hugh Gardyner, Collop’s apprentice.). Who then turns up like a bad penny but brother Jude with a child bride in tow—Francesca-Antonia (Chesca) Baldesi, the daughter of a Venetian banking family. Jude says he married Chesca unintentionally (he didn’t understand the language) and he wants to get out of marriage because her family now has a vendetta against him. He has the idea that the marriage can be annulled if Rose (whom he left standing at the altar) swears that they were married. The house and workshop are half his, he says, conveniently forgetting that he signed his interest over to Seb after he ruined the business. When Seb objects and confronts him about his misdeeds, Jude does what so many miscreants do—he plays the wronged party, claiming Seb owes him for being nice to him when they were young. For a while Seb plays host to the not so charming couple; Chesca is a spoiled brat who objects to servants such as Rose dining with her, and Jude is a wife beater. When all his money has disappeared, it dawns on Seb that Jude knows where all the hides-holes are, and he demands the couple leave. Is Seb finally developing a backbone?
In uncovering the mysteries, Seb almost loses his life by venturing alone into a situation that he knows will be perilous—of course. He is saved, however, by the timely arrival of a posse of friends and acquaintances: Adam, brother Jude, the cross-dresser John/Eleanor Rykener, even a troublesome neighbor, among others. The action isn’t over yet as the Baldesi family’s hired thugs track down Jude and this time it is Seb who saves his brother. There was no need to come to Chesca’s aid, however. This gal sleeps with a stiletto under her pillow and knows how to use it asshe efficiently dispatches her attacker.
By the time the story ends, Seb has asked his former master Collop to reinstate Jude to the guild so he can seek a position as a clerk with the king’s French-Italian Secretary. Some members of the Foxley household have hopes for future happiness: Adam has married the widow Mercy Hutchinson and Kate may soon be betrothed to Hugh Gardyner. As for his own future with dearest Rose, Seb will only say that time will tell. (Yes, Seb has finally noticed Rose who has always loved him.). Could Seb’s home life finally be settling down? Don’t bet on it—not with brother Jude and his wife (Chesca the Knife) back in town.
While the mysteries are interesting—and in themselves provide an insight into some aspects of life in the late 15th Century, if you are like me you will read the series as much for its realistic view of Seb’s world and the motley group that inhabit it. Occasionally—though not in this volume, we are also treated to glimpses of Seb’s patron, Richard of Gloucester.
When a commission arrives from the king to produce a luxurious and elegant Latin copy of Vegetius’ De Re Militari as a gift for Lorenzo de’ Medici, the workshop’s fortunes seem bright, but are they? When the king’s brother, Richard of Gloucester, commissioned works from Seb, he always paid at least half the agreed sum in advance. This commission did not mention payment, however, and the king is notorious among London merchants for not paying his debts as if he believes that the honor of serving him is enough to make up for the loss of cash. This leaves Seb in a quandary. Purchasing the highest quality material could cost a small fortune with no assurance of recompense. Should he do the work to a reasonably high standard but trim the use of materials (using the cheaper azurite instead of lapis, for instance) or complete the work to the highest standards and hope for payment? There is only one answer for the conscientious Seb: he cannot give less than his very best in working for the king.
Even without distractions, Seb will be hard pressed to complete the commission on time, but here, as usual, he will have to solve some murders, cope with domestic problems, and answer pleas for help by various and sundry folk with money problems. First, Guy Linton, an apprentice for Master Collop at the same time as Seb, had undertaken a commission to do a portrait of a rich vintner—a task beyond Linton’s competence. Linton, desperate for money, asks Seb to complete the portrait. This is against Seb’s scruples, and besides Linton had treated him with contempt during their apprenticeship days, calling him Lame Duck (Seb used to be a hunchbacked cripple—don’t ask, just read book 1, The Colour of Poison). Seb agrees to the deception, however, because he does not want to bring dishonor on Master Collop and because he is something of a wimp.
In the meantime, Seb was asked by his friend, the bailiff Thaddeus Turner, to investigate the grisly murder of a cutler, Philip Hartnell. The man was found with tiny cuts all over his body and his hand, painted with ersatz silver, nailed to workbench. A bag of what prove to be counterfeit coins is on the counter. Only a few days before, Seb came into contact with Hartnell when he was obliged to chase a thief in response to a hue-and-cry. The thief was Hartnell who, apparently desperate for money, had stolen a pair of candlesticks. More and more counterfeit coins are found in circulation. When Linton is found murdered in the identical manner as Hartnell, Seb not only must discover the identities of the counterfeiter but of those who punish debtors in the most gruesome manner possible.
