• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Connect With Me
    • Request An Honest Review
    • Beta Reading Requests
    • Testimonials
  • Review Archive
    • Review Archive
    • Audiobook Review Archive
    • Spooky Children’s Book Review Archive
  • Referral Links
  • Podcast Recs
  • Policies
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

Erica Robyn Reads

a horror book review blog

[Book Review] My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

December 28, 2018      Erica Robyn      16 Comments

Book Review of My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite was quite a rollercoaster ride of suspense filled with twists and turns that I did not see coming! The story was centered around two sisters, one who has a habit of killing her boyfriends, and the other that would help clean up the mess. Things between the two are already strained, but things really take a turn when the murderous sister starts seeing the man that the other sister is interested in.

After hearing a ton of hype about this book, I couldn’t wait to dive in! When I started reading, I was immediately draw in. The book took a bit of a turn that I wasn’t expecting, but I didn’t put it down until I had finished it.

Let’s dive in to my review!

My Thoughts on My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

First things first, LOOK AT THAT COVER! I love it so much! The portrait of the woman is so eye-catching, and to have her surrounded by bright green text and a few splatters was a brilliant design idea. I was so caught up in looking at the woman and how the light is cast on her face and neck that it took me an embarrassingly long time to notice the reflection of the fist holding the knife that appears in her glasses.

The back of the dust jacket is wicked interesting as well! There is a hand wearing bright red glove, holding a green spray bottle which is surrounded by quotes from various authors.

If I had seen this book in stores before I heard the hype and preordered, I definitely would have picked it up on appearance alone! Bravo, Michael J. Windsor, you created a lovely dust jacket!

Now, about the text… The first chapter was simply:

Very intriguing! Needless to say, the first few chapters of this book totally drew me in with the murder aftermath, how to best use bleach to clean blood, the little black book of names, and the disposal of the body.

I was so interested to see how willing one sister, Korede, was to help her sister, Ayoola, cover up a crime. Right off the bat, this seemed a little off. I totally understand being protective of family, but at first I couldn’t believe that Korede hardly even batted an eye! Soon enough however, the guilt caught up to Korede and she began to struggle.

At that point, the story took a bit of a turn. The suspense still held, but it was different. The suspense was more focused on the relationship between the two sisters and how intense that relationship was. The story also kept dipping back into the past to show what had happened when the girls were younger and their father was still alive.

I was expecting way more blood, but the drama within the story definitely won me over!

There were moments that made me want to shout at the sisters or the new love interest once he was in the middle of things. More than once, I caught myself holding my breath while I was reading, anxious to see what was going to happen next.

Everything in this book seemed so dramatic, but so real. The author did an absolutely wonderful job writing both the storyline and the dynamics between each character.

Speaking of characters, I didn’t particularly like the majority of the characters. The character that I enjoyed the most only played a small role as he was actually in a coma for most of the story.

My Favorite Passages from My Sister, the Serial Killer

My heart drops to the floor, but there is no time to pick it back up.

His yellow shirt and khakis are starched to an inch of their life, so much so that even a strong wind is unable to stir the fabric.

There is music blasting from Ayoola’s room. She is listening to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” It would be more appropriate to play Brymo or Lorde, something solemn or yearning, rather than the musical equivalent of a packet of M&M’s.

Who is to say that an object does not come with its own agenda? Or that the collective agenda of it’s previous owners does not direct its purpose still.

“Femi makes three, you know. Three, and they label you a serial killer.”

Ayoola lives in a world where things must always go her way. It’s a law as certain as the law of gravity.

“You cannot take back words, once they’ve been spoken.”

My Final Thoughts on My Sister, the Serial Killer

Definitely not what I was expecting, but this was still such an interesting read to me! This story is definitely going to stick with me for quite some time! This is one of those stories that gets more and more intense the more you think about it.

I highly recommend picking this one up!


Snag a copy through Bookshop to help support local indie bookshops:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shreeya Sharma says

    December 28, 2018 at 10:46 am

    Your review has intrigued me a lot. This book sounds interesting. I am always hungry for thrillers and might pick this one up! Thank you for the review.

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 28, 2018 at 11:25 am

      😀 It definitely wasn't what I was expecting thriller-wise, but it it was certainly intense!

      Reply
  2. AJ Sterkel says

    December 28, 2018 at 4:05 pm

    Yay! I LOVE the cover, and the title, and the synopsis. This sounds like a “me” book, so I’m glad you liked it.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 28, 2018 at 9:33 pm

      I would love to read your review if you get the chance to pick this one up!

      Reply
  3. Suzanne at The Bookish Libra says

    December 28, 2018 at 9:27 pm

    This book sounds even better than I thought it would. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. I had been on the fence about whether I wanted to read it or not, but now you have me very interested. Great review!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 28, 2018 at 9:33 pm

      😀 I hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
  4. Elnade says

    December 28, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    After reading that opening, I am intrigued too. Sounds like an interesting read. Very good review.

