The first Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery by Toni Mount.

Interview with the Author

What makes the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series special?

What order should the books be read in?

Why should readers give your medieval mysteries a try?

The second Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery by Toni Mount.

Interview with the Author

What makes the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series special?

What order should the books be read in?

Why should readers give your medieval mysteries a try?

Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series eBook categories:

• Mystery series

• Thrillers and series bestsellers

• Medieval mysteries

• Medieval mystery series

• Historical thrillers

• Medieval mystery novels

• Historical fiction

The third Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery by Toni Mount.

Interview with the Author

What makes the Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series special?

What order should the books be read in?

Why should readers give your medieval mysteries a try?

Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series eBook categories:

• Mystery series

• Thrillers and series bestsellers

• Medieval mysteries

• Medieval mystery series

• Historical thrillers

• Medieval mystery novels

• Historical fiction

The fourth Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery by Toni Mount.

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?

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 a baddie? I’m afraid that was his doing, not mine. My characters rule: I just type their stories.

Why does medieval crime attract you?

I am fascinated by medieval social history and I can’t resist 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 to give me inspiration. Sometimes, they only describe the crime committed – often in minute detail – but don’t say whether the accused was found guilty or not. Otherwise, the accused may be sentenced but his crime not explained. It is just down to luck as to which documents happen to have survived. The result is a huge supply of half-told stories, all waiting to have the mysterious gaps explained. I also enjoy the challenge of writing about the very primitive methods then available to aid in solving crimes: no forensic medicine, no DNA analysis, no psychological profiling [all of which is cheating a bit!] although there was use of 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.

The fifth Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery.

London is not safe for princes or commoners.

In February 1478, a wealthy merchant is killed by an intruder and a royal duke dies at the Tower. Neither case is quite as simple as it seems.

Seb Foxley, an intrepid young artist, finds himself in the darkest of places, fleeing for his life. With foul deeds afoot at the king’s court, his wife Emily pregnant and his brother Jude’s hope of marrying Rose thwarted, can Seb unearth the secrets which others would prefer to keep hidden?

Join Seb and Jude, their lives in jeopardy in the dangerous streets of the city, as they struggle to solve crimes and keep their business flourishing.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

How do you find new methods of medieval murder?

I use medieval legal documents to find new ideas for murders for my thrillers. I like to include elements of mystery in the tale and if it ends with a visit to the hangman, so much the better.

How does inspiration strike you for your novels and how long do they take to write?

Inspiration can strike at any time, so it’s as well to note them down or they’re lost forever. It takes about six months to write a thriller but ideas for various murder mysteries are often being mulled over years in advance or a good tale might just appear fully formed, often in the shower!

Does the story or the research come first?

I have been researching 15^th-century history for 30+ years, so much is done already. If the tale needs a specific bit of research – a hangman’s techniques, for example – that can be done at the time.

With 5 novels already in this series, can you tell us anything about future books?

The 6^th Seb Foxley murder mystery is already written – The Colour of Death – this thriller is set in Norfolk and involves Seb and his long-lost relatives. I am now weaving tale no.7, back in London, where dark deeds are afoot and Seb has to wrestle with his conscience as he solves the puzzles in The Colour of Lies.

What is the correct order of the books?

The Colour of Poison
The Colour of Gold
The Colour of Cold Blood
The Colour of Betrayal
The Colour of Murder

The sixth Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery.

A short story

Seb Foxley and his wife, Emily, have been forced to flee medieval London to escape their enemies. They find a safe haven in the isolated Norfolk village where Seb was born. Yet this idyllic rural setting has its own murderous secrets and a terrible crime requires our hero to play the sleuth once more.

Even away from London, Seb and Emily are not as safe as they believe - their enemies are closer than they know and danger lurks at every twist and turn.

The sixth Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery from bestselling author Toni Mount brings the medieval era to life once again.

It is late summer and London is all a-bustle for St Bartholomew’s Fayre, with merchants arriving from faraway lands. When an old friend returns with fabulous items for sale, it can only mean one thing: trouble. As thievery, revenge and murder stalk the fayre, Sebastian Foxley – artist and sometime-sleuth – has mysteries to solve. In uncovering the answers, he becomes enmeshed in a web of lies and falsehoods. His greatest dilemma means having to choose between upholding honour and justice or saving those dearest to him. How can a truly honest citizen of London practise deceit and yet live with his conscience?

The seventh Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery from bestselling author Toni Mount takes us deep into a dark world once again.

