I was lucky enough to receive both an uncorrected electronic copy and an audio copy. I listened during the day and read at night. That was a combo I will do again. Though, it needs to be noted that chapters on the audio version were not exact to the e-book.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco's plot revolves around Capri and her co-workers, daughter, ex-husband, ex-inlaws, and the dark cloud that sits on Capri's family's shoulders thanks to Grandpa Sanzio who died in prison, convicted as the noted Overkill Bill serial killer. That bit of family history resurfaces when another woman is found to have died in the same manner - decades later.

As Capri and her daughter become targets of investigation, the relationships between workers and family develop that allow for the reader to engage with the characters that will surely pop up again in future installments. Easily read as a stand alone as all the background a reader needs is supplied at this time. The focus on the crime and how Capri thinks as she attempts to both solve the current murder and absolve her grandfather from his past conviction keeps the reader engaged with plenty of clues to pick up. Though I wasn't completely invested in the side characters, I was certainly tuned into solving the crime. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the areas of interest in and around San Francisco.


Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC and St. Martin's Press for the uncorrected ecopy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The title roped me in! This will be the perfect fall read! It will also be my first book by Michelle Chouinard, and it will be a great turn away from my usual romance reads.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Michelle Chouinard’s The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a captivating blend of mystery, family drama, and a chilling exploration of San Francisco’s dark history. This novel offers readers a unique tour through the city’s infamous landmarks while unraveling a suspenseful and intricate plot.

The story centers around Capri Sanzio, a woman who has turned her family’s notorious past into a career by leading serial killer tours in San Francisco. Capri’s grandfather, William “Overkill Bill” Sanzio, was a convicted serial killer, a legacy that has haunted her family for years. When a copycat killer emerges, mimicking Overkill Bill’s gruesome methods, Capri sees an opportunity to clear her grandfather’s name and make some much-needed money by writing a true-crime book and starting a podcast.

Chouinard excels in creating complex and relatable characters. Capri is a compelling protagonist, driven by a mix of desperation, curiosity, and a deep-seated need for justice. Her relationship with her daughter, Morgan, adds emotional depth to the narrative, highlighting themes of trust, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to protect their family. 

 San Francisco itself is almost a character in the novel, with its foggy streets, historic landmarks, and eclectic neighborhoods providing a rich and atmospheric backdrop. Chouinard’s vivid descriptions transport readers to the heart of the city, making them feel as if they are walking alongside Capri through Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and other iconic locations.

The novel deftly explores themes of family legacy, justice, and the search for truth. Chouinard’s writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with a knack for building tension with a touch of humor.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a must-read for fans of mystery and true crime. Chouinard’s ability to weave a compelling narrative with well-developed characters and a richly detailed setting makes this book a standout in the genre. It’s a story that not only entertains but also invites readers to ponder the complexities of justice and the impact of family history.

For those who enjoy a good mystery with a unique twist, this novel offers a thrilling and thought-provoking journey through the darker side of the city's history.

A fun cozy mystery set in LA that follows the granddaughter of a famous serial killer who does serial killer tours in San Francisco. She is set to figure out if her grandfather was innocent because other murders with the same MO are happening while he’s locked up and it’s either the original, or a copycat, and some of the murders could be pinned on her.

I think you’d enjoy it if you like the Finlay Donovan series. The main character had a funny inner monologue and the story kept my attention the entire time.

Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker who did great!

Thanks so much to MacMillan Audio, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for my ALC/ARC.

#MacAudio2024

When I went into this book, I was expecting more of a dark comedy along the lines of "Love Letters to a Serial Killer", but it's actually more of a cozy mystery. While I wasn't totally blown away by it, I enjoyed it and thought the plot was very creative. I also listened to an advance listener copy while reading the ARC which further enhanced the experience for me.

This book follows a middle-aged woman named Capri Sanzio, a tour guide specializing in tours about famous serial killers in San Francisco. Capri has a connection to serial killers, seeing as how her late grandfather was the infamous serial killer dubbed "Overkill Bill" due to the way he murdered his victims. Despite her father's unwillingness to discuss his father's alleged sordid past, Capri embraces the family name - not because she is proud of her grandfather's alleged crimes, but because she has often wondered whether he was the one who actually committed the crimes. The evidence was all suspect, and over the years, Capri has learned a thing or two about serial killers and how they are investigated.

Her knowledge may come in handy when her wealthy ex-mother-in-law suddenly announces that she will no longer pay for her granddaughter's (Capri's daughter) college tuition, putting Capri in a bit of a bind. She doesn't make enough money to also pay for tuition, so maybe it's time to start diving into her grandfather's case and document it through a podcast and accompanying Patreon page. But things take a sinister turn when a copycat killer emulating "Overkill Bill" emerges in the city, putting a spotlight on Capri and her family. How convenient that this started up right as she was about to start looking into her grandfather's case publicly. Now Capri and her daughter are suspects, and she needs to clear their names alongside her grandfather's before the killer strikes again.

