Published by Doubleday on November 20, 2018

Ayoola and her sister Korede begin My Sister, the Serial Killer by disposing of a body . . . again. Ayoola stabbed her boyfriend in the heart. His name was Femi. Ayoola can’t remember his last name.

Ayoola has killed two other men. She contends that she killed them in self-defense. When she feels Korede is reproaching her for being a serial killer, she accuses Korede of victim-shaming. Still, Ayoola isn’t all bad; she would take the most recent stabbing back if she could.

Korede works in a hospital. When Dr. Tade asks Korede if he can have her sister’s number, Korede tells him that Ayoola’s relationships tend to end badly. Korede has a thing of her own for Dr. Tade, but she lacks Ayoola’s beauty and effortless ability to ensnare men. Dr. Tade believes Korede should stop undermining Ayoola. Little does he know.

The reader, of course wonders whether Dr. Tade, who seems like a nice enough fellow, will be the next to die. Or perhaps it will be Gboyega, a married man who is financing Ayoola’s fashion business.

The reader also wonders if Korede will make trouble for herself by chatting with a comatose patient named Muhtar. She confides her sister’s murderous actions, then frets when Muhtar awakens. Will he recall her confessions and, if so, what will he do about them?

Korede’s low self-esteem, her complicated relationships with Ayoola and her father, and her longing for Dr. Tade all coalesce to make Korede a sympathetic character. She is a voice of reason compared to most of the other characters, who seem to live in a world of frivolity and needless drama, a world that fails to value the truly valuable. At the same time, Korede is an enabler and has an obsessive moment in which her own behavior is less than exemplary. The novel thus reflects the reality that even good people have their bad moments.

Told in deadpan prose, most of the story is light and amusing despite the rising body count. Oyinkan Braithwaite invites chuckles with her observant wit and clever dialog. For example: “‘Hey! I hate stingy men!’ Chichi repeatedly snaps her fingers over her head, warding off any stingy man who might be tempted to come near her.” And: “She has used juju to useless my husband!”

At the same time, the story is serious when it focuses on Korede’s abusive father, who beats his daughters and offers Ayoola’s virginity to induce a business deal. Perhaps it is with good reason that Ayoola is quick to kill men. The patriarchal nature of Nigerian society and its tendency to treat women as property is one of the two serious themes of My Sister, the Serial Killer.

At the end, as is often the case with people who do not live up to their own expectations, Korede has to make a decision about what kind of person she really is. Whether or not the reader approves of that choice, the novel makes clear that she is the only person who has the right to determine her future. Nobody can decide who someone else should be. That’s the novel’s second serious theme, and it serves to balance a story that is in other respects goofy and fun.

By the way, I thought it was interesting that in Nigeria, the word MAGA means fool. Sounds about right.

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Original. A delightful portrait of a dysfunctional family with an unusual twist. Set in Nigeria, this book walks readers through an unconventional story line set in an unusual place in the world. I loved reading about Lagos and learning just a little about Nigeria and getting a glimpse at the way things work. there. I enjoyed this title.

was a gripping thriller that took you to every aspect of trying to figure out what was really going on and what was going to happen next! This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what else is released from this author!

Oyinkan Braithwaite's My Sister, the Serial Killer is a fluid, brisk read that will hook a reader from the title alone. Easily read in one sitting, the dark and comic tale perfectly coins familly dysfunction and sibling rivalry - and takes sisterly loyalty to an unexpected extreme. While I might have appreciated a tad more depth and detail at times, Braithwaite weaves a fast-paced and sharp-edged tale for the ages.

Overall I was left disappointed by this one. I liked the setting and the main character wasn't bad, although I found her constant covering up for her sister absolutely infuriating. I mean, she was literally murdering people so...yeah. I suppose based on the summary and the title I was expecting a dark humor book, which I did not get. I honestly think the book would have been much improved with some gallows humor. On a positive note: the audiobook narrator was good.

