Where Is Your Bookmark: My Bookish Mewsings on The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco & Other Friday Fun

I am in the middle of an audiobook as I write this (my print and e-books are upstairs), which makes sharing excerpts difficult, so I thought I would feature a book I read last month but hadn't had a chance to review yet. I hope your New Year has gotten off a good start! I look forward to seeing what you are reading!

Along with this mini review, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion of Rose City Reader and First Line Friday hosted by Carrie of Reading is My Super Power, as well as Friday 56 hosted by Anne of My Head is Full of Books, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.  

Katherine Harper hurried out of the Legion of Honor as fast as the slippery pavement and limited visibility allowed. [opening of The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco]

               ★                    

Sylvia immediately stood and turned toward the camera. The recording abruptly stopped--but not before I got a clear look at her face, this time drawn tight with fatigued resignation. [excerpt from 54% of The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco] 

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco (#1) by Michelle Chouinard

Minotaur, 2024; 336 pgs  

Mystery/Suspense

Source: The publisher via NetGalley

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. Capri soon finds herself at the heart of the police’s investigation for an entirely different reason. She and her daughter are prime suspects. [Goodreads Summary]

My thoughts: If you are in the mood for a cozy mystery with a good dose of humor, a hint of romance, and a little bite, you may want to check The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco. This was such an enjoyable read. San Francisco is one of my favorite cities to visit, and I was thrilled that the author included notable landmarks and local crime history trivia throughout the novel. Capri (short for Capricorn--but don't call her that!) has a unique job--and her serial killer city tours are quite the rage among tourists. 

When Capri's former mother-in-law announces she will no help Capri's daughter with her college tuition, Capri decides she must pull out all the stops to make sure her daughter is still able finish school. Add to that the recent copycat murders and the connection to her own family, it doesn't take much for Capri's friend to talk her into deciding a book and podcast series are the way to go. Especially if it includes doing a little investigation of her own to clear hers and her daughter's names as suspects. If she can find out what really happened all those years ago that lead to her grandfather's arrest and conviction, perhaps she can find out who the copycat is. 

Even though she is divorced, Capri is very close with her ex-husband and her father-in-law. Her former mother-in-law was another matter. It is obvious she is very protective of them. Capri's relationship with her father is complicated due to his uncompromising stance on not talking about the serial murders his father was convicted for, which makes Capri's search for the truth all the more difficult, but not impossible. She is tenacious and resourceful. Her father's not wanting to deal with it was never really an option for Capri given how notorious the case was and remains. I could understand where her father was coming from but, at the same time, agreed with Capri that his way was not healthy and had done more damage to his family in the long wrong. 

I found the novel to be a fast, page-turning read. Capri's journalistic skills come in handy, along with the help of her coworkers, in uncovering the truth in both the past and present crimes. Capri's choices aren't always the wisest, and it's a wonder the handsome homicide detective didn't arrest her for obstruction. There was a lot going on, which unfortunately came at the expense of more fully developing many of the side characters. Just the same, The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco kept me fully engaged and entertained. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next in the series!  

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think? 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

How do you celebrate New Year's Eve/the New Year? 

My preferred way to bring in the New Year is to keep it low-key and spend a quiet night in, although there are years we have spent out with friends. Sometimes there are movies, TV, music, or games. Other times it is just like any other night. 

For years I have tried to make hot fudge sundaes a New Year's Eve tradition, but it is hit and miss whether that happens. This year, for example, we had them on New Year's Day instead. We skipped the last two years before that because we were celebrating the ringing in the New Year at a friend's house. When I was growing up, my brother and I would bang pots and pans with wooden spoons at the stroke of midnight, yelling, "Happy New Year!" into the cold night air. I carried that over with Mouse, when she was younger. The banging of pots and pans went out of favor somewhere along the way, but I still try with the sundaes. 

New Year's Day itself is recovery day--from a late New Year's Eve and the holidays in general. It's usually the day I update the calendar, if I haven't already, and whine about having to go back to work the next day (which I definitely did this year). 

Do you celebrate New Year's Eve/Day? If so, what do you do? Do you have any New Year's traditions? 