On the home front, Seb removes Jack from his household after he learns that Kate has lost her maidenhead. (No need to worry that the young lovers will suffer any separation anxiety. Jack is too busy feeling aggrieved, while Kate is just relieved she isn’t pregnant—and she soon finds a new admirer, Hugh Gardyner, Collop’s apprentice.). Who then turns up like a bad penny but brother Jude with a child bride in tow—Francesca-Antonia (Chesca) Baldesi, the daughter of a Venetian banking family. Jude says he married Chesca unintentionally (he didn’t understand the language) and he wants to get out of marriage because her family now has a vendetta against him. He has the idea that the marriage can be annulled if Rose (whom he left standing at the altar) swears that they were married. The house and workshop are half his, he says, conveniently forgetting that he signed his interest over to Seb after he ruined the business. When Seb objects and confronts him about his misdeeds, Jude does what so many miscreants do—he plays the wronged party, claiming Seb owes him for being nice to him when they were young. For a while Seb plays host to the not so charming couple; Chesca is a spoiled brat who objects to servants such as Rose dining with her, and Jude is a wife beater. When all his money has disappeared, it dawns on Seb that Jude knows where all the hides-holes are, and he demands the couple leave. Is Seb finally developing a backbone?
In uncovering the mysteries, Seb almost loses his life by venturing alone into a situation that he knows will be perilous—of course. He is saved, however, by the timely arrival of a posse of friends and acquaintances: Adam, brother Jude, the cross-dresser John/Eleanor Rykener, even a troublesome neighbor, among others. The action isn’t over yet as the Baldesi family’s hired thugs track down Jude and this time it is Seb who saves his brother. There was no need to come to Chesca’s aid, however. This gal sleeps with a stiletto under her pillow and knows how to use it asshe efficiently dispatches her attacker.
By the time the story ends, Seb has asked his former master Collop to reinstate Jude to the guild so he can seek a position as a clerk with the king’s French-Italian Secretary. Some members of the Foxley household have hopes for future happiness: Adam has married the widow Mercy Hutchinson and Kate may soon be betrothed to Hugh Gardyner. As for his own future with dearest Rose, Seb will only say that time will tell. (Yes, Seb has finally noticed Rose who has always loved him.). Could Seb’s home life finally be settling down? Don’t bet on it—not with brother Jude and his wife (Chesca the Knife) back in town.
While the mysteries are interesting—and in themselves provide an insight into some aspects of life in the late 15th Century, if you are like me you will read the series as much for its realistic view of Seb’s world and the motley group that inhabit it. Occasionally—though not in this volume, we are also treated to glimpses of Seb’s patron, Richard of Gloucester.
March 3, 2021
My dearest Seb,
Oh, how I love you! Yes, you faced the loss of your beloved, and you are still reeling from it. But while I feel compassion for you, I am also relieved. I’m relieved that you can move on with your life, but mostly I’m relieved that perhaps you will come to your senses regarding others in your life. Not to give spoilers, of course. I will leave for the reader to discover.
Seb, you work hard. You want to produce only the best and make the name of Foxley an honored one. Your duty to king and crown is honorable, and you want to produce only the best if the name Foxley is to be affixed. While your cousin Adam is faithful to you, there are many times he wishes he could set you straight, suggest an alternative way of doing business. But he knows he cannot change you, and in a way, that would be the death of you. You are Seb, and the qualities that cause consternation as others live and work with you, are also the things that make them love you.
Once again, you have found yourself caught up in a series of murders that a lesser man might pretend he’d never encountered. But your loyalty to your friend, Bailiff Thaddeus Turner, pulls you in. Your loyalty to your beloved master, Master Callop, won’t let you turn away a former associate in need. If we’re honest, you truly are the best man for the job. And even if no one knew it when your tale began, everything about your present circumstances put you in the center of the murders because your connections to the victims come from some very unlikely places. Who better than you to connect all the loose threads? Like following a spider web from the outside to the very center?
