The Colorado Kid
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- Create Date：2021-05-16 09:53:44
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Stephen King
- ISBN：1789091551
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Summary
Stephen King's bestselling unsolved mystery， THE COLORADO KID -- inspiration for the TV series HAVEN -- returns to bookstores for the first time in 10 years in an all-new illustrated edition。
On an island off the coast of Maine， a man is found dead。 There's no identification on the body。 Only the dogged work of a pair of local newspapermen and a graduate student in forensics turns up any clues， and it's more than a year before the man is identified。 And that's just the beginning of the mystery。 Because the more they learn about the man and the baffling circumstances of his death， the less they understand。 Was it an impossible crime？ Or something stranger still。。。？ No one but Stephen King could tell this story about the darkness at the heart of the unknown and our compulsion to investigate the unexplained。 With echoes of Dashiell Hammett's THE MALTESE FALCON and the work of Graham Greene， one of the world's great storytellers presents a moving and surprising tale whose subject is nothing less than the nature of mystery itself。
On an island off the coast of Maine， a man is found dead。 There's no identification on the body。 Only the dogged work of a pair of local newspapermen and a graduate student in forensics turns up any clues， and it's more than a year before the man is identified。 And that's just the beginning of the mystery。 Because the more they learn about the man and the baffling circumstances of his death， the less they understand。 Was it an impossible crime？ Or something stranger still。。。？ No one but Stephen King could tell this story about the darkness at the heart of the unknown and our compulsion to investigate the unexplained。 With echoes of Dashiell Hammett's THE MALTESE FALCON and the work of Graham Greene， one of the world's great storytellers presents a moving and surprising tale whose subject is nothing less than the nature of mystery itself。
Reviews
Bob O'G
，
The Colorado Kid （AKA: 2 Old men tell a story that's not worth telling to a young female reporter and for some reason she is extremely interested not because she is being polite， but because Stephen King wants the readers to think that someone actually gives a shit about this thing he wrote。） King wrote this book for the start-up publishing firm Hard Case Crime after they wrote him a letter to try and get him to write some blurbs about some of their potential projects。 He wrote them a book inste The Colorado Kid （AKA: 2 Old men tell a story that's not worth telling to a young female reporter and for some reason she is extremely interested not because she is being polite， but because Stephen King wants the readers to think that someone actually gives a shit about this thing he wrote。） King wrote this book for the start-up publishing firm Hard Case Crime after they wrote him a letter to try and get him to write some blurbs about some of their potential projects。 He wrote them a book instead。 It seems pretty clear that Hard Case Crime would have published a year's worth of King's grocery lists if he had submitted them。 He submitted The Colorado Kid instead and I doubt anyone （publishers， readers， editors） threw up any hurdles once they had his commitment。 （Additionally， the grocery list idea is far more intriguing。）The story is barely a story。 This really isn't news since that fact is printed on the back cover and mentioned numerous times in the narrative。 That's not really the criticism。 My criticism is that the mystery of the dead guy on the beach is in no way compelling。 A man is found on the beach。 He is not famous。 Not a government witness。 Not a local hero or thug。 He wasn't eaten。 There are no cult markings。 There appears to be no foul play。 And nobody seems to care that he is there。 There's simply partially chewed steak in his throat which caused him to choke。 Or did someone put it there？ Or maybe drug him so he couldn't swallow？ And why was he on that beach without telling his wife？ The book is all questions and possibilities， which is fine。 I've watched and read stories that were purposely designed to disappoint and they were successful at what they tried to do。 This one wholly missed the mark though。 I think we live in a world where people leave their families and sometimes choke on food and die。 