I received a free digital copy of “ Sister Sinner” via Net Galley. My thanks to Net Galley the publisher and , especially, the author for an excellent book.

“ Sister, Sinner” is one of the best biographies I have read in quite a while. The subject is Aimee Semple McPherson, who captured the headlines of the nation more than a century ago. In clear, Illuminative writing , author Claire Hoffman tells the story of a girl in a small town in Canada who goes from a Salvation Army street - corner proselytizer to become , arguably the most historically significant evangelist in America. Considering Billy Graham, that is saying a lot, I know.
Aimee soon outgrew street corner preaching as her earnest evangelistic preaching gift drew growing crowds that filled Salvation Army storefront assembly spaces.. She and her first husband went to China on a mission for a year. After she suffered a severe sickness and the near death of her child, the family returned to the US, preaching again for the Army. But that was too small a world for Sister Aimee , as she was called.. She wanted to bring her amazing inspirational powers everywhere a car could drive. That led to the family going to the southern states for tent meetings everywhere a tent could be set up. Traveling by car, sleeping by the side of the road, eating fish they caught and donated food, Aimee saw her crowds and her ambitions grow. The roads would eventually lead to California, where she would become world famous. Where she , and the family, including the mother who always supported her, would build an ornate Temple of the Foursquare Church. California where Sister Aimee, clad in a white gown , preached to thousands of devoted believers seeking faith, reassurance of heaven and healings. Ornate staging, soaring choirs, dazzling lighting and Aimee’s sweet voice brought donations flowing into her coffers. Money that constructed radio stations from which her radio sermons went across the nation., that fed the poor, and funded medical help. Money that fed Aimee’s lavish life style that eventually led to scandal and the near destruction of all Aimee built.
In a story that flows and builds like a novel, Ms Hoffman tells of Aimee’s strange disappearance when she was thought to have drowned in the ocean off a California beach and then her being found in the Arizona dessert, a victim, she said, of an underworld kidnapping. The saga filled newspapers across the world ( and bought more adoring worshippers to the Temple). Her fame and wealth grew.
But so did the questions. Was the kidnap fake, a publicity stunt? What about rumors of a love nest at Carmel By The Sea, where, as the satirical song goes, “ The liquor was expensive and the lovin’ was free….” Lawsuits flew like leaves in a thunderstorm, which resulted in a trial whose like was not seen again until the OJ Simpson trial . The trial and its emotional drain on the family. Was great even as the ministry continued to swell and the adoring public flocked to the temple .But Aimee was never quite the same, nor was her devoted mother.
“ Sister, Sister” is a fascinating biography of a unique woman. It is meticulously researched . The author was granted access to Temple records never before opened to outsiders, bringing greater understanding of the Sister, Sinner. Ms Hoffman brings to vivid life a venal , self- serving corrupt Los Angeles courts of the early 1920’s and 1930’s , the headline screams of rival newspapers and the way Aimee used and was used notoriety .
“ Sister, Sinner” is a remarkable biography . It is not often that the blurb “ un- put downable” can be awarded to a biography , but here it applies. Please note that the author, who graduated from divinity school, neither denigrates religion nor the religious fervor of believers.. nor does the author gloss over Aimee’s faults. All are written here, as is her devotion and belief.
Five stars and highly recommended.



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What did I know about Aimee Semple McPherson before I read this book?
1. Her name always comes up in books or documentaries about the 20s and 30s.
2. Evangelists like Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes" were based on her.
3. I have seen her temple on a trip to LA and it was an impressive sight.
Delving into a biography about a person you hardly know can be risky. But "Sister, Sinner" grabbed me from the first page - her disappearance and the following trials are as well described as her rise from a farm girl in Canada to a religous icon. Add for humor arguments about whether she had thick ankles or not and a surprise apperance by Anthony Quinn.
A really breezy read which never got boring - a biography that makes its subject come alive again. Reminded me of Robert Matzen´s great books about Audrey Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart und Carol Lombard in WW II.
Thanks a lot to #Netgalley and #FarrarStrausGiroux for this ARC.

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.