One of the things that makes the book work so well is the characters. I loved Capri. She was strong, determined and no-nonsense. She wasn't at all surprised when the police honed in on her, but growing up with her grandfather's shadow looming over her, she knows a thing or two about serial killers, how crime investigations work, and her rights, which allows her to stay just ahead of the police. I also loved that she ran a tour company that took true crime fanatics around San Francisco and showed where some infamous murderers struck around the city. The rest of the cast is also enjoyable, but Capri really made the story.

While I'm typically not one for cozy mysteries (I like the grit, the shocks, and the thrills of a darker thriller), I ended up enjoying this one. Sure, it was lighter than I typically go for, but I enjoyed watching things come together. While I would have liked a little more on the crimes of "Overkill Bill," (that storyline really took a backseat to the current murders and Capri's journey to bring them down), I did enjoy how it all played out.

As far as the audiobook goes, I feel that Stephanie Németh-Parker did an excellent job of narrating the book. The novel is told from Capri's first-person perspective, and I thought she captured her voice and portrayed her perfectly.

While it isn't the dark and gritty crime thriller I typically go for, I still enjoyed this cozy mystery. Chouinard's writing is sharp and engaging, and her ability to weave together an exciting mystery with a compelling family drama makes this book all the more enjoyable. If you're interested in true crime or if serial killers intrigue you but you like your mysteries on the lighter side, this book is definitely for you.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story! I laughed a lot more than I expected and loved the mystery aspect. I have to say, the twist really shocked me! I was sure I knew who was behind it all, but I was very very wrong! I enjoyed the narration a lot which made this a very enjoyable book for me.

I really enjoyed this book. Capri was a great protagonist with a unique job as a tour guide in San Francisco and a fraught backstory as the granddaughter of a serial killer. I liked how she was smart and savvy in her investigation as she pieced together who was responsible for a copycat killings of local socialites.

Plus, the stakes were high since the new murders tie to her ex-in-laws. Her drive to uncover the truth was genuinely motivated as opposed to in some cozy mysteries where the plot and character choices become wildly unbeleivable.

I don't know if this will become a series but I'd definitely sign up for another tour or read more book by this author.!

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!

4.5 rounded up

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
The title and the premise of this book (San Francisco, daughter of a famous killer gives murder tours as a side hustle) sounded like it would be interesting and quirky.
But. I don't like Capri, she's way too scatterbrained to actually be doing ok with her life. She depends on her ex-in-laws to support her adult daughter. Her ex-husband is horrible and no sane person should still be making allowances for an ex like that.
The Serial Killer tours are limited to the odd chapter header and don't really add much to the plot.
Of course she ends up as one of the prime suspects for a murder that copycats the ones her father was accused of. I found her relationship with the investigating detective to be quite unrealistic, and the plot just descends into chaos for the last 1/3 of the book. The ending is so stock and the protagonist's behaviour is so dense that it's hard to read.
The first person narration style really didn't work for me either - I guess the author is going for train-of-thought but a lot of time Capri's weird extended similes are just off putting. There's a lot of odd language too - words like indignance and rathered (and the recurring use of meth-infested/meth-addled as inappropriate adjectives)? There are simple but glaring errors that should have been caught by a basic read through or spellcheck.
I'm generously giving it 2 out of 5 for the initial idea, and the fact that it did reach a conclusion, but I wouldn't recommend this book to a dedicated mystery reader.

Not the best thing I’ve read all year but still enjoyed it. I would definitely read more from this author.

Capri (I actually forgot her name by the time I was writing this review) is a divorced single mom who makes her living hosting serial killer tours in San Francisco. She is also the granddaughter of a accused serial killer Overkill Bill. Now years after his conviction and death, a copy cat is stirring up trouble and everyone is looking at Capri.

I enjoyed this book 80% of the book. It is a great cozy mystery type book with a amateur sleuth. I do feel like some parts of the plot was rush definitely when it came to the ending of the book and the conclusion of her grandpa.

I also now want more. Michelle gave us a almost romance and then took it away.

I would definitely read more by this author or if Capri’s storyline becomes a series.

Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery
APK: Ebook
Pages: ?? Not listed on Amazon
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone

My true crime junkie self enjoyed this book! The concept was very interesting — the grand daughter of a serial killer who gives serial killer tours of San Francisco for a living.

The tours sounded awesome! I’d totally go on one! And of course, let’s not forget a classic, who-dun-it murder mystery where she tries to figure out who is copy catting her grandfather’s murders while also convinced he was actually innocent.

This story had lots of interesting twists and turns and kept me super intrigued!

Thank you to the author/publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for review.

