Thanks to NetGalley and to Atlantic Books (Doubleday) for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
The title of this book hooked me. The fact that it was set in Lagos, Nigeria, made it more attractive. I could not resist the cover. And then I started reading and got hit by this first paragraph:
“Ayoola summons me with these words —Korede, I killed him. I had hoped I would never hear those words again.”
Told in the first person by Korede, the book narrates her story and that of her “complex” relationship with her younger sister, Ayoola, beautiful, graceful, a successful designer, beloved of social media, irresistible to men, the favourite of everybody… She’s almost perfect. But, there is a big but, which you will have guessed from the title. She is a serial killer.
This is a short and very funny book, although it requires a certain kind of sense of humour on the part of the reader. You need to be able to appreciate sarcasm and dark humour (very dark) to find it funny, but if you do, this is a fresh voice and a different take on what has become an extremely popular genre recently, domestic noir. I kept thinking about the many novels I had read where I had commented on the setting of the book and how well the author had captured it. There are no lengthy descriptions in this novel, but it manages to capture the beat and the rhythm of Lagos (a place where I’ve never been, I must admit) and makes us appreciate what life must be like for the protagonists. Because, although Ayoola is a murderer, life goes on, and Korede has to keep working as a nurse, she is still in love (or so she thinks) with one of the doctors at the hospital, their mother still suffers from her headaches, Ayoola wants to carry on posting on Snapchat, the patient in coma Korede confides in needs to be looked after, the police need to be seen to be doing something, and there are more men keen on spending time with beautiful Ayoola…
I found Korede understandable, although I doubt that we are meant to empathise with her full-heartedly. At some points, she seems to be on a victim, trapped in a situation she has no control over. At others, we realise that we only have her own opinion of her sister’s behaviour, and she has enabled the murderous activities of her sibling, in a strange symbiotic relationship where neither one of them can imagine life without the other. We learn of their traumatic past, and we can’t help but wonder what would we do faced with such a situation? If your sister was a psychopath (not a real psychiatric diagnosis, but I’m sure she’d score quite high in the psychopathy scale if her sister’s description is accurate) who kept getting into trouble, always blaming it on others, would you believe her and support her? Would you help her hide her crimes? Is blood stronger than everything else?
I loved the setting, the wonderful little scenes (like when Tade, the attractive doctor, sings and the whole city stops to listen, or when the police take away Korede’s car to submit it to forensic testing and then make her pay to return it to her, all dirty and in disarray), the voice of the narrator and her approach to things (very matter-of-fact, fully acknowledging her weaknesses, her less-than-endearing personality, sometimes lacking in insight but also caring and reflective at times), and the ending as well. I also enjoyed the writing style. Short chapters, peppered with Yoruba terms, vivid and engaging, it flows well and it makes it feel even briefer than it is.
If you enjoy books with a strong sense of morality and providing deep lessons, this novel is not for you. Good and bad are not black and white in this novel, and there is an undercurrent of flippancy about the subject that might appeal to fans of Dexter more than to those who love conventional thrillers or mysteries. But if you want to discover a fresh new voice, love black humour, and are looking for an unusual setting, give it a go. I challenge you to check a sample and see…

I was really interested in this book, especially because it's not every day that you see an advert on the tube about a book, especially one with a woman wearing a hijab on the front. Plus, the title My Sister, the Serial Killer is the kind that really makes me want to find out more.

Oyinkan Braithwaite has created a novel that lives up to the intrigue of its title. The narrative style is interesting - jumping back and forth in a manner that is reminiscent of someone who doesn't know what to think or do, who's a little bit panicked and is trying to make sense of everything, and yet still manages to convey a full and satisfying story. Each chapter is brief and cuts to the point early on. It's a genuinely fascinating read, and the way it's written is perfect for this story.

It's a story, predominantly, about loyalty. Korede is loyal to her sister, Ayoola, and wants to help her out... but at the same time, she wants to stop her sister from, you know, murdering people. Because it's been at least two now. Seems like a pretty unique situation on the surface, but in the true manner of satire, Oyinkan Braithwaite manages to cut it down to the core issues that are far more relatable: jealousy, loyalty, and people being dumb when they're in lust.

Reading the chapters that detail what lead Korede to this kind of dangerous, almost unbelievable loyalty to her sister really gripped me, because I could see what made Korede the kind of sister to literally cover up murder, and worse than that? I could relate to it. That made it a lot easier to understand her struggle of whether she should protect and help her sister, or should she, you know, stop a murderer?

I wasn't expecting the book to go smoothly. But the ending was still one hell of a twist, and one that surprised me by how much I really liked it. The ending is a risky one in that it has the potential to feel deeply unsatisfying. But in this case, I think it was the perfect ending to convey what it needed to: a story about grey morals, and how being right isn't that easy, and also what happens when you're dumb and lustful. (Spoiler alert: it isn't murder. Most of the time. But it could be.)

