Oyinkan Braithwaite – My Sister, The Serial Killer (Literature Review)

“Ayoola summons me with these words – Korede, I killed him. I had hoped I would never hear those words again.”

They say sisters share an unbreakable bond, secrets no one else knows. And for Korede and her sister, Ayoola, it couldn’t be truer. Ayoola has the nasty habit of getting herself into trouble and when that happens, her boyfriend du jour ends up dead. And that’s where Korede comes in. She cleans up after her little sister, making sure to destroy any evidence that would reveal Ayoola to be anything other than the perfect princess everyone imagines her to be. Until, that is, Ayoola sets her sights on someone Korede cares for deeply.

Originally published in e-book format in 2017 as “Blood is Thicker than Water”, My Sister, The Serial Killer is the debut paperback novella from Oyinkan Braithwaite. Since its official release late last year, the novella has received nothing but praise with a plethora of positive reviews and social media buzz that keeps growing as the weeks pass.

In a recent interview with Electric Literature, Braithwaite acknowledged that one of the reasons she wrote this particular novella was to examine the role beauty plays in society’s perception of people.

With this in mind, one would be forgiven for expecting something that was heavily laden with social commentary. My Sister, The Serial Killer takes a different approach. Though Korede often compares her looks with her sister’s and condemns Ayoola’s reliance on social media, it’s not preachy or overdone.

In fact, the structure and style used in My Sister, The Serial Killer are the elements that make this novella so enjoyable. The chapters are short, but it doesn’t feel like the anything is taken away from the story. Instead, it heightens the sense of urgency as we follow Korede’s struggle to defend her sister whilst still maintaining her own self-worth and morals.

While I haven’t enjoyed other books that delve into the realm of dark comedy, Braithwaite seems to have that delicate balance of what’s acceptable and what isn’t down pat. Korede is very honest with herself, and there is a sharp wit to Braithwaite’s writing that makes My Sister, The Serial Killer addictive reading. The book was so compelling and punchy that I finished it within a matter of hours.

There’s something about My Sister, The Serial Killer that just works. As the positive reviews continue to pour in, I have no doubt Braithwaite’s novella will find a place on many readers’ top books of 2018/2019.

My Sister, The Serial Killer is published through Allen & Unwin. Visit their website or blog for more information on this title and other new releases.