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

by Kent Walker with Mark Schone, Mark Schone

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—until now. Kent Walker, Sante's elder son, reveals how he survived forty years of "the Dragon Lady's" very special brand of motherly love and still managed to get away. As a child Kent watched his mother destroy his hardworking father, Ed Walker, and then—with Kent's painful collusion—snare what Sante called "my millionaire." When she married seemingly respectable real-estate developer Ken Kimes, it was a match made in hell. For the next two decades Kent's mother and stepfather indulged in a globetrotting orgy of criminal behaviour. Kent, their would-be recruit, was privy to the family business—torching houses, defrauding friends, crashing White When Kent's half-brother, Kenny was born, Kent was twelve years old—old enough to know that he was his younger sibling's only protector. Kent tried desperately to save Kenny from his mother's sinister bidding. His failure haunts him to this day.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, Crime, Biography, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

528 pages

First published April 24, 2001

Reviews

[Christian Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time where the human psyche is incessantly bombarded with graphic tales of rape, robbery, grafting and murder, a person would be led to believe that the age of violence and vicious people has climaxed to such an extreme degree that nothing would be shocking anymore. One would think. But then Sante and Kenny Kimes-a cunning, sadistic, peacockish, manipulative, cold-blooded, greedy, murderous mother-son duo-enter the maelstrom of the media blitzkrieg, and the person rolls his or her eyes with the firm affirmation that there are still people out there in the world who can truly make you sick to your stomach. As a buxom beauty who often passed herself off as Elizabeth Taylor, Sante Kimes nee Chambers possessed charisma, an unremitting drive for wealth and the finer things in life, an acerbic wit and an intense overflowing cauldron of love for her two kids. But all of these qualities meshed into one was simply a weak veneer that covered the dominating, homicidal sociopath that she, in reality, was. For all her enveloping love, loyalty and excitement that she gave, Sante Kimes did not extend it out of the kindness of her heart, for, like a cult leader, she demanded complete allegiance, absolute devotion. Her philosophy (though radically off kilter) of how to live life might have been: What you do for me, I'll do for you. What you do to me, I'll do to you. You scratch my back, I'll scratch your back. More often than not, the people who 'scratched' Sante or Kenny's backs became more embroiled with law enforcement then the actual criminals themselves. Almost every deed that Sante and Kenny Kimes pulled had a psychotic tinge to it. Every emotion that they could turn on-like a light switch-was a combustible one. A halo of violence widended around them and those unfortunately catapulted into their inner sanctum (Ken Kimes, Sr. and Kent Walker are cases-in-point): arson, slavery, verbal and physical abuse, larceny, fraud, forgery, attempted murder, quadruple murder...Son of a Grifter, written by the elder more emotionally balanced son, is an intensely disturbing read, because it will take the reader to the intimate core and private life of a genuinely dysfunctional, warped and soulless pair. Kent Walker doesn't simply give an analysis of his mother's utter rancorous and loathsome behavior. He talks about how her instability altered the personality of his half-brother, Kenny, once a loving child who was capable of showing empathy. In her emotionally volatile clutches, he became emasculated and lost his own identity; like his mother, he evolved into a psychopathic killer with predatory lusts, ready to act out at his mother's bidding. Arm in arm, mother and son walked down a bloody warpath, and those who obstructed them, conscientiously or not, were down away with: David Kazdin, Irene Silverman, Syed Bilal Ahmed...Sante Kimes wanted for her kids what all parents want for their children: a healthy mind, a healthy body and success. As a proprietor of a vacuum cleaning business, Kent Walker did not rise to be the CEO of HP, Xerox or a Fortune 500 company as his mother had envisioned for him. But considering his bizarre and frenetic upbringing, what Kent Walker achieved for himself and for his family goes beyond extraordinary; he in fact deserves his loving family, a cold beer and a damn good life.

[Michael Joe Armijo · Rating 4 out of 5]

'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 her eldest sons' eyes. He was true to heart about his feelings. It could NOT have been easy for him. It's miraculous how he was fortunate enough to take the 'right' road in life (although I'm sure he had his fair share of mischievous stories that were never revealed). The book really kept me interested. It's really worthwhile reading for anyone who likes True Crime stories. It's also so UNBELIEVABLE. It is a relief to know that Sante Kimes is 'locked up' for good now. She seemed to be a detriment to society at large. She literally got away with murder. It reminded me of Winona Ryder (on a smaller scale) as I read in the NY POST about how shoplifters simply do what they do for the THRILL...TO SEE HOW EASILY THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH IT. Once they get away with 'one' thing...they pattern continues--like alcoholism or any other disease. I guess one could say that Sante Kimes did have a disease and she passed it on to her youngest son, Kenny. It seems Sante Kimes did everything every day of her life for the thrill...simply to see if she could get away with it--and she actually did until it all caught up with her. YIPES! What a creepy woman. I wish I could meet Kent Walker and talk to him--I do feel for him and wish I could embrace him and let him know that it's all 'okay' (the feelings & emotions he has & will continue to live with). Kent (if you are reading this)...you have a friend in me.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had potential but meandered way too much. It was way too long! I was exhausted by it at times.

