Read with Fern

“Whichever sites you choose to take in, remember to dress in layers—the chill of a San Francisco summer can be deadly.”

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, Michelle Chouinard

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a perfect late summer mystery! It’s a little bit cozy with a little bit of thriller, and so much sass. The main character, Capri, is the granddaughter of a convicted serial killer, Overkill Bill. She’s spent her whole life wondering if her grandfather was really guilty, but never had the chance to dig in deeper. Then a woman is killed by an Overkill Bill copycat. This spurs Capri to start looking at her grandfather’s case again. 

I know what you’re thinking, how can a book with a serial killer be a cozy mystery? Everything intense happens off-page, so there’s no graphic descriptions, and Capri is anything but a police detective. Instead, she’s the quintessential scrappy, DIY gal with a gut instinct and a determination to find some answers.

Capri also has the fun group of friends that band around her, from her best friend from school to their lovable nerdy coworker who just happens to know how to hack everything. Their camaraderie and slice-of-life moments at their shared job, a tour of San Francisco serial killers, is the humor needed to offset any intensity in the book.

My only issue with the book was its pacing. As a rule of thumb, mysteries can move a little slower than thrillers, and this was no exception. It didn’t bother me until I’d gotten to the halfway point. Then there were so many things going on, but the characters were still taking things extremely slowly, with almost no build-up for absolutely insane plot moments! However, the ending was really well-done, and that canceled out most of my issues.

I think this is a perfect summer read because it is cozy. It’s not some huge, dramatic thriller that has your stomach turning and nightmares starting. Instead, it’s a gripping but funny mystery with a sweetly wrapped up ending!

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!