A meticulous researched biography that has the reader taken from the crime scene to the courtroom.

This author crafted a readable biography. Knew he was a resident of Alcatraz but reading about it is different. Moreover, the trajectory of his life from bootlegger to kidnapper becomes understandable when you learn of the sudden death of his father in law and father figure. As for his second wife, Kathryn, she is no passive actor and this is shown in her web of crime that entangles innocents and family members.

Clever title along with the striking photo will draw a reader's attention but the writing itself will retain their attention.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Kensington Publishing | Citadel, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


#MeettheKellys #NetGalley

Chris Enss has written a fascinating dual biography of Depression Era gangster Machine Gun Kelly and his wife/moll, Kathryn Thorne. It's an entertaining book that's meticulously researched and full of period details that take you right into the heart of the Depression in the midwest.

In the book, we see how Kathryn was the mastermind behind their criminal activities. She loved money and pretty things, and Kelly loved her. So he was willing to do anything to make her happy, from bank robbing to kidnapping. You almost feel kind of sorry for the poor sap because he's so besotted with her.

Meet the Kellys is a fast-paced, page-turning story that reads more like a novel than history. I highly recommend it.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne by Christopher Enss was an interesting read. I’d heard of Machine Gun Kelly, but didn’t know much about him and I’d never heard of Kathryn Moll. I enjoy books that both entertain and inform me and this book did it.

Going to see Bonnie and Clyde at a local drive-in was the start of my interest in the Great Depression and that era's gangsters. Bonnie and Clyde. Pretty Boy Floyd. John Dillinger. Ma Barker. Bugs Moran. I'm not quite sure why I found these gangsters to be so fascinating. I didn't think they were romantic. I certainly didn't want to emulate them. I think it probably had something to do with how people reacted to and survived the Great Depression. So, it's no wonder that when I heard about Meet the Kellys that I wanted to read it.

I was familiar with other books written by Chris Enss, so I was expecting a well-researched history of Kelly and Thorne. That's exactly what I got. Kathryn Thorne saw the potential in small-time bootlegger George Kelly to give her the lifestyle she had always craved. And with her gift of a machine gun to Kelly, history was made. The couple's endless road trips not only had me hearing some of the music from Bonnie and Clyde, but they almost made me carsick.

I learned quite a bit from this book. I'd forgotten how kidnapping had taken center stage for several of these gangsters, so much so that the government passed the Federal Kidnapping Act in an attempt to put an end to it. In true diva style, when everything disintegrated, Kathryn Thorne tried her best to keep herself and her parents out of jail. She was definitely what my family would refer to as a "piece of work." If you have any interest at all in this time period, Meet the Kellys is well worth a read.

A wonderful book for true crime fans.

Meet the Kellys provides insight into Public Enemy No. 1, "Machine Gun" Kelly and his gangster Moll ( and later wife ) Kathryn Thorne. Although one of the first Gangsters in the 30's to come up against the G-Men of the recently reformed Bureau of Investigations led by J. Edgar Hoover, I must admit I didnt know nearly as much about Kelly as some of the other gangsters of that era, Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger.

Although originally a bootlegger and then a bank robber, Thorne pushed Kelly into kidnapping as a way to pay for her lavish lifestyle of furs, jewelry and expensive hotels and nights on the town. She even purchased the "used" Tommy Gun for Kelly that led to his moniker.

The book concentrates on the plot to kidnap millionaire oil tycoon Charles Urschel, the kidnap itself, the nationwide manhunt first for Urschel and then the perpetrators and ultimately their joint Trial. Being in love with his wife, Kelly tried to take to blame in the hopes of setting Thorne free, but the Judge and Jury would have none of her theatrics on the stand, and they both were sentenced to life imprisonment along with most of their co-conspirators, including Thornes family.

Ultimately Kelly was separated from his partner in crime and became one of the first residents of the newly refurbished Alcatraz island prison.

An entertaining read, which would also serve as a primer for any wannabe criminal on how not to perpetrate a stick up or kidnapping.

When you hear there was a gangster in the 1930s in the US called George "Machine Gun" Kelly, what kind of guy would you think he was? Like me, you may have imagined a killer who shot people using a machine gun. In reality, George Kelly Barnes was a criminal who specialised in boot legging, bank robberies and kidnapping. He never killed anybody, leave alone with a machine gun!!

I came to know this and other interesting facts on reading " Meet The Kellys" by Chris Enss. Thanks to #NetGalley I got a review copy of #MeettheKellys. This book - described as- The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly And His Moll Kathryn Thorne- is scheduled to be published by Kensington Publishing later this month.

Following the years of the Great Depression and Prohibition, the 1930s saw many criminals gain notoriety in the United States. "Machine Gun" Kelly was one of them, and his name was as well known as others like Al Capone, Ma Baker, John Dillinger, and the couple : Bonny and Clyde. Basing his story on newspaper articles and recollections of those who lived in those times, the author describes the lives of George Kelly and his wife Kathryn Thorne.

