All the Colors of the Dark

This was an easy 5 stars to grant!Set in a small town rocked by the disappearance of a young girl, All the Colors of the Dark is a dark, slow-burn mystery that mixes edge-of-your-seat tension with a heap of emotional depth. The unease and suspicion are so thick you can practically feel it as the characters try to navigate their grief and fear.The small-town vibe is nailed—everyone knows everyone, but no really knows anything. The characters are messy and flawed, but you end up caring about them anyway.Whitaker’s writing is vivid and haunting, making the tension feel real. The pacing’s a little slow at times, but totally worth it. Whitaker peels back the layers of the mystery bit by bit, and the emotional punch adds a heavy but necessary element. If you liked Demon Copperhead or All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, you’ll love this.Bottom line: If you’re in the mood for beautiful writing, emotional upheaval and characters that stay with you, All the Colors of the Dark is a solid pick.Note: the subject matter could be triggering for those sensitive to child abuse.

This was a well-written book with complex characters that really drew me in. I did feel parts of it were too long and convoluted, but it was settled with a satisfying ending.

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.

Great story, great characters, brilliant writing. Once I began this book, I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to reading his other books. Give it a try, you won’t be sorry. Bravo Chris Whitaker!

I often found this book somewhat perplexing to read. The author’s sentence structuring is complex in ways that gives new meaning to grammar rules. I was concurrently engrossed and wary. The plot was thick with twists and turns. Some I guessed, most I did not. Did I love it…not sure. Did I escape from daily tasks as I continued my read without stop….I did. Would I recommend it to other bibliophiles…..absolutely! Will I give you hints to the plot or characters within? Not a chance! I will not ruin this complex fictional journey for you! Enjoy!

There is no way I could have figured out the way this read would twist and turn.I admit I struggled at times because the pace did wander at times.Here’s what I loved:Amazing charactersBeautiful sceneryThe back drop of real time eventsThe human connectionThe way that decisions can alter the course of a lifeSome cons:The story wandered at timesA few story threads I would have liked fleshed out a bit moreI wanted the 2 main characters to have a happily ever afterSpoiler below:I disagree with some of the reviews calling this a political book. The author described real time political events as they occurred. It is what it is. The ability to find compassion with political people’s public problems does not indicate an affiliation. It’s humanity. I was surprised to read that some people found a women’s difficulty to NOT choose abortion when she discovered she was pregnant a political statement, very sad. Unless you have carried a life in your body, you can’t know how hard that decision is for some people. This is why it’s called ‘choice’ it’s not always an easy or clear thing.

I normally read for escape, but this wasn’t a rainbows and butterflies place to escape too. That being said, the things these characters endured and suffered left me breathless and I NEEDED to get to the end. It was a page turner because I just had to know. I liked the style of writing, though I do agree this book could have been a little more condensed. Otherwise, these characters have my heart. ***SPOILERS AHEAD*** A few dislikes I had: I hated that Saint felt forced into marrying Jimmy. I hated the disregard Patch had for Saint for nearly the entire book - he came back because of her, and yet despite his gratitude left her in the dust so to speak (while continuing to use her as a resource and her voicemail as an emotional dumping ground). Her unwavering devotion and love for him was never returned equally, though he very clearly loved her as a close friend. His connection with Misty left me upset and nauseous. Like Saint said she could have anyone, why him? Her death brought more despair to an already upsetting tale. His obsession with Grace also left me feeling unsteady but I could at least understand his need to find her as she helped him survive. I understand there were uplifting parts - the art, the missing girls, the connections made - and yet I still found so much of this story hard to swallow. Why am I still giving this 4 stars? I guess because the plot was so harrowing, gripping, and I couldn’t put it down (devouring it in 2 days). Best read of the year? No. But definitely a riveting story to take in.

I was a little bit unsure early on in the book about how much I was going to enjoy it. I liked it from the start, but felt my feelings for it 'lag' a bit for part of the first quarter of it. Then, I'm not even sure how it happened, but it grabbed me by the heart and kept me all the way through. I had a hard time putting it down (man, I just LOVE short chapters) and had quite a few surprises. Great book, excellent and creative plot that was well told.

Again, what a great book! I just love chris whitaker, read all of his books so far and can't wait for the next one. Rich prose, a haunting story and unique characters - this story has it all. I was unable to put it down and felt sad when i finished it.

Excellent story with interesting interlinking characters and kept you hooked on what was going to happen next. Most enjoyable book I have read for very long time.

Not easy to describe the journey this book takes you on, but i will try. Having read an earlier book of the author, i knew i would enjoy his latest novel however his storytelling and settings have came a long way. For What is essentially a story of the hunt for a serial killer of young girls, the beauty in the book is remarkable.Paintings and settings so cleverly brought to life with characters so damaged yet strong its not hard to draw comparisons to the classic The Shawshank Redemption.I read this in 3 sittings which would have been 2 if not for falling asleep at 4am, phone in hand.I have two more of Mr Whittakers books to read but not until ive taken a break to fully appreciate this remarkable story. In my opinion, humble as it may be, a modern classic which i hope will be enjoyed by millions more like me for many years to come.

I loved this book!Entirely and absolutely. It started with me crying at the hairdressers and ended with me crying in bed late into the evening. Yes! It’s one of those books filled with deep characters and rich relationships that can touch you in ways you didn’t think were possible.I’ve read reviews that say it’s a slow burn at the beginning, but to stick with it because it’s brilliant. FOR ME, THOUGH, the initial first few chapters lay a beautiful foundation for a piece of work that is intense, overwhelming and mesmerising (all good things).With this being my first Chris Chitaker novel, I was concerned this book wouldn’t have enough murder/mystery vibes to suit my taste, but weaved in amongst the heightened emotions and relationships at play is a serial killer lurking in the background, changing the lives of a small town forever.I consider this book like fine wine. Do your best not to devour it all at once. It’s best absorbed slowly to allow time to breathe and absorb the beautiful relationships spanned over a lifetime.