Our Take

Oyinkan Braithwaite has created a masterpiece of dark comedy that manages to be both hilarious and genuinely chilling, proving that the best thrillers can make you laugh even as they horrify you. Her prose is crisp and efficient, delivering maximum impact with minimal words while creating two unforgettable characters whose toxic relationship drives the entire narrative. What makes this novella exceptional is Braithwaite's ability to find humor in the darkest situations without ever minimizing the moral weight of her characters' actions. Readers who loved Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn will appreciate the psychological complexity and unreliable perspectives, while fans of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton will connect with the darkly comic tone. Like Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, this book proves that short novels can pack incredible emotional punch. Braithwaite's Nigerian setting adds authenticity and cultural depth that elevates the story beyond simple dark comedy into sharp social observation. This is essential reading for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a sense of humor, delivering a story that's simultaneously entertaining and deeply unsettling. A brilliant debut that announces Braithwaite as a major new voice in contemporary thriller writing.