I really loved the FMC. It started off really well but the mystery got bogged down in the middle and it felt like I was trying to walk through setting concrete.

Loved the beginning and the details of San Francisco. The Premise of this book sounded so intriguing, Capri is a woman who gives tours throughout San Francisco about Serial Killers. She has unique insight since she is the granddaughter of Overkill Bill, a man actually convicted of killing several women. San Francisco is a great setting, and at the start it was interesting hearing the places Capri would go and feeling some atmosphere. Yet, when two more murders happen, and one is her former mother-in-law, Sylvia who she did not get along with trouble looms. There was much to work with here. Capri is a little quirky and funny. Yet, for a Mystery this one dragged for me. The elements that needed to be looked at to move the book along, were not until the very end. The book gets too dragged out in Insider Trader Terminology, finding Passcodes, Explaining Sylvia’s work in certain businesses. This took up way too much of the book. I stopped caring about the who-done-it part. Michelle Chouinard has potential, and think I would try another of her books, but this one needed a pace that pulled you in and focused on the exciting elements of the mystery. Unfortunately, that did not happen for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Chouinard, Minotaur Books for granting me a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

This was a super fun, fast-paced mystery! It has some laugh out loud moments and I did not guess the ending. The author did a great job keeping the suspense up until the very end.

Thanks for the opportunity to read. I’ll be recommending this one for my book clubs!

This was a fun mystery. I didn't guess the ending, the pacing was fast, and the protagonist was funny and smart. I could see this becoming a series.

The Serial Killef Guide to San Francisco is a fun light murder mystery, that’s actually two mysteries in one (past and present, with a quirky and determined female protagonist in Capri, who wastes no time getting to the bottom of things, even as she deals with family dramas along the way.

I enjoyed this story, though it did start to lag a bit in the middle- not for too terribly long, thankfully, moving to a decently satisfying conclusion. A nice beach read with a light dose of suspense and a side of humor.

Thank you Michelle Chouinard, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco captured my attention from the first to the last page and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Capri leads tours of serial killers in San Francisco and is quite successful at it. ( I would buy a ticket).

Capri got interested in true crime when at a young age she learned that her grandfather was a serial killer in the area and referred to as Overkill Bill.

When 2 copycat murder victims are found ( one is her mother in law) Capri has no choice but to investigate both murders.

Twists and turns , a delightful group of characters with San Francisco almost outshining Capri had me turning the pages as fast as I could to discover who the murderer was.

I would love to meet up with Capri again in another book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for a refreshing and delightful read.

I so enjoyed this fast-paced journey of a woman set on finding justice for her family. This gave me slight A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder vibes. I NEEDED this. You also need this. Just go ahead and read it. 😉

Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read this early!!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of The Serial Killer Guide To San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard. I have been a fan of the Detective Jo Fournier Series, so I knew this book would be a good, well-written read. Capri is an engaging and likable main character. Her grandfather was a convicted serial killer and when women start dying again, she decides to investigate. As often happens in these cozy mysteries, she goes overboard in her investigations and does outrageous things. No wonder she comes under suspicion! If you’re looking for a fun book filled with interesting trivia about San Francisco with a complex, satisfying mystery, this is the book for you! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Loved the premise (one of my fave thriller sub-genres is when the relative of a serial killer is forced into an investigation by a copycat killing), but there was way too much business-y paperwork discussion and not enough action for my taste (though the ending was quite exciting and very atmospheric!)

I would definitely read future books by Chouinard and thought this was overall an enjoyable read with a great protagonist (who I'd love to see in another book!), despite some slow bits.

3.5 stars

This cozy-ish mystery has a fantastic setting and setup, and while the execution fizzles a bit, there's enough intrigue to make this worth the read.

