This book pulled me right in and got me hooked. I would recommend it to patrons looking for a smart, well-plotted mystery with interesting characters. This book will be in regular rotation on my "staff recommended" shelf.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, and the audio was enjoyable as well. This was entertaining, I loved the plot, and loved that the FMC was the granddaughter of an alleged serial killer, ‘Overkill Bill’. Between this and the title, I was sold on this one, the humor was woven in nicely and it was a great read in between some darker ones I’ve been working through lately. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review!

I had a lot of fun with this book. I am pick over my cozy mysteries. I really do get bored on many of them. I have a handful of cozy mystery series I read and enjoy. This will for sure be one of those series.

I love anything serial killer and this book was just the right blend of humorous and mysterious. This was a very fast paced story, and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for an advance copy of The Serial Killer Guide…and apologies for being a thousand years late with my review!

Capri is the granddaughter of serial killer “Overkill Bill” and earns her living putting her history to good use, giving serial killer tours of San Francisco.

Now it appears that a copycat killer is prowling the streets. Convenient timing, as Capri’s ex-mother-in-law, Sylvia, just cut off tuition payments for Capri’s daughter’s schooling. Capri thinks this may be the right time to finally speak out in her grandfather’s innocence and cash in on a podcast or book deal to secure some funds.

But when Sylvia winds up dead, Capri has bigger things to worry about than tuition, because the police have their sights set on Capri as a main suspect. Now she has to not only prove her grandfather’s innocence, but her own.

This was fun! Not quite cozy, not quite thriller, but a fun line teeterer. It’s light-hearted with sprinkles of seriousness. The murder mystery is quite fun and San Francisco is a great setting for a book. I don’t expect anyone’s world to be rocked, but the story and characters are enjoyable, there are heartwarming moments, and for someone like me, who reads mostly dark, it’s a great lighter palette cleanser.

The audio was great, I felt like Stephanie fully embodied my impression of Capri.

Book two is set to come out in the fall of this year, so grab this one in the meantime and get ready for more adventuring around San Francisco, meeting more characters, and falling more in love with those we already met.

I don't know what I expected from The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, but this was not it. I want more of the touring aspect and the grandfather's plotline. The story was fine, and I know several people enjoyed this, but I thought the author tried to incorporate too many plot points. It resulted in clunky pacing, and I lost interest at several points in the book. Also, I can't believe I am saying this, because this usually bugs me, but there needed to be more suspects or red herrings. It was too easy to figure out who the culprit was.

The audiobook was narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, and she fit the character well. The production was good, and if you decide to read the book, I recommend the audio.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. This was fun!

It wasn't exceptional, but it was enjoyable.

A divorcee and granddaughter of a notorious serial killer runs a true crime touring company in San Francisco. Delightful.

Then all of a sudden, someone is murdered copycat style from her grandfather's crimes. Then her ex mother in law is murdered in the same way. Naturally her interest is piqued but also, now she's a suspect.

She's trying to solve the murders, protect herself and her daughter, and the extended ex family by proving they are not the murderers, and also prove her grandfather was actually innocent of his serial killing.

There's no romance (hark! rejoice!), some murder mystery, some family drama. All around a good time.

I do think the actual mystery/murder plot could have been finessed a bit more, but it wasn't bad by any means.

Enjoyable, I'd recommend it to others that enjoy this type of book.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a thrilling, atmospheric mystery that pulls readers deep into the foggy streets of San Francisco, where the city's dark history comes to life. Michelle Chouinard creates an eerie, immersive backdrop, with each neighborhood and landmark laced with tales of notorious murders and unsolved crimes. The setting itself becomes a character, as the protagonist, Capri Sanzio, navigates the city's twisted past while grappling with her own complex relationship to it.

Capri, the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer, is a compelling, multidimensional character—tough, determined, but also deeply vulnerable. As she uncovers unsettling truths about her grandfather’s legacy, her personal stakes rise, and her journey feels as much about solving a crime as it is about confronting her own identity and family history.

Chouinard weaves suspense with intricate character development, making every twist feel earned and personal. This isn’t just a mystery; it’s a deep dive into the tangled dynamics of family, legacy, and the shadows we inherit.

Mysterious, captivating, and full of twists—The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers and complex, unforgettable characters.

3.5⭐️ This was a fun cozy mystery that follows Capri Sanzio, who is the owner of a local San Francisco tour company. Focusing on serial killers that roamed the area through the years, and Capri’s own grandfather William Sanzio, who sS convicted of murder.

I enjoyed the audio format, and thought it was a funny read, in just the ways I’ve come to love about a cozy.

*many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

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 follows Capri Sanzio who is the owner and operator of a local tour company in San Francisco. Her tours focus on the serial killers of her great city. She has always been fascinated with serial killers and San Francisco's history is rich in serial killers and some are violent and bloody. It is no surprise, Capri's fascination with serial killers because her grandfather William Sanzio was convicted as the well known killer Overkill Bill. Capri has always been curious about her grandfather, but her father refuses to talk about him or his alleged crimes, so she grew up never knowing what actually happened. Suddenly, Capri is in need of some additional money to help pay for her daughter's college because Capri's mother-in-law has decided to cut off both Capri and her daughter. After an argument with her mother-in-law about this, a copy cat killer has reopened interest in Overkill Bill because her mother-in-law winds up murdered in the same fashion that her grandfather allegedly killed his victims. With Capri and her daughter now considered suspects, Capri needs to do her research to figure out who killer her mother-in-law and if the actual Overkill murderer is still out there.

