"Intriguing premise, but the plot gets a bit messy.
This thriller has a unique hook: a tour guide specializing in serial killer locations in San Francisco. While the city's dark underbelly is well-described, the story itself feels a bit convoluted.
For fans of dark crime fiction."

This book was... fine. *The Serial Killer’s Guide to San Francisco* had an interesting premise, and I was intrigued by the mix of true crime vibes and fiction. The setting of San Francisco was definitely a standout—Chouinard did a great job painting the city as both beautiful and eerie, which fit the tone perfectly.

That said, the story didn’t fully grab me. Some parts felt a bit predictable, and the pacing was off in places, with a lot of buildup but not enough payoff. I wanted more tension and twists, especially given the title—it didn’t quite live up to the darker, thrilling vibe I expected.

It’s not a bad read, but it didn’t blow me away either. If you’re into books with a unique premise and a strong sense of place, it’s worth checking out, but it might not leave a lasting impression.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco focuses on the main character Capri Sanzio. She runs a business giving serial killer tours throughout the area and is the granddaughter of a serial killer. However, Capri believes that her grandfather William "Overkill Bill" Sanzio (who died in prison) was an innocent man. When an Overkill Bill copycat murders two women, one of them being Capri's former mother-in-law Sylvia, Capri decides to investigate the original and new murders. This book follows Capri's investigation into Sylvia's shady business dealings, her connection to the other victim, and the murders that her grandfather allegedly committed.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked the main character. Capri was rational and didn't do anything too outlandish like many amateur detectives. She was interested in investigating the current murders because of the obvious implication that she or her daughter were involved. Even though Capri did some sleuthing of her own, she still kept the police in the loop and provided them with anything she found. This made it a bit more realistic than some other books. I also liked that this book explored the original murders that Capri's grandfather allegedly committed and wrapped up this storyline instead of dragging it into a sequel. There were a couple of places in the middle of the book that were slower, but overall it held my interest.

Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC! I thought the novel started off well, but then it lost the thrill for me. It turned into a cozy mystery rather psychological thriller, and that was a letdown for me. However, I just may not have been able to keep interest in a book about rich socialites but some might find it thrilling. I believe the writing was well done, but the story wasn’t for me.

THE SERIAL KILLER GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO is a great debut from Michelle Chouinard.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book moves quickly from the start and is a fun whodunnit novel. Something about amateur detectives is always fun. Although Capri’s investigation made me cringe at times and had tampering with evidence all over it, it was still a fun read. I couldn’t put it down.

Narrator, Stephanie Németh-Parker, was perfect for Capri and really brought her role to life. Fabulous on audiobook. Thanks @macmillan.audio for the chance to listen to this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed their writing! The pacing was good and the characters were well developed!

As a mystery lover, this book was unexpectedly delightful. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. The main character, Capri, who is the granddaughter of serial killer William "Overkill Bill" Sanzio, is making a living by giving serial killer tours of the city. Then a copycat serial killer strikes and one of the victims is Capri's former mother-in-law, Sylvia. Can re-examining the case help catch the copycat killer?

I enjoyed this engaging and humorous murder mystery. It was a quick read and captivating.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was SUCH a fun read and I enjoyed this book so much! Our main characters is Capri, a woman whose grandfather was accused of being a serial killer and who currently takes people on tours of popular serial killer hotspots around San Francisco. Not only that, she somehow becomes a prime suspect in another murder that hits close to home as well. I thought this was an incredibly well done murder mystery. The chapters were short and to the point which kept me wanting to read. The character development was well done, and I loved the descriptions of San Francisco. I feel like I left the book with a greater appreciation of the area, even if it was in terms of famous serial killers. I loved how Capri was determined to figure out not only the murder, but also help try and exonerate her grandfather as well. I don't want to go into too much detail as I think it would be too much of a spoiler, but I loved how the author tied up both murders by the end and left completely satisfied. I could not put the book down because I wanted to get to the bottom of the mysteries. I highly recommend, and will definitely look this author up for more books in the future. 4.25/5 Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Capri Sanzio is the granddaughter of a famous serial killer. She grew up convinced of his innocence and fascinated by the stories behind the killings, so much so that she created a company that gives serial killer tours of San Francisco. She's doing okay and managing until her mother-in-law, Sylvia, informs her daughter that she will no longer be helping with tuition or anything else. The news comes on the heels of a recent copycat killing done in the same way as Capri's grandfather's, so Capri jumps into investigating the old case and the new murders in hopes of getting a book or podcast out of it that can help her daughter's money troubles. Except the second victim is none other than Sylvia and now both Capri and her daughter are prime suspects. Can Capri navigate the twisted lies and hidden truths of past and present to solve all the murders and keep her family safe?

