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Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery #7
The Colour of Rubies
Murder lurks at the heart of the royal court in the rabbit warren of the Palace of Westminster. The year is 1480. Treason is afoot amongst the squalid grandeur and opulent filth of this medieval world of contrasts. Even the Office of the King’s Secretary hides a dangerous secret.
Meeting with lords and lackeys, clerks, courtiers and the mighty King Edward himself, can Seb Foxley decipher the encoded messages and name the spy?
Will Seb be able to prevent the murder of the most important heir in England?
All will be revealed as we join Seb Foxley and his abrasive brother Jude in the latest intriguing adventure amid the sordid shadows of fifteenth-century London.
Meeting with lords and lackeys, clerks, courtiers and the mighty King Edward himself, can Seb Foxley decipher the encoded messages and name the spy?
Will Seb be able to prevent the murder of the most important heir in England?
All will be revealed as we join Seb Foxley and his abrasive brother Jude in the latest intriguing adventure amid the sordid shadows of fifteenth-century London.
- GenresMystery
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2022
57 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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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May 16, 2022”Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Make a sad song and make it better.”
That’s what a modern day Sebastian Foxley would sing to his brother, but it would fall on deaf ears, for Jude Foxley is forever thinking himself ill-used. In this latest entry in the series, Jude finds himself as a lowly clerk in the Office of King Edward’s Secretary—the “scene of [his] life-wasting scribbling and associated tortures.” When he offers to show his visiting brother Seb the stained glass in St. Stephen’s chapel, they discover the body of one of his fellow clerks. Drafted by Lord Hastings to discover the murderer, Seb goes undercover working alongside Jude (at least for a while) in the scriptorium. Whereas Jude thinks his fellow clerks imbeciles and those with authority to order him about as “puffed up toads,” Seb finds reasonable, friendly fellows.
In unraveling the mystery, Seb discovers spies and an international conspiracy that threatens the English succession. Interwoven with this intrigue, Seb must deal with family problems on the home front. Jude and his wife Chesca add some complications in both areas, although at Jude’s instigation Seb finally makes a decision regarding his future with dearest Rose.
After Seb solves the mystery, he vows never to return to the corruption and intrigue at Westminster. (Does that remind Ricardians of a certain duke?) As for Jude, his one redeeming quality is his fierce protectiveness of his little brother, and that proves to be undoing. I will say no more and wait for the developments in the next book.
Make a sad song and make it better.”
That’s what a modern day Sebastian Foxley would sing to his brother, but it would fall on deaf ears, for Jude Foxley is forever thinking himself ill-used. In this latest entry in the series, Jude finds himself as a lowly clerk in the Office of King Edward’s Secretary—the “scene of [his] life-wasting scribbling and associated tortures.” When he offers to show his visiting brother Seb the stained glass in St. Stephen’s chapel, they discover the body of one of his fellow clerks. Drafted by Lord Hastings to discover the murderer, Seb goes undercover working alongside Jude (at least for a while) in the scriptorium. Whereas Jude thinks his fellow clerks imbeciles and those with authority to order him about as “puffed up toads,” Seb finds reasonable, friendly fellows.
In unraveling the mystery, Seb discovers spies and an international conspiracy that threatens the English succession. Interwoven with this intrigue, Seb must deal with family problems on the home front. Jude and his wife Chesca add some complications in both areas, although at Jude’s instigation Seb finally makes a decision regarding his future with dearest Rose.
After Seb solves the mystery, he vows never to return to the corruption and intrigue at Westminster. (Does that remind Ricardians of a certain duke?) As for Jude, his one redeeming quality is his fierce protectiveness of his little brother, and that proves to be undoing. I will say no more and wait for the developments in the next book.
May 20, 2022
The Colour of Rubies
Book #10 in the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 17, 2022
My self-proclaimed Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Month is coming to an end with this book, the last in the series. But I have it on good account that another in this series is in the works.
Sadly, after praising his brother’s bravery at the end of the previous book, Jude is back to being a bullying lout who mistreats his young wife. In spite of these and other faults, Seb still loves him. This is his brother, and in spite of Jude’s often boorish behavior, nothing is going to change that brotherly love. About the only redeeming feature I can find in Jude is his protectiveness toward his “little” brother when Seb is threatened and that’s going to play a major role in this book.