And of course, you investigate brilliantly. Even with your brother returned, causing no end of trouble for you. But… your brother just might have the key to everything if you pay attention.
Thank you for giving us another adventure, as well as some delightful hope for the future. I think it’s bright, if only we can wait that long.
Your friend and biggest fan,
Stephanie
(I reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.)
Leave it to Seb to unravel another international spiderweb of intrigue, betrayal, murder, and deceit. Our flawed, loveable hero has done it again. And at the end of it all, his future is looking brighter than ever. I cannot wait to find out what happens to him next!
Oh, how I love you! Yes, you faced the loss of your beloved, and you are still reeling from it. But while I feel compassion for you, I am also relieved. I’m relieved that you can move on with your life, but mostly I’m relieved that perhaps you will come to your senses regarding others in your life. Not to give spoilers, of course. I will leave for the reader to discover.
Seb, you work hard. You want to produce only the best and make the name of Foxley an honored one. Your duty to king and crown is honorable, and you want to produce only the best if the name Foxley is to be affixed. While your cousin Adam is faithful to you, there are many times he wishes he could set you straight, suggest an alternative way of doing business. But he knows he cannot change you, and in a way, that would be the death of you. You are Seb, and the qualities that cause consternation as others live and work with you, are also the things that make them love you.
Once again, you have found yourself caught up in a series of murders that a lesser man might pretend he’d never encountered. But your loyalty to your friend, Bailiff Thaddeus Turner, pulls you in. Your loyalty to your beloved master, Master Callop, won’t let you turn away a former associate in need. If we’re honest, you truly are the best man for the job. And even if no one knew it when your tale began, everything about your present circumstances put you in the center of the murders because your connections to the victims come from some very unlikely places. Who better than you to connect all the loose threads? Like following a spider web from the outside to the very center?
And of course, you investigate brilliantly. Even with your brother returned, causing no end of trouble for you. But… your brother just might have the key to everything if you pay attention.
Thank you for giving us another adventure, as well as some delightful hope for the future. I think it’s bright, if only we can wait that long.
Your friend and biggest fan,
Stephanie
(I reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.)
Leave it to Seb to unravel another international spiderweb of intrigue, betrayal, murder, and deceit. Our flawed, loveable hero has done it again. And at the end of it all, his future is looking brighter than ever. I cannot wait to find out what happens to him next!
May 15, 2022
The Colour of Evil
Book #9 in the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 14, 2022
It is June 1479, a month since Em died from complications with her pregnancy, but infant daughter Julia fares well and is being cared for by Adam’s widow friend, Mercy. Seb is having a hard time dealing with his grief, and tries to immerse himself in his work, but too often he’s just going through the motions.
Then the biggest commission in Seb’s life drops into his lap from no less an august person than King Edward IV himself, who wants the artist to create an illuminated and bejeweled copy of Vegetius’s De re military that is to be presented as a gift to Lorenzo de’Medici. This would bring great acclaim to Foxley’s workshop, but there is a down side to all this. While the king's younger brother, Duke Richard, is always prompt in paying for his commissions, even providing a down payment, King Edward has a bad reputation of not paying his bills.
Life in the Foxley household, even with Em no longer around, can still be tumultuous. Seb learns about Kate and Jack’s indiscretion from the last book and is forced to deal with a potentially scandalous situation. And a house with an infant, a toddler, and a dog is never a quiet place.
On the other hand, Rose’s long-time affection for Seb is very much in play, although as usual Seb seems to be the only person who doesn’t notice this. Could it be that when his year of mourning is up, Seb will take a second wife?
Smack in the middle of all this, who should show up but the black sheep of the family, Jude, accompanied by his 15-year-old bride, Francesca-Antonia called Chesca. Jude hasn’t improved any and is as obnoxious as ever, commandeering Seb’s bedroom because he says it’s bigger and better suited for a couple, taking his brother’s place at the head of the table, helping himself to household funds without so much as a by your leave, and generally being demanding and self-centered, playing on his little brother’s feelings of guilt whenever Seb attempts to assert himself.
Chesca isn’t much better. Coming from a high status Venezian family, she ran away with Jude rather than be married off to an elderly man. She likes the finer things in life and finds Jude’s family beneath her, objecting to eating with the servants, insisting on wine with her meals. In short, she comes across as a spoiled brat who is accustomed to having things her way.