As you read this well-researched book, you will understand the personalities of this couple and the dynamics that were at play between them. George Kelly Barnes was from Memphis, Tennessee, and had an unhappy childhood. He wanted the good life and wanted money without working for it at all. Kathryn Thorne was already divorced twice when she first met him. She was street smart, good looking, willing to take risks and loved a life of luxury. She felt that Kelly would be the one to provide her with all that she wanted. All in all, she was the gangster's moll.

The book describes in detail how the Kellys kidnapped Charles Urschel, the oil tycoon and the trial that followed. This was the biggest crime they committed. The case caught the attention of the media all over the country. Kidnappings were happening in plenty at that time and Urschel was kidnapped shortly after the Lindbergh case. This was the first big case of this type assigned to the FBI as kidnapping had been made a Federal offence.

The book paints a realistic picture of life in the United States in the 1930s. Poverty, greed, ambition, desperation and even little or no fear of the law made many take to crime. Some cases were more infamous than others. George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Kathryn Thorne were one amongst them.

I liked the book which was informative and interesting .

A well-told biography of an infamous gangster. The author does a great job of weaving first-hand accounts of individuals into the story to give you a better perception of who these two individuals were, and the evil they inflicted on innocent people. I found most disturbing was how manipulative the wife was and how she attempted after capture to portray herself as an innocent victim who was forced to do what she did. The story is a fast-paced and action filled ride that provides a great amount of information to the reader. Highly recommend.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such an interesting read. I knew of Machine Gun Kelly but not a ton honestly. I also knew nothing about Kathryn. The more I learned the less I liked her- but what can you do. This book had so many interesting details and told the story of these outlaws so well.

George Kelly aka Machine Gun Kelly, and Kathryn Thorne have certainly earned a spot in modern lore for their crime spree across the country. However, while their criminal reputations were well known, I didn't know much about either one of them, or their background story. Unfortunately though this book was quite enjoyable, I didn't learn too much more about their lives growing up, though perhaps I learned a little more about Kathyrn's background than George "Machine Gun" Kelly's. Overall I enjoyed this book, but its important to note it focuses more on a specific period of their trail of crimes, than it does their personal background, and how they came to be the people with such a reputation.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

Kathryn Kelly and her husband, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, were notorious Depression-era gangsters.

This non-fiction account touches briefly on their early lives, but the bulk of the story is centered around their time together. George was a bootlegger-turned-bank-robber, and Kathryn was a twice-divorced woman in her twenties with a taste for the finer things in life.

Together they tore across the Midwest, leaving destruction in their wake. When bank robbing became too dangerous, the pair decided kidnapping would be easier money.

They hatched a plan to kidnap oil man Charles Urschel, and set in motion the crime that would send them both to prison.

Most of the book focuses on the kidnapping, then capture and trial of the Kellys.

The book was good, but I felt like it just skimmed the surface. I didn’t get any insight into George and Kathryn—their motivations, hopes, fears. Even their love story wasn’t explained; they just met in a nightclub and…boom…married.

As someone with an interest in Depression-era outlaws (I once did a school report on Bonnie & Clyde), I finished this book knowing a little about Machine Gun Kelly, a little more about Kathryn Kelly, but still feeling like I hardly knew anything at all.

Check out this book as an introduction to an infamous gangster and his partner in crime.

Thanks to @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A sharp, stylish dive into a media-fueled crime spree that feels oddly contemporary. Enss captures not just the facts, but the fever that gripped the public imagination. Perfect for fans of true crime, historical biography, and the messy intersection of love, crime, and spectacle.
This is more than a crime biography—it’s a mirror to America’s ongoing love affair with the outlaw figure. From Prohibition to kidnapping, what stands out isn’t just the crimes themselves, but the nation’s willingness to turn criminals into celebrities. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is.

Meet the Kellys captivated me with its vivid storytelling and focus on the complex relationship between George “Machine Gun” Kelly and his wife, Kathryn. Kathryn’s ambition and influence over George added a fascinating layer to the true crime story. Enss’s use of real records and detailed 1930s settings made the story feel authentic and gripping. Beyond the crimes, the book explores ambition, loyalty, and downfall, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in true crime with rich character depth.

I did enjoy the information that was in this book. I could tell that it was very well researched. I also enjoyed the way the information was delivered. The writing style was perfect for this kind of non-fiction book. I just did not find the Kellys interesting. I was surprised by this. I think that instead of the whole book being dedicated to them, perhaps it could have been just a part of a bigger project involving more "characters".

I'd like to thank NetGalley for allowing me the honor of reading this book in advance of publication. This is my first submission for them, but hope it won't be the last.

I don't read a lot of biographies, but the title of this one drew me in. I think the name Machine Gun Kelly is well-known, but mostly by my generation (GenX) and before. Now, it's the stage name of a popular musician. There was a lot I didn't know about this ne'er-do-well from the early 1900s.

It took me awhile to warm up to this book. At first it seemed to be a lot of facts and figures, feeling almost encyclopedic, but I soon realized that the level of research the author had done made this a more compelling read. Chris Enss found tons of reporting, personal letters, and first-hand witness acounts, which made the later chapters feel almost as though they had been there to hear the exchanges.

