A fast-paced who-done-it with a witty female lead. Capri is a character who has a strong sense of right and wrong and a protective streak a mile-wide when it comes to the ones she loves. When her ex-mother-in-law is killed by a someone copying the same methods as the notorious serial killer "Overkill Bill" - who also happens to be Capris's grandfather - all eyes turn towards Capri and her daughter as prime suspects. Capri knows she has to figure out who the real killer is ASAP, before she or her daughter take the fall for a murder they didn't commit, just like her grandfather did.

The story was excellent and kept me guessing who the real killer was throughout. The audio was well done and easy to listen to. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends and the adult patrons of my library.

Unfortunately this one was a bit boring. So much of the plot was fleshed out in conversations between characters, with very little actual action. It tries to be funny but reads a bit like a first draft. Some of the phrasing and metaphors are very awkward. The narrator did a nice job but the story just wasn't appealing to me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

An enjoyable and suspenseful murder mystery!

The main character, Capri, makes a living giving serial killer tours of San Francisco … and just happens to be the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer herself. When her ex-mother-in-law is killed by a copycat killer using her grandfather's methods, she must rush to find the culprit in order to protect herself and her family.

If you're a fan of San Francisco, this book is probably worth reading for that reason alone.

The mystery itself is solid with an “amateur sleuth/suspect investigating a murder and irritating the police” setup.

I loved that Capri is attempting to solve two mysteries at the same time, one from many years in the past. Will she posthumously exonerate her grandfather while investigating the present day murders? Or will she confirm his guilt?

This is a fun mystery that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

Thank you Minotaur for providing me with my ARC in exchange for my review!.

4.5 stars rounded down

The audio of this book was great! The tone, cadence, etc. felt exactly like the narrator of the story would sound.

The story was so clever, down to the details including that Capri is the granddaughter of a serial killer and that she gives tours of serial killer spots in San Francisco. The characters are likable (except her ex-husband, and maybe her MIL) and their dialogue propels the story forward, giving lots of information in a natural way.

Overall an entertaining mystery without being grim, macabre or frightening!

Advance reader copy provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date: September 24

This was an enjoyable read! It’s an investigative mystery with a dash of suspense but an overall lighter tone.

I would say it doesn’t have a comedic base like Finlay Donovan or Dial A for Aunties, but it isn’t an intense thriller.The story kept me entertained throughout and had a good pace.

I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the performance! Thank you @macmillan.audio for the advanced review copy.

Perfect for you if you like:
Investigative mystery
Lighter tone
She’s determined to find who did it
Secrets and lies revealed

This crime thriller was a fun ride that left me eager to visit San Francisco and ready to binge some true crime podcasts! I really enjoyed the mixed media format, as the author used the main character's job as a tour guide of the city and it's rich crime history and notorious serial killers to intersperse some real cases between sections of the book.

Capri's grandfather is the infamous serial killer known as 'Overkill Bill' and she is shocked when someone starts killing new victims and emulating his style; especially when one of the victims is her former mother-in-law. This places Capri slap in the middle of an ongoing police investigation, and she insists on helping to solve the case in order to clear her name and involvement.
I love amateur sleuths, and Capri's familial connection to the case, as well as her unique profession of running crime tours of the city, made for a fun context. Capri is also working to clear her grandfather's name, as she believes his innocence. As the danger increases, Capri has to try and make connections between the current victims, her family, and all before the danger reaches her.
This audiobook was so bingeable and I found myself finishing the listen over two days; the narrator did a fantastic job denoting Capri's wit, anxiety, frustration, and determination. As the danger increased, I found the narration appropriately building suspense and tension as well.
Readers who enjoy true crime connections, family drama, and amateur detectives will enjoy this new release! I especially enjoyed the satisfying ending!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Unlike the usual cozy mysteries that take place in charming small towns, the setting in a vibrant city offered a refreshing change. I also found it easier to connect with the main character, who was older. The unexpected twist at the end truly surprised me, which is a rarity in cozy mysteries. The cast of characters was delightful, and the audiobook narrator provided a fantastic performance. I received this audiobook from MacMillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Experiencing an audiobook after reading a book is always a unique experience. I gave this book four stars as a read, but as a listen it was almost better! The narrator did such a good job keeping up the pace and creating the perfect tension and excitement as the story unfolded.

I still would have preferred more true crime, but as a murder mystery this book is a fun addition for the fans of the genre. I’d listen again! Definitely highly recommend.

Thanks so much Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

I loved this! This had everything I wanted in a book: fun, smart and savvy main character with a unique job, walking tours of San Francisco that taught me a little more about the city, a cold case with murders that she is desperate to prove her grandfather didn’t commit, and the murder of a few socialites that put her family in the spotlight again. The mystery had so many twists and turns that had me guessing the whole time and I wish this was a series so I could spend time with these characters again. I look forward to more books by this author.

Narration was excellent!

The granddaughter of a convicted serial killer is running a city tour of San Francisco, showing tourists and true crime addicts all the local spots of infamous serial killers in the city's colorful history. Her entire life she has studied and researched in the hope of proving her grandfather was innocent of the crimes that sent him to prison for life.

