All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

A Five-Star Book Review

Are you someone who has to read a much-buzzed-about book right away, or do you hold off, usually because you find yourself underwhelmed? I’m in the latter group, so I waited to read All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. However, I was overwhelmed by the passionate story, so I wish I would have followed the crowd earlier.

Summary of All the Colors of the Dark (Some Spoilers)

It is difficult to describe All the Colors of the Dark without including some spoilers, so you’ve been warned.

The story opens with Patch and Saint, best friends and growing adolescents in the Missouri Ozarks. When Patch sees his crush, Misty, in trouble, he saves her from a pedophile but is abducted instead. Saint refuses to believe that Patch cannot be found and is relentless in her search. Whitaker takes us through both characters’ agony and leads us through their lives that are forever changed on that fateful day.

What I Enjoyed about All the Colors of the Dark

All the Colors of the Dark is a devastating novel. Each character experiences severe trauma, and Whittaker’s quality writing envelops you in their stories. Here are a few more reasons I loved this book.

• Saint: This girl grows into a determined, intelligent woman who will stop at nothing to save others. She is haunted by the past but does not relent.
• Patch: This boy’s actions exemplifies how one decision can change a person’s trajectory. He is troubled, obviously, and suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, but even when he makes wrong decisions, you know it is because of the obsessions from his past.
• The setting: Whitaker capitalizes on the Ozark setting in All the Colors of the Dark, describing every from the woods to the plants to the water. This results in a deeply atmospheric novel that juxtaposes beautiful nature with human trauma.
• The side characters: The people who support Saint and Patch throughout the story are interesting and multilayered. From Saint’s stoic grandmother to the guilt-ridden Misty to the drunken art dealer, Sammy, to the mythical Grace of Patch’s captivity, and many others, Whitaker brings each side character to life and gives them an integral purpose in the story.

My Final Thoughts about All the Colors of the Dark

All the Colors of the Dark tackles deeply disturbing topics—pedophilia, serial killers, and abuse—but the overarching messages are about relentless hope and love. If you are in the mood for a serious but impressively written novel that spans years of trauma and survival, this is a book I recommend.