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

The title directly gives you the main theme of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel. However, for those who are looking for a thriller, focusing on the violent part of the story, they are in for a surprise. There is no hardcore focus on the actual murders, the story is much deeper than that.

My Sister, the Serial Killer is morbidly funny mixing the story of sibling loyalty, a love story and family drama. Set in Lagos, one gets a healthy dose of the Nigerian culture as well and this is something that I really enjoyed. There was no forced attempt of dumbing down the culture for the uninitiated. Despite that one could connect with the characters and relate to their though process.

Korede and Ayoola are the two sisters. The book opens with Korede, a nurse by profession, pondering about the places that are the hardest to scrub blood from. She is about to sit for a solitary dinner when she gets a phone call from Ayoola, calling for help and this is not the first time that this has happened. Everytime her claim is self-defence.

In case you are wondering if the plot is out there in the title and the initial pages, so where is the suspense? As mentioned earlier as well, this is not your hardcore crime thriller. What keeps you glued to the story is the many layers of the relationship of sisters, and despite their poles apart nature and world view they are connected.

There relationship’s gets to the tipping point when Ayoola gets involved with the doctor at Korede’s hospital with whom she has been in love with from afar for some time now. In addition to the relationship of the sisters, the tactful way in which the issue of domestic abuse is handled and shown how it is capable of transferring through generations and the long-lasting trauma that shapes more than one life, is quite impactful.

Along with the main characters, there are many supporting characters that bring depth to the plot even if it is a fellow nosy nurse slacking off at work. It is these characters and their successful intertwining that makes it a page turner.

Even though our real lives feel quite morbid at the moment and many are opting for more escapist reading material, I would suggest that you do give this one a try. The subtle humor will be quite relateable.

Originally published at https://pk.mashable.com on April 3, 2020.