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

It's 2025; are you looking forward to any highly anticipated book releases or reading events in January or the following months? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I am sure there are many books coming out this year that I will be excited about once I remember or become aware! As for book events, I am looking forward to my upcoming book club meetings. This will be my book club year if my propensity to overcommit has anything to say about it. I doubt I will be able to attend the diverse romance book blub, but I currently am reading this month's pick just in case. I or sure plan to attend the fiction book club this month. Oh, and the mystery and historical fiction book clubs too. Which reminds me, I need to start those books soon!

Are there any upcoming releases or book events you are looking forward to? 

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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© 2025 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

2024: A Year In Review

Some fun statistics about my reading in 2024 (Thanks to The Storygraph for the cool graphs and stats!): 

Format of books: 

Digital - 54

Print - 36

Audio - 12

53 of the books I read were part of a series.

I explored 52 new authors.

5 were re-reads (one of which I read twice this year, once in print and later in audio).

Ratings breakdown:

Average Rating - 4.1

    5 Paws (Outstanding) - 7 

    4.5 Paws - 30

    4 Paws (Very Good) - 44

    3.5 Paws - 19

    3 Paws (Good) - 1

    2.5 Paws - 1

    2 Paws (Fair) - 0

    DNF - 0

I enjoyed answering Jamie's (The Perpetual Page Turner) End of the Year Survey in past years and decided to dig up an old one and apply it to this year.  I did alter some of the questions and subtracted a few to make it my own.

1. Best books read in 2024?

I read many wonderful books this year and a wide variety--at least in the way of fiction.

In 2024, I made a point of selecting one favorite book per month (although one month I cheated and picked two). These were my monthly favorites, along with the ratings I gave them. 

January ~ Legends & Lattes (#1) by Travis Baldree (5 paws)

February ~ Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (#2) by Heather Fawcett (5 paws)

March ~ Speculations in Sin (Below the Stairs Mystery #7) by Jennifer Ashley (4.5 paws)

April ~ Dune by Frank Herbert (4.5 paws)

May ~ The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo (5 paws)

    & Kindred by Octavia Butler (5 paws)

June ~ The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton (4.5 paws)

July ~ Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (5 paws)

August ~ The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (4.5 paws)

September ~ The Golden Enclaves (Scholomance #3) by Naomi Novik (4 paws)

October ~ The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (5 paws)

November ~ Artificial Condition (Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells (4.5 paws)

December ~ Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (4.5 paws)

2. Best re-read and audiobook of 2024? 

Although I read the print version of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver this past summer (and loved it!), I decided to reread it via audiobook last month to have the story and characters fresh in my mind for an upcoming book club meeting later this month. The audio version, narrated by Charlie Thurston, was just as good as the print version, and another 5 paw read for me. 

3. Best nonfiction read?

I may not have read a lot of nonfiction in 2024, but I was absolutely taken by One Woman's Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC by Charity Adams Earley. I read the historical fiction novel, Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders, right before it and needed to know more about Charity Adams Earley, which is what motivated me to pick up One Woman's Army. I am so glad I did. I have not seen The Six Triple Eight on Netflix yet, but I am looking forward to it!

On a more personal level, I adored the graphic memoir, Everything is OK but Debbie Tung. As someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder and depression, I found it extremely relatable. 

4. Best Manga/Graphic Novel of 2024?

Spy x Family is such a fun manga series--and one my entire family enjoys reading. 

Alice Oseman's Heartstopper, Vol. 1 was just as good as I expected it to be after seeing the first season of the TV series. Perfect for when I am in the mood for something short and will leave me smiling. 

Another graphic novel that was among my favorites in 2024 was The Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada, illustrated by Ko Hyung-Ju, set in South Korea. With banned books being a major headliner these days, this is a must read and makes me appreciate my access to libraries and book clubs even more. 

5. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2024?

Most definitely Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I attempted to read another of her books a few years ago and it ended up in my DNF pile. I was hesitant to try this one and it ended up being one of my favorite books of the year. 

6. Best series/trilogy started in 2024? Best sequel? Best series ender of 2024?

Starters - I have a soft spot for book series and am always starting new ones. There were quite a few good ones this year. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is the obvious favorite for first in the series, although I also want to give a shout out to Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, which was such a fun read, and The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper which has stays with me still.

