Book Review – My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Title: My Sister, the Serial Killer

Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite

Edition: Hardcover

Page Count: 226 pages

Rating: 5 / 5 ✨✨✨✨✨

Short Summary:

When Korede’s dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what’s expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This’ll be the third boyfriend Ayoola’s dispatched in, quote, self-defence and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede’s long been in love with him, and isn’t prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other…

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“I know better than to take life directions from someone without a moral compass.”

I’m going to be completely honest – I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I grabbed this book off the shelf at the library. I’d seen it floating around on Twitter & Bookstagram for most of the year (it came out in November 2018), and although I didn’t know what it was about, the cover drew me in – it’s stunning!

This story about two sisters is unlike any I’ve read before. Korede, the older and more mature sister, spends her time working and cleaning up her younger sister’s messes. The younger sister in this equation, Ayoola, spend her time going on dates, being spoiled by everyone around her, and, you know, murdering people.

I loved this unique take on your average serial killer story. Instead of the creepy sort of killer we see a lot in books about murderers, Ayoola is everything you’d imagine a sheltered, boy-crazy, magazine-reading teenage girl to be (although she’s in her 20s, she’s written to seem much younger). She’s also secretly very conniving and manipulative, and the only one who knows it is Korede.

The bond between Korede and Ayoola was one of my favorite parts of this book. I loved how strong and protective Korede was, but also ached for her at times throughout the story. She’s not the “pretty” sister, she doesn’t charm everyone she meets, but she does want to stand by her sister and family, even at the cost of her own happiness. Her narration was compelling and witty, and I especially enjoyed the own voices aspect of the book & Nigerian location part of the story.

Overall, this is a quick read that’s witty, fast-paced, and extremely entertaining. I almost wish the ending were a little different, but I feel it fit the story and characters, and love it still.