4.5/5 ⭐️
Capri runs tours that highlight true crime scenes across San Francisco. She also happens to be the granddaughter of a notorious serial killer, Overkill Bill. When two women are murdered (one of them her ex-mother-in-law) in the style of Overkill Bill, Capri finds herself drawn in to clear her name, and maybe even clear her grandfather's name along the way.

I really enjoyed this one! I thought the premise, characters, and execution were all great. I was surprised the copycat element was not as much of a focus as the synopsis made it seem, but it worked ultimately with the plot. I definitely was surprised by the whodunit too! I really hope there is another one as I could definitely see this becoming a series. A quick, fun mystery I'd definitely recommend!

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

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a cozy mystery in the vein of the Finlay Donovan series. I really liked the premise - Capri is the granddaughter of famed serial killer Overkill Bill, who killed multiple women and spent the rest of his life in prison.

In the present there's a copycat killer in SF and Capri's ex-mother-in-law is the latest victim. Capri is instantly brought into the case --- or instantly inserts herself in the case -- not just because it's family, but because she fancies herself an expert on Overkill Bill. And she also thinks he was wrongfully convicted.

The core story was fun, but I did find the pace to be a bit slow. Sometimes I think it's just a case of managing expectations going in and as a huge thriller reader I often go in expecting fast pace. I did get a little lost with the secondary characters, but I liked the core group.

We got a good hit of SF history, serial killers and criminals of the area and movies that used SF as a backdrop (calling all Hitchcock fans). It was a light read and if cozy's are your thing this is worth checking out.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco was an entertaining book that kept me guessing. The audiobook was well done, and I would recommend listening to it.

This was a fun, almost cozy mystery. The setting of San Francisco is a wonderful and integral part of the story. Capri owns a company that gives city tours about murders that took place there. When someone is murdered in the same manner as those for which her grandfather was convicted, she gets involved. There is also a hint of romance, which leads me to believe this may become a series. The book was an entertaining diversion from real life. 3.5/5

The star of this book is Capri, who not only gives tours about serial killers around San Francisco, but is also the granddaughter of a supposed serial killer. So when murders start in San Francisco, murders that are copies of her grandfather’s crimes, Capri is immediately drawn in. This becomes especially true when Capri’s former mother-in-law is the next victim, and Capri and her daughter are the prime suspects.

This was a fun read. The mystery was a good one, with some well-executed twists, especially the dual big reveals at the end. I really enjoyed the little sprinklings of the tours throughout the story, as well as the mystery from the past with Capri’s grandfather. There is even a little hint of romance as well. I would recommend this book.

Capri Sanzio makes a living giving serial killer tours of San Francisco, while dodging questions about her grandfather, serial killer William 'Overkill Bill'. She’s always thought he was innocent even if she’s never truly investigated the case. That is until there’s a copycat killer and her former mother-in-law, Sylvia, is their latest victim.

We liked following Capri as she investigated and uncovered some scandalous secrets, as well as the truth about both cases. There was so much family drama and twists and turns that it really seemed like a tv show and it kept us turning the pages.

We didn’t see the ending coming but it was a very satisfying conclusion. We would definitely recommended this book to anyone who likes to listen to true crime podcasts or documentaries.

Read if you like:
▪️True Crime
▪️Murder Mystery
▪️Family drama
▪️Amateur investigating

Can a San Francisco tour guide clear her deceased grandfather’s name after being convicted of being a serial killer, while trying to keep herself and daughter out of jail for the copycat killings years later.?
That’s the premise for new book The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco.
This is a cozy mystery set in San Francisco in present day. It’s fun but really nothing new. I felt it was a little slow and I guessed the killer quickly. That being said I would read another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review. 3⭐️

This young woman makes her living by turning her grandfather's crimes into a tourist attraction.....not creepy at all. But now there is a copycat or her grandfather was not who she thought he was. Either way, the police have made her their #1 suspect. This tour guide artist must now become an investigator before she becomes a spot on the tour. This was a fun read, the main character will transform her energies into a law enforcement focus on murder and find her skills just might be worth more than a $20 tour.