Author Interview

We asked the author Toni Mount to tell us about her thrilling new novel, The Colour of Lies – this is what she told us:

My latest book in the Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery series sees our hero return to the bustling city of London from his quiet home village in rural Norfolk. The city is busy and full of excitement for the annual St Bartholomew’s Fayre. This was London’s great annual international market, with merchants coming from far and wide. Foreign traders and incomers arrive from the known world, to sell their exotic wares – from ribbons in rainbow hues, magical unicorn horns, aromatic African spices and intriguing Bohemian glass.

Of course, for Seb, nothing is ever so simple as an enjoyable day out, the return of his old friend Gabriel complicates matters; will his wife reveal her secret passion? Jack runs away and Emily and her fellow silkwomen display their beautiful handicrafts.

Then a dead body is found and some unique and valuable merchandise has been stolen.

While Seb is still trying to unravel these felonies, a woman is discovered murdered in the street and, most troubling of all, Seb’s beloved Emily is a suspect. Can our artist and amateur sleuth solve this horrendous crime, save his wife and work out who is telling the blackest of lies...

Order of books in this murder mystery series

• The Colour of Poison
• The Colour of Gold
• The Colour of Cold Blood
• The Colour of Betrayal
• The Colour of Murder
• The Colour of Death
• The Colour of Lies
• OUT LATE 2019 - The Colour of Shadows

When Seb Foxley discovers a child’s body in his workshop and another lad goes missing, our medieval sleuth is perplexed at every turn. His investigations take him across London Bridge to Bankside in Southwark, where he becomes embroiled in the sinister shadows of the city’s underworld. Bankside is a labyrinth of depravity and crime where every harlot intends the downfall of respectable men and every scoundrel has a secret. In a netherworld unlike anything he’s experienced before, can Seb unravel the murky mysteries of The Mermaid Tavern, recover the stolen lad and restore him to his family?

Meanwhile, all is not as it should be in the Foxley household and lives are in danger as Seb’s old nemesis returns to London. More than one noble lord is mad, bad and dangerous to know. About to become a father for the second time, Seb is arrested as a murder suspect. With his apprentices behaving badly, how is our hero ever going to win the day?

The eighth Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mystery from bestselling author Toni Mount takes us deep into a dark world once again.

Order of books in this murder mystery series

• The Colour of Poison
• The Colour of Gold
• The Colour of Cold Blood
• The Colour of Betrayal
• The Colour of Murder
• The Colour of Death
• The Colour of Lies
• The Colour of Shadows

'I always look forward to a new 'Colour of...' book. I can't wait to see what escapades Seb Foxley and his brother, Jude, get up to next. They, and all the characters, are endearing and colourful. The books are always well written, conjuring 15th century London into the reader's mind and the plots are excellent!' Joanne R Larner author of Richard Liveth Yet trilogy

‘Toni Mount continues to delight with the superbly crafted Seb Foxley mysteries. Impeccable research and sculpted characters combine with an engaging narrative to create another irresistible story. This series goes from strength to strength, and I’m already looking forward to the next instalment’ Matthew Lewis author of Richard III Loyalty Binds Me

‘Sebastian Foxley is the Cadfael of the 15th century. The Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series by Toni Mount is not only filled by dastardly murders and gripping intrigue but contains many well-researched historical facts from the Wars of the Roses era’ J.P. Reedman, author of the I, RICHARD PLANTAGENET series

‘If I believed in reincarnation I would be willing to think that Toni Mount lived a previous life in 15th century London. The scents, the sights, the tastes of the late Middle Ages are superbly rendered.  And the story is a page-turner as well.’ Mell Starr author of the Hugh de Singleton chronicles

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.

"An atmospheric and compelling thriller that takes the reader to the dark heart of medieval London." - Tracy Borman, joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces

"An 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." - Rosalie Glibert, medieval historian and author

"...superbly crafted ... an irresistible story..." - Matthew Lewis, Author of non-fiction histories and historical fiction

"...superbly rendered ... page-turner" - Mel Starr

“Toni Mount 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.” - Samantha Willcoxson, author & historian

“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!” - Stephanie Churchill, author of historical fiction and epic fantasy

“A beautifully crafted mystery that brings the dark, dangerous streets of medieval London to life. Toni Mount is a magician with words, weaving a captivating story in wonderful prose. The Colour of Evil is, to put it simply, a pleasure to read.” - Sharon Bennet Connoly, author and medieval historian

“The ninth instalment of Toni Mount's popular Seb Foxley series is sure to delight Seb's many fans. Mount puts her deep knowledge of late medieval England to good use once again and takes us on another exciting adventure, this time with Seb's older brother Jude, returned from Italy, in tow. Mount's detailed world-building, as always, brings fifteenth-century London to life.” - Kathryn Warner, history author

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.