I really enjoyed this one and grabbed my interest from the start. It did seem to go on just a little too long and go too deep into financials and other things that seemed too much for the storyline. It was kind of an easy guess but the secondary storyline had me stumped which was fun to have two mysteries going on simultaneously. The characters were likeable and the story was mostly easy to follow. I will recommend this book when it comes out to those that like mystery novels.

Fun, unique and sprawling.

I love the way the story unfolds, it takes many unexpected twists as Capri finds her self the center of an investigation with parallels to the cold case of her convicted grandfather. She balances respecting her father, with wanting to follow her hutches all while trying to stay true to her personal values. It's emotional, and many characters have full arcs within the pages.

All of the characters are well developed with realistic traits, that play into the plot perfectly. I loved the way Capri re-built her life after divorce into something that she was passionate about. The mix of real life places and a fictional killer makes the read so much more believable. It could have been pages out of I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer.

The ending comes together so fast, and it caught me off guard at first, but the clues were there all along. Dirty secrets, black mail, and lies, this book spans all the dark corners no one wants public. I hope the ending is also hinting at a series. Capri would make a great amateur sleuth across a series of cold cases mixed with current cases.

You'll enjoy this read if you love cozy mysteries with dark aspects, but a fun city build where reality blends into fiction.

I absolutely loved this book! It was such an effortless read!! So engaging!! With many twists and turns that kept me guessing!! I loved the main character, her tours, and her detective work! My heart was pounding through most of it and even a few tears at the end. I hope to read more from this author someday!! I will be recommending this one to many friends!! Thank you for letting me read it!!!

MIchelle Chouinard's The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco has a catchy title which sucked me in to read it. Living in the Midwest, I have only been to San Francisco twice, but the author nails the foggy and ominous atmosphere of the city. I loved the viewpoint of a family member tainted by being related to a convicted murderer. Furthermore, the occupation of the granddaughter who owns a tour company focusing on the history of San Francisco allows the reader to experience the richness of the setting while not having to endure mindless sentences describing history and events. I enjoyed the minor romance with the police detective and look forward to further novels with Capri.

I was looking for an audio to listen to when I found this offering and thought, "why not?" It was worth listening too and I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't the best mystery I've ever read. A bit amateurish, with a lot of telling, and not much showing. I figured out the bad guy almost immediately. The narrator did a very good job though. I also read the ebook version as well. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Capri owns a tour guide business in San Francisco, that gives tours on true crime. She's connected to the topic after believing her grandfather was a Serial Killer he entire life. He was convicted and sent to jail but she still doesn't believe.

After 2 murders emulate her grandfather's killings, including her ex- mother-in-law, she dives in to find the copycat killer and prove her grandfather was truly an innocent man.

The beginning of the book was a little slow to get through but after hitting the 50% mark, I couldn't put it down. I would love to see a second book to see where Capri goes in both her professional and personal life.

Cozy-ish Mystery about a California tour company owner as she turns sleuth after her former mother-in-law's killed by someone copycatting her serial killer grandfather's crimes.

4/5 stars: This is Chouinard's stand-alone Cozy-ish Mystery and takes place in California and features a tour company owner who finds herself turning sleuth after her former mother-in-law and another woman are killed by someone copycatting her serial killer grandfather's crimes. With plenty of twists and turns, Chouinard has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. I really appreciate how Chouinard's plot unfolds and the way the investigation's resolved. I really liked the true crime elements featuring factual infamous serial killers from San Francisco and the included Killer Crime Tours “tourist facts” chapters. With wit and humor, Chouinard's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Capri's a great lady and I liked getting to know her colleagues, friends and family. Chouinard touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and the CWs. Overall, this is a great read and I would enjoy reading further adventures featuring Capri.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I flew through this book in a single day, so that should tell you how much I enjoyed it!

This book follows Capri, who is a San Francisco tour guide, showing tourists and locals alike the darker side of San Francisco - the serial killer side, to be exact. Granddaughter of the well known Overkill Bill, a serial killer from the 60s, Capri has never believed her grandfather was guilty of the murders pinned on him. When a woman is killed in a seemingly copycat fashion of her grandfather's murders, she's thrust back into the spotlight - as a suspect. Seeking to clear her own name, along with her grandfather's, Capri attempts to exonerate herself by solving the present-day killing, as well as her grandfather's alleged killings from 50+ years ago.

I really, really enjoyed this. I LOVED learning more about San Francisco and all the dark parts of its history, almost as much as I enjoyed the present-day mystery. The mystery was filled with twists and turns, and while I started to have my suspicions towards the middle, I wasn't able to fully piece together the mystery until the end, which in my book is a huge win. Overall, I really really enjoyed it! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

The title and cover alone made me want to read this book. It's a fun and entertaining murder mystery. Not so much a thriller, although there is a somewhat shocking reveal. I enjoyed the setting of San Francisco and the descriptions of the city such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc. Overall, a good whodunit murder mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.