When a participant alerts Capri Sanzio to an attack-in-progress during one of her signature San Francisco crime tours, Capri can’t help digging into another amateur sleuth investigation. Police initially find nothing out of the ordinary in the apartment overlooking the street where Lorraine, the person who raised the red flag during the tour, claims to have seen someone being possibly strangled, but shortly thereafter, the victim, Leeya, is found dumped nearby. Enter Detective Petito, the man who investigated Capri for the murders in the first book turned new boyfriend, who becomes Capri’s sidekick as she attempts to figure out what happened to the woman the night of the tour and whodunnit.

Let’s start with the good. Interesting facts about San Francisco’s colorful history are fleshed out both through interludes and within the plot itself. An artifact is discovered missing from the victim’s apartment that contains a cipher that may or may not lead to buried treasure. Capri meets with an archaeologist friend of hers about the item at a local dig site poised to become a future underground museum, offering an intriguing setup. Buried ships and code-cracking? Yes, please.

Another author might’ve woven an adventure tale from this premise. Instead, another plot-by-numbers with one-dimensional characters ensues. Having read the first novel in this series, I’m going to be harder on this one, which I expected to show growth as it relates to plot, pacing, characters, and their relationships. A good story unfolds through showing rather than telling. It’s immersive. The characters feel like friends by the end. Readers connect. I struggle to find characters to connect to in this series since they, themselves, are not knitted together in the narrative. They lack emotional depth. Action consistently interrupts conversational flow as (among other things) brows raise, brows purse, stomachs repeatedly drop into the heels of shoes, heads wag, glares are shot, tones verbally shrug, mouths tug down, lots of things ‘flash,’ brows pucker, and a pancreas leaps into a chest at one point. Okay, that concludes an overview of my highlights, but wow. I’m not sure how to interpret some of these actions, nor do they add anything to the novel.

A podcast has been hinted at in both novels. Having read novels featuring podcasters, it feels like a serious oversight that the information interludes are not formatted to read like podcasts. I like the material contained in these sections as it provides context and interesting historical facts about an area I’m unfamiliar with, but the delivery feels ham-fisted. Like a missed opportunity. Capri shouldn’t have a podcast, in my opinion, since she has the unique role of murder tour guide in a market saturated with podcasters, but who asked me for my opinion?

Overall, Petito and Capri are cool on the page. Physical relations do not a relationship make, and I don’t feel so much as a tingle for these two. Capri and her daughter, again, fail to feel like a true duo. Friendships lack that heart that makes you wish you had a friend like that. These folks are character sketches and the mystery? A phrase comes to mind about the juice not being worth the squeeze. The closing chapter attempts to tie everything, except for who shot Capri, with a neat little bow. Without giving away the who, Petito informs Capri that someone is going to jail for five years for a second-degree murder charge for attacking her. First of all, any “attack” was met with force by Capri’s ‘new gadget,’ and how on earth would a trial have been had so fast? Laughable charge aside, if one is to write crime-related novels, one needs to be mindful of true crime-addicted readers. Authenticity is key. Which brings me to the lack of outside tension. Given that Capri is nosing around in a murder investigation, something should be at stake. There should be dramatic building tension, but instead, there are a few scenes where rather than gradually, something dangerous happens all of a sudden. Two things happen in this novel as if in the blink of an eye. In one instance, pretty much literally.

This will be my last time reading Capri’s adventures, regardless of the loose threads in book two that might indicate a forthcoming book three. This is the part where I’d try to suggest comparable reads for whom this novel might be suited. I’ll guardedly recommend this one for fans of the Finlay Donovan series, though the two are only similar in that neither is particularly graphic and both feature amateur female sleuths. Thank you to the author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was so thrilled to see there is another book in this series. I like the writing style and the characters - well, most of them. If you’ve not read A Serial Killer's Guide to San Franscisco, you can read this one without feeling lost but you will miss out on a cool story that mixes a murder mystery with enlightening history of San Francisco from tour guide main character Capri.

In A Tour to Die For, Capri is fully embracing another ‘hat’ as an investigative reporter as she works to solve the murder and research her podcast. A great way to procrastinate in writing her book, hone her investigating skills, and get in the middle of the investigation.

Mama Bear has her antenna up when daughter Megan’s security is threatened. Megan rises to the occasion making Mama Bear proud. Unfortunately, ex-husband Todd is still causing challenges.