Out of the blue, a wealthy socialite is murdered but someone who was using the exact M.O. of her grandfather. This gives her the idea and the opportunity to resurrect her crusade to argue her case for his innocence.

When the killer strikes again, it is very close to home and Capri finds herself the number one suspect in the copycat case.

This was a fun and entertaining mystery that kept me interested and engaged throughout. The story was strong, and when the twist came, all were backed up with logic not just thrown in to help answer who done it.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. Ms. Parker did an excellent job of reading the novel and bringing all the characters to life. It was a pleasure to listen to her.

I enjoyed this quite a bit and highly recommend it. Perfect for that chilly fall night, with a nice hot cup of tea. It is to be released September 24, 2024

Thanks to @netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the oppertunity to read this earc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Great murder mystery novel!
I enjoyed the narrator as well!

I like that it’s a different kind of murder mystery where the main character runs a tour guide company and uses that to solve an old murder case that is close to home

Quick listen as it was a audiobook! Thank you NetGalley for the listen I really enjoyed it!

As the granddaughter of a serial killer, Capri has always been interested in true crime. Unlike everyone else though she has always believed in his innocence. When a copycat killer pops up and kills her former mother-in-law, Capri starts searching for answers. Seen as a person of interest, Capri must work to not only find out who the copycat is, but try to prove her Grandfather's innocence before it's too late.

I loved this story! As a true crime lover I loved the references to actual crimes in the area. I felt that this book did a great job to suck you into the story and have you constantly wondering who did it. I loved Capri and how she went about solving this crime. I didn't see the ending of this one coming even when I thought I may have had it figured out. I definitely recommend this one especially if you love true crime!

What a fun read! I loved the mystery and the ending wrapped up nicely. The narrator did a fantastic job with all the characters. It was a little too “cutesy” in parts the author choosing not to use any cuss words is fine but the replacements were a little goofy.

a serial killers guide to san francisco by michelle chouinard 💓 we follow a woman attempting to solve copycat serial killer murders while trying to avenge her grandpa’s name 🔪

I’d classify this as a *cozier* mystery that wears black eyeliner. nothing too scary that will keep you up at night but you’re still given enough suspense to keep flipping the pages- comparable to the finlay donovan series!

we get caught up unraveling family legacies, high society people & the worst kind of black mail! this was one of those books that told you what happened more times than living it with our fmc which was a bummer. I’ve visited san fran once and had fun visualizing all of the places I could recognize from the text but if you’re from the city, I think you’d enjoy solving this mystery alongside our characters even more!

I binge listened to this entire book during an afternoon & I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it as much if I didn’t! thank you macmillan audio for an early audio copy 🗺️ 3.5 stars!

I really liked the main character and her unwillingness to give up investigating the murders, past and current.

This is a fun mystery read! I think I especially enjoyed it since it takes place in San Francisco and I am from the Bay Area. The main character runs a tour company that shows where different killers have been around SF. She is also the granddaughter of an accused serial killer! We join her in a hunt to figure out who killed her mother in law as a copy cat of her grandfathers murder style. And we find out if her grandfather really was a murderer as she’s always thought he was wrongly accused!

Fun easy read - lost me a tad in the middle but loved the majority!

Thank you for this ARC!

A tour guide who's grandfather was a suspected (and convicted) serial killer, must figure out a way to prove she and her daughter did not kill her ex-mother-in-law. Capri Sanzio has made a living out of serial killers. She runs a tour company focused on true crime in the San Francisco area. She is also the granddaughter of William "Overkill Bill" Sanzio, who was tried and convicted of murdering 3 prostitutes in the 60s. Capri is trying very hard to prove that her grandfather was innocent when her ex-mother-in-law turns up dead, murdered in the exact style her grandfather was infamous for. This after a body was found a few days before, murdered in the same way. Capri gets roped into the investigation so that she can prove that she and her daughter, Morgan, are completely innocent.
I will say that I although I enjoyed this novel, I pretty much had it figured it out by the second murder. I would almost call this a cozy mystery. Entertaining nonetheless.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc..*

A huge thank you to @stmartinspress, @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the advanced copies in exchange for this review!

I REALLY enjoyed this book!

As many know, I'm typically a romance reader, but every so often I get the itch to dive into some murder mysteries or thrillers! And I was SO excited for this one!

I was lucky enough to get both the book and audio ARCs, which @snemethparker KILLED, by the way!

🔪 Murder Mystery
🚌 True Crime Tours
🔪 Family Legacies/Dynamics
🚌 Who Dun It?!
🔪 Surly Detective
🚌 Black Mail
🔪 High Society / Old Money vs New Money

THE SERIAL KILLER GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO will be available on 9/24/24!
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A big immature at times, this is no gritty thriller. The main character, Capri, while pleasant enough, was a little too pleasant all things considered and a little too clean (I think the word “scat” was used instead of shit at one point?). The story was enjoyable if not slightly predictable. I did enjoy the overlay of the current murder mystery against the historical murder mystery, and I liked how both stories were tied up and resolved. I’d give this a solid 3.5, but I’ll round it up to a 4.

I really enjoyed this one! I liked how the story followed the current timeline while the main character also was exploring her family’s past. I liked the characters and the setting. I recommend!!