[Adrianne Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 teenage years and crafted a series of fiction around it. So many of the details in White Cat and Red Glove are directly taken from this book. A rather ingenius way to create a well rounded character in fiction, I suppose. I can't help but wonder what contact Black had with the author.

[Velia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title should have been Son of Thee Grifter.

Sante Kimes is definitely interesting. A memoir from her son paints a portrait of a colorful character and it just seems like 'WoW she was a real person' is an understatement...it's just difficult to believe she was truly so....(I don't even have a good enough word to describe her). Whatever. I am fascinated with her and I will be reading more about her in the future.

I am saddened that Kent Walker doesn't have closure at the end of the book, but I'm glad he is able to pick of the pieces and continue living his life. I have to wonder how he feels since Sante passed away and I hope he is doing okay still. My condolences go out to him and his family because they lost someone they loved.

[Vikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I'm into memoirs about sociopaths lately. Here's a memoir about growing up living with a mother who's a total sociopath and a grifter. I vaguely remember in 2000 when it was big news that she and her other son, Kenny Kimes, were arrested for allegedly killing a socialite in NYC and also for trying to steal said socialite's mansion.

This other son, Kent Walker, was not involved in any of the grifting shenanigans, though he does not come across as lovable or even very likeable in the memoir. Rather, he comes across as, well, as a moron, to be honest.

But it's an interesting look at one, how to NOT grift, because Ms. Kimes does it all wrong, all the time. And two, the mind of a sociopath. There is that.

[Renika Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough detail

I feel like this book was part truth and part lie. I feel like he has a protective version of the truth and it's only the things he feels comfortable saying out loud that we get to hear. I do not believe that this book was soul baring no holds barred truth. I do believe that his mom and brother had a sexually inappropriate relationship but that the author is either too embarrassed or too proud to speak about it, amongst other things. And having no pictures makes this book no half as good as it could be. The author had an insight into one of the most twisted relationships I have ever heard of, and instead of giving the reader a behind-the-scenes look at it he just barely enhanced upon things we already knew. Mediocre book at best.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amanda Venketsamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting

I found myself completely drawn in to the authors world & wondering about the questions he had posed for himself - I will be scouring the internet for more information on this to see how it all turned out

[Chole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I'd seen that Holly Black read this and it partly inspired some characters in the Curse Workers series, which I absolutely adore. Reading this gave me so much insight and context for some of Black's characters, and that alone made this a riveting read. But on top of that, just reading about some of this outrageous real life criminals and their crimes was fascinating. At first, the book does time skip a lot which is a bit hard to keep up with - but as someone who doesn't read that much non fiction, I feel like this is something non fiction books do (or at least the few biographical/historial books I've read. You can't always tell a factual story like this in a linear way, like fiction). Insightful, heartfelt, hugely interesting.

[Annery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm old enough to remember when the Kimes, mother & son, were front page news. What's more I saw Kenny a couple of times in the hallways at work. He was beautiful in person. Tragically also a murderer.

This is a memoir of sorts by the "other son". Kent describes what it was like for him growing up with a sociopath as a mother. Perhaps unsurprisingly he has love for her though no excuses. All and all a pretty fascinating portrait the recent past.

The narration is excellent.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating memoir of growing up with a scheming mother with a decades long career. After ruining the life of her last husband and corrupting the author's brother, this book charts a long bath from casual fraud to murder. Murders, actually.

[R.Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those readers who have read books about psychopaths by "experts" who study them, Kent Walker's book is a completely different take on the subject. Walker, together with investigative reporter Mark Schone, has written a memoir on what it is like to have a sociopathic parent whom he both loves and hates. He talks about how he was taught to help his mother Sante to shoplift at a very early age, later to help her with her fraudulent schemes, and finally the struggle to break away from her to try and live a decent, law-abiding life with a wife and children of his own. It wasn't easy. Because he had a millionare stepfather whom he also loved, and who was totally under the influence of this clever and manipulative woman, and a younger half-brother whom he loved and tried to save, Kent Walker was bonded to the family in which he grew up. He tries so hard to understand why he was able to break free from the life of crime, but his brother was not. Throughout his life, and even today, he seems torn about his feelings toward his parents. His biological father once told him, "You won't get closure (paraphrase)."
You can search online for Sante and Kenny Kimes and learn about their life of crime, but only here do you get the inside story of these people.
This is a shocking and heart-rending memoir, and should be read by anyone who is interested in the people that surround and are affected by a psychopathic member of the family.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow I missed the movies, documentaries and TV shows regarding this strange mother-son crime dual. So I went into this book without the knowledge of just how warped these two criminals were or the extent of their crimes. I enjoyed listening to this audio book, mainly because it provided insights and personal observations from the eldest son's (Kent) point of view. Few true crime books are written with a front seat to the actual events so it kept my interest throughout. This is a book that is best "experienced" because a simple critique or summary doesn't do it justice. Sante (the mother) was bat crazy and probably the most unique character I have encountered in a true crime book...and that says a lot. The audio version had an excellent narrator too. Recommended for true crime readers or others that just want a wild book ride.