Sequel - Heather Fawcett continues to woo me with her Emily Wilde books, and the second in the series, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands was a delightful read.

Endings - I am so sad to see Chloe Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland urban fantasy come to an end with Cold Curses. It was a fitting end to a great series. I have not read the prequel series yet, and so have that to look forward to. Another series I hated to see the end of was Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series. I had put off reading The Untold Story for just that reason. Irene and Kai will always have a special place in my heart. I cannot miss mentioning The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, which brought her Scholomance trilogy to an end. Such amazing world building!

Truly though, I think my favorite this year was the conclusion of the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab with A Conjuring of Light. I have loved every book in the trilogy and look forward to reading her next book set in the same world.   

7. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Amari and the Great Game (Amari Supernatural Investigations #2) by B.B. Dalton. I enjoy this middle grade fantasy series immensely. It is an action-packed series, full of magic and high stakes. 

8. Book I read in 2024 that I am most likely to re-read next year? 

I likely will be re-reading Briony Cameron's The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye this summer for my historical book club. It's a good thing I really enjoyed it! 

9. Hidden gem I hope everyone reads: 

The Truth About Ember by Danica Nava was one rollercoaster of a novel. I loved the characters, even when I found myself begging Ember to make better choices. There is so much character growth in the novel--and that ending was perfection. I cannot wait to see what Danica Nava brings us next.

10. Most unique book you read in 2024?

Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. Unique. Funny. Satisfying. I picked up this book to read at just the right time in my life. It was a great escape.

11. Book you can't believe you waited until 2024 to finally read?

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes--such an inspiring and insightful audiobook. I have so much respect for Shonda Rhimes. I am glad I finally got around to it. 

12. One true pairing of the year:  

As you can tell, I am not good at sticking to just one favorite to many of these questions, and it's no different with this category. 

• Kat and Daniel from the Below the Stairs Mystery series by Jennifer Ashley who are so well suited for each other in every way. 
• Ursula and Xavier from Kiss and Spell by Celestine Martin. Talk about a swoon worthy couple! 
• The Kiss Countdown (2024) by Etta Easton made my favorites list for a reason. Vincent and Amerie are perfect for each other! They stole my heart.
• Cassie and Nick from Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca keep getting in each other's way, but they couldn't be more perfect for one another. 

13. New authors you discovered in 2024 and hope to read more by?

I love exploring new-to-me authors and 2024 year was no exception. Here are some of the ones I definitely plan to be reading more by in the future: 

    Parini Shroff

    Vanessa Chan

    Paula Chase

    Travis Baldree

    Subnum Khan

    Joshunda Sanders

    Gareth Brown

    Freya Sampson

    Octavia E. Butler

    Trisha R. Thomas

    Etta Easton

    Guadalupe Garcia McCall

    Daphne du Maurier

    Iris Beaglehole

    Katherine Reay

    Alex Hay

    Briony Cameron

    Danica Nava

    Emily Hart 

    Percival Everett

    Alice Oseman

    C.M. Waggoner

    Isabel Cañas

    Elodie Harper

    Maxie Dara

    Michelle Chouinard

    Hannah Nicole Maehrer

14. Best book that was out of your comfort zone?

Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1) by Katee Robert is probably the book that comes closest to fitting this category, even if only on the edge of my comfort zone spice level wise. I enjoyed the world building and look forward to reading more of the series. 

15. Top five favorite covers of a books you read in 2024?

16. Book that was the most though provoking/impactful on you in 2024?

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and Louise Erdrich's The Sentence have made lasting impressions on me through their characters and their stories: rich in their historical ties, as well as their cultural and social commentaries. 

17. Shortest and longest book you read in 2024?

Shortest - 69 pages - The Price of Lemon Cake (Below the Stairs Mystery #6.5) by Jennifer Ashley

Longest - 800 pages -Keeper of the Lost Cities Unlocked (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8.5) by Shannon Messenger

18. Favorite book you read in 2024 by an author you’ve read previously?

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo was among my top reads of the year. I have enjoyed everything I have read by Yangsze Choo in the past so it was no surprise. This is my favorite book by Yangszee Choo yet.

