They Call Them Grifters by Alice McQuillan (March 2000)

Anything for Mommy Dearest
Review by Kim Cantrell

Forgery.  Theft.  Real estate scams.  Murder.

Sante Kimes vowed that she would never live in poverty again.  No matter what she had to do.

Or who she had to kill.

And after giving birth to her son at the age of 40, Sante controlled his every move; undoubtedly preparing him for his future life of crime.

The story of Sante and Kenny Kimes is one that has plenty material from which to make an interesting book; yet journalist-turned-author Alice McQuillan fails to do just that.

The information provided within this book is almost 100 percent taken from newspaper accounts and Court documents.  Combine the lack of original content with the daily paper style writing, and They Call Them Gifters:  The True Story of Sante and Kenneth Kimes is a real snooze-fest.

For those who hate books filled with page upon page of detailed background of every single individual mentioned….steer clear of this book.  It’s full of this kind of nonsensical, unnecessary fluff from beginning to end.

And if that isn’t a turn-off….

Regular readers of TCBR know that I have a serious pet peeve about books written before the completion of the trial.  Well, this is a prime example why.

Not only does this book fail to tell readers the outcome of the three cases of the Kimes – which can be very important when the defendants have spent years dodging justice – but is written before things got really interesting.

For example, after this book was undoubtedly rushed to print in an effort to be the first about this internationally watched case, Kenny Kimes held Court TV Reporter Maria Zone hostage with a ball point pen for three hours before being subdued.

I simply did not enjoy this book.  Yes, I read it cover to cover but not without a great deal of effort.

In no way, shape, form or fashion can I recommend They Call Them Grifters.   Instead, I’ll recommend catching a rerun of the made-for-tv  movies Like Mother, Like Son and A Little Thing Called Murder. 

And although I have not yet read it and cannot commit on its quality, there is a book written by Sante’s oldest son Kent Walker titled Son of a Gifter which, from my undertanding, not only details the crimes but gives an insider’s view of Sante’s personality.

Now that could be interesting.

Updates on Sante and Kenny Kimes:

Kenny Kimes wound up turning on Mommy Dearest to save his own skin.  While standing trial in 2004, where he faced the death penalty, he confessed to killing David Kazdin and Syed Bilal Ahmed.

Sante Kimes avoided the death penalty and received over 100 years in prison.  Being that she is, as of today, 75-years-old and her first eligible date for parole is March 2119, I’d say, without some serious advances in medical science, chances are slim to none that Sante will ever be free again.