My Sister, the Serial Killer

I enjoyed an unusual take on a serial killer story, but overall found the book lacking in tension and fear. Still, a good short read. 4 stars.

I didn't really like this. I was kind of hoping it was going to be funny and it's fine that it's not but the lack of agency of our main character got incredibly frustrating to read as the book went on. Thankfully it wasn't that long so I got through it pretty quick. 

I wouldn't call this a thriller, but then again, on the publication info page it isn't referred to as one. What this is is a great family narrative, full of gray areas, conflicting loyalties, and flashes of a really dark past. The characters are beautifully written and I found this such an easy and satisfying read, set in an intriguing and complex cultural landscape.

Entertaining short tale of a Nigerian nurse, whose sister has the unfortunate habit of killing off her boyfriends.

This should have been a really quick read, but my holiday schedule only allowed me to listen in short bursts. Which maybe throttled my excitement a bit.

Those short chapters really help you fly through this book. I really enjoyed this one and loved the character study. You can look at the story from so many different angles and perspectives to create a totally different type of experience. I really liked it! I wish certain things had occurred on the page, but other than that it was a win for me.

i read this book really fast to be honest. something about short chapters makes the book easier to read and wanting to read more. lets start of with Ayoola. man did this female really had me annoyed. she thought because she is pretty and has no flaws she needs to get everything she wanted. she did but thats not the point. actually i dont know if i even have a point i just know she pissed me off a lot because of it. her murdering the men i believe she did it because she wouldn't get her way. it never really said what was the reason on why she killed them other than the guys coming at her, as in attacking them

what i did like was how well written it was. how koede helps her sister get rid of the body and cleaning the murder room to be spotless. i give her a round of applause for sticking around. it doesn't matter if the murderer is blood. if you do not feel safe being around that person, fuck them ! LITERALLY what is the reason for you to stay “oh i can change them” “its my baby sister/brother” “they need me” please if they are old enough to know that killing is bad then thats it.

anyways, i also liked how ayoola was getting away with it. and at the end got her way. it is literally shocking how close she was on getting caught that it made me keep reading and wanting to find out what is happening next. the men in this book all suck especially the father. their father reminded me of my dad and didn't really trigger me but it did make me think a lot. the book in general made me have a connection with both sisters minus the killing. i have not much to say other than being a 5 ☆☆☆☆☆ will there be a second book ? i would love to continue this book !! you like comedy/murder/sisters this is a good book for you. give it a go !

A little bit shorter than I would have liked, and the story played out in a way I didn't really expect from the synopsis. A couple things felt as though they were thrown in for the shock factor and just for things to get crazier and crazier, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless and the pacing was great. Took off one star because the ending felt quite abrupt, it all wrapped up a bit too quickly. But overall a great quick read.

Begins quickly with big sister Korede (the narrator) helping her little sister Ayoola deal with a dead body. Ayoola says her boyfriend attacked her although Ayoola has no marks or bruises and her boyfriend has her knife in his back. And, as Korede notes, he's the third one. Told in simple language and set in Nigeria (where the author is from) this story zips along super fast and it's a fun read.

2.7

it was fine I guess but I went into it thinking it's a mystery thriller and it wasn't really? I liked the characters and relationships tho

The book is fine, It is about a sister always having to clean up her sister's murders. So it is kind of funny, she realizing that the murders cannot be accidents any longer. Maybe one is an accident, okay, maybe two. But 3 !! that can't be an accident, so her sister is a serial killer, and she always has to help her dispose of the body and clean everything.

The turning point of the plot comes when you can truly feel the protagonist's struggle between saving her sister or turning her in. She can't take it anymore, felling so nervous around the cops while her sister doesn't help. Furthermore, that is the thing I didn't like: her sister.

I hate her, honestly. Everything in me was saying: Just turn her in, she is not worth the struggle. The sister is constantly portrayed as someone who has never faced consequences. This is a personal pet peeve of mine - people who lack empathy towards those they hurt or fail to appreciate those who help them. Just let her clean up her own mess for once. But the sister was so gorgeous, she has always managed to get away with everything. It was amusing how men reacted in her presence, she had every man trembling at her feet.

And at the end, we finally get a glimpse of their sisterhood, and all the reasons why she feels compelled to help her, despite everything, she is her little sister and they both only have each other.

What would you do if your sister was a serial killer? Would you protect her? Turn her in? Or clean up her messes? Very interesting premise for a story. I wish this was a bit longer and character development was deeper but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend.

Wish it was longer.

