Loved loved loved this! So immersive. So gripping. Adored the characters, highly reccomend for a book to get lost in!

Gripping, moving and philosophical. I fell into this world and got so lost I didn't surface for air until I'd finished. Great characterisation, particularly in Saint.

As one hundred and eleventy million people have already reviewed this book, I will keep this short and sweet. I confess that I did start reading this, made it to 50 pages and gave up. There I said it, and bearing how much I loved We Begin At The End by Whitaker, I surprised myself by my initial indifference to this one.

However, in my role as a bookseller, and the fact that I would need to talk about this one constantly on pain of death for a month, I picked it up again and went back to the beginning. And I am super glad I did. Once I gave myself the headspace to slow down to the speed of the narrative and pick up on the subtle nuances of the description and plot, I absolutely embraced this one. It not only transcends its somewhat reductive label of ‘crime fiction’ into a book that I would happily describe as literary fiction in terms of its cadence, scope and complexity. The characterisation is superlative with our two main protagonists Saint and Patch really getting under your skin, as we follow the trials and travails of their lives from childhood and beyond. I love the sprawling geographical detail that accompanies Patch’s personal odyssey seeking the elusive Grace, and equally the way that Saint so courageously forges her own path in life, despite the challenges of her loyalty to Patch and the very patriarchal branch of the law she so successfully navigates. So glad I picked this one up again, and be able to appreciate it more. Poignant, emotive and beautifully written. Highly recommended.

I wanted to love this book after enjoying the previous but unfortunately it’s a DNF after 25%. Very slow and not very gripping. Maybe one day I will try again.

Chris Whitaker is a master storyteller. He's the author behind my all-time favourite book, We Begin at the End. If you're a regular here at damppebbles, you may be familiar with it. I mention WBatE every so often (read = all the time, as often as possible, sometimes when it's not even relevant to the subject matter). It's the book I would take to a desert island. It's the book I recommend to everyone, whether they've asked for a recommendation or not. It's the book I've got most of my library colleagues to read (and they all agree with me, it's epic!). No pressure when a new book by Chris hits the shelves then! No pressure at all... I was desperately looking forward to reading All the Colours of the Dark. But strangely nervous too. There was, of course, no need whatsoever to be nervous because this is a Chris Whitaker book we're talking about. The man is a legend. His books are literary perfection. I loved every single second I spent in the company of Patch and Saint. All the Colours of the Dark was, without a shadow of a doubt, my book of 2024.

All the Colours of the Dark is an unforgettable story featuring a cast of exquisite characters. The small town of Monta Clare, Missouri is shocked when thirteen-year-old Joseph 'Patch' Macauley is kidnapped whilst trying to save a fellow classmate from the same fate. Saint Brown, Patch's best friend, is devastated. Her world is turned upside down and she vows to do whatever it takes to find Patch and return him home. No one is more driven than Saint. But Patch, trapped in a cellar in the pitch-dark, isn't alone. Grace is with him, and she paints a world of adventure and opportunity, of literature and of travel. And Patch falls in love. The boy who escapes the cellar is not the same boy who was snatched. Patch is obsessed with Grace, the idea of her, the memory of their brief time together, and vows to spend his entire life searching for her, despite never actually seeing her face. It's a love story, a serial killer thriller, a police procedural and so, so much more.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, without a second's hesitation (not even a nanosecond's hesitation). All the Colours of the Dark is a beautifully told piece of fiction. Poetic, immersive, multifaceted, heart breaking, it's everything! I adored this book. The characters will stay with me forever. I am changed after reading this magnificent novel (I and many other people). You cannot go wrong with this author's books. The characters are divine, the plot draws the reader in and doesn't let you go. Not even when you've finished reading. I'm still thinking about this book months after finishing it! This is a book you live alongside the characters and, I'll be honest, I am most definitely here for that. Just sublime from start to finish. All the Colours of the Dark is a masterpiece. Authors will read this book and wish they'd written it! Devastating but full of hope. Dark but with perfectly placed moments of light. An epic tale of two lives bound by friendship, love and ultimately, trauma. Incredible, well-plotted storytelling. Standout characterisation. No one writes characters like Whitaker does. Affecting, emotional and utterly haunting. A triumph! Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of All the Colours of the Dark. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Review will be published on 27th March 2025]

An absolutely brilliant multi layered novel which had me hooked from page one. Favourite book of the year

The one that has left me utterly shattered—in the best way possible. After binging All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker in just 48 hours, I’m crowning it not only my top book of 2024 but also one of my 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. Yes, it’s 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 good 🥹

At first glance, the synopsis might make you think this is a dark, gritty thriller, but it’s so 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 more. Beneath the layers of intrigue is a profoundly moving story of love, friendship, and above all else, hope. Spanning decades and weaving together unforgettable characters, this book completely captivated me with its immersive storytelling and lyrical prose. (I’ve highlighted so many quotes that I’m tempted to tattoo one!)

