My Sister, the Serial Killer Review: Breezy and competent
Serial killer sister? Enabler sister? Set in the wonderful country of Nigeria? That's one heck of a combo. My Sister, the Serial Killer was recommended to me as an effective comp title for my in-progress novel, My Name Is Karen, and I was really happy at the end of the novel when I realized it'd be a perfect comparison in pacing and plot structure. So, did this book live up to my expectations and the epic hook, or did it fall flat? That's what I, Brighton Nelson, will be discussing today!
I'll dabble briefly in the negatives before moving into the positives. This book doesn't have many negatives for me, but I'd have preferred a couple more pages of conclusion to wrap the book up, as well as a bit more depth to their hints of a problematic backstory. The weight of the book's consequences doesn't fully settle, and it all just feels a bit hollow. The book's breakneck pace is fantastic, but almost every book I read that ends like this makes me feel like they forgot breathing room is important. The pacing doesn't give too much room to get super invested in the characters; just a couple more pages of interiority here and there would add more color.
However, even though the book felt a tad underdeveloped, there are so many wonderful aspects to this book. First, the pacing sweeps you off your feet and whisks you along; this is one of those books that you'll very likely find yourself staying up a couple of extra hours to finish in one sitting. Second, the sister dynamic and the morally destructive combo of Korede's enabling nature and Ayoola's raging killer vibes give the whole book a delicate balance of fun, black comedy, and investment that comes from following Korede as she decides whether to continue supporting her sister.
The book also has a wonderful, distinct chapter structure that is similar to my book! The book's chapters are brief and have fun titles, but what was really interesting was the really short transition chapters and the punchiness of it all. I have a similar balance in my WIP, and this was vindicating, because I've heard many people tell me that chapters this short aren't as marketable, but this book's concise pacing and prose have been praised. I'm always happy to see that my book's style does have a place in the market!
The Brighton's Bookshelf Verdict
Brighton's Bookshelf Score - 7.5/10
Letter Score - A
My Sister, the Serial Killer could've really used a few more pages to flesh out its characters and narrative, but the snappy prose and witty sister rivalry will hook you in and cause you to fly through the novel in a single session. There's a reason I'm going to use this as a comp title for my book—it doesn't need to be perfect to be satisfyingly fleeting.
Interested in checking out some of my other reviews? Check them out below!
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