Wow! What a read - a great thriller that is a bit chunky of a book but this is truly a stunner of a read - will be in my top 10 of the year no doubt. Heartbreaking, twisty, gorgeously written

An intricately-woven story with memorable characters. Whitaker has once again hit it out of the park.

I am beyond in love with this book! My top book of the year hands down! The story is both a love story in many ways and an impeccably done mystery. I will be reading everything this author writes from now on. Highly, highly recommend

All the Colors of the Dark is a story about Patch, a young down on his luck teen, who happens to make a decision in a circumstance that alters his life forever. Every page turned left me heartbroken for his journey, but also hopeful and optimistic for the eventual outcome of the ending. One of the fastest books I've read in a looooooong time. Brilliantly done, leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat with multiple twists and turns you don't see coming.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has received a lot of hype, and while I agree it is a good read, I had some issues. First, I did enjoy the characters. Some of them were funny and others eccentric. I did think the story dragged in places. It was quite long. It was also hard to follow at times. Some of it seemed highly implausible, but it is fiction, so… I really liked how the story ended.

3.5

In All the Colors of the Dark, a missing persons mystery, a serial killer thriller, and an epic love story converge over several decades. The story follows Patch, consumed by his search for Grace, a girl he encountered during captivity, and Saint, who relentlessly pursues him. Their intertwined paths create a tangled web of truth and obsession.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends. It’s long but the character building is fantastic. 🙌🏻

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this masterfully crafted novel set against the backdrop of 1975 America, Chris Whitaker delivers a gripping story that intertwines the themes of disappearance, obsession, and the bittersweet nature of love. As tensions heighten with the Vietnam War coming to an end and cultural shifts reshaping the nation, the small town of Monta Clare is shaken to its core by the mysterious disappearances of girls.

The plot centers on Patch, an unlikely hero who bravely steps in to rescue the daughter of a wealthy family when she becomes a target. His courageous act opens the door to a whirlwind of repercussions that explore the delicate balance between triumph and tragedy. Whitaker paints a vivid picture of Patch's world, capturing the innocence of youth while weaving in the darker undertones of obsession that threaten to consume those around him.

The character development is impressive; Patch is relatable and deeply flawed, resonating with readers as he navigates his motivations and the impact of his actions on those he loves. The bonds between characters are tested as the search for answers reveals uncomfortable truths and secrets that could tear them apart.

A standout quote that encapsulates the core of the story is: “The line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer.” This perfectly reflects the precarious nature of the events unfolding in Monta Clare and highlights the novel's tension as characters face harrowing choices.

Additionally, the author skillfully explores themes of hope in the face of despair. One poignant line states: “What lurks in the shadows of obsession can sometimes blind us to the light that still exists.” This encapsulates the internal struggles of the characters as they grapple with their demons while yearning for connection and understanding.

While the pacing is generally strong, some sections felt a bit slower as the narrative delved into backstories. A tighter focus in these areas could have enhanced the overall sense of urgency. However, the intricate layers of the plot and the unexpected twists kept me engaged throughout.

Overall, this novel is a haunting yet hopeful exploration of the darker side of human nature intertwined with the resilience of the human spirit. Whitaker's ability to blend mystery, romance, and psychological thriller elements makes this a standout read. I recommend it for those who enjoy character-driven stories that probe the depths of obsession, love, and the complexity of relationships. It’s a poignant reminder that even in shadows, there is always a glimmer of hope waiting to be uncovered.

I previously read Whitaker's book, We Begin at the End, and I loved it. It was a top read of the year when I read it. Given that, I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC of his new book. While it didn't quite live up to We Begin at the End, and therefore the hype I had built up for this, it was still a strong and emotional read!

Whitaker is so good at developing interesting and complex characters. It was the highlight of We Begin at the End and it was one of the assets of this read as well. He breathes life into his characters and has a way of making them feel like real life people that the reader gets so invested in. The development over the course of the book is top notch!

The plot was also very solid. This story was gritty and dark and emotional and it drew me in so easily. I was invested in Patch and Saint and their journey.

Lastly, Whitaker's writing is fantastic. As with the characters and plot development, his writing just works so well to draw me in and engage with.

Ultimately, I am giving this a 4 star review, and I think it is entirely on me. I loved We Begin at the End so much, that I think I overhyped this book and had too high of expectations. I think had this been my first Whitaker read, I could see it being a 5 star. I can't even say what more I wanted from this book or what would have made it 5 stars. So again, I think it's just me and the mindset I was in at the time.

Expertly crafted. Fans of Crawdad and To Kill a Mockingbird can appreciate this mystery/southern gothic. I will be living with these characters for a while. Saint and Patch will be names I will not soon forget like Dill and Jean Louise...or even McCarthy's John Grady Cole.

Wow! What a wonderful book and is deserving of all of the pre-publishing hype! A book that makes you think hard at every twist and turn. Courage, love, trauma, love are all themes that weave their way throw all of the characters. Don’t wait, read this book now. It will have you reflecting for months to come.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

I would like to thank NetGalley and Crown for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on June 25, 2024.

This is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I will read it again.

“I wonder what exactly a mistake is. A thing we should not have done, right? But if learning is built on trial and error there can be no mistakes, only rungs on a ladder to someplace better.”
— Chris Whitaker, All the Colors of the Dark

This book has a lot of everything: a love story, a mystery, a serial killer, a missing person and much more. The daughter of a wealthy family goes missing and Patch, a local boy, save the girl. To say more would be a spoiler and I won't do that. Just get the book and read it to find out what happens.

I cant say that I love this book as much as We Begin at the End, but Whitaker really knows how to write a compelling story. A deep character study on best friends Patch and Saint, following their lives through heartbreak after heartbreak. I loved the ending, but the story got lost for me a little in the middle, and it was so long. I rarely give any book 5 stars, but this was a solid 3.75 for me. Thank you to netgalley for this ARC.

An epic coming of age story that subverts expectations at every turn. Whitaker’s characters jump off the page and truly leave a lasting impression. I will recommend this novel often!

I'll admit it took me a bit to get into this, because I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with it and hadn't read anything by Whitaker before. I'm very happy to have persisted because WOW, this ended up being stunning - one of my favorite recent books in memory. It's marketed as a bit of a thriller/mystery type of book, and while I do see that and agree with it, it's also got SO MUCH MORE - truly genre defying, this would make an incredible movie or limited TV series on Netflix, etc. Definitely going to want to read this again.

Just like Whitaker’s We Begin at the End, All The Colors of the Dark is an absolute masterpiece. It’s everything you want a book to be, offering hope, redemption, and the best kind of storytelling. This was my favorite book of 2024. I can’t wait to see what Chris Whitaker writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

All the stars - highly recommend!!

This was a favorite of mine - the writing is absolutely incredible and the characters are amazing.

I will read anything Chris Whitaker writes!

ATCD is a mystery/thriller but it is so much more! This is not your typical page turning novel, but a genre spanning slow burn novel with a mystery in the center.

The characters are well developed with struggles, dreams and whole lives shown within these pages. Each character and storyline evokes feelings from you and even though they might now all get the storybook happy ending you will remember them for a long time.

Chris Whitaker writes the best young female main characters. This book gripped me from the first page and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This will be a book I go back to again.

I wanted to love this book, however found it to be overly wordy and long. I got tired of Whitaker explaining everything in great detail. And then something important would happen and he would describe it so quickly--in less than a sentence and I'd miss it. Not for me. I didn't enjoy the experience. I kept reading because everyone else loved it and I did want to figure out that mystery, so that's something, I guess.