In the 1920's, evangelist Aimee McPherson had quite a following. She started off at tent revivals and built a megachurch in California that used theater as part of her preaching. She was a worldwide known showman and became rich and famous. Then one day she disappeared. When she returned, she told a wild story of a kidnapping and Mexico that many people, including the police, the press, and some of her followers, never believed. When her fame turned to infamy, she kept her story up and tried many zany ways to collaborate it.

This is the story of Aimee's origins, her family life, her career, and her scandals. I don't know how she is not a household name. This is truly a story that is stranger than fiction. Aimee was a pioneer in the world of megachurches and evangelism yet seemed to crave more fame but also crack under the pressure of it.

I was really interested in this story, and the book mostly delivered. It is nonfiction, and unfortunately really feels that in its slow pacing and minute details. I kind of wish this had been shorter and a little less dry and detailed. However, I did enjoy hearing about the crazy life of Aimee McPherson.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This is a fascinating story. A girl from a village just outside of London Ontario attends an evangelical meeting and is transformed. Her mother had earmarked her for a religious life with the Salvation Army but when she heard the man who would become her husband, Aimee knew where her life would lead. In many ways she was right. When it came to the religious fervour that she was able to create, there were none at the time to compare to her. She created a new religious group that even today is still growing. It might have been called a cult today but there is no doubt in reading this biography that she was sincere in her desire to help people. In that respect she was quite amazing. The fact that she was a woman in that time made her success even more unusual in a misogynistic world. She would have had a challenging life had to she stuck to the straight and narrow but Aimee was all too human..

She was swayed by the fame and the money and all that went with it. She was guilty of many of the deadly sins but lust and coveting someone’s husband led her on a perilous journey that she made even more hazardous by decisions she made. Not unlike today’s politicians and religious leaders, she doubled down on her frailties and mistakes. Through many a destroyed relationship, lawsuits galore and the adulation of her public, she still died alone.

It is a compelling story that tells in great detail her rise to the pinnacle and her fall from it. And yet, what she built still stands. A cautionary tale, perhaps. But she was a visionary in so many respects and she created many of the things we now take for granted. Four purrs and two paws up.

Aimee Semple McPherson, a name most readers of evangelists recognize for the drama she generated as she traveled. She would come to the United States from Canada and blaze a trail of religious fervor, travelling with her mother through towns and cities promoting the Pentacostal religion and eventually building her followers into the Four Square Church. McPherson was undoubtedly the biggest celebrity of her era. When she disappears with no trace, the media follow every rumor with no success. Then Aimee appears in Mexico, many miles from where she disappears. Her story is not provable or probable, leaving her followers to question her religious conviction and ultimately dimming the bright star that was Aimee Semple McPherson. Her story falls into the "truth is starnger than fiction" category.

Drama, drama, drama.

If you love drama, abductions, twists & turns and more this is for you. I really appreciated the way this story was written and kept you wanting more. Fascinated by the fact that it’s a true story about someone’s life and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw this book I was pulled in by the cover. After reading the synopsis, I realized I had heard about Aimee somewhere in the past. I’m always interested in reading about dynamic people and the power they can have over others.
This was a well researched and written book. Not being a religious person it’s hard for me to understand stand people being swayed to believe. I find it a bit cult like in my opinion. I’m so glad I read this. It was never boring or slow to me. I learned a lot about Pentecostalism. I really knew nothing about it The book really shows how hard as a woman Amie had to work to get where she did and the toll the power and prestige took on her health, emotionally and physically.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest opinion. 4.5⭐️

Having never heard of Aimee Semple McPherson, I requested an ARC of this book simply because the title sounded interesting and I was in a non-fiction/history period of reading.

Now I'm not sure how I've never heard of Aimee Semple McPherson.

I am absolutely sure that Claire Hoffman tells Aimee's story better than I could in a review.

So what I will say is that if you're interested in American history in the first half of the 20th century (with some focus on Los Angeles), if you're interested in religious history (with a focus on the advent of megachurch evangelicalism in America), if you're interested in true crime stories that played out in the press (so many unanswered questions), if you're interested in how humans become invested and enmeshed in faith (especially the sort in which the faith leaders do not live as they tell their congregations to), and if you're interested in a fascinating true story of how one young woman sort of tripped into success before holding onto it so tightly that it ballooned far beyond her control...

