Donna and Gary Tatting at the Tunstall Murder Site


Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War
By Gayle Martin
Copyright 2007 Wheatmark Publications
2007 Indie Book Awards for Excellence Finalist



The legend of Billy the Kid remains a fascination for historians of all ages, and for youngsters who are drawn to the story of the Southwest’s
most famous figure, Gayle Martin’s Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War offers a good read along
with history told on a level of comprehension for young readers. Martin’s characters, Luke and Jenny Bartlett,
experience both the past and present in a condensed and factual way, as they are guided by a buffalo soldier from the late 1800’s on a journey of
understanding of the Lincoln County War, his participants and of themselves.

Luke and Jenny are on a road trip with their mother, to visit their grandparents in Texas. Their father is an Army Reservist serving a one year
tour of duty in Iraq. On the way, they stop in Tombstone, Arizona where their experiences are well told in Martin’s
earlier book Gunfight at the O.K. Corral – Luke and Jenny Visit Tombstone. We find them now stopping for a day of sightseeing in the Old
West town of Lincoln, New Mexico. As in the earlier book, Luke and Jenny find themselves visited by a spirit person from the past,
in this case Paul, a buffalo soldier from old Ft. Stanton, New Mexico, who takes them on a time travel trip to the Lincoln County War and the stomping grounds of Billy the Kid.

Lincoln, New Mexico was once called the “most violent place in America” and I was interested in how Martin would handle the issue
of violence in her book. While making no excuses for the violent means in which affairs are dealt with during this episode
in history, Martin is sensitive, but realistic in her storytelling. There are no graphic
descriptions of death scenes, but no attempt is made to disguise the fact that killings did occur.

The “Good Guy Bad Guy” dilemma is a prominent theme, and of course, one in which labeling is difficult. Martin makes sure that the
reader understands how both sides in this tale crossed the line, just some more than others. There are simple explanations of all principle characters,
and all the highlights of the 5 Day Battle, and what went wrong, are included. I was especially appreciative of Martin’s
accurate geographical descriptions of locals including the Courthouse jail, the town of Lincoln, and prominent roads and trails. Billy the
Kid’s life is well told and includes his early beginnings. As well, we come to understand and accept the mystery of the man.
When Luke step in to view Billy’s body after his death at Fort Sumner, Paul explains:

“ You see Billy the Kid has always been a man of mystery. That’s one of the reasons why he’s so famous and why his legend lives on.
Billy likes it that way, and he intends to keep it that way. He simply won’t allow you to take that away from him. “

The story is well told and will hold the reader with one of the most vivid
tales of the Old West. It brings events to life in scenes like Billy’s escape after the killing of Windy Cahill:
“ They could hear the sound of hoof beats trailing off in the distance. The Kid was making his get way” Enjoy the ride, this is a great read.

Donna Tatting – Member of the Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang

Publisher of The Dudley Court of Inquiry by R.M. Barron