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Infamous
In July 1933, the gangster known as George "Machine Gun" Kelly staged the kidnapping-for-ransom of an Oklahoma oilman. He would live to regret it. Kelly was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, and what started clean soon became messy, as two of his partners cut themselves into the action; a determined former Texas Ranger makes tracking Kelly his mission; and Kelly's wife, ever alert to her own self-interest, starts playing both ends against the middle.
The result is a mesmerizing tale set in the first days of the modern FBI, featuring one of the best femmes fatales in history—the Lady Macbeth of Depression-era crime—a great unexpected hero, and some of the most colorful supporting characters in recent crime fiction.
The result is a mesmerizing tale set in the first days of the modern FBI, featuring one of the best femmes fatales in history—the Lady Macbeth of Depression-era crime—a great unexpected hero, and some of the most colorful supporting characters in recent crime fiction.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2010
96 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Ace Atkins
71 books1,563 followersAce Atkins is the author of twenty-eight books, including eleven Quinn Colson novels, the first two of which, The Ranger and The Lost Ones, were nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel (he has a third Edgar nomination for his short story "Last Fair Deal Gone Down"). He is the author of nine New York Times-bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. Before turning to fiction, he was a correspondent for the St. Petersburg Times and a crime reporter for the Tampa Tribune, and he played defensive end for Auburn University football.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 11, 2011
Adventures in Time Mowing
After my laptop fused to my lawn mower after a freak lightning strike, I discovered that I could use it to travel through time.
“Let’s see, I got the car all gassed. I’ve loaded up the guns and ammo. Here’s the bag of money. All I need to do is grab a bottle of whiskey, and I’ll…..Holy shit! Where did you come from?”
“Relax, George. My name’s Kemper. I’m from the future. Time mower, travel through history, blah, blah, blah.”
“How did you know my name?”
“Everybody knows George “Machine Gun” Kelly in the future.”
“Really?”
“Nah, not really. I mean, most people have heard the name but no one really knows your story like they do John Dillinger or Clyde from Bonnie & Clyde. Maybe if you would have died bloody like them you’d be better known.”
“What are you talking about? They're all still alive.”
“For the moment. Here‘s a tip. Never go to the movies with Dillinger or take a car ride with Bonnie and Clyde.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Glad you asked, George. I’m here for the money.”
“What money?”
“Oh, let’s not play games now, George. I’m talking about the $200,000 you got in that bag after kidnapping that oil man from his house in Oklahoma.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Wow. You just aren’t getting this future concept. Try to keep up with me, George. Your whole life is ancient history to me. I’ve read all about you, including this little cluster fuck you just pulled with the kidnapping.”
“Cluster fuck? We just made two hundred gees, mister!”
“Yeah, and what have you done with it? You and your wife have run all over the Midwest like a couple of chickens with their heads cut off while you’re letting gangster friends of yours cut themselves a slice of the pie. Meanwhile, the feds have arrested most of your wife’s family who helped you. Damn, George, if you had a brain in your head, you would have been on a boat out of the country with the money weeks ago. It’s the 1930’s, how hard could it have been to disappear with a fortune?”
“So you think I should just give you the money?”
“Why not? Even in my time, $200,000 is a nice chunk of change. And trust me, you won’t need any money where you going. Wouldn‘t you rather give it to someone like me rather than letting the feds get it back or have the other gangsters steal it from you?”
“Well, I gotta say that I see your point, Kemper. We don’t know what the hell we’re doing, but if you’re from the future and know all about me like you said, then I assume you know about my wife, too?”
“Oh, crap.”
“Yeah, I’ll give you the money if you want, but then you gotta deal with Kathryn. And she is an incredible ball buster. I don’t care if you can take your time doohickey to the end of the world, she will track you down for that money.”
“You know what? Let’s just forget the whole thing, George.”
*************************************************
This is a mash-up of historical fiction, crime story and character study beginning with the Kansas City Massacre and going through a kidnapping carried out by Machine Gun Kelly which at the time was the largest ransom paid in US history. However, Kelly and his fame-obsessed shrew of a wife are relentlessly pursued by a former Texas ranger who is an agent for J. Edgar Hoover’s new Bureau of Investigation. There’s also several other gangsters and assorted hillbillies in the mix.
I picked this up because Ace Atkins was recently hired by Robert B. Parker’s heirs to continue the Spenser series. After reading this, I’m interested to see what Atkins will do with it. He’s got a style similar to RBP’s, and it seems like his skill in character building could add something a series that’s long past its prime.
Atkins did a nice job here of turning a real true crime story into a peek inside the heads of the cops, gangsters and victim. Fans of stories about the Depression-era gangsters would probably enjoy this.
