The Minds of Billy Milligan

Nominated by The Mystery Writers of America for the "Edgar Award" in the Best True Crime Category.

Billy Milligan can be anyone he wants to be... except himself.

Out of control of his own actions, Billy Milligan was a man tormented by twenty-four distinct personalities battling for supremacy over his body -- a battle that culminated when he awoke in jail, arrested for the kidnap and rape of three women. In a landmark trial, Billy was acquitted of his crimes by reason of insanity caused by multiple personality --the first such decision in history-- bringing to public light the most remarkable and harrowing case of multiple personality ever recorded.

Twenty-four people live inside Billy Milligan.

Philip, a petty criminal; Kevin, who dealt drugs and masterminded a drugstore robbery; April whose only ambition was to kill Billy's stepfather; Adalana, the shy, lonely, affection-starved lesbian who "used" Billy's body in the rapes that led to his arrest; David, the eight-year-old "keeper of pain"; Arthur, the Englishman; Ragen, the "keeper of Rage" who possessed incredible strength; Allen, the con man; Tommy, the escape-artist, and all of the others, including men, women, several children, both boys and girls, and the Teacher, the only one who can put them all together. Each of these "people" play a distinct role in this often shocking true story.

Reviews of The Minds of Billy Milligan

"A shocker that will rivet even the casual reader." -- Flora Rheta Schrieber, author of Sybil

"A fascinating work." -- Los Angeles Times

"Begins as a nonfiction whodunit with a unique twist... An absorbing, often heart-rending exploration of the human mind." --Cosmopolitan

"Daniel Keyes, who apparently won Milligan's confidence thoroughly enough to tell the man's story vividly from the inside, has more than accomplished his mission... The criminal mind is the real mystery, and Keyes may have taken unprecedented first steps toward unlocking it." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"His book is a sympathetic portrait of a troubled and artistic young man struggling to, quite literally, get his head together despite the hostility and suspicion of the public, the press, his fellow patients and even some of the doctors assigned to treat him. Billy Milligan... also has been victim whose story deserves thoughtful attention. Thanks to Keyes' gripping account, he should receive that." -- The Plain Dealer

"...a spellbinding psychological thriller." -- Publisher's Weekly

"...a dramatization of what it was like to mill around in Billy's head, makes harrowing, compelling reading. It has the force and conviction of truth." --Village Voice, Literary Supplement

"Keyes brilliantly reconstructs Milligan's life... Engrossing as both psychology and true crime, this book is also a sad commentary on our mental health/prison system... Highly recommended." -- Library Journal.

"Daniel Keyes deserves special commendation for his fine psychological inquiry and his compassionate, humanistic handling of this complex problem." -- Best Sellers (Feature of the Month)