This was such a fun listen! I will be recommending this book to everyone I know! This was such a well rounded read. From lovable characters, to believable plot, to twists and unexpected surprises.

I am a Bay Area/Northern California native so it was fun knowing where everything was geographically. Really makes me want to drive to SF & go on a murder tour! (Do they even exist?? If not they should).

I really loved the characters. They truly made this story for me. Capri was such an amazing FMC. I loved that instead of letting her family’s history bring her down or define her she made a career out of it that she truly seemed to enjoy.

Can we talk about the fact that we get not one, but two mysteries to solve in this book! We not only get to explore the current deaths, but we also get to investigate the past. This added such a fun element to the story because there were two different crimes to look at as each piece of information and evidence came out.

To me, the ending of solving the older murder felt very rushed and kind of came out of nowhere. I definitely want to reread this one knowing the outcome and see if I spot new things.

All in all, this is to me a cozy mystery that I really enjoyed. It’s the perfect book to listen to while exploring in a coat or the perfect read for being under blankets with a warm drink!

I thought this audiobook was ok. The title was interesting and premise was great, but the execution kind of fell flat. There were quite a few parts that were overly techy and had a lot of details that didn’t feel necessary. It made the book hard to follow at times. I did like the narrator I think she did a great job.

2.5 ⭐️s rounded down

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio. All opinions expressed above are my own.

✌🏼Two for Friday ✌🏼
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I’m hopelessly behind on book reviews as usual so today I will be doing mini reviews for two books!
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Dearest is out about a new mom who is struggling raising her newborn on her own. When her mother arrives things start to go crazy and she wonders if her mothers is trying to take her baby. This was a 5 star for me and it out in September. I killed this in a day, and I loved wondering if Flora was losing it or if there were darker forces at play. This one is such a blast and I can’t recommend it enough!
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Serial Killers Guide to San Francisco was a 3 star read for me. The premise was awesome it followed the grand daughter of a serial killer who claims he’s innocent. She decides to look into the case to earn money for her daughter’s school. Then her ex mother in law dies in a similar way to her grandfathers murder MO and she tries to solve it. It felt like 2 books in one and I wish it stuck with the first premise. I didn’t care much for the mother in laws murder case and thought it was ridiculous how she “solved” who was actually the serial killer in under a minute of looking. This one has potential but fell short ultimately.
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QOTD- what are the last two books you read ?!

I found this book extremely fun. I think it falls under “cozy mystery” but I feel like there should be a new sub genre: fun mystery, or entertaining mystery? Amusing mystery? Something like that. It has a similar feel to Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies. Where yes, people are being un-alived by someone, but it doesn’t have a gruesome feel, and instead of being gripped by fear, you’re just kind of chuckling along reading it.

The pace of this book is consistently fast. There’s actually two separate mysteries to be solved, so that keeps things interesting, as well. And I appreciated how the author had the main character work through her deductions, or explain how she was doing things like trying to unlock a secret panel. It just made it seem like the author really knew what she was talking about, or did her research. I loved learning about San Francisco, too. I’d love to take a Serial Killer tour out there! (Or just one in general.)

Just for keeping me so glued to this mystery, I’m rounding my rating up. If you’re looking for a fun mystery, to read or listen to, you should pick this one up!

Note on the narration: I primarily listened to this one because I had more time that way, and I thought the narrator did a great job.

4.5/5 rounded up

I really liked this book. I thought it was quirky and funny and it reminded me of the humor and tone of the Finlay Donovan books. I'm hopeful this is the beginning of a series that I'll definitely be reading. Loved this.

4.25 stars

The blurb and book description for this really caught my attention. I was excited when I got the approval notification because this story seemed intense yet overall pretty upbeat - which could be a weird combo for a mystery/thriller book.

This book ended up being more of a ~cozy mystery~ vibe and not thriller but I still enjoyed it. The characters were likable and the plot really tied together well. I like that there was resolve for both of the mystery storylines and I really did not see the ending coming! I also really appreciated the true San Francisco facts that were sprinkled in and the detail to history that the author gave throughout the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cozy book and would recommend to anyone wanting a light mystery read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

Overall, this was a good book with an interesting concept, entertaining writing style, and narrator that kept me engaged. In my experience, for audiobooks the narrator makes or breaks the book - this was a fun book with an engaging narrator who took the source material and made it even more fun.

I was really looking forward to this book and I liked it at first! But it lost all of its momentum and slowed allll the way down. Honestly, I was bored for over half of the book. The twist in the story wasn't worth it, and the title feels misleading. The book is well written, but it just wasn't for me. I would describe it as the perfect cozy fall mystery, but I personally prefer more thrilling and exciting plots.

Many thanks to Michelle Chouinard, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date September 24, 2024.

Capri Sanzio grew up knowing her grandfather was a serial killer. She always believed in his innocence. As a result, she became fascinated with true crime, and started giving serial killer tours. When a recent murder seems like it has copied her grandfather's killer signature, Capri starts to investigate.
This was a wonderful cozy mystery that kept me guessing. I loved all of the true crime content, and I hope this the first book in series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. I really enjoyed Stephanie Nemeth-Parkers narration of the audiobook. I highly recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries and true crime.