After my laptop fused to my lawn mower after a freak lightning strike, I discovered that I could use it to travel through time.
“Let’s see, I got the car all gassed. I’ve loaded up the guns and ammo. Here’s the bag of money. All I need to do is grab a bottle of whiskey, and I’ll…..Holy shit! Where did you come from?”
“Relax, George. My name’s Kemper. I’m from the future. Time mower, travel through history, blah, blah, blah.”
“How did you know my name?”
“Everybody knows George “Machine Gun” Kelly in the future.”
“Really?”
“Nah, not really. I mean, most people have heard the name but no one really knows your story like they do John Dillinger or Clyde from Bonnie & Clyde. Maybe if you would have died bloody like them you’d be better known.”
“What are you talking about? They're all still alive.”
“For the moment. Here‘s a tip. Never go to the movies with Dillinger or take a car ride with Bonnie and Clyde.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Glad you asked, George. I’m here for the money.”
“What money?”
“Oh, let’s not play games now, George. I’m talking about the $200,000 you got in that bag after kidnapping that oil man from his house in Oklahoma.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Wow. You just aren’t getting this future concept. Try to keep up with me, George. Your whole life is ancient history to me. I’ve read all about you, including this little cluster fuck you just pulled with the kidnapping.”
“Cluster fuck? We just made two hundred gees, mister!”
“Yeah, and what have you done with it? You and your wife have run all over the Midwest like a couple of chickens with their heads cut off while you’re letting gangster friends of yours cut themselves a slice of the pie. Meanwhile, the feds have arrested most of your wife’s family who helped you. Damn, George, if you had a brain in your head, you would have been on a boat out of the country with the money weeks ago. It’s the 1930’s, how hard could it have been to disappear with a fortune?”
“So you think I should just give you the money?”
“Why not? Even in my time, $200,000 is a nice chunk of change. And trust me, you won’t need any money where you going. Wouldn‘t you rather give it to someone like me rather than letting the feds get it back or have the other gangsters steal it from you?”
“Well, I gotta say that I see your point, Kemper. We don’t know what the hell we’re doing, but if you’re from the future and know all about me like you said, then I assume you know about my wife, too?”
“Oh, crap.”
“Yeah, I’ll give you the money if you want, but then you gotta deal with Kathryn. And she is an incredible ball buster. I don’t care if you can take your time doohickey to the end of the world, she will track you down for that money.”
“You know what? Let’s just forget the whole thing, George.”
*************************************************
This is a mash-up of historical fiction, crime story and character study beginning with the Kansas City Massacre and going through a kidnapping carried out by Machine Gun Kelly which at the time was the largest ransom paid in US history. However, Kelly and his fame-obsessed shrew of a wife are relentlessly pursued by a former Texas ranger who is an agent for J. Edgar Hoover’s new Bureau of Investigation. There’s also several other gangsters and assorted hillbillies in the mix.
I picked this up because Ace Atkins was recently hired by Robert B. Parker’s heirs to continue the Spenser series. After reading this, I’m interested to see what Atkins will do with it. He’s got a style similar to RBP’s, and it seems like his skill in character building could add something a series that’s long past its prime.
Atkins did a nice job here of turning a real true crime story into a peek inside the heads of the cops, gangsters and victim. Fans of stories about the Depression-era gangsters would probably enjoy this.
October 22, 2014
This was a fun introduction to the gangsters of the Depression. I believe most of the dates & actual facts were true, but I'm not an expert & there was a lot of fictional filler, but it rang true. Certainly the characters were memorable & there were a lot of absurdities on both sides of the law as well as in the press.
On the plus side, the entire era came alive through the diverse characters. Old lawmen who knew Pancho Villa, young paper hangers molded by the hardships of the Depression, & amoral gangsters were all well drawn.
On the minus side, there were a LOT of them. The cast ran to dozens & the story bogged down with them at times. 3/4 of the way through, I was ready for it to wrap up. If it had, I probably would have given it 4 stars.
It was well read with the voices very well done. Again, no section breaks & there were quite a few, so this hurt the reading a bit. Since there were so many characters, this usually wasn't a big problem, though.
I'll look forward to other books by this author.
On the plus side, the entire era came alive through the diverse characters. Old lawmen who knew Pancho Villa, young paper hangers molded by the hardships of the Depression, & amoral gangsters were all well drawn.
On the minus side, there were a LOT of them. The cast ran to dozens & the story bogged down with them at times. 3/4 of the way through, I was ready for it to wrap up. If it had, I probably would have given it 4 stars.
It was well read with the voices very well done. Again, no section breaks & there were quite a few, so this hurt the reading a bit. Since there were so many characters, this usually wasn't a big problem, though.