The Colour of Rubies picks up a few months after The Colour of Evil ends. Jude and Chesca are living on their own in rented rooms. Jude is now gainfully employed thanks to some help from his brother, as a clerk in the office that handles French and Italian correspondence at Westminster Palace. The pay is steady but hardly what Jude feels he’s worth. Then again, Jude has always had an overblown opinion of his worth.
Clerical work is boring, consisting mainly of copying rough drafts of letters, warrants, summonses and the like in a cold, dull room. Secretary Oliver, who oversees the office, does not allow fraternization and conversation among the clerks during the long work hours and docks the pay of anyone who disobeys his petty rules.
One bright spot (if you want to call it that) in Jude’s dreary life is the celebration of his 29th birthday, which his wife somehow manages to pull off...but where did she get the money for all this wonderful food? Like so many things that take place in this story, there’s more here than initially meets the eye. The next day Seb stops by bringing a birthday gift to his brother, a pair of gloves made by Rose who’s a real saint for being so nice to Jude after how he dumped her practically at the altar.
When Jude takes Seb to Westminster Palace to show him the stained glass windows in the St Stephen’s Chapel, they decide to take a peek at Jude’s work place. It’s Saturday afternoon and should be empty, but instead there’s Piers Creed, one of Jude’s colleagues, sitting at his desk with pen in hand. When Jude calls out to him, Piers doesn’t answer. Did he fall asleep at his desk? No, turns out he’s dead, murdered no less.
It turns out that Seb’s reputation has preceded him, as his skills at not just illumination and portraiture, but also for sniffing out criminals, are known among even the lofty personages who inhabit the halls of Westminster Palace, all the way up to the king and his lord chamberlain. It is soon decided by Lord Hastings that Seb should go undercover as a clerk in Jude’s office to find the murderer because the circumstances surrounding Piers’ death point to this being an inside job.
Having to accept this task takes Seb out of his comfort zone, away from his family and workshop, something he isn’t happy about having to do, but how do you say no to the king’s chamberlain? And what we end up with is a story filled with intrigue and conspiracies, with Seb solving not only who the murderer is but who the spies are, and also gets to meet Big Ed...I mean, King Edward IV.
Along the way we have to deal with Jude’s marriage issues and the household problems that never seem to go away when it comes to the Foxleys, and I’m looking forward to the next book (whenever it comes out) where I hope to at least find out if there’s any chance of a reconciliation between Jude and Chesca. Although if I were Chesca, I’d probably tell Jude to take a hike.
Book #10 in the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 17, 2022
My self-proclaimed Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Month is coming to an end with this book, the last in the series. But I have it on good account that another in this series is in the works.
Sadly, after praising his brother’s bravery at the end of the previous book, Jude is back to being a bullying lout who mistreats his young wife. In spite of these and other faults, Seb still loves him. This is his brother, and in spite of Jude’s often boorish behavior, nothing is going to change that brotherly love. About the only redeeming feature I can find in Jude is his protectiveness toward his “little” brother when Seb is threatened and that’s going to play a major role in this book.
The Colour of Rubies picks up a few months after The Colour of Evil ends. Jude and Chesca are living on their own in rented rooms. Jude is now gainfully employed thanks to some help from his brother, as a clerk in the office that handles French and Italian correspondence at Westminster Palace. The pay is steady but hardly what Jude feels he’s worth. Then again, Jude has always had an overblown opinion of his worth.
Clerical work is boring, consisting mainly of copying rough drafts of letters, warrants, summonses and the like in a cold, dull room. Secretary Oliver, who oversees the office, does not allow fraternization and conversation among the clerks during the long work hours and docks the pay of anyone who disobeys his petty rules.
One bright spot (if you want to call it that) in Jude’s dreary life is the celebration of his 29th birthday, which his wife somehow manages to pull off...but where did she get the money for all this wonderful food? Like so many things that take place in this story, there’s more here than initially meets the eye. The next day Seb stops by bringing a birthday gift to his brother, a pair of gloves made by Rose who’s a real saint for being so nice to Jude after how he dumped her practically at the altar.