This was a mediocre true crime centered murder mystery. What ruined the experience for me is the constant, painfully dry info dumps. Most of the time it felt like the MC was a mouthpiece to teach readers even the most basic true crime facts. I ended up among several chapters to get to the end.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

Welcome to San Francisco, a city with killer charm.

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 is the granddaughter of serial killer William ‘Overkill Bill’ Sanzio. She has always believed in his innocence, though she has 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 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.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is Chouinard's debut novel. The premise of this one was really fun, but the execution isn’t great. I think Capri as the main character was just okay and the mystery itself in this book was nothing special. It was still interesting reading about the plot and the investigation into the old murder case with the added mystery of the new murders and who killed them. But the best part was learning about San Francisco's history and learning about the darker side of the city's history, which I would of not known about without reading this book. Now all I wanna do is travel San Francisco and see all the spots/landmarks this book took place in. Chouinard also does a great job describing the scenery and making you feel as if you are there with Capri travelling to the landmarks. This one was not bad for a debut, and I cannot wait to see what other books the author comes out with.

This was such a fun read - there were so many aspects to the plot that were unexpected and throughly enjoyed. What I loved most about this story is that at its core, the main characters want to find the truth and honor the victims by doing it. Whether it’s the crimes that happened in history that the tours are about, to her grandfathers alleged victims, to the new bodies piling up, Capri wants to hunt down the truth about what happened and make sure everybody knows. I truly loved the way the book wove the past and current crimes together, and how the entire cast of characters played a role in this story. I really enjoyed it and the audiobook and can’t wait to see what comes next!

This was a very different type of mystery than what I was expecting. But it pleasantly surprised me. I was kept on my toes the whole time, and curious about what was happening, and who was really behind the crimes. There’s no way I would’ve guessed the ending, it threw me for a loop (like really, I’m almost wondering if there are hidden clues that I may have missed?). I did have some trouble keeping my attention to the book at times. But, all in all, it was a quick, easy, interesting mystery.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from the publisher and author through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

3.25 stars

Capri Sanzio is the granddaughter of notorious Overkill Bill, a San Francisco serial killer. Capri has grown up in the shadows of his murders, but now runs a successful tour company in San Francisco specializing in crime, murder, killers. But now Capri’s ex-mother-in-law has turned up dead, murdered in the style of Overkill Bill. The police suspect her or her daughter Morgan, as right before the murder. Her ex-mother-in-law told her they were cutting off Morgan‘s college tuition.

But Capri knows her and her daughter are innocent and she set for to find out as much as she can about who killed her ex mother-in-law.

Michelle Chouinard is a debut novelist and this book is a pretty good start. The mystery is good and it did seem like it was setting it up for a series.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books through Netgalley for a copy of this book.

Capri Sanzio has a unique view of San Francisco, and she enjoys sharing it with tourists and residents through her tours of the city. She opened her tour business after her divorce, and she’s done well. Her serial killer tour is particularly popular, as it should be. She has special expertise on serial killers, as her grandfather was convicted and imprisoned as William “Overkill Bill” Sanzio.

Capri had studied journalism in school, but she put that aside to raise her daughter. Now her daughter is in graduate school, studying forensic psychology, when her grandmother called her up to let her know she was not going to keep paying for her school. Capri was furious at her former mother-in-law Sylvia for pulling the rug out from under her daughter like that. Her husband’s family was old school money, which Sylvia had always held over Capri’s head while she was married, and now she’s suddenly cutting off her daughter’s education?

Capri decides that now is the time to put together that book on her grandfather she’d always wanted to do. If she can put together some new tours, add blog posts, do a podcast, and write a book about Overkill Bill, she should be able to earn enough money to keep her daughter in school until she gets her degree. Especially when there is a new murder, echoing the style of Overkill Bill.

