All the colors of the dark is a missing persons crime thriller-but it’s more than that. This novel covers multiple genres-historical fiction, mystery, crime, coming-of-age. Spanning thirty years, the novel follows patch and saint as they grapple with the mystery of a missing girl from a Wally family on their town. What they uncover goes deeper than they know and what happens in the 1970s will follow them the rest of their lives.

Character development is strong and for a long book-the pacing goes quickly. However, this book had so much hype coming into that, and while it’s a good book, I was slightly let down by all the hype going into this one.

I still would recommend this to anyone who loves to read crime thrillers, literary thrillers, or is a fan of we begin at the end. Don’t be put off by the length-it goes very fast !


Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

– “I just wanted to show you that sometimes things survive despite the harshest of odds.”

This book may have just flown to the top of my list for 2024. First, the storyline is an intricate web of details crafting the most complex, tragic, hopeful and heart-warming story. It is simply captivating from the first chapter and so beautifully written with vivid detail. Additionally, you cannot speed read this book. Each detail has meaning, and if you think something was left out or added arbitrarily, you are completely mistaken! There are so many unique twists along this journey.

Second, the characters, while flawed and frustrating, are complex, layered and believable. You can't help but get mad at them and yet cheer for them to find a brighter future. Also, there are so many strong women in this novel! Their perserverance is inspiring! The friendships forged and loyalties tested throughout the book are beautifully developed.

Whether you like crime fiction, coming of age, mystery, romance or historical fiction, there is a little bit of everything woven into this gem. You get both a character driven and plot driven book in this one as you follow each person on their journey while trying to solve the mystery. While I do admit a 600 page book is a heavy lift, the chapters are short, and the plot moves along fairly quickly. If that is not enough, the ending was perfection!

Do not miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Chris Whitaker. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars and bound to be a best of 2024 read!

Spanning from 1975-2001, this story begins in Monta Clare, Missouri, and centers around Patch and Saint, both on the outskirts of life, drawn to each other. When a girl from their class but from a wealthy family is kidnapped, Patch becomes a hero and Saint the one who won't stop trying to help her friend.

I'm going to leave the synopsis short and sweet, because giving anything away will just detract from the experience of reading this book and discovering the magic between its covers. I was a huge fan of We Begin at the End and his new book is just as impactful. This book is epic, covering a lot of years and genres, from coming-of-age, to serial killers, missing persons, police procedural, and thriller, but it shines as a character study. You will fall in love with these characters and be pulling for them. Hope colors the dark and this book just shines. I loved how people stepped up to help others and I will continue to think about these characters. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, especially at the end. And the ending was perfection. An absolute must read!

Was anxiously awaiting Chris Whitaker's next novel (we begin at the end was the best!). Great time period setting (mid 70's), great characters and...a serial killer. Lots of depth to his writing and character development. Glad we have brought this huge talent to mainstream so he can be appreciated.

I truly cannot put into words how much I loved this book.

Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End was one of my favorite books the year it released so I went into this book with high expectations. I had heard SO much buzz prior to reading it - the Currently Reading podcast raved about it, Jordy's Book Club immediately said it was his favorite of the year - oh and did I mention it is over 600 pages? So I went in really hoping I wouldn't be let down.

And WOW! If you read WBATE and loved Duchess Radley - the self-proclaimed outlaw - as much as I did, say hello to Patch & Saint. These characters now have a forever place in my heart - right next to Duchess.

I don't know how he did it. I FLEW through this 600 page book (it may have helped reading on kindle so I couldn't feel the thickness of the book!) and wanted to cancel all my plans so I could stay in this world and with these characters. Whitaker created a story that just blew my mind - it spans over 30 years and I was invested from the first page to the last. This book is a mash up of so many genres - literary fiction, serial killer mystery, thriller, love story, family saga, and so much more.

The way the story unfolded just was utterly brilliant - his writing is truly at another level. Whitaker had me laughing, gasping, and wiping tears from my face when I didn't even realize I was crying. I will never forget this book and I am already calling it the best book of 2024 - and one of my all time favorites. Brilliant is an understatement.