I'll look forward to other books by this author.
May 31, 2013
This book was a disappointment. I met the author when he spoke at a Literacy Luncheon over a year ago. I occasionally enjoy true crime and thought his books sounded interesting so I bought two of them and had him sign them. The first one was the story of the Fatty Arbuckle murder trail and it was o.k.--at least it kept my attention.
This book begins on July 22, 1933 when "Machine Gun" Kelly, who was born George Barnes, and Albert L. Bates kidnapped Oklahoma oilman Charles F. Urschel in Oklahoma City. They released him in Norman, Oklahoma on July 31 when $200,000 in ransom was paid. There is some detail about the kidnapping and a lot of confusing detail about how the ransom was paid. The FBI was involved in trying to find Mr. Urschel, but allowed the ransom to be paid when they were not able to locate him.
The rest of the book goes back and forth between Kelly and his partners and the FBI. The chapters that described what the FBI was doing were more interesting than the chapters about the criminals.
A book about Machine Gun Kelly sounds interesting, but this one get so bogged down in boring detail that it reads like a history book, not a true crime thriller. There are so many characters with the gangsters, the FBI, and Urschel's family members, that it becomes difficult to keep track of all of them.
Before John Dillinger became a household name in 1934, the newspaper coverage of Kelly, the first Public Enemy, went on for months. One of the most interesting things about Kelly is that after they had the money from the Urschel kidnapping, Kelly's his wife Kathryn accompanied him on a 56-day road trip, taking them nearly 20,000 miles across Middle America and the South before their capture. Kathryn,who had an insatiable desire to be known and was more ruthless than Kelly, actually called most of the shots. Atkins quotes J. Edgar Hoover as saying "If ever there was a henpecked husband, it was George Kelly."
According to Atkins, the road trip ended up being "a true comedy where every piece of bad luck and worse choices led to capture. This was a gangster story as directed by the Coen Brothers." Bryan Burrough, the author of a book titled, "Public Enemies," called Kelly the most inept of the 1930's criminals. Given those circumstances, this book should have been funny and an entertaining read. Alas, it was not.
This book begins on July 22, 1933 when "Machine Gun" Kelly, who was born George Barnes, and Albert L. Bates kidnapped Oklahoma oilman Charles F. Urschel in Oklahoma City. They released him in Norman, Oklahoma on July 31 when $200,000 in ransom was paid. There is some detail about the kidnapping and a lot of confusing detail about how the ransom was paid. The FBI was involved in trying to find Mr. Urschel, but allowed the ransom to be paid when they were not able to locate him.
The rest of the book goes back and forth between Kelly and his partners and the FBI. The chapters that described what the FBI was doing were more interesting than the chapters about the criminals.
A book about Machine Gun Kelly sounds interesting, but this one get so bogged down in boring detail that it reads like a history book, not a true crime thriller. There are so many characters with the gangsters, the FBI, and Urschel's family members, that it becomes difficult to keep track of all of them.
Before John Dillinger became a household name in 1934, the newspaper coverage of Kelly, the first Public Enemy, went on for months. One of the most interesting things about Kelly is that after they had the money from the Urschel kidnapping, Kelly's his wife Kathryn accompanied him on a 56-day road trip, taking them nearly 20,000 miles across Middle America and the South before their capture. Kathryn,who had an insatiable desire to be known and was more ruthless than Kelly, actually called most of the shots. Atkins quotes J. Edgar Hoover as saying "If ever there was a henpecked husband, it was George Kelly."
According to Atkins, the road trip ended up being "a true comedy where every piece of bad luck and worse choices led to capture. This was a gangster story as directed by the Coen Brothers." Bryan Burrough, the author of a book titled, "Public Enemies," called Kelly the most inept of the 1930's criminals. Given those circumstances, this book should have been funny and an entertaining read. Alas, it was not.
December 27, 2018
Almost gave it 4 stars, but it really wasn't on par with others I've rated 4, so 3 it is. It wasn't a bad book, although I didn't enjoy it as much as many of his others; but that's just me. I especially liked his Quinn Colson series.
