This book was really interesting.
It was slow to start, but then i got invested!
I liked how there were two mysteries to solve instead of the usual one.
I also didn't really expect the first killer, so that was interesting.
I also really liked that the main character was the supposed granddaughter of a serial killer. It made for an interesting POV. I also liked how she gave tours regarding serial killers and crimes.
The romcom lover in me also appreciated the smidgen of romance at the end!
Overall, it was an interesting book, and I would definitely recommend it!

Capri Sanzio runs a tour company specializing in San Francisco's dark history of serial killers, a topic close to home as she's the granddaughter of convicted killer "Overkill Bill." When a copycat murderer emerges and her daughter's grad school funding is cut off, Capri decides to investigate her grandfather's case, hoping to turn it into a profitable true crime podcast and/or book deal. But before she gets far, police discover another copycat victim—and suddenly Capri and her daughter become prime suspects in the copycat killings.

I flew through this book! I kept forgetting I was reading an e-book and would repeatedly go to Libby to start the audiobook version (which I don't have)—a testament to how engaging the story was. I think it would be fantastic as an audiobook with the right narrator!

This felt like a faster-paced cozy mystery with sequel potential (one is already coming later this year). It was refreshing to encounter a cozy mystery set in a large city with an entrepreneurial female main character in her 50s. While I enjoyed Capri's interactions with her coworkers Ryan and Heather, they seemed primarily there to move the plot along and provide explanations for the reader's benefit. I would have appreciated more depth to these supporting characters, though perhaps we'll get that in future installments.

I'd recommend this book for fans of Simone St. James's "The Book of Cold Cases" (though The Serial Killer Guide isn't as spooky) and Benjamin Stevenson's "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone." It's perfect for readers who enjoy true crime elements mixed with mystery and family secrets.

Big thanks to Michelle Chouinard, Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press), and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I liked this book. The combination of the murders from the past and the murders from the present made for a fun read! The plot was a little slow, but the likable characters kept me engaged in the story to the end.

This was a fun read! I liked the mystery and the true crime feel to it. It’s a pretty quick read that kept me interested to see how the mystery would play out.

3.75 rounded up!! This was a quick and fun crime story, and while I don't want to call it "cozy," it was definitely more light-hearted than your typical mystery. As an amateur sleuth, Capri was very likable, and her progression throughout the story was realistic and well-paced. The stakes felt appropriate and held my interest consistently from start to finish!

While not as funny, I'd recommend this to fans of the Finlay Donovan series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. We follow a woman who is the granddaughter of a famous serial killer. She gives serial killer tours of the city and she is trying to reexamine her grandpa's case because she thinks he is innocent.

This book sounded right up my alley but it just didn't keep my attention. I felt so bored throughout and nothing was really going on. The pacing was just off as well.

I hope others love this one.

Engaging murder mystery! Capri is a smart and strong woman and I appreciate that she is not a young 20 something main character. I really enjoyed her sidekicks, Ryan and Heather and look forward to more of their presenting future books.

This one had me really intrigued until I got to the reveal and the resolution. I will say that I had a feeling about it, but was hoping that I"d be wrong. The ending felt very California-y if that makes any sense.

What a great first book in a series! I was hooked from the first chapter and did not want to put it down until I ended. While I did end up having to take breaks, they were few and far between.

I enjoyed that the FMC, Capri, is in her 40s, a mother, and is just trying to do her best in life and provide for her kid. She's a flawed character, doesn't always follow the 'rules' in order to protect her loved ones, is determined, intelligent, and refuses to just trust the system to protect her daughter when she becomes a suspect for her grandmother's murder.

The mystery was well-developed and I love how it paralleled the true crime tours that Capri does, and the little stories that would be shared between chapters.

I found that the clues planted led to a conclusion that made sense and didn't come out of nowhere, so I felt like I was able to consider all of the clues alongside Capri and try to figure out whodunnit with her.

I also liked the hint of romance we got and hope to see this included in future books.

I'll definitely be reading more books in this series!

A Serial Killers Guide to San Francisco

Hmmm idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ I feel pretty meh about this book. I mean it took me 3 tries to get thru the whole thing. But upon looking at reviews, it appears I might be in the minority here so that makes me feel better! I know this book has an audience, it’s just not me and that’s okay!

Here’s where I got lost a little bit. The whole book is about a serial killer and San Fran it’s right in the title. But I felt like we didn’t get much in the way of either. After finding out capri had a murder tour business, I was expecting her to visit all these places famous murders happened in the city & relate it to the current murders. And surprisingly, that’s not what happened. Her murder tour barely came up in the plot. 🤷🏻‍♀️ another thing that just isn’t for me is something I’m gonna call “business mystery” for lack of a better term. I tend to check out when there’s a business mystery or a tech company with shady characters get thrown into the mix. That’s more of a personal preference tho so you might like that!

