In one chapter, they and their mother are forced to come together to celebrate the late father’s birthday at an elaborate event with extended family. As keepers of the long-held secret of their father’s abuse, a deep sense of trust and loyalty holds the sisters close. These scenes illustrate how the sisters have protected each other for years, demonstrating the strength of their relationship as well as their common need to shield their mother from further harm and humiliation. Painful flashbacks of childhood incidents are skillfully interspersed with present-day events. Though he has been dead for some time, his memory haunts the women and his presence remains palpable in the family home. Obliged to help scrub and scour the crime scenes, essentially becoming “theĬleaner,” not unlike an oft-played Harvey Keitel character.ĭespite the obvious strain between the two siblings, they are united by a common childhood experience of trauma at the hands of an abusive, totalitarian father who was flagrantly unfaithful to their mother. Poisoned, bloated corpses left in Ayoola’s wake. The midst of a murder scene, complete with a trail of bloody bodies and Reminded me of the 2008 film “27 Dresses” starring Katherine Heigl and MalinĪkerman, but the similarities ended there as the book plunged headfirst into The conundrum of the unspoken yet ongoing competition with Ayoola-for attention, Tade, just as Korede is about to express her interest, Korede is forced to face Mission to seduce the object of Korede’s long-unspoken affection, the physician Sacrifices for her younger, more carefree sister. AyoolaĪttracts suitor after eligible suitor, compliment after gushing compliment fromĪll corners while Korede is expected to simply nod, smile, and even make Yet as she dutifully supports Ayoola, she secretly harbors resentment. Sister Ayoola by both family and society. Korede, the elder, hasīeen categorically deemed less attractive and charismatic than her younger Two sisters, one is always the watcher, one the dancer.” Glück’s philosophy isĭefinitely borne out here in sisters Korede and Ayoola. The myriad of complications the situation necessarily creates makes My Sister, the Serial Killer a page-turner that doesn’t disappoint. The book’s cover, featuring a portrait of a glamorous young woman wearing oversized sunglasses with reflections of daggers in the lenses, assured me that I was in for a wild ride. I actually didn’t know that little tidbit about bleach and blood before picking up the book-so I guess it could dubiously be called “one to grow on.” I was initially drawn in by the title, which seemed to belie a droll, tongue-in-cheek perspective while simultaneously capturing the gravity of the situation. “I bet you didn’t know that bleach masks the smell of blood.” So begins Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel My Sister, the Serial Killer(Doubleday).
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