I think the book was well-written, and pulled me in to the 1930s life of gangsters, boozing, and life in general; and also, the beginnings of the FBI. Back then, it seems like the gangsters were almost as popular as the movie stars, and many people seemed to get them a little confused, like robbing banks and killing people was just fun entertainment - mostly depending, of course, on which end of the gun you were on. But the pace was pretty slow, and skipped around a lot between various characters and crimes. Sometimes, it seemed the characters were just thrown in for no good reason, like meeting up briefly with Bonnie and Clyde. But it was all fairly entertaining
I think the book was well-written, and pulled me in to the 1930s life of gangsters, boozing, and life in general; and also, the beginnings of the FBI. Back then, it seems like the gangsters were almost as popular as the movie stars, and many people seemed to get them a little confused, like robbing banks and killing people was just fun entertainment - mostly depending, of course, on which end of the gun you were on. But the pace was pretty slow, and skipped around a lot between various characters and crimes. Sometimes, it seemed the characters were just thrown in for no good reason, like meeting up briefly with Bonnie and Clyde. But it was all fairly entertaining
May 2, 2010
Getting lucky at the library. This book was great, and about one of my favorite subjects. The Texas to Wisconsin/Minnessota bootlegging and bank-robbing explosion of the 1920's and 1930's. Pretty Boy Floyd, Dillinger and Harry Pierpont, Ma Barker, Bonnie and Clyde, Boss Pendergast in Kansas City and someone like him running every other town... How a cross-dressing Hoover in DC used their press to build the FBI.
This is a great recounting of the last ride of George "Machine Gun" Kelly. He was caught after robbing the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago during the World's Fair, eventually died in Alcatraz in the 50's. I also like the extensive part of Verne Miller. He was a South Dakota sheriff that turned outlaw, supposedly could write his name on a barn with a tommy gun. Great accents, characters. I am going right now to see if they have anything else by this guy.
This is a great recounting of the last ride of George "Machine Gun" Kelly. He was caught after robbing the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago during the World's Fair, eventually died in Alcatraz in the 50's. I also like the extensive part of Verne Miller. He was a South Dakota sheriff that turned outlaw, supposedly could write his name on a barn with a tommy gun. Great accents, characters. I am going right now to see if they have anything else by this guy.
July 7, 2010
The 1930s were a time of great depression and financial difficulties for average Americans. Thus, many farmers, blue collar workers, average joes turned to a life of crime. What began as little bank robberies to make ends meet turned into full scale felonies such as jail break outs and kidnappings for those that didn't know how to control their greed and quit while they were ahead. This book is about such people.
For full review:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/...
For full review:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/...
January 27, 2016
Not too bad for listening to my first Ace Atkins book. It was interesting learning about the Infamous "Machine Gun" Kelly and wife Katheryn Kelly. Having Dick Hill as the narrator was a bonus. Listening to his voice makes me sit back and enjoy the roller coaster ride of chasing bad guys. It's really 3.5 stars but not able to select half stars at this time. Maybe they'll add that in the future.
April 23, 2020
Based on a true crime, there is no honor among thieves in Atkins' telling of the 1933 kidnapping of oilman Charles Urschel. George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his criminal compatriots have a history of robbing banks on a small time scale. When George and his wife Kit hatch a plan for a lucrative kidnapping and ransom, Kelly's old friends look for a share of the cut. With everyone looking out for themselves, it's only a matter of time before everything falls apart. Filled with colorful characters and flavored with the dust and vernacular of the Great Depression, this is an enjoyable escape back into the era of gentleman gangsters and the lawmen who chased them.
March 23, 2025
A good story and many parts were exciting but this book lacked a good editor. Parts were long and rambling and the reader had to struggle through to get back to the action and the reason for picking up this book.
July 11, 2019
Infamous by Ace Atkins (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2010) (Fiction – Thriller). This is a novelized adaptation of a chapter in the life of 1930's - era gangster George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Of all of author Ace Atkins' writings, this novel is by far my least favorite.
I have always found Ace Atkins' work to be pleasantly diverting, but try as I might, I could never find the rhythm of Infamous. I was never able to synch with the author on this one. There were so many minor players in this tale that I could never keep the characters straight. Even more troubling, I found it impossible to remember (or care) which characters were involved in the various locations. I gave up on this one and threw in the towel at a little over a hundred pages when I realized I could not care less what happened to any of these characters. If a story has not sparked my interest by that point, the author is not going to be able to entice me to care.
This is not a book for me. My rating: 5/10, finished 7/11/19.
June 12, 2011
Bound: The Ballad of Machine Gun Kelly
SunPost Weekly April 7, 2011 | John Hood
http://bit.ly/ihgFlV
Ace Atkins Gets Infamous
Of all the outlaws to have roamed the back roads of American history, none is perhaps more menacingly named than Machine Gun Kelly. Born George Kelly Barnes, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the tail end of the 19th century, Kelly was one of Prohibition’s most illustrious bad men, and like many of that era’s ilk, he got tagged with a suitably sinister sobriquet. Unlike most colorfully-pegged criminals however, this bad man’s moniker came from neither law enforcement or the press — it came from his dame, one Kathryn Thorne, a media-savvy gun moll of the very first order.
