Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 2/27/2023 + 2620 more book reviews

This was a fun book and introduction to the Mack's Bar series. Mackenzie "Mack" owns the bar she inherited after her father's murder a few months earlier. Matters become even more complicated when she finds a dead body in the alley behind the bar, and the victim is her father's former girlfriend.

Mack's life has not been an easy one. Her mother was involved in an accident when she was pregnant with Mack and kept alive until Mack's birth. The trauma inflicted on Mack left her with a neurological disorder called synesthesia. This condition causes short circuits or crossed wires in her senses so that she sees smells, tastes sounds, smells colors, etc. It is something she's learned to live with, but it can be overwhelming in times of stress. Since her father's death, several problems have caused Mack to lose money, putting her in a difficult financial situation.

Duncan Albright is the lead detective on the murder case. He is intrigued by Mack's condition and suspects that it could help solve Ginny's murder. Because many of the leads point to Mack as the chief suspect in the murder, he needs to keep an eye on her. But she is not the only suspect, as any of her employees or patrons also had motive, means, and opportunity. He believes there is a link between her father's and Ginny's murders. Duncan talks Mack into letting him go undercover as a bartender so he can observe and investigate. The only drawback is the attraction that flares between them and distracts them from their goal.

The employees and patrons of the bar are a diverse and quirky group. Their personalities are well-drawn and varied enough to keep them straight. I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing where each fell on the list of suspects. Most of them have known Mack for a long time and don't believe she is guilty. I loved seeing them come together to clear her name and their own.

I also liked the inclusion of the history of Milwaukee and Al Capone. It added a little uniqueness to the setting, which otherwise could have been any city. Mack's discovery of her father's interest in Capone caused her to wonder if there was a connection between that interest and his murder.

I loved following the investigation. It was a little surprising that Duncan shared so much information with Mack since she was a primary suspect in the murder. However, his instincts tell him that she is innocent. There is another person that moves up the list when secrets about his life come to light, but I felt that he was a little too obvious to be a real contender. The tension continued to build as Duncan tried to narrow down the suspect list, and Mack attempted to sort out her synesthetic reactions to the clues they found. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Mack stumbled on a secret room and the murderer. I was on the edge of my seat as Mack fought for her life. While the culprit was not a surprise, the motivations were interesting.

I liked Duncan's proposed partnership with Mack as a "consultant" on future cases. I'm looking forward to more time spent at Mack's, intriguing cases, and perhaps more about the chemistry between Mack and Duncan.

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