Korede is a hard-working, reliable nurse in Logos, Nigeria.
Her sister Ayoola is selfish, beautiful, and has a habit of disposing of
boyfriends in a very permanent way. When Ayoola calls Korede to come help her
dispose of the body of her latest boyfriend, Korede tells herself this is the
last time she cover up for her sister even as she is bleaching the bathroom
tiles. It’s not just the physical clean-up, though. Korede has to monitor
Ayoola’s social media posts to ensure she maintains the image of a woman
mourning the loss of her “missing” boyfriend.
Korede sees her workplace as the refuge from the rest of her
life where her smarts and competence will always be eclipsed by Ayoola’s
beauty. At the hospital she is respected and valued for the work she does, and she
just knows that the handsome Doctor Tade she works with will soon realize that
they are a perfect match. When Ayoola shows up at the hospital, everything goes
wrong. Tade is immediately smitten with Ayoola, and Ayoola loves the attention
she receives from the handsome and wealthy doctor. Korede must decide whether
she should warn Tade, try to stop Ayoola, or stand back and hope for the best.
I picked this book up expecting a thriller about a female
serial killer, a novel topic but not entirely groundbreaking. What I got was a
darkly funny and insightful look at sibling rivalry, love, gender roles, and Nigerian
politics. I couldn’t put it down!
-Portia Kapraun
