My Sister The Serial Killer: Book Review


Book review

 

Title: My Sister the Serial Killer

Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite

Genre: Fiction

 

The provocative title is bound to pique your curiosity. 

 

Set in Lagos, Nigeria, My Sister The Serial Killer tells the story of Korede who is the older and more responsible sister of Ayoola-the serial killer. When Korede gets a call one night from Ayoola, she braces herself for yet another clean up. This is the third boyfriend Ayoola has murdered. Korede sticks up to her nevertheless, just as families always do. However, when Ayoola begins to start dating Tade-the handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works as a nurse, the latter’s world comes tumbling down. Korede loves Tade secretly and is caught in a snare. It remains to be seen if Korede would make a choice to save Tade or protect her sister once again. 

 

While it is revealed that the sister is the serial killer at the beginning, this book is not necessarily all about the killings or Ayoola getting caught. The story is more about Korede and the choices that she makes. Written in first person from the point of view of Korede, we get to delve deep into her interiority and the history of her life. This includes some of her childhood experiences, dysfunctional family, her need for orderliness and her loneliness. We are also introduced to the secondary characters including a coma patient whom Korede talks to, the wealthy businessman from Dubai who Ayoola dates briefly and few of Korede’s annoying colleagues at the hospital. 

 

Written in the form of vignettes, the tone is an eclectic mix of wit, satirical humor and wickedness. Through her voice, we get to understand about Korede's society-one that is corrupt and considered unsafe for educated women. The vivid descriptions of the settings transport the readers to crime scenes, hospitals and the protagonists own house. The author also makes some interesting observations about the shallowness and deceptive stance of social media. 

 

My Sister The Serial Killer is compelling, hilarious and unsettling. It’s hard to tear yourself away from the pages. Every chapter takes you by surprise and leaves you with bittersweet emotions. 

 

 

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