This narrative essay piece is part of the FunDza Fellowship Project, showcasing the incredible talent of our 2024 Fellows. These stories were crafted by emerging young writers as part of their journey to hone their skills in storytelling. Each piece reflects their unique voice and creativity. We’re excited to share their remarkable narratives with you!
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Oyinkan Braithwaite captures the responsibilities that come with being an older sister in this thriller novel. The use of the first person narrator plunges the reader directly into the main character’s head, Korede. The book is mainly centred around Korede trying to help conceal her younger sister, Ayoola’s serial killer habits from the public and from their mother.
The first chapter of the novel is as alluring as the title. Ayoola has killed her current partner, again. Korede must help dispose of the body, again. Initially, one might think Korede helps her sister because it’s out of love and who else but her to help. As the novel progresses, Korede subtly reveals that she feels guilt for being unable to protect Ayoola in the past from their abusive father.
Ayoola also uses this to emotionally blackmail Korede into helping Ayoola everytime she kills. One might even think their sibling bond is strengthened by the time their spend together cleaning up after Ayoola kills.
The contrast between Ayoola and Korede’s characters are what piqued my interest the most. Despite Ayoola being the one who commits the murders, she always seems frightened and disturbed the most when it’s time to clean up, hence why she calls up big sister Korede. Korede is the one who exhibits strength for them both as if she is capable of commiting such an atrocity even though she doesn’t even think of it.
It’s also ironic how Ayoola claims to have loved all of her partners after murdering them even though she moves on to the next in a matter of weeks whilst Korede keeps a list of all of their names as a way to grieve for them. But then, Ayoola is pretty and conventionally attractive to every man and woman that lays eyes on her, shame on me for expecting her to be sombre when she has a truckload of suitors.
Things take an unexpected turn when Ayoola sets her sights on a handsome doctor called Tade, that works at the hospital Korede works at as a nurse. It would have been fine if Tade is just another doctor but, he is Korede’s long time crush!
Tade and Ayoola’s relationship flourishes into something envy-worthy and this is when we start to see a different side to Korede. The calm, shy, humble lady transforms into a ravaging beast as she destroys Tade’s office and the ring which Tade had planned to ask for Ayoola’s hand in marriage with. That makes you wonder, is Korede that different from her sister or is she just holding back?
As if Tade and Ayoola’s relationship is not enough, a certain new development that might threaten Ayoola’s secrets comes into light. Korede now finds herself trying to keep Tade alive whilst ensuring that nothing jeopardises her murderous sister’s freedom.
The novel ends on a steamy cliffhanger that will surely leave you clutching your pearls in shock while contemplating on what the ending might have been. So, whether your sister is into killing people, or you’re the murderous sister who just wants a piece of fiction to relate to, get yourself a copy of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s “My sister, the serial killer”.
It’s a killer read.
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