Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco kept my attention from the very beginning. I love cozy mysteries, especially one that makes me giggle while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was a fun mystery but there were quite a few plot holes that were hard to get past. It was still a fun read, just hard to seem believable.

This was a really great mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I really enjoyed Capri looking into her Grandfathers case and how that unfolded with trying to figure out who was doing the copycat killings. The excerpts of parts of the tours she does was really interesting and the interaction with her and the main detective was great. She just kept inserting herself in the case and looking for clues and then just taking it to the police like I already checked this out but here it is for you guys to look at now. All in all, this was a really fun mystery and a fast read.

Thanks to Minotaur and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I lived in the bay area for eight years so this story really resonated with the descriptions of San Francisco and Alcatraz. I like the pacing of this book in the light hearted Capri amidst the dark storyline of serial killers and unraveling the truth. I liked this author‘s steady pacing. Capri gives tours about a serial killer and a copycat killer shows up and capri finds herself in the middle of this case. The storyline here has a few twists and turns but is very straightforward to follow.

I love the cover art And would definitely read more from this author.

I thought this was such an interesting plot! Most books you read about serial killers are dark and disturbing, but this found a way to be light and enjoyable. There were some parts I struggled with...I felt like sometimes the descriptions about Sylvia's business dealings or the talk about technology got a little too complicated for me to follow. It definitely could have been pared down a little. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book, and I was kept guessing the whole time. I did not get the killer correct in either case, which is rare! I do wish her name was not Capri! That really took me out of the story at times.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I never thought I would come across a light, fun serial killer story. I found this to be a lot different than the usual true crime stories I read and watch. Capri was such a funny characters and the premise of the serial killer tours was genius. I feel like the plot in this book definitely could've been expanded, but I enjoyed the premise and the quirky characters. San Fran was the perfect backdrop for this story and it was fun having the city as almost another character.

The chill of a San Francisco summer can be deadly. No one knows this better than Capri Sanzio, who makes her living giving serial killer tours of the city. Capri has been interested in the topic since she was a kid, when she discovered she’s the granddaughter of serial killer William ‘Overkill Bill’ Sanzio. She’s always believed in his innocence, though she's never taken the leap to fully dive into the case.
But now an Overkill Bill copycat has struck in San Francisco. And Capri’s former mother-in-law, Sylvia, just cut off Capri’s daughter’s tuition payments. Needing cash, Capri wonders if this is the time to exonerate her grandfather. The case is back in the news and the police will be looking to understand the past to catch a present-day killer. Capri could finally uncover the truth about Overkill Bill—documenting the process with a podcast and a book—and hopefully earn some money.
Before Capri can get very far, the cops discover the copycat’s latest victim: Sylvia. Capri soon finds herself at the heart of the police’s investigation for an entirely different reason. She and her daughter are prime suspects.

Title and cover sucked me right into this one. I needed a fun read to break up the typical murder mysteries that I read. While this technically is a little murder mystery, it was just the genre I needed. It's quirky, it's fun; I found myself laughing out loud at some parts. On the flip side, it does seem to drag a bit. I wish it were a bit shorter and/or paced faster. I'm excited to see what this author has in store in the future. Thanks NetGalley & publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed this one immensely, even though I don't often read or consume true crime/mystery media. Capri is a charming character and easy to like. Since I also live in the Bay Area, but not in San Francisco proper, I enjoy the tours around San Francisco famous tourist spots, and the little digs towards the SF vieux riche vs Silicon Valley noveau riche.

- Overall I loved the concept of this book. I was hooked in the beginning but found myself questioning which mystery was the main story of the novel. I thought that there would be more detail in the serial killers that were in San Fran, but it only had a few snippets of that sprinkled throughout the book.
- Quickly wrapped up in the last 3 chapters or so, with a dramatic flare that I appreciated because it did lack a little bit of lustre throughout.

3.5/5 stars only because I feel like it had a lot more potential to be more.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press & Minotaur Books for the ARC

This book was slow for me to get into but I really enjoyed the pacing, the depth of the characters and how the author wove the story together!

The first in a brand new series.
I'll admit I do enjoy an amateur detective with a touch of romance ( or hint of) added to the mystery it makes for a lovely cosy read.

I enjoyed getting to know Capri- granddaughter of the Serial killer Overkill Bill, and getting to understand her background.
After her ex mother in law is murdered in the same way, her grandfather supposedly killed his victims, and when she's named as one of the suspects, she starts researching and investigating. She has always believed he was innocent. The mystery unfolds from there....

I look forward to reading more of the main characters from this book and seeing where their stories go.

Capri Sanzio has been interested in serial killers since she was a kid and found out her grandfather was in prison as a condemned serial killer. When she divorced her wealthy husband, she needed a way to make a living, and came up with the idea of giving serial killer tours of San Francisco. She’s always thought her grandfather was innocent, but at the time of the murders, DNA and other tools used these days weren’t available. Her father would never talk about it, presumably because he was so ashamed of being associated with evil.

When her ex-mother-in-law Sylvia abruptly stops paying for Capri’s daughter’s schooling, Capri decides to increase her income by doing a podcast and writing a book about her infamous grandfather, hopefully exonerating him. When a wealthy society woman ends up dead using the same MO as her grandfather, Overkill Bill, there is renewed interest in the case as a copycat since William Sanzio is dead. When Sylvia ends up killed also with the same MO, police focus on Capri and her daughter. Determined to clear her name and ensure her daughter is safe, Capri works with police but also does quite a lot of sleuthing on her own.

