Review - Murder on the Rocks

This is a new-to-me series that I stumbled across.  I couldn't help but compare this  series to Brewing Up Trouble mystery series by Joyce Tremel (click here) which is set in Pittsburgh with a focus on craft beer brewing.  But there are plenty of differences to make them each unique even with a similar bar setting.  This neighborhood bar themed mystery is set in Milwaukee.  So join me for a peek at this unique series with book one.

Author: Allyson Abbott

Copyright: Aug 2013 (Kensington) 351 pgs

Series: 1st in Mack's Bar Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy

Main Characters: Mackenzie "Mack" Dalton, Milwaukee bar owner with neurological senses disorder

Setting: Modern day, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Obtained Through: Personal purchase

Mack's Bar is one of those nice, friendly places where everybody knows your name. That's great when someone's buying you a round, but not so hot when you find yourself atop a list of murder suspects--with your fingerprints on the bloody knife!

Mackenzie "Mack" Dalton is a Milwaukee bar owner with a nose for trouble--literally. A neurological glitch has left her with extra perceptive senses. So when she stumbles upon a dead body in the alley behind the bar--the same spot where her own father was shot eight months earlier--she can tell right away there's something fishy in the air. The lead detective thinks there's a link between the two deaths, and he'll need Mack's help to sniff out the murderer amid the crowd of eccentric regulars. But when all the evidence points to her as the most likely culprit, it could be an early last call for Mack--and celebratory cocktails for a killer.  Includes drink recipes.

Mack's neurological mix up of her senses is unique for a main character and there is a lot of sorting through her situation.  Zachary Fairbanks, paramedic and casual boyfriend provides some complications.  Detective Duncan Albright is the romantic interest who goes undercover as part of the bar staff (with the assumption both the recent murder and Mach's father's murder eight months prior are connected) to determine the killer.  Full cast of bar regulars and employees, most all of which become suspects, are interesting and some are quirky.

Mack's historic bar is the location of mostly all the action.  The bar's connection with Capone was fascinating and I would have liked a bit more atmospheric description.  The plot was intertwined with Duncan's undercover work and growing closer to Mack.  I have to admit the pacing slowed slightly in a few places, but not for long.  The climax was nicely tense and nail biting, the way I like it. wrap-up sets up the continuing adventures of Mack smoothly.  

I liked the cop going undercover as a bar employee to investigate.  Mack didn't resonate strongly with me, nothing wrong with that though.  I got a little sidetracked by having to follow her different sensory condition, but I'm interested in following the series.  The climax was the strongest scene of the book, which was a great payoff.

Rating:  Good - A fun pleasant read with interesting characters.  Recommended for cozy lovers.