Rating: 
Summary: One Son of a Sociopath
Review: Loosing someone through the actions of a Sociopath is devastating. To be able to read an honest recounting of a surviving Victim's life is both sad and inspiring.
As you read this book you will be stunned by the true evil that is embodied in Sante Kimes and you will be amazed at how she groomed, manipulated, and used every vulnerability her children have to her own advantage. Everyone had a price, and favors range from lies and theft to murder. Everyone is kept in line through sex, booze, greed, false friendship, and a feeling of not being able to ever get free of Sante.
As for Ken Kimes, Sr. the feeling of pity comes and goes. He was not a sociopath, but he had the basic weakness' to attract one. Once Sante bedded him, he mistook sex for love and failed to escape the brainwashing and fear.
Kent Walker has chosen to stay in the human race, and try to be a decent person by walking through fire. It is not surprising that he is willing to accept blame for his younger, half bother's choices, and at times is confused about what Love is. I can only hope that as time passes and his own children grow up to be healthy decent adults he will be able to shake off his private demons. Realizing that each action is the result of personal choice; and, see through the actions of his wife, Lynn, and her ever vigil and constant "mother love" that Sante's parties, gifts, and permissiveness had absolutely nothing to do with love, or any kind of affection, for him or his brother.
Ed Walker, Kent's father, and Evelyn, Kent's surrogate mom in Palm Springs, have my "Thanks" for being/staying in Kent's life. My admiration goes to Kent for his honest and (I'm sure) painful "Heads Up!" view into the life style of a Sociopath.
Rating:
Summary: The best true crime book in years
Review: Absolutely riveting. I saw the TV shows, but the book is far more entertaining. What an incredible, sordid story. Extremely well-written, too. I finished it in one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: Son of a GRIFTER
Review: To Most people when you hear the words Memoirs you think of some cheese autobiography that you know will be self servent,at least thats what I think,but not in this case. Son of a GRIFTER is a all to real and consuming story that keeps your fingers flipping and your heart breaking. A grifter is cold blooded person that is indifferrent to passion or pain such a person can clean your bank account out and not even care that you have kids to feed. Kent Walker takes you in deep into the mind of a grifter in this case the grifters are his family,his mother Sante Kimes,Ken Kimes(his step father)and Kenny Kimes his half brother. They say you are a product of your environment, well read the book and then ask your self what would I have done given the same siuation,its easy to sit back and say right is right but when your own mother is cunning,greedy,evil and those are her good qualities its a wonder how this man survived. This book details how one son was lucky enough or was graced with a gardian angel that would whisper in his ear and the other was victemized by his maternal mother,murder,sex,the jet set life and money all mixed into one cocktail that was consumed by two of the most notorious con artist in america. Its amazing how much we humans can love and that quality is in Mr.Walker instilled in him is his love for his brother and mother that touch my soul, If theres a Hollywood big shot out there give me a call all mortgage the house and well get this to screen. out!
Rating:
Summary: "Big purse" this book!
