After having tried a few ARCs similar to this one, I realize now that cozy murder mystery/amateur sleuth books are not for me. With that being said, if you do enjoy these types of books, this one is more unique than the others with the main character being the granddaughter of a famous serial killer. Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for a review!

This book was a fun read! Light and fast-paced, it would make a great beach or vacation read. I did find it frustrating when the narrator mispronounced some things, but overall I thought she was great. I would not put this in a curriculum but would recommend it to older students and especially staff who enjoy mysteries.

As someone who lives in San Francisco, I wanted to love this book. Having said that, I also had higher expectations going into it than someone who has no or little experience with the city. I will say that I enjoyed the SF facts and believe it was unique and appreciated. The story itself though dragged on for me and the writing itself was a bit of a distraction at times; over-explanation at some points, redundant use of some non-high frequency words (so it stood out), etc. There didn't seem to be a gradual, sensical build to the mystery's solution. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed in several ways, but was really hoping to love this SF-based book! Thank you for the opportunity to read this!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 Hearts

I loved this! I am so glad I was able to squeeze this one into the schedule. The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco was very smart, fun and easy to read. Our main point of view and teller of the story is Capri. She is a divorced mother of a graduate student daughter, Morgan. At the time of her divorce, she had to develop a way to support them and came up with running a tour company about serial killers in San Francisco. It's been successful.

As the grand-daughter of a famous serial killer (who died in prison claiming to be innocent), she has never learned much about him. When her ex-mother-in-law cuts off Morgan's school funding, there is a copy-cat murder, her lovely co-workers suggest she do a podcast and write a book, solving the old murder and the new.

Capri was so smart and her journalism background gave her skills to research and dig out the facts for us. She also has the fear of an innocent being arrested for something they didn't do, like her grandfather. Her co-workers are a found family of sorts and were great supporters. All the while, she and Morgan were also suspects. They are also dealing with their devastated ex-father-in-law and horrible ex-husband.

I won't say more for fear of spoiling the mystery and investigation. It had some tense moments. I recommend this read highly!

Narration:

I have listened to this narrator before. I really appreciated her clear and distinct voices for characters. The emotional tones added to the performance which was a pleasure. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.

“So, you’re just a person who lives in San Francisco. And yes, San Francisco homicide inspectors are allowed to date people who live in San Francisco. In fact, most of us do.” 😂

✨ Genre: Light Murder Mystery
✨ Steamy rating: Mild
✨ Profanity: Moderate

Capri is no stranger to murder. Her grandfather died in prison after being convicted for murdering prostitutes. He got the nickname “Overkill Bill” for the gruesome ways he murdered his victims. However, Capri doubts her grandpa killed anyone. After learning her mother-in-law is cutting off her daughter’s tuition, Capri decides to research the “Overkill Bill” murders and make a podcast for some extra cash. Then “Overkill Bill” copycat murders close to Capri start happening.

This was a quick and light “who did it?” Murder mystery. I liked Capri’s strong character and the close relationship she has with her daughter. Some aspects of the case seemed quite far fetched, but it was overall entertaining.

🎧 Method: Macmillan Audiobook
📖 2024 book count: 115

Triggers: Murder, infidelity, divorce, prostitutes, assault, and death of a family member

Thank you @macmillan.audio for an early copy. This one took a creative and humorous twist to murder mysteries.

I didn’t quite expect this much of an in-depth murder mystery with a cute/sweet cover such as this one. Following Capri’s journey to find the copycat killer had many pieces as well as the added bonus of finding out about the original serial killer and family. Especially… knowing that she has close ties to the original serial killer. This mystery was fun hearing about the streets of San Francisco and the tours that are available there too. It made me want to go back and take part in some of the tours such as Alcatraz. The host of characters who were aside our FMC were entertaining! From the beginning I was invested and throughly entertained. There was a small portion that I felt dragged on, but overall from beginning to end it was a fun mystery to crack. Did I figure out the suspect, yes I did, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment!

