Read an extract from the highly anticipated book from Chris Whitaker, All the Colours of the Dark.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A missing persons mystery, a serial killer thriller, and an epic love story – with a unique twist on each…
* * * * *
Late one summer, the town of Monta Clare is shattered by the abduction of teenager Joseph ‘Patch’ Macauley. Nobody more so than Saint Brown, who will risk everything to find her best friend.
But when she does: it will break her heart.
Patch lies alone in a pitch-black room – until he feels a hand in his. Her name is Grace and, though they cannot see each other, she lights their world with her words.
But when he escapes: there is no sign she ever even existed.
Left with only her voice and her name, he paints her from broken memories – and charts an epic search to find her.
As years turn to decades, and hope becomes obsession, Saint will shadow his journey – on a darker path to hunt down the man who took them – and set free the only boy she ever loved.
Even if finding the truth means losing each other forever …
Read a book review of All the Colours of the Dark
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Word ate through the town. The easy wheels of local business ground to the kind of stop that left Main Street dying as they gathered at the edge of the woodland. Kids rode hard, red cheeked as they dumped bicycles, spoke beads still spinning as they joined the procession, watching and waiting for a dead kid to shade the color of their childhoods.
Saint stood apart from them and watched as Chief Nix rolled his cruiser past a line of local press, already backed up and herded by a barrier made from traffic cones and some tape.
He climbed out and blocked the sun with his hat. Most days his moustache framed a smile. He watched Saint as she watched a man photograph the tire tracks, like they weren’t baked hard into the mud, the kind of fossilized nightmare Saint would pay homage to over the coming weeks.
Saint looked up at his handsome face, then back down at the mud again. A low pain spread in her stomach. A tightness across her bony shoulders that would mature and stop her sleeping each night until she no longer knew herself. Each part of that woodland was claimed with soft memories, and she battled tears. Her and Patch holding out stick guns and chasing phantom goons. Her hanging upside down from the twisting limbs of sweet gum, warning him not to try it because his missing eye fucked up his balance. Him trying to stand on one leg to prove her wrong. Her helping him back to his feet.
Nix crossed before her, hollering to the other cops, ‘All points. Got the whole damn county locked up tight. Highway 42 to 86, you can’t get in or out without a flashlight in your face.’
‘Interstate 35,’ she spoke in a whisper that carried toward the big chief, who stepped toward her.
‘You’re the bus driver’s granddaughter?’ She nodded.
‘You’re friends with this kid?’ She nodded again.
‘He did a brave thing.’
She might’ve screamed that he was not tough enough. She might’ve told them he once sat on the low roof by her bedroom window the whole winter night when she got sick with bad flu. That Norma found him blue in the early hours and brought him in to thaw. That he spent six hours rounding up silverfish, longhorn beetles, and even a luna moth when she fretted over her vacant bug motel. That he stole only what he needed, and not ever what he wanted.
Dogs jumped from the back of a white Taurus. The scream hit them.
A cop stood his ground, one arm wrapped around the waist of Ivy Macauley as he struggled to keep hold of her.
Chief Nix waved a hand toward the cop who gratefully let her free. Ivy walked toward them slow, didn’t lose it again till she saw the bloodied shirt in the bag. She was put together, always, even when she cleaned at night.When she scrubbed piss from the floor of bathrooms and swept tobacco from mahogany desks.
Ivy folded, arched her back and screamed the kind of wrenching sound that stained them all. The echo Saint would hear when she sat in the yard that night, shivering though it was warm. Trying hard not to cry out when news spread through the town.
A local, Pattie Rayburn, had seen the van. It made a right turn onto Highway 35.
Patch was gone.
That first night was like none Saint had known.
She sat cross-legged on the front porch, the soles of her feet dark with dirt. Her grandmother standing when the low lights of a police cruiser passed by. Norma did not offer comfort or platitudes. Saint did not know a tougher woman to fear or emulate.
She could not smell the barbecue smoke or see church lanterns or the verdancy of Monta Clare, so beautiful it clung to memory when you left. Patch hung over the small town like city smog so turgid mothers ushered their children inside and made sure the news was deadbolted at the door. Saint had felt the pervade of those passing minutes as cops came from the towns of Pecaut and Lenard Creek. Chief Nix sent them out armed with a photograph that showed her friend smiling widely, eye patch in place.
At nine her grandmother climbed the stairs and told Saint that she should not stay up late because the boy would likely return soon enough, and she would need her energy to receive him.
At 10 Saint climbed onto her rusted Spyder and pedaled hard in the direction of Main Street, breaking her grandmother’s strict curfew.
