The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco follows Capri Sanzio, the granddaughter of the infamous serial killer "Overkill Bill." Capri has a deep interest in serial killers, stemming from her family history, and she channels this interest into her job as a murder tour guide in San Francisco. The plot thickens as a copycat killer emerges, forcing Capri to team up with homicide inspector Dan Petito to solve the mystery of who is mimicking her grandfather's crimes.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a fascinating read for those who enjoy mysteries with a true crime twist. Michelle Chouinard's adept storytelling and compelling characters make this a standout addition to the genre.

It is different in how it integrates history and facts with a gripping story. There are twists you don't see coming. If I was in a similar situation, I would want Capri to be on my side, not against me. The mystery is not the whole story. History plays a part too!

This was an entertaining slow burn read. I enjoyed how it went back and forth from the tours to the current story and the past case of her grandfather. You never know who to believe and new evidence keeps coming out at every turn. I enjoyed the characters and trying to figure it out along the way. I did figure it out, but it was a fun and different book than others I have read.

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

What a fun and quick cozy mystery! The premise was super clever and entertaining from the start. The mystery itself was entertaining and pretty well-done. I was a bit disappointed by the end as a whole, but I overall still enjoyed this one! Capri was an enjoyable MC and the supporting cast of chaotic characters was really fun to read. I was nervous this was going to turn into a typical podcast/true crime knockoff, but it strayed away from that and kept at something a little more unique, which I was thankful for. Overall, a fun fall read! I would definitely read more of this author in the future.

SYNOPSIS -- Capri Sanzio has always been fascinated with serial killers, so much so that she makes her living giving serial killer tours of San Francisco. The fascination likely started as a kid, when she found her that her grandfather was infamous William "Overkill Bill" Sanzio. When an Overkill Bill copycat pops up in the city, killing Capri's ex-mother-in-law, Sylvia, Capri takes this as an opportunity to find the killer AND prove her grandfather's long-questioned innocence. Suddenly, Capri and her daughter are prime suspects in the case she's trying to solve, and as the stakes get higher, Capri gets even more and more desperate for the truth.

Thank you NetGalley and Michelle Chouinard fo the chance to listen to this ARC!

The granddaughter of the infamous serial killer, Over Kill Bill, has turned her dark family legacy into a career, leading tours of San Francisco's most infamous serial killer sites. However, when a copycat killer emerges decades later and murders her former mother-in-law, Capri, feels driven to investigate both cases. This entertaining and informative murder mystery, gives Riley Thorn and Finlay Donovan vibes, offers a captivating narrative that seamlessly balances suspense and engagement, leaving the reader anticipating the author's next release.

I had a good time reading this book. I didn’t figure out who done it and that’s always a plus. I enjoyed the setting of this book and our main characters job details.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

received an audio-ARC of this book in exchange for a reivew
disclaimer... book reviews are subjective and people have different taste :)

3.5 stars rounded up ⭐️
as an avid mystery/thriller reading the title HOOKED me. I requested this based on the title alone. And honestly? I feel like it lived up to the title, and once I actually read the synopsis I think the book was solid! The narration was really well done, and I felt engaged through most of it.

I do think there was some fluff and rabbit trails that could've been trimmed down - which I don't think is all that uncommon with books that are kinda following two mysteries.

I don't think I am the intended age group that this was written for as a "zillennial" - but I think if you're upper Millennial/Gen X you may relate to the main character more!

Overall - it was a very easy listen and I can say I enjoyed it! No crazy red flags for me, so if it interests you I say give it a try.

I often find myself drawn to novels with localities that I am familiar with. San Francisco was an immediate draw for me as I have some historical insight and am familiar with sections of the city. The title is just catchy enough to engage me in what I assumed would be a fun and maybe quirky murder mystery. The storyline delivered here without too much seriousness and offering up a cozy reality.
Capri gives serial killer hotspot tours of San Francisco and she is well suited for the job as her grandfather was the notorious “Overkill Bill”. Over a decade divorced, she finds herself caught up in the intimate murder of her former mother-in-law and becomes more entangled once the details of the murder are made known. Someone is copying her grandfather’s supposed handiwork. Either that or the real killer was never caught. Now Sylvia is going to have to battle being the number one suspect of the police while staying out of the deadly path of the real killer. Will she unravel the case in time?
The audio production of this book was well done. There were moments of tedium, but overall the book was easy to listen to. Would be a great beach read or a cozy read for a winter day.