I didn't care about any of this。 Toward the end of the book， one of the old men tells the reporter， Stephanie， that she now knows as much as they do （which is pretty much nothing。） She is now the keeper of the story。 After reading that line， I thought to myself， 'I hope she keeps it to herself to avoid the potential suicide of her future audience。' In the paperback I read， King writes an afterword admitting that readers will love it or hate it。 He goes on to explain that the mystery is what keeps our world alive。 It's what people live for。 Answers often disappoint。 I don't believe this book， or this experiment in story， is anywhere near as clever as he'd like it to be。 Without his name attached， I'm sure this never would have been published。 I bought this off the bargain shelf in a local book store。 I paid 4 bucks。 Any more， and that would have been the real crime。 In fact， a book about one of the most powerful authors on earth purposely writing a book he knows is sub-par as an experiment in theft would be a much better story to read。Having said all this negative stuff， I still can't bring myself to give it only 1 star。 I give it 2 because I am a Stephen King super fan。 There was a certain readability to this and it was probably because of the sense of place and character he provides in his prose。 Even though the "story" was an utter useless， worthless， time waste， I found myself continuing to flip the pages rather than chuck the book across the room。 Maybe this was out of respect for "my old friend" who is still telling stories whether they're good or not and I am too polite to ignore him because I know deep down that I'd rather have him telling something rather than nothing at all。 。。。more
DancaACS
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Knížky od Stephena Kinga čtu už skoro dvacet let a bohužel musím říct， že takhle patřila k těm slabším， jejíchž příběh se mi do měsíce vykouří z hlavy。。。Velké množství informací， záhad a jmen v poměrně krátkém textu bylo dost matoucí， a příběh mě nikterak nepohltil， ani mě nějak zvlášť nemrzí， že jsme se vlastně nedozvěděli， jak to celé vlastně bylo。。。Můj odhad je ten， že se Colorado Kid zapletl do nějakých nekalých obchodů， o kterých neřekl ani své manželce a věděl， že se z téhle cesty už nikdy Knížky od Stephena Kinga čtu už skoro dvacet let a bohužel musím říct， že takhle patřila k těm slabším， jejíchž příběh se mi do měsíce vykouří z hlavy。。。Velké množství informací， záhad a jmen v poměrně krátkém textu bylo dost matoucí， a příběh mě nikterak nepohltil， ani mě nějak zvlášť nemrzí， že jsme se vlastně nedozvěděli， jak to celé vlastně bylo。。。Můj odhad je ten， že se Colorado Kid zapletl do nějakých nekalých obchodů， o kterých neřekl ani své manželce a věděl， že se z téhle cesty už nikdy nevrátí a udělal vše pro to， aby manželka nakonec aspoň získala životní pojistku a on tím zabezpečil rodinu。。。 🤔 。。。more
Bill Silva
，
Probably 3。5 stars。。。the folksiness of the characters and their banter gets annoying after a while。 But I prefer the Stephen King novels with just a touch of the supernatural rather than full-blown horror， and this fits comfortably in that category。
Mark Anthony
，
A fun， swift read about a crime and a mystery and the nature of mystery， that is a bit more contemplative than a lot of King's crime flavoured output， as likely to frustrate a chunk of his core audience as it is to impress。 Good fun though， like all of his books for the Hard Case imprint。 Definitely worth the price of entry and the time it takes to breeze through。 A fun， swift read about a crime and a mystery and the nature of mystery， that is a bit more contemplative than a lot of King's crime flavoured output， as likely to frustrate a chunk of his core audience as it is to impress。 Good fun though， like all of his books for the Hard Case imprint。 Definitely worth the price of entry and the time it takes to breeze through。 。。。more
Rob
，
Absolute trash。 Hated the concept。 Boring book。 Hard to finish。 Skip this one。
Katherine
，
It was everything I wanted it to be。 Doesn't need to give you anything other than what it is。 It was everything I wanted it to be。 Doesn't need to give you anything other than what it is。 。。。more
Linda
，
