All the Colors of the Dark (by Chris Whitaker)
It appeared that All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker experienced a rapid surge in popularity upon its release. I noticed a lot of praise and enthusiasm for this particular book. A former colleague, having read it, wholeheartedly recommended it. I listened to her recommendation, promptly placed a hold on the book at my local library, and waited patiently. Several months later, my patience was finally rewarded!
I’m hesitant to describe this book without revealing a crucial plot point, so I’ll proceed cautiously. It’s an emotionally charged narrative that begins in 1975 and spans the lives of the characters over the next 30 years. There are many layers to this story. Set in the quaint town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing. Obviously, this lends to an angle of the story of finding missing persons. There’s a quest by local and federal law enforcement to identify a serial killer. The central characters, Patch and Saint, are childhood friends whose relationship evolves into a complex love story that adds depth to this extraordinary novel.
Whitaker is a brilliant writer. His talent took me on an emotional journey with these captivating characters as they struggled with emotional and physical pain, loss, and heartbreak. Most of all, they were sustained by determination and hope; regardless of how self-destructive their choices seemed. Each short chapter felt like a cliffhanger, making me wait patiently for the next piece of the puzzle to complete the story. I’m impressed with Whitaker’s skill of leading me to a rational assumption, only to later reveal the truth. Every aspect of this book enchanted me, and it will undoubtedly remain a cherished memory for a long time.
The narration by Edoardo Ballerini is absolutely fantastic! It’s the perfect voice to bring this story to life.
My talented artist husband created the partially pictured painting titled ‘It’s What I Live For.’ You can visit his website, patrickriley.art, to see the painting in its entirety. While he may not be willing to sell it, you can also browse his other works on the website.
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases linked back to Amazon. Every penny earned allows me to blog about books and keeps this site running.