19. Genre you read the most from in 2024? 

For most of the year, it seemed fantasy and mystery were running fairly even, but fantasy took the lead in the end. It is quite a turn for my reading to be heavy in romance as well. It fit with my strong need for happy endings this past year. 

20. Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting?

This is a tough one to answer. I am always impressed and drawn deeply into the complex and amazing worlds created by authors V.E. Schwab, Genevieve Cogman, and Naomi Novik, and the books I read by them in 2024 were no different. Add Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes to that list as of this past year as well.

James by Percival Everett put me right on the Mississippi River, and Elodie Harper's Wolf Den books (at least the two I've read so far) brought 79 A.D. Pompeii to life in a visceral way. Likewise, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas brought the setting and time period alive for me as I read it. I cannot leave out Demon Copperhead. Barbara Kingsolver blew me away with her characters and world building.   

21. Which book made me smile and smile and smile?

Kiss and Spell and Deja Brew by Celestine Martin. If books were dessert, these would be the best kind.

22. Book that made me cry?

I cry so easily when I read, whether they make me happy or sad. The book that made me sob the most and for the longest in 2024 was The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan. It was heart wrenching and then some. 

23. Book Club Reads:

In the fall of 2024, I took the plunge and joined a couple of book clubs through the local indie bookstore. 

September Historical Fiction Book Club Read ~ A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon

October Cellar Door Book Club Read ~ Weyward by Emily Hart

October Historical Fiction Book Club Read ~ The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

November Historical Fiction Book Club Read ~ Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation (2017) by Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings

24. How I did on my 2024 reading goals: 

Read 1 Classic novel: I read 5 Classic novels ✔

        Kindred by Octavia Butler (modern classic)

        Parable of the Sower (Earthseed #1) by Octavia Butler (modern classic)

        David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

        Don't Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

        Dune (#1) by Frank Herbert

Read 6 audiobooks: I read 12 audiobooks ✔

        The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

        Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews

        Sweep the Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews

        Grave Peril (Dresden Files #3) by Jim Butcher

        Summer Knights (Dresden Files #4) by Jim Butcher

        The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

        Dune (Dune #1) by Frank Herbert

        Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

        Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

        Ceremony in Death (In Death #5) by J.D. Robb

        Vengeance in Death (In Death #6) by J.D. Robb

        Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1) by Katee Robert

Read at least one fiction/nonfiction pairing: I read one pairing ✔

        Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders and 

        One Woman's Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC by Charity Adams Earley.  

Read a book over 700 pages: I read 3 ✔

        David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (768 pages) 

      Keeper of the Lost Cities Unlocked (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8.5) by Shannon Messenger (800 pages)

Reading 3 books recommended by my daughter: I read all 9 of her recommendations ✔

        Misfit Mansion by Kay Davault

        The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

        Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) by Shannon Messenger 

        Keeper of the Lost Cities Unlocked (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8.5) by Shannon Messenger

        Magical Boy, Vol. 1 by The Kao

        Magical Boy, Vol. 2 by The Kao

        Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Vol. 1 by Osamu Niishi

        Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Vol. 2 by Osamu Niishi

        Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Vol. 3 by Osamu Niishi

Reading all of my TBR Poll List Winners: I read all of my poll winners in 2024, although I did         not run a poll every month. ✔

        January - Legends & Lattes (#1) by Travis Baldree

        February - Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders

        March - The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

        April - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

        May - Tie! Happily Never After by Lynn Painter and Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

        June - Murder Road by Simon St. James

        July - The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

        August - The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

        September - Haunted Ever After (Boneyard Key #1) by Jen DeLuca

        October - The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner 

*

And that  sums up my 2024 in reading. While the year itself was a challenging one on many fronts, it turned out to be wonderful reading wise. I read more books than I anticipated overall, and more importantly, I read some really great books. I wanted to include them all in this end of the year survey, but 102 books is a lot. Check out my full list of the books I read in 2024 here.

I look forward to reading your wrap up posts and lists of favorites! Let me know if we have any favorites in common!

I do not know what 2025 will hold for any of us, but I look forward to another year of blogging and sharing my life with you. Thanks to all of you, whether you are a long time reader, an occasional visitor, or visiting for the first time. I hope your New Year is filled with love, strength, good health, and the makings of many good memories. And may you read many wonderful books!

Happy New Year!

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© 2025, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.