The Colorado Kid

Hard Case Crime publish unashamed pulp novels, some reprints of classics from the 40s and 50s, others, like The Colorado Kid, brand new novels. This one is by Stephen King and it's an undemanding but highly readable little mystery story about an unsolved crime on the little Maine island of Moose-Lookit.

Young intern reporter Stephanie is doing a placement at The Weekly Islander under the wise old eyes of 90 year old Vince Teague and 65 year old managing editor Dave Bowie (no, really). It is these two old men who tell the tale of the body found on the shore back in the 80s. A man with no ID, who had apparently choked to death on a piece of steak. But what seems straightforward is not and there are loose end after loose end left dangling to keep you reading. And you do keep reading. It's a real page turner.

King, master storyteller that he is, based his tale on an event in a news clipping sent to him by a friend. An unsolved mystery that will probably never be solved.

It's a neat little story told in traditional pulp style and well worth a read. These books even have cover paintings by the likes of Glen Orbik and Robert Peak to give them that authentic air. Nicely done.