In fact, it’s Kathryn who seems to be behind both the man and the myth that would come to be known as Machine Gun Kelly. That means, of course, it is she who is primarily responsible for the legend as well. In Ace Atkins’ kickass chronicle of the cagey couple’s dark and seemly run, all that legendary mythos is brought back to hard life — and the resulting mayhem reads like something from a tarnished silver screen.
The book is called Infamous (Berkley $15), and it puts Atkins back on the racks of the reeling, just where he belongs. I had the great good pleasure of connecting with the Alabama-born, Mississippi-based crime scribe right after spending a wild night with Machine Gun Kelly and the rest of his unspooled string of gun-toting enemies of the public. Here’s how the Q&A went down:
John Hood: Which came first, the name Ace or the spot as a Tampa Trib reporter?
Ace Atkins: Ace is my given name. I had tried to use a different name to sound more professional when working for the St. Petersburg Times. My first editor there gave me a job on the condition I’d never use another name. Sure enough, an editor at the [Tampa] Trib wanted me to to change it before my first story ran. Good to my word, I used my real name.
Speaking of which, didn’t you work with Tim Dorsey at The Trib?
Yes, Tim and worked together for many years at The Tribune. He was the editor on the night desk and I worked days, so our schedules sometimes overlapped. We used to grab coffee together a lot and talk about writing books. We both were really into crime lit and admired the same authors. After leaving The Trib, Tim and I have kept in touch and remain close friends.
What made you choose to ink the rather dark doings of Machine Gun Kelly?
Infamous is really more of a comedy than a dark crime novel. Kelly never killed anyone. He was bossed around by his wife. And everyone who ran into him — including a bank teller I once met — said he was a hell of a nice guy. That banker was 102 when I met him and still recalled the robbery of ’32 with great clarity.
Seems Kelly was accused of more crimes than he actually committed; what were some of the most egregious acts that he didn’t do?
Most egregious? Maybe the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. In 1933, he was Public Enemy #1 and really started the whole gangster craze across America. For a while, he was like a rock star.
How ‘bout of the crimes he did commit, was there one or two that stand out above all others?
The Charles Urschel kidnapping in OK City.
His string, as it were, reminds me a bit of Stark’s Parker series, without of course Parker’s amoral core. Who were some of Kelly’s most colorful co-conspirators?
Albert Bates. Verne Miller. Harvey Bailey.
Any chance of you putting any/either of them to book?
Maybe. Infamous was a hell of a lot of work in the research department. I may wait a few years before taking on such a large historical novel.
What’s coming up for Ace Atkins anyway?
My new novel The Ranger hits stores on June 9. It’s a contemporary crime novel set where I live in Mississippi. This novel kicks off a new series for me and I’m already working on the sequel.
Before we go, I’ve gotta ask: What is it about the dark side of the street that you find so compelling?
I wrote about crime for a long time as a reporter. But I don’t really write really dark stories. Most of my stuff is pretty humorous and unexpected. More in line with Elmore Leonard. But it’s absolutely true and real. As they say in the biz, you just can’t make this stuff up.
Think you’ll ever cross over to the sunny side of the street?
Not a chance.
SunPost Weekly April 7, 2011 | John Hood
http://bit.ly/ihgFlV
Ace Atkins Gets Infamous
Of all the outlaws to have roamed the back roads of American history, none is perhaps more menacingly named than Machine Gun Kelly. Born George Kelly Barnes, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the tail end of the 19th century, Kelly was one of Prohibition’s most illustrious bad men, and like many of that era’s ilk, he got tagged with a suitably sinister sobriquet. Unlike most colorfully-pegged criminals however, this bad man’s moniker came from neither law enforcement or the press — it came from his dame, one Kathryn Thorne, a media-savvy gun moll of the very first order.
In fact, it’s Kathryn who seems to be behind both the man and the myth that would come to be known as Machine Gun Kelly. That means, of course, it is she who is primarily responsible for the legend as well. In Ace Atkins’ kickass chronicle of the cagey couple’s dark and seemly run, all that legendary mythos is brought back to hard life — and the resulting mayhem reads like something from a tarnished silver screen.
The book is called Infamous (Berkley $15), and it puts Atkins back on the racks of the reeling, just where he belongs. I had the great good pleasure of connecting with the Alabama-born, Mississippi-based crime scribe right after spending a wild night with Machine Gun Kelly and the rest of his unspooled string of gun-toting enemies of the public. Here’s how the Q&A went down:
John Hood: Which came first, the name Ace or the spot as a Tampa Trib reporter?