...you really should read this book.

It is a journey, one that ends up being something of a deep sociological look at humanity and culture.

Thanks to Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, NetGalley, and the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the eARC!
I loved this book! I learned so much, and found Aimee to be such an interesting subject. I loved the book both for the subject and the way it was written. Hoffman is an amazing writer, and I immediately went and ordered Hoffman's other book when I finished this one.
I loved the way she presented Aimee's story - every part of it was incredible in its own way. I especially loved the mystery around her missing time.
It was also fascinating to read about the history of the Pentacostal movement and how Aimee fit into it (and blazed her own trail).
Highly recommended for anyone interested in biographies, Christian history in the US, or true crime (her kidnapping/missing time).
A really fantastic read!

Riveting.

I don't typically read history or biographies, but full disclosure, I am an ordained minister in the Foursquare Church, founded by Sister Aimee. When I saw this book, I immediately wanted to read an "outsider's" perspective. For so many years, I heard very little about the mysterious and unknown parts of her life and story, but I feel like in recent years the denomination has been more open about her faults and struggles, even admitting that she left us a heritage of workaholism. Hoffman writes in her epilogue, "Aimee's legacy lives on at Angelus Temple and in Foursquare churches, but it is not a cult of personality. Aimee is presented as an upright religious pioneer, a revolutionary woman of historical importance, of the distant past." I think this is an accurate portrayal of the denomination today. As for the book and its contents, I was fascinated to learn about Aimee's early life, her kidnapping and disappearance, and her interactions with her mother, followers, and the rich and famous throughout the 20s and 30s. Is the mystery of Aimee's disappearance solved through Hoffman's journalistic efforts? Not completely. Is Aimee portrayed as a fraud and liar? No. Is she portrayed as a Saint? No. Hoffman strikes a balance between sister and sinner, as the title implies. She works through the court documents, newspaper articles, and Foursquare archives to bring a nuanced portrait. In the author's note she says she suspected there was more to Aimee's story than the polarized portrayals as "either virtuous and misunderstood or a conniving huckster; a great spiritual paragon or a fame monster." Hoffman's tone is informative, funny, and incisive. She treats the subject of her research with care and highlights this remarkable woman who made waves, for good or ill, during a time when women made very few.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the digital review copy of this book. All thoughts are my genuine reading experience. And thank you to Claire Hoffman for seeing Aimee Semple McPherson as a human being, more than only the scandals or the achievements.

SISTER, SINNER is an incredibly fascinating and well-researched book about Aimee Semple McPherson, a remarkable yet largely forgotten female pioneer in religious history. it explores her extraordinary rise to fame, her notable successes, the scandals that surrounded her, and the "corrosive nature of fame".

non-fiction can sometimes feel clunky, overly in-depth, or even boring, but this book is none of those things. it's an engaging and well-paced - it pulls you in and keeps you invested from start to finish.

something I truly appreciated about SISTER, SINNER is how it gives us a very nuanced portrayal of Aimee. it shows us her brilliance in the world of evangelism and takes an honest look at the highs and lows of her tumultuous life. it shows us the strength and determination she had in the face of misogyny and narrow-mindedness, and throughout it all, the book showcases the true joy and passion she had for her faith and the message she preached.

at the same time, it doesn’t turn a blind eye to Aimee's flaws, scandals, and hypocrisy. instead, it presents them in a completely balanced way. the book doesn’t dictate how we should feel about Aimee, it simply allows us to form our own opinions based on the complex portrait it paints of her.

ultimately, SISTER, SINNER is a thoroughly captivating read. it’s a story that’s both informative and entertaining - who would have thought I’d become so invested in the life and drama of someone I’d never even heard of before picking this book up? that, I think, proves just how well-crafted and engaging this book really is!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This was interesting. I think I was blown away by the fact that these type of church shenanigans are really where televangelist started. This is deff the story that shows the danger of the intersection of faith and fame. Also its a reminder that there is nothing new under the sun and the churchy scams have been happening for a LONG time. Very interesting story.

