Capri Sanzio makes her living giving tours of San Francisco’s most notorious serial killers. She knows this topic better than most, as her own grandfather was the infamous serial killer known as “Overkill Bill” – although Capri has always believed her grandfather was innocent. Now a copycat killer has emerged, and Capri thinks it might be time to cash in on her family history with a podcast or book. But after tragedy strikes too close to home, Capri and her daughter find themselves at the top of the suspect list.

Take a serial killer thriller but make it cozy and also an homage to the City by the Bay, and you have The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco. The charming atmosphere of San Francisco was spot on, with famous landmarks and little bits of culture sprinkled throughout. Capri is such an appealing character, smart, sassy, and determined, and her true crime knowledge makes her a logical amateur detective. The mystery is complex enough to be engaging, with a big reveal that surprised me but also made perfect sense. There’s no indication that this will be a series, but Michelle if you’re listening, I would love to read more about Capri and company in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

The Serial Killer Guide To San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard read like a love letter to the city and had me yearning for another visit! The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco in quick, rapid-fire thoughts.

-I instantly loved main character Capri from the get-go. She reminded me a lot of Tess from Tamara Berry's By The Book Mysteries series in the best of ways!
-even still, this book took a bit for the plot to grow on me, but then it was love and not simply infatuation!
-two mysteries for the price of one, plus a bonus bit of romance on the side!
-I wished the names of the two detectives, besides Homicide Inspector Dan Petito, were less stereotypical
-I screamed, "That's who it is" at one reveal, happy and delighted by the outcome
-audiobook narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker added to the fun Chouinard created, nailing the voices for each of the characters

Not to compare to Finlay Donovan, but this mystery is similar, but with more substance and less reality suspension needed!

I desperately want this to be made into a series, so if you're listening publishing Gods, can you make that happen!? (Although I don't know where the series would go - but I'd happily take a romance as a spin off!)

Have you ever been to San Francisco? Like me, are you equally obsessed with speakeasies?

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This was a really enjoyable read! I’d describe this as a popcorn mystery. Capri Sanzio is a serial killer tour guide in San Francisco, who better for the job than the granddaughter of a serial killer, right? Though, she’s always believed in his innocence. Now, there’s a copycat in San Francisco, and Capri’s family is back in the spotlight, and now her and her daughter are the prime suspects.

This was fun mystery to read. Capri’s career is super interesting, I am one of those people that would attend those tours. I actually did a Jack the Ripper one in London! I enjoyed how the original kills and the copycat killer played into and off of each other. The whole plot was very well thought out and very well executed. There were no plot holes, and nothing that left me wondering what happened.

Is this your typical amateur sleuth book? Kind of. But the connection that Capri had to it all, and the urgency that she had to make sure the keep her daughter safe and not be a suspect is what made this whole book. Also, the secrets and reveals towards the end were something that I never saw coming!

Overall an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend!

I found the storyline of this novel to be quite captivating. The protagonist, Capri, is on a quest to clear both her and her daughter's names after being implicated in a murder that mirrors the notorious pattern of killings for which her grandfather was imprisoned—killings Capri has always believed he did not commit.

While I noticed some elements felt repetitive, the narrative managed to hold my attention throughout. Each time a tense moment arose, I was drawn right back into the story. The conclusion tied everything together nicely, although it felt somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, I was left feeling satisfied with the resolution.

Thank you Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THE SERIAL KILLER GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO by Michelle Chouinard was light, immersive fun. The main character is engaging and I enjoyed her perspectives as she followed clues to leading to solving a new murder and a cold case murder -- at risk to her own life, relationships, and sanity. Yes, I saw plot points coming, but it was such a breezy and enjoyable ride, I enjoyed being right and also the times when I was dead wrong. A quick and lovely read set in a city I have enjoyed in real life -- and now in the fiction universe as well. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

3.75 stars

This was a pretty quick popcorn mystery/thriller. I enjoyed it. Nothing spectacular about it, but 2 murders to solve in this one; very cold case and more recent murder. Will she prove her grandfather isn't a serial killer or will she just prove that he is? Who killed her ex's mom? I really enjoyed how things started to fit together. I'm always trying to figure out the ah-ha moment and I feel like I did a good job here. I didn't guess it all, but I got some of it and that's good enough for me!