This was a fun and cute story. I loved the audiobook narration and felt that the narrator did a great job matching Capri's personality. I enjoyed the setting of the book and think this will be a good series overall. It is a cozy story with great humor and lovable characters.

I did only rate this book 3 stars because while I enjoyed it, I am not sure that I will remember much about it in the future.

Read if you like:
-Cozy mysteries
-Lovable characters
-Great humor
-Great settings

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

Cute read!! The audiobook was very nicely done, and I would love to try to visit San Francisco in the future. I love a good, fun mystery. Highly recommend listening to the audio for this one!!

*Thank you partner @macmillan.audio for the #gifted audiobook.*

The audio book was a delight. Played new to me even after reading book and knowing story. A delight humor to a rather serious subject, enveloped by not addressing grief.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! It was a fun, light-hearted read. I would read more from this author.

If you loved the Finley Donovan series, you will enjoy this one too! A nice bonus, the audiobook was sooo well done! I was enthralled from start to finish. It was a nice cozy mystery with incredibly likable characters! I loved this book. Plain and simple. I can't wait for the next one!

"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."

**What I enjoyed about this book:
I enjoyed the family drama/family connections that were explored in this book. I also appreciated that I couldn't entirely figure out what was going to happen until the end of the book. I also enjoyed that the setting of this book was in San Francisco, and I thought the author did a good job of using the setting to bring extra detail to the story and really make the reader feel immersed in the story.

Capri Sanzio owns and operates a tour company in her native San Francisco. These aren't your normal run-of-the-mill tourist tours, however. Capri's tours are focused on the serial killers of their great city.San Francisco is rich in history, and unsurprisingly, like many big cities, some of it has been violent and bloody.

Capri has been interested in serial killers since she was a child and discovered that her own Grandfather, William Sanzio, was the convicted serial killer known as Overkill Bill. Even though she was naturally curious about her Grandfather, her Dad refused to talk about him or his alleged crimes, so she grew up riddled with questions and those never really went away. As an adult, she transformed that unusual interest into a profitable business.

Although she's always believed her Grandfather was innocent, Capri never dedicated any time into really researching his case. When she suddenly needs additional money to help pay for her daughter's grad school program though, and a copycat killer has reopened interest in Overkill Bill, Capri figures now may be the time. She could write a book, chronicling the research process via podcast, thus making cash and exonerating her Grandfather at the same time.

Before she even has the chance to get her plan off the ground though, the police discover the copycat's latest victim, Sylvia, Capri's mother-in-law, and the reason why Capri suddenly needed money for her daughter's schooling. Sylvia had been paying, but recently announced she was cutting them off. Jarringly, Capri finds herself as the main suspect. Now it's not just about clearing her Grandfather's name, it's about clearing herself.

I had a blast reading The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco. I seriously need to reevaluate some of my life choices.
Why the heck did I wait so long to pick this up?

This was so cute. I loved the audiobook narration, which perfectly matched Capri's personality. I'm stoked this is the start of a series. It's certainly one I plan to continue with. I'm definitely down for solving more cases with Capri. This has such a great setting and overriding premise. I would strongly recommend it for fans of the Finlay Donovan series, as it has a similar tone. It's Cozy and modern, with great humor and a lovable cast of characters.

While this mystery hit close to home for Capri, the possibilities are endless for the other cases she could solve. I'm hoping that this will be one of those long-running Cozy series, where I just become more and more attached to the characters as we go along. The synopsis for the 2nd-book, A Tour to Die For, has already been released and it sounds quite Rear Window. Say less, am I right? I'm so ready!!

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm happy to be on board with another great Mystery series!

I’m always down for a good murder mystery. The main characters relationship with Overkill Bill helps this book stand out from other amateur sleuth novels. I was entertained the entire time, and the mystery is solid. If you like a good mystery, then check this book out.

4.5⭐️ [Loved it]

The narration of this audiobook was excellent, making it easy to really get into the story. It was a lighter and fun mystery read which was a nice surprise. I wasn’t a huge fan of the tour guide aspect but luckily it wasn’t the biggest part of the plot. I flew through this book and thought the ending was really good. I recommend checking this one out, especially on audio!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read! I loved Capri and honestly wished she had a better family at the end of all this. This murder mystery really had it all: mistaken identity, cold case, insider trading, hostile witness. I am so glad to see that it is the start of a series because I would love more Capri and her handsome detective.
On a sidenote: I would love to take these tours, they sound awesome!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Michelle Chouinard, and Macmillan audio for my copy of this audiobook.

This was a super fun and fast read! Once I got started I didn't want to stop listening! This was my 1st book by Michelle Chouinard but it will not be my last, as I am adding all of her books to my TBR! I can't wait to see what she writes next!