I couldn’t resist the blurb for Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut. A woman is about to sit down to supper when her sister calls. She’s killed another man and needs Korede’s peerless cleaning skills. Set in Lagos where Korede is a nurse and Ayoola charms men, My Sister, the Serial Killer is a short, sharp blackly funny novel.
It’s not the first time Korede’s dealt with her sister’s victims. She meticulously cleans Femi’s flat, wraps his body and puts it in the boot of her car before disposing of him in the river, just like the other two. Ayoola looks on while Korede labours away, only helping to carry Femi when cajoled into action. She’s shocked, claiming self-defence, but within days she’s slipped back into her usual routine. Korede and Ayoola are the antithesis of each other: Korede is plain, practical and responsible, in line for promotion to head nurse; Ayoola spends her time loafing around, posting on social media and beguiling men with her gorgeousness. When she visits the hospital for the first time, curious to meet the man with whom her sister is clearly smitten the inevitable happens. Will Tade be Ayoola’s fourth victim? How can Korede protect them both?
Braithwaite’s debut is a caper with a sharp edge. Told in Korede’s wry voice, it’s punctuated with snapshots of the bullying, corrupt father prepared to let a colleague get his hands on his fourteen-year-old daughter in order to seal a deal. Korede’s apparently unbreakable bond with her sister is based on protectiveness and love. If men don’t come out of this very well, too easily led by beauty and quick to resort to violence, neither do women who gossip, judge each other and trade looks for money and status. Braithwaite delivers all this with a mix of almost slapstick comedy and sharp wit coupled with a page-turning pace. A smartly inventive debut, already bound for 2019’s books of the year list for me. I wonder what Braithwaite will come up with next.
Sounds quite brutal and yet tongue-in-cheek, possibly like Antti Tuomainen writing in Nigeria, right?
Definitely tongue-in-cheek! Not a name I know, I’m afraid, but his writing sounds a little more in the crime fiction vein than Braithwaite’s.
Blimey, that stretches sisterly love to its extreme. As much as I love my sister somehow I don’t see myself cleaning up after that kind of a mess
Ah well, the emphasis is on black comedy with a serious edge with this one. I don’t think I’d be donning the rubber gloves, either!
I really want to read this. Great review Susan.
Thanks, Janet. It’s superb – I’m sure you’d love it.
Probably not my kind of novel, and yet you make this sound hugely compelling. I am particularly drawn to the Lagos setting. Great review.
Thanks, Ali. It has a great deal to say about Nigerian society – slapstick yet serious if you see what I mean.
Despite the rather lurid typography of the cover, this sounds fun!
It’s fun that packs a punch!
I’ve heard good things about this one. I think I need to get my hands on it.
I think you do. It’s a short, punchy and very funny read. A great way to kick off the new blogging year.
I’m definitely going to get it!
Excellent!
I have been v intrigued by the blurb too. I really want to read this book
I hope you like it, Resh. It’s been hyped a lot on social media but more than lives up to it. Beautifully presented, too.
Love the cover!
Isn’t it great? Suits the boiok perfectly, too. It arrived with a pair of green rubber gloves to match!
It’s very striking and would instantly attract my attention. 10/10 for PR sending the gloves!
Absolutely!
I was not expecting this to sound like so much fun! Going on my list!
Dark fun, but definitely fun to be had!
This sounds great, and it’s short too – perfect!
Definitely in novella territory with this one.