My Sister, The Serial Killer Review
By Nic Daniels
TW: mentions of domestic abuse, violence
Happy Halloween, audacious readers!
Hope you got your costumes ready and are ready to look over your shoulder all night. Last month, we enjoyed the action-packed, instant family manga, Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo. This month, we’re exploring the dark side of family with the Nigerian thriller, My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite.
Korede has always done her best to protect her younger, favored sister, Ayoola. This includes helping dispose the boyfriend Ayoola just killed—the third one, if Korede is keeping track. Despite the gruesome act, Korede understands, knowing her sister is protecting herself. However, Korede starts to rethink her defense when her boss (and secret love of her life), Tade starts to date her sister.
Korede, while outwardly supportive, is brokenhearted but quickly becomes suspicious. She has worked with Tade for years and knows he a good guy, certainly not the type to put her sister in harm’s way. Ayoola, however, stays the same charming but manipulative person she always is. The more the relationship develops, the more Korede can’t help but wonder if there’s more to her sister’s murder than she previously believed.
The first time finished this book, as someone who is an older sister and adores her little sister, my first reaction was “Whaaaacckkkk! What was that?!” I was so angry at Korede’s decision to let her sister get away with all the murders and ruin Tade’s life, especially with how disrespectful Ayoola and their mother treated her the entire book. It was so frustrating. I just wanted to jump into the book and scream, “Get out! Korede, get out!!”
And then I thought about it.
Growing up in the Black community, I was taught to always look out for my siblings. If someone teased them, they teased me. There’s the expectation that your family is an extension of you, and you must protect that at all costs. So, I understand Korede wanting to protect her sister from the police. But also, three murders mark a habit or at least shows she doesn’t mind killing. So why protect her still when she would cause harm to other people?
So, I thought about it again…and I think I got it.
The first person Ayoola ever killed was her and Korede’s abusive father. Korede feels indebted and Ayoola doesn’t mind using that against her. Actually, despite loving Korede, Ayoola seems to enjoy it; I think it’s safe to say Ayoola is a narcissist.
So, imagine that the person you love most in the world makes your world about them every moment they can and everyone around you enforces that thought, especially when we factor in colorism because good lord! Korede was overlooked so much because she was dark skin but I have a feeling that she and Ayoola look very similar, which frustrates me even more—but I’ll go into that on the next IG Live (keep an eye out on the Audacity Magazine IG page).
Overall, I think this story is a great example of how people will coast on what they’re taught growing up. This is an extreme example but there are so many times we let the people we care about get away with toxic behavior because we don’t think about it, or don’t think we can stop it. And yet, what we refuse to acknowledge, is that we may be the only ones who can.
What did you think of My Sister, the Serial Killer? How far would you go for your family? Let me know all your thoughts and don’t forget to join the book club IG live, where we will talk about all the things, coming soon.
Until next, don’t forget to read audaciously!
