Son of a Grifter Audiobook By Kent Walker, Mark Schone cover art

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

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Son of a Grifter

By: Kent Walker, Mark Schone
Narrated by: John Glouchevitch
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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 23-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 40 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 behavior, laying waste to each other and anyone who got in the way. When Kent's half brother, Kenny, was born, Kent was 12 years old - old enough to know that he was his younger sibling's only protector.

©2001 Kent Walker with Mark Schone (P)2017 Tantor True Crime Memoir True Con Artist

Critic reviews

"Well researched and touching.... As a chronicle of Sante Kimes's life, it's unlikely to be surpassed by any other." ( Publishers Weekly)
Gripping True Story • Insightful Family Dynamics • Superb Narration • Emotional Personal Account • Dramatic Pacing
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The story is so addictive because you think there is no way this really happened but knowing the whole time he really did have to love through this. I connected on the level that family can do you so dirty but you keep coming to their call. Good for him to finally break away.

exceptionally good

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Narration: clear, dramatically paced, rhythmic, and just right for this material.

Content: nothing to add to already existing reviews. And to think that such self-deluding, dangerous people actually walk among us. For me, it is not clear that the world would not be better off not invoking the death penalty.

Socioapathy at its worst

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Listening to Mr Walker’s account of his family and upbringing. Was similar to riding in a car driven by a lunatic at 100 miles an hour. Then they swerve just in time before hitting a tree.

100 miles a minute

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Fascinating true story about a sociopathic narcissistic habitual liar bent on self destruction. Though she drained the bank accounts of many men, she always ended up within nothing. She seems to have loved the chaos as much and perhaps more than the money she spent her life chasing. When she bagged a multimillionaire, she never seemed satisfied with achieving legitimate wealth. What an evil, evil woman. When I learned she died in prison, my first thought was: “thank God she’s dead and no longer in this world to wreak havoc…”

You’ll reconsider what a “con woman” is…

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I cannot say enough and I won't say much because I don't want to give it away but I LOVED this book.

spectacular.

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I remember watching a TV movie about this case that featured Mary Tyler Moore and it was quite fascinating. The book makes for a good listen, though there were times when it became a bit tiring, but I did manage to finish it and I do recommend it for its candid portrayal of how this particular matriarch manipulated the lives of those around her.

The narrator did a pretty good job capturing characters and emotion. Im pretty much an audiobook junkie and this is the first time Ive ever heard him narrate a book.

Good story that drags on at times

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If you want a story that is funny, sad, depressing, insane, this is it. The mother is a psychopath's psychopath. One can't help buy to feel sorry for ken Kimes Sr. and Kent Walker, but the mother and and young Kenny are fair game.

This is crazy.

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helped me understand why we stay in dysfunctional families for too long! great story

loved it

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Where does Son of a Grifter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is in my top 10. I have listened to hundreds of audible books over the last 12 years. The story is a bit personal to me as my mom displays some of the characteristics of Sante Kimes and a lot of the story takes place near where I grew up in Orange County. Additionally, both Kenny Kimes and I went to UC Santa Barbara. He was there a few years after I graduated though.

What other book might you compare Son of a Grifter to and why?

Maybe confessions of a Cartel Hitman or The New Confessions of an Economic Hitman. However, this one is much more complex as there are very few people like Sante Kimes in this world. Some lie and cheat, but she is the gold medal winner if there was ever a competition.

What about John Glouchevitch’s performance did you like?

Performance was good. Good tempo, very easy to understand. Voices of characters were done pretty well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A few laughs here and there. Maybe a little anger. No tears though

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book. In some respects it's hard to believe how much of a psychopath that Sante Kimes was. However, I know a few people like her (but not at her level) and I see the potential for evil in these people.

Relentless Fraud and Murder

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Thank you for this book. I am the daughter of a criminal stepfather and mother too and I too can't figure out how they got away for so long without repercussion or consequence, and why I didn't run when I had the chance. It is completely wasted energy to try and figure it out. This book provides insight from the inside of a family dynamic that the public doesn't see and offers great advice toward the end. Again, thank you.

Fascinating story.

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