The Book Nook

Creepy and comedic noir   Keeping in mind my tendency to avoid plot spoilers, I had to laugh when I first saw the title for today’s featured book: “My Sister the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite.  The title implies a crime novel, but readers will find a sardonic depiction of the classic love triangle, painting pictures of two sisters who differ vastly from each other. The author wastes no time letting us know the title is (pardon the pun) dead serious.  In the opening lines, a woman tells her older sister that she’s killed a man in self-defense.  Again.  Her sibling arrives prepared to remove all incriminating evidence from the crime scene, including the body. Our protagonist is Koreda, is a dedicated nurse who takes pride in doing a good job, enjoying the respect she’s earned.  Her time at the hospital is generally more rewarding than her home life and the reasons will slowly be revealed.  She informs us that she is tall and definitely not pretty, especially in comparison to her little sister Ayoola, who is petite, confident and very beautiful. Ayoola works from home as a fashion designer, and the clothes she creates for herself serve to enhance her natural attractiveness.  Her appearance and skill at flirting ensure she has her pick of men, and she isn’t above using them for her own gain. Koreda is used to being ignored once her sister enters a room.  For many, this would be ample cause for resentment, but the two remain close regardless of what life throws at them.  Through her thoughts, readers learn what Koreda really feels about the situations she finds herself in, her relationships and what troubles her. One of her main worries is keeping her sister out of jail, who seems unconcerned about the possibility.  She’s lucky not to be there already, given her actions and attitude, but remains free thanks to her older sib’s practicality and resourcefulness.  Koreda finds refuge in her work for several reasons. One is that she’s found a way to share her worries with without fear of judgement or consequences.  Another is that she’s secretly in love with one of the hospital’s doctors.  He’s so handsome and kind, but unaware of her feelings for him.  She’s tried many things to gain his attention - tidying his office, bringing homecooked food and changing her appearance.  He expresses appreciation and admiration, but zero romantic interest.  She’s hopeful she can win his love someday, especially if she can keep him away from her sister. Only time will tell whether Koreda is successful in her goals and whether the men who come into Ayoola’s life will survive. This psychological suspense story was published in 2017 and is Braithwaite’s first novel.  There were a few areas that raised questions in my mind that I hoped would be answered.  For instance, the sharp contrast between two vastly different women made me question the closeness of their relationship.  Also, as the plot spiraled towards the conclusion, it felt almost stifling.  Most of my qualms were remedied by the twist ending. There were only a couple of uneven areas, such as the one-dimensional feel of a few of the characters.  Others felt more real, returning some of the balance.  One of the appealing factors was how characters lived up to their appearance on a superficial level, yet were less predictable at a deeper lone. Set in a middle-class neighborhood of Lagos, Nigeria, there were interesting glimpses of the setting and more would have been welcomed.  Perhaps the author intended to give us minimalistic scenes to leave more to readers’ imagination.  The intelligent pacing combined with prose that at times felt poetic propelled the story along nicely. Braithewaite’s writing shows an emerging talent.  She has a distinctive approach to subjects such as beauty, affluence and the different levels of privilege or lack thereof based on appearance.  Her treatment of the sisters’ relationship made more sense once I learned that in Nigeria the oldest sibling bears heavier responsibilities than in some other cultures. Korede’s interior monologue was witty and helped create a bond between her and the reader.  There were several brands of humor at play, many dark and some silly.  All did much to lighten the plot, as did the narrator’s deadpan tone.  Murder is a serious subject, especially serial killing, yet the author cleverly loads her multiple-genre tale with mirth and wry observations. Braithwaite’s desire to appeal to young adults was done more effectively than many other authors and went beyond mere social media references.  When she did include them, her use seemed natural and, combined with very short chapters, shows she understands the tastes of that demographic.  She noted in an interview that Nigeria is known for its literary fiction and she’s glad to see that it’s currently enjoying more popularity worldwide. You’re not required to be a fan of dark comedy to enjoy this playfully sinister romp that gives us a conflicted protagonist presented with just enough ambiguity to keep things interesting.  But those who do will be rewarded by this new voice.