Set against a backdrop of Midwest and Southern small-town charm, it carries the kind of soul and atmosphere you’d find in 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 by Barbara Kingsolver, or even 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨 by Delia Owens. If you’re a fan of sprawling, heartfelt narratives with flawed but endearing characters, this is your next must-read ✨

And Patch the pirate? Saint the beekeeper? Their journey will sweep you away. Go in blind and let the magic of this story unfold—Whitaker has crafted a modern masterpiece.

Swipe for a few quotes that wrecked me (seriously, they’ll stay with me forever).

📖 Have you read All the Colors of the Dark yet? Or a Chris Whitaker book? Let’s chat in the comments! If you have a ton of questions you are dying to ask Chris - come join us on Jan 27th for our bookclub chat with him, link in bio or DM me how to join 🎙️

There are murder mysteries, police procedurals, serial killer thrillers, dual-timeline crime thrillers, coming-of-age thrillers, novels where the protagonist takes it upon themselves to solve a crime, vengeance thrillers, crime thrillers with a romantic arc... and then there's 'All The Colours Of The Dark', which has all of these and more. It's an epic crime novel that I can't even begin to categorise!

It's very rare to read a crime novel with such heartbreaking scenes, it was beautifully written and there are some moments which I know will stay with me for a very long time. I really wasn't expecting to be so involved in Patch and Saint's story but it's just impossible not to be totally swept away by this intense tale of friendship, unspeakable crimes and an obsessive need for justice.

A series of abductions form the basis of the book which obviously means that this story goes dark. However, these horrific moments are counterbalanced by moments of pure joy, humour, determination and such vivid descriptions of love, friendship and the sacrifices these characters are willing to make for one another.

I saw an interview with author Chris Whitaker where he said that the last two sentences in the book took six weeks to write, and I can see why. As hard as it was to finish reading about these characters I can imagine it was a million times harder to finish writing about them - a simply wonderful book!

I loved this book. It was both heart-warming and heart-breaking, dark at times and also so joyful and full of hope. I really enjoyed the writing style, almost poetic. Patch and Saint were so well drawn and I could picture the settings so clearly. One that stays with you. Highly recommend.

Chris Whitaker established himself as a star of the literary mystery with We Begin at the End, and All the Colours of the Dark is another beautifully written novel with vivid and unforgettable characters that will stay with you long after turning the final page. Recommended!

My first book by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. I really enjoyed the unique and beautiful writing style. I finished it a few weeks ago and it’s certainly stuck with me.

My First Christ Whitaker and it won't be my last - adored this from start to finish. It is as good as everyone says!

Wow... I don't know what to make of this book but I know it was excellent. I've never read anything like it. It was so complex yet so easy to read, so harrowing yet heartwarming. Such a bundle of contradictions, and clearly a future classic. It does transcend genre and I can see why everyone's talking about it. I'm still puzzled and outraged and charmed all at the same time! Highly recommended.

A great read! Felt fresh for the thriller genre and kept me turning the pages long after I needed to put it down.

I have previously loved the authors books, but I just cannot get into this, so I will purchase a physical copy to read. I haven’t given a low star rating as I know I will love the book, just not in this format

My favourite book of the year so far, and it will take some beating! Chris Whitaker writes people and places with a special kind of magic. The characters are flawed and real, and the story has so much depth to it. I’m often disappointed by the endings of books, but from first to last sentence, I loved this completely.

A great book! Kept me gripped throughout. Felt fresh and compelling, not an average thriller. I haven't read Chris' other work, but I will seek it out now.

All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Chris Whitaker has written some of the most memorable novels I’ve read in recent years, particularly managing to breathe life into troubled young souls who have the worst to deal with and overcome. And usually with them, we have the people, often flawed, who try and care for them. In his latest novel, Whitaker focuses on Patch, a boy so called because of his eye patch, a boy who likes to think he’s a pirate. One summer, Patch saves a girl caught in the woods of this small town in America. He is abducted instead and held in darkness for such a long time with a girl whose voice alone he knows, Grace’s voice. No-one misses Patch more than his friend Saint Brown who becomes obsessed with finding him, just as Patch for decades afterwards will try and find Grace. it is a tortured, haunting tale, wrapped around the mystery of the identity of the abductor. Possibly because I don’t like to descend too deeply into darker fiction, I found the novel a little too troubling for me, a bit too much, but I’m a lone voice with this. Everyone I know who’s read it, loves it.

This book started off really well but it somehow, quite quickly, became very slow. I ended up giving up at 35% as it feels like it’s not going anywhere.

I am definitely in the minority with this view as lots of other readers have loved it. Sorry this one wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't for me, at times I found it just a little word-heavy but that's fine because despite it not being to my personal taste, I can't deny it was STUNNING. Breathtaking scenes, viscerally descriptive and vivid with emotion, intrigue, compelling characters and brilliantly written pacing that keeps you hooked on the dark mystery unfolding around you. A highly accomplished literary thriller with a dark, yet poetic edge.