This was a fun read that both flipped a genre on it's head (a female serial killer!) and put it in a new setting (modern Nigeria). I loved being immeshed in this world and slowly discovering the complicated family dynamics that led to the odd sibling relationship between our two main characters. The ending felt a little hurried, but maybe that's in response to me wishing I could have stayed in this world longer.

A messed up little book that had me hooked from the first sentence. So much about this frustrated me and made me want to rip my hair out - from the actions that propelled the story to the SUPER twisted and unhealthy family dynamics. Such a fun and surprising read.

This is such a clever novel about two sisters and the satire that it is doused with makes it astounding and quite deep. This could be a tale like any other. There’s the favorite and the spare. The bigger sister responsible for her younger sister. The only difference into a story old as time is that here one of the sisters is a serial killer.
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I am an older sister myself and I quite identified with Korede. I hate that I struggle with her name while Ayoola's name comes easily but so it goes in this story. Korede works behind the scenes while Ayoola takes center stage. Korede works hard to be competent, to have order and Ayoola simply is and is loved and accepted everywhere. Korede is overlooked and described as odd looking while Ayoola has looked like a doll since birth and mesmerizes any and all who meet her. These two have a very dysfunctional relationship and I love the exploration and character study that was packed in such a short novel.
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Since the beginning the writer had me hooked and I stopped what I was doing to find out what would happen, how would their destinies end and what would be the course of action that they would take? Was Korede right in doing what she did? Where does the loyalty to our family stop? Appearances, social media, men and the women who see their transparency, the patriarchy, feminism, and corrupt governments are all themes in this novel. We might get only glimpses of these themes but they spark deep conversations. It was a thrill ride from beginning to end and though I did not agree with Korede at all in her actions it was still amazing to see the world through her eyes. It is definitely worth the read.
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Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the free e-copy of this book in exchange of an honest review

I came back to reading this book after having started it quite a while ago. I found it really interesting and wondered how the author would tie things up. Would Korede continue to be loyal to her serial killer sister or would she tell the authorities all that she knew? Learning about Nigerian society was also very interesting, especially the strongly patriarchal aspects featured in this story. Without giving away any plot points, Ayoola and Korede's unique way of striking back at the patriarchy was refreshing, sinister, comic and definitely "deadpan"! My only slight problem with the book was being confused by the rather abrupt ending.

The premise of this book is ridiculous in a campy way and specific parts are preposterous, but it works! It’s a story of sibling dynamics…obviously taken to the extreme…but, the underlying point is one many people can relate to. And, it’s weirdly funny…even though people keep dying. Honestly, I picked up this book because of the fantastic title and because it’s so short…but, I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. Despite the murderous title, this one is a fun, light read and would make a perfect palate cleanser!

How far does the love between sisters stretch? Can it span the length of several murders, a few hasty cover-ups, an unrequited love and a thousand little betrayals? For responsible, overburdened Korede, sisterhood is a unique challenge which requires alibis and a lot of bleach.

Her sister Ayoola, spoiled and selfish, lacks the empathy to carry on human relationships. It seems whenever she tires of a man, Korede gets the phone call in the middle of the night–the breathy, fake panic, “Sister, I need your help.”

Ayoola is beautiful. She shines like a movie star, the most gorgeous woman to ever walk into the hospital in Nigeria where Korede works as the head nurse. The handsome young doctor Korede has been smitten with for ages takes one look at her sister Ayoola and finds his destined match. This could turn out to be a very generic sibling rivalry over the heart of a man, had these sisters not a terrifying secret. Ayoola is a serial killer.

I am infatuated with “bad” women, but Ayoola is something else entirely. She lies and kills, taking self-absorbed breaks only to pose for Instagram photos in between missing boyfriends, but she’s somehow completely woke. She understands that there’s something inherently wrong with a society that deems beautiful people immune to being evil. Ayoola sets out to prove Korede’s handsome doctor is merely another cad in a long line of cads, only interested in Ayoola for her looks. She toys with him in front of Korede’s face, mistreating him like all the others, but the doctor trails after her like a man possessed. But when she gets bored of that game, Korede knows what will happen next. Can she prevent her sister from murdering the one man she truly loves?

