A seemingly simple story about two sisters, one who kills her boyfriends, and the other who helps her cover it up. The beauty of this story is that it seems like a quick, breezy read, but it conveys a deeper, more sinister message: what is worse, murder, or denial?

Korede is a nurse in Lagos. She is responsible, and hard working. Her sister Ayoola is beautiful and charming, and gets through life by taking what others give her. When she loses her temper she lashes out at the men in her life. There's a surprising amount of psychology to unpack here, and one of my frustrations with the book is that it isn't long enough to get into a lot of detail, although the hints the story offers are enough to send shivers down the spine. Korede and Ayoola grew up with a controlling father, and a weak mother. Korede puts an insane amount of pressure on herself to make sure that Ayoola is always safe. Ayoola manipulates not only her family, but every single person she comes in contact with. When she sets her sights on a doctor in Korede's hospital, Korede's resentment, and Ayoola's uncaring nature crash together in an unsettling way. As the story progresses the lines blurs between them, and I truly found myself wondering who was the crueler of the two, the one who kills when she feels threatened, or the one who lets her get away with doing so?

The best part of this book is that I discovered a new author, one whose future books I would be excited to read.

Entertaining, and so cynically funny--perverse in the best way, and totally originally--I was sorry it was over so fast, but so hoping there will e a second novel from this new voice!

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede's practicality is the sisters' saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body, and she keeps Ayoola from posting pictures of her dinner to Instagram when she should be mourning her "missing" boyfriend. Not that she gets any credit.

A kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works, is the bright spot in her life. She dreams of the day when he will realize they're perfect for each other. But one day Ayoola shows up to the hospital uninvited and he takes notice. When he asks Korede for Ayoola's phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and what she will do about it.- Goodreads 

I was surprised at how fast I read through this book. I didn't realize it was a short novel until about half way though it. This wasn't an issue as this book was a strong read that packed a lot of punch within a short amount of time.

Would I call this a mystery or thriller? No. You know who done it. You see a huge turning point early in the book and you kind of have an idea of how it is going to end. There was nothing thrilling per say about this book but it was a good read.

Korede is relatable. As the less desirable sister, she lives in Ayoola's shadow and proves to be the more responsible, level-headed family member out the bunch. She doesn't have the confidence or love of herself to stand on her own and that is very clear from the 6th chapter of the book. Therefore, everything that comes afterwards has a line of predictably, except the ending. Kind of.

Two things happen and at those moments you regret that the book was so short. There is no saving Ayoola but Korede. . .  the author can add so much to her story and hope and wish she will.

But beyond this, fast read that is very descriptive and keeps you wanting more. Due to the short nature of this book, you jump right into the thick of things and although the author does go back and forth between the past and present, it isn't messy nor overly complicated. The transitions are perfect and the past makes sense with the present. Downtime feels nonexistent within this book; everything is building up to the climax. There is no fluff and I greatly appreciate that.

Overall, this didn't have me at the edge of my seat but I was heavily invested in the plot. I want more about Korede and I want more from this author.

3 Pickles

What a book. I read the whole thing in one sitting, and forgot to eat dinner because I was so engrossed. The characters aren’t exactly likable, but I couldn’t help wanting to see what they’d do next. Braithwaite’s writing is stilted in a way that made me uneasy, the tension radiating off the page. I recommend this highly, and can’t wait to see what Braithwaite publishes next!

This was better than I expected! My Sister, the Serial Killer, is just that - the story of Korede and her younger (serial killer) sister Ayoola. Korede has always come to her sisters defense, even when it means cleaning up a trail of dead bodies. This book is a little different, in the question isn't whether Ayoola is a serial killer, or whether she's going to get caught, or who she's going to kill next, rather it's the story of why her exasperated older sister continues to cover and clean up after her. The story is built around present tense events, flashbacks and little peaks into the family history. Captivating story that I could have read more of!

Despite the evocative title, this is less about a serial killer sister and more about resigning oneself to their lot in life. Korde lives in the shadow of her younger, beautiful, knife-wielding sister Ayoola. Most of the book is about Korde’s mental turmoil as she wonders how many more times her sister will kill with occasional flashbacks to life under her abusive father.

My main problem with this book is that it’s too short. Almost more novella than a proper novel. Because of that we just get a glancing look at the abusive childhood that surely shaped the sisters and we don’t get much of a look into Ayoola’s side of things. I loved the setting and really felt for Korde as she wrestled with morality, secret crushes, inept coworkers and her sociopathic sister.

Here’s hoping this is the first of more to come from Oyinkan Braithwaite.

This was an enjoyable psychological thriller. While predictable (the point is the title), it was more interesting to see the history of the sisters that lead up to the creation of someone who was a serial killer. It was written very well and it was easy for me to picture the cast of characters based on the descriptions of Korede. But I still don't really have a picture in my mind of what Korede looks like. None of the characters were likeable, which was something I actually enjoyed and it allowed me to see past the characters to the main issue of the story: Ayoola.
Overall, this was just an OK read for me, but it was an entertaining story.

This quirky, quick, and wonderfully violent romp is a fun addition to most general collections. A good recommendation for fans of My Name Is Nathan Lucius.

