What do you think?
Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery #2.5
The Colour of Betrayal
The fourth Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery.
A short story
Suicide or murder?
As medieval Londoners joyously prepare for the Christmas celebrations, goldsmith Lawrence Ducket is involved in a street brawl. Fearful that his opponent is dying from his injuries, Lawrence seeks sanctuary in a church nearby.
When Ducket is found hanging from the rafters, people assume it's suicide. Yet, Sebastian Foxley is unconvinced. Why is his young apprentice, Jack Tabor, so terrified that he takes to his bed?
Amidst feasting and merriment, Seb is determined to solve the mystery of his friend's death and to ease Jack's fears.
Author Interview
How have you been able to continue the drama of your series?
My characters do all the hard work. Stephen King, the author of so many thrillers and suspense novels, says he dreams up a character, puts them in a situation and sees what they do. That's about it for me too. I put a couple of my characters together and let them get on with it. For example, when, in 'Cold Blood', Emily wasn't the perfect wife to Seb, I never planned it that way. Emily's character just went her own. I think real marriages are often like that - relationships aren't always quite as you expect. Besides, where is the suspense if everything is wonderful? Medieval life was as full of unexpected twists and turns, just as life today. Characters keep secrets, not only from each other but, just occasionally, from the reader too.
Who is your favourite character?
My favourite character has to be Seb, of course. If I don't love my hero, then the reader probably won't either. Having said that, I have more fun with the secondary characters. Gabriel Widowson, that man of mystery with a certain something that so appeals to women - I did enjoy working with him as I was never sure what would happen next. And what about his 'relationship' with Emily? That was intriguing and I'm still not sure quite how far they went - that's one of those secrets I mentioned. What about Seb and Rose? Were those reading lessons as innocent as Seb claimed? He was certainly attracted to her and now she lives under the same roof. Will anything happen? That's another mystery for a future story! Just think medieval Eastenders and the dramatic possibilities are endless. Villainous characters are great fun to write as well. Father Hugh Wessell amused me no end, the pompous, nasty piece of work. Way back in Poison, Lord Lovell surprised me. As some readers have pointed out, historically, Lovell was Richard of Gloucester's best mate: how could he be bad? I'm afraid that was his doing, not mine. My characters rule.
Why does medieval crime attract you?
I am fascinated by medieval social history and love a good crime thriller. Put the two together and you've got medieval crime. There are many fascinating cases in Court Rolls and Coroners' Rolls throughout the medieval and early Tudor periods. Sometimes, they only describe the crime committed - often in minute detail - but don't say whether the accused was found guilty. Otherwise, the accused may be sentenced but his crime not explained. It is down to luck as to which documents have survived. The result is a huge supply of half-told stories, all waiting to have the mysterious gaps explained. I enjoy the challenge of writing about the primitive methods available to solving crimes: no forensic medicine, no DNA analysis, no psychological profiling although there was fingerprinting in Poison, just about. There is only Seb with his artist's eye for detail, clever brain and knowledge of human weaknesses. Plenty of scope for suspense and mystery in my medieval tales of murder.
A short story
Suicide or murder?
As medieval Londoners joyously prepare for the Christmas celebrations, goldsmith Lawrence Ducket is involved in a street brawl. Fearful that his opponent is dying from his injuries, Lawrence seeks sanctuary in a church nearby.
When Ducket is found hanging from the rafters, people assume it's suicide. Yet, Sebastian Foxley is unconvinced. Why is his young apprentice, Jack Tabor, so terrified that he takes to his bed?
Amidst feasting and merriment, Seb is determined to solve the mystery of his friend's death and to ease Jack's fears.
Author Interview
How have you been able to continue the drama of your series?
My characters do all the hard work. Stephen King, the author of so many thrillers and suspense novels, says he dreams up a character, puts them in a situation and sees what they do. That's about it for me too. I put a couple of my characters together and let them get on with it. For example, when, in 'Cold Blood', Emily wasn't the perfect wife to Seb, I never planned it that way. Emily's character just went her own. I think real marriages are often like that - relationships aren't always quite as you expect. Besides, where is the suspense if everything is wonderful? Medieval life was as full of unexpected twists and turns, just as life today. Characters keep secrets, not only from each other but, just occasionally, from the reader too.
Who is your favourite character?