Just when I begin to think that the history is distracting from the mystery, something happens and we’re back on the case. Lots of fascinating history references (like the first book). The ending felt rushed a bit and the ending was a bit surprising. New adventures as Capri and Petito navigate their new relationship. I love Capri's "voice" and think if she were a real person, would be a hoot to hang out with. The conversations would most likely never be boring.

I look forward to the next adventure of Capri and her crew.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for the early read and chance to share my thoughts.

Happy Reading!

I love this series and was thrilled to spend some more time in Capri Sanzio’s world with book two. I felt like I was right there taking a tour of San Francisco as we walked the (hilly) streets, and the setting alone is a treat! But the mystery — oh, my!! It’s twisty and complex enough to keep you on your toes, and makes for a super satisfying read. It hits that sweet spot of “cozy but spicy” that I absolutely love!

A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard is the 2nd book in her The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco Mysteries series. Capri Sanzio returns as San Francisco’s infamous true-crime tour guide, and when a tour guest claims to witness an assault in a nearby apartment, Capri’s sleuthing instincts kick in and she’s determined to solve the mystery.

This was a fun continuation from the series!
I enjoyed the character development, fast-paced storyline, and trying to solve the murder mystery along with the characters. Based on how it ended, I assume there will be more to come in the series and I am definitely planning to continue reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me a complimentary advanced reader copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and based off of this draft; the final publication may be different. Expected publication date is September 23, 2025.

A Tour to Die For is another fun trip through San Francisco with Capri and gang. This time, a guest on a tour witnesses an attack that appears to never have happened. When Capri takes a deeper look, she stirs up more than she bargained for.

The author did a great job in keeping me immersed in all aspects of this well-written multi-plot whodunit with a comfortable tone making it easy to follow from beginning to end with a few twists and surprises that enhanced my reading pleasure. The mystery was nicely done with a few suspects worthy of committing the crime and the clues were there for us to interpret. As the story progressed the intensity of the investigations rocketed up a notch and all I could do was enjoy the path the author took, especially as I had to know who was doing what to whom. I liked how Capri was determined to solve the puzzling case and kept at it even when forces were against her. I enjoyed her interactions with Heather, Ryan, Morgan and others she encountered, all that aided in her pursuit of justice. Bonus was Capri’s blossoming relationship with the detective. This was a delightfully engaging story with humor and intrigue, and I can’t wait for Capri’s next crime tour.

I enjoyed the first book of this series so when I seen A Tour to Die For available, I knew I had to request it. % stars easily but I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Capri Sanzio works walking tours about serial killers in San Francisco & it is during one of these tours that a guest says they saw a crime occurring. When the police come to investigate, they don’t find anything but Capri being who she is doesn’t believe this should just be brushed aside. Follow along as Capri investigates what is going on! This was a very engaging book & kept me hooked until the very end. The book brings in real aspects of San Francisco with a mix of creating a fictional world of mystery & suspense.

I really liked the first in this series, and was very eager to see Capri's adventures - and the history of San Francisco - return to my kindle. Unfortunately, I found this one to move a LOT slower than the first book. I also found Capri really irritating this time around. Where, in the first book, her stumbling around led to a surprisingly decent job investigating, in this book (with a little experience under her belt) she felt more lost than last time. Honestly, I expected her to not make quite so many foolish decisions and spend all of her time irritating the police - particularly given her burgeoning relationship with Petito... I really liked the concept and setup, but the rollout had so many characters coming into play for 5 seconds at a time that I found it distracting rather than intriguing. About a third in this one just lost me, interest-wise, and never really recovered the way I hoped it would.

I truly enjoyed A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC copy. This is the second book by Ms. Chouinard that I’ve read and she did not disappoint. Again she did an amazing job with the thrill and the mystery aspects of the book. Just when I thought I’d figured out the mystery there would be a twist that kept me turning the pages. Ms. Chouinard writes incredible detailed scenes that make you feel that you are right there amongst the San Francisco landmarks.
Speaking of San Francisco landmarks, as a resident of Northern California I absolutely loved the detailed description of the area and the landmarks as well as the history behind them.
A great mystery. I highly recommend this book!

