I absolutely loved it. Thank you to @prhaudio for the ALC and @crownpublishing for the ARC.

I listened/read this genre blending story in record time. It's a missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, and a tender love story. The short chapters kept me flipping pages past my bedtime and steaking every free minute to listen.

Some of my favorite books have a story that now only pulls me in, but also has characters that take up space in my heart. This book had both of those things- plus so much more. It has such a great blend of elements. The writing provided a rich narrative for well-imagined characters and complex relationships. The characters weren't always easy to love but I couldn't help rooting for them. The story was emotional and heavy but also provided breathtaking glimpses of hope. It was a study in small towns, art and childhood friendships and the things that make them unique.

It was a wholly engrossing reading experience that left me sighing with contentment at the conclusion .

This rambling "review" is just an unorganized way to say - I loved it.

4.5⭐

1975, Monta Clare, Missouri: An act of bravery becomes a defining point in the lives of thirteen-year-old Joseph “Patch” Macauley and those close to him. As the narrative progresses, we follow Patch, his best friend Saint and Misty, the girl he saved, and the important people in their lives and their community for over two decades. While the dynamics within the once close-knit community will never be the same again, the trauma they experience as children follows Patch, Saint and Misty through the years, manifesting in the choices they make and leaving them to grapple with the consequences that follow.

All the Colors of the Dark is my third Chris Whitaker novel after We Begin at the End, which remains my favorite to date, and Tall Oaks. In his latest offering, the author has woven elements of literary fiction, coming-of-age, a love story and a crime procedural element with a solid mystery at its core into an immersive character-driven narrative.

This is a lengthy novel featuring a large cast of characters and several subplots. The pacing is a tad uneven, but the tonal shifts justify the need to alter the pace as and when required. The author’s strength lies in the way he presents his characters - complex and flawed yet vulnerable, and Patch and Saint are no exception. We follow the characters as their trajectories diverge and then converge again in a continuous cycle of events each more surprising than the next – even when pitted against one another on opposing sides, the deep connection they forged as children is never eroded. The traumatic aftermath of the events described in the 1970s timeline casts a long shadow on the lives of our characters, setting the overarching bleak and melancholic tone for the novel. We might not always agree with the choices our characters make, but we remain invested in their respective journeys - their sorrows become our sorrows, and we rejoice at their smallest of triumphs; their rage, their pain and disillusionment will break our hearts but as they endure the challenges life throws their way, our hearts will be filled with hope. Each of the secondary characters is well defined, with a distinct role to play, which is why, at no point do we find it difficult to follow their character arcs/ respective subplots as the narrative progresses.

Though this is a predominantly character-driven novel, the plot-driven mystery/ procedural aspects do not disappoint. With plenty of twists and revelations with an ending that you do not see coming, the author succeeds in maintaining an atmospheric and suspenseful vibe throughout the narrative.

The story is presented in short chapters, from multiple perspectives spanning over two decades (1975-2001). The author’s masterful storytelling, evocative prose and the emotional depth and insight with which he touches upon themes of love and friendship, sacrifice, resilience, trauma and healing, guilt and redemption render this an incredibly moving story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

Many thanks to Crown Publishing for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Outlier opinion!

There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room for books that are.

I usually know fairly quickly when a book isn’t for me. But once in a while I ignore my instincts and power through, especially when I see a lot of glowing reviews.

This was one of the times I fell victim to the hype. This book was most definitely not for me:

* Unrealistic situations. Be prepared to suspend a massive amount of disbelief. It’s fiction, don’t expect complete realism but this reached my tipping point
* Too long. At 600 pages, 250 could have been cut. I don’t think I would have liked it any better but I would have wasted less time
* The writing style kept me from becoming invested in the characters. This type of writing appeals to many, but not me.
* The characters failed to move me emotionally. Zero emotion, and I’m easily moved and brought to tears. I stopped caring what happened to any of them
* The author jumped around in time with every chapter and there are 261 chapters
* The story is S-L-O-W. It’s not a thriller which is fine. I love a character driven story, I just didn’t love THIS one
* So many pages where nothing of interest happens filled with lots and lots of description
* What some readers call beautiful language, I call overwrought and flowery with many nonsensical sentences
* I have a lot to say about the religious overtones but I’ll refrain
* I couldn’t buy into most of the situations. To list them would involve spoilers but my eyes rolled
* But surely there would be a huge payoff in the end, right? Nope!

What I liked: the author’s last book

Many readers have loved this book, so be sure to check out their reviews.

Sorry to say but this book was many things I just don't like. Too many characters going by different names, too long clocking in at over six hundred pages, too convoluted with lot of grass hopping from one time period to another, and dull.

I loved Chris Whitaker's last book, certainly deserving of it five star status, so I was very disappointed in this current story.

My advice would be keep it simple, make it shorter, and try not to confuse the reader. I even switched from the printed kindle copy to the audio version thinking that would help, but no such luck.

