![]() ![]() Murder, brutality and bloodshed are the norm in many aspects of life for the sisters, from the recollection of a domestically abusive father to the deaths of men at Ayoola’s hands. She remarks, ‘Maybe she is reaching out because she has sent another man to his grave prematurely, or maybe she wants to know if I can buy eggs on the way home.’ Not only did the comparison make me laugh aloud, but it also struck me in highlighting the mundane nature Braithwaite discusses violent acts. Another notable moment of well-timed comedy comes when Korede is receiving multiple calls from her sister while at work. The dry, dark comedy appears seamlessly through Korede’s voice and makes the novel entertaining in a way that distinguishes it from the genre of crime thrillers. ![]() As the sisters dump the body of yet another man into the river they used to dispose of two other men, the narrative voice of Korede quips ‘at least he won’t be lonely’. The violence and bloodshed throughout the novel are perfectly undercut by a maintained dark comedy. However, this is not to be mistaken for rash or thoughtless writing every word feels well placed and chosen with precision, making it worthy of its critical acclaim in being nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. This makes for a gripping read when there is a serial killer involved. Subsequently, each page hums with underlying energy and uncertainty, creating the feeling that anything could happen at any moment. Braithwaite produced the story within one month in an attempt to end a tough case of writer’s block. Braithwaite begins asking at what point does loyalty break? Does it break at all? Or does sisterly loyalty trump both romance and morals?Ī delightfully thrilling and snappy pace is maintained throughout the novel, which may be owed to the quick turnover of the text. Braithwaite continues to place increasing strain on Korede’s loyalty to Ayoola throughout the novel, particularly as Ayoola shows an interest in Tade, a doctor from work that Korede has long been in love with from afar. The story is built upon a foundation of patriarchal violence, as Korede remembers a childhood cast in the shadow of her abusive father who died at the hands of the sisters in an act of desperation. Dangerously beautiful and lethally charming, Ayoola wins the favour of any man coming into contact with her, before dispatching of them in a violent act of ‘self-defence’. The narrative voice of older sister Korede is a nurse by day, but by night she is cleaning up (and covering up) murders committed by her younger sister, Ayoola. My Sister, the Serial Killer is a darkly comedic story of murderous intent, patriarchal violence and romance – but primarily an exploration of the extent of sibling loyalty. ![]() Sibling Loyalty, Dark Comedy and Violence in Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer ![]()
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