In My Sister, the Serial Killer, Korede is a good sister, who cleans up her younger sister Ayoola’s messes, literally. With bleach.

Ayoola, though beautiful, has man problems—she keeps killing them. As the book begins, Ayoola has just killed her third boyfriend. After googling the definition of serial killer, Korede realizes it fits her sister.

When Korede catches Ayoola trying to hit on Dr. Tade at Korede’s work, Korede tries to stop her involvement. None of Ayoola’s relationships end well for the man and Korede has her eye on Tade for herself. When Ayoola takes Korede’s words as a challenge, the fun begins.

If you like black humor set in exotic Lagos Nigeria, you will love My Sister, the Serial Killer as much as I do. It is hard not to sympathize with poor plain Korede’s plight. Her sister is obviously just using her and all her boyfriends. It is a fun read from a completely new perspective. 4 stars!

Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone agrees Korede is the smart one and Ayoola is the pretty one, but her sister's uncommon beauty isn't why Korede is losing her mind. Rather, it's Ayoola's habit of stabbing her boyfriends. Korede has helped her clean up three murders now, so she's basically resigned to it. Then Ayoola starts flirting with Tade, the handsome doctor Korede works with. As her instinct to protect her baby sister wars with her urge for a life of her own, Korede copes by cleaning obsessively and confiding her woes to a coma patient. Mordantly funny.

Two sisters in Lagos. Ayoola is beautiful, Korede is responsible. Ayoola has a habit of accidentally killing her boyfriends, leaving her big sister, Korede, to clean up after her. As if that doesn’t present enough problems, Ayoola has caught the eye of Korede’s co-worker whom Korede is also in love with. Korede must decide which is more important, protecting her sister from the law, or protecting the man she is in love with from her sister. Not your typical love triangle. This was a quick and easy read, with short chapters and engaging writing. It was not quite as thought provoking as it had potential for but the tension between the characters was interesting to watch.

Can you be a serial killer if you are a vain, shallow person who cruises through life without having to put any effort into it? That is really the biggest question here. Ayoola is pretty much just that. She easily lives off her looks, letting men take care of her, and does whatever she wants. Sometimes this includes killing whichever man she has gotten bored of. Of course to balance her out is her sister, Korede, who spends the time she is not at the hospital working, cleaning up Ayoola's messes. I didn't really find the book to be humorous, unless it was Ayoola's apparent apathy about what she was doing. But I did enjoy reading the book. I hope something good comes to Korede. She deserves it!

Holy crow. This was so good. It starts off in the middle of action, and lulls back down, with hints that the lovely Ayoola isn't at all the kind of human we'd expect her to be. I was so mad for Korede the entire time, and with Tade, for being such an oblivious dolt. And it's so refreshing to see a Nigerian woman as a serial killer with no real MO. Love love love!!!!

I started and finished this book in less than 18 hours, so needless to say it is a quick read. It kept my attention and the Nigerian point of view was interesting. A black widow tale with an international twist.

Sharp and terse- I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It's got a nihilistic feel, but I like that there wasn't a pretty happy ending. It was also interesting to read about family and obligation in Nigeria. Even though it's got its bleak story line - the sister really is a serial killer; that wasn't click bait- there is still a dark sense of humor to the writing. I'm looking forward to more from this debut author.

My Sister, the Serial Killer

I thought I might try a change of pace and something new for me with this FICTIONAL  thriller titled, My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Set in Lagos, Nigeria... Ayoola keeps knocking off boyfriends and calling her sister Korede in the night for help. It’s totally getting out of hand and becoming a real problem. Korede is a great problem solver in this instance, because of her job working in a hospital cleaning, she knows how to clean up blood great. And she’s also ace at moving bodies. They make a wonderful team but this has got to stop. Ayoola is a menace to the safety of the men of Nigeria. Despite being the older sister and feeling responsible for her, Korede is worried sick about the situation and is afraid they will both end up in prison.

"Femi makes three you know. Three and they label you a serial killer."

Actually, it’s since been changed to only two killings, but I don’t think many outside the authorities would know that. This was a good crime thriller, fast paced and didn’t take a long time to read. I quite enjoyed it. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Oyinkan Braithwaite, and the publisher for my fair review.

I liked it even thought didn't like any of the characters, but I liked the writing and the little bit of cultural integrations in the story.

So Karode (the plain sister) helps her serial killer sister Ayoola (and the beautiful sister) by cleaning up after the murders and getting rid of the bodies. Well, doesn't that make her a serial killer too?

There was no insight as to why Ayoola likes killing men... But I guess that is what psycopaths do.

Apparently, Korode is happy to live her life j Ayoola and Karode ended up being the same characters they were before.

I loved this book! I picked it up and didn’t put it down until I was done with it. It’s a sly and clever book that is funny in a twisted way. It’s a quick and entertaining read.

This was a pretty quick and easy read. I was hoping for something a bit more psychological and twisted based on the description. I found it to be lacking in any sort of depth and I didn't find any of the characters very likable or relatable which is something I like to look for. Overall I can see why others would like it but I just don't think this book is for me.