The main reason why I wanted to read this book (and it did not disappoint) is because I was hoping that San Francisco would be as much a character in it as any humans. I used to live in the Bay Area for and this book made me miss it so much. It's honestly like a free tour of San Francisco in itself.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Happy Pub Day to The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco! Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

I had some mixed feelings about this book, but ultimately enjoyed it. I really liked the MC and thought her backstory was very interesting. I found the overarching mystery very interesting and the end definitely surprised me. And I actually liked the romance subplot quite a bit.

But other than Capri, the main character, none of the characters were well developed or had really any personality. They were quirky and fun, but lacked depth. The story was good, but the business parts were boring and made it drag a bit. I think I would have enjoyed it more with a bit of editing.

Like I said, I ended up enjoying it but it wasn’t a home run for me. However if you enjoy cozy mysteries with an eccentric cast of characters, this book might work well for you!

3.5/5

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco title had me picking up advance copy. While the title is creative the story is basically you cozy mystery with cute, fun and likable characters. A story that moves quickly with moments of humor and a little shock.
Everyone has a reason for being in the book and there are not throw away characters.
It not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Michelle Chouinard book.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is not your average murder mystery! This was such an enjoyable thriller.

Capri was a great main character. She’s a hardworking, dedicated single mom, who might just be too smart for her own good. I loved her job and it was such a unique aspect to base a book around. I especially enjoyed the glimpses into the city of San Francisco it gave us. I’ve been to San Francisco several times and I feel like one will never be able to truly discover everything the city has to offer, but these little insider secrets made for great details.
The lengths Capri went to to clear her name and seek justice for her mother in law was incredible and I was heavily invested as she found hidden clues and problem solved relentlessly to try and find the killer and their motives. The reveal I actually did not see coming and culminated in a resolution that I felt was well done.
Her grandfather was also a unique storyline I really enjoyed. The question of whether an innocent man spent his life in prison for crimes he didn’t commit is such a heavy one and the mystery finally being solved (again, thanks to Capri and her persistence) was very satisfying.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco took several unique premises and made one great mystery. I really enjoyed this read and hope there may be more in the future, especially with the way the book ended for Capri.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard was a fun murder mystery.
I was glued to the pages as Capri worked out the mystery. Her character and personality was great. Really enjoyed her.
This was a really fun and entertaining mystery with a likable main character and a great setting.
A humorous and unique story.
The writing was done so well here. Michelle Chouinard kept me glued to the pages.
I will definitely be picking up her next titles.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The granddaughter of serial killer finds herself in the crosshairs of a police investigation when a copycat killer starts working the San Francisco streets. Sometimes a title is all it takes to draw one in and this was true for me. New to me author, Michelle Chouinard married a love for the city of San Francisco with a clever murder mystery and I was happy to be along for the literary tour.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco was a blend of women’s fiction and murder mystery. The protagonist is a middle-aged divorcee who runs a boutique tour company taking her clients on a fun and unique tour of San Francisco by way of killer views and hot spots. Naturally, many of her clients are as intrigued by her status as the granddaughter of Overkill Bill as they are the locations associated with famous killers. It puts bread on the table and helps her daughter through college. In her spare time, she researches her granddad’s case and anything she can learn about serial killers because Capri doesn’t believe William Sanzio was guilty and wants to prove it someday in spite of her dad telling her to leave it alone.

Then, the copycat killings start including her ex-mother in law and old money San Fran socialite, cold as ice as long as Capri knew her.

From the fun occasional chapter interludes to share a ‘tour stop presentation’ and the tone of the writing to the fully-fledged and entertaining cast of characters including Capri (never call her Capricorn- hippy mother, nuff said), this was an entertaining murder mystery to read. It was cozy in tone and especially since Capri and her coworkers and the longsuffering homicide detective working the case all give her the lead. One of her coworkers is a really good tech guy (think hacker) and Capri herself is a trained journalist and researcher.

It’s not far-fetched that she can one-up the police effort- especially since she had a habit of pocketing evidence or sharing convos with some witnesses, and checking it out before turning it over to the police. This isn’t because she thinks the law officers are incompetent or corrupt, but because she has a real fear of them looking no further than her or her daughter who both have motive, means, and opportunity and she’s convinced that being innocent won’t help her any more than it did her granddad. As a reader, I could see her fear got in her way of seeing the true picture of how the detectives were actually working the case properly and by the book so everything would hold up in court afterwards.