Ace Atkins: Ace is my given name. I had tried to use a different name to sound more professional when working for the St. Petersburg Times. My first editor there gave me a job on the condition I’d never use another name. Sure enough, an editor at the [Tampa] Trib wanted me to to change it before my first story ran. Good to my word, I used my real name.
Speaking of which, didn’t you work with Tim Dorsey at The Trib?
Yes, Tim and worked together for many years at The Tribune. He was the editor on the night desk and I worked days, so our schedules sometimes overlapped. We used to grab coffee together a lot and talk about writing books. We both were really into crime lit and admired the same authors. After leaving The Trib, Tim and I have kept in touch and remain close friends.
What made you choose to ink the rather dark doings of Machine Gun Kelly?
Infamous is really more of a comedy than a dark crime novel. Kelly never killed anyone. He was bossed around by his wife. And everyone who ran into him — including a bank teller I once met — said he was a hell of a nice guy. That banker was 102 when I met him and still recalled the robbery of ’32 with great clarity.
Seems Kelly was accused of more crimes than he actually committed; what were some of the most egregious acts that he didn’t do?
Most egregious? Maybe the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. In 1933, he was Public Enemy #1 and really started the whole gangster craze across America. For a while, he was like a rock star.
How ‘bout of the crimes he did commit, was there one or two that stand out above all others?
The Charles Urschel kidnapping in OK City.
His string, as it were, reminds me a bit of Stark’s Parker series, without of course Parker’s amoral core. Who were some of Kelly’s most colorful co-conspirators?
Albert Bates. Verne Miller. Harvey Bailey.
Any chance of you putting any/either of them to book?
Maybe. Infamous was a hell of a lot of work in the research department. I may wait a few years before taking on such a large historical novel.
What’s coming up for Ace Atkins anyway?
My new novel The Ranger hits stores on June 9. It’s a contemporary crime novel set where I live in Mississippi. This novel kicks off a new series for me and I’m already working on the sequel.
Before we go, I’ve gotta ask: What is it about the dark side of the street that you find so compelling?
I wrote about crime for a long time as a reporter. But I don’t really write really dark stories. Most of my stuff is pretty humorous and unexpected. More in line with Elmore Leonard. But it’s absolutely true and real. As they say in the biz, you just can’t make this stuff up.
Think you’ll ever cross over to the sunny side of the street?
Not a chance.
May 21, 2013
If you've read other books by Ace Atkins, this one may seem like a letdown. It's not nearly as good as his other historical crime books, such as "Devil's Garden," and it's not even in the same ballpark as his contemporary thrillers, especially his most recent one, "The Lost Ones." That said, it's an entertaining misfire by the usually reliable author. The book follows the erratic progress of George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his fame-hungry wife Kathryn during and after the kidnapping of an oil tycoon. The book's biggest problem is its focus -- it's NOT Machine Gun Kelly. Instead, Atkins puts readers into the shoes of Kelly's wife Kathryn, FBI Agent Gus Jones and dapper bank robber (and occasional Kelly ally) Harvey Bailey as they criss-cross Depression-era America. Atkins does a masterful job of recreating a landscape of down-and-out farms and small towns across the South and Midwest. But his use of common racial terms of the day becomes wearing, especially given that they aren't necessary in all cases. The story isn't nearly as amusing as the cover blurbs would lead you to believe -- in fact, the funniest development comes at the end of the book and flies by so quickly I had to go back and read it again to grasp just how Kathryn had been snookered. Because of the way Atkins structures the book, Kelly himself remains something of an enigma -- sometimes smarter than everyone in the room, sometimes just a stupid drunk -- and the "federal ace" who's chasing him, a former Texas Ranger, never really comes alive on the page. Atkins is such a talented writer I wish this one had been better. His output since this one has been superb.
October 26, 2012
The story of the infamous Machine Gun Kelly and his wife Kit. The book introduces us to some of the more notorious characters of the time and let's us ride along on the heists and go on the run with George and Kathryn after they successfully kidnap a wealthy oilman and receive a $200,000 ransom and are soon being tracked by G men, in particular, an old school officer named Jones.
I rate the book highly. I enjoy the historical fiction that both draws me in and also makes me want to delve deeper into the dry facts of it. Ace Atkins did a great job of making the atmosphere of the times come to life. Walking through Chicago's World's Fair or riding the train with Jones, I could almost smell the dust.
I thought the female characters Kit, Betty, and even young Jerry most amazing. I couldn't like them. I think they were resilient and clever. And manipulative and conniving and fickle, but great fun to read about. I will look for more Ace Atkins books and delve more into the kidnapping itself.
I rate the book highly. I enjoy the historical fiction that both draws me in and also makes me want to delve deeper into the dry facts of it. Ace Atkins did a great job of making the atmosphere of the times come to life. Walking through Chicago's World's Fair or riding the train with Jones, I could almost smell the dust.