When Jude takes Seb to Westminster Palace to show him the stained glass windows in the St Stephen’s Chapel, they decide to take a peek at Jude’s work place. It’s Saturday afternoon and should be empty, but instead there’s Piers Creed, one of Jude’s colleagues, sitting at his desk with pen in hand. When Jude calls out to him, Piers doesn’t answer. Did he fall asleep at his desk? No, turns out he’s dead, murdered no less.
It turns out that Seb’s reputation has preceded him, as his skills at not just illumination and portraiture, but also for sniffing out criminals, are known among even the lofty personages who inhabit the halls of Westminster Palace, all the way up to the king and his lord chamberlain. It is soon decided by Lord Hastings that Seb should go undercover as a clerk in Jude’s office to find the murderer because the circumstances surrounding Piers’ death point to this being an inside job.
Having to accept this task takes Seb out of his comfort zone, away from his family and workshop, something he isn’t happy about having to do, but how do you say no to the king’s chamberlain? And what we end up with is a story filled with intrigue and conspiracies, with Seb solving not only who the murderer is but who the spies are, and also gets to meet Big Ed...I mean, King Edward IV.
Along the way we have to deal with Jude’s marriage issues and the household problems that never seem to go away when it comes to the Foxleys, and I’m looking forward to the next book (whenever it comes out) where I hope to at least find out if there’s any chance of a reconciliation between Jude and Chesca. Although if I were Chesca, I’d probably tell Jude to take a hike.
May 26, 2022
This is the first Sebastian Foxley book I ever read, but I didn’t have any trouble picking up the thread. I quickly understand the Seb was a clever, talented man, though his apparent reputation for sleuthing was not the first strong point that came to my attention. He was inordinately proud of his work as a scribe and artist, and the last piece didn’t fall into place until he and his obnoxious brother Jude discovered a dead scribe sprawled over his desk—after business hours. Seb quickly identified that the man was murdered and how—contradicting the resident coroner who had overlooked the clues:
The surgeon shouted out, quite truthfully, that this upstart had no medical training and no right to question his findings as the expert in such matters. This Foxley fellow was but a charlatan and a fool and should be fined for his presumption. Others agreed, in particular the clerks on the jury, fearing things might become awkward for them in the scriptorium, if one of their number was suspected of having died by murderous means and intent.
‘You’ve set the fox among the chickens now, little brother,’ Jude called out. ‘Should have kept your mouth shut.’
Nonetheless, his detection was enough to get him hired by Lord Hastings—the king’s chamberlain—as an unwilling investigator. This assignment required Seb to masquerade as a fellow clerk until the resident murderer was uncovered—a job, naturally enough, fraught with danger. It didn’t help that Jude was intimately involved, for his unsavory behavior tended to complicate an already prickly situation. Apparently, although the two brothers were total opposites, they loved and depended on each other, so at least Jude had one supporter—and only one, as far as I could tell. Jude’s behavior toward his wife, the beautiful Italian Chesca, was atrocious; this alone merited his expulsion from polite society. I was surprised Seb put up with him, but of course I don’t know their history. Jude’s shenanigans were an unwelcome distraction to the case, but Seb worked it out anyway, though he came dangerously close to losing his life in the process. London was not the safest place to live in the fifteenth century!
The surgeon shouted out, quite truthfully, that this upstart had no medical training and no right to question his findings as the expert in such matters. This Foxley fellow was but a charlatan and a fool and should be fined for his presumption. Others agreed, in particular the clerks on the jury, fearing things might become awkward for them in the scriptorium, if one of their number was suspected of having died by murderous means and intent.
‘You’ve set the fox among the chickens now, little brother,’ Jude called out. ‘Should have kept your mouth shut.’
Nonetheless, his detection was enough to get him hired by Lord Hastings—the king’s chamberlain—as an unwilling investigator. This assignment required Seb to masquerade as a fellow clerk until the resident murderer was uncovered—a job, naturally enough, fraught with danger. It didn’t help that Jude was intimately involved, for his unsavory behavior tended to complicate an already prickly situation. Apparently, although the two brothers were total opposites, they loved and depended on each other, so at least Jude had one supporter—and only one, as far as I could tell. Jude’s behavior toward his wife, the beautiful Italian Chesca, was atrocious; this alone merited his expulsion from polite society. I was surprised Seb put up with him, but of course I don’t know their history. Jude’s shenanigans were an unwelcome distraction to the case, but Seb worked it out anyway, though he came dangerously close to losing his life in the process. London was not the safest place to live in the fifteenth century!