One of those books you just know you’ll love! And it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved getting to know Capri, her history and present. I hope this turns into a series because I found the world and characters so compelling I just wanted to know more.

The salacious past accompanied by cutthroat present in this story left me speeding through this audiobook. I loved the true crime component, and the story was so compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco was a fun murder mystery read.

We follow Capri, a serial killer tour guide and the granddaughter of "Overkill Bill". Attention is brought back on "Overkill Bill" when a copycat killer strikes in San Francisco. Then attention zeros in on Capri when her ex-mother-in-law is also killed by the copycat. She investigates both the decade old murders, and current ones trying to find the truth.

This book is sort of run of the mill amateur detective stepping on police toes, but Capri's unique tie to the cases is a nice spin. I also thoroughly enjoy Capri as a main character. I do feel at times the story and investigation was slower than what I wanted. Also there were some convenient plot points and characters, such as Ryan, the crazy talented hacker who for some reason works for the tour guide group Capri owns.

The audiobook was excellently done and the narrator is one of my new favorites.

3.5 stars

Thank you @macmillanaudio @minotaurbooks and @netgalley for the ALC and eARC!

What a fun and exciting mystery! I was hooked immediately and loved the premise of the story and the flawless execution! I was bamboozled by the crime until about 80% in and couldn’t believe I missed it - that’s what happens when the story is rich and engaging. This was a satisfying and fun mystery and I’d love to see this be a series!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. 
A perfect book to read/listen to if you're looking for a light, palate cleanser read. The story is interesting and engaging as a fun story to have on as you work, because ultimately you don't have to pay 100% focused attention. The narration is also very easy to follow and clear, though the banter feels stiff and disingenuous. A great beach read to turn your mind off.

I loved this book. I felt like I was living in a real episode of a true crime podcast and on a tour of San Francisco at the same time. The narrator brings the character alive as you are trying to figure out if the main character grandfather was a serial killer. I loved the blend of real true crime stories, incorporation of fun tourist destinations in San Francisco, and trying to figure out the mystery at the same time. Give this audiobook a chance! You will not regret it.

The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard presents a compelling premise—Capri Sanzio, the granddaughter of a notorious serial killer, leads tours while investigating a copycat murderer against the backdrop of San Francisco. The atmospheric setting, combined with the intertwining of past crimes and a modern mystery, offers an intriguing setup.

However, the execution doesn't fully deliver. The pacing is uneven, with some parts of the story dragging. While the plot has potential, it often feels predictable and lacks the gripping twists and surprises that could have made it a more thrilling read.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This book was enjoyable!
If you go into wanting a true crime podcast, this ain’t it.

The GOOD:
The plot was well developed.
I liked hearing the little tidbits of San Francisco true crime lore sprinkled in.

The BAD:
When everything was revealed at the end, it did make sense, however, I would have liked to see some breadcrumbs sprinkled through the rest of the book that would help lead the reader to the culprit instead of us just waiting until Capri revealed it all.
Capri was really concerned about this super hot police officer. Ma’am, some has died, please simmer.

The UGLY:
Homegirl literally said “this is an unsafe situation. I should make a very important phone call rn when I’m compromised by thick fog that anyone could use to sneak up on me. That’s fine.” Sure Jan.

-
-
-
Thank you Macmillan’s ALC program for the audiobook!

The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard has an intriguing premise—Capri Sanzio, the granddaughter of a notorious serial killer, giving tours while investigating a copycat murderer in the city’s shadowy corners. The setting is atmospheric, and the concept of intertwining a personal connection to a past crime with a present-day mystery adds layers of tension and intrigue.

