The Colorado Kid (Hard Case Crime, 013-I)

I’m Stephen King’s second biggest fan. Annie Wilkes holds that honor, sort of. That being said, I confess I have had “The Colorado Kid” both in paperback and on my Kindle for a long time. Usually, I cannot resist a new King book and plunge in as soon as I grab hold of one. It wasn’t until I started writing my own crime mysteries that I took a second look at this little book. A good mystery lays out the clues and leads the reader around different theories, allowing said reader to draw a few conclusions of his own. Starting off with the likable team of journalists who make up a small-town Maine newspaper, King sets the stage for the story of the ‘Colorado Kid’. After Vince Teague and Dave Bowie share some stories of unsolved mysteries of the area with a Boston Globe feature writer, they return to their office with intern Stephanie McCann. It’s there that the tale of the twenty-five-year mystery is told. Vince and Dave talk about other Maine and New England mysteries until Stephanie presses them to reveal the story they wouldn’t share with the outsider. Despite the fact that Stephanie came to the Weekly Islander from Ohio, she had gained the respect of the older men during her three months in the small town. From the discovery of the dead body by a couple of high school students running near Hammock Beach in early spring, through the clues set out in the story, the story is compelling. The evidence is right there in front of them but putting it all together is a challenge before DNA, computers, and the internet. Was the man a murder victim? Had he had a heart attack? Did he somehow commit suicide? Or was it some kind of accident? But the most important question is, who is the man? King’s brilliance is his ability to write dialogue that rings true. It’s like standing behind and listening to the town constable and the local doctor discuss the body and what might have occurred. Each character seems to hold a piece of the story. But it’s only the persistence of “a pair of local newspapermen and a graduate student in forensics” that the identity of the kid comes to light. While the story doesn’t end there, it does add to the mystery of what the body of the dead man was doing on a beach in Maine. I leave it to the reader to discover how the story ends… or doesn’t end. A word of warning, not all mysteries are solved. This book is not about answers but about man’s natural curiosity and need for solid endings. In “The Colorado Kid” King brings to mind the Rolling Stones lyrics, “You can’t always get what you want.” But sometimes you get what you need.

I liked that it was a fast read. Not scary or gory. A slow but interesting mystery. I liked getting to know the old yokels (Dave and Vince) through their convo’s with Stefanie. Good guys that have seen a lot. Was fun to learn how they cared about their work and helping people out. Was interesting to see the murder victim take shape through different accounts. Feels a little undone but it’s Vince’s & Dave’s choice to keep it local lore. This was a fun read. A big change from how long winded some of Mr King’s stories can get, would seek out other shorter works of his like this.

This is a very classic crime novella, but on the other hand, it is very original. It still has the tru Stephen King feeling about it, especially as the mystery is so very strange and seemingly unsolveable. This is a very good book, and I enjoyed it very much.

I have had this book for years and saving it for a time that I needed a good dependable read. King, my all time favorite author ( or GOAT if you prefer) rarely disappoints so now was the time. Not to long ago I read an enjoyed "LATER" so I figured " The Colorado Kid" would be a safe bet. Turns out that I did enjoy the story; I liked the two older news guys and the young apprentice. I enjoyed the mystery given and the steps taken to solve the mystery. I enjoyed the way the mystery was laid out to the young intern. And I turned the page and there was the authors acknowledgements??? I read the acknowledgement and Mr. Kings argument for no ending and I don't agree with his reasoning. I know that he has been criticized throughout his career for his endings and while I didn't always like his endings it is his stories and he should end them anyway he wants. I always felt like his endings were realistic and glad that he dosen't take the easy way out and end with all being roses and unicorns. But in this case I feel the story is incomplete so I deducted the fourth star that the story or mystery deserves. Still it is his story and he should end it his way.

I love his Hard Case Crime books. Lots of fun.

Zum einjährigen Jubiläum der amerikanischen Taschenbuchreihe Hard Case Crime hat Kultautor Stephen King einen neuen, bisher unveröffentlichten Roman beigesteuert. In "The Colorado Kid", einem Krimi im Hardboiled Stil, erzählt er die Geschichte von zwei alten Lokaljournalisten, die im Fall eines mysteriösen Toten ermitteln, der auf einer Insel vor der Küste Maines aufgefunden wird, und es dauert ein Jahr, bis der Mann identifiziert werden kann. Die Umstände seines Todes sind höchst merkwürdig. Und je mehr die beiden herausfinden, umso weniger begreifen sie. Das Buch steht in der Tradition von Raymond Chandler oder Dashiell Hammett, bleibt jedoch ein typischer Stephen King, welcher hiermit wieder einmal beweist, daß er einer der großen amerikanischen Autoren ist.

Du Stephen King, quoi dire d'autre ?

great product excellent value for money

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