My Sister, the Serial Killer is a funny, dark thriller about Korede and her sister, Ayoola, set in Lagos, Nigeria. Ayoola has a habit of killing her boyfriends, and loyal Korede is always there to help her clean up her mess. At first, these incidents seem to be self-defense or accidental, but Korede begins to suspect her sister is more sinister than she seems.
It is a short, fast read that keeps you enthralled throughout. This story made me laugh several times and kept me guessing until the end. The ending was a little disappointing, but it was still good. I laughed out loud, “Shame, I know thy name.” I will be looking for other books written by Ms. Braithwaite.

I don't want to say too much without giving away any of the story. But wow! It really sets you to thinking about how you would act/react in a given situation. What would you do? Would you do the same? I wish this had been one of the books we chose for our book club. It's a “side discussion” maybe... but there is SOOOOO much to say and unpack about this book!!
Overall though, I loved the book!

Did she learn anything or progress in any way?!!!
This book was a personal attack. I wasn't taking half of the things that was said and done to the main character...

I'm lowkey so disappointed. I went into this book thinking i'd be a thriller but its actually a contemporary with a dash of a thrill i guess. I really liked the writing and the main character korede. I felt for her and her strained relationship with her sister. caught in the middle of her murderous tendencies and always being seen as lesser. korede wasn't perfect, she had her flaws and i loved that about her. even with her feelings towards her sister she still has her back. even though it's not really morally correct... but sisters before misters i guess lmao. I just wish that there was more murder?? also i see a lot of people say that it's too short but honestly i liked the length. yes it went by really fast but it worked for the story. i would recommend if you are interested but just know it's not as thriller-y as the synopsis makes it out to be.

A Frustrating Tale of Loyalty and Chaos

The first book I tackled for this year’s work book club was My Sister, the Serial Killer. I usually enjoy dark and twisted reads, but this one left me wanting more. I initially thought it was a 2.5-star read, but I decided to bump it up to 3.

This book made me so angry—mainly because of Korede. She’s a hardworking, loyal daughter and sister who is constantly overlooked and forced into the shadow of her younger sister, Ayoola. Ayoola, who captivates everyone simply because of her beauty, has a deeply troubling side: she kills the men she dates.

What really stuck with me was Korede’s unwavering loyalty. Despite being underappreciated and pushed aside, she continues to protect Ayoola at all costs. I honestly don’t know if I could ever be that selfless, and I found myself frustrated on Korede’s behalf throughout the story.

This was a quick and dramatic read, filled with chaotic family dynamics, unresolved childhood trauma, toxic sibling bonds, and commentary on unfair beauty standards. While Ayoola’s wild behavior kept things interesting, I hoped for more depth overall.

I’m glad to have started my reading year, but I really hope my next dark read delivers more of the substance I’m looking for!

3.5 stars
This is a good suspenseful book that explores bonds of sisterhood and family in and through adversity and how far Korede would go to protect her little sister Ayoola, in spite of her murderous tendencies. I enjoyed the writing and characters but I really wanted Korede to stand up for herself given how maligned she is by almost every other character in the book. In that respect, I was a touch disappointed at the ending. Otherwise, definitely worth picking up!

definitley more lit fic than mystery or thriller but still an interesting read

This was so interesting, so fast-paced, so entertaining I actually read it in under 24 hours. I wasn't prepared for how funny it is! So enjoyable!
For me this is less about dealing with a sister who is a serial killer and more about what it really means to be the older sibling - and, man, can I relate.
Great read.

To be honest, I went into this considering it as a regular thriller, because satire often doesn't land for me. But I had SO MUCH FUN reading this. Reading others' reviews after I finished helped me understand the multiple dimensions of this story, especially the implications of the satire, but no matter how I look at it, I loved it. I went in believing that I could trust the narrator, Korede, and didn't consider that you can read her as a reliable or an unreliable narrator based on how you want to read it. (Whether you believe she killed first or not.) This book was sharp, left a lot up to the reader.

I have been going back and forth on whether I feel like this is a 3 or 4, so I'll just go with 3.5 for now, even though I'm not fully convinced on that rating, either.

I have never read a book quite like this. It's utterly unique and twisted and sometimes funny and othertimes sad. I am having a hard time distilling it down to a meaningful review. It's a quick read that I'll remember for a long time.

Kellerby Code but less Saltburn

I would have loved this in theory, but reading it I was very underwhelmed and it just couldn't hook me. I really appreciated the shorter length, though, and I think it would be perfect for the right reader.