The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco - by Michelle Chouinard

About the Book

In this clever mystery, the granddaughter of a serial killer shows readers another side of the beloved city.

Book Synopsis

A Nominee for the Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award

In Michelle Chouinard's clever mystery The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, the granddaughter of a serial killer shows readers another side of the beloved city.

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.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco

"An engrossing story about family bonds and legacy. . . Chouinard delivers a clever mystery with appealing characters who elevate the innovative plot." -Shelf Awareness

"This is really a story about family ties, and the complicated connection that emerges between murderer and murderees is both ingenious and deeply felt. . . Just the thing for readers who want to learn about all those other hearts that got left in San Francisco." -Kirkus Reviews

"Chouinard's lively style keeps the story moving and takes readers on a tour of San Francisco . . . [an] intriguing mystery." -Library Journal

"[A] fleet-footed whodunit. . . Capri is a winning protagonist, full of quips and fascinating tidbits about the history of San Francisco, and Chouinard provides her with a fast-paced plot with plenty of moving parts." -Publishers Weekly

"Fans of fun whodunits will love." -Woman's World

"For fans of fictional serial killers and murder tours!" -BookRiot

"Readers in search of a classic mystery need look no further." -First Clue

"[Chouinard] even makes San Francisco's topography a character." -Piedmont Exedra

"A really fun, clever murder mystery that hits all the right notes. It hooks you right away and never lets up. A perfect fall read." -Red Carpet Crash

"Authentic atmosphere and a flavor of San Francisco - a city that's been home to killers, sure, but is also beautiful and historic." -Aunt Agatha's

"I could practically feel the heavy San Francisco fog as I was reading . . . I was glued to the pages!" --Alicia Thompson, author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

"Quirky situation, colorful characters, a San Francisco that comes alive on the page--if I didn't live nearby already, Michelle Chouinard would make me want to move here! --Laurie R. King, author of The Beekeeper's Apprentice

"Both chilling and yet wholesome. I was drawn into the glamorous, mysterious world and could not keep myself from turning the pages and racing to the end. I devoured every quirky sentence." --Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

"Only Murders in the Building meets Vertigo meets Gilmore Girls. . . Chouinard's delightful series opener has the low-down on high society, a pretzel of a plot, and an admirably light touch with darkness. Brava!" --Catriona McPherson, author of the Last Ditch Motel mysteries

"Prepare to be enthralled . . . A spine-tingling novel that will keep you up all night!" --Michelle Gagnon, author of Killing Me

About the Author

MICHELLE CHOUINARD is the author of The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, and under another name, the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of eight previous mysteries. Michelle has a Ph.D in developmental psychology from Stanford University and was one of UC Merced's founding faculty members. She enjoys caffeine in all forms, amateur genealogy, baking, and anything to do with Halloween or the zombie apocalypse.