The Thirteenth Husband

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is another excellent historical fiction about an inimitable woman by award-winning author Greer Macallister. In Aimee Crocker (1864-1941), a real 19th century American railroad heiress, the author found herself a ready-made protagonist whose dramatic real life story just begged to be told. She told it herself, in fact, in her own 1936 autobiography. Most of the biographical details, the author assures us, have been respected. Certainly the historical context and the way that women, even the privileged, were expected to fit it, is true to fact. The result is a captivating novel that traces one woman’s unusual experience over a near half-century during which every woman’s life changed drastically with the major historical shifts taking place. Nonetheless, even in 1941, when she died, most women did not have lives half as liberated as hers had been. She was simply a trailblazer, and the author shows us how and why.

Despite the title, Aimee Crocker, first married at 17, did not collect a baker’s dozen of husbands, though I got the distinct impression that would not have challenged her too much. She seems to have been fully capable of doing so. The reason for the title comes to light as the story unwinds. She did, nonetheless, marry more than most women of her time, and since.

The story is a first-person account, and from the opening paragraph, ‘Aimee’ makes it clear that this will not be a poor little rich girl’ story. Money, she acknowledges, can buy freedom and happiness, and she is not remotely contrite about using her considerable wealth to get what she wanted: ‘it was the only power I could count on.’ All too true, especially for women like her who came of age in times when women had no other reliable source of power besides father and husbands—unlike many, these were not always of use when needed. Of course, to onlookers, especially the scandal-seeking press, she was an adventuress (not a compliment), a ´hussy’, a known menace,’ and, worst of all the very ´Queen of Bohemia’ and not just an ordinary disgraceful bohemian.

Although she seems impervious, and certainly strives to come across that way in the author’s portray of her, the Aimee we see here is not invulnerable. She is the opposite, plagued all her life by the kind of attention that is sometimes ego-supporting and other times soul-destroying. She searches always for love, and is invariably disappointed. She wants to be true to herself but even money can’t buy the truth and loyalty of others. She is not only constant prey to the tabloids,’ she is haunted by seemingly metaphysical forces.

For the most part, Aimee Crocker, in this telling, just keeps rollicking on. That’s admirable enough. Read the book to find out whether, in ´buying’ herself a certain life with certain people, she was ultimately any happier than those without such privileges.

The Thirteenth Husband absolutely captivated me right from the very beginning.

Narrated by Aimee Crocker herself, this felt like reading her actual memoir. Greer Macallister did a fantastic job of maintaining that style throughout the entire book. And it was absolutely fascinating to read about Aimee Crocker's life from her perspective.

Of course, this is historical fiction, so some liberties are taken, but much of what is in this story are her actual exploits. The husband's, lovers, and a world traveled, love, tragic loss, and betrayal. Crocker lived a life full of adventure unabashedly. But, of course, it wasn't always a fulfilling and happy life.

Amy was a fascinating person, and I believe a feminist in her own way. Perhaps not marching for the vote, but fighting against the hypocrisy and different rules that applied to men and women during her time. She liked to travel and didn't mind traveling by herself, despite whether that would be seen as proper or not. She insisted on a divorce from marriages she was no longer happy in, even though that cast her out of high society. She lived an open life and bestowed the same thoughtfulness to others, trying not to judge.

She was also very spiritual and mystical, plagued throughout her life by the women in white who always seemed to foretell tragedy, Crocker constantly sought out mystics and psychics for guidance and answers.

This book is described as The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo meets The Haunting of Hill House. Now, I've never read either, but they are both on my shelf. I will say this, I did watch the Netflix adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House, and I definitely agree that the Thirteenth Husband gives off strong Haunting of Hill House vibes Especially towards the ending of this book. Which was absolutely phenomenal. I won't say much not to give anything away, but the ending was quite perfect.

This has catapulted to my top read this year, and I can not recommend more highly for fans or historical fiction that don't mind a little haunting and mysticism.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

My first impression: I was absolutely blown away by the voice in this book. It grabbed me and didn't let go until it was done.

That said, I think the protagnist may be slightly polarizing to readers - in the sense of likeability - but I was personally delighted to read about a fictional-woman-based-on-a-real-historical-woman who challenges the idea of womanhood in a historical context. She's not always likeable, but she's nearly always relatable, which I think is an incredible feat to pull off as a writer.

The story spans the entire life of the protagonist. It starts with a bit of a coming-off-age feel, but then broadens into a more retrospective character arc that felt organic and authentic to the plot progression.

Thematically, there's a fair bit of spirituality, tragedy, and mysticism built into the plot, but it's often approached with an paradoxical air of optimism due to the protagonist's personality.

The author did a great job backing up the protagonist with historical research, but there will always be some level of artistic freedom when bringing a historical figure to life in fiction.