Overall, I thought it was fine. I personally just wanted more out of the gimmick of the title! More fun! More murder! More mystery! 🤷🏻‍♀️

This book was a fun time! I found it funny and extremely entertaining. I love a mystery that keeps me laughing and this one was it. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

Fun and campy, this novel was thoroughly entertaining. Some parts got a little preposterous, but overall it was an enjoyable mystery with a new and different twist!

The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing, especially with the mystery surrounding Sylvia’s murder. The mix of Capri's personal stakes and the larger investigation makes for a compelling story, and the family dynamics—especially her complicated relationship with Sylvia—add emotional weight to the suspense.

While the mystery is intriguing and the pace is fast, the writing occasionally dips into melodrama, with some of the twists feeling a bit over-the-top or predictable. However, the overall suspense, the strong central character, and the compelling hook of the podcast and true crime elements make this a solid and entertaining read for fans of mystery and psychological thrillers.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Michelle Chouinard delivers an utterly delightful and irresistibly addictive cozy mystery with The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco. This novel strikes a perfect balance between lighthearted charm and just the right amount of dark intrigue, making it a must-read for mystery lovers of all stripes. The plot is expertly crafted—clever, fast-paced, and brimming with suspense—ensuring that readers are both entertained and utterly invested in uncovering the truth. Chouinard’s writing is as sharp as it is playful, drawing readers in with a whip-smart narrative that never takes itself too seriously but still delivers an exhilarating dose of tension.

One of the novel’s most spectacular achievements is its evocative sense of place. San Francisco isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a living, breathing presence that pulses with energy and intrigue. Chouinard paints the city with such vivid, atmospheric detail that you can almost feel the fog rolling in and hear the hum of life on the streets. Adding to this immersive experience is the fantastic characterization, particularly with the protagonist, Capri. She is the epitome of a well-drawn, authentic character—witty, determined, and endlessly compelling. Her voice is so refreshingly real that readers will feel like they’ve made a new best friend by the book’s end.

Simply put, The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is an absolute joy to read. It’s the perfect afternoon escape, whisking you away from the daily grind and plunging you into a mystery that’s equal parts fun and gripping. Chouinard’s storytelling is nothing short of masterful, offering a tale that is breezy yet bold, cozy yet compelling. Whether you’re a fan of lighter mysteries or a hardened thriller enthusiast looking for something refreshingly different, this book will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.

Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur books, & Michelle Chouinard for an eARC copy of this book!

This book started off really strong, but, honestly, it lost some momentum as it went on. At first, I liked how the story was told from Capri's point of view, where we got to see every single thought she had while trying to solve the mystery. But eventually, I got tired of being stuck in her head and just wanted the story to move on. A big part of that was how much the book focused on Sylvia's business world. I get that it was important, but it felt like it took up a bit too much time. I think more of that time could’ve been spent showing the police actually doing something, or maybe giving more attention to the characters' relationships.

Providing a review in exchange for NetGalley ARC.

I have always been a fan of murder mysteries and true crime stories / documentaries. Something about them is just so interesting. What leads people to commit crimes, to commit murder? I have always found it fascinating to be honest. This was definitely an enjoyable and suspenseful murder mystery. I have enjoyed when characters like Capri are related to criminals, it makes their history and background interesting and I always enjoy when they try to prove they aren't like that family member or use that history to solve some sort of mystery which was what happened in this book.

I have always wanted to visit the city of San Francisco itself. I enjoyed learning about the darker side of the city's history and it truly makes you feel like you are in the city.

I also found it interesting how Capri was solving two mysteries at once. I could never. I feel like my brain would be all over the place and I would be mixing up the facts and evidence of both mysteries.

A quick and fun read for sure!

Capri Sanzio, the granddaughter of San Francisco's own notorious Overkill Bill, now runs a tour company, giving true crime enthusiasts an insider's look at the darker side of the city. While she's always believed in her grandfather's innocence, she's never put in the time to devote to his case -- until now. A copycat killer has appeared; and just as her ex-MIL cut off her daughter's grad school tuition, she's found as one of the victims. To clear her name (and earn some much-needed cash), Capri races the clock to solve the crime and potential prove her grandfather's innocence.

I went into this expecting a MUCH different book. Cozy mystery with a true crime bent, yes. The city's Old Money crowd committing fraud and insider-trading through dating apps...not so much. I'm not sure how a book pitched as a serial killer's granddaughter doing serial killer tours of the city could be so boring. I really hope to enjoy this one but it was a massive disappointment.

This was a cute cozy mystery. It definitely had some suspense, but I enjoyed it a lot and found it easy to relax with and read as opposed to being on edge for majority of the time. A good read!

Thanks to Minotaur and Netgalley for the arc

This was a really interesting premise! The granddaughter of a serial killer becomes a serial killer tour guide in the city of San Francisco. When her mother-in-law is murdered in the same fashion of her serial killer grandfather our heroine resolves to solve the murder.

A fun murder mystery where San Francisco shined as much as the characters.

3.5 stars