Then a couple of grisly murders hit close to home as two men Seb is acquainted with are tortured to death, their right hands, nailed to the nearest bench as they slowly bleed to death, covered with silver paint; their tongues slit like a serpent’s tongue. Is this some kind of macabre warning being sent out? It could be, as a bag of counterfeit coins is found by each man.
Life isn’t getting any easier for poor Seb, who at times feels overwhelmed by everything hitting him at once – an annoying brother and sister-in-law, a commission from the king, a series of murders, and more. Good thing Rose is there to help him regain his emotional equilibrium.
Once again we are treated to life among the common folk of London with an intriguing mystery weaving its way through the story. Reading these books all in a row has helped me come to see these characters as real people, and I’m eager to know what happens next in their lives. It’s also nice to see Seb starting to gain in confidence. He will always be a gentle soul who abhors violence and meanness, but it’s also good to see him stand up more for himself
With this one finished, there’s only one more book to read for my self-proclaimed Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Month, and that is The Colours of Rubies, just released earlier this month.
Book #9 in the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 14, 2022
It is June 1479, a month since Em died from complications with her pregnancy, but infant daughter Julia fares well and is being cared for by Adam’s widow friend, Mercy. Seb is having a hard time dealing with his grief, and tries to immerse himself in his work, but too often he’s just going through the motions.
Then the biggest commission in Seb’s life drops into his lap from no less an august person than King Edward IV himself, who wants the artist to create an illuminated and bejeweled copy of Vegetius’s De re military that is to be presented as a gift to Lorenzo de’Medici. This would bring great acclaim to Foxley’s workshop, but there is a down side to all this. While the king's younger brother, Duke Richard, is always prompt in paying for his commissions, even providing a down payment, King Edward has a bad reputation of not paying his bills.
Life in the Foxley household, even with Em no longer around, can still be tumultuous. Seb learns about Kate and Jack’s indiscretion from the last book and is forced to deal with a potentially scandalous situation. And a house with an infant, a toddler, and a dog is never a quiet place.
On the other hand, Rose’s long-time affection for Seb is very much in play, although as usual Seb seems to be the only person who doesn’t notice this. Could it be that when his year of mourning is up, Seb will take a second wife?
Smack in the middle of all this, who should show up but the black sheep of the family, Jude, accompanied by his 15-year-old bride, Francesca-Antonia called Chesca. Jude hasn’t improved any and is as obnoxious as ever, commandeering Seb’s bedroom because he says it’s bigger and better suited for a couple, taking his brother’s place at the head of the table, helping himself to household funds without so much as a by your leave, and generally being demanding and self-centered, playing on his little brother’s feelings of guilt whenever Seb attempts to assert himself.
Chesca isn’t much better. Coming from a high status Venezian family, she ran away with Jude rather than be married off to an elderly man. She likes the finer things in life and finds Jude’s family beneath her, objecting to eating with the servants, insisting on wine with her meals. In short, she comes across as a spoiled brat who is accustomed to having things her way.
Then a couple of grisly murders hit close to home as two men Seb is acquainted with are tortured to death, their right hands, nailed to the nearest bench as they slowly bleed to death, covered with silver paint; their tongues slit like a serpent’s tongue. Is this some kind of macabre warning being sent out? It could be, as a bag of counterfeit coins is found by each man.
Life isn’t getting any easier for poor Seb, who at times feels overwhelmed by everything hitting him at once – an annoying brother and sister-in-law, a commission from the king, a series of murders, and more. Good thing Rose is there to help him regain his emotional equilibrium.
Once again we are treated to life among the common folk of London with an intriguing mystery weaving its way through the story. Reading these books all in a row has helped me come to see these characters as real people, and I’m eager to know what happens next in their lives. It’s also nice to see Seb starting to gain in confidence. He will always be a gentle soul who abhors violence and meanness, but it’s also good to see him stand up more for himself
With this one finished, there’s only one more book to read for my self-proclaimed Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Month, and that is The Colours of Rubies, just released earlier this month.
May 16, 2022
This is the ninth Sebastian Foxley adventure / investigation, set in 15th Century London. These books feature a medieval book producer or illuminator. Presented with a royal commission, Foxley is faced with decisions about font sizes, cover design etc. while struggling with worries about materials, resources, and time pressures, all the while uncertain whether he will be reimbursed for the work.