This will surely be the definitive biography of Aimee Semple McPherson, that astonishingly popular evangelist, a woman ahead of her time. Balanced, nuanced and non-judgemental, this is a comprehensive and thoroughly researched biography, well-written in a lively and accessible style, and quite a page-turner. Aimee Semple McPherson was a remarkable woman, and quite a character indeed, an expert in self-promotion (oh how she would have loved YouTube and social media!). It feels impossible to really get inside her head and she remains a mystery. Did she truly believe what she claimed? Was it all a cry for attention? Was she ever happy? That we will never know, but this book makes learning as much as possible about her an entertaining and enjoyable read. Religion and power, gullibility and belief, marketing and influence – it’s all here. Highly recommended.

If you’ve never heard the name Aimee Semple McPherson, you’re not alone—but Claire Hoffman’s Sister Sinner will ensure you never forget her name again as America's first mega-preacher.

Claire Hoffman holds an MA in religion and grew up in the Transcendental Meditation movement, which she wrote about in her intimate memoir, Greetings from Utopia Park. This background may explain why her perspective is so well-suited to exploring the life of Aimee McPherson, as she offers a detailed, page-turning account with razor-sharp clarity, compassion, and a deeper understanding of what draws people into the orbit of religious leaders.

This riveting biography opens with the astonishing true story of Aimee, who shaped modern evangelicalism, vanished into the ocean for 35 days, and returned with a kidnapping tale so wild it led to two sensational trials.

Hoffman meticulously documents Aimee's childhood and her attraction to Pentecostalism, a movement historians have described as a "cyclone" that struck the early 1900s like a storm. The early days of this religion were rooted in four key gifts: glossolalia, prophecy, the interpretation of tongues, and the power to heal. Congregants believed that Jesus's return to Earth was imminent and that signs of His arrival were everywhere. It was this sense of urgency that drew out a surprising leader in Aimee.

At the turn of the century, it was unusual for women to lead, but she was not alone; many women contributed to the church's growth in their own ways. Yet, few possessed the draw or charisma that Aimee had to fill church pews. Her ability to attract crowds, convince others to fund her projects, and instill belief in her healing powers made her a fascinating figure to uncover. Aimee was an early adopter of new mediums, such as creating her own print magazine to spread the word, giving radio a spin, and later being excited for the ways television could pull in new people to Jesus.

Being the P.T. Barnum of the church world meant that some aspects of Hoffman's story came easier. Over the course of her fifty-four years, Aimee delivered thousands of sermons, speeches, skits, and songs, as well as published six memoirs. She even performed in a Broadway show and drafted an autobiographical film script. However, these accounts were primarily created by Aimee herself and required deeper scrutiny. What makes this story unique is that Hoffman was the first researcher granted access to the complete court records of Aimee's grand jury trial—records that, for more than a century, the Foursquare Church has refused to share with the outside world.

Hoffman attended divinity school, and this story was made possible through her five years of careful research, detailed in the back of the book. Her approach is both deeply researched and refreshingly secular, embracing Aimee’s contradictions—faith healer and showman, sinner and saint, feminist and fundamentalist. At the heart of the book lies a captivating true-crime mystery, but beyond that, Sister Sinner is an urgent, thought-provoking examination of the interplay and contrasts between celebrity and religion. I could not put this book down!

In the 1920s, Aimee Semple McPherson was America’s most famous evangelist and a forerunner of today’s televangelists. The woman knew how to market herself. She was a Pentecostal preacher who was innovative, creative, and controversial. So many weird aspects to her story—including the time she vanished into the Pacific Ocean only to reappear weeks later in the desert claiming to have been kidnapped.

Who was this woman? Was she a sincere and authentic Christ-follower whose main goal in life was to spread the good news of God’s message? Or, was she a con-artist who, despite sex scandals, religious persecution, and legal issues, maintained thousands of followers?
Decide for yourself as you read Claire Hoffman's biography Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson. It’s a fascinating look at a distinctive period of history in American religion.

Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book.

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“On a spring day in 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson wandered into the Pacific Ocean and vanished. Weeks later she reappeared in the desert, claiming to have been kidnapped. A national media frenzy and months of investigation ensued.” Extract from the publisher’s description of this non-fiction book.

I have never heard of Aimee Semple McPherson, but the publisher’s description certainly made me curious. Events in the book began over a hundred years ago, but the legacy of this woman exists today, from her influence on TV evangelists to the massive Art Deco building she built in Los Angeles and is still used today by the Foursquare Church she founded.

