This book is almost like a short story. The reader is thrown into the narrative knowing that Ayoola is a serial killer and has already killed three men. The chapters are extremely short giving the narrative a fast pace which is perfect for this novel. Ayoola and Korede are sisters in name only. They could not be more different, both physically and in character. Ayoola possesses the type of beauty that enables her to float through life, there will always be men begging to take care of her, and this plays right into the hands of her murderous cravings. She is superficial and has a flippant blasé attitude to life. Korede is the practical one. Always cleaning up after Ayoola and keeping her from being caught. Korede does not believe that Ayoola is a killer, believing her stories of self-defence, but this excuse is starting to wear thin with the third killing at the start of the book. Although Korede loves and feels protective of Ayoola, she has always harboured a bitterness and jealousy towards her. These feelings strengthen when Ayoola starts dating the Doctor that Korede has feelings for. The swift pace of the novel, the predicament that confronts Korede, and the danger that the doctor is in, make this a very enjoyable read. Braithwaite also does a wonderful job of drip-feeding the reader with information about the father. As the chapters fly by, we are slowly introduced to the sisters’ father and we learn what has made Ayoola into this monster, and what has made Korede so fiercely protective of her. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. 4 Stars.
OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE lives in Lagos, Nigeria. She was shortlisted as a top-ten spoken-word artist in the Eko Poetry Slam in 2014. Then in 2016 she was a finalist for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She has worked at the Nigerian publishing house Kachifo as an assistant editor. She now works freelance as a writer and editor. She graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Creative Writing and Law. My Sister the Serial Killer is her debut novel.
There is a great audio and transcript interview with Braithwaite at the link below.
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/17/668856445/book-review-my-sister-the-serial-killer
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