I'm basing my 3 stars I rated this book solely on the fact that it was well-written。 If I rated it on how much I liked the book it would only get 2 stars。 First of all， the cover is lurid and looks like a sex book （no， that isn't why I read it- my son insisted that it was so good） and has nothing at all to do with the story。 Then there's the fact that the entire book has NO live action。 It consists of 2 old men reporters telling a story about a mysterious death that happened more than 25 years e I'm basing my 3 stars I rated this book solely on the fact that it was well-written。 If I rated it on how much I liked the book it would only get 2 stars。 First of all， the cover is lurid and looks like a sex book （no， that isn't why I read it- my son insisted that it was so good） and has nothing at all to do with the story。 Then there's the fact that the entire book has NO live action。 It consists of 2 old men reporters telling a story about a mysterious death that happened more than 25 years earlier to a young female reporter。 I kept thinking that this young reporter would somehow solve the mystery but no， it was left as it had been years before。 I read a Stephen King book every once in awhile。 Some are better than others。 。。。more
Judi Mckay
，
Enjoyable little book。 Not much crime involved， but it shows how well King can tell a story and evoke a strong sense of place with well formed characters。 。。。。。。。。。946
Gavin Jefferson
，
I last read this （what feels like） 8 or so years ago。 I enjoyed it a lot more this time， than then。 Zero sex， gore， and minimal bad language。 Perfect King novel for younger readers， imo。 Storytelling through conversation， rather than action。 I'm realising （now） that this novel was probably far more formative to my own storytelling than I originally thought。 How peculiar。 Funny how that is， right？ Anyway。。。 Good book。 I last read this （what feels like） 8 or so years ago。 I enjoyed it a lot more this time， than then。 Zero sex， gore， and minimal bad language。 Perfect King novel for younger readers， imo。 Storytelling through conversation， rather than action。 I'm realising （now） that this novel was probably far more formative to my own storytelling than I originally thought。 How peculiar。 Funny how that is， right？ Anyway。。。 Good book。 。。。more
Chantal
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What a teaser！ This book is very slow and it took almost half the book for me to get into it。 Great story when it gets your attention。 Now I have all these questions！
Anthony Broadley
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Really enjoyed this as it's different， enjoying the mystery as opposed to the solution （or lack of）。 I can see why this might frustrate some but I like an open ending and a mystery that endures！ Really enjoyed this as it's different， enjoying the mystery as opposed to the solution （or lack of）。 I can see why this might frustrate some but I like an open ending and a mystery that endures！ 。。。more
Benjamin Wall
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Una historia interesante， pero corta y falta de argumento。 El libro nos habla de un hombre que aparece muerto en la playa de una isla en Maine。 A pesar de todos los esfuerzos， es imposible dar con las pistas que aclaren su muerte y su traslado desde Colorado （donde vivía el difunto） y la isla， en Maine。 Dudas como: ¿En qué viajó desde ambos estados？ ¿Como tardó tan poco tiempo entre Colorado y Maine？ Son las preguntas que atascan la historia y la convierten en un nudo sin desenlace。 Dos periodis Una historia interesante， pero corta y falta de argumento。 El libro nos habla de un hombre que aparece muerto en la playa de una isla en Maine。 A pesar de todos los esfuerzos， es imposible dar con las pistas que aclaren su muerte y su traslado desde Colorado （donde vivía el difunto） y la isla， en Maine。 Dudas como: ¿En qué viajó desde ambos estados？ ¿Como tardó tan poco tiempo entre Colorado y Maine？ Son las preguntas que atascan la historia y la convierten en un nudo sin desenlace。 Dos periodistas （actualmente viejos） le cuentan a una chica nueva （Stephanie） todos los intentos que hicieron para poder resolver el misterio， aunque todos fueron nulos。El caso jamás se resolvió y siempre quedo en "tal vez" y "supuestamente"。La historia en sí deja mucho que desear。 Me hubiese gustado ver más esfuerzos por parte de la chica nueva para poder dar con alguna respuesta， pero no。 Nada de eso ocurre y simplemente dejan al lector con aquella duda existencial。Fue un final corto， pobre y algo desilucionante。 Espero que algún día salga alguna secuela， aunque lo dudo。Mi puntuación:3/5 。。。more
