My Sister, the Serial Killer

 

Wow. I devoured this one really quickly. I think I read it in a day and a half. I love the fast pace, the modern setting of Lagos, and how we are shown and not told the differences in culture (corruption, gender roles, everyone trying to make a quick buck). 

One thing that really stuck w me is the lack of redemption arc or any real clarity about the violence in the family. Who killed their father? I'm assuming Korede or perhaps both of them. Is that what sent Ayoola on her path? We never find out and are left to think about it. In fact, we are never given answers at all and I think that was a clever choice. This novela sticks in the brain precisely because of that, all the lingering questions. 

I also appreciate that she didn't hammer the idea of the “unreliable narrator” even though I would argue that Korede is one. Whether it's due to her trauma or her inability to (until the end) reckon with her role in her sister's actions, it is clear that we can only trust her so much. Additionally, I like how she plays with the trope of the eldest sister. She is always cleaning up after Ayoola but we see that she also keeps herself in that role due to her inability to question her sister, herself, or anyone around them. It's like she had her one act of defiance w the aunt and that was all she had in her. 

All in all, I loved it. It felt really fresh and while I may have wanted more of a fleshed out story at times, I think it was clever to keep it sparse.