The original women targeted by the serial killer were prostitutes, and this new victim is not. She was married to a tech millionaire and doing everything she could to breakthrough to the old money elite. She was getting involved with charity events and trying to impress all the right people. Her death was a surprise to her husband, to the police, and to the city. Once again, Overkill Bill is front and center on everyone’s minds.

But when there is a second murder, Capri’s research gets even more personal, as it’s Sylvia who is the latest victim of the copycat. Now Capri is investigating her former mother-in-law as well as her grandfather, and what she finds shocks her. But there is one person out there who knows the truth already, or at least part of it. The killer knows who Capri is and what she’s investigating. Will she be able to find the answers before the copycat runs out of patience and makes her their third victim? Or will she figure out a way to save herself and her beloved city from another murderer?

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is an interesting perspective on a serial killer story. The intelligent charm of Capri and the people who work with her on the tour guides adds some humor and heart to what is a dark story of deceit, fraud, and old money. The mystery is complex and seductive, and well paced through this novel.

I listened to The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco on audio, with narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker spinning a convincing story in the voice of Capri. I thought she did an excellent job of bring Capri and her investigation to life.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but there is a lot going on in this story. I actually wanted to slow some things down and get more details from time to time. I thought this could have been broken up into two books. I would have loved to read the transcripts of Capri’s podcast and maybe some of her blog posts. I would have loved to go on more of the tours, to be with her and her team as they bring the city to life. These details would have slowed down the mystery solving, but I think they would have added rich details. But the book is what it is, and I still really loved listening to it. Capri is a good character, and I hope there are more books about her adventures in my future.

Egalleys for The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco were provided by Minotaur Books and a copy of the audiobook was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

'The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco' is a solid and fun read. It is a cozy mystery and I like the blend of solving two related mysteries together. However, it can get very descriptive and a little draggy with a lot of pop culture references which I personally do not like and I feel like it takes me out of the story a bit. There are certain phrases that I felt that didn't belong.

It does pick up closer to the end and I did end up enjoying the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press//Minotaur books for an advanced copy.

3.5 stars!
The initial blurb of this book really drew me in — Capri runs a serial killer tour guide company in San Francisco, while being the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer AND there is a seemingly copy cat killer (of her grandfather) — SUCH A GOOD PREMISE!

Ultimately, the execution just wasn’t there for me. I don’t mind a slower mystery story, but the pacing was a little messy in my opinion.

I hope this is the first of a series! I really enjoyed the aspect behind the main character starting her business, and all the family drama that built the plot.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for early access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions. I binge listened to The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco this week, and it is a fun cozy mystery set in, obviously, SF. The main character runs serial killer tours of the city. Who knew there were that many related sites in SF? Not me!
Capri, the tour operator, became interested in serial killers when she discovered her grandfather was imprisoned as the infamous serial killer “Overkill Bill” Sanzo. While she has always believed in his innocence, she hasn't ever researched it too much, not wanting to disturb the family of his victims. Almost everyone associated with the case has now passed away - and now a copycat killer has struck, and Capri is thrust into the scene.
If you're looking for a nice read/listen that is just twisty enough to keep the reader engaged and suspecting red herrings, this fun book may be right up your alley. It is available everywhere, as it just published on Tuesday.

This is a little more gritty than a cozy mystery which I loved. I loved the tour of San Francisco landmarks and the true crime stories that were part of Capri’s tours.. Capri as an investigator to clear her name and her daughter’s name kept this book moving perfectly. The Overkill Bill case was the one that really had my head spinning!

The concept of this was so fun! I love the idea of present and past mysteries blending together.

The pacing of this was a bit on the slower side for me personally, but I also didn't realize how much of a cozy mystery this was going to be. So while I didn't love it, I think cozy mystery readers will enjoy it!