Capri Sanzio works as a tour guide taking groups of people around San Francisco and telling them of the cities dark past involving murder and killers. While leading a tour, someone in the group witnesses an attack across the street. This begins the series of strange events that continue to plague Capri. Instilled with a sense of justice and the need to do what's right, she dives deeper into this mystery turned murder investigation. The more Capri investigates the more personal the case becomes.


"I was pretty sure that's exactly what most con men wanted you to think- that they were doing you a favor."

"Because if there's any place on earth where something that weird could've happened, it'd be San Francisco."

"This was the kind of guy your mother warned you about, in long, awkward conversations that instructed you to always carry a five-dollar bill and a quarter in your shoe for an emergency taxi and pay phone respectively. And while pay phones and taxis were almost entirely relics of the past, it turned out creeps never went out of style."

This is by far my favorite mystery book of the year! It was the first book in a while that I did not want to stop reading. Michelle Chouinard has a unique and clever way of wording things, which helped keep me captivated.

I am so glad I found this author, I can't wait to read another book she's written!



Thanks so much to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

Just read *A Tour to Die For* by Michelle Chouinard and it was such a fun escape.
Think cozy mystery with a side of sightseeing and a main character you’ll root for. The twists kept me guessing without getting too heavy—perfect weekend read with a cup of coffee and some snacks.

Capri Sanzio is no stranger to the unexpected, after all, she runs serial killer walking tours in foggy San Francisco, but when a tour guest claims to witness an attack in a nearby apartment, Capri’s instincts start buzzing. The police find no evidence and dismiss it as a fan seeking attention, but Capri can’t shake the feeling that something is off. With her investigative journalist side reawakened, Petito’s inside scoop, she starts digging. When a body turns up, she’s suddenly in the middle of another murder case. I loved this follow-up to The Serial Killer’s Guide to San Francisco in every way! While the first book dove deep into Capri’s personal life, this sequel brings a fresh, gripping mystery with just the right dose of family drama. I especially loved the historical details woven throughout and how San Francisco comes alive as more than just a setting, it feels like a character itself. I can’t wait to see what Capri gets tangled up in next!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC copy of this for a review. This book is out on September 23, 2025

Capri gives different tours around San Francisco, one of which is a serial killer tour and when you grandfather is “Overkill Bill” a convicted serial killer this become a very popular tour. But it was during a different tour when a person taking her tour claims to see a man choking a woman to death in a apartment along the tour route. However, the police find nothing and believe it has to do with maybe drumming up more people for her tours, even though Capri never said she saw it.
This is one of those stories that sucks you in and there is no putting it down until you are finished and definitely know who did it. There is lots of action and so so much suspense. The characters and story all work together and fit like a glove. I really loved this book a lot and will be on the lookout for more by this author.

A Tour to Die For is book 2 in The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco Mysteries series. It begins shortly after the events of book 1. I wish Capri was a real person and we could be friends! She is like able and I wouldn’t mind getting into the situations she finds herself in. I can’t wait to see if there’s a book 3!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate the deep-dive into the history of San Francisco (especially as someone who lived in the East Bay for a while) and love how the relationships built on the first book, while still feeling like it could feasibly be a stand-alone. I also really liked how the ending left it open for Chouinard to keep writing within the series (I would love to read the next one!). I did feel like this one started slower than the first and I did want a little bit more of an update on the book the FMC is writing. However, I did appreciate it at least being mentioned and that there is progress being made on it. I felt like that gave the familiar thread to relate book one to book two.

A Tour to Die For follows Capri, a true crime tour guide in San Francisco, who gets caught up in a real-life mystery during one of her tours. The story mixes history and suspense, with interesting twists and a brave main character. The plot was a little complex at times, but it’s a fun and interesting read. I read this as a standalone book and really enjoyed it. The characters felt strong and it was an exciting mystery.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I wasn't sure if the sequel would be able to capture the zany charm of the first book but it did!! Easily another 5 star book, I cannot wait to read whatever Michelle writes next.

This book was fun and, despite referencing what I assume are details from the first book in the series, I do believe it can stand alone. Capri Stanzio owns a walking tour company in San Francisco, telling tales of serial killers in the city. A guest sees what looks like a woman being attacked on one of her tours and this kicks off her latest search for clues. There is mystery and danger with likeable characters. It was a quick easy read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 book 2 of a series but this one stood alone I didn’t miss out on reading #1 first. I really liked this book. It was well done . I loved the characters and detective aspect of it. Great ending and I’ll definitely like to read the next one .