The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco

A Mystery by Michelle Chouinard

Well! It's been quite a while since I partook in the literary smörgåsbord that the San Francisco mystery genre has become.

The granddaughter of a serial killer shows readers another side of the beloved city in this very readable mystery. Although murders do take place, the other side of SF is not the one of common criminals but, rather, high society and the divide between old money and new in the 21st century. Capri Sanzio, gives serial killer tours of the city, she’s been interested in the topic since she discovered she’s the granddaughter of serial killer William ‘Overkill Bill’ Sanzio.  A copycat killer has struck, putting the case is back in the news. Capri’s ex-mother in law, Sylvia, has just cut off funding for Capri’s daughter’s tuition,  forcing Capri to document the old case with a podcast and a book and hopefully earn some money. Capri soon finds herself at the heart of the police’s investigation: she and her daughter are prime suspects.

The high society scene of old-money San Francisco meets high-tech, no one is above breaking the law for their own purposes, and Capri’s delving into the paper (and digital) trail of these shenanigans gives to story its momentum, the characterizations are somewhat flat.

Reading this book is like eating a bland salad—you won’t feel satiated—but you also won’t have to suffer indigestion after having read it. Marginal recommendation.