This truly is a modern classic and I am so thankful that this exists in the literary world. And Patch & Saint - in my opinion - now sit at the same level as Holden Caulfield, Huck Finn, Jay Gatsby, Jo March and so many more impactful and unforgettable characters in literary history.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Patch and Saint meet as children. Patch, styles himself as a pirate since he has only one good eye. His head is full of pirate law and adventures, a stark contrast to the impoverished life with his alcoholic mother. Saint, who lives with her grandmother, is a misfit with an unbound curiosity to learn about the world around her. Her first passion is beekeeping. Together they form an unbreakable bond built upon loyalty, friendship, and trust. Growing up but still staunch friends, their bond is tested when Patch bravely intervenes in a heinous act. Saint’s dogged determination to solve what happened to Patch continues to motivate her when others cease to act. Their friendship continues through the years when other people would easily drift away or falter. This is a title that gives heart and meaning to what dreams and action can accomplish when people are willing to listen, act and support each other. Revealing more would ruin the mystery underlying the story. Enjoyed the descriptions, edge of the seat thrills, all the secondary characters and the descriptions of all the places portrayed. Highly, highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

Three kids - a popular girl, Misty, and two outcasts, Saint and Patch - are forever changed after an attempted kidnapping one morning. Spanning decades, their unforgettable story unfolds as a coming-of-age tale, a crime fiction thriller, and a domestic drama all rolled into one. All The Colors Of The Dark explores family, friendship, loyalty, and love. I loved the overall message about remaining hopeful even in the most difficult circumstances.

What an absolute journey this book took me on. The writing was just phenomenal. From start to finish I was captured by each of the characters and their stories. Thank you Net Galley for the ebook copy of this book.

Can I do ten stars? This has to be one of the best books I have read this year and probably the best. I didn't want it to end and I did want it to end. (If you read it, and you must, you will understand) I still cry thinking about the very last line of the book.

These characters, oh my, will live in my head for a long time. Patch and Saint are the misfits in town but they have each other. Patch sees himself as a pirate, he having just one eye and wears a pirate patch. Saint keeps bees and is a rather no-nonsense type of friend. The story revolves around their friendship, a serial killer, and years of secrets. We start in 1975 and to present day when we end and my heart soared.

Patch is kidnapped after saving Misty Meyers from the same fate. Saint never gives up on finding him. Their lives go on and Patch yearns for Grace, the girl held with him whose words saved his life. Saint makes it her life mission to help Patch, even if it is tearing everyone apart.

I don't want to spoil anymore. I was so entwined with every characters' lives and the story kept me hoping, kept me worrying that things would go bad, kept me smiling and crying. It just kept me.
I must now read every book he has ever written or will ever write.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for a copy for review.

All the Colors of the Dark is the highly anticipated new novel by Chris Whitaker. This one follows the lives of Saint and Patch from when they were children into their adult lives. Patch does something kindhearted that ends up having an effect on the rest of his life and that of Saint's as well. This is one of those books that you'll be thinking about long after you've finished reading it. The writing is just superb and so richly detailed. Read and enjoy!

A genre-bending story that is both a small-town thrilled and epic love story. I won't soon forget about Patch and Saint. This is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

This is one of those books that feels impossible to review. It was an experience - spanning decades with characters that are unforgettable. To be clear it was a challenging read - it is emotional, it is haunting, it is brilliant.

Chris Whitaker has a way of creating characters - that leaves me speechless. I will be thinking about this one for a while. All the Colors of the Dark is a expertly crafted character driven literary novel with it all - mystery, coming of age, friendship, and romance. 10 Stars!

Wow!!! This was unlike anything I’ve ever read! The writing is exquisite and I was completely captivated by the ensemble of characters that were unforgettable, endearing and dynamic! Ithe storyline was unique, moving, fast-paced, surprising. Honestly, I’m still trying to digest everything, but do not hesitate to pick this one up! I am thrilled an adaptation is already in the works!

