Chris Whitaker is a master world builder. All the Colors of the Dark is a spectacular stand out. It is original and heart wrenching. Patch is an unforgettable character – unlike any I’ve ever read. Just wow, what a journey. Chris Whitaker is on my list of auto buys. I can’t wait for the next release.

This book was very emotional. I did like the structure of the short chapters because even though this was a long book it felt shorter with the chapter length. Overall I thought this was a very intense book and I had no idea what to expect going in. This definitely touches a lot on found family and also how trauma can shape us. There was a lot of trauma in this book and that shaped the people in the story a lot. Overall I did like this book but I don’t know if I would read it again because it did feel really heavy.

This one won't be for everyone as it's LONG and frankly a bit depressing, it's dark and definitely not a happy book. He reminds me a bit of a modern day Dickens. His prose is beautiful, he writes characters deeply. This one follows a few characters: patch a local boy who saves a well to do girl from being kidnapped but ends up taken himself instead, the girl herself, and patches friend Saint who missed him terribly once he is gone and how she deals with moving on.

A beautifully depressed dark book on trauma and the after effects. An epic tale of those who move on and those who get stuck in the past. I loved Whitaker's first book and loved the writing in this as well. This is a little bit mystery but at it's core a deep literary character driven book that was a bit too slow for me, otherwise would have gotten 5 stars. The middle was a bit of bleak trudge with characters continuing to make decisions that I was shouting at them to not make. Hence the 4 stars because even though beyond frustrating, I love when an author makes me feel so connected to their characters that their actions brings out all the feels. The ending makes the slog in the middle worthwhile.

meet one of my most anticipated reads this summer, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK & it absolutely lived up to the hype! if you love books that span decades, delve into mysteries of missing persons/serial killers, + are set in small towns, this one is a must-read!

this genre-bending saga is a beautifully crafted tale that blends literary fiction, mystery, & even romance into a haunting + atmospheric narrative

set in the 1970s in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, this richly layered coming-of-age novel traces the lives of Saint and Patch from their early teens into adulthood, starting with the unforgettable summer of ‘75, which brings a wave of fear as girls begin to disappear. When Patch accidentally stumbles upon a kidnapping and intervenes, he unknowingly changes the course of his own life—and the lives of everyone around him…

💭 A FEW THOUGHTS 💭
- it’s LONG! At over 600 pages, it’s a slow burn that’s surprisingly easy to get through and well worth the wait
- I adored the short chapters – sometimes less than a page! They kept the narrative dynamic and engaging. However, this is a book that demands your full attention – I found myself rereading several chapters to catch details that I missed
- don’t let the genre fool you! This isn’t your typical mystery/thriller—it’s a literary thriller, meaning it’s more character-driven and less focused on plot twists. But even with its slow-burn, detailed narrative, it keeps you guessing, and somehow, each chapter left me wanting more. The tension of wondering who is responsible for the disappearances and what is real makes for an enthralling read
- character-driven > plot – Whitaker’s realistic portrayal of characters, especially of the unforgettable Saint, pulls you into a world of love, loss, hope, and friendship
- while I did have some pacing issues (the book might benefit from trimming 75-100 pages), the depth of world-building justifies the slower pace
- would be an excellent pick for book clubs (shoutout 👀 @readwithjenna)
- this will definitely end up on my top books of 2024 list & it’s inspired me to add Whitaker’s previous novel, WE BEGIN AT THE END to my tbr

Easily one of my favorite reads of 2024. Whitaker is one hell of a talent.

There is a lot of darkness here, both literally and figuratively, but so much light as well. The relationship between the two main characters is beautiful to behold and one I will think about for a very long time.

We get multiple perspectives and lots of character development. This is balanced out with some action and police procedural content. Overall this story is not about action, it is all about the characters.

Don’t miss this beautiful work of art!

I received this book as an ARC months ago and given Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End is one of my all time favorite reads, I was THRILLED. I dove right in and....it just didn't grab me. I was intimidated by the number of pages. I felt like I had to keep going back to re-read pages (thank you for the short chapters, btw) which is highly unusual for me so I gave up at about 15%. Something told me I needed to come back to this one when the time was right.

That time is now. I picked this back up a few days ago and couldn't put it down. Whatever magic Whitaker does worked, and worked incredibly well. This book took my hand, held me close, and whispered "let's go" into my ear. Boy did I love this. It gave me Shawshank Redemption vibes, Goldfinch vibes, Wally Lamb vibes, even a little Forest Gump vibes. Holy cow was this a masterpiece. I laughed out loud a lot (I see you Sammy and Charlotte), I cried a few times (gosh this was beautiful). I loved Patch, Saint, Norma. I felt like this book had me on a tight hug and I really didn't want it to end. I loved how so many of the characters came back around to play a part later. I loved the velvety prose, the banter dialogue, the way it played out like a stunning movie. You felt the heartache, the grief, hope, drive, obsession, the love. So so good.

Now, I read some reviews where folks bashed it for being wayyyyy too unbelievable in so many places but hey... it's fiction. There are some liberties I'm willing to give in the face of this gorgeous sprawling story. I'm beyond glad I have this another chance. If you haven't already....go pick this book up. Don't let the size intimidate you...I promise you won't want it to end. Damn that was amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Chris Whitaker. Thank you for creating such lovely characters and inviting us into their world through this remarkable story. I loved it, every page.

Huge thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review and I loved this audiobook!
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Once again another stellar book by Whitaker. It’s 1975 and times are changing quickly.
The old way of living is disappearing along with the girls in a small town. This is a different take on a missing girls story and beautifully done.

