Enter now to win a copy of

Meet the Kellys:

The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and his Moll Kathryn Thorne

Kathryn Kelly, wife of gangster George “Machine Gun” Kelly (Original photo has no negative date or photo credit, published 08/03/1986 in The Daily Oklahoman)

Tune in to Zone 7 Cold Case as Crime Scene Investigator Sheryl McCollum sits down with bestselling author and private investigator Chris Enss to dig into the real story of Kathryn Thorne—the woman who didn’t just stand beside Machine Gun Kelly but helped build his legend. They discuss Kathryn’s sharp mind, bold choices, how she planned a headline-making kidnapping, and even called J. Edgar Hoover herself. Sheryl and Chris also explore the early days of the FBI, the origin of the term “G-Man,” and how the courtroom became Kathryn’s stage.

https://www.crimeonline.com/2025/06/27/the-outlaw-queen-kathryn-thorne-and-the-making-of-machine-gun-kelly/

“I listened to this yesterday on my work commute. It ended WAY too soon! I could have listened to hours of y’all chatting! I honestly didn’t want it to end! Guess I am gonna have to read the book now and hope that you have her on again soon! It was a brilliant interview! Wonderful! Thank you!” Elizabeth Deschesne Godard

Enter now to win a copy of

Meet the Kellys:

The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and his Moll Kathryn Thorne

Thanks to True West Magazine for the review of 

The Sharpshooter and the Showman

Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and Kathryn Thorne. Don’t miss Zone 7 tomorrow with author and Wild West expert Chris Enss! @chrisenssauthor

Work a cold case alongside investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. Every week, Sheryl dives into her cold case files alongside accomplished guests to look for clues into unsolved murders, missing people, and more. This ain’t just a podcast but a war room. Sheryl opens her cold case files, her heart and her little black book! You will quickly realize Zone 7 is not a place but a lifestyle!

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-zone-7-with-sheryl-mccoll-106023288/

Enter now to Meet the Kellys:

The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne

5.0 out of 5 stars A page turning true life crime drama: Meet the Kellys

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2025

Format: Hardcover

Author Chris Enss never disappoints. Her books are always well written and thoroughly researched. So much time must’ve been put in to this story finding all the newspaper clippings and court records. I appreciate how she finds such interesting facts and brings her characters to life once again. Meet the Kellys was definitely page turning.

Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne is available at bookstores everywhere, at Barnes & Noble.com, Amazon.com, and Kensingtonbooks.com.

Since the famous “first” western movie, The Great Train Robbery, starring Broncho Billy Anderson, made its debut in 1903, cowboy heroes have continued their easily won dominance— but little has been written about the cowgirl stars and their fans. Young women looked up to independent cowgirl characters played by Barbara Stanwyck and Dale Evans in the 1940s and 1950s. Who were the stars before these women? Surprisingly, Hollywood was well-populated with leading cowgirls and real cowgirls. Early Hollywood actresses and stunt women kept the cowgirl spirit alive. They performed every conceivable feat of horsemanship and displayed professional skills coupled with their best efforts and devotion. For some of these working women, the financial rewards for their daring and athletic prowess were at least reasonable.

Hollywood Cowgirls is the story of more than a dozen trick ropers, bronc busters, and bulldoggers turned actresses, who like the early ranch women and rodeo competitors, had pluck and charm. These women performed their own stunts, riding horses at breakneck speed, firing guns, and capturing outlaws. Cowgirl actresses such as Ruth Roland, Helen Gibson, Texas Guinan, Marin Sais, Anne Little, Marie Walcamp, and Evelyn Selbie received top billing above the cowboy and his horse in hundreds of films. This is their story.

Coming soon!