The m.c. is named Capri, and her ex-husband was born into San Francisco society. His mother - Capri's former mother-in-law - is at the heart of an investigation that also centers both Capri and her daughter, Morgan. Now, having had some odd but very much interior connections to SF society for a number of years, I can say that it's a nuanced little culture, and while there are elements of that coming through here (including a strange, frequent referencing of deb life), this background makes for an absolutely bizarre oversight in this novel. If these folks are so dialed into SF and, specifically, to SF society, why does the protagonist, whom readers are supposed to find more relatable because she married into this world instead of being born into it, insist on constantly using outdated terminology for sex workers? One can play a drinking game and find themselves quite addled based on the frequent appearance of the wrong word (and another option that may be even worse once or twice). This may seem like a small detail, but for a writer who's going to acknowledge the vegan and gluten free meal options likely to be found at some of these events, it's an important one. This choice - especially the repetition of it - made me question whether the writer has any knowledge of this particular enclave as well and completely distracted me every time it appeared. Again, I suspect most readers won't be as aware or put off by this, but I could not stand it.

Readers should come to this because they are interested in a relatively light and uncomplicated cozy that ties up loose ends a bit cleanly. If they are looking for relatable characters or other elements of authenticity, this may not be the best option.

THIS BOOK WAS OKAY IT MET MY EXPECATIONS BUT IT WAS NOTHING MIND BLOWING I WOULD READ SOMTHING ELSE BY THIS AUTHOR IN THE FUTURE FOR SURE.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher for the early copy

I apparently need to read more murder Mysteries, because despite guessing the killer very early on I loved reading as Capri found the evidence. I loved that there were also two serial killers being investigated by her at the same time. Trying to prove the innocence of her grandfather and discover the real killer, while also trying to prove her and her daughter's innocence.

Capri is also a tour guide in San Francisco that does tours about serial killers, so you also learn little fun facts on locations and other serial killers throughout.

Super fun read, and I definitely recommend!

Capri is a former journalist whose grandfather was a convicted serial killer, she questions his actual guilt and has for a large part of her life. She leads tourist tours in San Francisco focusing on local murders. She meets Inspector Dan Petito, a San Francisco homicide investigator after her former mother-in-law is murdered in a way that is eerily similar to her grandfather's alleged killing patterns. After another copycat murder springs up, Capri goes all Jessica Fletcher and uses her investigative skills to try to find out just why her mother-in-law was murdered, and also tries to keep herself and her family from being unjustly sent to jail.

Well-written and very engaging, twisty murder mystery where everyone is a suspect until they're not. It's more of a mystery within a mystery, with an interesting hook in the fmc as the granddaughter of a serial killer working to exonerate her grandfather. Feels like the start of a series. I always enjoy when the fmc is a bit older than the norm (here, she's a 49-year-old divorced mom of a 20-something daughter). I did get a little bogged down in the details, especially in the middle of the book, but I think that's mainly because I don't normally read murder mysteries so I'm out-of-step with their rhythm. Heavy on San Francisco history, especially murder history, which was fitting given the title and story. Given the level of detail it was easy to feel immersed in the San Francisco setting and the murder lore. Of course there's a handsome police investigator but a budding romantic relationship isn't a huge focus; he's introduced but is only tangentially present for the majority of the story (another reason why this feels like the start of a series). New-to-me author but I would definitely read her again. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this story, which publishes 9-24-24.

Capri Sanzio, a San Francisco tour guide specializing in serial killers. She is the granddaughter of infamous convict 'Overkill Bill' Sanzio. Always believing in his innocence, she’s never fully investigated the case. When a copycat killer surfaces, Capri sees an opportunity to clear her grandfather’s name, potentially earning money through a podcast and book. The case is back in the news and the police will be looking to understand the past to catch a present-day killer.

I really enjoyed the book. Special thank to NetGalley for and ARC!

Expected publication is September 24, 2024

I enjoyed this one but not as much as I was hoping to. This novel took me awhile to read as I wasn’t hooked into the story right away and I found my thoughts drifting while reading. I like mysteries that hook me in and keep me hooked and unfortunately this one didn’t do that. I liked Capri and thought she was a strong and smart character but all the supporting characters were not great. I really liked all the San Francisco tidbits as I visited last year and fell in love with the city, it was nice learning more about it while reading. The premise of the story was so intriguing, I wanted more from the Overkill Bill side of the story though. Overall a fun not to challenging mystery read.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco
3.5 ⭐️

Imagine it you found out in elementary school that your grandfather was a serial killer. Would you grow up to host tours around your city talking about it?!