However, while the setup is strong, the execution fell shirt. The pacing felt uneven at times, with some parts of the story dragging, especially as Capri's investigation took off. The plot had plenty of potential, but it often felt predictable, lacking the kind of gripping twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

That being said, the audiobook narrator absolutely saved this experience. The performance was engaging and brought life to the story in a way that the writing alone didn’t quite achieve. The narrator's pacing, tone, and ability to differentiate between characters added much-needed excitement to the slower parts of the plot. If anything, the narration made me stick with the story longer than I might have otherwise.

Overall, The Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco is an entertaining listen, but it could have benefited from more complexity and stronger character development. If you're a fan of true crime-inspired fiction, this may still be worth a try. Three stars for an interesting concept and fantastic vocal performance, but a slightly underwhelming mystery.

🎧 Book Review 🎧 We all have our strange family skeletons from the past. My family owned a circus with pink elephants that made the cover of a magazine. Capri Sanzio’s family has actual skeletons in the family history…her grandfather is famed convicted serial killer William “Overkill Bill” Sanzio. Why run from the unsavory truth that is your grandfather’s reputation and not your own own when you can embrace it and own it? Capri runs a lucrative tour company of serial killers around the Bay Area and still holds hope that her grandfather might be innocent. When a copycat killer is loose in the city and she is strapped for cash to pay for her daughter’s college, she decides to put her journalism degree to use and finally dig deep into her grandfather’s notorious case once and for all. We are all in for one great story when Capri winds up way deeper than she could have ever dreamed in this active crime investigation, including being a prime suspect. The Serial Killer’s Guide to San Francisco is a wild ride for crime lovers to novices whose interest is just piqued by the genre. Michele Chouinard has written a wonderfully fun book that is about as twisty as Lombard Street and as delightful as Ghirardelli chocolate all rolled into one unputdownable novel that Stephanie Németh-Parker breathes life into flawlessly as an audiobook.

Review will be on instagram closer to publication!

A fun read with a killer (pun intended) setting. I really enjoyed how the main character's job, as a tour guide specializing in serial killer tours of the bay area, was interesting and integrated into the plot without distracting from the mystery. The relationships in the story were complicated in the best way—divorced couples, money complications, strained family dynamics. I can see this being the setup for a great new series.

This was a pretty fun mystery.
Our main character Capri is the granddaughter of a serial killer who lived in San Francisco. He maintained his innocence until he died. After being divorced for 10 years, Capri's ex-husband's extremely rich mother Sylvia cuts off her daughter Morgan's school tuition money because they need to learn to "stand on their own 2 feet." The next morning, Sylvia is found dead, murdered in the same way Capri's grandfather "Overkill Bill" murdered. Capri inserts herself into the investigation trying to find who killed Sylvia as well as researching Overkill Bill for a podcast and book she wants to write to raise money for Morgan's tuition.
The characters in this book were well thought out. I felt like everyone had a part to play that was important. Capri was very headstrong. She really wanted to find out who killed Sylvia even if they didn't get along great while she was alive. She also was determined to prove if her grandfather was guilty or innocent. And of course she wanted to help provide for Morgan even though I think she was 24. The policeman who investigates is the typical guy who is exasperated by Capri trying to insert herself, but is also helpful. Capri's ex-husband's family is the typical rich people more concerned about their reputations than anything else. I liked the relationship Capri had with her 2 employees at her tour company. They were so helpful and supportive of her.
The plot was really engaging, there was always something we are learning something to move the story along. It was paced well. The only thing I would have liked to be added into it was the actual podcast episodes that Capri writes. It would have been so fun to have that acted out in the audiobook.
The narrator of the audiobook was great. She had a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to and I felt she really brought Capri and her story to life.

Aside from knowing it was a thriller and the title itself, I had no real expectations going in—which is often my favorite way to approach a book. Right from the start, we’re thrown into family drama and a mystery that needs solving. While it’s labeled as a thriller, the tone is refreshingly light, almost playful at times. I could easily see this being adapted into a comedy-thriller film, and I mean that in the best way. Sure, the plot follows some familiar who-dun-it tropes, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn’t put it down, even though I had a good sense of how things might end (though not exactly who was responsible, but definitely who wasn’t). It’s a fun, easy read that kept me entertained throughout. I highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for a great "palate cleanser" between more intense reads.