Thank you to Chris Whitaker, Crown Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story.

While I understand all the praise heaped upon this novel, I feel it was simply too long! This would have been a 5-star read if it had been 200 pages shorter. Too much back and forth, up and down—I feel that about half of the twists and turns could have been eliminated without losing any of the story’s impact or value. I loved the characters and they will linger in my imagination for a long time. I just wish they had spent a shorter time on the page!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Spanning decades the newest novel from Chris Whitaker centers around two childhood best friends, Growing up in the small town of Monta Clare, a young boy with one eye, Patch, has a tough life. . His mother struggles with addiction and Patch often finds himself hungry and acts as her caregiver too many times to count. Saint is a young girl raised by her grandma, keeps bees and is a loner at school. They find each other and form a friendship that spans years. One day Patch becomes an unlikely hero by saving a young girl from a killer in the woods. This sets off a chain of events that span years leading Patch on a trail looking for answers. His obsession tests all of his relationships including his with Saint.

This was an action packed, character driven story that I devoured. There was so much going on—missing persons, serial killers, a love story and a mystery that completely enveloped me. The character development was some of the best I have read in a long time. The story was raw, tragic and beautiful all at once and impossible to put down. The twists, pacing and emotional journey I was taken on will not be one I will soon forget. This was one of the best books of the year, as well as one of my all time favorites.

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Believe everything you have heard about @chriswhitakerauthor ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, and move it to the top of your TBR. I’ll admit when I first started, I was a little concerned it would not live up to the hype, but it absolutely did.

ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK is a sweeping and beautifully written story that follows Patch, the unlikely hero who saves the daughter of a wealthy family from an attempted abduction. This selfless act forever alters his life and those around him in ways they could have never imagined. I was enthralled by not only Patch but every character in this book. Spanning over four decades, this is an epic tale of loss, obsession, love, and hope. This is truly a book you can’t put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crown publishing and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so hard to rate and after much debating, I'm going with 3.5 stars! The potential was there for a 5-star read and I wanted it to be 5 stars so bad but there were a few things that didn't work well for me. This book started off with a bang!! It hooked me in, it was fast paced, intriguing, and I was getting so excited. This had favorite book of the year potential and then it started to slow down. The middle of the book dragged. I was already invested, and it was still interesting enough to keep reading but it moved so slow. The ending was amazing!! It blew me away and redeemed the slowness of the middle some. This book was 608 pages and if it would have been 408, it would have been 5 stars all the way. The pacing of this one was just off. I also did not like the Charlottes character very well, which is more of a personal preference, but she was too vulgar for my liking. The storyline itself was absolutely amazing, the characters are so beautifully developed and intricately woven together. Just that middle part brings it down. The beginning of the book is 5 stars, middle of the book is 3 stars, and ending is 5 stars! If you haven't already read it, go check out, We Begin at the End, one of Whitaker's previous books. It was my favorite book of 2022! Whitaker is a talented writer, and I am looking forward to his next book.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Crown Publishing for an ARC in return for my honest review.

All the Colors of the Dark is labeled a mystery thriller but reads like literary fiction. It’s brilliant, and beautifully written from top to bottom. The story is very character driven, with a memorable cast of leads that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s powerful, and poetic. Chris Whitaker isn’t just a talented writer, he’s masterful, and his storytelling capabilities shine through All the Colors of the Dark. While the book is long and arduous at times, it’s easy to keep turning the pages because of how flawlessly Whitaker lands his most shocking moments. You never know when you’re going to turn the page and have your heart broken, or read a line that is so brilliantly written that it makes your heart soar. I loved this novel and it’s hard to say goodbye to the characters now that I’m done. The ending was perfect in every possible way, and brought tears to my eyes. I can see why it’s done so well pre-release. Congratulations, Mr Whitaker, on a fantastic n

WOW! WOW! WOW! This is a rollercoaster that you will not want to get off of. This book had me second guessing everything I originally thought. This is how a mystery is supposed to be written! Loved it!

Chris Whitaker is a new author for me. I chose to read this because it sounded like a good mystery with an unlikely hero - and I always like an unlikely hero.

Description:
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the smalltown of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.

When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.

Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.

A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope.

My Thoughts:
I'm so glad I picked this one up as I loved it so much I gave it five stars! This became a lifelong journey for Patch after he was taken as a child after stepping in an saving a girl form harm. While he was captive he befriended a girl who was there and kept with him most of the time. Though he never saw her face he remembered everything about her and had an image in his head abut what she looked like, where she had lived, and her memories of travels. Once he was freed he began his frustrating, seemingly impossible search for her. He wanted to find her whether she was alive or dead. I could not put the book down and stayed glued to the pages. Action-packed and totally captivating. Any mystery lover will enjoy this one.

Thanks to Crown Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "All The Colors of the Dark" and all opinions expressed are my own. This book started off slow for me and was long. Even with that I loved this book. I finally got into the story and it was amazing. Everything tied together at the end. Beautifully written book.

