Mack Dalton owns a bar in Milwaukee, and she has been getting some strange letters from someone who supposedly has killed two people she knows. It's up to Mack and her boyfriend, detective Duncan Albright, to figure out who is writing these letters and doing the killing. And, Mack can use her synesthesia talents to sense the killer.
When I started reading the book, it seemed as though this was one of those series where I ought to have read a previous volume in order to understand some things in the past. It wasn't very clear as to why this book began after 2 people were murdered and a third was shot and survived. Plus, there were a LOT of characters to keep track of and we don't know much about them from the start. Most of these are members of the "Capone Club" that meets in one of the bar's rooms in an attempt to help solve murders. We eventually learn a little more about each of them, but their characters could be more well-developed.
Eventually, I made it through the book and learned "who dunnit," but I'm not sure I agree with some of the outcomes. Frankly, I don't see what Mack sees in Duncan. There is no detectable chemistry, unlike that between Mack and Mal, another detective who goes undercover to protect Mack. There were also a lot of loose ends that never really wrapped up.
This book could have been better--more interesting aspects to the characters and a faster moving plot could help. It was an interesting read, but I really expected more from this premise.

This deliciously suspenseful series just got better with 'A Toast to Murder'. Mack is finally fed up with the threats by the 'letter writer' and conspires to bring it all to an end by holding a private New Year's Eve party at her bar. There are so many clues that go in so many directions that I was waiting for a the shoe to drop and leave me devastated with the culprit. This was expertly crafted and I was surprised and satisfied with the ending, and left looking forward to much more from Mack's Bar.

I would advise reading the previous books in this series are you could be totally lost as was my case.

I received a copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I hadn't read any of the other "Mack's Bar" mysteries, and I felt like I was walking into the middle of something. The concept is really good, Mack is a bartender with synesthesia, which she uses to help solve crimes with the help of her boyfriend, Duncan, a police detective, and her friends in the Capone Club.

My issue with this book was it definitely picked up in the middle of several on going, yet related crimes. Also, other murders kept getting brought up, and some were related while others weren't. Throw in several love triangles and it was a bit confusing.

Review goes live on the blog on July 28 at 00.00 am gmt+2 and will show up on Goodreads sometime later.

In a Flutter: Cozy with a twist
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Lovely Milwaukee setting, and her bar was a really fun location.
Characters: Mack was an intriguing MC, particularly because of her synesthesia. I think it’s the first character with it that I’ve read about. It’s an intriguing condition that makes “sniffing out” clues a lot more entertaining, that’s for sure. She was easy to like and sympathize with (cast, the whole boyfriend situation), but then the maybe-feels for Mal thing kind of killed my mood. Not that there was anything wrong with Mal, or Duncan (which I like almost by default, I’m a fan of detectives xD), but I just really, really, really hate triangles. And I end up liking less a character who encourages or permits them to appear, as a result.
Another thing I really liked was the Capone Club and its members – or, well, the great majority of them, hehe.
Plot: The start was kind of slow, and the recap galore had me confused about the timeline of this story – it took a bit of re-reading to figure out where the “start” point of the story really was. I enjoyed the mystery, that part was very entertaining and fun. But then there was the romantic aspect – never a bad thing, ofc! – except when you really, really, really hate even an inkling of triangles. But if you’re into then, this will be a plus for you.
Writing: First person, past tense narrative, Mack’s POV. Nice voice and I enjoyed the writing style.
Curb Appeal: Cozy-ness cover, hooking blurb – strong candidate for my cozy mystery cravings.

I had a good time reading A Toast to Murder, though certain things weren’t necessarily my cup of tea. This was my first title from the series, though, and I didn’t come into the novel with any kind of affection for either of the characters. I think if I had, the whole triangle thing might have been less irritating – but it’s a pet peeve of mine, what can you do? Ignoring that, the mystery was engaging and the cast of characters fun. Plus the original elements (synesthesia, the Capone Club) make this a read I totally recommend for fans of cozy mysteries and of original elements.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked A Toast to Murder, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read the previous books. There were so many characters I had to look back to keep track of them all.

Mack Dalton owns a bar and has a condition called synesthesia, which makes her experience people's voices as tastes or smells. She is also a human lie detector, because a lie tastes different than the truth. She hosts a group of amateur sleuths called the Capone Club in her bar, and they help solve puzzles and crimes.

Mack is receiving letters from a deranged killer. The letters dare her to figure out the clue contained in the letter, or someone, maybe Mack herself, will die. She's already had two people close to her killed, and she doesn't want to fail. She's concerned that the killer might be a member of the Capone Club, and isn't sure what to do.

The plot is very interesting, especially the synesthesia twist, which is fascinating to read about. The characters are unusual and well written. My only problem was when the killer was revealed, there wasn't enough information in this book to explain his/her significance to Mack.

I did enjoy the book, and would recommend it, especially if you've read the other books in the series. The writing is good enough that I'm going to go back and read them all.

When I started reading this book I didn't know it was the fifth in the series. I have a feeling that this series might work out better reading it in order. I did enjoy the mystery but I felt like I was missing extra background info had I started at book one. This book was written well and had an outstanding cast of characters.

I found the beginning of Toast a big slow going with a huge info. dump to get readers up to speed on what happened in the preceding 4 books. As a reader who had only read books 1 and 3 (having forgotten I had book 4 and now have to go back and read after finding out in this one who the murderer is) and info dump was needed. I just found it a little long and a bit awkward with the story starting in the future then seemingly to skip into the past.

Once the current story got going things picked up. The story arc of the first 4 books concludes in Toast. It was fairly satisfying, but the killer basically outs themself. There's suspicion, but good luck proving it.

Mack's synesthesia is used to good purpose and some of the regulars get some page time and help with the mystery, but I think they are under utilized.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is my favourite book in the series thus far. The stakes are higher than ever and there's a tension that builds through the book and delivers a very satisfying reveal. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.

What a puzzler, this one had my mind going and to tell the truth I still didn't get it right, Mack, Duncan, Mal and the rest of the Capone club had a task on their hands before time ran out. But they were up to the challenge, and boy did they rattle a few nerves. The romance between Mack and Duncan is okay But I rather Mal had been the romantic hero, there's just something about that character that I love. All in all, this has been an intense mind boggler, the storyline was excellent and the characters are rather entertaining. This has been a most delightful read.

This book was hard to get into it as I had not read the previous in the series.
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Excellent Series
A Toast to Murder is the fifth book in Allyson K. Abbott Mack’s Bar Mysteries series. The author is very talented in creating suspense and tension with her written words. The mystery in this book is presented well throughout the entire book, there are a lot of twists and turns to deal with, and there is no shortage of suspects. The characters are well developed and likeable.

Mackenzie “Mack” Dalton owns Mack’s Bar and has a neurological condition called synesthesia, which causes her to experience sensations in multiple modalities, such as a voice triggering a taste and a lie tasting different from the truth. This makes her an asset to Milwaukee Homicide Detective Duncan Albright and her crime-solving group, The Capone Club, which is comprised of a diverse crew of amateur sleuths and a couple of detectives. For the past couple of weeks, Mack has been stalked by a letter-writing killer. This person, who doubts Mack’s special ability, sends her a letter, sending her to search for clues, with a deadline, and threatening to murder someone close to her if she fails. To date, two people have been killed. Mack and those closest to her think there may be two people involved and believe they have identified the letter writer but the evidence against that person is circumstantial and they are having a difficult time narrowing the suspect list to only one other person. Mack, who is frustrated and tired of the letter writer’s games, comes up with a plan and hopes to identify the guilty parties during a New Year’s Eve party she is hosting for selected guests.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

A Toast to Murder: A Mack’s Bar Mystery
By Allyson K. Abbott
Kensington Books
July 25, 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s synesthesia versus sociopathy in this fifth mystery featuring Milwaukee bar owner Mackenzie “Mack” Dalton. Mack has the affliction – or perhaps the gift – of heightened senses that cross over into one another. Not only does this give her the ability to sense things most people miss, it also makes Mac a human lie detector. These talents, not to mention past cases that have publicly embarrassed the authorities, are why chief District Attorney Anthony Dixon and chief of police Mark Holland have come asking to hire Mack as an official consultant. Considering that Holland had suspended Detective Duncan Albright for enlisting Mack in his own cases, she’s not about to immediately jump at the chance even though it would give her legitimacy, permission to date Duncan openly, and feed her need for excitement while proving her worth.

Coming out in public as being partnered with the police couldn’t come at a worse time, as someone has been stalking Mack, taunting her with puzzles, and committing murder when Mack fails. To work around the edict that Mack not involve the police, she has been working with undercover police officer Malachi “Mal” O’Reilly. While Mack pretended to break up with Duncan in order to give her an excuse to hang around Mal, he has been very open about his willingness to make their fake relationship real. As the snide riddles continue, Mack has to decide whether to let the rest of their amateur detecting Capone Club in on the truth, which would not only hurt feelings but could prove fatal since Mack fears that one of their members is the culprit. Frustrated and with her own anger management issues, Mack decides to end things once and for all by having a classic gathering-of-the-suspects on New Year’s Eve, during a private celebration in Mack’s Bar. Nothing will go as expected, a body will fall, and Mack will choose her destiny for both her professional and personal lives.

It seems that the previous novels of the series have all built up to the momentous occasion of Mack accepting her abilities, revealing them openly, and utilizing them to their fullest. Having spent time in a mental institution and believing that she was suffering from hallucinations, Mack now sees synesthesia as a unique superpower. Establishing her place as an effective investigator comes at the same time she also has to make a decision between Mal and Duncan, the latter of whom displays his full “guy-ness” by hiding truths any girlfriend would definitely want to know. As Mack and Mal follow clues placed by the arrogant murderer, compelling moments highlight Mack’s moral dilemmas. By balancing synesthesia-powered puzzle-solving with an investigation of their own detecting crew, the author keeps readers fully invested and absolutely riveted to the page. This is a compelling and entertaining novel featuring a heroine like no other, one who is as funny and smart as she is talented at sniffing down a killer.