The book begins with a Prologue, which establishes the scene for what happens immediately after the disappearance of Aimee McPherson in 1926. At the time she was a famous celebrity evangelist; perhaps the most famous woman evangelist in America due to her charisma and use of spectacle, story-telling and technology. There is an outbreak of media attention and massive public interest in her disappearance, which only increase when she is found alive some weeks later !

The book is divided into three parts. The first documenting her upbringing and rise to fame and fortune. The second part concentrates on her return from the disappearance and the subsequent response from those in California who have an vested interest in her patronage, her influence or more darkly, her downfall. The rich and powerful, the media, the underworld, the entertainment industry as well as ordinary people. The third part discusses the aftermath of events, what came next, her legacy and influence on organised religion today.

It is a fascinating story full of colourful characters from all walks of life. Shady businessmen, politicians and lawyers. Men in suits and hats. Men of religion, both organised and disorganised or at least irregular, evangelistic and grass-roots. Also others from the world of entertainment and media, the criminal classes and not least, her family members. Quite a circus !

The first part has elements of a standard rags-to-riches story; from rural Canada to New York, to Los Angeles, with detours and travels throughout the United States. Aimee builds her brand, her followers, her reputation and gradually moves from the extremes of religious behaviour, the faith-healing and talking-in-tongues, to a more main-stream mega church. A lot happens in these early years; marriages, children, international travel, illness, death and hardship. Still, her sense of self is ever-present, as she is dismissed by mainstream religion, but finds an eager audience with the unsettled in an environment of world war, change, urbanisation, end-of-times fears, corruption and racism.

This part of the book moves slowly, but is important, as we get to know how Amiee McPherson came to be the charismatic person so attractive to many, as well as her influences, her ambitions and her destiny. We are introduced to those close to her, as they come and go, or in the case of her mother, remain and play a key role for much of her journey. This introduction to Aimee presents her authenticity, values and character; something that she seems to remain true to throughout her life, regardless of fame and events, both public and private.

I could not help but wonder at the veracity of what is presented given the events are from so long ago, participants are long deceased and the relationship between media and celebrities was (perhaps still is ?) symbiotic at best. Amine wrote memoirs and many articles during her life and has been the subject of numerous books and biographies over the years. The author, who had access to previously unpublished and private papers, seems to present a balanced view of events, the people, their motivations and circumstances. While many of the participants are not portrayed favourably, Aimee and her mother, who plays an important role in this book, are presented fairly, as flawed but genuine believers in their religion and doing good in their community, despite, or perhaps enabled by fame and fortune. The picture drawn of Los Angeles is particularly interesting. A growing boom town, the centre of the entertainment world as well as many other industries and a fast becoming a competitor to the Eastern US cities as the centre of growth, dominance and prestige.

The second part of the book is largely about the reappearance of Aimee some weeks after her assumed death. And of course the main issues. Was she kidnapped and held for ransom ? Was she stepping away from her church for private and personal reasons ? Or was it somehow a melding of these stories ? Regardless of the truth about her disappearance, Aimee and those around her embraced the situation, manipulating events and people; including the media, the legal system and politicians. By happenstance, what happened after her reappearance helped to further build her power, prestige and influence. Opinions about the disappearance vary and multiple accusations and stories emerge. Nobody is ever arrested for a kidnapping, but numerous charges are brought against Aimee, involving the usual cast of courtroom characters, large and small, rich and poor, honest and deluded and so on. Quite a kerfuffle. Some wonderful quotes emerge from Aimee during this time:

“A dog may bark at a Queen…but the Queen doesn’t necessarily have to bark back at the dog.”

Aimee, an expert and practiced public personality, seems to take everything in her stride although the stress and pain caused by events does take a toll on her life, her community and those around her. It is interesting to note that Aimee held fast to her view of events throughout her life, never changing her story of the kidnapping from which she escapes. Her Mother is less wholehearted in her daughter’s defence.

The third part of the book covers subsequent events after a closure of sorts in the courts. As is often the case with traumatic events, relationships understandably and sadly change, Aimee emerges harder, more worldly and showy. She moves on regardless of what has happened, but she is different and the times are different.

The Foursquare church she began has had remarkable longevity and remains active today with millions of followers worldwide. Amie McPherson rightly has an historical role as a visionary and pioneer. An important role. But not that of a Cult-leader.

The book concludes with a heartfelt, honest and very personal Author’s Note. As well as a Bibliography, there is a discussion of Sources, where the author discusses the abundant historical material available and some of the newer material she had access to. She also notes why she places more credence to some sources and less to others.