Braithwaite writes a satirical family drama unlike anything I’ve ever read. I related so strongly to Korede’s neverending need to be needed, in spite of the enduring pain her family causes. How can you escape your own family? And where would you escape to?

“The most loving parents and relatives commit murder with smiles on their faces. They force us to destroy the person we really are: a subtle kind of murder.’ ”
-Oyinkan Braithewaite, My Sister The Serial Killer

This is a definite must-read for anyone who loves modern fiction, expert satire, engaging prose and ethical dilemmas. Braithewaite is so talented and I can’t wait to read whatever she concocts next.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy to review!

That was a super quick read and I am very glad for that. Because this book is so short I think the story lacked any actual depth and the two sisters honestly just annoyed me so much. I like the idea of this story but not the execution. Maybe if the story was a little longer and had more substance I would have liked it more. But it was an okay read that kept me entertained for the most part.

My Sister, the Serial Killer is one of those reads that makes you question humanity in general. The largely relatable relationship between Korede and Ayoola makes the events of the book less surreal than the title would lead you to believe. Many people can relate to how they feel their sibling is the "favored" child and how they were forced to bail out those same siblings time and again, from situations of their own making.
Korede loves her sister, but never seems to follow through on her instincts to just let Ayoola deal with her own issues. Ayoola takes advantage of her sister's guilt and inability to create effective boundaries, while happily living her best sociopathic life.
Recommended for those who like darkly humorous reads and relate well to Dexter and other killers.

Wow. That was quite a ride. I really enjoyed this book, but at the same time, I really wanted to punch Ayoola in the face (she's the serial killer), and smack some sense into Korede (the enabling sister). Korede was likeable, and the embodiment of "blood is thicker than water." I felt bad for her- I mean, she did get herself into it by helping her sister clean up her "problems," but at the same time, she's stuck with doing it, or she'll go down too. Ayoola is a psychopath, is selfish, conceited, and I can't think of one redeeming thing about her, but she's Korede's little sister, and Korede feels she must protect Ayoola no matter what. Throughout the book, we get flashbacks to the sisters' abusive childhood, and that kind of explains what happens. Doesn't excuse it, but you can see what sparked it. The writing is tight and concise, the humor is deadpan and dark, and the food descriptions made me really hungry- I've never had Nigerian food, but google is my friend, and I'm sure as hell gonna try making some!

Ayoola is a serial killer and her sister not only knows it, but she’s been enlisted to help clean up the mess. This is a straightforward novel about the bonds of family and shared hardships.

The character development was excellent and it was easy to see just how each sister turned out the way they did. Braithwaite is able to take an unlikeable character and make her interesting. She was never likeable, but she was interesting. The best part is Ayoola isn’t really the main character, her sister is! In this way we are able to silently chant “turn her in!” While being able to see Korede’s reasons for helping Ayoola.

This story was succinct and much shorter than I typically enjoy, but it was a solid book with a writing style I liked.

A great, quick read. From a fresh voice. Great character development and fun story. Hope to read more of this author.

LOVED this book, so much fun to read and have recommended it to many. The style was light and fun and short and it was the most enjoyable serial killer murder book I've read in a long time.

This book was billed as horror and satire and I didn't elicit emotions for either billing while reading this book. It's a straightforward narrative about a young woman who kills her lovers. Yes, that is a horrific thing but neither horror nor satire. This book is akin American Psycho.

I enjoyed this title but the short chapters sometimes made it feel like you were missing something - or werent getting the full story

Darkly funny, this books finds the nexus between doing what’s right and protecting your family. I love the way the author allies us with the heroine, with glimpses of the violent childhood she shared with her sister and the ways they internalized it. Though dealing with grave subjects it never feels heavy and you feel a need to race through.