I thought the female characters Kit, Betty, and even young Jerry most amazing. I couldn't like them. I think they were resilient and clever. And manipulative and conniving and fickle, but great fun to read about. I will look for more Ace Atkins books and delve more into the kidnapping itself.
September 6, 2010
Ace Atkins, a former journalist, is known for describing historical incidents in story form thru the eyes of other people living at that time. This was based on the kidnapping of Charles Urschel during the 30's. It's well done and I felt insight with the events and sequences az presented. My only real complaint with the book is that it just seemed too long an didn't always hold my riveted attention...
April 12, 2025
The true although fictionalized account of the story of Machine Gun Kelly (the OG one) and his wife/stage manager, Kathryn Kelly, which reads like the best of hard-bitten film noir. Want snappy dialogue? Ya got it.
“An exciting life for a farmer,” Mrs. Quigley said, raising her eyebrows.”
“You can bet on it, sister,” Kathryn said, turning for the door. “See you in the funny papers.”
The FBI was a new thing, and this was a test. Gus T. Jones had been assigned to crack this case, and he had a lot of resources. It was a kidnapping case, and in the wake of the Lindberg case, all penalties for kidnapping had been raised. The victim was not a child this time though, but a wealthy oil tycoon, Charles F. Urschel. That was Kelly’s mistake. Urschel was not a helpless victim, but very much aware of his situation. Although he was blindfolded and held in a remote ranch of a relative of Kelly, he kept track of the planes that flew overhead during the day. And during a severe storm, he realized what he had not heard. Researching what flights had been cancelled that day led to the conclusion of where he had been held, and who had him. And even though he had been released, he wanted his ransom back and J. Edger Hoover wanted to show what his boys could do.
Kelly had never been who he was set up to be (Kathryn bought the machine gun and plopped it in front of his face), but that was now his persona. He was just this dumb mug set up by a dame looking for the main chance, and that was how it went down.
What was telling, though, was the portrait of a desperately poor Midwest. The 30s were some hard times indeed for many.
“An exciting life for a farmer,” Mrs. Quigley said, raising her eyebrows.”
“You can bet on it, sister,” Kathryn said, turning for the door. “See you in the funny papers.”
The FBI was a new thing, and this was a test. Gus T. Jones had been assigned to crack this case, and he had a lot of resources. It was a kidnapping case, and in the wake of the Lindberg case, all penalties for kidnapping had been raised. The victim was not a child this time though, but a wealthy oil tycoon, Charles F. Urschel. That was Kelly’s mistake. Urschel was not a helpless victim, but very much aware of his situation. Although he was blindfolded and held in a remote ranch of a relative of Kelly, he kept track of the planes that flew overhead during the day. And during a severe storm, he realized what he had not heard. Researching what flights had been cancelled that day led to the conclusion of where he had been held, and who had him. And even though he had been released, he wanted his ransom back and J. Edger Hoover wanted to show what his boys could do.
Kelly had never been who he was set up to be (Kathryn bought the machine gun and plopped it in front of his face), but that was now his persona. He was just this dumb mug set up by a dame looking for the main chance, and that was how it went down.
What was telling, though, was the portrait of a desperately poor Midwest. The 30s were some hard times indeed for many.
January 18, 2022
I stumbled upon this 2010 book by Ace Atkins and was drawn in by the subject: a fictional account of the kidnapping of oilman Charles Urschel of Oklahoma City by George R. Kelly, famously known as Machine Gun Kelly. The good guys are represented by FBI agents Gus Jones and Doc White. The rogue's gallery includes cohort Albert Bates and interlopers Harvey Bailey, Verne Miller, the Barker Boys, Alvin Kreepy Karpis and even Bonnie & Clyde put in an appearance for a roll in the hay. Then what can you say about the dazzling and devious Katelyn Kit Kelly.
I am a sucker for 1930s gangster fiction and non-fiction. This, of course is fiction and not Bryan Burrough's great "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI." But it's highly readable and entertainment, and it seems to stick with the facts with the interesting insertion of motivation, inspiration and perspiration of all the bad guys.
I am a sucker for 1930s gangster fiction and non-fiction. This, of course is fiction and not Bryan Burrough's great "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI." But it's highly readable and entertainment, and it seems to stick with the facts with the interesting insertion of motivation, inspiration and perspiration of all the bad guys.
July 26, 2019
Nice book on the whole with an interesting fictionalization of Machine Gun Kelly, his wife and associates. This really works to give an impression of Depression Era crooks, and my only problem with it was that it ran too long. Cut 50 or 100 pages of atmospheric dialogue, and you'd really have something. As is, I started to lose interest. You can only be so laconic so long.