I enjoyed that San Francisco and a bit of its culture and the characters were so fully developed and added a lot of layer to the solid mystery plot. I had no idea who was guilty until the pieces fell into place and it was fun to be along as Capri investigated.

All in all, this was a wonderful surprise and lived up to that original interest caused by the title. Definitely recommend to the mystery lovers.

Despite being about two serial killers’ exploits, The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is actually a very pleasant cozy mystery. Its setting in San Francisco is used almost like another main character so it is part travelogue too.

Capri owns a small business running tours featuring famous movie sites and serial killer haunts around San Francisco. Capri has always been interested in serial killers because her grandfather, William, died in prison years ago after being convicted of murdering three prostitutes in the 1950s. He was infamous for shooting, stabbing and slitting the throats of each of his victims earning him the nickname Overkill Bill in the press. However, he always insisted he was innocent.

Capri is divorced and her daughter, Morgan, is a grad student. Capri’s former mother-in-law, Sylvia, was paying for Morgan’s education until she cut her off one morning without explanation. A day later, Sylvia is dead, killed in the same manner as Overkill Bill’s victims. The police zero in on both Capri and Morgan as the most likely perpetrators. However, another recent murder with the same MO doesn’t quite fit their theory. Capri feels obligated to investigate both the spate of copycat murders along with the original Overkill Bill deaths as well.

Despite calling this book a cozy mystery earlier, The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is also a good challenge for armchair detectives. As the book goes on, many of the suspects are eliminated by Capri so time is of the essence to beat her to the two solutions. There are plenty of red herrings and dead ends waiting to trip you up. However, the clues are definitely there as well making this book a good fair play mystery. I highly recommend this great combination of two mystery sub genres. 5 stars! Hopefully, this will be the start of a series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.

San Francisco—the land of fog, overpriced coffee, and… murder tours? Enter Capri Sanzio, granddaughter of serial killer “Overkill Bill” and your guide to all things macabre. Capri, bless her dark and quirky heart, runs serial killer tours around the city, which honestly feels like the most San Francisco thing ever. I mean, what better way to pay homage to your family history than to turn it into a tourist attraction? But of course, when a new Overkill Bill copycat emerges, Capri’s life starts to spiral faster than you can say “unsolved murder.”

Capri’s investigation into the truth of her grandfather's past is part crime thriller, part podcast pitch, and all delightful chaos. Just when things are getting good, though, Sylvia—the ex-mother-in-law—turns up as the copycat’s latest victim. Capri's now suspect #1, along with her daughter, and suddenly the family legacy is a lot less fun when you’re a prime suspect.

The story is funny, suspenseful, and more than a little ridiculous—in the best way possible. Capri’s podcast idea to exonerate her grandfather? Gold. Her decision-making skills? Questionable, but relatable.

To be honest—Capri’s life choices gave me second-hand anxiety, and I’m still not over the fact that Sylvia had the audacity to get murdered right after cutting off tuition payments. Talk about inconvenient timing. But hey, that’s what makes San Francisco’s killer charm so… killer.

Capri’s voice is sharp, sassy, and, let’s be real, way too calm for someone with a handsome investigator breathing down her neck. But the pacing is solid, the twists hit just right, and the city itself feels like a moody, slightly murderous character all its own. If you’re looking for a true crime novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers a fast-paced, unputdownable story, this book is for you.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco opens the way you’d expect any good murder mystery to open: with a murder. In this case, it’s a socialite named Katherine Harper, who is killed in one of the most gruesome ways imaginable on a foggy night in San Francisco.

It’s not her murder we’re immediately interested in, though. The novel by Michelle Chouinard combines three murder mysteries in one, wrapping it all up in some complex family drama.

Overall, this is a fun, quick read that makes you want to keep turning the pages, and it definitely has a few surprises.