On the surface, the plot is every amateur-detective-sticking-their-nose-in mystery you have ever read, but there's something about the writing that feels fresh even when you know where a lot of things are heading. I was also a little surprised at the outcome despite it being obvious in hindsight, so major points for that.

I didn't find Capri to be a particularly interesting character, yet the people she's surrounded by and the situations she finds herself in kept me turning pages and wanting more.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the twisty read!

I haven't read a cozy mystery I've enjoyed this much in a long time! I love the fact that the main character does tours of places where serial.killers lurked. The cast of characters were so funny. I whipped through this book! I truly hope there are more to come!

"The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco" falls solidly on the line of a cozy mystery, except set in the large city of San Francisco versus the normal small=town cozy setting. I actually really enjoy a good cozy mystery, but this one didn't quite work for me, I think because the interfering amateur female detective trope just doesn't work as well in that big city setting. I just couldn't get past how many times Capri would have been arrested throughout the course of this book. Instead, the detective shares police files and other information. I did like the insider type details about San Francisco and Capri's tours, but wonder if their inclusion interfered with the pacing of the book, which seemed off, especially at the end where the grandfather aspect of the plot gets resolved in about 10 pages. Not a bad book but not a great one, either, at least for me.

3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

I love a good mystery and the premise sounded so good and different but unfortunately I couldn`t get into it and ended up DNF`ing about 30% in. I couldn`t get into the story and it just wouldn`t hold my attention at all. I think I was expecting something a bit different from what was delivered.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Unfortunately I was not able to get into this. I can't believe I'm saying it, but this was a little too lighthearted and all over the place for me. I would recommend this to those who mostly read cozy mysteries. Admittedly that is not my wheelhouse, however some do break through (sadly this wasn't one). If you are a fan of family drama and specifically if you are familiar with San Francisco, I would give this a try.

(Actual: 4.25⭐️) Honestly a great surprise of a read! I didn’t know what to expect from this one, but I found the premise interesting and also just kinda love city-based tours of crime scenes/unusual places, despite how morbid they can be/are. That said, I loved Capri as a character and found her to be both strong & determined without coming off as OTT or annoying. The who-dun-it mystery aspect also kept me engaged throughout, which is sometimes a bit of an issue for me (as someone with ADHD); and, given I’ve visited SF many times, it made me really happy to see all its unique charm really lit up between the pages here. All in all, a solid debut & one I’d definitely recommend to all mystery-lovers (especially if you’re new to the genre & wanting to explore it)!

this wasn't quite what I was expecting. Chouinard's writing is fun and the set-up is cool, but I just had trouble connecting with the story. even though it was pretty well paced, I got bored of it quickly and it became predictable.

Oh, this was such a fantastic read! The idea of your grandfather being a convicted killer, and then someone kills your ex-mother-in-law in the same method? Right after you had a fight with her? Yeah, that's an awkward position to be in!

At first, Capri is looking into Overkill Bill's case, because financially, she needs it, and better her then someone who is unconnected to the story. And then the current murders start up, and it gets even more complicated, with the hope that the past might influence the future.

I really enjoyed her investigation, she had skills from being a journalist, that helped her look into things like companies and who owned them, which was an interesting avenue to take that I don't often see. And as she learned more about Sylvia and why she did what she did, made the ending all the more crushing! Loved it!

The way things ended, that was really satisfying to read! Though I wouldn't mind if this became a series, to see Capri investigate more cases, just maybe ones that weren't so personal to her, since that's had enough upheaval as it was.

Loved reading this book, and i can't wait to read more by Michelle Chouinard!

A fun little mystery! Not the best mystery I’ve read all year but still enjoyed it.








I received a arc of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for my honest review.

Cozy mystery with a very good setting. I loved the descriptions of San Fran and Capri’s family drama. I didn’t find the murder mystery very suspenseful, but it was a good read.

I think cozy mystery readers in general will like this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the eARC.

I simultaneously never wanted this book to end and also couldn't put it down, so I ended up devouring this book. I love true crime, especially serial killers, and centering this story around an albeit fictional serial killer was fantastic. I loved the mystery and all of the onion petals of information along the way. It wouldn't be a great whodunit without several red herrings along the way. We get two simultaneous mysteries to dissect, but both are woven together really well. You will both detest and feel for multiple characters along the way. I hope this author is ready to pump another book out because I can't wait to read it!

Capri Sanzio, a San Francisco tour guide and the granddaughter of a notorious convicted serial killer becomes a prime suspect in a pair of copycat murders in this intriguing mystery. Capri begins her own clandestine investigation to find the true copycat killer and exonerate herself before she becomes the next victim.

Intense, clever, and insightful, this whodunit explores the darker realities of the American justice system and the repercussions of being directly related to a convicted murderer. Capri’s character is strong and self reliant while also being empathetic and kind and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her in this series.