An okay read about a pair of sisters in Lagos, one who is attractive and gets all the men all the time; the other who is a neat freak, responsible, a nurse, and cleans up her sister's messes. The messes, in this case, are murders of her own boyfriends. An interesting premise, and a very very fast read - good things! But the characters just had no redeeming values, and they are both incredibly frustrating. The overarching emotion I experienced throughout this book was just frustration - and I do not enjoy being frustrated. There is no twist, no suspenseful thing, no mystery, so I'm not sure what the big deal is there, but I did read it in one day, so the plot moves along.

I was first drawn to this book by the cover and the country of origin - I am enjoying reading mysteries from places outside the North American continent, especially Africa and the Middle East. I enjoyed the layout of this book - short chapters that last no more than a couple of pages - it gives almost a poetic feel. And the author uses little description, opting instead to get right to the point without any flowery language. What results is an interesting perspective solely from the narrator. For example, you learn the names of custodial staff at the hospital where she works, but the maid in her home (who receives more mention over the course of the story) is simply referred to as the "housegirl". The narrator also mentions why she choses particular colors in her wardrobe to elevate her social status. Culturally, it is a treat to be immersed in a world so different from my own, and with such an authentic voice.

The plot stays on course - all events support the plot and its development. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but I not surprised, as the narrator is nothing if not consistent. It was believable, and not over-the-top.

Fantastic. I can't wait to read more from Braithwaite.

This is marketed as a short, darkly funny, thriller.

Well.

It's definitely short.

Korede and Ayoola are sisters, living with their widowed mother in the house their horribly abusive father built. Korede is a nurse, Ayoola is a Youtuber and fashion designer who lives by her beauty and charm. Korede is neither beautiful, nor charming. She is, in fact, terribly plain and quite put upon.

She's also an excellent cleaner. Especially of blood and evidence.

Because Ayoola has a nasty habit of murdering her boyfriends.

This is 240 pages of just...utter disappointment. Because with a title like that, and a premise like that, this should've been gold all around.

The one thing I did enjoy the most was the details about living in Nigeria. As a boring American, I know literally nothing about the region, and I was googling like a mad woman to find out what some of the terms were.

So, there's that.

What is this a satirization of, exactly?

This dark, funny, "thriller" of sorts was exactly what I wanted it to be. Sister relationships may always be complicated, but that between Korede and Ayoola is more so than most as Korede sees it as her responsibility to help her sister take care of the aftermath when she seems to continuously off her boyfriends. Their difficult relationship, the flashbacks to their childhood, and Korede's work at a hospital where she confesses all her secrets to a man in a coma all add some depth and tension to this story. It's not a twisty, tension filled thriller, which I think works in its favor. Excellent writing and voice, and a story that was unlike any other I've read this year.

This is a fresh and unique take on the psychological thriller genre. Korede and Ayoola have a recognizable and relatable sisterly relationship, despite Ayoola’s unfortunate tendency to murder her boyfriends.

The book is a quick read, easily bingeable over an afternoon, and you will certainly feel compelled to read until the end. Touches of humor and absurdity bring a welcome relief to the slog of the thriller genre. Braithwaite has a wonderful voice, and this debut work promises great things in her future.

This book is a complete gem and I enjoyed every moment I spent with Korede and Ayoola!

Firstly, I have never read a book that took place in Africa...Lagos Nigeria to be precise and it made this book much more interesting for me.

Korede and Ayoola are sisters. Korede is the sensible one that makes her living as a nurse and also cleaning up after her sister Ayoola. Ayoola is flighty, addicted to social media, but mostly Ayoola is beautiful. No man can seem to resist her charm. Or, better yet, her appearance.

The thing is that Ayoola bores of her men quickly and when she's done with you she is DONE with you and she may even get a little stabby to prove her point. When Ayoola has these moments of murderous intentions it is Korede to who she calls to help. The always efficient Korede comes to save her time and time again.

But what happens when Ayoola sets her sights on the doctor that Korede is infatuated with? You'll have to read it to find out.

Oyinkan Braithwaite, I adore you and your humor. You made these characters come alive. And THAT COVER is perfection! I'd like to frame it and hang it in my house.

My only gripe is the ending. It was very abrupt. 4 stab worthy stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for proving me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Amazing book! Subtle and fascinating. I've been recommending it to everyone! An interesting look at family and love and crime. Definitely a front runner for my favorite read of the year.

The plot concerns a sister who keeps killing her boyfriends (and we have no question she will continue to do so because it's convenient for her to do so) and the sister who cleans up after her, even as she questions her own motives for why she keeps helping her. Ayoole is a beautiful, self-centered narcissist, Korende is her plain, dedicated and hard working sister. While Ayoole has no question in her mind that Korede will keep helping her tidy up her messes, the reader journeys with Korede through the possibility of turning her sister in and you're never quite sure if she's actually going to do it.

An enjoyable, quick read with a slight tongue in cheek tone.

A great novel! I read this book quickly. I loved the narrator and enjoyed the surprising conclusion.