I feel like this could be a great book but it felt over descriptive. I liked the beginning and got bored half way through the book.

Not exactly a thriller but enough intrigue to keep me listening. I loved all the tidbits of trivia about the San Francisco area. You won’t see the final twist coming! I enjoyed it.
The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker is clear, well paced and easy to follow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook ARC.

This novel starts of introduces us to Capri Sanzio, a quirky and engaging character who created her own serial killer tours budiness in San Francisco. Her fascination with the serial Killers started early…. Very early…. especially after she found out, by being teased in school, that she’s the granddaughter of the infamous William “Overkill Bill” Sanzio. Though Capri has always believed in his innocence, she never really dug into his case—until now, when a copycat killer starts mimicking her grandfather’s crimes.

Just as this happens, Capri’s former mother-in-law cuts off her daughter’s tuition payments, pushing Capri to finally consider clearing her grandfather’s name. She plans to document the journey through a podcast and book, hoping to make some money along the way. But things quickly spiral out of control when the copycat’s latest victim turns out to be Capri’s former mother-in-law, making Capri and her daughter the prime suspects.

The book kicks off with a lot of charm and humor—Capri’s antics are genuinely funny, and the first third of the story is a delight. However, as the plot unfolds, the pacing starts to drag, and the later twists become a bit predictable.

Overall, it’s a fun and entertaining read, perfect for anyone who enjoys a mix of humor and mystery. While the pacing could be tighter, Capri’s character and the intriguing premise make it worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio—I listened to the audiobook.

I enjoyed this book. It was a mystery but I loved how it was set up like a guidebook. I was hooked at the beginning to figure out the truth of the identity of the serial killer.

Capri Sanzo is the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer dubbed Overkill Bill. She has always been convinced of his innocence. It has, however, left her with an interest in serial killers and she now does guided tours of serial killer sights in San Francisco. She is also a divorcee with a daughter, Morgan, in university. One day, she gets a call from a very upset Morgan. Capri’s former mother-in-law, Sylvia, had been paying for her schooling but just called to tell her she would no longer be doing so. Capri is furious and calls Sylvia who refuses to change her mind. Not long after, Sylvia is found dead, murdered in what is clearly a copycat of the Overkill Bill killings and Capri and Morgan are at the top of the suspect list. Capri decides it’s up to her to identify the real killer to protect them both.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard is a fun, twisty cozy mystery with an interesting premise and a very likeable female protagonist. The story did bog down a bit in the middle but, overall, it was a very compelling and entertaining read with a satisfying ending. This is the first book I have read by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. I listened to the audiobook of this novel narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker who does an excellent job.

I received an audiobook of this novel from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review

The premise for this one sounded like so much fun, but it just did not work for me unfortunately regarding the execution. The pacing was so slow, there was no tension or suspense and a lot of repetition that made me tune out entirely. I have to DNF this one.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how the two story lines intersect. Capri, the granddaughter of a serial killer Investigates her mother-in-law's murder and her convicted grandfather's murder. The characters are all well thought out and feel like real people you could meet. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

Welcome to a mystery where your guide is an actual serial killer tour guide, she's now trying to figure out why her MIL has been murdered. Some of this novel seemed original and enjoyable like her job as a tour guide, kind of wish there was a little bit more of her doing the tours. Then there are parts that seem to follow the typical cozy mystery playbook like the reason for the killing. Love the cover art which is what drew me to grab this one. Most readers will find the ending satisfying and look out for the next by the author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

It’s spooky/thriller season!!

The granddaughter of an alleged serial killer is trying to solve a copy cat murder? This book was incredible and easy to follow. I loved that nothing was as it seemed with this story.

My only complaint was the middle did seem a little long and drawn out, but overall I would recommend this amazing book! Plus it’s fun to get some serial killer facts in there too. 🔪❤️

thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book

Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Chouinard & MacMillan Audio for the audio galley of The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, books with "guide to" in the title are usually losers for me, but this one was an exception. Despite the plot, I found it to be a quick, upbeat & fun read.

I really enjoyed Capri's character & how devoted she was to solving the new murders that have been copied to appear like the murders of her late grandfather Overkill Bill who was arrested & convicted of killing multiple women many years back by bashing them in the head & then slitting their throats after they were already dead. Additionally, her grandfather always maintained his innocence until the day he died & something in Capri believed him, so she is also going back through his old police files to try and figure out if really had been wrongfully convicted all those years ago. Capri was just a fabulous & likable character. I was DYING for the romance with the detective to hit a little sooner than LITERALLY the final words of the book. Maybe we can make this a series & get more on that?

This was just a light & refreshing murder mystery that I enjoyed & will definitely recommend.

I made it to 50% of this audiobook and I can't go on. The book seems overly wordy to me and overly descriptive - I don't need to know what kind of pen she had tapping on her desk, I don't need to know the wood that the desk is made of, I don't need to know what kind of bag she was carrying etc etc etc.

The narrator had a problem with contractions! Every time she said "couldn't" or "wouldn't" etc she didn't pronounce it properly. I'm sorry but I'm an English major and it made me cringe.

I think there is a fairly good story here and maybe the physical book would be better.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.