Sister, Sinner

The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple

De: Claire Hoffman

Narrado por: Carmen Seantel

The dramatic rise, disappearance, and near-fall of Aimee Semple McPherson, America’s most famous woman evangelist.

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. Who was this woman?

America’s most famous evangelist, McPherson was a sophisticated marketer who used spectacle, storytelling, and the newest technology—including her own radio station—to bring God’s message to the masses. Her innovations brought Pentecostalism into the mainstream, paved the way for televangelists, and shaped the future of American Christianity. Her Angelus Temple in Echo Park, Los Angeles, can be called the first megachurch. Her Foursquare Church continues, with more than eight million faithful around the world.

But after her disappearance, as crowds gathered at the water’s edge, people asked: Was McPherson everybody’s saintly sister, or a con-artist sinner? The story of what happened next—sex scandals, religious persecution, legal shenanigans, the seemingly unshakable faith of thousands of followers, and the race to cover it all—runs through the center of Claire Hoffman’s thrilling Sister, Sinner.

A riveting journey into the rise of popular religion in America and life in early Hollywood, and told with the flavor of the period's noir mysteries, this is an unforgettable story of an iconic woman, largely overlooked, who changed the world.

©2025 Claire Hoffman (P)2025 Spotify Audiobooks

A research tour de force.

The author gives you a realistic picture of an historical period we don't often read about. And if you live in Los Angeles, you can feel how these events echo to our present days. We come to understand not only the facts of her life but her motivations and ambitions. This is history with flow.

Unfortunately, the reader had a couple quirks that nick the author's skill. She has a tendency to emphasize the wrong syllable in big or unfamiliar words: Long 'Beach; Smart 'Set. Makes one wonder how the name of the temple was really pronounced. The reader says An-'gel-us Temple. Not 'An-ge-lus.
The most disturbing aspect is the character voice the reader uses for Sister Aimee. It is a mix of Betty Boop and little girl. There are recordings of Sister Aimee where you can hear her speak with conviction and resonance. Not apprehension and self sacrifice. This delivery is a far cry from how the evangelist offered herself to her listeners.

Dedicated and Passionate Research

I loved how much obvious work was put into researching this. I really appreciated the detailed context that gave us a full color picture of not only Aimee's story, but the culture of the time, places, and religion of her story. The author clearly had a lot of passion for this story, and it shows and makes the reader excited to hear more.

Court case.

The change of voices. She should have read it straight. If I choose this book for bookclub I will highly suggest reading it.

Interesting story; Irritating Reader

The reader is over the top difficult to listen to. In “acting” the characters, she really distracts from the story. A straightforward read aloud of the biography would have been much better.

Incredible history

A story that is a perfect example of truth being stranger than fiction… Almost unbelievable in its twist and turns and fascinating characters. The narrator was wonderful to listen to except for her odd choice of high-pitched breathiness when she was speaking as Amy.

A gentle, but honest reflection

I was taken by the prose of this book. It reads much like a novel in a capturing sense, but draws the reader back to the wildly real world of Sister Aimee. I grew up in the Foursquare movement and reading the retelling of stories I’ve heard with a more honest tone was enlightening and thought provoking. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Vivid Descriptions

I enjoyed the historical setting and character development. Fascinating mix of true believer and entertainer. Very good narration.

Excellent research

So well written! The first Mega Church, Christian radio station and TV programming. Excellent detail on LA. Thanks.