All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Fiction
2024
Finished on February 17, 2025
Rating: 5/5 (Outstanding)
Publisher's Blurb:
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town 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 with one eye, 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, All the Colors of the Dark is about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope.
Brilliant novel! I couldn't read this one fast enough, but didn't want it to end, even after being close to 600 pages in length. The short chapters make for a propulsive reading experience, and the last 100 pages intensified the pace, revealing multiple twists and surprises that made it easy for me to continue reading well past midnight.
I read and loved We Begin at the End, and Whitaker's new novel is as good, if not better! I'm tempted to read it again (maybe on audio, which I hear is outstanding) to see how it unfolds now that I know all the secrets, none of which I once suspected. Not only is this a great coming-of-age novel and a thrilling mystery, but the writing is beyond measure. I love the author's use of language, pausing to re-read his lyrical passages, envisioning the scenes and characters he so deftly creates with his imagery. (His acknowledgments are also a joy to read.) Patch and Saint, as well as Norma, Chief Nix, and Sammy are so well rendered, and they all worked their way into my heart. I do love a feisty, young protagonist like Saint!
Chris Whitaker is a masterful storyteller, and the intricate layers of this tale are superbly conveyed. Highly recommend, entirely and absolutely!
I keep seeing rave reviews for this one. It's on my TBR shelf but I may wait until summer to read it for the Big Book Summer challenge.
ReplyDeleteHelen, this would be a great summer read for that challenge! Oh, it is sooooo good!
DeleteThat's a very good recommendation, glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteTina, I can't wait to read it again! :)
DeleteI love this author and also enjoyed this one but I read it right after The Return of Ellie Black and they were so, so similar. Had I read it first I think I would have loved it even more. Also, the author is so supportive of bloggers and readers. He's a really nice guy.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I haven't heard of The Return of Ellie Black, but will look for it sometime later on. Maybe in a year or two so it doesn't overlap with my memory of this one! Just reading Whitaker's acknowledgments proved that he is a super nice guy.
DeleteThis one sounds pretty grim but I'm glad you liked it a lot. I did listen to Whitaker's We Begin a the End and he makes some strong protagonists. I'll be curious to see what he does next.
ReplyDeleteSusan, it is quite grim, but the storytelling is marvelous and the characters are so endearing, I didn't mind the grittier parts of the novel.
DeletePS. I forgot to say that the puzzle on my post was from White Mountain Puzzles https://www.whitemountainpuzzles.com ... I got as a gift years ago. They have some pretty lively colored puzzles on their site. hmm
ReplyDeleteSusan, I think we've done a few puzzles by White Mountain Puzzle company. My favorite these days come from Pomegranate.
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