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 29, 2018 at 12:01 am

      😀

      Reply
  5. Amber Elise says

    December 29, 2018 at 2:53 am

    Dramatic and realistic, I can't wait to read!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 29, 2018 at 2:55 am

      😀 Enjoy!!

      Reply
  6. Lauren Stoolfire says

    December 29, 2018 at 3:09 am

    I think I'll have to pick this up! Great review. 🙂

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 29, 2018 at 3:37 am

      I'd love to hear your thoughts!

      Reply
  7. McKenzie Allyshia says

    December 29, 2018 at 4:35 am

    Honestly, the title alone would have me picking up this book. However, the cover of the book is stunning too! I did not notice the knife until you mentioned it and I had to go back and look. This book sounds really interesting!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 29, 2018 at 12:45 pm

      😀 I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up!

      Reply
  8. chucklesthescot says

    December 29, 2018 at 8:35 am

    Quite a few people I know enjoyed this one. Glad you did!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      December 29, 2018 at 12:45 pm

      😀

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hello there!

Erica Robyn of Erica Robyn Reads
I run on hot tea, good books, and loud music. She/Her.
 

Search This Blog

Sign Up For Post Notifications


Loading

Recent Popular Posts

  • [Book Review] Home & Other Stories by P.J. Blakey-Novis
  • [Book Review] Four by P.J. Blakey-Novis
  • [Book Review] Ten Years Gone by H.P. Newquist
  • [Book Review] Corpsing by Kayleigh Marie Edwards
  • [Book Review] The Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot’s Revenge

An Easy Guide to Locating Horror Reviews Without Losing Your Mind created by Lori of Barks At The Ghouls
Shirley's Book Blogger List

Categories

ericarobynreads

Sickness Is In Season by Aiden Merchant has everyt Sickness Is In Season by Aiden Merchant has everything a horror fan craves! From light and spooky, to full-blown spine-chilling terror, this collection of short stories is a killer mix.

No matter what your personal favorite sub-genre of horror is, you’ll be sure to find something that sinks its teeth into you within this collection!

#supporthorror #promotehorror #sicknessisinseason #aidenmerchant #crossroadspresss #horrorbookrecs #horrorshortstories #horrorbookstagram
My April book haul 😍🖤🙌 My April book haul 😍🖤🙌
NH friends! Don’t miss the book event with @greg NH friends! Don’t miss the book event with @gregorybastianelli.author tonight in Exeter at @waterstreetbooks! 

I’m SO peeved my back pain flared up and I can’t drive out… but I am so excited that Waterstreet Books sent a signed copy my way! 😍

I can’t wait to see photos from the event!!
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling is a totally The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling is a totally captivating but nerve-wracking tale that is certainly not for those that fear tight spaces… While reading this tale, I felt so horribly claustrophobic. But I couldn’t stop. I had to find out what happened next!

#supporthorror #promotehorror #ladiesofhorrorfiction #horrorbookstagram #horrorbookrecs #theluminousdead #caitlinstarling
The Workshop of Filthy Creation by Richard Gadz is The Workshop of Filthy Creation by Richard Gadz is a chilling gothic horror story about what it means to be human. In these pages, you will see plenty of the darkness that humanity can create, but you will also see the light!

Ready to dive into a dark and dreary tale about gruesome medical practices set in Victorian London? Go pick up The Workshop of Filthy Creation today! I can’t wait for you all to meet Maria!

#supporthorror #promotehorror #gothichorrorreads #horrorbookrecs #theworkshopoffilthycreation #richardgadz #horrorbookstagram
Max is one of the most hilarious people that I fol Max is one of the most hilarious people that I follow on Twitter! I originally learned who he was after seeing him participate in the KillerCon 2020 Virtual Event. I went to follow him and his publishing house, Perpetual Motion Machine (that he runs with Lori Michelle), immediately after his reading.

Within the PMM publishing house, they also have the imprint, Ghoulish Books, which launched in January of 2022. Max’s latest book, Maggots Screaming!, launched today April 12th, 2022 from that imprint. In celebration, I’m so excited to be sharing this interview with Max!

Check out the full interview on my blog today! 

#horrorauthor #horrorauthorinterview #maxboothiii #supporthorror #promotehorror
Diaries of the Damned by Ivan Radev is a collectio Diaries of the Damned by Ivan Radev is a collection of tales that span numerous dark fears. But as always, even in the darkness, there’s a bit of light.

In the foreword, the author warns that this is a book of fears, and boy does he play on fears wonderfully! Each tale is presented to readers in the first person to really get readers in the characters shoes. Please use caution here when you dive in. The author does not shy away from the darkness.

Phew, this read will take readers on quite the journey! It was the perfect read for a dark and rainy spring weekend.

#bookreview #horrorbookreview #horrorbookstagram #diariesofthedamned #IvanRadev #horrorbooks
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 Erica Robyn Reads