This was a beautiful story. Although slow at times, everything was tied together in the end and I enjoyed that it spanned decades. What a rollercoaster of events!
I have already recommended this book to others.

This one gets you right in the gut. Repeatedly.

Part thriller, part family drama, part social commentary on being poor and living in a small town, it's a mix of all the best emotional and evocative things.

At first, I thought it would be too heavy for me (along the lines of "Demon Copperhead," which I did not love), but as the story went on, it took on such a beautiful tone of hope and love that I couldn't put it down.

The story starts by introducing us to Patch and Saint, two kids who are somewhat outcasts in their social network and who end up best friends.

Patch thwarts a kidnapping of the town darling, Misty, and ends up being captured himself.

This sets off a series of dark and dramatic events that unfold throughout the book.

It's a captivating tale of loyalty, defiance, determination, and all different kinds of love. It will touch your heart and is truly an unforgettable novel.

Thank you to #Netgalley for this ARC of #allthecolorsofthedark

Spanning multiple decades, All the Colors of the Dark is an epic story of tragedy, suspense, romance and friendship. Whitaker spends the time to develop the characters so well that you are personally invested in their successes and life choices.
The book hooked me on page one kept me entranced until the end. I did feel the middle was a bit slow but very much still worth the read.
This is definitely on my list of top books to suggest my friends read.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my opinion. Rating 4.5

I read this book as a part of a book club and it was a wonderful read. It was hard to put down or forget when I was done and I cannot wait to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and crown publishing for the free arc copy of this book. I loved this book so much I don’t even know what to say. It was 600 pages but I was not ready for it to end. This book had me laughing and crying. Sammy and Charlotte are my favorite and somehow make such a heavy book funny and lovable. I really thought the ending was going to disappoint but I was SO wrong it was everything you could hope for in that kind of situation!

For the first half of this book, I felt very out of step with the many hugely positive reviews it's getting. But by the 65% mark, I understood. The last third of this novel is a masterful tapestry of woven characters and plotting. I can look back at the first two thirds with great appreciation now that I have finished.

All the Colors of the Dark is an epic story of complex, memorable characters mixed in with a grand overarching mystery. I was unfamiliar with Whitaker's writing prior to reading this book but WOW--he has a way with words. The story is long and at times meandering but it is so gripping that I didn't want to stop reading to do anything else.

If you like beautifully thought-out characters and epic story-telling, you're sure to enjoy All the Colors of the Dark.

Thank you for this ARC! I loved this book. Despite its length, it was a real page turner. So much happens, but it was not hard to keep track of the story or characters. It had excellent character development, excellent suspense and a satisfying ending. I fully recommend!

All the Colors of the Dark is a big, long compelling novel that is ideal for long days of reading. It is reminiscent of the novels of John Irving, following the lives of independent young characters in Missouri who grow into their complicated lives. The basics of the plot involve years of searching for a murderer who is targeting young girls, but the well-drawn characters bring in their own themes of loss, friendship, and love. Excellent novel.

A gripping, epic slow burn mystery. Not the typical formulaic mystery/thriller. Beautifully written with stories within stories and memorable characters. A captivating and entertaining read!

This book caught me off guard. All kinds of stories going on within the main story…beautifully written, might I even call it an epic novel. Such well developed characters, sweeping over a wide timeline.

This book deserves all the acclaim the writer is earning! Wondeful book that I devoured! You will fall in love with Patch, an aptly named moinker for the main character, and you will follow his life as he becomes a hereo, artist, and then finally a convict. Such a great story!

A sweeping epic that follows Patch and Saint over several decades with a wonderful cast of side characters. I came for the serial killer mystery and I stayed for the character development. The background is always weaving around solving a mystery, but the book is ultimately about so much more than that, and it's a book I know I will think of often.

This is a gripping, slow-burn mystery, filled with unforgettable characters. The story develops over several decades and will both break and mend your heart. After reading two books by Whitaker, I've come to the realization that whereas his books are rather long, they are beautifully written, and I really appreciate his short chapters.

I found myself absolute lost in this book. A captivating tale with unforgettable characters. Strongly recommend. Will pick up her other books.

Wowza. This one was a LONG one and what I felt a very slow burn, with much of the action happening in the last 20% of the book. That being said— this is a story of love, hope, some mystery. It’s my first by this author and surely won’t be my last. I can totally understand why this book is being so hyped up but the length of it really was a struggle for me. I loved how it all came together in the end and overall I’m giving it a 4/5! It needed to be shorter and less descriptive. Big win on the short chapters though, had they been longer, I’m not sure I could have stuck with it.

Chris Whitaker's All the Colors of the Dark is a gripping story, told over several decades, with unforgettable characters. This is one of those books that you'll be thinking about long after finishing. I loved it.

There are many things I can say that Whitaker does well but mostly it's his ability to emotionally destroy me. 😭

This is the story of Patch, a 13 year old boy who believes he's a pirate due to his missing eye, and Saint a lonely girl in his class that he befriends. The two of their lives intertwine in so many ways that it will take decades to untangle.

This epic 600+ page book that spans decades is nothing short of magnificent. I won't speak of the plot because it is so intricate, so emotionally compelling, so nuanced that I will only sound like a blubbering idiot in the wake of Whitakers brilliance. This man is so talented that I am truly in awe and so very grateful to be able to savor the words he puts on the page. It's books like this that remind me why I love reading so much. When an author can reach into the very depths of your soul leaving you breathless.

This book is painful. It will make you ache.

I admit it will take me a bit to put the pieces of my heart back together again but it was worth every minute of destruction.

Every single one of these characters touched me in ways I could never have imagined and I will never forget them. Highest recommendation. ALL. THE. DAZZLING. STARS.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for my complimentary copy.

Favorite parts:

+ This book is beautifully written with well developed characters that you grow to love.
+ I loved how much background we got to the mystery and characters- it is often what I miss in "typical" thrillers or mysteries.
+ I loved the references to and inclusion of art.
+ There are lots of short chapters which kept me turning the pages. I also enjoyed the style in which the story was told- it felt as if I was piecing together a puzzle along with the characters.
+ The ending was satisfying and tied together nicely.

Parts I could've done without:

- There were a lot of religious messages that didn't feel necessary to me or authentic to the characters. I could have done without them and the many pop culture references that also went over my head.
- While there were several other good surprises, one of the biggest "mysteries" I guessed at the very beginning- this left me feeling slightly underwhelmed at the ending.
- It was very long. As a result, I sometimes found it hard to keep track of some of the characters and smaller details. If I were reading it again, I'd try to read it quickly or in larger chunks of time so that all of those details stayed fresh in my mind.
- Without any spoilers, I was hoping for a different outcome for Saint's character.

Overall: This book (and especially the characters) are memorable and I enjoyed reading it. The high quality writing easily deserves 5 stars, but due to my personal preferences I'd give my experience of reading it 4/5 stars. I would still highly recommend it to anyone looking for a literary mystery & can see why Chris Whitaker is such an acclaimed author. I look forward to reading more of his work.

I loved this book. Saint and Patch were two memorable characters. The plot was original and it moved fast. I couldn’t put it down. This would make an excellent book club choice.