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!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. She was a delight to listen to and enhanced my audiobook listening experience. She was the perfect narrator for Capri. Her pacing was great, and she kept me engaged. She really brought the characters and the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I would like to start by standing on my soapbox and begging everyone to stop naming books “xx guide to xx.” I HATE it. And yet, I still drank this one up because I love a serial killer story. Capri was a smart amateur detective who didn’t put herself in risky situations. Her tour team need their own book s because I ate up the chapters with them talking through their theories. I didn’t love the reveal but enjoyed what happened afterward. The audiobook was done well and the narration was perfect.

A solid cozy mystery that I enjoyed with a fun cast of side characters. Meet Capri - who is attempting to solve two mysteries (one of which is from the past). Will she be able to posthumously exonerate her grandfather or will he remain guilty? There were many LOL moments I enjoyed while listening to this audiobook. Thank you to NETGALLEY and Macmillan audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 9/24
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I went into The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco thinking it would be a cozy mystery of sorts. I mean come on. Look at this awesome cover. Anyways, this was a step or two up from a cozy mystery, and it was a fun ride, just a little bit slow for me.
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This story started out pretty fast paced. I was pretty hooked to the story and really felt drawn in right form the start. The idea of the serial killer tours, the grandfather being a famous serial killer and then the murder was all just super intruiging. I needed to know what happened. side note, I really enjoyed the epistolary aspect with different snippets about serial killers in San Fran and notorious spots around the area.
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The characters are pretty straight forward. I liked the family drama aspect. I think that some of the drama was a bit drawn out - and that may be where the story lost a bit of steam, but overall, they were interesting, and they made the story. It's a pretty straight forward story, there are not too many crazy twists, and the big reveal isn't overly shocking but the ride you take to get to the end is worth it in my opinion.
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I listened to this one via audiobook. Stephanie Németh-Parker was a perfect narrator for this one. I felt like she was Capri and really brough her character to life for me. Highly recommend the audiobook.
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Overall, this was a fun read, i think cozy mystery fans will enjoy this one. A huge thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Michelle Chouinard for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars
Capri became interested in true crime when she discovered her grandfather was convicted as a serial killer nicknamed: Overkill Bill. Her father has always refused to talk about it, and so Capri always did research under the radar. However, when a copycat emerges and Capri is implicated, she decides to investigate both cases, not only to clear her name and her daughter’s (also under suspicion), but also her grandfather’s.

I was a big fan of Capri, a hardworking single mother who turned her passion of true crime into a way to support her and her daughter, Morgan, now grown, by hosting tours that featured the history of crime and serial killers around San Francisco.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco was superb! I was glued to the pages as Capri ferreted out clues and motivations both for the current murders and the past. I enjoyed her methodical approach to finding the killer and clearing her name. Capri ends up in danger by the end, and the mystery wraps up in a thrilling conclusion!

I also enjoyed the setting of San Francisco, mentions of film noir set in the city and some of its crime history! I hope we get more stories with Capri and Detective Pietro in the future! There are hints of a romance in the works and maybe they’ll work together solving crimes? *crosses fingers*

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to an audio version. I think you’d enjoy the story through either version. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration in the past and her excellent performance enhanced my experience! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

Thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio (#MacAudio) for the ALC!

Capri runs a tour company in San Francisco, giving serial killer tours. It’s something she knows a lot about, as Capri’s own grandfather was the convicted serial killer, “Overkill Bill”. Capri has always felt he was innocent, but never fully looked into things. Now that a copycat murder has popped up, Capri makes the leap to investigate her grandfather and the “Overkill Bill” cases and write a book on her findings. Since her former mother-in-law has cut off her daughter’s college tuition payments, the timing seems right and Capri is hoping the cash from the book will help her daughter as well as exonerate her grandfather. But before Capri gets too far into her research, another copycat murder occurs - this time, even closer to home.

This was such a fun cozy mystery! I personally got a kick out of the whole “serial killer tours” thing and found myself rooting for Capri early on. I guess with her family background and what she did for a living, amateur sleuthing was an easy transition for her to make! I really wasn't sure what to think about her grandfather, but when she finally put all the pieces together my jaw dropped. Without giving anything away, there was also another twist I didn’t see coming that I thought was SO well done!

If you enjoy cozy whodunnit mysteries (similar to Finlay Donovan), you will enjoy this story! I am looking forward to what the author comes out with next :)

”A Serial Killer’s Guide to San Francisco” released September 24, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great! The storyline was interesting and I liked the author’s writing style. I would definitely read more by this author and highly recommend this one to other mystery lovers.