Recently widowed, and with two young children, an extended family, three employees and an apprentice to provide for, as well as a dog and a cat, his hands are full. On top of that, he is continually interrupted by all manner of people, like his prodigal, thieving brother, an incompetent artist of his acquaintance, the bishop of London, and his friend the bailiff, who needs help investigating a series of brutal murders.
Altogether a quite satisfying diverting read, although I would quibble with the flavour of English used throughout. It is written in the first person by Master Foxley himself who uses the word ‘be’, as in 'I be grateful', 'I be certain' and so on. It makes for slightly stumblesome reading but the trouble with writing in ‘Middle-English’, of course, is that actual Middle-English would be impossible to read today. What we have here is a patchwork of old and contemporary words and phrases that give a passable simulation of the sort of language of the period.
Anyway, the author is to be congratulated on carrying the uninitiated reader through the story. All of the backstories of the various characters were unknown to me, but this did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. Indeed, it whetted my appetite for more. Sebastian’s late wife, Emily, for example, appeared as a lost angel in the early chapters, only to be revealed as a nagging harridan later on. Sebastian himself comes across as a plodding, naïve milquetoast, something of an unreliable narrator, put upon by all and sundry. His brother is a thorough rogue, a wife-beating cheat and thief, which raises the question whether he has always been like this and whether he will continue his wicked ways in future books.
The plot is a little thin, but that is of no importance, given the richness of the detail of everyday life illustrated in the pages of this fine book.
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Recently widowed, and with two young children, an extended family, three employees and an apprentice to provide for, as well as a dog and a cat, his hands are full. On top of that, he is continually interrupted by all manner of people, like his prodigal, thieving brother, an incompetent artist of his acquaintance, the bishop of London, and his friend the bailiff, who needs help investigating a series of brutal murders.
Altogether a quite satisfying diverting read, although I would quibble with the flavour of English used throughout. It is written in the first person by Master Foxley himself who uses the word ‘be’, as in 'I be grateful', 'I be certain' and so on. It makes for slightly stumblesome reading but the trouble with writing in ‘Middle-English’, of course, is that actual Middle-English would be impossible to read today. What we have here is a patchwork of old and contemporary words and phrases that give a passable simulation of the sort of language of the period.
Anyway, the author is to be congratulated on carrying the uninitiated reader through the story. All of the backstories of the various characters were unknown to me, but this did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. Indeed, it whetted my appetite for more. Sebastian’s late wife, Emily, for example, appeared as a lost angel in the early chapters, only to be revealed as a nagging harridan later on. Sebastian himself comes across as a plodding, naïve milquetoast, something of an unreliable narrator, put upon by all and sundry. His brother is a thorough rogue, a wife-beating cheat and thief, which raises the question whether he has always been like this and whether he will continue his wicked ways in future books.
The plot is a little thin, but that is of no importance, given the richness of the detail of everyday life illustrated in the pages of this fine book.
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
April 16, 2021
These books get better and better
March 29, 2021
The world of Sebastian Foxley is brought to life by author Toni Mount in this exciting medieval murder mystery. The author's knowledge of medieval history shines through the narrative in the small details which enhance the story woven into it. The details about the inside workings of medieval trade practices lent themselves perfectly for a background to murder and deceit.
Having not read the previous novels in the series, I thought perhaps I might not pick up the existing relationships of the characters already known to followers of the Sebastion Foxley Murder Mystery series, but the book stood alone quite well. Recommended for lovers of historic fiction.
Having not read the previous novels in the series, I thought perhaps I might not pick up the existing relationships of the characters already known to followers of the Sebastion Foxley Murder Mystery series, but the book stood alone quite well. Recommended for lovers of historic fiction.
March 19, 2021
Money problems litter the streets of London like debris. Those who have money have power. Yet, there are those who try to beat the system by making their own counterfeit currency to beat the system. When this counterfeit currency leaves to murder, only Seb Foxley and his merry band of friends and family members can bring justice to those who were killed. When unexpected complications arise, like Seb’s wayward brother Jude coming home with an Italian child bride and a commission from King Edward IV himself, can Seb solve the case before anyone else becomes the next victim in this vicious cycle of greed and exploitation? Toni Mount takes her readers on another thrilling adventure in, “The Colour of Evil”, the ninth installment of the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series.
