Who Would Like This Book:
This book hooks you from page one with its darkly witty take on sibling loyalty gone wildly off the rails. Set in vibrant Lagos, the story of Korede and her beautiful but dangerous younger sister Ayoola blends satire, family drama, and psychological suspense. It's a quick read with snappy, short chapters and a writing style that's sharp and engaging. If you’re into stories about complicated relationships, enjoy dark humor, or love character-driven novels with an original premise, you'll fly through this one. Fans of literary fiction looking for a unique twist on crime and family ties will especially appreciate it.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re searching for a traditional mystery or a high-octane thriller with lots of twists, this might not hit the spot. Some readers found the characters hard to relate to or disliked that the plot isn’t about solving a crime but about the emotional (sometimes frustrating) dynamics between sisters. Others wished for deeper character development or a more conclusive ending. The humor is on the dark and subtle side - not everyone will find it laugh-out-loud funny.
About:
'My Sister, the Serial Killer' by Oyinkan Braithwaite is a darkly comedic tale set in Nigeria, exploring the complex relationship between two sisters, Korede and Ayoola. Korede, a nurse, finds herself repeatedly cleaning up after Ayoola, who has a habit of killing her boyfriends. As the story unfolds, tensions rise when Ayoola sets her sights on the man Korede has feelings for, leading to a series of events that test the sisters' loyalty and bond. The book delves into themes of family dynamics, sisterhood, jealousy, and the blurred lines between protection and enabling.
The writing style of the book is described as sharp, concise, and quick-paced. The short chapters and dark humor woven throughout the narrative keep readers engaged as they follow the moral dilemmas faced by Korede and the twisted antics of her sister Ayoola. The story not only offers a glimpse into Nigerian culture but also prompts contemplation on deeper issues such as familial obligation, surviving abuse, and the complexities of relationships within a patriarchal society.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include domestic violence, murder, and themes of psychological trauma.
Has Romance?
There is a romantic subplot involving Korede and the doctor she has feelings for, though it is complicated by her sister's actions.
From The Publisher:
NOMINATED FOR THE 2019 BOOKER PRIZE
WINNER OF THE LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE FOR MYSTERY/THRILLER
FINALIST FOR THE 2019 WOMEN'S PRIZE
Korede's sister Ayoola is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead, stabbed through the heart with Ayoola's knife. Korede's practicality is the sisters' saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood (bleach, bleach, and more bleach), the best way to move a body (wrap it in sheets like a mummy), and she keeps Ayoola from posting pictures to Instagram when she should be mourning her "missing" boyfriend. Not that she gets any credit.
Korede has long been in love with a kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where she works. She dreams of the day when he will realize that she's exactly what he needs. But when he asks Korede for Ayoola's phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and how far she's willing to go to protect her.
Ratings (157)
Incredible (17) | |
Loved It (47) | |
Liked It (45) | |
It Was OK (39) | |
Did Not Like (8) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (290):
Read It (162) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (100) | |
Did Not Finish (4) | |
Not Interested (23) |
15 comment(s)
I love the authors writing style but the plot could've been more
I really wanted to like this more than I did. I had heard so many great things about the book, I feel like it spent so much time building up to just take a sharp drop to the end.
I expected more from this book. I was so excited to read this and I didn’t come away loving it. It was a quick read and there were moments that had a turn of phrase that made me think but all in all it was not for me.
Dobra książka...
Really enjoyed this book. Well written and complex characters. Very fast pacing so finished it in one day. Highly recommend.
A re-read. Is it weird that I found it oddly entertaining? Such a bizarre little book but packed with so much intense and emotion, and impossible to put down.
"My Sister, the Serial Killer" focuses on the strained relationship between older sister Korede and younger sister Ayoola who live in Lagos, Nigeria. When the novel begins, Korede is called by Ayoola because she has killed her boyfriend. As the older sister, Korede feels responsible for taking care of Ayoola and as such, she cleans up the murder and the removes the dead body.
As the novel progresses, the reader discovers that Ayoola has actually killed several boyfriends and each time this happens, Ayoola calls Korede to save her. Due to Ayoola's beauty, she is viewed as innocent and is the favorite daughter of her mother as well as viewed as the daughter with the best marriage prospects. While Korede is expected to always be responsible and is often chastised by her mother, Ayoola isn't expected to grow up and is still treated like a child by their mother.
Korede works at a local hospital as a nurse while Ayoola is able to work at home as a clothing designer. Korede has long been in love with a doctor at her job and is heartbroken when the object of her affects asks for her sister's phone number. As Korede watches the romantic relationship unfound between her sister and the doctor, she finds an outlet to share her deepest thoughts through a comatose hospital patient. Despite Korede knowing the the possibility of Ayoola killing again is high, she feels powerless to stop it from happening.
By the end of the book, Korede accepts her permanent role as Ayoola's big sister/protector and Ayoola realizes that Korede will always have her back no matter what happens in her life. Overall, while men may come and go, sisterhood is forever.
This was an enjoyable novel because it is written in a very easy to read style and has short chapters. The author does a great job in creating characters you care while leaves a long impact in the reader's mind regarding how far they would go to protect a family member from others and themselves.
This one intrigued me. So much beneath the surface that you will never know. Fairly short solid “read”. I listened via audiobook. Would recommend it.
I love stories about sisters and murder....I had no idea that was my sweet spot but apparently it is! If you liked this, try Sadie by Courtney Summers
*****5.0*****
This one was a quick read. Usually books shortlisted for Awards are like kind of hard to understand, long sentences, read between the lines, references to some historic/mythological stories type books. But this one was a to the point book yet it spoke thousand words.
“It takes a whole lot longer to dispose of a body than to dispose of a soul, especially if you don’t want to leave any evidence of foul play.”
This is a thriller, well kind of, where you know who is the killer (Ayoola, the younger sister) and how she kills, but thrill is in how she escapes each time with the help of her sister(Korede, the elder sister). Mostly it is about the people in it and the slow unraveling of the backstory which has lead to Ayoola becoming a serial Killer and Korede helping her. Yet with these killings, what remains with you is the story of two sisters, thier dysfunctional family, abuse, family secrets and heart wrenching emotions.
“Ayoola summons me with these words—Korede, I killed him.”
Well narrated, wonderful plot and excellent character. I loved every inch of it.
What can you read after
My Sister, the Serial Killer?
About the Author:
Oyinkan Braithwaite is a Nigerian-British novelist and writer. She was born in Lagos and spent her childhood in both Nigeria and the UK
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