**Full Review is available on eulaliemagazine.com**
https://eulaliemagazine.com/2024/09/the-serial-killer-guide-to-san-francisco-is-a-fun-atmospheric-thriller-book-review/

This was such a fun and clever mystery! I loved the concept of this book. The plot was so creative and different from any other mystery I’ve ever read. I was hooked on the story from the very beginning and could not put it down, excited to find out what happened next. Capri was a great main character, and I really liked that she was an older MC and a mom. I found her very relatable (other than being the granddaughter of a serial killer!), and I would love to see this book become a series. This is a perfect cozy mystery to snuggle up with this fall!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A nice little cozy mystery style book. Capri the FMC has a grandfather who was a serial killer and after her divorce she started up a tour guide business based on serial killers of San Francisco.
I found Capri to be a nice change of pace as an older woman with a grown daughter. Other than her, I struggled to connect with any of the main characters.
As it was, I had figured out part of the mystery very early on, which made the slow pace very difficult for me to stay enthusiastic about.
Over all not a bad read at all. A solid 3/5 stars from me.
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

First off, thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This had been on my TBR for awhile and when I saw I was approved I was thrilled.

Let me just start off by saying this book was a delight from start to finish. I was hooked from the first couple of chapters and every chance I got to take a break during work to sneak a few more chapters, I did.

What do you get when a true crime tour guide who is the granddaughter of a notorious, convicted serial killer finds herself enmeshed in the middle of an investigation into a copycat killer? A copycat killer who just so happened to murder her detested mother in law? An intrepid amateur detective hell bent on clearing her name and her daughter’s and in the process reconciling a haunting family legacy.

Capri was a breath of fresh air and I was rooting for her the entire time. This book is more than just a mystery but also delves into the complicated nature of family relationships, legacy, and the meaning of justice.

This was a quick, light read, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

This is a fun book. I love the connection to Capri history. Having a character with a family member who is a known serial killer, who works in tours dealing with murder and death I think is quite fun. I enjoyed how Capri was able to do research into her family’s past along with figuring out what really happened to her mother-in-law. This book is just well written and a treat to read. Everything comes together nicely and the journey getting there is one worth taking.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Despite the title and the plot centering on the main character set on clearing her convicted serial killer grandfather's name, this is really more a quirky cozy mystery than a thriller. It was initially fast paced and drew me in quickly, but then got mired down in a long and complex explanation of fraud schemes and business failures that became boring.

The narrative is in first person point of view, Capri Sanzio, who leads tours of famous murder sites and crimes in San Francisco. She is fixated on proving that her paternal grandfather, William (Overkill Bill) Sanzio, did not commit the 3 murders that landed him in prison where he eventually died. Apparently, though, her family can't escape their violent destiny, and new questions arise when her ex-husband's mother, Sylvia Clement, is murdered. And the MO of the killing is a copycat of her grandfather's.

As I said, though occasionally light and humorous, there is way too much going on in the character's head and my interest waned as her whole amateur sleuthing became more convoluted. I also didn't appreciate the insta romance with the cop nor her business friends -- all stereotypical with, of course, the techy guy who can hack and crack.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was OK with the lines she had to work with even though the character got on my nerves. She could certainly turn on the drama when necessary. This production could have benefitted from having a male voice cast as well.

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martins Publishing for the ARC of 'The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco' in exchange for an honest review.
Always a comfort to plunge into a good solid whodunit, loaded up with clues, red herrings and plenty of suspects to consider. And this book even throws in a bonus whodunit as well, a long ago closed case with a personal connection to our main character sleuth.
And by no means your ordinary sleuth either. Capri Sanzio, a hard working single mom to college student Morgan,, conducts serial killer tours in San Francisco, a city whose chilly fogs and colorful history make a perfect backdrop. One downside - Capri must cope with her customers asking about her late grandfather, William 'Overkill Bill' Sanzio a convicted serial killer who died in jail still proclaiming his innocence.
While still hoping to start a podcast where she'll re-investigate and hopefully exonerate her grandfather, some dire events overcome Capri. After Capri's divorce from her cheating ex husband, Sylvia,, her imperious wealthy former mother-in-law continued to fund Morgan's tuition. But now Syvia, for reasons of her own, cut off the tuition payments. Then shortly after her contentious phone calls with Capri and Morgan, she's found brutally murdered, the second victim of a killer determined to copy 'Overkill Bill's exact methods. This naturally puts Capri and her daughter at the very top of the lead police detective's suspect list......so Capri launches her own amateur but surprisingly effective hunt for the copycat killer. .
Pure fun to read all the way, Lots of San Fran atmosphere, and entertaining byplay around Capri's relentless snooping that causes both amusement and exasperation in the detective who's officially in charge. And the expected, nail-biting killer-sleuth showdown is worthy of a Hitchcock movie. What more could you ask for in a mystery novel here the Golden Gate bridge looms nearby?