Cathy
，
It was neither great nor horrible but somewhat boring and did not enjoy the story line。 It very much felt like a story based on what your grandparents told you about a family secret only with an intern and two ole fellas about a fellow dying and wondering how the hell he got where he was found。So prefer the TV series Haven and I don’t even know how they even pulled a full on story line out of this book。
Shawn
，
Two wizened journalists in small coastal town Maine regale the story of a body found on the beach to a much younger， newbie-but-insightful journalist。 The story is "not a story" and it leaves the newbie （and the reader） with more questions than answers。 Annoying at first。 Until you think about it and realize that some stories （which aren't stories） are meant to be someone else's。 This one must be King's。 Two wizened journalists in small coastal town Maine regale the story of a body found on the beach to a much younger， newbie-but-insightful journalist。 The story is "not a story" and it leaves the newbie （and the reader） with more questions than answers。 Annoying at first。 Until you think about it and realize that some stories （which aren't stories） are meant to be someone else's。 This one must be King's。 。。。more
Doug Worden
，
Good Read。 Love these Hard Crime Novels by Stephen King。 Well， almost everything by Stephen King。 These stories always make me look for a sequel ？ what next ？
Vivianne TM
，
Hmm。。。 I guess I didn't get it。 This has the feeling of one of King's novellas， a quiet， well crafted， laid back story but I felt like it was missing something。 Maybe it was on purpose， to leave the reader with that sense of unfinished business the characters talk so much about。。。 *shrugs* Hmm。。。 I guess I didn't get it。 This has the feeling of one of King's novellas， a quiet， well crafted， laid back story but I felt like it was missing something。 Maybe it was on purpose， to leave the reader with that sense of unfinished business the characters talk so much about。。。 *shrugs* 。。。more
Fausto Romero Arellano
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Un libro muy agradable e interesante。Una historia de misterio。No mucho que contar。 Una lectura ágil y veloz。
Andrej Sumer
，
Stephen King is my favorite writer。 For ever。 But the Colorado Kid book disappointed me immensely。
C。M。
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Let nobody say that Stephen King can’t develop setting or characters。 He’s a master of both in a way that makes it impossible for this story to take place anywhere else。 That， combined with the ease of the read and the clarity of the storyline， makes up the three star rating。The biggest detracting factor is the same everyone else has trouble with: there’s no solution to the mystery。 You really need to read the afterword in order to appreciate King’s logic to this point but even that explanation Let nobody say that Stephen King can’t develop setting or characters。 He’s a master of both in a way that makes it impossible for this story to take place anywhere else。 That， combined with the ease of the read and the clarity of the storyline， makes up the three star rating。The biggest detracting factor is the same everyone else has trouble with: there’s no solution to the mystery。 You really need to read the afterword in order to appreciate King’s logic to this point but even that explanation doesn’t excuse the fact that this is a mystery novel that doesn’t solve the mystery。 The entire thing driving the plot forward is the fact that readers want a solution， so not getting one feels like a slap in the face to the time the reader invests。 To his credit， King states time and time again that the mystery won’t be solved， but it frustrates all the same。 。。。more
Samantha Fenstemaker
，
This is the last book I have read in the hard fare crime series of SK。 It was good， not his normal horror style， but intriguing all the same。
Jelaina Jones
，
