I read it because it was there. My father left it lying around, and I had a couple hours to kill.
This would be a two thumbs down book if it was 600 pages. The ending-payoff is totally unsatisfying. However the book telegraphs that early, and it’s short. As such, the pathway to the end was worth itself.
Imagine you’re taking a road trip to someplace that looks good in the ad. But ten minutes into a two hour drive, your passenger looks the destination up and says it may be closed. You drive anyway, and the drive is pleasant: good conversation, nice sights, low traffic. You arrive at your destination to discover it’s been torn down and is now an empty lot.
So you drive back.
But it’s another pleasant drive back.
That’s The Colorado Kid. I enjoyed the drive.