This novel begins in 1975 in a small town in Missouri. A girl named Saint and a boy known as Patch are two misfit friends. One day, Patch sees someone in the woods attacking another girl - he intervenes and then goes missing. There is A LOT more to the plot than that but I don’t want spoil it, so let’s just say the book takes place over the many years following that incident, tracing how that affects all the characters and informs their future actions. So the book encompasses so much - coming of age stories, missing person and serial killer mysteries, stories of friendship and family, trauma and resilience or lack thereof, and so much more, with a decades-long sweep. Think Notes On an Execution crossed with Ann Patchett or Ann Napolitano.

I loved Chris Whitaker’s last book We Begin at the End, but I thought this one was even better. Even though it was 600 pages long, I seriously couldn’t put it down and read it in less days than I’ve read books half the length. It did get a teeny bit slow in the middle, but the last stretch of the book was perfection. I predict you will be seeing this book on a lot of end of the year best of lists, and it just might be on mine too.

4.5 stars

𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙊𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠
by Chris Whitaker
608 pages (doesn’t feel like it - very readable with short chapters) I’ve read it twice.
published June 25, 2024

Thank you @chriswhitakerauthor @crownpublishing and @netgalley for allowing me to read this amazing novel.
I have read this twice, and will read it again when I receive my personalized signed copy from @bluewillowbooks and I am hoping I will be able to participate in an author chat because I am very curious about the author’s research and writing process.

Please do not miss this book especially if you are a reader who

🎢 loves a great suspense thriller
👮‍♀️ enjoys following cold case investigations
👱‍♀️👨🏻👩🏻‍🦰 enjoys character driven drama
♥️ enjoys deep love stories
⏰ enjoys a 30 year epic search for answers and redemption
📖 is looking for your next book club title- This is IT.

I won’t stop raving about this story to every person I encounter. It is a Jenna’s Book Club pick and deserves to be celebrated and read over and over!

All The Colors Of The Dark is one of my best books of the year. It is at the top of my favorite reads of 2024.

I received this book as an ARC from @netgalley and I immediately pre-ordered from a book store. This will also be added to our high school library. It is a must purchase, must read book that should be in every library collection.

This will also be adapted to the screen, so read it before we watch. I can’t wait to see who they cast.
#newbooks #bestbooksof2024 #mustreadbooks #currentlyreading #bookreviews #allthecolorsofthedark #chriswhitaker #bookstoscreen #bookclub

What a phenomenal story. Initially, I wasn't sure where this one was going but what a sweeping, unforgettable novel. I will carry these characters in my heart forever. Definitely a heavier, sad book but so powerful and will be recommending this one to everyone! A definite favorite of 2024.

Wow. Don't you dare blink and miss a word! This sweeping, slow burn thriller is delightfully detailed that you dare not read with distractions. This is my first time reading this author, and I did find his writing flawless. It's 1975 in Monta Clare, Missouri and a serial killer is hunting girls. As another one is about to be taken a brave boy, a pirate you might say, steps in and alters his life and those around him forever. A sweeping saga of friendship, family, and the pursuit of solace after loss that will keep you turning the pages. It's going to be on my best books of the year by far.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown for the ARC!

This book was not for me. I tried so hard and got to around 45%. It kept going on and on without getting anywhere. A lot of reading for nothing too exciting, character based and just continued to drag on. Strong profanity and crude language, also religion is portrayed in a very derogatory and offensive way.

All the Colors of the Dark is a mystery, a thriller. But it’s also so much more than that. It’s a story of outsiders, a story about unlikely friendships and the lengths that people will go to in order to save those who matter the most. It’s a story that makes you care...even for people that may seem hard to care about. I loved this story and all its ins and outs. I have one critique. In the beginning, the writing seemed choppy. It took me a little bit to get used to, but I persevered. Partly because I had read and enjoyed another book (We Begin at the End) by this author. Also, because I liked the premise of the book. Reviews on Goodreads so far were very positive. I’d requested and received a copy of this book to read and review and I don’t easily give up. I’m so glad I didn’t put it aside, because it’s truly a wonderful book. As I neared the end, my head was spinning with all that was going on and trying to make sense of it. Then, I slowed down. I didn’t want it to end. I enjoyed it so much that I was afraid the ending might disappoint. Again, I was wrong. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This one has it all! Love, coming of age, mystery, thriller, all interwoven into an unputdownable read. It spans the story of Patch and Saint and their friendship across 25+ years. At one point I thought it was going to take a certain route, the author had laid out all the Easter eggs, and I was disappointed, but they didn’t lead where I thought they would and he tied it all together so well. Well done Chris Whitaker. Perfect summer read.

Incredible story. Goes way beyond your average missing child thriller. About 150 pages too long, I have a feeling that will put people off even though this one is receiving loads of buzz on social media.