I would like to thank Toni Mount for sending me a copy of her latest mystery novel. When I was introduced to the colorful characters of Seb Foxley and his friends in the last novel, “The Colour of Shadows”, I became attached to them and I wanted to see what new adventures Toni Mount had for them.
We are reunited with Seb and his household two months after the conclusion of “The Colour of Shadows” as they adjust to a new normal. Life moves on and Seb receives a very tempting offer from King Edward IV to craft a luxurious book for an Italian nobleman. As he begins this arduous task, his friend Baliff Thadeus Turner needs his help to uncover the truth about a murder that has some very grisly circumstances along with coins that are found out to be fake. To top it all off, Seb is visited by not one but two people from his past. One is a former apprentice of his master who bullied Seb and now seeks his help. The other is his older brother Jude who has traveled around Europe. With all of these distractions, it is a wonder Seb and his household were able to get any work done during this novel.
Mount has created yet another vivid mystery for Seb to solve, full of dangers and intellectual puzzles. She has lovingly crafted each and every character to make their circumstances believable that you forget that they are fictional. The relationships are truly the backbone of this novel, especially the tempestuous relationship between Seb and Jude and the cautiously romantic relationship between Seb and Rose. Of course, we cannot forget that the series of murders must be solved and the way that Mount crafted the solution to this case was brilliant. You will be on the edge of your seat until the end, trying to figure out who committed the heinous deed and whether your favorite characters will succeed.
I have found myself totally immersed in the world of 15th century England and Seb’s continuous adventures. This is a true page-turner with so many secrets and scenes that can rival those crafted by C.J. Sansom. Mount again succeeds to transport her readers to another time in this delightful novel. If you have never read a Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery, you really need to as they are a sheer delight for fans of historical fiction. “The Colour of Evil” is yet another brilliantly written and extremely well-researched novel by the talented Toni Mount. This is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of the Seb Foxley series or for anyone who wants to escape the modern-day for a little bit to explore the inner workings of 15th century England, full of greed and secrets.
I would like to thank Toni Mount for sending me a copy of her latest mystery novel. When I was introduced to the colorful characters of Seb Foxley and his friends in the last novel, “The Colour of Shadows”, I became attached to them and I wanted to see what new adventures Toni Mount had for them.
We are reunited with Seb and his household two months after the conclusion of “The Colour of Shadows” as they adjust to a new normal. Life moves on and Seb receives a very tempting offer from King Edward IV to craft a luxurious book for an Italian nobleman. As he begins this arduous task, his friend Baliff Thadeus Turner needs his help to uncover the truth about a murder that has some very grisly circumstances along with coins that are found out to be fake. To top it all off, Seb is visited by not one but two people from his past. One is a former apprentice of his master who bullied Seb and now seeks his help. The other is his older brother Jude who has traveled around Europe. With all of these distractions, it is a wonder Seb and his household were able to get any work done during this novel.
Mount has created yet another vivid mystery for Seb to solve, full of dangers and intellectual puzzles. She has lovingly crafted each and every character to make their circumstances believable that you forget that they are fictional. The relationships are truly the backbone of this novel, especially the tempestuous relationship between Seb and Jude and the cautiously romantic relationship between Seb and Rose. Of course, we cannot forget that the series of murders must be solved and the way that Mount crafted the solution to this case was brilliant. You will be on the edge of your seat until the end, trying to figure out who committed the heinous deed and whether your favorite characters will succeed.
I have found myself totally immersed in the world of 15th century England and Seb’s continuous adventures. This is a true page-turner with so many secrets and scenes that can rival those crafted by C.J. Sansom. Mount again succeeds to transport her readers to another time in this delightful novel. If you have never read a Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery, you really need to as they are a sheer delight for fans of historical fiction. “The Colour of Evil” is yet another brilliantly written and extremely well-researched novel by the talented Toni Mount. This is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of the Seb Foxley series or for anyone who wants to escape the modern-day for a little bit to explore the inner workings of 15th century England, full of greed and secrets.
March 25, 2021
I received an ARC from Made Global in exchange for an honest review (I still bought the book, though!)