4.5 stars
Wow, what a story. The amount of characters and detail that went into this book is just astounding. This is definitely one of those books that when you finish you need a little bit before you can articulate your feelings and your thoughts.
Although this book is a beast page wise, the short chapters and the storyline will keep you turning the pages. Gruesome and so sad but also tender and heartfelt. Great book!

Well, this is just a beautiful, heart-wrenching story that solidifies Chris Whitaker as one of my favorite authors. I absolutely loved We Begin at the End and was cautiously optimistic about his latest, All the Colors of the Dark after reading early reviews. He knocked it out of the park again. This story has a little bit of everything and is told over decades. The characters are perfectly developed and Whitaker's unique writing style tells this story of heartache, redemption, love and trauma perfectly.

Thank you Netgalley and Crown for this exquisite book. I had no idea what to expect when I started this book and I loved everything about it. The story follows two young friends, Patch and Saint, who overcome obstacles in their own ways, and find the beauty in all the darkness. You will feel every emotion while reading this book, and I know without a doubt these characters will stay with me forever. Outstanding would be an understatement.

What a wonderful book! From the very beginning, I fell in love with the character, Patch.
The plot has so many layers and so many twists and turns that to try to explain the story would detract from the joy of reading the words.
Whitaker, once again, has woven together a tale of heartbreak, destruction and the harshness of living. Yet, he successfully managed to juxtapose those emotions with love, caring and devotion.
A Must Read!

All the Colors in the Dark is an epic tale of friendship, love, and the lengths we’ll go to to help the people we care about. The characters in the small town of Monta Clare are quirky, brave, determined and loyal. Patch and Saint are indelible characters along the lines of Demon and Angus from Demon Copperhead, and Sam and Sadie from Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. The plot was twisty, and I couldn’t predict where it was going, I was satisfied with the conclusion - all of the questions were answered.

My only critique is with the short chapters, which didn’t work for me in this book. The choppiness of the chapters took me out of the story. I think I would have liked a more traditional narrative structure. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and will think about Patch and Saint forever.

OH MY GOD! What a beautiful book! I take back everything I said before because this is one of the best books of the year. It was tragic, it was beautiful, it was funny and heartwarming. Saint Brown and Patch MaCauley will live in my heart forever.

Chris Whitaker has written a beautiful story with some amazingly complex characters. I'll forever be recommending this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the e-ARC!

Looser, stranger and bigger than his last book, the terrific WE BEGIN AT THE END, author Chris Whitaker’s new one is bonafide crowdpleaser. It’s an emotional epic full of twists and surprises, a thriller about a slew of missing girls across America but even more effectively, a psychological drama about the effects of trauma featuring an unforgettable collection of characters. Divulging too much of the plot here would reveal too many of this book’s myriad pleasures but just know it features the life-long friendship between Patch Macauley and the orphan girl Saint Brown, two smalltown Missouri kids in 1975 who cross paths with a potential serial killer attempting to kidnap one of their town’s most popular girls. The decisions made by Patch and Saint in the aftermath of this violent event affects the trajectory of their lives for nearly the next four decades. While at times the book feels like a hodgepodge of other classic narratives—the class tensions of GREASE, the precocious kids getting themselves into a jam from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, the nature of captivity explored in Emma Donahue’s ROOM, even THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS—Whitaker’s best work here is in his rich development of the extraordinarily indelible characters. A favorite: the boozy womanizer Sammy, owner of the local art gallery who becomes Parch’s unlikely mentor. You might as well read it — everyone else is.

A literary saga spanning multiple decades. Girls have gone missing in a small Missouri town. The mystery spans the entire novel and isn’t wrapped up until the end. The characters are complex and the author spends an abundance of time portraying everything about them, at times being overly repetitive. I enjoyed this for the most part, although I felt like it dragged at times and could’ve been shortened.

Another beautiful, haunting read from Chris Whitaker! I love how Whitaker is able to evoke such strong emotion from simple lines and phrases. That’s the mark of a truly gifted writer.

There is a lot of hype around this one, and rightfully so. The beginning of this one hooked me from page one. I loved the set up and getting a glimpse into the younger characters’ lives who would end up shaping the book

The middle did lose me a little bit. I felt there could have been some tightening up in some places to keep the narrative moving a bit, but at about page 400, I was swept back up in the story and the ending actually gave me chills. I loved how it all came together. Loved the lessons throughout. Loved (most of) the characters and how they were developed. Loved the ending. I even cried a little bit.

This one deserves all the praise it is getting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

The most beautifully written book I think I’ve ever read! I don’t think it gets better than this!! An absolute gift to any reader.

Incredible.

It is a rare gem to find a book that captivates on so many levels and genres. This is a masterfully done story that spans over time and emotions. I was enamored by the characters, saddened by the situations, and on the edge of my seat all at once.

All the Colors of the Dark certainly deserves the top spot on people’s 2024 reading list.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy.

Highlights:
✨Literary mystery surrounding a serial killer, clues sprinkled throughout.
✨Lifetime saga that carries all the emotions of real life
✨Short chapters help move the story forward for such a long book.
✨Life long friendships, found family

Bottom Line: Character-driven literary mystery that highlights the far-reaching impacts of trauma. But with some uneven pacing, the book feels every bit of 600 pages.

I feel like this book reminds me of Sam Hell but a mystery. It is more violent at times (with a serial killer) and doesn’t shy away from tough topics (check triggers if you have them). I listened to the author in a chat and he said TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW is one of his favorite books. The same thread of friendship between two children who grow up and continue to care and look after the other runs through this book as well.

This book takes place largely in 1975 when these murders are happening. When Patch sees his friend targeted, he becomes the prey. His friend is determined to help find him. Then spanning most of the lifetime, we see the cause for justice and a conclusion to these horrible crimes.

The short chapters in this longer book kept me turning pages. I loved the references to his favorite childhood book, Where the Wild Things Are.