The only reason I didn't rate this as five stars is because although it was interesting, I still wasn't gripped as much as I could have been. I could easily see myself putting this book down, and then not having the time to come back to it for a while, and not being hugely bothered by it. Either way, I would happily recommend this book to loads of people for a deeply interesting, thought-provoking and pretty short book - well worth your investment.

I have to be brutally honest with this book, I really struggled to get into it and never really felt that the story particularly developed. I persevered hoping that something might grab my attention and imagination but was, unfortunately, disappointed to the end. I don’t think I would recommend this book I’m afraid.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I loved the dark humour and the focus on Nigerian life. I really liked the characters and I enjoyed the style in which it was written. It's a short book so it was fun to whizz through it. I did feel a little dissatisfied by the ending which I felt was a little abrupt and gave no closure to the story. But it was definitely an enjoyable read.

This book. A quick read but one that will have you hooked and devouring it. Oyinkan has an incredible talent for writing that pulls you in. I loved it. One of my favourite books I've read this year.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I loved the premise of this eccentric genre-blending and subversive book. I devoured this fast-paced and quirky story.
This is narrated from the POV of Korede, who gets a frenzied phone call from her younger sister, Ayoola, one night. Ayoola has stabbed her boyfriend in self-defence. Calm and collected Korede goes over to help her sister: she wraps the body up and they drive to a bridge and toss it into the river, then they return to the boyfriend’s flat and clean it up. This isn’t the first boyfriend Ayoola has stabbed...
Korede works in a hospital in Lagos, has a crush on her colleague, Tade, and lives with her mother and Ayoola who is doted on. Korede’s life, however, is thrown off balance when Ayoola pursues a relationship with Tade, and she finds herself consumed with envy and torn: protect Ayoola or protect Tade?
This was a quick easy read, with an original premise. I loved the sister relationship, especially the flashbacks to their childhood. Amidst a heavily saturated genre I found the voice of Korede gripping and the setting of Lagos, especially refreshing and to me this book really stood out. It’s a pacy and addictive psychological suspense to be consumed in one sitting. 4.5/5

Korede and her sister Ayoola live in Lagos together with their mother since their father dies. Korede, who works at a hospital as a nurse, is a decent, but rather plain young woman whereas Ayoola always has all the looks on her. Even though the sisters couldn’t hardly be more different, they are sister after all so when Ayoola calls her, it is without any question that Korede shows up with some bleach to wipe away the mess of another murder. They have done it before and will also succeed this time. Why does she have to kill all her boyfriends? Korede wonders but since none of the was really important to her, she remains secret and the sister she is supposed to be. But when Ayoola starts dating to one man Korede really likes, things become a bit more complicated.

Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel is a hilarious read full of absurd situations and fantastic characters. The author, who graduated in Creative Writing and was a 2016 finalist for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, surely knows how to create outstanding characters and how to combine humour with an actually very serious topic. What I appreciated most is how she, on the surface, wrote a funny story that, beneath, offers so much crucial and grave issues. What it all comes down to after all is the well-known fact that blood is thicker than water and that without any question, you know which side you have to be on.

Ayoola is a serial killer – absurd as it may sound, the title is absolutely clear about it and after the opening scene, you know all about her killings. Yet, this is one of the least interesting aspects, much more remarkable is the sisters’ relationship: jealousy, love, anger, hatred, support – the full spectrum of emotions. Of course, it is Korede that the reader commiserates, she is obviously the good girls that nobody notices, neither their parents nor the men. I wondered if Ayoola suffered from some kind of mental illness, she somehow does not really seem to realise what she does, but she definitely is rather egocentric and not very considerate when it comes to other people’s feelings.

“My sister, the Serial Killer” is a black comedy that should not be taken too seriously I guess. It is a great read that I utterly enjoyed. I am absolutely looking forward to reading more from the author.

One of the best books of the year. A darkly comic exploration of family ties and loyalty. I cannot recommend this highly enough

Great read.Ayoola is a beautiful serial killer and the story is told from her long-suffering sister's point of view.Surprisingly light given the subject matter!

'My Sister the Serial Killer' has a plot as sharp as the knife which Ayoola (the titular serial killer) carries around with her, I devoured this in one dark and delicious gulp. It's so rare to read a book where a serial killer is both a) a woman and b) isn't set in Europe or the USA and this one deserves all the plaudits which have been showered on it.

The relationship between the two sisters feels incredibly real - a mix of rage, jealousy and protectiveness - and Ayoola herself is fantastic. Both stunningly beautiful and stunningly wicked, the story captures just how manipulative she can be to those around her. And her sister (and the book's narrator) Korede isn't taken in by any of it.

The perfect thing to read if you've got a spare few hours and fancy something wickedly readable (as well as just plain wicked.)

I really enjoyed this book set in Lagos. Korede is a nurse at a hospital and a clean freak and we meet her in the first chapter cleaning up after her beautiful sister Alooya has stabbed yet another beau. What can Korede do? she wants to protect her sister but her sister seems to have no conscience or even gratitude for all Korede does for her. Korede confides her woes to a coma patient who is not expected to recover. She carries a torch for a handsome, kind doctor at the hospital but one day Alooya surprsies Koreded at work and meets Korede's adored doctor who falls had over heels for Alooya's charms. What should Korede do? Warn him or go along with whatever her sister decides to do on impulse as always?