My favourite character has to be Seb, of course. If I don't love my hero, then the reader probably won't either. Having said that, I have more fun with the secondary characters. Gabriel Widowson, that man of mystery with a certain something that so appeals to women - I did enjoy working with him as I was never sure what would happen next. And what about his 'relationship' with Emily? That was intriguing and I'm still not sure quite how far they went - that's one of those secrets I mentioned. What about Seb and Rose? Were those reading lessons as innocent as Seb claimed? He was certainly attracted to her and now she lives under the same roof. Will anything happen? That's another mystery for a future story! Just think medieval Eastenders and the dramatic possibilities are endless. Villainous characters are great fun to write as well. Father Hugh Wessell amused me no end, the pompous, nasty piece of work. Way back in Poison, Lord Lovell surprised me. As some readers have pointed out, historically, Lovell was Richard of Gloucester's best mate: how could he be bad? I'm afraid that was his doing, not mine. My characters rule.
Why does medieval crime attract you?
I am fascinated by medieval social history and love a good crime thriller. Put the two together and you've got medieval crime. There are many fascinating cases in Court Rolls and Coroners' Rolls throughout the medieval and early Tudor periods. Sometimes, they only describe the crime committed - often in minute detail - but don't say whether the accused was found guilty. Otherwise, the accused may be sentenced but his crime not explained. It is down to luck as to which documents have survived. The result is a huge supply of half-told stories, all waiting to have the mysterious gaps explained. I enjoy the challenge of writing about the primitive methods available to solving crimes: no forensic medicine, no DNA analysis, no psychological profiling although there was fingerprinting in Poison, just about. There is only Seb with his artist's eye for detail, clever brain and knowledge of human weaknesses. Plenty of scope for suspense and mystery in my medieval tales of murder.
110 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2017
About the author
Toni Mount
32 books111 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 28, 2017
This is a short medieval mystery story of the goldsmith Lawrence Ducket and the results of a street brawl with a Ralph Aldgate. With information obtained from his apprentice Jack Tabor, Sebastian Foxley is unconvinced that the right verdict has been reached.
An interesting enough story, but poor Sebastian it sounds like his wife is becoming a harridan.
Received an Advanced Reader Copy
An interesting enough story, but poor Sebastian it sounds like his wife is becoming a harridan.
Received an Advanced Reader Copy
October 9, 2017
I enjoy Toni Mount's Middle Ages. She puts to life settings and characters.
This story was inspired by a real murder happened in London, in 1284. Why three stars?
I complain for the lack of twists The Colour of Blood was so pleasantly full of.
The research Seb Foxley does about the mystery is very short and the murders are all condemned after a short trial. I was a bit disappointed.
This story was inspired by a real murder happened in London, in 1284. Why three stars?
I complain for the lack of twists The Colour of Blood was so pleasantly full of.
The research Seb Foxley does about the mystery is very short and the murders are all condemned after a short trial. I was a bit disappointed.
May 2, 2022
The Colour of Betrayal (The Fourth in the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mysteries series)
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 2, 2022
I am officially declaring May to be Sebastian Foxley Month. Although I started the first books in this series at the end of April, I plan on spending the bulk of May reading the rest of these wonderful stories. That I have a thing for medieval mystery series is nothing new. Among my favorites are the Prioress Eleanor series by Priscilla Royal (13th century England), Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series (London during the reign of Richard II), and Kate Sedley’s Roger the Chapman series (England under Edward IV with occasional visits from Richard of Gloucester). Oh, and let’s not forget Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael (12th century England). Now I have a new series to add to my favorites, Toni Mount’s Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mysteries.
The Colour of Betrayal is the fourth in this series, and is another short story (which I don’t mind in the least) rather than a full length novel. Although the story is set during the Christmas season, there are some whose hearts are not filled with Christian charity.
After a shocking prologue describing a murder in a church, we go back a couple days to our favorite medieval artist, Seb Foxley. It is the eve of Christ’s Mass in the year of Our Lord 1476, and Seb is calling upon goldsmith Lawrence Ducket to order some gold leaf for a lavishly illuminated copy of Sir Thomas Malory’s stories of King Arthur and his knights, commissioned by Lord Howard. (I had to include mention of Lord Howard, as somewhere waaayyy back in my family tree, he is one of my many times great grandfathers. Okay, back to the story.)
The two men retire to the Green Man, a nearby tavern, so as to get out of Mistress Ducket’s hair so she can finish her holiday preparations. After a few drinks of Ducket’s favorite Gascon wine, the two men prepare to leave with the goldsmith having indulged a bit more than he should have.
Outside, Ducket calls out Ralph Aldgate, the Town Clerk of London, who he’d seen inside the tavern with a lady not his wife. Ducket is incensed that Ralph is not only consorting with his harlot, but publically enjoying her company which Ducket sees as bringing down the neighborhood. An altercation ensues and Ralph is knocked down, cracking his head on a stone used as a mounting block.