This is my first read by Michelle Chouinard and I was drawn in right from the beginning. The story/format felt new and fresh compared to many other novels in this genre. I really liked Capri's character and how she navigated her job (a serial killer tour guide), her complex personal life and her amateur sleuthing. I was able to preview the audiobook and I feel Stephanie Németh-Parker was very engaging and easy to listen to. I will definitely look for her as a narrator in the future.

Thank you Net Galley, Michelle Chouinard, Stephanie Németh-Parker and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to preview this engaging story. The opinions shared are my own.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is expected to be released on Sept. 24, 2024.

audio-ARC from NetGalley.

3.5

This was a fun book overall but suffered from the "main character uses zero logic while investigating" problem.

Capri has grown up with the burden of being the granddaughter of notorious serial killer, Overkill Bill. It has ruined relationships and opportunities in her life more than once. But there's another problem: Her grandfather maintained his innocence until the day he died... and Capri believes him. When her wealthy ex in-laws cut off financial support for her daughter, Capri decides her best option to make ends meet is to finally write the true crime book to exonerate her grandfather. So when her ex mother in law is murdered by an Overkill Bill copycat, Capri finds herself at the top of the suspect list. To clear her grandpa's name, she'll have to clear her own first.

The synopsis of this story is interesting, and the actual investigations were equally fascinating. While I did feel that some of the relationships lacked believable depth, I also did appreciate the way the author portrayed the complexity of familial interactions.

What bothered me was how dumb Capri was about everything. At no point did I feel that she had no choice but to prove her own innocence. Her desperation to do so did not feel based in her reality and, more than once, seemed to interfere with the actual investigation that could have more quickly exonerated her. I might have been able to look past it if not for that "looking at the most important piece of evidence in the stupidest place gets you captured by the killer" thing. It happens in so many books and drops the rating at least half of a star every time I read it.

Ultimately, the investigation into the identity of the real Overkill Bill is what saved this book. It was what I was most invested in from the start, and every foray into the past had me hyper focused and desperate for the next clue.

I think this book will be great for fans of cozy mystery books who don't read super critically, but I tend to be too nitpicky for that.

Capri gives tours of San Francisco and the spots most known from serial killers and their sprees. One thing that intrigues tourists to come is her connection to “Overkill Bill”, local serial killer and the man she calls grandpa. Capri was convinced from a young age that he was innocent, but it didn’t matter to anyone else. The interest in the cast resurfaces when a murder happens by a potential copycat killer. The killer also comes for someone in Capri’s family, sparking the need to join in on the investigation. Can Capri solve this case and resolve the one from decades past?

This was a fun listen! The story piqued my interest right at the beginning and kept me hanging on to discover more pieces of evidence along with Capri. I liked the premise of serial killer tour and wish they played into that more. It could have been cool for there to be links to all killers along that tour. But let me stop before someone takes my idea 😂™️ Overall this was an enjoyable cozy mystery and I really wasn’t able to predict where it would go!

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard offers a captivating twist on the cozy mystery genre. With its intriguing premise, the story draws you in from the start, featuring relatable characters that feel both fresh and familiar. The vibrant backdrop of San Francisco adds an extra layer of charm, enhancing the overall experience. Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration brings the characters to life, making the plot even more engaging. (I received an advance copy and all opinions are my own.) This book is a delightful blend of suspense and humor, perfect for mystery lovers looking for something uniquely entertaining!

From the very start, I was deeply engaged. I was forming my own guesses as to who committed the crimes and why and was still shocked by the ending. Many chapters ended on cliff hangers that left me no choice but to keep reading. Absolutely unputdownable!!!!

The Serial Killer Guide To San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard. This is a suspenseful murder mystery with family drama.

Pacing was ok, but the entire book felt a bit dragged out. Could have shortened it up a bit for a better read. New case vs old case are they connected? Storylines are wrapped up nicely. Narrator made the darker themed book quite fun to listen to.

I was provided with a review copy of the audiobook and this is my honest opinion. I gave this book 3.5 stars. (If I am unable to leave partial stars, I will always round up.)

Thank you NetGalley and Michelle Chouinard.