Devi Nair
A Map to Murder
๐ Read as a book ๐ 320 pages โฑ 4 hours reading time ๐ท๏ธ Minotaur Books ๐ To be published: September 22, 2026 ๐ ARC received via NetGalley
There's a particular kind of reading anxiety that sets in when you love a series too much. Book one blew you away. Book two somehow topped it. By book three, you're convinced the author has used up all their magic and you're about to be heartbroken. Michelle Chouinard apparently did not get that memo, because A Map to Murder is brilliant, vibrant, and everything I didn't know I needed from this series.
The Summer of Love as a murder mystery backdrop was genuinely inspired. Chouinard doesn't just use San Francisco's history as wallpaper. She weaves it into the DNA of the mystery itself, letting the idealism of that era crash headlong into something much darker. The flower-power aesthetic and the cold case at its heart create this gorgeous tension between beauty and violence that feels uniquely San Franciscan. It's the kind of setting work that makes you want to immediately book a flight and take Capri's actual tour.
And can we talk about the relationships? Petito being endlessly supportive while Capri charges headfirst into danger is the kind of dynamic I will never get tired of. The found family element continues to shine, grounding the mystery in something warm and real. The pacing was tight, the tension was Constant. and I genuinely could not put this down.
Three books in, and this series just keeps getting richer. At this point, itโs not even a question that Michelle Chouinard isnโt just consistent, sheโs leveling up with every book. And honestly, I need the next one immediately.
Would I recommend this? A Map to Murder is the rare third book in a series that doesn't coast on goodwill. It earns every page. The mystery is clever, the setting is immersive, and the emotional core will sneak up on you in the best possible way. If you haven't started this series, please fix that immediately. And if you have, add this one to your TBR right now. Mark September 22nd in your calendar, because this is one release you do not want to sleep on.
๐ Read as a book ๐ 320 pages โฑ 4 hours reading time ๐ท๏ธ Minotaur Books ๐ To be published: September 22, 2026 ๐ ARC received via NetGalley
There's a particular kind of reading anxiety that sets in when you love a series too much. Book one blew you away. Book two somehow topped it. By book three, you're convinced the author has used up all their magic and you're about to be heartbroken. Michelle Chouinard apparently did not get that memo, because A Map to Murder is brilliant, vibrant, and everything I didn't know I needed from this series.
The Summer of Love as a murder mystery backdrop was genuinely inspired. Chouinard doesn't just use San Francisco's history as wallpaper. She weaves it into the DNA of the mystery itself, letting the idealism of that era crash headlong into something much darker. The flower-power aesthetic and the cold case at its heart create this gorgeous tension between beauty and violence that feels uniquely San Franciscan. It's the kind of setting work that makes you want to immediately book a flight and take Capri's actual tour.
And can we talk about the relationships? Petito being endlessly supportive while Capri charges headfirst into danger is the kind of dynamic I will never get tired of. The found family element continues to shine, grounding the mystery in something warm and real. The pacing was tight, the tension was Constant. and I genuinely could not put this down.
Three books in, and this series just keeps getting richer. At this point, itโs not even a question that Michelle Chouinard isnโt just consistent, sheโs leveling up with every book. And honestly, I need the next one immediately.
Would I recommend this? A Map to Murder is the rare third book in a series that doesn't coast on goodwill. It earns every page. The mystery is clever, the setting is immersive, and the emotional core will sneak up on you in the best possible way. If you haven't started this series, please fix that immediately. And if you have, add this one to your TBR right now. Mark September 22nd in your calendar, because this is one release you do not want to sleep on.