All the Colors of the Dark is a slow burn coming-of-age novel that spans decades and has a missing person, a serial killer, and engaging characters. This book has 586 pages and the middle section was very slowly paced. I feel like it could have been tightened up quite a bit. It was definitely more character driven and not a thriller in my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I loved We Begin at the End and was beyond excited to see Whitaker come out with another novel. This one was well worth the wait! Whitaker is a gifted storyteller that we are lucky to experience in our lifetime. ATCOTD is a murder mystery with a love story at its core that spans decades and draws you in and captivates you. Meant to be read slowly and savored as the writing is so beautiful and lyrical, you don’t want to miss a thing. It is a slow burn, with so much heart in the middle. At just over 600 pages, I have had many people ask me if it picks up, and I do think the ending was full of some shocking moments that thriller lovers will enjoy, but this book is a flawless story that doesn’t need to be fast paced to be powerful. It is one that I am already thinking about rereading, and will be in my top 5 this year. Saint is one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a while! She is a true badass! This book had me in my feelings, especially at the end. It was perfect for me. I couldn’t ask for a better novel.

All the Colors of the Dark is a testament to the humanity in all of us - the power, the fears, the strengths, the foibles.Never have I been so angry and frustrated at main characters while still loving and rooting for them. Whitaker’s depiction of the complexity of individuals and how they relate to themselves and one another is beyond moving. This is a book I wanted desperately to ignore all of my responsibilities and devour. Pacing and some final resolutions were minor issues for me, and I would have given 4.5 stars if allowed.

Thank you to Crown Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this beautifully written story.

Chris Whitaker has done a remarkably rare thing in the telling of this story. At its core, it is a murder mystery, but it is so much more than that. This is an exploration of the human condition, how the choices we make shape our lives, and the power of first love. In a matter of a few pages your heart will be broken, and your faith in humanity will be restored, over and over again. I will be thinking about Patch and Saint, and their story, for a very long time. Five big stars for this EPIC read. Many thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.!

I just love CW!
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker is a captivating, bleak and atmospheric novel.
This was an unbelievably phenomenal story.
His storytelling is something amazing and it shows.
His characters just jump off the pages and into her mind, where you can picture them so vividly.
Page-turning, compelling and thoughtful. I devoured another one written by Whitaker.
And it didn’t disappoint!

Thank You NetGalley and Crown for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.5 stars. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. Maybe I set the bar too high since I loved We Begin at the End so much? Almost every review and reel I see claims that this will be one of their top books for 2024, and even though I enjoyed the book overall, that is not quite the case for me.

The characters definitely make this book special, and they are characters you won't soon forget, especially Patch, Saint, Charlotte, and Sammy (although with a book of this length I would have appreciated a little more of his backstory). I thought the character arcs of Saint, Misty, and Charlotte were well done, and I loved their growth throughout the book. I loved how this male author wrote strong female characters.

The setting in small town Missouri definitely added to the overall feel of the story, and I loved getting glimpses of other locations big and small throughout the US. The descriptions of locations was well done and beautiful without being too much.

I think where the book was a bit weaker for me was in the overall pacing (and maybe part of it was the classifying of the book as a thriller which it is not). The beginning and the end had me fully engaged and racing through the very short chapters, but the middle did drag at many points for me. The mystery aspect kept me engaged throughout, and I was curious to find out what happened in so many ways by the end (and the ending is not predictable at all.....which I have some mixed thoughts on).

There is no doubt that Whitaker is a beautiful writer, and this book is no exception. I will absolutely continue to pick up whatever he writes without a doubt. I do recommend this read, but I caution people to go in expecting more of a character driven slow burn literary mystery than a thriller. This would make a great book club selection as there are many aspects that could be discussed.

Amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War and much change in America a small town in Missouri is fighting a different battle: its girls are disappearing without a trace. When a young boy named Patch stops a kidnapping in progress a girl is saved but his life is changed irrevocably. As time progresses you begin to see the ripple effects of his actions that day throughout the lives of so many people.

All the Colors of the Dark is a beautifully written slow-burn suspense novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat with tears streaming down your face. While this is a serial killer thriller, the true highlight of this story are the beautiful characters at the center. You will fall in love with Patch & Saint and the community that rises up to support them over many years of difficulty. This epic story told over decades will take you on the winding and unpredictable journeys of the flawed characters as they attempt to move on from the trauma they experienced in their younger years. All the Colors of the Dark is a book I know I will return to again. I expect this book to be one of my top reads of 2024.

This book is very dark, so readers should be aware of the following content warnings: child abuse, death of a parent, incest, rape, abortion, murder, kidnapping, alcohol abuse, domestic violence.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.