Well, my reviews of the Seb Foxley novels are a bit repetitive, because they are all just so good, and they keep getting better, as the main characters evolve and their lives proceed. In The Colour of Evil Seb's brother Jude is back, and, Lord forgive me, I want to strangle the bastard! I love it when a book gets me so involved that I feel very strongly and passionately about characters, that I actually shout at them, sometimes, and Toni Mount's stories do just hat: get me involved emotionally. Apart from the good plots and interesting crime solving process, Toni Mount just catapults you right into medieval London. Her descriptions are something special, the city, the streets, the stink but also the beauty. When she describes Seb's work with miniatures ecc. you can actually SEE what he is creating. It's not that he author simply does her research, you can feel that she knows the times she sets her stories in, knows them right down to the tiniest details. I always wonder if maybe she lived in medieval London in some former life, who knows?
As always, the book finished too quickly and left me wanting more and more.
P.S.: as a big dog lover I can't avoid to point out and love the fact that even in medieval times a dog could be a great comfort to his human as described in the novel.
Well, my reviews of the Seb Foxley novels are a bit repetitive, because they are all just so good, and they keep getting better, as the main characters evolve and their lives proceed. In The Colour of Evil Seb's brother Jude is back, and, Lord forgive me, I want to strangle the bastard! I love it when a book gets me so involved that I feel very strongly and passionately about characters, that I actually shout at them, sometimes, and Toni Mount's stories do just hat: get me involved emotionally. Apart from the good plots and interesting crime solving process, Toni Mount just catapults you right into medieval London. Her descriptions are something special, the city, the streets, the stink but also the beauty. When she describes Seb's work with miniatures ecc. you can actually SEE what he is creating. It's not that he author simply does her research, you can feel that she knows the times she sets her stories in, knows them right down to the tiniest details. I always wonder if maybe she lived in medieval London in some former life, who knows?
As always, the book finished too quickly and left me wanting more and more.
P.S.: as a big dog lover I can't avoid to point out and love the fact that even in medieval times a dog could be a great comfort to his human as described in the novel.
March 19, 2021
1479 The lucrative trade of coin counterfeiting seems to be thriving in London, and two men have been murdered brutally. Is there a connection. City bailiff Thaddeus Turner and Sebastian Foxley investigate. But problems arrive when Sebastian's brother, Jude, returns. Sebastian is a fool not to realize the trouble his brother can cause.
An enjoyable cozy historical story though not enough mystery for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Madeglobal Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An enjoyable cozy historical story though not enough mystery for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Madeglobal Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 12, 2021
The latest adventure of Sebastian Foxley, the talented illuminator of books, does not disappoint. At the start of the book, he is just getting over his wife's death and the portrayal of his grief is well done - his occasional tearful moments, his irritable outbursts (quite out of character) and his feelings of guilt all ring true. As do the fantastic descriptions of his home, workshop and streets of London in the fifteenth century. I won't give away the plot, but suffice it to say that Seb has yet another mystery to unravel and finds himself in a few exciting/dangerous situations. And all while he has a commission from King Edward IV himself to fulfil!
November 14, 2024
Toni Mount “The colour of evil”
This the 9th book of mysteries with Seb Foxley, talented scrivener and illuminator.
Before diving into the book review, let’s outline aspects of Historical fiction, which help to concoct a good plot and entertaining story, especially in the series.
* appealing, vividly drawn characters, evolving within series
* Using historical layout of places, time period relevant language, description of everyday life, activities, clothes, food etc
* involving real historical personnages as additional characters
* interesting problem solving of the mystery
Seb Foxley mystery series possess all of these aspects, though more in one book than the other. In this particular story, “The colour of evil”, the most interesting aspect was the description of the process of illumination of the book and application of gold leaf.
This the 9th book of mysteries with Seb Foxley, talented scrivener and illuminator.
Before diving into the book review, let’s outline aspects of Historical fiction, which help to concoct a good plot and entertaining story, especially in the series.
* appealing, vividly drawn characters, evolving within series
* Using historical layout of places, time period relevant language, description of everyday life, activities, clothes, food etc
* involving real historical personnages as additional characters
* interesting problem solving of the mystery
Seb Foxley mystery series possess all of these aspects, though more in one book than the other. In this particular story, “The colour of evil”, the most interesting aspect was the description of the process of illumination of the book and application of gold leaf.
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