My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite

This is such a quirky and darkly comical little book! My Sister, the Serial Killer was published late last year by Nigerian author Oyinkan Braithwaite, and follows the protagonist of Korede who's volatile sister Ayoola has a habit of murdering her boyfriends. A super quick read which I got through in a couple of hours, due to the structure of short, anecdotal chapters - and so enjoyable.

The novel begins in media res as Ayoola has just dispatched her latest victim, and called Korede in a panic to help her dispose of the body. The narration of Korede is witty and Braithwaite’s characterisation is accomplished, considering how short and choppy the novel is - it really works. In novels such as ‘Milkman’ which adopt unusual structures and styles, the characterisation can often suffer, but Braithwaite certainly achieves the desired effect.

Korede is torn between her loyalty to her sister, and doing what is right. Ayoola is a beautiful, charming and enchanting woman who attracts lots of male attention, whilst the protagonist is considered the ‘ugly duckling’ of the family, and feels forever in the shadow of her sister. Korede works as a nurse and has been desperately in love with the doctor in her hospital for a long time, so when Ayoola comes along and sets her sights on him, her moral compass is tested to the extreme. 

Ayoola’s history of leaving her ex-lovers in a body bag becomes even more of a problem when she begins to date this man who Korede cannot have, and the sibling power dynamic is expertly illustrated. For a novel with such a far-fetched concept, Braithwaite manages to construct a fairly plausible narrative.

All in all this is a punchy, hard-hitting and tense little novel which is packed with action and keeps you gripped throughout. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before - certainly a recommendation from me!