Horrified that he may have killed another man, the goldsmith rushes to the nearby church to claim sanctuary. Hardly the way anyone planned on spending Christmas Eve! It is while he is within the sanctified precincts of the church, waiting to learn what is going to happen to him, that a group of thugs violate sanctuary and kill Ducket, making it look like he hanged himself.
What they don’t realize is that there is a witness, Jack Tabor, Seb Foxley’s young apprentice. At first Jack tells no one what he saw, as he is terrified that the thugs will hunt him down. But finally he works up the nerve to tell Master Seb what happened. Seb never believed that his friend committed suicide, but how to get the authorities to believe a former street urchin?
The Colour of Betrayal is another good story in this series, with the characters we’ve come to know growing and maturing. Seb’s wife Emily, for example, isn’t quite as shrill as she was in the previous book. She still gives Seb and anyone else who doesn’t see things her way a hard time, but it looks like she’s beginning to settle into married life. Setting the story around Christmas also gives us a look at how the holiday season was celebrated in 15th century London, showing us that some of our modern traditions go back a long way.
By Toni Mount
Reviewed May 2, 2022
I am officially declaring May to be Sebastian Foxley Month. Although I started the first books in this series at the end of April, I plan on spending the bulk of May reading the rest of these wonderful stories. That I have a thing for medieval mystery series is nothing new. Among my favorites are the Prioress Eleanor series by Priscilla Royal (13th century England), Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series (London during the reign of Richard II), and Kate Sedley’s Roger the Chapman series (England under Edward IV with occasional visits from Richard of Gloucester). Oh, and let’s not forget Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael (12th century England). Now I have a new series to add to my favorites, Toni Mount’s Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mysteries.
The Colour of Betrayal is the fourth in this series, and is another short story (which I don’t mind in the least) rather than a full length novel. Although the story is set during the Christmas season, there are some whose hearts are not filled with Christian charity.
After a shocking prologue describing a murder in a church, we go back a couple days to our favorite medieval artist, Seb Foxley. It is the eve of Christ’s Mass in the year of Our Lord 1476, and Seb is calling upon goldsmith Lawrence Ducket to order some gold leaf for a lavishly illuminated copy of Sir Thomas Malory’s stories of King Arthur and his knights, commissioned by Lord Howard. (I had to include mention of Lord Howard, as somewhere waaayyy back in my family tree, he is one of my many times great grandfathers. Okay, back to the story.)
The two men retire to the Green Man, a nearby tavern, so as to get out of Mistress Ducket’s hair so she can finish her holiday preparations. After a few drinks of Ducket’s favorite Gascon wine, the two men prepare to leave with the goldsmith having indulged a bit more than he should have.
Outside, Ducket calls out Ralph Aldgate, the Town Clerk of London, who he’d seen inside the tavern with a lady not his wife. Ducket is incensed that Ralph is not only consorting with his harlot, but publically enjoying her company which Ducket sees as bringing down the neighborhood. An altercation ensues and Ralph is knocked down, cracking his head on a stone used as a mounting block.
Horrified that he may have killed another man, the goldsmith rushes to the nearby church to claim sanctuary. Hardly the way anyone planned on spending Christmas Eve! It is while he is within the sanctified precincts of the church, waiting to learn what is going to happen to him, that a group of thugs violate sanctuary and kill Ducket, making it look like he hanged himself.
What they don’t realize is that there is a witness, Jack Tabor, Seb Foxley’s young apprentice. At first Jack tells no one what he saw, as he is terrified that the thugs will hunt him down. But finally he works up the nerve to tell Master Seb what happened. Seb never believed that his friend committed suicide, but how to get the authorities to believe a former street urchin?
The Colour of Betrayal is another good story in this series, with the characters we’ve come to know growing and maturing. Seb’s wife Emily, for example, isn’t quite as shrill as she was in the previous book. She still gives Seb and anyone else who doesn’t see things her way a hard time, but it looks like she’s beginning to settle into married life. Setting the story around Christmas also gives us a look at how the holiday season was celebrated in 15th century London, showing us that some of our modern traditions go back a long way.
Read
December 10, 2019This is good series and so far I am enjoying it.
However, there is one thing I would like to clearly state for the benefit of the other readers and that is that though the stories are well written, with good period descriptions and well fleshed out characters, they are essentially stories not dyed-in-the-wool whodunnits where you keep expecting a twist till the last page. The culprits are easily identiifed and in some cases, literally spelled out by the writer herself, as who did what and all. So, there is not much mystery to puzzle over , rather the writer's strength is in the way, she paints the handling of the situation by the protagonist and his associates, most of whom are either his family members or friends.
I also love the way the writer inserts a short story between her full length novels, therefore providing a breather for her readers and maybe for herself too!