I have read a lot of Ace Atkins, and early on I was thinking that this was going to be his best book yet. It should have been, with appropriate editing.
High points included the evocation of the 1933 World's Fair and an underground (literally) night club in St. Paul.
I have read a lot of Ace Atkins, and early on I was thinking that this was going to be his best book yet. It should have been, with appropriate editing.
High points included the evocation of the 1933 World's Fair and an underground (literally) night club in St. Paul.
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November 12, 2022Whose on first? I could not follow this story at all since there were so many characters involved. Was it about the kidnapping? Was this about Machine Gun Kelly? The FBI is shown back and forth as well as another law enforcement person dealing with Katherine.
As another reviewer said I couldn't get the rhythm of the book and eventually got to the point that I no longer cared. So I went to see what others thought.
Some liked the book others like myself had hoped for more from Mr. Atkins based on his previous works. In the end I didn't finish the book. The juice was not worth the squeeze.
As another reviewer said I couldn't get the rhythm of the book and eventually got to the point that I no longer cared. So I went to see what others thought.
Some liked the book others like myself had hoped for more from Mr. Atkins based on his previous works. In the end I didn't finish the book. The juice was not worth the squeeze.
August 28, 2024
One of the authors early creation, in the era of Bonnie and Clyde.
“In July 1933, the gangster known as George "Machine Gun" Kelly staged the kidnapping-for-ransom of an Oklahoma oilman. He would live to regret it. Kelly was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, and what started clean soon became messy, as two of his partners cut themselves into the action; a determined former Texas Ranger makes tracking Kelly his mission; and Kelly's wife, ever alert to her own self-interest, starts playing both ends against the middle.”
“In July 1933, the gangster known as George "Machine Gun" Kelly staged the kidnapping-for-ransom of an Oklahoma oilman. He would live to regret it. Kelly was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, and what started clean soon became messy, as two of his partners cut themselves into the action; a determined former Texas Ranger makes tracking Kelly his mission; and Kelly's wife, ever alert to her own self-interest, starts playing both ends against the middle.”
November 21, 2019
I have read other Ace Atkins books and enjoyed them. However, this book could not hold my interest. It was filled with the images of the poor and down trodden to the not so by the book police, and the not so smart gangsters, plus a lot of sex thrown in. It seemed to me it started out as an attempt to let the reader see the gangsters were just people trying to rise above their lifestyle. I did not understand the role of the 12 year old girl. I just kept hoping it would get better.
January 19, 2020
Not a real page turner. It had a good base story line but was hard to follow all the various characters. It was the first book by Atkins that I have read so I didn't know what to expect regarding his style. He uses actual events as the basis for his books. I wasn't familiar with the actual story so I couldn't tell what was factual. It really didn't matter. The book just didn't have those scenes or characters that can make you not want to put a book down or anxious to get back to it.
August 12, 2023
First Ace Atkins book I've read, & I enjoyed it very much. Almost Hemingway-esque in its straightforwardness. Would definitely check out other Atkins books. I'm kind of a sucker for crime novels, true-crime or otherwise, so your mileage may vary. But if you're a fan of the genre--and this one leans towards the hard-boiled/noir end of the spectrum--it's worth a read.
June 27, 2024
BORING!
I guess this would be considered historical fiction. Not much history and not much fiction. Also, I did not like the way he shifted between groups (a couple of criminal groups and a law enforcement group) and the way the groups came together (not all that much).
Reminds me - it is ok to abandon a book.
I guess this would be considered historical fiction. Not much history and not much fiction. Also, I did not like the way he shifted between groups (a couple of criminal groups and a law enforcement group) and the way the groups came together (not all that much).
Reminds me - it is ok to abandon a book.
April 20, 2023
The book sounded intriguing. But it was bit confusing at first with a lot of jumping around. There needs to be a glossary of all the people in the book until you get a grasp of who is who. Overall, it was a slow read.
May 7, 2024
What I really liked about this book … the depression era setting and the recollection of gangsters and their mentality during this time in our history. Interesting to realize that not too long ago … crimes and bank robberies occurred often … with a pretty good chance of success.
August 26, 2017
Would have been happy with a Readers Digest Condensed version - found it rather a slog.
October 19, 2017
So poor that I had to stop reading it.
May 11, 2018
Enjoyed learning more about Mr. and Mrs. Machine Gun Kelly and their exploits.
August 10, 2018
Anything written by Ace Atkins is worth reading.
November 7, 2018
Splendid fictional treatment of history's famous independent criminals and the G-men who caught them in 1930s.
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