This is a fun mystery as we solve the case along with Capri. Also, I love San Francisco, and even if much of this highlights the seedy underworld of bad guys, it’s also an ode to a great city.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which releases September 24, 2024.

When I first read the synopsis of this one, I was really excited because San Francisco is one of my favorite cities to visit! This book had a great atmosphere in SF and I enjoyed the main character, but overall, I felt like this book was very greasy to know where things were headed. That wasn’t a dealbreaker for me though as it sort of felt like a cozy mystery for me, which I enjoy. Overall, an entertaining read, but not one of my top reads.

As the granddaughter of convicted serial killer Overkill Bill, Capri always believed her grandfather was innocent. When two women are killed, including her ex-mother-in-law, Sylvia, questions of a copycat killer haunt Capri and her family.

I was drawn to the description and San Francisco setting of this book. While the setting was fantastic and I loved the historical facts about the city, the actual murder mystery plot was too predictable for me and I was hoping for something a little bit different.

Majority of the book follows Capri as she tries to solve Sylvia’s murder, traveling through San Francisco and working for her tour company, it was enjoyable getting into the true-crime aspect, albeit a tad slow and repetitive at times. I’m recommending this book to fans of crime procedural and investigation themes, with a little side of family secrets. Overall a good read with an average outcome.

as st Martin’s press remain silent on the blatant racism allegations they have been under for months now and as myself a woman of color, I will not review and promote this book until accountability is taken, even if I nicely received an advanced copy. books are political no matter what has been said

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy of the novel.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is definitely the book for the true crime lovers. From family secrets to becoming too involved in a murder investigation, this novel explores one woman’s love for true crime and how family secrets can wreak havoc on a family for generations.

This is a fun new mystery set in a great city. The serial killer angle added some extra pizzazz to what would otherwise be a standard, but entertaining, mystery. The characters were likable and the storyline interesting. I look forward to the next in the series!

I loved this book, it was such a unique idea that worked seamlessly.
Capri is a serial killer tour guide in San Francisco. Her grandfather was a convicted killer so this fits perfectly. Her ex mother in law is murdered using the same MO as her grandfather. So naturally Capri has to investigate and find the killer for her family’s sake.

1 Star

Capri is the granddaughter of one of San Francisco’s most violent serial killers: Overkill Bill. While this has created some awkward moments in her life, it’s also what inspired her passion for true crime and her business giving serial killer tours in the city she loves. Still, Capri is convinced her grandpa is the killer everyone thinks he is. When a copycat killer comes up, it gives Capri the perfect opportunity to re-examine her grandfather’s case. That is until her mother-in-law is the next victim. Now, police are looking at Capri and her family as persons of interest. Capri is determined to figure out who the new Overkill Bill is before she’s prosecuted, and along the way figure out who the original Overkill Bill really was.

My main reason for giving this 1 Star is because it’s boring. All Capri does is drive around a lot and read files. We visited the same three locations a million times and it was starting to make me feel crazy. I was glad to have some reprieves when Capri would go scout new tour stop locations, but even then all she was thinking about was this murder. And the murder was not all that interesting. The recent victims were old rich ladies who hosted luncheons. And maybe it’s because I’m only 25 and not rich, but I didn’t understand half the things that Capri unveiled about her mother-in-law.

The murder mystery was mundane and I was desperate for a “b” plot to help break up the monotony. I guess technically there’s the “b” plot of unearthing the original Overkill Bill and then a little romance thrown in, too, but both of these were put on the back burner the entire novel. Then, during the last 20-ish pages once the “a” plot was wrapped up we see these other loose ends get dealt with too. The side characters didn’t even add anything outside the “a” plot, since they seemed to only exist to serve Capri. Her daughter and ex-husband were practically non-existent the entire time, and the co-workers/friends are overly eager to solve any problem Capri faces almost instantly.

The writing style also veered on the side of ridiculous, and not in a charming or campy way. Anytime a simile was used it was the most outlandish thing imaginable. Instead of something simple like, “The scents of basil, garlic, and oregano swirled around us,” the author takes it an unnecessary step further by adding, “like a heavenly olfactory hot tub.” WTf is an olfactory hot tub? Another example, instead of saying, “The circulatory of the logic has alway itched at me,” we add an unnecessary simile, “like a neverending case of poison oak.” As if the reader needs a mental image to being itchy. Last example, even though I could go on forever, it’s not just, “Thoughts whizzed and buzzed around my head,” we have the simile, “like a cloud of meth-infested bees.” The bees alone aren’t good enough, they need to be high on meth?! This book is in severe need of an editor to cut most, if not all, of these out.

I have so many other gripes, like Capri still being confused about the killer even after the person straight up says it and overused diet jokes that teeter on offensive, but I’ll leave it at that. Given this amazing title and intriguing premise, I was severely let down.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and engaging murder mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Capri's grandfather is the notorious Overkill Bill, but for as long as she's known about her grandfather's crimes, she has been convinced that he was innocent. Years after his death, a woman is brutally murdered using Overkill Bill's M.O. And then another, this time, Capri's monster-in-law. With the focus of the murders on her and her daughter, Capri knows it's up to her to find the killer and clear her grandfather's name.

As I said, this is a fun read. While the murders are dark, Capri is a ray of light and makes the story quite engaging. The cast of supporting characters kept the story fresh, and of course, the city of San Francisco is its own character here. Really recommend this to anyone who loves a good murder mystery that, while its subject matter is dark, manages to keep the whole thing light and refreshing.