I liked the black humour of this tale. It's not a long book. Just a slim volume but it kept me turning the page. and I was sad when it ended sooner than I expected. I laso liked the descriptions and well observed mannerisms of Korede's work mates and life at the hospital. Different and enjoyable.

I was getting a bit bored of all the thrillers I've read recently, but I'm glad I picked this up! This is a fast paced short read full of dark humour and interesting characters. Absolutely loved it, I read it in one sitting. I particularly enjoyed the setting in Nigeria. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Yesterday I finished My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite and I loved it! It's about Korede and her sister Ayoola who keeps killing her boyfriends. It's a very fast read, it tells a dark story, but in a fun light way. I could have read 100 pages more about this sister duo and their lives. Excited to see what Oyinkan is writing next. Highly recommend this one.

A quirky insight into the unique relationship between sisters, and a dysfunctional Nigerian family with under currents of domestic violence. The book is a relatively quick, enjoyable read with an engaging plot which gives us a glimpse of Nigerian culture.

I started reading My Sister, the Serial Killer at 1pm. It’s now 4.30pm and I’ve just finished it.
I don’t believe I have ever read a whole novel (albeit, a short one) in this time.

Oyinkan Braithwaite knows how to write a flow of prose that lends itself to continuation. Darkly comedic in places, Korede’s sheer devotion to her younger sister is woven through the pages. Her obsessive-compulsive tendencies make her a natural port of call to clean up after Ayoola’s multiple murder scenes. At its heart, this is a tale of love without boundaries and the certainty that you would do anything for another, including aiding and abetting a serial killer.

And yet. Whilst the writing is clever and beautiful, I am left wanting. The younger sibling is painted as childlike, selfish and irresponsible - the world owes her and she can do now wrong. The elder comes across as a doormat, willing to blindly follow her sister wherever she may go. There are too many unanswered questions. How and why is Ayoola obsessed with murdering her lovers? What happened to the girls’ strict and viscous father? What becomes of Tade? And why does Ayoola carry her knife?

As an easy read, Braithwaite ticks many boxes here. But alas, the story lacks substance.

I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this take on sibling relationships and i don't mind if the main characters aren't always likeable. I found Ayoola fascinating and loved this dark story peppered with humour. I loved the authors writing and will definitely read her next book.

Korede’s younger sister is very beautiful. Her charms enslave people, even Korede. Such a sweet innocent face could surely never wield her father’s antique knife? One might believe it of ungainly, sensible Korede, but Ayoola? Surely not. She is too small, too delicate, too sweet.

As Korede marks off man number three in her notebook, she recognises that her sister, by definition, is now a serial killer. But what do we do to keep those we love from harm? What are we prepared to sacrifice to keep them from a life of imprisonment?

Korede’s family ties are stretched to the limit when Ayoola meets the Doctor Korede has already fallen in love with, and reveals him to be as shallow as all the other men chasing after the woman Ayoola seems to be on the surface.

Though Korede can confide in one man, Muhtar, a man in a coma and on the brink of death, she has no one else to talk to, not even her mother. She bears the brunt of her sister’s psychopathology alone.

As a nurse, Korede has an excellent knowledge of how to clean blood. She is good at keeping secrets. Aside from her sister’s murders, there is another family secret that may just be the route of Ayoola’s behaviour. The knife came from their deceased father. In the unfolding of the story of Ayoola’s murders we learn more of their father, how he behaved and how he might have died.

I really enjoyed this novel. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, My Sister, the Serial Killer is a thriller you can read in one sitting, delighting in the short chapters, the precise, clean prose, and the painful divisions of loyalties. Beating with a feminist heart, the novel explores the fickle nature of human desire and the strength of love born of responsibility. How mutable is morality when faced with the need to protect our loved ones? It’s a great read and leaves me keen to read whatever Oyinkan Braithwaite writes next.

Such an unusual quick read, superbly written and so dark. Will be recommending this to everyone! I was completely absorbed in the sisters’ relationship.

I loved this unique and gripping story of two very different sisters, Ayoola and Korede. I raced through the novel in a day as it was so tense and twisty I genuinely had no idea how it would end. The novel kept me guessing right until the final page and the ending did not disappoint. I'll be recommending this widely.

Humour and serial murder don't often go hand in hand but Oyinkan Braithwaite has pulled it off. This is the story of two sisters; the elder who strives to please and protect, the other beautiful but a little prone to ending her relationships abruptly.

Korede, a nurse and the saner of the two sisters, has fallen for a doctor colleague at work. Unfortunately for Korede her beautiful sister, with the unfortunately short relationship attention span, sets her sights on the young man. Should she warn the doctor about her sister's way with men or sit back and wait with the bleach and rubber gloves?

A thoroughly enjoyable read.