by Chris Whitaker
Published
June 25, 2024
Pages
608 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Crown
Kindle
$13.99
Hardcover
$19.79
Paperback
$23.99
Audiobook
$0.00
Audio CD
Not found
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that “hits like a sledgehammer . . .
an absolutely must-read novel” (Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl ). Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today The Boston Globe ’s #1 Thriller/Mystery of 2024 So Far One of The Washington Post ’s Best Books of Summer “Kept me frantically turning the pages and somehow made me cry at the end . .
. Brava!”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women “Melds tense suspense with a powerful exploration of devotion, obsession, and love.”— People (Best New Books) 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.
In the captivating tale of 'All the Colors of the Dark,' a gripping mystery unfolds that takes readers on a journey through hidden secrets and complex human emotions. As layers of deception and unspoken truths come to light, the protagonist finds themselves entangled in a narrative that challenges their perception of reality and identity. Readers are drawn into a world that blurs the lines between trust and betrayal, urging them to question the boundaries of loyalty and friendship.
A masterful blend of suspense and psychological depth captivates throughout the story. Exploration of identity and morality leads to profound questioning and introspection. A narrative rich with unexpected twists keeps readers engaged until the end.
This book weaves an intricate tale of mystery and intrigue where each character harbors secrets as shadowy as the tale's unfolding events. As the protagonist navigates this labyrinth of deception readers are compelled to consider how far one is willing to go to protect their truths. It’s a narrative that skillfully balances tension and insight.
Enriched with emotional depth and relentless suspense All the Colors of the Dark' challenges conventional notions of morality and identity. The protagonist's journey becomes a vivid tapestry of uncovered truths and unresolved histories leading to a climactic reckoning that redefines their sense of self. Throughout the author's evocative prose crafts a world where the past and present converge in unexpected ways.
Every twist in the story introduces new possibilities keeping readers perched at the edge of their seats. Intimate and mesmerizing it delivers a haunting exploration into the essence of human nature and the darker shades of love and loyalty. As the narrative crescendos the stakes reach a fever pitch leaving an indelible mark.
The novel's exploration of psychological complexity sets it apart inviting readers to delve into the intricacies of the human psyche Its characters are vividly drawn each contributing to the overarching mystery in unique ways that enhance the story's depth and allure The narrative excels in creating an atmosphere that is both suspenseful and introspective ensuring that readers are emotionally engaged and invested in the unfolding drama This balance between tension and reflection offers a reading experience that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling Richly detailed settings and the seamless blending of past and present further elevate the storytelling These elements not only enhance the overall mood but also immerse readers in a world where each scene is as vivid and compelling as the last.
0593798872
978-0593798874
6.46 x 1.46 x 9.54 inches
2.31 pounds
Based on 18613 ratings
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker is easily the best book I’ve read all year. It is a book about endless love, tragedy, and hope; both a coming of age novel as well as a years-long mystery. Chris Whitaker’s writing is like music, with one note leading to the next, pulling the reader along with crescendos and interludes as he skillfully reveals the decades-long relationship between Patch and Saint with all its complexities. The last 30 or so pages are so beautiful, it was almost unbearable.
I loved this book. One crime, that takes three decades to solve, ruins all those affected by it. Kids who grew up and never gave up on finding out what happened that night. We follow their lives and see the damage that was done to them. See it play out in their adult lives. This book is a haunting portrait of the human experience, the consequences of the rich vs the poor and how a crime ruined a town. It’s so beautiful in its entirety. I will never be able to think about beavers or ferrets the same again. NEVER. While the story is full of pain and suffering, there’s also joyous moments of unforgettable laughter. I laughed a few times myself. Seriously, getting parenting advice from Sammy? LOL! The characters are some of the most well developed ones I’ve ever read. We can follow what happened to them as children and link it to their actions as adults. It must have been so much fun plotting these characters out. The book leaves us with one final lesson: when you stop looking for something, that’s when you’ll find what you’ve been looking for. Highly recommend this one. Yes it’s long but I promise it won’t feel that way. Loved the short chapters. They were each filled with just the right amount of action.
I was moved and touched by this beyond what I am willing to admit. I was in a book slump for a very long time. Unable and struggling to find a read to match this one. So much so I wasn’t even able to write a review for it because I was still processing it. The writing is outstanding - clever, well-knitted together. Every little detail is well-fitted and placed perfectly to tie in all loose ends. The themes expressed perfectly. My only complaint is - once you get to the ending, you realize how political this fiction piece is - pushing an agenda right before the elections. And yet I can’t refuse the fact that writing was great, intense and very emotional.
My go to reading genre is fantasy, paranormal, romantasy, so this was out of the norm for me. I will be brutally honest, at first I cringed, dreaded picking up the book, and made excuses to not read when I normally read. I have a hard time with realistic fiction that delve into gut wrenching situations dealing with kids. They affect me deeply. I thought this was going to turn out to be like a Mystic River. But it wasn’t. It’s a beautiful journey in the lives of these perfectly constructed, pure, heart-filled characters. It’s a story about hope and salvation. The writer weaves each person’s story together and blends them into a magnificent braided path. Even though at times I was absolutely afraid for the outcome, I read on because I was sucked into their lives and wanted to find out how it finally all concluded for them. It has a familiarity to Forrest Gump, traveling through the decades in the lives of the characters and demonstrating how every action starting from the very first page carried relevance through a lifespan. My only complaint is that there were too many unnecessary chapters or points that were droned on and repetitive. There were chapters I felt added no importance to moving the plot or characters along. This could have been shortened a bit. Overall, no regrets I veered from my norm and read this book. A book that will certainly keep you wanting to know more and leave you breathing easy and satisfied.
Incredible story (and incredibly long). Confusing at times but amazing surprises throughout. Great characters. Very creative writing style. Definitely worth reading.
Someone touted this as the best book of 2024. I don't have a viable argument for a book I think is better, however I would guess there are books out there that will have a more universal appeal than this one. "All the Colors of the Dark" does have some minor flaws in my opinion. First, it is very long. Admittedly, it is a pretty easy read and goes quicker than you would expect a 600-page book to go, but the thought of that many pages will be off-putting to some. The author breaks into this strange affectation from time to time during high-stress or action sequences where the writing becomes choppy and hard to follow. I understand it's to add drama or realism to the scene but, on several occasions, I was flipping pages back and forth and checking to see if I missed a page because it was hard to understand what had happened. The story stretches over a long period of time and it almost gets lost. The author does a good job of pulling it all together but it felt a little anti-climatic. The book blends several genres which some will like and others may not. The good: The characters are wonderfully written. There are enough plot twists to keep you guessing. The author avoids clichés very well. All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Will it be the best book of 2024? Maybe. But I don't think it will be a unanimous decision.