How do you define love? What makes a family? What breaks it? And more importantly what do you mean by loyalty? Is it defined by love, morales, faith or utter disbelief in any/ all of them?

I listened to this book recently, formed quite a good opinion about it; but dare I say I enjoyed it. What I remembered from this Audible version was the narrator- she can breeze in and out of characters, how her voice guides us through the narrative and makes the listening a pleasurable experience.

The story takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s the story of two sisters- as different as chalk and cheese. Or in this case, more like Siamese cat and regular house cat. As the case may be, the Siamese cat will purr and whine, demanding all your attention and attraction. The regular house cat is a different matter; she is lurking in the shadows, catching a mice and just looking after herself.

Elder sister, Korede is a medical professional; a nurse working at a Lagos hospital, sincere with her work but strict with her colleagues, on the way to a promotion. She has soft spot for only one colleague of hers- Dr. Tade Otumu. The one so famously snatched from under the nose by her younger sister, Ayoola.

We met Ayoola when she has already murdered her one-month-into-relationship boyfriend Femi. Being the protector she is, Korede helps her to conceal the murder. Just like she has helped her two more times already. The book begins with this murder and ends with a near murder.

In between we get to know Ayoola, Korede and their family better. How they have suffered through an abusive childhood, a tyrant as a father and a submissive mother. What lead Ayoola to be rebellious and dangerous for her own self ; Korede as guilt ridden, repressed and responsible older child.

The book is from Korede’s point of view- so we get to know her angst, guilt ridden subconscious mind playing up, loyalty towards family, her responsibility towards her younger sister making her justify being an accomplice in Ayoola’s schemes. So, her character has a good arc, quite 3D developed but still I got baffled by coming to the ending. The same is not true about the other central character on whose the book’s premise and name is famously based- Ayoola. We hardly get to know what’s happening in that beautifully decorated head of hers; why she is doing, what she is doing. Their mother is just a shadow figure, what’s her stand in all this is also not quite clear. We just get to know she favours her pretty child but why so cold towards the older daughter, is not so evident.

Still, I will go ahead recommending this book for people liking dark comedy and for those who like dysfunctional families with added criminal intentions. For me personally, the bonus point being reading more books based out of Africa written by authors having roots there. 🙂