Main Street was lit with locals gathered outside Lacey’s Diner. She propped her bike outside the Aldon Funeral Parlor and listened as they talked of calls coming in from Jefferson City and Cedar Rapids and even one of the Amana Colonies. Later that night she would fix pins to the map that hung above her bookshelf.
I hear they got a guy over by Pike Creek. I heard that.
Alibi has him working a double shift at the Roan Arnold Energy Center.
Could be. Midwest derecho wrecked a cooling tower.
And so it went.
She ducked through a cluster of onlookers and made it to the window of the station, and inside saw the kind of bustle that calmed her a little. The phone rang out as cops gathered around maps and pored over files. At the far end she saw Chief Nix pinch the bridge of his nose like the unfurling was too much.
In the state of Missouri two high school girls and a college kid had gone missing in the past eight months. Cops had shown up at Monta Clare High School and told the students the importance of vigilance, said it while they hooked their thumbs into their waistbands, fingers meeting the steel of their Model 39s. For a while the town hung in the kind of rampant fear that meant Saint was no longer allowed out of her yard when the sun dropped.
They’ll catch this devil, her grandmother had said as she sucked on a Marlboro and rocked on her chair.
‘Go home, kid. Ain’t you heard, there’s a bad man out there,’ a Pecaut cop said as he passed by.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Whitaker is the award-winning author of Tall Oaks, All the Wicked Girls, We Begin at the End, and The Forevers (YA).
His debut Tall Oaks won the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award.
An instant New York Times and international bestseller, We Begin at the End was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month, a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick and a Good Morning America Buzz Pick. The novel won the CWA Gold Dagger Award, the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the Ned Kelly International Award, and numerous awards around the world.
We Begin At The End has been translated into 29 languages, with screen rights going to Disney, where ‘Hamilton’ director Thomas Kail and producing partner Jennifer Todd will develop the book for television.
Chris lives in the UK.
(4/5)
“All the Colours of the Dark” is a riveting coming-of-age novel that vibrantly navigates the complexities of love, finding raison d’etre and the multifaceted complications of reconciling trauma with the identity we choose. The storyline follows thirteen-year-old Patch, who dons the namesake of an eye-patch, and his female companion, Saint, both making an endearing and dauntless duo who we follow across a twenty six year timespan. They grapple the tumultuous transition from adolescent trauma to recovery and the cognitive dissonances that become apparent in adulthood. The plot captivates and implores readers to reflect on the relatable experiences and behaviours towards the ripple effects of trauma responses which are reflected in the protagonists’ trajectories as they undergo self-discovery and growth. Chris Whitaker’s strongpoints with “All the Colours of the Dark ” are his immersive storytelling through evocative prose, ripe with authenticity, being able to transport the reader into simultaneously opposing worlds of normalcy & uncertainty, wonder & cynicism and love & aversion. The setting of the action and historical context of the novel spans all across the US horizon, from the 80s to the early 2000s, splendidly blending the genres of drama, mystery, suspense, crime and adventure, providing brilliant entertainment to a diverse readership.
(4/5)
This is my first Chris Whitaker book and it will not be my last.
This is an epic novel spanning decades, narrated from the perspective of two characters – Patch and his best friend Saint. Both characters are well developed, a little flawed but completely engaging and stay with you long after the last page.
The story revolves around a boy named Patch and his best friend Saint. It is challenging to discuss the connection without giving away key plot spoilers. In short it is 1975 and girls in a small town of Monte Clare, Missouri are disappearing.
It is difficult to categorise a genre. Thriller is not quite right, general fiction does not sum up the plot twists and in part it is a love story but not a traditional one. The themes include family, love, loss, hope and trauma.
The chapters are short and therefore the novel is fast paced although at 600 plus pages the book is long and I feel it could have been a little shorter through tighter writing without losing any detail.
The end did not disappoint. This novel would be a fantastic TV series.
(5/5)
From the first page of All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker I was hooked and I raced through 577 pages in just days.
The back of the book blurb promises “a sweeping story of love, loss, art and sacrifice” and that’s exactly what this superbly crafted novel delivers.
In small town Monta Clara, USA, Scout and Patch are outsiders but they have each other. That is until a shocking crime tears them apart. When they find their way back to each other nothing will ever be the same again. Spanning three decades this is a gripping story of friendship, found family, loyalty and the search for justice.
The loveable characters will stay with readers long after their journeys to forgiveness, redemption and truth are over.
With short, pacy chapters (most no longer than two pages) and some perfectly timed humour to add touches of light to the, at times bleak, subject matter this novel is the very definition of a page turner.
While one or two of the plot twists are barely plausible readers will not care in the slightest. They work for how this story needs to play out to reach its inevitable ending.
With 100 or so pages to go I was biting my nails and gasping out loud. By the end I was left reeling from the roller coaster of emotions I had ridden.
