The characters (in order of appearance as much as I can remember):
Mr. Hanratty
Vince Teague
Stephanie McCann
John and Nancy
Dave Bowie
The Colorado Kid
James Cogan
Arla Cogan
The story of The Colorado Kid is a confusing tale.
The story begins in a restaurant, The Grey Gull. A featured reporter for the Boston Globe is interviewing the whole staff of The Weekly Islander - Vince, Dave and Steff - the whole staff.
The reporter is trying to find the story behind the mysteries that happened in the area. But Vince, Dave and specially Steff (who's new in the job) supplied him nothing. He went in a hurry to catch the Ferry boat back to the city. The location of the story, by the way, is set in a community island.
The whole book happened in the house of Dave. (pronounced by Dave as horse). They we're chatting and talking about stories and the stories of the unknown. They talked about the Church Picnic Poisoner, The Coast Light mystery and all other mysteries that happened in that particular island in Maine.
One story that was told to Steffi was the story of the Colorado Kid.
John and Nancy, who usually come to the pier on their way to school early so they can run all the way to school.
One day, while walking in a beach they spied a man sitting in the sand, beside a litter bin, his head tip over the side of the trash can. The two approached the man and found out that he is dead.
This is where the whole investigation place. With no wallet and other identification, the man in the beach took a year to be identified. But knowing who The Colorado Kid was, is just the beginning of the mystery....
Overall, I don't feel that this is a Stephen King novel. I was expecting a little more than just a mystery novel. I'm used to more sci-fi, magical powers and monster style of Stephen King. But if you're a Stephen King fan, just like I am, you'll find The Colorado Kid a pleasure read.