Praise for Toni Mount's Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Series

"An evocative masterclass in storytelling." - Tony Riches, author of The Tudor Trilogy
"It’s superb. What a plot. What characters" - Carol McGrath, author of the She-wolves trilogy
“…takes the reader to the dark heart of medieval London.” - Tracy Borman, historian and broadcaster

An interview with Toni Mount

It’s May 1480 in the City of London.

After workmen discover a nun’s body in a newly-opened tomb, talented artist and bookseller Seb Foxley is persuaded to assist in solving the mystery of her death.

Evil is once more abroad in the crowded, grimy streets of medieval London and even in the grandest of royal mansions, where a member of the Duke of Gloucester’s household meets an untimely end. And some wicked rogue is setting fires in the city. No house is safe from the hungry flames.

Will Seb and his loved ones come to grief when a man returns from the dead and Seb has to appear before the Lord Mayor?

Join our hero as he feasts with royalty, struggles to save his business and attempts to unravel this latest medieval murder mystery.

Praise for Toni Mount's Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Series
"An evocative masterclass in storytelling." - Tony Riches, author of The Tudor Trilogy
"It’s superb. What a plot. What characters" - Carol McGrath, author of the She-wolves trilogy
“…takes the reader to the dark heart of medieval London.” - Tracy Borman, historian and broadcaster

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
History is full of exciting true stories which I adapt to suit the tale I’m telling. What happens to Adam in ‘Bone’ really happened to a man in Tudor times. Ralph Sadleir was secretary to Thomas Cromwell. As a young man, he married Cromwell’s cousin, a widow with two children. Eleven years of bliss and more children followed, and then his wife’s ‘dead’ husband came home, expecting to take up where they’d left off! In the eyes of the law, Ralph was an adulterer and father to a brood of illegitimate children. I was cruel to do the same to poor Adam.
I love creating stories and researching is part of the fun yet also frustrating. I try to keep the medieval flavour in everything I write. Mixing fact and fiction is what I love, so both play a huge part in my novels. Seb is still my favourite character. It would be difficult to continue ‘The Colour of…’ series if I went off my hero. As for other characters, grouchy Jude is great to write, especially if I’m not in the most lovable mood. If he throws something to vent his temper, my crockery is no longer in such danger. It’s great therapy. But me and Seb… he’s like a third son to me.
It does take determination and even stubbornness to get any book written. A historical novel series such as this is no different. On the plus side, the main characters are as familiar to me as my family. I have a pretty good idea of how they will react to a particular situation, even so, people you think you know well can always surprise you. I follow Stephen King’s advice, to put my character/s in a situation, wind them up and let them go. This is my way of writing. I’m not big on planning: Seb & co do that for me.
On the minus side, finding new elements becomes more difficult as the series continues. Seb is older now, a family man, a respectable citizen rising in status and prosperity. He’s bound to have changed in certain ways but how? Having extra responsibilities may make him more cautious – even boring. Is money becoming too important to him? Is he always thinking of his reputation; how do others regard him? All these aspects were part of life for medieval Londoners but Seb has to retain a certain innocence and naivety. Change is vital to keep him interesting and fresh - he’s less of a wimp these days and more confident.

Come with Seb Foxley, Rose and their enigmatic friend Kit, a priest with a shadowy past, as they join a diverse group of pilgrims on what should be an uplifting spiritual journey to Canterbury Cathedral.

Beset by natural disasters and unexplained deaths, the dangers become apparent. Encountering outlaws and a fearsome black cat, every step is fraught with peril.

Amidst the chaos, Seb finds himself grappling with the mysteries surrounding him, as well as his own demons, while Rose's reunion with her family sets off a chain of events with unforeseen consequences.

But the greatest threat lies in the shadows, where sinister forces unleash evil upon the unsuspecting pilgrims. In a world where trust is a scarce commodity and even allies may harbour dark intentions, Seb must uncover the truth and protect his fellow travellers.

Prepare to be enthralled by a tale of betrayal, intrigue and redemption as Seb Foxley races against time to unravel the malevolent secrets hidden within the heart of the pilgrimage. Who can you trust when even friends prove false?

Praise for Toni Mount's Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery Series
"An evocative masterclass in storytelling." - Tony Riches, author of The Tudor Trilogy
"It’s superb. What a plot. What characters" - Carol McGrath, author of the She-wolves trilogy
"Toni mount gives you a real sense of actually being there"
"an excellent mystery, with multi-layers of plot"
"Much better than the average period detective story."
"Toni Mount brings characters leaping off the page… plots that twist and turn, I am in heaven when reading her books"