May 30, 2022
The year is 1480. Intrigue and murder lurk everywhere at the Palace of Westminister, where no one is safe. A mysterious letter and the men who want the letter back lead to the murder of one of the clerks from the Office of the King’s Secretary. Under the orders of powerful men at court, including King Edward IV himself, Seb Foxley must join his wayward brother Jude as one of Secretary Oliver’s clerks to uncover the truth of the conspiracy against the crown. Can the brothers work together to decode the truth and save the life of the king’s beloved heir in time? Seb Foxley’s latest adventure is told in book ten of Toni Mount’s Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series, “The Colour of Rubies.”
I want to thank Toni Mount for sending me a copy of the latest Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery novel. I previously read books 8 and 9 in this series, “The Colour of Shadows” and “The Colour of Evil,” and I enjoyed both novels. When I heard that there would be a tenth novel, “The Colour of Rubies,” I was excited to read it.
We begin the new Seb Foxley adventure with Jude celebrating his birthday as he navigates his new life as a husband and a clerk at the Office of Secretary Oliver. There is trouble in paradise as Jude and Chesca disagree on how she was able to supply a bountiful feast for Jude on his birthday, which was far too extravagant for the salary of a lowly clerk. Seb decides to cheer his brother on the day after his birthday by bringing him a gift, and then Jude decides to show Seb where he works. The brothers discover the murder of one of Jude’s fellow clerks and a mysterious letter written in a foreign language.
Lord Hastings gives Seb the arduous task of finding the murderer of the clerk, who they believe is one of the clerks, by entering into the Office of Secretary Oliver and living like a clerk. Seb befriends several clerks while discovering there is more to this case than a simple murder of a clerk. It has to do with the life of King Edward IV’s heir and an international conspiracy to hurt the king. To add to the confusion, Jude and Chesca’s marriage spat and its connection to the king and work piling up at Seb’s workshop while he is away, and his feelings for dear Rose.
If you have read the other Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery books, “The Colour of Rubies” by Toni Mount is an absolute must-read. I loved every page of this novel. It was thrilling, from the new characters and interactions between Seb and his household to the danger and intrigue that Seb experiences at court. If you are a fan of this series, you will love how Mount evolves Seb’s relationships with Rose and Jude. When you think the case is solved, Mount throws in a couple of curveballs that make you wonder how Seb, Jude, and the rest of the Foxley household will survive.
I want to thank Toni Mount for sending me a copy of the latest Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery novel. I previously read books 8 and 9 in this series, “The Colour of Shadows” and “The Colour of Evil,” and I enjoyed both novels. When I heard that there would be a tenth novel, “The Colour of Rubies,” I was excited to read it.
We begin the new Seb Foxley adventure with Jude celebrating his birthday as he navigates his new life as a husband and a clerk at the Office of Secretary Oliver. There is trouble in paradise as Jude and Chesca disagree on how she was able to supply a bountiful feast for Jude on his birthday, which was far too extravagant for the salary of a lowly clerk. Seb decides to cheer his brother on the day after his birthday by bringing him a gift, and then Jude decides to show Seb where he works. The brothers discover the murder of one of Jude’s fellow clerks and a mysterious letter written in a foreign language.
Lord Hastings gives Seb the arduous task of finding the murderer of the clerk, who they believe is one of the clerks, by entering into the Office of Secretary Oliver and living like a clerk. Seb befriends several clerks while discovering there is more to this case than a simple murder of a clerk. It has to do with the life of King Edward IV’s heir and an international conspiracy to hurt the king. To add to the confusion, Jude and Chesca’s marriage spat and its connection to the king and work piling up at Seb’s workshop while he is away, and his feelings for dear Rose.
If you have read the other Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery books, “The Colour of Rubies” by Toni Mount is an absolute must-read. I loved every page of this novel. It was thrilling, from the new characters and interactions between Seb and his household to the danger and intrigue that Seb experiences at court. If you are a fan of this series, you will love how Mount evolves Seb’s relationships with Rose and Jude. When you think the case is solved, Mount throws in a couple of curveballs that make you wonder how Seb, Jude, and the rest of the Foxley household will survive.
