I enjoyed the narrator's voice, but this was a little slow-moving for my taste.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard a clever mystery set in San Francisco. Capri is the granddaughter of Overkill Bill, a notorious serial killer who maintained his innocence until his death. Capri finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when a "copycat" kills a local socialite in the same manner as Overkill Bill.

This was a fun read. I found the story to be interesting, with the plot unfolding in a satisfying way. The characters were interesting and I thought the plot was unique. I'm not sure if there will be more books in this series but I would definitely read them or read other books by this author.

This was such a fun and interesting story line. It was fast paced and kept you guessing. I never saw the twist at the end coming. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book was really good! I liked the almost true crime aspect of Capri giving tours revolving around killers. I thought both the historical and current case were super interesting and loved Capri!

I really enjoyed the way this story was written! The true crime aspect was done really well and throughout the story you are on your toes of who the killer is! The ending also threw me for a loop because I honestly didn’t know who killed Kathrine or Sylvia. If you enjoy true crime I would recommend this book!

Michelle Chouinard's novel, "The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco," masterfully intertwines the vibrant tapestry of San Francisco with a gripping murder mystery that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Chouinard skillfully navigates the intricate plot, weaving together threads of suspense, family drama, and the quest for truth. The book does an exceptional job at capturing the essence of San Francisco, making the city itself a character that's as complex and intriguing as Capri. From the misty lanes of Alcatraz to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the setting enriches the narrative, pulling readers into a world where the past's shadows loom over the present. The mystery at the heart of the story is well-crafted, offering enough twists and turns to satisfy aficionados of the genre. The revelation of the killer's identity is both surprising and satisfying, a testament to Chouinard's ability to keep readers guessing. Moreover, the exploration of Capri's relationship with her notorious grandfather adds depth to the narrative, challenging readers to consider the implications of legacy and redemption. Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone fascinated by San Francisco's darker histories. Chouinard has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, ensuring that readers will be eagerly awaiting her next work.

Thank you to Michelle Chouinard, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

You can see an in depth review on my blog here: https://leylaslibrary.wordpress.com/2024/04/11/the-serial-killer-guide-to-san-francisco/

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! I feel like San Francisco is never used in thrillers/romances/general and it was a driving point for me to request the ARC. Being from the Bay Area and reading along Capri's mystery it almost feels like you're with her and you know what street/area she's talking about. It's a fun read that definitely has a twist ending,

I live in San Francisco so I really wanted to love this one. It was fun, entertaining, a cozy mystery but it didn't completely grab me. I think I'm realizing that cozy mysteries are maybe not completely for me.

In The Serial Killer’s Guide to San Francisco, Capri finds herself in a precarious position. The granddaughter of a serial killer, the ex-daughter in-law of a socialite who’s been killed and a suspect in that murder. In a story of a woman who wants to prove her grandfathers innocence years later but also wants to clear her and her daughter as murder suspects, Capri relies heavily on her job as a tour guide for San Francisco’s serial killers!

I’ve realized that if the prose and dialogue aren’t done right, no amount of plot can make me slog through. The title and cover pulled me in but the basic writing made me DNF.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco might have a campy cover (which I do love), but don’t let that fool you! When I received this book, I thought I would get a campy and possibly cozy mystery. However, that was not the case. It’s not a cozy mystery or your dark thriller, and I think that makes it a good book for those newly introduced to the mystery/thriller genre. I loved our FMC, Capri, from the beginning. She’s 49 and the granddaughter of Overkill Bill, a convicted serial killer in San Francisco. When her mother-in-law is murdered and an Overkill Bill copycat is to blame, of course Capri must investigate! Did I mention that Capri thinks her grandfather is innocent? This amateur sleuth is on the hunt to solve not only the murder of her mother-in-law, but also exonerate her grandfather! This leads to a lot of suspense and a twist that I genuinely did not see coming. I do wish that the podcast/book plot line had been fleshed out a little bit more or reworked because I feel like it got a little lost in the larger plot.
 I hope that Michelle Chouinard turns this into a series because I already miss Capri and her tour guide sidekicks!


A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Michelle Chouinard for an ARC to review!

The cover of this book initially drew me in but the story is what kept me turning the pages. The book follows Capri who is the grand-daughter of alleged notorious San Francisco serial killer “Overkill Bill”. Her infamous family history has become her career: Capri now runs tours that delve into the city’s darkest corners, showcasing the sites of past crimes.