[Moira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this is terrible, but sometimes I like to read these books about horrible mothers, just so I can tell myself "well at least I know for sure that I'm not THAT bad". But the super crazy thing about this book is that, although Sante Kimes is (was? I haven't looked up where things stand now) a truly horrible sociopath with almost no redeeming qualities, I think she really did love being a mother. She was not a good mother- she was a terrible narcissist that turned her children into messed up criminals- but I think her maternal side was actually the one legit thing about her. Of course, maybe she conned her son into writing this book that conned me into thinking this. Regardless, this is a fascinating read if you are at all interested in true crime.

[Coralie]

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 manipulated by her.

[Grant Mccrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing

Painfully unflinching about his own role in the otherworldly events perpetrated by his mother, an astounding sociopath and, ultimately, notorious murderer, Walker achieves the near-impossible feat of allowing us to see her as human. Well, almost. The characterization of everyone else in this mesmerizing story is also extraordinarily rich and nuanced. Compelling is too mild a word to describe this book.

[Kirstin Steele]

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.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! Impossible to put down! I can't even imagine the challenges the author must have faced in trying to write this story considering his relationship to the characters. Yet, honesty and integrity shine through.

[Jowanza Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little long but I had a hard time putting it down. It's a fascinating look into the minds of twisted sociopaths and the outcomes of living life as a grifter. I would recommend the book to anyone.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating story. I'm only rating it three stars because it needed an editor. It is way too long and need a professional touch. On the plus side, it's written by the son of the evil Sante Kimes and gives a first hand account of her psychopathic ways.

[Nisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great crime story read! These people are insane!

[Lisa Rau]

I'm 117 pages in and hooked like a fish... Truth makes for the best material. Has someone optioned this for a film, yet?

[Marsmannix · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting back story of the OTHER son of notorious con artist Sante Kimes.

[Sue Lipton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where was I when all this was happening?

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew, this was a fascinating book.

It's a psychological peeling apart of the family dynamic between four main con artists, including the author's extraordinarily complex love-hate relationship with his codependent mother, and his final success in breaking away from her influence. It's also the story of how his step-father and half-brother could not break away from her. It's a sad tale--very raw and layered, conflicted and painful. Kent Walker does an excellent job conveying the whole range of desperation and emotions he must've struggled with throughout his life, and I appreciate his candor.

The varied schemes Sante Kimes (and her sons and husband) managed to pull off were fascinating. Also disturbing that someone could get away with so much for so many years.

The main thing I didn't like was how Walker tells the story out of order--he brought up several big events at the beginning of the book, and then brought them up again a couple more times and it was very hard to keep up with what happened when. I'd have enjoyed it more if it were more clearly structured. Also--I do wish the stories could have been more concise and poignantly chosen. The book was very long and the stories very dense. I'm sure he has so, so many stories to share, but there seemed to be so many of equal complexity that it was hard to keep track of.

All in all, great book diving into the very twisted life of a family of con artists. I'd recommend this book.

--Ande

[James O. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It keeps getting better and worse

Halfway through this book I was surprised to realize I was only halfway through this book. The degree of insanity and the level of delusion this man's mother demonstrated with such self-righteousness is off the chart. Everything about her makes you want to snatch her kids away before she destroys them but, at least for Kenny, it was too late the moment he was born. I congratulate the author on taking the higher ground. I can relate to him on many points as my mother and my sister bore alot of the same personality traits has his mother and brother although they never culminated in the level of crime and deceit as his.

The story of this man's life gets worse with each page and I am impressed with his decision to leave his family's lifestyle behind and break the chains his mother used to almost destroy him and his family. The author's wife is a saint for standing by him.

I hope Kenny is doing as well as can be expected and I hope the author and his wife have had plenty of therapy. What a story!

[Lynne M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... what a read this book is! I was only about 11 when the murder of Irene Silverman happened, but I still remember it being all over the news at that time, especially since I grew up just outside of NYC.

Walker writes very truly about his feelings, and I cannot imagine this was easy at all for him to write. It's really amazing and something of a miracle that he was able to escape the life of crime that his mother ensnared both his stepfather and younger half brother in.

As for his mother, it's truly astounding to read the awful things Sante Kimes got away with in her life, and the things she did. If there was ever someone who personified the phrase mother from hell, it was certainly Sante Kimes. She had zero compassion for anyone else, and certainly no conscience when it came to breaking the law for her own benefit. She truly ended up where she deserved to be.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting story. I vaguely remember reading about this in the news but did not remember all of the details. I thought that Kent Walker did a very good job of telling the story about his mother and brother. It is hard to explain both sides, but he was able to show both his side and his mother's. After reading this book it makes me very leery about all the scams out today especially over the internet.