In the afterward, Stephen King admits that readers will either like or hate the 'Colorado Kid', that there will be few who find middle ground. I think he's right. Before I go on, I will have to spoil the ending to really get to the meat of this book, the Umpf that really gets you in the end. So this is your last chance to turn back.

Still there?

You're sure?

Okay.

First of all, many a campfire story has been told in the manner this story was written and in reading it, I wasn't sure I was going to appreciate the ending I was afraid was coming. Truth be told. There is no end. There is no resolution. There is no murder suspect, there's not even certainty that this is a murder.

So what is there? And what makes this a 'hard case crime?' Well there is a mysterious death. And once the victim is identified, the mysteries only get deeper.

The Colorado Kid is no feature story for a newspaper, though, because there is no happy ending, no closure. But the Colorado Kid is a GOOD story because life doesn't always wrap itself up in a nice neat little package for delivery. In life, as King says "We free-fall from Wherever to Ain't Got a Clue...we know we're going to drive pedal-to-the-metal into the mystery eventually." The story is, "The kind that's like a sneeze which threatens but never quite arrives."

Was there a murder? I think so.
Is there a mystery? You bet your socks.
Will any of us ever know? Nope

And THAT is what makes this a good story.

Mailed this to a bookcrosser in Argentina several days ago. It might even almost be there by now.

Enjoy the book!

This book will be in my Stephen King Collection for ever. Thank you olysmom (you are an angel). SILVIO.

Reserved for a fellow bookcrosser who requested it.

On its way to Japan, by request. Enjoy!