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Peter Meech

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Billy (the Kid): A Novel Kindle Edition

by Peter Meech (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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A Colorado dentist claims to be the infamous gunman while mentoring a boy, romancing a widow, and protecting his friend from angry bootleggers.

Pueblo, Colorado,1932. Bootleggers thrive in a town where the sheriff is on the take and you can kill a man with impunity. In this thrilling narrative, a once-famous outlaw finds himself thrust into the middle of a bootleg war against his will. At stake is nothing less than the life of his best friend and his last chance at true love with the town beauty. But is the legendary gunman who he claims to be, or is he just a retired dentist with a vivid imagination? Peter Meech reimagines the figure of Billy the Kid in a remarkable story told with verve, humor, grit, and grace.

Praise for Billy (the Kid)

“Like a vintage dime novel, Peter Meech imaginatively engages the reader with a once-upon-a-time version of Billy the Kid’s life and legacy.” —Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Lonesome Dove

“Some story ideas are so good you just hope the writer doesn’t mess them up, and then there are the ones you read and just wish you’d written them—Billy (the Kid) is both. Peter Meech’s masterful handling of this Western is nothing short of dead on.” —Craig Johnson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries

“Vividly imagined, cleverly plotted, and superbly written, Peter Meech’s Billy (the Kid) provides definite and exhilarating proof that a new master of the Western—and the novel—just rode into town. What a wonderful and wonder-filled book!” —Christopher Knowlton, author of Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West

Print length

200 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Sentient Publications
Publication date

February 7, 2020
File size

3544 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Like a vintage dime novel, Peter Meech imaginatively engages the reader with a once-upon-a-time version of Billy The Kid's life and legacy." --Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lonesome Dove.

"Some story ideas are so good you just hope the writer doesn't mess them up, and then there are the ones you read and just wish you'd written them--Billy (the Kid) is both. Peter Meech's masterful handling of this Western is nothing short of dead on."--Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries

"Vividly imagined, cleverly plotted, and superbly written, Peter Meech's Billy (the Kid) provides definite and exhilarating proof that a new master of the Western--and the novel--just rode into town. What a wonderful and wonder-filled book!"--Christopher Knowlton, author of Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West

"Peter Meech's novel Billy (the Kid) explores two of my favorite themes--the passing of the Old West and the mythology that surrounds it--and does so in a beautifully written tale of Depression-era bootlegging that also really catches my interest. This is a great debut from a man who knows how to spin a yarn."--James Reasoner, New York Times bestselling author of the Wind River western fiction series.

"Peter Meech turns Billy the Kid into someone we can all root for--he's humble, awkward at times, and full of heart. Packed with historical details certain to thrill the avid western reader, Billy (the Kid) will forever change how you remember this outlaw gunslinger."--Ginger Gaffney, author of Half Broke --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap

"The Old West collides with the New West in this gripping 'alternative history' of one of the most notorious gunfighters of all time."--Stephen Aron, PhD, UCLA History Professor, founder of the Institute for the Study of the American West --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B086SGGB8Q
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sentient Publications (February 7, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 7, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3544 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 200 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #228,243 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #508 in Alternative History
- #885 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books)
- #920 in Romance Literary Fiction

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Peter Meech

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Peter Meech has had an international career as a writer, producer and director for television and film. His memoir "Mysteries of the Life Force: My Apprenticeship with a Chi Kung Master" has been translated into several languages. He has an M.A. from Stanford, where he won a Stanford Nicholl writing award.

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Paul B.

PETER (the kid)

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2020

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Mr. Peter Meech, esteemed writer, director, producer, and raconteur, is well known to the people of Los Angeles and to many in lands far beyond. All his fans will be delighted to read the latest work from his talented and creative mind. As they read his new novel they will see that there definitely “was a melody flowing from his pen.” A beautiful melody of words, images, characters, and fascinating details. I think Mr. Meech’s creation is definitely deserving of 5 stars. But, I do wonder if the Spitters would agree. “Verily, the gun dealer said.” “Verily, the bricklayer said.” OK. 5 stars it is, Mr. Meech. No need to Spit ’n’ Argue ‘bout that.