The main protagonist does appear a little whiny sometimes but since he always manages to save the day at the end, we cannot complain too much. Maybe, it is realistic after all that a man who had been handicapped since his infancy and is of an artistic bend of mind, cannot be expected to be oozing much masochism all the time.
Still, a little more spirit and optimistic frame of mind would have made for more cheerful reading. Still, as I said,overall a good series that I am well on my way to enjoying and finishing soon.
However, there is one thing I would like to clearly state for the benefit of the other readers and that is that though the stories are well written, with good period descriptions and well fleshed out characters, they are essentially stories not dyed-in-the-wool whodunnits where you keep expecting a twist till the last page. The culprits are easily identiifed and in some cases, literally spelled out by the writer herself, as who did what and all. So, there is not much mystery to puzzle over , rather the writer's strength is in the way, she paints the handling of the situation by the protagonist and his associates, most of whom are either his family members or friends.
I also love the way the writer inserts a short story between her full length novels, therefore providing a breather for her readers and maybe for herself too!
The main protagonist does appear a little whiny sometimes but since he always manages to save the day at the end, we cannot complain too much. Maybe, it is realistic after all that a man who had been handicapped since his infancy and is of an artistic bend of mind, cannot be expected to be oozing much masochism all the time.
Still, a little more spirit and optimistic frame of mind would have made for more cheerful reading. Still, as I said,overall a good series that I am well on my way to enjoying and finishing soon.
October 5, 2017
Short but good
This fourth book of the Sebastian Foxley series is another example of detailed historical fiction at its best! The author does an astounding job of bringing you into medieval English life. I grit my teeth as Emily chips away at Seb constantly and love that he does what he feels is the right thing to do in spite of her nagging. And my favorite secondary character is little Jack! His vocabulary is outrageously funny!
Cannot wait to read the fifth book!!!! A must read for historical fiction readers!
This fourth book of the Sebastian Foxley series is another example of detailed historical fiction at its best! The author does an astounding job of bringing you into medieval English life. I grit my teeth as Emily chips away at Seb constantly and love that he does what he feels is the right thing to do in spite of her nagging. And my favorite secondary character is little Jack! His vocabulary is outrageously funny!
Cannot wait to read the fifth book!!!! A must read for historical fiction readers!
February 3, 2018
Based on a true event, this delightfully crafted short novel links the full length books The Colour of Cold Blood and The Colour of Murder. It is beautifully written by a caring author who understands the period and the area in which the Foxley family live very well and shows exceptional attention to detail and understanding of human reactions to circumstances. With a surprising twist to the story, this book keeps us guessing to the very end.
I loved it!
I loved it!
March 3, 2018
I love this series, it combines history and fiction so nicely. Mystery #4 was so short, I had to go right on to read #5. The characters are more familiar as we go along, and I care more about them, so I had to find out what happens next..
November 10, 2024
This book had been waiting in my kindle for a long while. I bought it in a batch of Toni Mount books. It was very short and uncomplicated and it made a pleasant change from the books I’ve read lately.
November 30, 2025
A good read
The author evokes the period well giving great insight into the lives of ordinary people of the time. The mystery is compelling and well crafted. The reader will really care about the characters and their plight.
The author evokes the period well giving great insight into the lives of ordinary people of the time. The mystery is compelling and well crafted. The reader will really care about the characters and their plight.
November 6, 2017
A well written, short and sweet medieval tale. I'd be happy to read the others.
April 5, 2018
I really like this series...except for the character of Emily. Must she be such a shrew? Makes one wonder why Sebastian would have fallen in love with her....
July 26, 2018
Brilliant
Yet another super short story. Well Written,hope the next one is a little longer. Toni writes a brilliant mystery. Long may SEB 's story continue.
Yet another super short story. Well Written,hope the next one is a little longer. Toni writes a brilliant mystery. Long may SEB 's story continue.
March 21, 2019
Growing on me
After a slow start these books are taking a hold on me. The main characters are gathering flesh while the Indianapolis have always interested
After a slow start these books are taking a hold on me. The main characters are gathering flesh while the Indianapolis have always interested
August 22, 2019
Brilliant
March 23, 2021
Good
Although an enjoyable read it can also be frustrating with a main character who is such a ditherer whilst being talented.
Although an enjoyable read it can also be frustrating with a main character who is such a ditherer whilst being talented.
October 1, 2017
Great story
Toni Mount's The Color of Betrayal is a great story. A great visit to the Foxleys of medieval England. I can hardly wait for the next installment.
Toni Mount's The Color of Betrayal is a great story. A great visit to the Foxleys of medieval England. I can hardly wait for the next installment.
April 4, 2018
Enjoyed but entirely too short. Was not expecting it to be so short of a story.
Read
March 19, 2018Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews