An enjoyable and suspenseful murder mystery. The main character, Capri, makes a living giving serial killer tours of San Francisco … and just happens to be the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer herself. When her ex-mother-in-law is killed by a copycat killer using her grandfather's methods, she must rush to find the culprit in order to protect herself and her family.

Hey there- I would have like to read this but it archived! And I don't know how that happens because I keep a close eye on my shelf. This isn't publishing til September so I'm hoping others didn't lose it and that it gets good reviews.

This was such a fast paced mystery story that I was shocked I truly enjoyed. I couldn’t put this down! I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you for this ARC!

I really love San Francisco and it was fun to read about where you see famous sites through the genre of mystery book. But overall I just could not get into it fully and it took me a while to complete.

“The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco” by Michelle Chouinard follows Capri Sanzio, the granddaughter of Overkill Bill. Despite his prison sentence, Capri has always believed his innocence. Now, years later, a copycat is following the same signatures, and in the midst of her ex-MIL cutting off Capri’s daughter’s college payments, Capri wonders if now is the time to exonerate her grandfather with a true crime book. Until the victim is revealed to be her MIL. Now Capri and her daughter are the center of the case, accused with the motive of cold hard cash.
For this book, I absolutely loved Capri! She’s a true crime girlie after my own heart. While her grandfather connects her to the world of true crime, she seems like she would have made her way there eventually because she’s so good at it. Her fierceness to protect her daughter made her extra relatable.
I also enjoyed how twisty this one was, while still feeling lighthearted. The overall vibe of the book was a cozy mystery, in my opinion, and I loved that. Sometimes you want your thriller to be fun instead of keeping you up at night, ha.
Overall, this one got 4 stars from me! It was an interesting case, with good characters, and the ending surprised me a little bit. I definitely need to read more by Chouinard!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy!

Tech money and old money don't play well in this interesting and fun look into San Francisco society - 10 years after her divorce, our main character's former mother-in-law calls to say she'll no longer pay for her granddaughter's grad school tuition, only to end up murdered the next day. In the same manner as the main character's grandfather has been convicted of murdering 3 women in 1965, earning him the nickname Overkill Bill. While Capri has turned her interest in her grandfather's case (she believes he was wrongly convicted) into a career running tours of San Francisco's seamy underbelly, she doesn't come off as creepy or disturbed or disrespectful of the victims. Capri does have a tendency to overexplain her thought process, but considering she runs tours and is starting a podcast, her style of narration seems reasonable! I really enjoyed the book, and hope for more from Michelle Choinard.

_The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco_ is a an easy murder mystery with details of San Francisco sights and history. Capri is the granddaughter of Overkill Bill, a serial killer who insisted on his innocence. Capri believes in his innocence, and runs a tour business telling true crime history to intrigued visitors. But when copycat killings hit too close to home, Capri makes it her mission to solve the murders both past and present before she can be blamed, or far worse. This entertaining read will interest those who love contemporary murder mysteries.

3.5⭐️

Capri’s family is looped into a murder investigation when someone starts copying the MO of her serial killer grandfather, Overkill Bill. When law enforcement start looking at her and her daughter as suspects, Capri starts her own investigation to clear their names.

If you’re a fan of amateur sleuths and “follow-the-clues” murder mysteries, this is the book for you. With her family’s notorious background and her band of helpful friends, Capri gives Veronica Mars a run for her money as she hunts down leads and works neck and neck with law enforcement.

The overall plot was entertaining, if not a little long winded. Capri had a tendency to over explain clues ad nauseam. We’re there when she (1) finds the clues, when she (2) explains how she found them to side characters, when she (3) breaks down what they mean to the investigation in her head, and then finally (4) explains again to both her friends and law enforcement. Capri also tends to jump to very convenient conclusions that help her investigation. Her coworker mentions <spoiler>prohibition rooms so obviously her mother-in-law must also have one. And she’s able to get it open? Mmhmm.

I liked that the MC was in her forties and had complex relationships with the rest of her family. It gave her more depth and made the story more enjoyable.

This is my first time reading Michelle Chouinard, and I looked forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review this novel early.

San Francisco… say less!

I’m a sucker for a SF setting and THE SERIAL KILLER GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO delivers on the hustle and bustle, steep hills and wealth of the city by the bay.

Keeping it brief… Capri give serial killer tours of the city… she also happens to be the granddaughter of a well known one in the area. Believing he was innocent she wants to dive deeper into his case, but just as she’s about to a copcat has struck the city and it hits a little to close to home for Capri.

I really enjoyed this one. It read like a modern day cozy mystery… Capri was a great amateur sleuth/character to lead us through this murder mystery with a splash of family drama! This will be a great pick for fans of Finlay Donovan series & Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders.

Thank you Minotaur Books
Releases 9/24

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I was drawn to this book by the title and the book’s cover. Having lived in San Francisco, I loved the atmosphere. Chouinard is a very good writer with a keen eye for observation. This is a multi-layered story, featuring the likable Capri, owner of a tour guide company in San Francisco. Highly recommended!

The serial killer guide to San Francisco kepted me hooked from the very beginning. It was funny and interesting, it entertained me and it was hard to put down! It reminded me of the character Stephanie from the author Janet Evanovich. I thought the story line was very unique and I have never read anything like it before. I have recommended this book to a few people and look forward to reading more by Michelle Chouinard!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC!

"The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco" by Michelle Chouinard is a darkly intriguing and meticulously researched exploration of the city's macabre history. Blending true crime with travelogue, the book delves into the chilling tales of infamous serial killers who once haunted the streets of San Francisco.

Chouinard's writing is both informative and engaging, offering readers a fascinating glimpse into the twisted minds of some of the most notorious criminals. She skillfully combines historical facts with vivid storytelling, bringing to life the eerie atmosphere of the city's darker past. Each chapter focuses on different figures and locations, providing a comprehensive guide to San Francisco's most sinister spots.

The book is well-paced, balancing gruesome details with insightful analysis and local color. Chouinard's passion for the subject matter shines through, making it a compelling read for true crime enthusiasts and those interested in the city's history.

Overall, "The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco" is a captivating and chilling journey through the city's dark underbelly. Michelle Chouinard delivers a must-read for fans of true crime and anyone curious about the sinister side of San Francisco's past.

The serial killer guide to San Francisco is the perfect little mystery book to keep you hooked from the very beginning. It is funny mystery story that will keep you entertained and wanting more! I thought it was very unique. I have never read anything like it before. So this was very refreshing. I already recommended this book to a few people, including my daughter who loves a good mystery!

I really enjoyed this serial killer murder mystery. It was definitely more cozy and than thriller (odd to say about a serial killer book..buy hey). I also liked learning about the history of the city. This book held my attention and I am glad I got to read an ARC of it.

The history of San Francisco is chock full of serial killers and no one knows this better than Capri Sanzio. She actually has first hand-experience with one, her grandfather was Overkill Bill Sanzio whose murder method was clubbing, choking, and stabbing his victims-thus the Overkill nickname. Since her lifelong interest in serial killers had piqued the imagination of the public, she decided to monetize her hobby and run actual tours, in person and over Zoom, to the locations and prisons involved in the murders. However, she was never convinced that her grandfather was guilty, even though her father vehemently agreed with his sentence. But her research was kicked into high gear when two killings in the present took place using the same overkill method and one of the victims was her snooty ex-mother-in-law. Was she or her daughter being framed for the murders? Were her former husbands' parents not as wealthy as they seemed to be? Is her daughter lying to the police about her whereabouts the night of the killing? And can she solve these crimes before Petito, that cute police examiner, shows her another historical prison-this time from the inside.
This was a fun ride through the history and streets of San Francisco-Chouinard did a good job of mixing travelogue with mystery and using her obvious love of research to direct readers to clues needed to solve the crimes in the past and in the present. Next time I'm in the City by the Bay, I'll remember to watch my back.

This was an enjoyable read! I found myself turning the pages eager to find out what may happen next. As a fan of television like Criminal Minds and NCIS I enjoyed the way this plot unfolded.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one at around 30%.. The premise was very interesting but I didn't feel any personality coming from the characters or writing in order to hold my interest in the story. What I did read, I would rate about 3 stars.

Capri is the granddaughter of the serial killer, Overkill Bill. She believes that he’s innocent and could never hurt the woman that he’s being accused of murdering, but his signature kill and the witnesses accusations were enough to put him in prison for life.

Capri makes a living by giving serial killer tours throughout San Francisco to give tourists a better understanding of the areas and the heinous crimes that happened there. One day her college age daughter, Morgan, calls frantically to tell Capri that her grandmother cut off her college tuition which infuriates the both of them. When Capri arrives at her ex mother-in-laws house, she quickly learns that her mother-in-law, Sylvia, has been murdered. In fact, she was murdered the same signature way that Overkill Bill murdered his victims. Capri must find out who the copycat murderer is before it’s too late!

To say I loved this would be an understatement, I INHALED this true crime inspired debut novel! It wove a murder mystery and a cold case investigation together into the main characters life that kept me immersed in the storyline and I couldn’t put it down. Although all the characters were lovable; Capri was quirky, fun, and I couldn’t get enough of her bubbly personality.

The setting was the real highlight of this book. I loved learning all about San Francisco. This was a cute murder mystery.

This was such a fun read. I enjoyed it so much from the very start to the very end. And what a great cover. So cute!