Get your hands on a copy of this book as soon as it is released in July. This was my first Chris Whitaker book, but it will certainly not be my last.
(5/5)
What an amazing book – disturbing, challenging, big and riveting, with wonderful characters. I was drawn into Patch’s ‘madness’, his behaviour seemed both perfectly understandable and yet unbelievable; and Saint’s unfailing belief in him was beautifully and lyrically described. The other characters were also real – by the end of the book I felt I knew them. There was great momentum to the story that never let up, and such a good ending. Deeply touching moments, laugh out loud exchanges, implied horrors (I am not a fan of graphically described evil), the incidental real life events and a certainty that it is possible for good to ultimately triumph. My only issue was due to my lack of knowledge about American geography – it was hard to get a grip on the scale of the search. A fantastic crime thriller but so much more. It’s on my highly recommended list and definitely 5 star!
(5/5)
This book had me from start to finish. So well written with characters that I felt I knew. It blends crime with relationships with a dash of suspense, so it transcends one single genre.
The pace was great throughout, and, with short chapters, it was easy to pick up for a brief read if I only had a few minutes. Saying that, I didn’t want to put it down.
Thoroughly enjoyable journey that has made me look out for more works from this author.
(4/5)
It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a book this much. It was fantastic.
Although the first few chapters were a bit difficult to follow, once I was in, I couldn’t put it down.
I laughed out loud as Chris brought the characters to life. His descriptions of the people and their personalities provided a clear vision in my mind, as I followed them along through their childhood.
The storyline was authentic, with something always just out of reach, making you want to keep reading.
I cried. So emotionally engaged in their lives, as they rose to the challenges of their childhood. Some challenges that we see and hear about in our own lives, in various forms, make some of the life lessons so relatable that I felt I was there with them.
Then the unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing, and the loss of hope for me when I realised I wouldn’t read the ending that I’d grown to hope for.
I loved reading this book.
(5/5)
All the Colours of the Dark is a compelling crime read. I loved the short chapters that kept the book moving along at a fast pace and the 500+ pages flew by in no time.
The story starts with the abduction of a young teen and soon turns into a fast-paced mystery thriller that had me totally captivated. A small town setting, flawed nuanced characters, lyrical prose and perfect imagery make All the Colours of the Dark an immersive and emotional read that spans almost 3 decades.
(4/5)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Crime/drama is not usually my genre – I’m more into fantasy but I must say, this book had me gripped right from the start. I couldn’t put it down!
Loved the character development and their “humanisation.” However, I did find some of the descriptions of the scenery a bit over the top/too long and I generally skipped over these parts.
(5/5)
This was my first read by Chris Whitaker and I loved it. The story opened slowly but as I came to know the main characters their story wrapped around me and I was totally engrossed as it developed. I enjoyed the twists and turns, the questions raised and the way they were answered as the tale drew to its conclusion. I will definitely read more of his book.
(4/5)
For someone who does not read mystery and prefers Science Fiction, Chris Whitaker has certainly dragged me into the life of mystery and crime! Through tears, laughter and heartache, I managed to be drawn into the life and lives of Saint and Patch.
To follow the life of a young boy and girl that suffer through a traumatic period as children, to finding and losing love, to battle the ups and downs of becoming adults and moving within the world and society. From the rich to the poor, the heartache, drama and lives of everyone in a small township, Chris has created a world in which I would like to delve more.
(5/5)
What an incredible book! My mind is etched with the interwoven story of love, loss, lifelong friendships, and a life of pure sacrifice. This novel will stay with me for a long time. I would love to see it adapted into a movie.
The characters were unique and propelled the story forward with unpredictable twists. The short chapters each held a piece of the puzzle, making me read quickly. It was a real page-turner that kept me glued day and night. I highly recommend this to anyone who has fought for their beliefs or cheered for an underdog.
I loved the vivid descriptions of places and the poignant element of the missing girls. Chris Whitaker is now firmly on my reading list.
(4/5)
All the colours of the dark by Chris Whitaker, is an absolutely epic story beginning in the 1970s and spanning decades. Set in small town, USA, we are following friends Joseph (Patch) and Saint. Patch was born with one eye and wears an eyepatch (hence the nickname). Saint is a tomboy who raises bees. Something happens that puts strain on their friendship, and the rest of the story follows their lives, both individually, and together.
It is hard to catergorise this book. It is a coming of age story, a mystery, a serial killer thriller, and a story of friendship, love and determination all rolled into one. The first big mystery is solved relatively quickly and as the reader, I was left wondering what was to come in the rest of a very long book. But Chris Whitaker had plenty more to say about these two characters and he made this saga work. As a writer he has a knack of revealing things a bit at a time and there were plenty of occasions when something unexpected happened. I really enjoyed this book and will be going in search of Chris Whitaker’s previous works.
