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30th out of 52 books
—
5 voters
Son of a Grifter: The Twisted Tale of Sante and Kenny Kimes, the Most Notorious Con Artists in America: A Memoir By The Other Son
In 1988 a troubled young man and his flamboyant mother were arrested for murdering a wealthy widow in her New York City mansion. Suddenly, America was transfixed by a pair of real-life film noir characters. The media couldn't get enough of the twisted relationship between Sante Kimes and her twenty-three-year-old son Kenny.
But the most chilling story of all was never told-...more
But the most chilling story of all was never told-...more
528 pages
Published
April 2nd 2002
by Avon
(first published April 24th 2001)
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'A Must Read' for anyone's True Crime Personal Library Section...
I couldn't get over some of the things Sante Kimes got away with in her lifetime. I remember being in Los Angeles and first hearing about the murder of Irene Silverman. I started to follow the NY TIMES articles on the entire matter. Then, I saw Kent Walker on Larry King and decided to get the book--which I finally managed to read & finish during a flight to London & France. It was quite interesting to read this book from he...more
I couldn't get over some of the things Sante Kimes got away with in her lifetime. I remember being in Los Angeles and first hearing about the murder of Irene Silverman. I started to follow the NY TIMES articles on the entire matter. Then, I saw Kent Walker on Larry King and decided to get the book--which I finally managed to read & finish during a flight to London & France. It was quite interesting to read this book from he...more
I started reading this book because Holly Black mentioned it in her thank yous from her book Red Glove. It's a pretty interesting story as far as having a psychotic mother and documenting her path of destruction. It's wild how Sante Kimes could get in so much trouble and bluff her way out of it. I couldn't help but be impressed with some of her quick thinking to escape arrest.
Another thing that added to my interest in the book was discovering how Black had peeled away the essence of the author's...more
Another thing that added to my interest in the book was discovering how Black had peeled away the essence of the author's...more
Mar 13, 2012
Coralie
added it
This book was a real page turner. It just goes to show that children who are brought up by sociopaths can still turn out okay. Kent Walker's mother was a career con artist who conned her way into marriage with a millionaire. When he died, she was desperate to maintain her extravagant lifestyle and ended up committing murder. This book is the story of her oldest son, who succeeded in getting away from his mother and building a life of his own, but not before wasting years and years being manipula...more
I don't remember how I came by this book but I kept it as my "in the car book". Therefore, it took me awhile to get through it but it wasn't for lack of interest. Very interesting story about a sociopath. Trusting people can be so taken in by people like these because they just can't imagine that others are capable of these actions. It was an education for me.
I desperately wanted to love this book because the tale is fascinating. I learned about it on an episode of "Wicked Attractions". And I greatly appreciate Kent wanting to tell his story- it's an amazing one! The only problem is that the book is in desperate need of an editor. It should have been 200 pages less. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again in between the good stuff. If not an editor to trim some of the fat then maybe a ghost writer to make things sound like they a...more
Jan 09, 2010
Kirstin Steele
added it
mostly what I got out of this book is relief that I did not reproduce. I have a little more paranoia than previously about identity theft. The author is in a tough spot in that he obviously loves his mother and brother, but knows that neither can be trusted the least little bit, even in jail. Given that, he manages to tell a fairly balanced (and readable) tale.
This is the true story of Sante Kemes and her son Kenny who conned their way through life, then murder, then prison for life. Kenny is in eight years of solitary confinement. Gave me a creepy feeling reading this book.
Jun 06, 2011
Lisa Rau
is currently reading it
I'm 117 pages in and hooked like a fish... Truth makes for the best material. Has someone optioned this for a film, yet?
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This book kept me turning the page all the way through! Sante and Kenny Kimes are painted and written WHOLE, not just as the complete criminals that they were, but also the mother (however broken she was) and the younger brother. I was completely blown away by the precision planning of Sante and the utter willingness of her sons, Kent as a young man, to follow her rules, plans, and ways of living.
I thought that Walker did an amazing job writing this book, considering that by trade he was nothin...more
I thought that Walker did an amazing job writing this book, considering that by trade he was nothin...more
It had potential but meandered way too much. It was way too long! I was exhausted by it at times.
very interesting back story of the OTHER son of notorious con artist Sante Kimes.
FASCINATING. Loved it!
I was hoping we'd learn more about what makes Sante Kimes tick. Unfortunately, that information is not available; maybe it would have been at one time, but not today. To me, the importance of understanding criminal minds and the connection between early life events and later crimes is the best chance we have of preventing crime.
I don't read much true crime anymore but enjoyed this one quite a lot. The guy telling the story (Kimes' other son) was almost as fascinating to me as his mother and brother because of the constant rationalizations and mini-confessions he uses in order to avoid copping to his own sociopathy. Weird, subtle stuff.
A fascinating account of life with a sociopath (thief, arsonist, murderer) written by her elder son. The book is sometimes repetitive and can bog down in hand-wringing ("Why couldn't I have done more to protect my brother?" etc.), but remains a highly entertaining read for all that.
finally finished this creepy book yesterday
This true crime story is a sweet read! Totally cool. These people are crazy.
a great crime story read! These people are insane!
Wow. This guy's life was crazy.
May 11, 2013
S'ence
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
Libby
marked it as to-read
Apr 30, 2013
Harrison Cohen
marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2013
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Mar 26, 2013
Brisbride13
added it
Mar 14, 2013
Schayne
marked it as to-read
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