Son of a Grifter

Son of a Grifter tells the true story of Sante Kimes, a career criminal and con artist, through the perspective of her eldest son Kent Walker. The book recounts Walker's experiences growing up with a mother who pulled him into her world of scams, theft, and manipulation. Walker details his childhood years spent helping his mother execute various frauds while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. The narrative follows their nomadic lifestyle across multiple states and countries as Sante pursued her next schemes and marks. The book tracks the escalating severity of Sante's crimes over decades, culminating in events that drew national media attention in the late 1990s. Walker describes his eventual break from his mother's influence and his efforts to build an honest life. This memoir examines complex questions about family loyalty, moral choices, and the lasting impact of a criminal parent on a child's development. The work serves as both a true crime account and a psychological study of manipulation within family relationships.

Readers describe this true crime memoir as gripping and disturbing, with many noting they couldn't put it down despite the dark subject matter. The book maintains a 4.2/5 rating on Goodreads from over 1,000 readers. Readers appreciated: - The unique perspective of a son writing about his criminal mother - Detailed research and documentation - Raw honesty about family dysfunction - Clear, straightforward writing style Common criticisms: - Repetitive passages - Too much focus on the author's personal life - Some sections drag with unnecessary detail - A few readers found the tone bitter or self-pitying Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30+ ratings) One reader noted: "The most fascinating part is how Walker maintains objectivity while telling such a personal story." Another wrote: "Could have been 100 pages shorter without losing impact."

The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich A true crime memoir weaving together a murder investigation with the author's confrontation of family secrets and trauma.

A Beautiful, Terrible Thing by Jen Waite The account of a woman who discovers her husband's double life and psychopathic deception while raising their newborn daughter.

The Other Side by Lacy M. Johnson A memoir detailing the author's kidnapping by her former boyfriend and the aftermath of escaping captivity.

Sickened by Julie Gregory The story of a child whose mother perpetrated Munchausen by proxy abuse through years of unnecessary medical procedures.

The Lost Girls by Robert Kolker The investigation of five murdered women follows their families' struggles with deception, loss, and the search for truth.

🔍 Author Kent Walker is the eldest son of notorious con artist Sante Kimes, who, along with his half-brother Kenny, was convicted of murdering wealthy Manhattan socialite Irene Silverman in 1998. 💫 The book reveals how Kent Walker escaped his mother's criminal lifestyle at age 18, while his younger brother Kenny remained under her influence and became her partner in crime. 📚 Published in 2001, the memoir reached the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a TV movie titled "Like Mother, Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes." 🗯️ Sante Kimes maintained her innocence until her death in prison in 2014, writing letters to journalists claiming her son Kent's book was filled with lies. 🏰 The murder of Irene Silverman was part of an elaborate scheme to steal her $7.7 million Manhattan mansion through forged documents and identity theft, though her body was never found.