(5/5)
We all want that friend. Someone who truly sees us – our faults – our joys – our fears and stands by us no matter the cost. I couldn’t put it down it had me enthralled.
An excellent novel expertly crafted. A most enjoyable read.
(4/5)
All the Colours of the Dark is a mystery/crime novel that spans a period of 25 years. It depicts the story of childhood friends, Saint Brown and Joseph (Patch) Macauley. The beginning of the novel is fast paced, with short descriptive chapters that lead to the pivotal incident in this story.
The impact of this incident changes the direction of people’s lives and relationships in the town of Monta Clare. The reader follows each of the main characters’ journey to adulthood and the resulting intersections and diversions in their lives.
The initial fast pace of the novel slows in the middle of the book, only to pick up again towards a compelling conclusion. If you enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, this book could be for you!
(4/5)
Having never read this author previously I was unsure what to expect however, I really enjoyed reading All The Colours of The Dark and look forward to reading more stories by Chris Whitaker. The mystery surrounding Grace and whether she was real or just created by Patch while in that dark room was intriguing. My biggest irritation was the size of the chapters, having chapters that were 1 or 2 pages long was not something I enjoyed. I did find it difficult to put down at times, desperate to know what was going to happen next. Would Saint find Patch? Could Patch be saved from himself? Would Saint and Patch find themselves in a relationship?
(4/5)
This is a big book. It is 600+ pages long, spans three decades and is set in Montana, one of the largest American states. The author, who is British, says that America is “a world within a country” and he chooses it as the setting for his novels because it provides such a broad canvas.
A one-eyed boy saves a pretty girl from abduction, only to be abducted himself. His best friend then tries to rescue him. The lives of all three children are shaped by this event, and by the search for the perpetrator and the girl who was held captive with the boy which consumes the rest of the book.
For readers who enjoyed Whitaker’s breakout novel “We Begin at the End”, this will seem very familiar. There is a crime which sets the story moving, and children are at the heart of the story. Whitaker’s children are vividly drawn: wise and driven beyond their years, but as careless as toddlers.
The author manages a large cast of characters with skill and brings the story to a satisfying conclusion although everyone involved loses a part of themselves along the way.
(5/5)
All the Colours of the Dark is like climbing a staircase and each step brings you closer to finding Grace and falling deeper into the story.
Travel along with Saint and Patch as they both try to discover who and where Grace is. As they go through the years their stories grow and the changes they make bring their stories higher and higher up the stairs.
Each step holds a new piece of information and each piece of information brings new discoveries in life.
This book is such an amazing mix of mystery and intrigue. There is a darkness and a light and In the whole of it all is a love story that tingles in the background all through the book.
I’ve not been so into a book for a while and this one grabbed me and pulled me in and held me there until the very end. It was hard to put down as I always wanted to know more.
A captivating novel that should be shouted about. I loved it.
(4/5)
Initially I was quite over whelmed by the size of the book, 576 pages and 260 chapters. However, the chapters are quite short, some only half a page. The book was very enjoyable, an emotional roller coaster and at times a very sad story. I really felt empathy and compassion for Patch, Saint, Misty and Grace who are the main characters in the book. The horror of girls being abducted with no trace of where they are and mostly never found. The dedication and pure tenacity of childhood friends Saint and Patch who never give up searching for the girls. The book is very detailed in describing each of their emotions, including happiness and despair at what happens to each of them, and the people that their lives touch. Each chapter gives a couple of words that provides a small relevant detail that propels you to read on in anticipation of what happens to each of them next. Truly, an all encompassing story which I thoroughly enjoyed, with a “proper” ending so you don’t have to imagine what happens to them all next.
(5/5)
The story starts with the main character, eye patch wearing Joseph Macauley, kidnapped and held captive in the dark for a significant period during his youth. After he was discovered, he and his best friend Saint become fixated on finding Grace, who he remembers stories and other vivid details that she has told him during his time in captivity.
This book makes you question whether someone is capable of being a bad person but also good. It also makes you question different people’s perceptions of right and wrong. Throughout the book there are moving stories of love and what love can drive you to do.
This is an enjoyable holiday read with short chapters and enough twists to keep you interested.
(4/5)
“All the Colours of the Dark” is a masterfully crafted mystery that combines a compelling plot with richly developed characters. Chris Whitaker’s exploration of trauma, redemption, and the power of hope makes this novel a standout in the mystery genre. Despite its slower start, the novel rewards readers with an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking narrative. This book is a must-read for fans of literary thrillers and those who appreciate a deep dive into the human psyche.