It's King。 He's a masterful storyteller and certainly， "I see what you did there，" applies here。 But for the same reason I was loathe to take philosophy classes， am skeptical of unexplained extraterrestrial phenomenon， and have a love hate fascination with Croatoa， I despise not receiving answers in my books。 It's escapism。 I don't want to ruminate over the "who dunit" but want my stories wrapped up in a neat little bow， "The End，" in big bold letters。 Not getting that in this novel makes me fee It's King。 He's a masterful storyteller and certainly， "I see what you did there，" applies here。 But for the same reason I was loathe to take philosophy classes， am skeptical of unexplained extraterrestrial phenomenon， and have a love hate fascination with Croatoa， I despise not receiving answers in my books。 It's escapism。 I don't want to ruminate over the "who dunit" but want my stories wrapped up in a neat little bow， "The End，" in big bold letters。 Not getting that in this novel makes me feel cheated。 "Wanting might be better than knowing。" To that I say， absolutely not。 But hats off to Mr。 King and his grasp of the cerebral to bring these characters to life。 。。。more
Chris Lezu
，
Quick， easy read。 Clever set up and ending。 Doesn’t showcase all of Kings strengths， but there’s a few in here to enjoy。 A good read for King fans。
Rose
，
Not what I expected。 Totally engrossing and engaging。 I was immediately hooked and definitely not disappointed by the end。 A very thoughtful and unique mystery， with King's signature impressive writing style。 Not what I expected。 Totally engrossing and engaging。 I was immediately hooked and definitely not disappointed by the end。 A very thoughtful and unique mystery， with King's signature impressive writing style。 。。。more
Cassie
，
My first Stephen King novel！ I love a good murder mystery （books and tv shows）， so having a murder mystery with no clear resolution is realistic， intriguing， and maddening。 We crave resolution， whether within a 40-minute episode window or within the bounds of a 200-page novel。 To not get it， and to still be satisfied with an intriguing concept and brilliantly written characters？ Only Stephen King can deliver。Also， this new edition features illustrations by Paul Mann （cover art and some interior My first Stephen King novel！ I love a good murder mystery （books and tv shows）， so having a murder mystery with no clear resolution is realistic， intriguing， and maddening。 We crave resolution， whether within a 40-minute episode window or within the bounds of a 200-page novel。 To not get it， and to still be satisfied with an intriguing concept and brilliantly written characters？ Only Stephen King can deliver。Also， this new edition features illustrations by Paul Mann （cover art and some interior sketches） and other artists。 Having met Paul Mann as a guest lecturer in one of my illustration classes made reading this book that much cooler to me。 The cover looks just like an old-time detective novel from the 70's or 80's， but it was painted in 2019。 Paul Mann is the man！ And I guess that makes Stephen King the king。*Some language and mild sexual content 。。。more
Brandon Law
，
I love Stephen King but this was my least favorite of his writings。 The story is just mediocre at best。
Chanell Annette
，
I found this book a little hard to get into。I simply couldn’t finish it in one sitting because it didn’t quite hook me。 Contrary to many reviews， I actually liked the ending; I don’t mind an unsolved mystery。 However， the story wasn’t really interesting to me。 I enjoyed the characters， illustrations， and afterward， but think the story lacked enticement。
Tim Beck
，
I rather enjoyed this book。 I can see how some will hate it。 There is no in-between。
Justine Robson
，
I'm going to be thinking about this for years。 I'm going to be thinking about this for years。 。。。more
Beth
，
Young journalist asks aging detectives about their oddest case。 I've put this one off for too long。 One of Stephen King's stories I haven't read till now。 I put it off believing I wouldn't like it。 I enjoyed it！！！ I don't think I could have read this at a better time。 I like the concept of finding a body and unraveling its origins。 Although， I wish there was more。 😢 Young journalist asks aging detectives about their oddest case。 I've put this one off for too long。 One of Stephen King's stories I haven't read till now。 I put it off believing I wouldn't like it。 I enjoyed it！！！ I don't think I could have read this at a better time。 I like the concept of finding a body and unraveling its origins。 Although， I wish there was more。 😢 。。。more
Robin Sloan
，
There's no ending。And it's just boring and redundant。 There's no ending。And it's just boring and redundant。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Colorado Kid
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Colorado Kid&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Colorado Kid&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0