Review: A harrowing eddy of greed, deception, and willful ignorance. Mr. Schone has vividly shoved us into this dirtbag's world and expertly captures the Sante spell that still seems to hold Mr. Walker. There's truth and maybe even wisdom in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Uneasy Reader
Review: The Story of Kenny, Sante, Sandy, Shante or whomever and whatever unlucky person who enters their orbit is a scary one. Kent seemed to make it out with his humour intact, but his la di da attitude and folksy way of dealing with Sante made me queasy. His analysis (which I thought was BRILLIANT) of Ken Kimes being the one to totally corrupt Kenny was so perceptive I was stunned. Kent must have been scarred by his precarious upbringing but to his credit, he doesn't seem to enjoy having a pity party. It is too bad he wasn't able to help Kenny more, to realize what danger Kenny was in. I thought this book was gripping (slight queaziness and all). Maybe Kenny will cut some kind of deal, as I can imagine how a person as soft as he is will fare in general population. Irene Silverman deserves a dignified burial and it could be the one redeeming thing Ken Jr. could do with his life . Maybe away from Sante, and with a little help from Kent this may happen. I hope so. Nice book, Kent. Your mom makes my mom seem like June Cleaver.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and valuable tale
Review: There are many things that are incomprehensible in today's world. We struggle to understand sociopathic behavior, especially when it involves children and teenagers. We try to understand what society did that was wrong, and (not frequently enough) what society did that was right. This book offers a unique and invaluable insight both to what we did that was right and what we did that was wrong. This is an intimate portrait of sociopathic personalities and the dark world of grifters and crime. Kent Walker's struggle to find meaning and purpose in his life results in a compelling and very brave narrative that sheds light on lives that I couldn't even imagine. As the narrator points out, even one role model can change the course of a life. Had Kent Walker not had a teacher next door who was kind to him and offered him a glimpse of a stable home environment, he might not have been able to narrate this book. One of the heartbreaking syndromes of child abuse, is that the abused child always wants to be returned to his parent, even when that parent has seriously abused the child. We go through this struggle with Kent Walker and cheer him at the end when he is finally able to make his break with his mother. We should study the things that gave hope to him but not to his brother. This book powerful, moving, gripping and extremely well written. And, above all, very important. I would like to point out that the Kimes who are on trial are not receiving any proceeds from this book. They are now in California and being defended by public defenders. I found someone's comments alleging that the Kimes were somehow benefiting from book sales to be both offensive and completely unfounded.
Rating: 
Summary: It isn't Truman Capote
Review: And Truman was not an “unindicted co-conspirator.” I do not understand why the author, Sante's "Other Son" Kent Walker, did not “cut bait & run” long before he claims. (It is not altogether clear that he has yet to entirely wean himself of this entangled mess. Possibly he wrote this book to get around the Son of Sam/no-book-proceeds-to-the-perpetrator Law, but yet intends to share with Mommy Dearest & Baby Bro & their various & sundry legal teams? ) I read a lot of “true crime” books. (See my List: True Crime 101) This one is OK, but in my opinion undeserving of some of the stellar raves it is receiving here. I found it to be slow going. Maybe part of the reason I found it slow to slog through is the mind-numbing sheer magnitude of all Sante’s High Crimes and Misdemeanors with which she “Got Away.” In defense to Mark Schone, there are some cute turns of phrase, for instance, Sante a “Teflon Con,” “When the Kookie Hut crumbled…” The authors (the “Other Son” and his ghost writer) jump around a lot – chronologically, geographically, and emotionally. Nor is it clear what has become of the rest of Kent’s family. Has California tried them yet?
Rating: 
Summary: I put it down.
Review: There is nothing redeeming about this book for voyeurs of dysfunction. I know that there are insufferable sociopaths in this world and I found the subject and author of this book so dispicable that at page 208, I threw it away...I feel ashamed to have contributed to the author's coffers.
Rating:
Summary: A lesson for all!
Review: For those out there who think that making more laws will make for less crime, this book will hopefully awaken you to the mind and life and the career criminal and predator. Sante Kimes saw laws as minor obstacles in her delusional path toward greatness and everyone, even here sons and husband, as either target from which to gain her desires or tools to use to fulfill her needs. All the laws, gun control, anti-crime bills, and other such things will not stop this sort of person. The book not only details the individual predators but also shows their victims and how they more or less set themselves up. This is a rare look into the type of family from which the law abiding public's enemies emerge and go on to manipulate the system and people to achieve their usually disastrous ends. Well written and a great read. It took a lot of guts to put down some of those words and Kent Walker deserves to be applauded for that and for getting on the right path and staying there.
Rating:
Summary: Scary
Review: I stayed up until one in the morning to finish this book, and the only thing I could think about is that it is scary to have people like Sante Kimes running around. I could hardly believe anyone was this self-serving and evil. I felt sorry for Kent at first, but as the book went on, he showed (and admitted) that he was as greedy as his mother was, although not to the same extent. Its shocking that he would subject his family to this woman, and its shocking that his wife put up with it. I am also surprised he didn't have to serve time as well. He's lucky he didn't. I'm sure he has his money now, though. It is a well written book, I would recommend it.
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