This is a great historical saga. The context of complex relationships between the media, organised religion, the police and the courts adds a colourful background to an already fascinating story. The aftermath is also engrossing. What happens to people in the public spotlight, during and after major events ? What happens to families and relationships ? What happens to a massive organisation as times change and founders change, depart or look to build their legacy ?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A moving and memorable true story from a long time ago. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American History, American Religion or the growth of Celebrity Culture, particularly in the period surrounding WW I. A fast-changing modern world, a booming Los Angeles and a particularly charismatic individual, Aimee Semple McPherson. This book provides a wonderful insight into her evolution, along with fame, fortune and scandal. People inevitably change in such circumstances, sometimes for the better, sometimes just in a different direction as they remain true to their fundamental beliefs. The author of this books provides a thoroughly entertaining story and the reader can make up their own mind about what happened on and after that spring day in 1926 when one of the most famous women in America disappeared…

I wish the author and publishers all the very best with this excellent book. An historical book but in some ways also a book for today.

I would like to thank Farrar,Straus and Giroux as well as Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.I have read and heard about Aimee Semple McPherson, but have never read a really definitive biography. She was a successful evangelist in the 20's who disappeared at the height of her fame. She was believed to have drowned, but turned up after a month claiming she had been kidnapped. There were trials, accusations , and many many articles written. The full story has never been proven to anyones satisfaction. This is a well written and well researched book. It speaks to her life, as well as the life of her mother, who was a pivotal figure. It is not just a story of the kidnapping, although it is well discussed, but of the woman behind the white dress and cape. It is a very interesting story. The author does not make any conjectures on the validity of the "kidnapping"- was it hoax or truth? All of the facts are stated and information presented. It could have been a lurid take, but it is written with empathy and intelligence.

For a variety of reasons - none of them religious - I've always been fascinated by the "Come let me wrap ye in the cloak of the Lord" televangelists who pretty much ruled the Sunday-morning airwaves back in my day - names like Rex Humbard, Ernest Angley and Dr. Robert Schuller. Watching them spit out their fire-and-brimstone messages, invite viewers to come to the altar to be "saved" (or healed) and, of course, make pleas for money was, if nothing else, always a hoot.

But years before their time was an evangelist who I'd call a trailblazer for a variety of reasons: Aimee Semple McPherson. Although her ministry was going strong on the radio when I was a youngster, I never heard her (she died in 1944, when I was but a toddler). But I certainly heard OF her, if only that there was some kind of scandal involving her ministry; so when I got the chance to read the story of her life, I threw my arms to the sky and offered thanks (in this case, to the publisher, via NetGalley).

And what an interesting ministry - and life - she had. Plagued with scandal, intrigue, and, yes, love (at least for all things heavenly), her story just kept getting more intricate and involved as the pages flew by. Among the initial revelations are that she was married twice despite preaching so-called "old-time religion; she was 35 years old in 1926, when thousands flocked to her Angelus Temple (a.k.a. Million Dollar Temple) in California; her sudden disappearance, and presumed drowning in the ocean, most likely was faked and has never been fully resolved.

It's the parts before and after that disappearance, though, that are fascinating, at least to me - especially the complicated relationship between Aimee and her "stage mom," Minnie Kennedy, and her two children with first husband Robert Semple at age 17, Rolf and Roberta - the latter presumed to continue Aimee's ministry had those ocean waters actually claimed her life.

Along her life's somewhat erratic journey, she became wildly popular on the born-again Christian circuit - being dubbed, mostly by her detractors, as the P.T. Barnum of Christianity. It is the "stuff" of that journey, of course, that fills the pages of this book - but also of course, I'll leave it up to other readers to find and enjoy them, hopefully as much as I did. Oh, and there's an extensive list of sources at the end as well.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and NetGalley, for this free ARC in return for my honest Review.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. Author Claire Hoffman has done a superb job of researching the life and time of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. An indepth look into the entire rise and meteoric fall of the most popular evangelist in the 1920's. Aimee came from Canada and along with her mother eventually made their way to Los Angeles leaving behind them thousands of followers who used to fall to the ground and began writhing and speaking in tongues after hearing her preach. Hoffman spends much the book on the way Aimee became a huge sensation by staging immense productions that supplemented her preaching at her Four Square Church, and then how she became a celebrity and expanded her reach by owning her own radio station which her an even bigger star. And then comes one day when Aimee disappears while swimming at Venice Beach, California. After days of futile searching she is presumed dead, and then about 30 days later reappears in Mexico where she claimed she had been kidnapped. Was she or wasn't she? Was she on a secret vacation from the ministry? On a lovers getaway? Oh how this case filled the nations papers and airwaves. Multiple legal proceedings and entanglements followed and things never were the same. All this is expertly related by Claire Hoffman who sets forth the details in a book that I could not put down until I came to the sad ending.