Things take a terrifying personal turn when Capri’s ex-mother-in-law is murdered in a way that echoes her grandfather’s signature style. Capri suddenly finds herself at the top of the suspect list. With the clock ticking and the possibility of prison on the horizon, Capri must clear her name and uncover the real culprit before she becomes the next victim of the copycat killer.

While I enjoyed this book and these characters immensely, the show stopper for me was Chouinard’s uncanny ability to make the city of San Francisco like its own character within the book. She has an incredible talent for transporting her readers directly into San Francisco’s eclectic neighborhoods and making you feel like you’d visited its famous landmarks with her descriptions of places like the Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

This one was definitely a fun read for mystery lovers, and I really hope that this turns into a series because I’d definitely be interested in more books about Capri’s adventures in San Francisco.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Readers Copy

I received an advance copy of this book for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The wonderful writing of this easy read made me feel for all of the characters, even the misunderstood ones. I thought I knew the “whodunnit” but I was wrong on both accounts. Highly recommend.

I really liked the characters in the story. I thought they were interesting. This is a good book for someone looking for an amateur sleuth who sets out to solve the murder of her mother in law.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Murder runs in the family... or does it? This was a fun read about family legacies, murder and tourism - all wrapped up in a modern cozy mystery. If you enjoy true crime and light thrills in your mysteries, this one is for you.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco follows Capri Sanzio who runs serial killer tours around San Francisco. She becomes wrapped up in a mystery when her mother-in-law goes missing and then is found dead in what appears to be a "copy-cat" murder related to her grandfather's killings. Capri goes on a deep dive to solve the mystery of her MIL's murder as well as look into the evidence to see if her grandfather was guilty of the murders he was accused of. This story is fast paced, leaving you on a cliffhanger at the end of chapters making you want to continue to read more. I was impressed with the twist at the end. This was a great debut mystery/thriller and I will definitely look to pick up more of Michelle's books in the future. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. This book started out strong - it was very fun and campy. However, I felt the middle to end started to drag. I found the MC’s deep dive into the financial investigation aspect of the mystery to drag and ultimately felt that time could have been better spent developing what happened at the end which winds up feeling a bit rushed.

The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco" is a cleverly written mystery novel that follows the story of Capri, who is the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer named Overkill Bill. Capri owns and operates a touring company in the San Francisco area that takes tourists to famous serial killer sights and other famous historical landmarks in the Bay Area. Capri never truly believed that her grandfather was a serial killer and wanted to research the case, but her father refused to discuss or talk about it.

Capri noticed that the killings in the area followed the same signature as her grandfather's. She didn't want to deal with the press bringing up old family history, but after her ex-mother-in-law cut off her daughter's tuition, she needed to come up with cash fast. Her friends talked her into podcasting and writing a book about her grandfather. However, she received a call that her ex-mother-in-law was missing and went to find her. The police found her body and she was killed in the same way as Overkill Bill's victims.

With two murders and a past serial killer, Capri is on the case and needs to find answers to clear herself as a suspect as well as her daughter. The book takes you on a ride between the present and the past, with San Francisco in the background. It has family drama and choices that must be made to bring the truth to light. It was a wild ride, and I am happy that I experienced it.

Thank you to Michelle Chouinard, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a fun take on one woman’s dive into her accused serial killer grandfathers crimes. From the start, it’s easy to fall in love with Capri, a lighthearted San Fran native that started a company giving tours of serial killer habitats around the city. When faced with a financial hardship, Capri decides it’s finally time to reveal everything she can about her grandfathers past.

This airy thriller was fun and easy to read. The characters were likable and the plot enjoyable. Overall, 3.5 stars. I would recommend this to friends that are not into deep, dark thrillers as an intro the the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced readers copy!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Michelle Chouinard for the ARC!!!

Releases: Sep. 24, 2024

I really enjoyed this. It was a fun short mystery that was super fast paced and had me guessing everything.

Capri is the granddaughter of Overkill Bill, a San Francisco serial killer… or is he? Capri isn’t convinced he was guilty and has always wanted to prove his innocence even after he passed. She started a city tour taking people around famous places where serial killings happened after growing up addicted to true crime. Someone ends up dead with the same signature as Overkill Bill.