5 people found this helpful

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Jeff M. Schwehn

Billy the Kid Redux

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2021

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This alternative history novella imagines Billy the Kid as a 70 year old retired dentist, Dr. McCarty, living in Pueblo, Colorado in 1932. Dr. McCarty occupies his time playing guitar in his own Mexican band, writing his memoirs, and jawing with several friends in what they refer to as the "Spit N' Argue" club. Dr. McCarty makes no secret of his former identity as the renowned New Mexican shootist, and the townspeople matter-of-factly treat him as such. At various points in the narrative Dr. McCarty recounts historical incidents from his famous early life; some have the ring of truth, while others seem pure malarkey.
The story sputters along by stylistic fits and starts through a meandering plot of amorous adventures, violent confrontations, altruistic gestures, corrupt law enforcement, and two prohibition gangs' struggle for local, economic dominance; in other words, a Depression era version of the 1870's Lincoln County War. Characters are thinly sketched thinking and behaving in fairly predictable ways. At several points, doubt is cast on Dr. McCarty's purported identify though by good fortune and ready cash he's armed himself with what's said to be Billy the Kid's actual pistols and Winchester rifle. We're left to draw our own conclusions as to his authenticity or imposture. Though by the end of the tale, his former identity matters little since in a bravura twist Dr. McCarty acts in a perilous moment to create his own legend riding off in a flourish of gunfire toward the setting sun his beloved beside him.

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Evan Lewis

A FASCINATING STORY, ELEGANTLY TOLD.

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020

Author Peter Meech didn't just WRITE this book, he painstakingly CRAFTED every sentence from first to last. There's a big difference. The average novel, if it tells a satisfying story, can get by with prose that's merely adequate. The truly great books are those that excel in both story and the WAY that story is told.

BILLY (THE KID) is that rare animal that excels in both.

The premise is a great one. Billy McCarty, a retired dentist in the quiet town of Pueblo, Colorado, tells everyone he meets he used to be Billy the Kid. Was he really? That's the central question of the novel— but there's a whole lot more going on.

Peter Meech offers and intimate and thoughtful portrayal of a short period in McCarty's life. And "Kid" or not, he's a fascinating character. In his memory—or imagination (or both) he reflects on the past he may (or may not) have had fighting in the Lincoln County War, landing with the Rough Riders in Cuba, working for Buffalo Bill's Wild West, meeting Jesse James, and seeking spiritual enlightenment with the Mescalero Apache. In the present, meanwhile, he's playing mentor to a kid whose father is in trouble, trying to spark the prettiest widow in town, and walking a thin and deadly line between rival bootleggers. And all while, he's collecting "Kid" memorabilia and plugging away on his memoir, to be called My Life and Times.

Part of the fun is seeing how an Old Westerner is adapting to the changing times. It's the early 1930s, a world with Cadillacs, Tommy guns, Prohibition, Zippo lighters, Standard Oil, Fats Waller, Blondie and Dagwood, Mars bars, the Reverend Fulton J. Sheen, Piggly Wiggly and the planet Pluto. We see Billy driving a Model T, going to the movies, discovering Wonder Bread, drinking Coca-Cola, reading Burma Shave signs and listening to The Lone Ranger on the radio.

But it's not all fun and games. Mr. Meech deals in serious themes like grief and loss, parental and social responsibility, the Seen and the Unseen, what it feels like to kill, and what it means to be a man. There's something for everyone here: humor, romance, murder and gunslinging action. And all elegantly told.

BILLY (THE KID) is a book you don't want to miss.

6 people found this helpful

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Parker

This book is fiction

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2021

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Excellent prose! This guy can really write! the story line get's a little sketchy in places but still a good read, very good writing!

One person found this helpful

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James Townsend

A Well-Written, Satisfying Story

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2023

This was an extremely enjoyable tale. The writing is superb, and it captures the quaint, yet hardscrabble aesthetics of Depression-era America in a way that really stays in your head.

If you’re interested in Billy the Kid, this is a great fictional meandering into “what if’s” and “might have been’s.”

But more than that, it’s a story about a frightened, fragile boy finding inspiration from an old-timer, and that same old-timer pursuing a romantic-interest neighbor while both of them are past their prime, while protagonist strives to set the record straight regarding who he used to be.

I definitely recommend this book.

2 people found this helpful

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Peggy McCrae

A definite must-read!

Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2020

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I bought this novel on the strength of its cover art and the stellar blurbs on the back, and I have to say the story far exceeded my expectations, which were high to begin with. At every turn the story undermined the myths of the American west, and it did so in such delightful ways. But it’s Billy’s philosophy and unique worldview that caught my attention from the get-go. Billy’s discussion about how he rid his psyche of violence is itself worth the price of admission. And if the philosophy weren’t enough, there’s the lyricism of the writing, which may have gone out of fashion these days, but in the right hands – in Mr. Meech’s hands – is nothing short of extraordinary.
M. McCrae

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