I learned a lot about the gangster scene of the early 1900's, the tumultuous early lives of Kathryn and George Kelly, and their ill-conceived ransom plan. This book reminds us that there was a time when, if you could keep your mouth shut, you could truly get away with murder. The propensity of these people to involve so many others in their plans was their downfall.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advance copy of this biography and history of two people whose love was strong, partners in crime, one could say in a series of bank robberies and a kidnapping that made history, made them public enemies, and the social media icons of their day.

I've said this a lot recently but for a country that talks about backing the blue in just about everything, America loves its outlaws. For a country that talks about freedom, we seem to give up quite a bit, or allow it to be taken away. What time and color garbage cans can be placed outside, what books a public library can carry, who one can love. In return we love the outlaw, the one who flaunts the laws, in leaders, in tax dodgers, and Internet schemers. That's the American dream it seems like. Every generation seems to have it's own outlaws. People whose legend were much bigger than their deeds. Especially ones with cool nicknames. We look back at the good ole days wondering how we strayed so far, and instead we find people who ran booze when it was illegal, hide gangsters on farmsteads, kidnapped people and children for money. And the people couldn't get enough. Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne by Chris Enss is a story of a couple who knew the straight and narrow could never pay for their lifestyles, so to crime they turned, and became for a short time, the social influencers of their day.

George Kelly Barnes was born to a well-off middle class family, with their own particular set of troubles. George's father was quick to blame his wife and kids for problems, quick with his hands, and quick to find someone else, when his wife's mental health began to go south. George was a good student, but found at an early age that living in a state that made alcohol illegal, was a good way to make money. A fight with his father made George drop the Barnes, and George Kelly was born. George tried to go right, even marrying into family that gave him a chance at acceptability. However life got in the way, and so did the law, leading to a divorce, prison time, and a life of crime as the only option. Kathryn Thorne was a young woman who wanted the best in life, and wanted it now. Kathryn's stepfather was a noted bootlegger, and also allowed his ranch in Oklahoma to be used as a sanctuary for people on the lam. Kathryn's had married three times, her last ending in a questionable suicide, when she crossed paths with George Kelly for the first time. Neither could stop thinking about the other, and a match made in heck was begun. Bank robbers, soon followed, but the money they knew was in kidnapping, currently the it crime in the United States. The the Kellys had a plan. One that would net them the largest ransom ever asked, and one that destroyed everybody they knew.

A mix of biography, true crime and social history of the United States in the 30's. And as the song went it pretty much was "Anything Goes". There are moments that people just throw themselves into crime. So many people were willing to help in this kidnapping, one wonders what was in the water. Enss is a very good writer, capturing the characters and voices of this duo, along with the media interest and fascination. Considering that Kelly was never that big a villain, I feel it was the woman at his side, and the cool nickname that made him so famous. Enss does a wonderful job of explaining the big crime, and the strange people that were sucked into it. There was a lot of strange, which made for fascinating reading. A very good mix of true crime, media circus, bad people, strange people, and people who just left their morals at the door.

History and true crime fans will enjoy this. The media circus alone makes this seem like a case from today. Fashion hints from Kathryn, the trial being recorded for media. The craziness, and also the famous criminals being so easily replaces by the next gang of outlaws. I enjoyed the writing and the style the author Chris Enss brought to the work, and look forward to reading more.

I learned a lot from this look into the private life of Machine Gun Kelly and his wife Kathryn Thorne. Prior to reading this one I didn't know he was actually married

Besides knowing the name “Machine Gun Kelly” I knew nothing about George Kelly–I didn’t even know why I knew the name beyond it being for something nefarious. Reading this upcoming novel gave me an opportunity to learn more about not only George Kelly and his wife, Kathryn, but the criminal life in the 1930s.

This book dives into the history of Kelly and Kathryn to help readers understand what led to their criminal activities and beliefs all leading up to their capture and conviction on kidnapping charges. I was unaware that theirs was such a landmark event in the relevancy of the FBI and federal laws on crime. The writing was almost narrative non-fiction, but not quite narrative enough for me to be wholly engrossed in their story. Kathryn is a very complex character and Enss did a great job gathering information about her conflicting actions.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy!

This book was out of my comfort zone as I'm usually a fiction thriller kinda of girl but I fancied challenging myself. I certainly did and I don't regret it at all.

I found it difficult to get into in the beginning though I don't think it was the book more me as had to change my mindset reading it.

The book was a good account of the criminal life's of the Kelly's, It definately educated me on who they were and the crimes they committed. Having watched quite a few documentaries and drama programmes on Al Copone, Bonnie abd Clyde it was interesting to read a book based around that time.

This is the saga of the Kellys, George “Machine Gun” and his wife Kathryn. They lived a life of guns, bank robbery, and living the high life when they were flush. They got greedy and tried out the latest crime fad of kidnapping. I liked the well fleshed out story, including trials and aftermath.

Great book. Lots of good information about the man and those he spent his time with. I have no sympathy for criminals, but they are interesting, and this book is a good study of Mr. Kelly.