“Three, and they label you a serial killer.”

Korede has always felt it was her responsibility to look after her younger sister Ayoola. Not only is Korede older, but she’s also the sensible one, the one with the good job. And while she may not be the “pretty” one – at least she doesn’t have a habit of murdering her boyfriends.

Thus is the plot behind this compact little slice of fun. If you enjoy the stabby stabby over the bump and grind while sitting poolside, My Sister the Serial Killer might be right up your alley for a fun little time killer.

3.5 Stars because that cover deserves at least a half star all on its own. Perfecto!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

~4.5 stars~

I loved everything about this book. I loved its straightforward prose and its unsettling plot. I loved the relationship between the sisters and the flashes that we got of their past. A spooky, eerie tale of a pair of Nigerian sisters—one always making messes and one who cleans them up.

<i>My Sister, the Serial Killer</i> is short but powerful, and it completely sucked me in. Korede has helped her sister, Ayoola, cover up the murders of three of her past boyfriends, but what will she do when Ayoola sets her sights on the handsome doctor Korede works with? I was expecting more of a thriller, but this book is more of an examination of the twisted relationship between two sisters--how they got there, and how far they will go. It was dark and disturbing and even though I didn't feel completely satisfied by the end, it fit the story. Highly recommended!

OOOPS, she killed another one! Although the title gives away the dynamic that drives the book, Oyinkan Braithwaites spare prose moves the reader rapidly through the pages. As much about the relationship between the two sisters as it is about the murders of the younger sister's boyfriends, this is a well written tale, set in Lagos, Nigeria that is not to be missed!

My Sister, the Serial Killer was a really fun read. It isn't your traditional nail-biting thriller, but rather, a quick and upbeat satire. Though our protagonist's sister has a habit of killing her boyfriends, the novel never feels too dark. This would be the perfect intro thriller for someone who doesn't like to be scared but wants to explore the genre. At times, I wished it had more depth to it, but I think that just adds to its fast-paced nature.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just didn't. The premise of the story is good, and I love the cover art. I went into it thinking it was going to be this dark and twisty, exciting and suspenseful ride. I was disappointed.
I don't like to give too much away about the story itself in a review, because I really dislike reviews that contain spoilers. I think between the blurb and the actual title of the book, you get a pretty good sense of what the plot is. There were a couple of quick suspenseful moments, but not enough to call the whole thing suspenseful. There was darkness, but somehow not in a way that worked for me. I can't really say there was any twistiness.
The biggest downfall for me with this book is that I didn't like any of the characters enough to want to keep them around in my life (well, maybe "coma-guy"). I finished the book, and said good riddance to them all. The character development was well done enough, it's just that none of them had enough redeeming qualities (if any at all) to make me want to "be around" them any longer than necessary. This was a miss for me.

This was a fun fast read. I laughed at times, and was frustrated with the sister as much as the narrator. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a witty short read.

Wow! This fast-paced thriller had me gripped from page 1! There are some interesting dynamics going on here, the free-spirited, beautiful sister, Ayoola, who has a history of "disposing" of her boyfriends. The responsible narrator, Korede, who cleans up after her sister's messes. The mother who wants to see Ayoola married. I caught myself yelling out loud while reading through this one. Read this one, you won't regret it!

In My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite we get meet Korede, the elder sister of Ayoola who is the novel's titular serial killer. Korede has a good nursing job, and cares deeply for her family in spite of her father’s negligence and her mother’s favoring of her sister. Her life would be one of contentment, except her sister can’t stop killing her male lovers. At first, Ayoola tells Korede that these men have been abusing her or viewing her as an object- that their untimely end is out of self defense. With time Korede beings to develop doubts, but can’t help but try to protect her younger sister. Set in modern-day Nigeria where Snapchat and Instagram make many appearances with a cast of empowered women, this is a refreshing take on the serial killer/thriller concept. Braithwaite's well-written debut keeps readers anxiously flipping pages in hopes of learning the fate of these two sisters. This is a story not to miss for those who like a good thriller and non-thriller readers alike.

My sister, the serial killer is the debut book by Oyinkan Braithwaite. It is like a slap in the face. So good. It's about two sisters.... one happens to be a serial killer and the other cleans up her messes. BUT!! BUT!!! BUT it's also the story of a broken family. This story has so many layers to it. My only complaint would be that it's too short. Hopefully this become a series.

This a dark, lovely book about the bond between sisters. It wasn't quite what I was expecting (for some reason, I expected a little more humor), but I really enjoyed it. After the third time that Korede's sister calls her to help clean up after stabbing her boyfriend, Korede starts to suspect that maybe these really aren't cases of self-defense. Three or more is the mark of a serial killer. Things get even more complicated when her sister takes an interest in Tade, the doctor co-worker that Korede has been secretly in love with for years. This should go on everyone's November to-read list.

Braithwaite has created a clever, compelling little punch of a book featuring a pair of codependent sisters. One is a nurse who has a fondness for thorough cleaning. The other, well, has a tendency to murder her boyfriends. That alone is a fascinating premise for a book, but Braithwaite makes it all the richer by adding a complex background to tie the women together.