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A review by thereadingraccoon
The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco is a mystery about a local tour guide operator who finds herself caught up in two separate murder cases.
Before Capri Sanzio was born, her grandfather was convicted of a series of murders in San Francisco and nicknamed “Overkill Bill.” Now, nearly 60 years later, another murderer is copycatting those crimes, and one of the victims is Capri’s own wealthy socialite mother-in-law, Sylvia. Capri needs to get to the bottom of her grandfather’s case and find out how it’s connected to Sylvia before she and her daughter become suspects.
I enjoyed this murder mystery, especially its main character, the amateur detective Capri. It was refreshing to read about a forty-something divorced woman juggling a business and an adult daughter in college. The story includes a lot of details about San Francisco, which makes a great backdrop for the crimes, both old and new. You can really feel the author’s love for the city coming through on the page. I also liked the side characters, like her friends Ryan and Heather, and the handsome Homicide Inspector Dan Petito. I’m not sure I fully followed the financial aspect of the current crime, but it was still a solid mystery. I look forward to reading more by Michelle Chouinard and hope this becomes a series.
Before Capri Sanzio was born, her grandfather was convicted of a series of murders in San Francisco and nicknamed “Overkill Bill.” Now, nearly 60 years later, another murderer is copycatting those crimes, and one of the victims is Capri’s own wealthy socialite mother-in-law, Sylvia. Capri needs to get to the bottom of her grandfather’s case and find out how it’s connected to Sylvia before she and her daughter become suspects.
I enjoyed this murder mystery, especially its main character, the amateur detective Capri. It was refreshing to read about a forty-something divorced woman juggling a business and an adult daughter in college. The story includes a lot of details about San Francisco, which makes a great backdrop for the crimes, both old and new. You can really feel the author’s love for the city coming through on the page. I also liked the side characters, like her friends Ryan and Heather, and the handsome Homicide Inspector Dan Petito. I’m not sure I fully followed the financial aspect of the current crime, but it was still a solid mystery. I look forward to reading more by Michelle Chouinard and hope this becomes a series.