Blurb:

Every bargain has a price…this one is deadly.

When a beloved antique dealer, Eleanor, is found dead among her carefully curated belongings, it's clear the cost of this bargain came at a high price.

The police call it an accident. A fall. An unfortunate end.

Penelope knows better.

As whispers spread and suspicion turns toward a rival shop owner, a distant husband eager to claim the space, and a manager pressuring vendors behind the scenes, Penelope begins to understand the truth: Eleanor wasn't robbed. She was being replaced.

As Penelope asks questions, she uncovers evidence of swapped antiques, convincing replicas, and a scheme built on deception and greed. With gossip spreading fast and her sharp-nosed Chihuahua, Teo, alert to every wrong note, she follows a trail that keeps pointing in the wrong direction.

Until getting too close to the truth puts her directly in the path of someone who has already killed once to keep it hidden.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Marked Down to Murder is yet another captivating addition to Tessa Aura’s mystery series, A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery. The narrative begins somewhat slowly, yet it remains intriguing and engaging, enveloped in an aura of mystery.

Upon commencing my reading of Marked Down to Murder, I found myself captivated by Penelope and her unique perspective that allows her to perceive things that others might overlook.

The descriptions were articulated so vividly that I could visualize everything I was reading in my mind, as if I were an observer on the sidelines, witnessing the events unfold.

I truly love getting lost in the Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery stories. I can’t get enough of them. I always eagerly wait for the next book. No matter what happens with Penelope and Teo, I know I’ll love it. Hmm, that probably didn’t come out quite the way I meant. What I meant is that I’m not worried about specific plot points. It’s not that I don’t care about Penelope and Teo. I absolutely adore them.

In this installment, Penelope is assisting her friend Eleanor, an antique dealer who operates a shop within the antique mall. The first thing that Penelope and Teo observe is that Eleanor’s stock is being substituted with replicas. As Penelope endeavors to uncover the truth, she enters the storage room and discovers poor Eleanor lying lifeless on the floor, gazing into the void as only the deceased can.

What transpired with Eleanor? The authorities suspect it was an accident, but Penelope and Teo are aware of the truth. Numerous suspicious individuals or storage vendors within the mall have motives to take advantage of Eleanor. But which one is accountable for Eleanor’s tragic fate?

As always, I wholeheartedly recommend this delightful series to all enthusiasts of murder mysteries! Be sure to acquire a copy of Marked Down to Murder today!