I visited a Four Square church near my home about 20 years ago. The founder of this denomination was Aimee Semple McPherson. I had heard she was a bit controversial, so when this book came up for review on NetGalley, my interest was piqued.

Though Aimee’s initial intentions to tell others about Jesus and pray for their physical healing seemed pure, over time, her motivations appeared to change. After several years of living frugally and traveling to minister where she was invited, the money and success began rolling in. Thereafter, she seemed more intent on seeking attention and influence, fame and fortune.

Besides changing intentions, she also faced a growing list of relationship problems and dozens of lawsuits stemming from a situation where Aimee allegedly faked her own kidnapping. Nearly all of her relationships were marred by her dedication to ministry, her more extravagant lifestyle, selfishness or the lawsuits. The result was estrangement from those who were closest to her, including two husbands, her mother and daughter. In her later years, she admitted she was enveloped in loneliness.

In my opinion, Aimee neglected her children over the years. I was most saddened by Aimee’s estrangement from her family members. I can’t help but think her relationship to her mother was unhealthy and then, as history tends to do, issues were passed on, repeating unhealthy relationships with her children.

When I finished the book I found myself most curious to know her children’s opinions of her. I googled them to find they have both passed away. Certainly they were not left unscathed by their mother’s choices. I would love to get my hands on something penned by either of her children, but I’m not sure if any such writings exist.

The author, Claire Hoffman, was the first researcher allowed to peruse Aimee’s court records. This enabled her to write a detailed account of the legal proceedings. This detail in no way makes for a boring story. It was sensational from beginning to end. The courts never could prove if Aimee was guilty of fabricating her disappearance or not.

I wonder why more of her followers didn’t question her integrity over the years. Certainly in the conservative 1920s and 1930s, her behavior and lifestyle were anything but conventional and at least somewhat, if not outright, scandalous.

Though the book doesn’t disclose whether Aimee’s kidnapping story was true or fabricated, I have formed an opinion. I will keep my opinion to myself and let you form your own opinion. This book offers a peek into Aimee’s intriguing and dramatic history. You will find yourself pulled into her story. It’s a quick, thrilling read.

I received an ARC copy compliments of the publisher and NetGalley and exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not know anything about the Pentecostal movement, nor did I ever hear of Aimee Semple McPherson. I was drawn to the book as I knew it would be a learning experience and boy was I in for a great read and surprise.

The life of Aimee McPherson is filled with so many twists and turns that if I didn’t read it for myself I would not have believed it. Aimee had an extraordinary life as she followed her passions from a small town in Canada to eventually preaching worldwide and setting up a church in Los Angeles when women were not preachers. She truly was a maverick, and being a first always takes deep conviction and fortitude. Her church, Foursquares, is still around today with more than eight million followers worldwide.

One of the more intriguing aspects of Aimee’s life was her great marketing skills and her understanding of using the media and technology. She was a marvel, her ability to get attention and embrace ways to grow her influence was both clever but also unprecedented.

Her journey is bittersweet because on a personal level, she was always looking for something. God, love recognition, or peace. Read the book and decide for yourself. It is really enjoyable.

Sister, Sinner
by Claire Hoffman
Pub Date: Mar 18, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The dramatic rise, disappearance, and near-fall of Aimee Semple McPherson, America’s most famous woman evangelist.
This is the best biography I've read in a long while.

The author writes the facts without judgement, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions as Aimee's life spirals more and more out of control. Power, money and fame have corrupted many throughout history. I was saddened but not surprised when Aimee's end came from a bottle of pills.

This book is well researched and written. I found myself looking forward to reading it as I would a novel. I appreciate that Claire Hoffman clearly lays out all the obtainable facts and allows the reader to draw their own conclusion.