This book was a little bit of a mystery within a mystery. Capri was trying to solve her grandfather’s alleged crime while also hunting for a modern day copycat.

While this didn’t have a ton of character development, the plot moved pretty quickly. An easy mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one! I can only describe this one as Finlay Donovan meets your favorite ghost tour of all time! The setting and characters are superb! This one had me flying thru the pages until the end. Would love to see this one turn into a series! Capri would make a great guide through many mysteries!

Description
Welcome to San Francisco, a city with killer charm.

The chill of a San Francisco summer can be deadly. No one knows this better than Capri Sanzio, who makes her living giving serial killer tours of the city. Capri has been interested in the topic since she was a kid, when she discovered she’s the granddaughter of serial killer William ‘Overkill Bill’ Sanzio. She’s always believed in his innocence, though she's never taken the leap to fully dive into the case.

But now an Overkill Bill copycat has struck in San Francisco. And Capri’s former mother-in-law, Sylvia, just cut off Capri’s daughter’s tuition payments. Needing cash, Capri wonders if this is the time to exonerate her grandfather. The case is back in the news and the police will be looking to understand the past to catch a present-day killer. Capri could finally uncover the truth about Overkill Bill—documenting the process with a podcast and a book—and hopefully earn some money.

Before Capri can get very far, the cops discover the copycat’s latest victim: Sylvia. Capri soon finds herself at the heart of the police’s investigation for an entirely different reason. She and her daughter are prime suspects.

This book was such a refreshing read! I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and the intriguing plot centered around an old murder case. The added layer of mystery with the new murders kept me hooked, making me constantly guess who the killer might be. I also loved the San Francisco setting, especially the fact that the main character, Capri, runs a guided tour company that focuses on crime scenes. Honestly, I'd be totally up for taking a tour like that in any city!

Capri has always believed that her grandfather, known as "Overkill Bill," was wrongfully convicted of the three murders he was charged with decades ago. Despite her mother and father refusing to discuss the case, Capri has lived with the stigma of being related to him. She’s turned her fascination with crime into a successful business, running crime-themed tours in San Francisco with her best friend. However, things take a turn when Capri’s daughter finds out she’s being cut off financially by her wealthy grandmother, prompting Capri to finally take the plunge and start a podcast to clear her grandfather’s name. As Capri dives into the case, she uncovers details that don’t add up, and when two women are murdered—one being her ex-mother-in-law—in the same style as "Overkill Bill," she’s thrust into a new mystery. Is it a copycat? Or has the real killer resurfaced? Determined to uncover the truth about both the past and the present, Capri embarks on her own investigation, convinced the two cases are connected, though not in the way she initially thought.

This was a fast-paced read that kept me engaged from start to finish. I was eager to find out how the old murders were linked to the new ones, and the flirty tension between Capri and the head detective added an extra layer of interest. I’m definitely rooting for them! I highly recommend this book.

This was a suspenseful murder mystery book that I really enjoyed. Capri is the granddaughter of a serial killer and makes a living giving serial killer tours of San Francisco. When someone kills her ex-mother-in-law as a copycat of his grandfather's methods, she wants to solve the case to protect her family. I really enjoyed the setting of this book most of all. San Francisco's dark history was intriguing and well-researched. The mystery component takes on the classic format, which isn't anything special. However, the connection to a serial killer makes the plot more interesting. It was an entertaining read overall.

This book is similar in detective style to A Good Girls Guide to Murder. The main character, with no real background in detective work, is somehow much better at everything and figures it out. I will be recommending it to my friends who love AGGGTM but want older main characters, or just a new book to check out. 3.5/5 stars.