May 13, 2022
Now the wait for the next in the series
Spoiler alert! Those who have read the series will know what I mean. Finally, Seb! Good for you.
I have loved this series of books but this one beats them all. Twists and turns, interesting descriptions, things going Seb's way, part of the time, and that damn Jude.
I can't wait for the next installment.
Spoiler alert! Those who have read the series will know what I mean. Finally, Seb! Good for you.
I have loved this series of books but this one beats them all. Twists and turns, interesting descriptions, things going Seb's way, part of the time, and that damn Jude.
I can't wait for the next installment.
June 28, 2022
Once again, a masterpiece of research and ability to throw the reader straight into the medieval epoch, amazing.
By now I cherish all the characters and love nearly all of them like friends. Most people have little love lost for Jude, but let's not forget (people who have followed the series from the start will remember) where Jude's ever increasingly bad temper and disposition towards others, especially people of authority, come from. Let's not forget the trauma he suffered, the abuse, at the beginning of the series, a trauma that changed him profoundly. After all, there were no psychotherapists at the time to help him heal. I want to continue seeing Jude in the books, his foul temper notwithstanding
Now I have finished Jude's defence, let me only say that the the plot was engaging to the last page, from everyday life to the suspense of the mystery-solving, with a nicely scary cliffhanger. Once again, thank you so much, Toni, my comfort author
By now I cherish all the characters and love nearly all of them like friends. Most people have little love lost for Jude, but let's not forget (people who have followed the series from the start will remember) where Jude's ever increasingly bad temper and disposition towards others, especially people of authority, come from. Let's not forget the trauma he suffered, the abuse, at the beginning of the series, a trauma that changed him profoundly. After all, there were no psychotherapists at the time to help him heal. I want to continue seeing Jude in the books, his foul temper notwithstanding
Now I have finished Jude's defence, let me only say that the the plot was engaging to the last page, from everyday life to the suspense of the mystery-solving, with a nicely scary cliffhanger. Once again, thank you so much, Toni, my comfort author
August 4, 2022
Another enjoyable adventure with scribe/detective Sebastian Foxley. I was a bit frustrated that the author tore Seb away from his home for an extended stay in Westminster just when his romance with Rose heats up. Also not thrilled that Seb’s odious brother Jude reappears. It’s as if with the death of the obnoxious Emily the author needed a replacement to abuse and insult Seb. No worries, everything works out for our hero and he finally gets the happy home life he deserves.
All in all, the book is a pleasure to read and I hope the author is planning another installment in this series.
All in all, the book is a pleasure to read and I hope the author is planning another installment in this series.
May 13, 2022
Great read.
Intrigue, murder and spies set in King Edward's court. The detail of the people's life in medieval England is marvelous. The storyline is fast paced and kept me guessing about the culprits. Ms. Mount is always an enjoyable experience. Looking forward to the next novel.
Intrigue, murder and spies set in King Edward's court. The detail of the people's life in medieval England is marvelous. The storyline is fast paced and kept me guessing about the culprits. Ms. Mount is always an enjoyable experience. Looking forward to the next novel.
August 9, 2022
Another well written mystery
Seb is drawn into another murder or two. With the help of his brother,as usual makes things worse. But all is not as it seems. Roll on the next instalment.
Seb is drawn into another murder or two. With the help of his brother,as usual makes things worse. But all is not as it seems. Roll on the next instalment.
May 28, 2022
Welcome back Sebastian Foxley this is the 10th book in the series and you won’t be disappointed Seb and family have become my family over the years
June 18, 2022
Color of rubies
I w.as disappointed by the way it ended. But I loved the book like all the others of your writings. Hope the next is soon
I w.as disappointed by the way it ended. But I loved the book like all the others of your writings. Hope the next is soon
July 13, 2022
I really enjoy this series. The ending on this one left one detail hanging, so not happy with that.
August 13, 2022
Enjoyable Read
Ms Mount never disappoints. Just when you think you've discovered the author 's "path," she goes another way. So just read and enjoy.
Ms Mount never disappoints. Just when you think you've discovered the author 's "path," she goes another way. So just read and enjoy.
August 17, 2022
Another great, read from Toni her books draw you in from the start with a descriptive look at medieval London and great characters.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews