Sunday, September 20, 2020

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

So, this was deliciously wicked. I feel like a great way of describing it is GONE GIRL but set in Nigeria, and with two disturbed women instead of just the one. This is not a spoiler. The book literally opens with Ayoola calling up her older sister, Korede, and asking her to help dispose of a body. The victim? Her ex-boyfriend. She claims it's self-defense, but this is not the first time it's happened, and Korede is starting to suspect that her gorgeous little sister who everyone loves is a serial killer. Does she do anything about that? No.

Well-- not until Ayoola turns her murderous eye to the guy Korede likes.

I don't really want to say too much about this because less is definitely more. MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER is a short read, but in that limited space, Braithwaite tells a tight, gripping story that revolves around the themes of not just murder, but also gender roles, corruption, sexism, cyclical abuse, and class. I honestly had a hard time trying to decide which of these two sisters disturbed me more, to be honest. Ayoola is obvious, but Korede plays her cards close to her chest.

I think anyone who enjoys books with antiheroines will love MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER. I honestly had no idea how it was going to end, and I found the psychology of the two sisters, as well as the Lagos setting, to be so different and fascinating. This is that rare and precious book that actually ends up being worth the hype. I'm so impressed and really hope this author has another mystery up her sleeve.

4 out of 5 stars

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