Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

I know that I am very late to this party. That is in no way going to stop me from trying to get you to join as well (assuming you haven’t already).

I picked up My Sister, the Serial Killer from the bookstore about six hours ago, got home, had dinner, walked dogs, picked up the book to read a few pages before I picked up the book I was actually planning to read tonight, and now I finished the book. Clearly I liked it.

The book is about Korede and her sister Ayoola, who is a serial killer. Korede helps her clean up and lives in a foggy space of cognitive dissonance. When Ayoola starts to show interest in a man Korede has long pined for; Korede must confront her decisions and if she should continue to keep her sister’s secrets.

This is clearly not a whodunnit; whodunnit is literally the title of the book. All the narrative tension comes from waiting to see what Korede and Ayoola decide to do next. It is a genius way to play with the thriller/mystery genre. I could not put this down.

The chapters are at mot a few pages, the writing is funny and tense; if you are anything like me, you will absolutely catapult through this book.

Oyinkan Braithwaite tackles so much in this book. I was specifically invested in the way she crafted the sister’s relationship. It is so toxic and manipulative and codependent. Korede is full to the brim with judgment of her sister, though she clearly enables her actions. The most enticing aspect of this book was watching their relationship unfurl. I can say no more for fear of spoiling.

I gave this book five stars on Goodreads and The StoryGraph. I clearly recommend this book. Anyone who likes a thriller, anyone who has watched too much true crime, anyone who likes reading about family secrets, this is the book for you.