Review: The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister
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The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister brings the larger-than-life Aimee Crocker to vivid existence, a woman I’d never heard of before but now won’t soon forget.
Crocker’s wild, adventurous life seems like something out of a tall tale — yet much of it is rooted in fact. Think of her as a blend of an eccentric heiress and a scandalous socialite from the late 19th century, with the kind of money and privilege that allowed her to break all the rules society expected her to follow.
Review In A Nutshell
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars. My review is below, but here’s a snapshot of what you can expect from this book:
- Aimee Crocker’s life story as a rebellious, free-spirited heiress in the late 19th century
- Multiple marriages, including a husband who won her in a poker game
- World travel, spiritualism, and interactions with the occult
- A ghostly visitor who appears in Aimee’s dreams, influencing her decisions
- Fascinating true events like a deadly honeymoon train crash
- Aimee’s bold defiance of societal norms, including tattoos and divorce
- A mix of historical facts and fictionalized embellishments
- Themes of independence, wealth, and questionable romantic choices
- A first-person narrative exploring Aimee’s personal growth (and stumbles)
- The influence of fortune on her ability to live outside society’s expectations
Publisher’s Synopsis Of The Thirteenth Husband
Based on a real woman from history, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets HBO’s The Gilded Age with a haunting twist in this fictional tell-all narrated by the glamorous Aimee Crocker, revealing everything from her mischievous days in German finishing school to dinners with Hawaiian royalty to lavish Astor parties in Manhattan. But behind Aimee’s public notoriety, there’s private pain.
When Aimee is ten years old, as the night dips into the witching hour, the Woman in White appears to her. Minutes later, Aimee’s father is dead—and Aimee inherits a fortune. But the Woman in White never really leaves Aimee, appearing as a sinister specter before every tragedy in her life. Despite Aimee’s wealth, her cross-continental travels, and her increasingly shocking progression through husbands, Aimee is haunted by the unidentifiable Woman’s mysterious motivations.
Tearing through millions of dollars, four continents, and a hearty collection of husbands, real-life heiress Aimee Crocker blazed an unbelievable trail of public scandal, private tragedy, and the kind of strong independent woman the 1880s had never seen. Her life was stranger than fiction and brighter than the stars, and she whirled through her days as if she were being chased by something larger than herself. Greer Macallister brilliantly takes us into her world and spins a tale that you won’t soon forget.
My Full Review of The Thirteenth Husband
What I Liked
The Setting: The Thirteenth Husband beautifully transports readers to the late 19th century, immersing us in the world of Aimee Crocker. From lavish, globe-trotting adventures to the eerie, spiritual experiences Aimee seeks out, the setting plays a crucial role in shaping her unique life story. The novel gives us a glimpse into high society’s wealth and indulgence while also showing the darker, mysterious corners that Aimee was drawn to.
The Characters: Aimee Crocker is the star of the show, and what a character she is. Bold, rebellious, and unapologetic, Aimee defies societal norms at every turn. Her choices, whether it’s getting tattooed or embracing spiritualism, make her endlessly fascinating. Greer Macallister did a fantastic job of breathing life into this historical figure, blending her real-life eccentricities with the fictional elements of the story.
The Plot/Storylines: The novel takes us on a whirlwind journey through Aimee’s many marriages, affairs, and spiritual encounters. The intrigue is heightened by a ghostly presence that haunts Aimee’s dreams, guiding her through some of life’s most harrowing events. The plot is packed with sensational moments—like a deadly honeymoon train crash and a custody battle—that keep readers turning the pages. Macallister’s mix of historical fact and fiction is seamless and keeps you invested in Aimee’s next move.
What I Didn’t Like
While I loved Aimee’s character and the historical backdrop, the story itself sometimes felt disjointed. By the time I got three-quarters of the way through, the book began to feel like a series of unrelated anecdotes rather than a cohesive narrative.
This loss of momentum made it harder to stay fully engaged toward the end, as the chapters became more episodic. Despite these pacing issues, Aimee’s adventurous spirit and the intriguing blend of history and mysticism kept me reading until the last page.
My Review Rating For The Thirteenth Husband By Greer Macallister
I gave this book 4 (Thoroughly Enjoyable) out of 5 stars.
Conclusion
Overall, The Thirteenth Husband is an engaging historical fiction read about a woman who defied convention at every turn.
Though the pacing slowed for me toward the end, Aimee’s audacity and the intriguing mix of history and the supernatural make this a story worth diving into. Not to mention the fact that my curiosity about just who all the husbands were (especially the 13th?) kept me turning the pages faster than I anticipated would be the case.
