The Recommended Reading Path for Mack’s Bar Mysteries
For the best reading experience, you should read the Mack’s Bar Mystery series in its publication order. Because Allyson K. Abbott (the pen name of Beth Amos) wrote the series with a continuous narrative arc, reading the books chronologically ensures you follow the development of Mack Dalton’s unique synesthesia, the romantic tension with Police Detective Duncan Albright, and the overarching investigation into the cold-case murder of Mack’s father.
Mack’s Bar Mystery Series in Order
- Murder on the Rocks (2013): This debut introduces Mackenzie 'Mack' Dalton, owner of Mack’s Bar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mack has synesthesia—a neurological condition resulting from a childhood injury that makes her associate colors, tastes, and textures with sounds and emotions. When a dead body is found in the alley behind her bar (the same spot where her father was murdered), Mack uses her unique sensory perception to solve the crime, teaming up with Detective Duncan Albright.
- Murder with a Twist (2014): Mack is officially called upon to assist Detective Albright when a prominent local citizen is kidnapped. Her synesthesia acts as a built-in lie detector, allowing her to read suspects and spot hidden clues. Meanwhile, her relationship with Duncan begins to heat up.
- In the Drink (2015): When a body is discovered in the ice bin of a trendy new nightclub owned by a friend of Mack, she goes undercover as a consulting bartender to root out the killer, testing both her sensory talents and her trust in Duncan.
- Shots in the Dark (2016): After a shooting incident points to one of Mack’s bar regulars, she must clear his name. Her investigation is complicated by an FBI agent who is highly skeptical of her synesthetic abilities.
- A Toast to Murder (2017): Set during a high-society charity event, Mack must navigate a murder investigation involving Milwaukee’s wealthy elite, where everyone has a motive and a secret to hide.
- Last Call (2018): The series finale brings the narrative full circle. Mack finally uncovers the truth behind her father’s unsolved murder from years ago, bringing emotional closure to the characters and fans alike.
Sleuthing with Synesthesia: What to Know Before You Start
Mackenzie Dalton’s synesthesia is the defining element of the series. Rather than treating it as a traditional psychic power, Abbott grounds it in real neurological terms, drawing from her background as a registered emergency room nurse. Mack experiences the world in overlapping sensory layers: she can taste emotions (fear might taste like copper or stale beer), see sounds as colors, and feel textures from spoken words. Reading the series in order allows you to see how Mack adapts her conditions into a formidable investigative tool.
As an added bonus for readers, each book in the series features custom drink recipes at the end, letting fans mix up themed cocktails that match the Milwaukee tavern setting.
Beyond Allyson K. Abbott: Pseudonyms and What to Read Next
If you finish the Mack's Bar Mysteries and want more cozy suspense from the same author, you should look up her other writing names. Allyson K. Abbott is a pseudonym for Beth Amos. Under her own name, Amos has published several standalone thrillers such as Cold White Fury and Eyes of Night.
However, cozy mystery fans will be most interested in her work under the pen name Annelise Ryan. Under this name, she writes the long-running Mattie Winston Mysteries (featuring a deputy coroner in Wisconsin) and the Monster Hunter Mysteries (focusing on cryptozoologist Morgan Carter). Both series share the signature humor, medical details, and Wisconsin flavor found in the Mack's Bar series.