Billy the Kid: El Bandido Simpático

It was extremely difficult to put this book down during the process of reading it. Bandido Simpático is so well-written and well-constructed that it is hands-down the most engaging and enjoyable biography I’ve read. It’s a page-turner (a rare find in the history section of a bookstore).For anyone with a newly sparked interest in William H. Bonney, looking to learn about the real Billy the Kid, this is the book I will recommend.Bandido Simpático covers all aspects of the Kid’s life and character with equal depth. This is a balanced and comprehensive study of Billy the Kid.Some chapters, like “Bilito” and “A Kid For All Time” were almost stand-alone chapters that were so pointed and well-written that they were worth the cost of the whole book.This was unquestionably one of the most enjoyable non-fiction books I’ve ever read.

Mr. Mills has spent 20 years in intensive research of primary documents in order to draw his own conclusions, which is an important signpost of a true historiographer. From early years in Silver City, Billy learned to speak Spanish fluently and grew to love and embrace Hispano culture. In return, Hispanos adored him. This essential facet of Billy's life has not been covered thoroughly until the arrival of this book and makes for a fascinating read. In addition, Mills has uncovered many other nuggets about the legend's life and the Lincoln County War. Finally, Mills has a compelling narrative style that many books about history lack. Should be the Billy gold standard for years to come.

Mr. Mills did a wonderful job on this book. It was amazing that he found so many accounts, written documents, individual stories, and personal conversations pertaining to Billy The Kid. No wonder it took him 20 years to write this book. His research was superb, and goes way beyond any other publications that I am aware of. During my time in Lincoln County, in the 1970's & 80's. I met quite a few folks who had relatives and friends who knew BTK, both white and Hispanic. Honestly, very few of them had negative comments about The Kid. Naturally, I heard stories that were not in this book and I am sure that there are many more out there, but they would not be regarded as truthful due to the fact they were passed down by word of mouth through generations. I am really happy Mr. Mills wrote this book and seriously brought forth the Hispanic side of this part of history. Buddy Wolfe

Despite proofreading oversights in early parts of the book (incomplete sentences, word errors, etc.), it does not take away from the thorough research Mills relied on to write this first class bio of "the Kid." He deals handily with the many myths continuing to cloud Henry McCarty's story, even surpassing the late Fred Nolan's classic "West of Billy the Kid." He properly concentrates on Billy's preference for Hispanic associates, almost all of whom respected him as a true friend, despite his chosen occupation of horse thief. The writing is crisp, and the detail almost takes one bodily back to those times to share in the gunsmoke, squalor, and politics. I'ts a great addition to your old west bookshelf.

Mills covers one hell of a lot of bases in his new Kid book. A must have for any serous Kid researcher!

A beautiful balance of passion and scholarship, James B. Mills breathes new life into an old American legend. With no stone left unturned, Billy the Kid: El Bandido Simpatico is quite simply the most comprehensive, readable, and reliable book on the Kid ever published. Not only is this book by Australian James B. Mills a masterfully written study on the New Mexico outlaw, but it also will stand as a guide on how to write history, biography, and historiography for many years to come.