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challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed the story and the scope of this book. I enjoy stories with this type of sweeping timeline & interesting characters with some mystery involved. That said, I have issues.
First of all the writing style never really clicked with me, though I did get used to it over 600 pages đ The short chapters are helpful but there are detailed, luxurious descriptions of landscapes & then key plot elementslike Saintâs pregnancy & labor that are literally skipped over in order to create a âtwistâ later on. Cliff hangers are really done a disservice to the momentum, leaving one characterâs story line hanging for âanticipationâ only to have it kind of glazed over and summarized when we finally come back to it.
Also, possibly because of the writing style or the length, when new mysteries would pop up I would literally sigh. I was just tired. It felt emotionally manipulative.
I will say, the chosen family that is built in this book is truly wonderful. It might be what kept me going most through 600 pages of Patch.
Are we supposed to like Patch? I feel empathy for him for sure, but the entire book is basically saying: let men act however they need to act, support them no matter what, do the actual work of hunting down a serial killer while he paints & searches backwards for victims families instead of trying to prevent more people from becoming victims, & because of that ladies, youâll get all the love & thanks you deserve which is none. Literally every woman in this story is there in support of Patch & he gives them nothing. Saint & Misty & Norma & Charlotte & even Sammy are so amazing & interesting, but we are only treated to them as they relate to and support Patch with this undying, unending support. That is never, not once returned. Unless you count killing which just takes Patch further from them. This is why I donât read male authors muchđ
First of all the writing style never really clicked with me, though I did get used to it over 600 pages đ The short chapters are helpful but there are detailed, luxurious descriptions of landscapes & then key plot elements
Also, possibly because of the writing style or the length, when new mysteries would pop up I would literally sigh. I was just tired. It felt emotionally manipulative.
I will say, the chosen family that is built in this book is truly wonderful. It might be what kept me going most through 600 pages of Patch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A thriller/ mystery that isnât formulaic! A unique story with lots of detail and heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
500 of the 582 pages are utter drawn out nonsense. A modern day Holden Caulfield of The Catcher in the Rye, whom I despised in high school and still do all these years later. I canât tell you how many times I rolled my eyes, or said WTF out loud. But those last few pages? Worth the finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very long winded and confusing at time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Incest
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book hooked me at the beginning, I was very invested in the characters throughout the story. However, the pacing lost me a bit in the middle. I think this book could have been shorter and I would have enjoyed it more. It just felt like the same thing was repeating for a while, which made it more difficult to get through. I think Chris Whitakerâs writing is great, and Iâm willing to check out more of his work. He did a great job with creating complex characters and including themes of friendship, found family, and recovery from trauma. He also does a great job of putting multiple twists throughout to keep the reader invested, this is what made me push through the slow middle part. Overall, I would still recommend, especially if youâre someone whoâs into true crime/mysteries. Also check trigger warnings as there are some heavy topics discussed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All I can say is, I wish Goodreads had a vocal option to talk about a book. I absolutely loved this book. I donât really have words to describe how much this book meant to me. There was love, action, killing, the most importantly, the power of friendship and hope This book has not received the hypo that deserves. I think that this book went onto so many levels that people need to explore youâre gonna laugh theyâre gonna cry. Theyâre gonna do everything and I certainly hope that this gets added to everyoneâs 2025 Book books to read. I am so excited to share this book with my friends because I think that everyone will learn to love this book so much. This is a great book for people that maybe donât literary fiction but love murder mystery true crime, coming of age everything in so I just think itâs a great book. This is why you need voice reviews! I canât say enough good things about this. I would say this is probably in my top 10 favorite books of all times at this moment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
This is not for the HSP reader. For all the content warnings and they are legion, this is such a well told story that weaves so many threads and brings them to a fulfilling conclusion.
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The description of the book reads as a thriller with a bit of a love story mixed in but itâs more of a literary book following characters through 25+ years from teenagers to adulthood. If I were mentally prepared for that I wouldâve enjoyed it more.
The beginning is good and the ending is good but everything in between drags on. Donât let the number of chapters scare you, the longest chapter is just a couple pages long. Overall, Iâm done with it and am glad itâs over.
The beginning is good and the ending is good but everything in between drags on. Donât let the number of chapters scare you, the longest chapter is just a couple pages long. Overall, Iâm done with it and am glad itâs over.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, Abortion, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Saint is determined to save Patch. Patch is determined to save her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All the Colors of the Dark is an impressive blend of mystery, thriller, coming-of-age, young love, and found family, all seamlessly woven into one compelling story.
The narrative centers on Patch and Saint, two friends bound by a lifelong connection. When Patch goes missing, Saint refuses to give up, doing whatever it takes to bring him home. After his rescue, Patch becomes consumed with finding Grace, a girl he was held captive with, setting the stage for a poignant and suspenseful journey.
While the book is slow-paced and perhaps a touch longer than necessary, the payoff is undeniably worth it. All the Colors of the Dark is a richly layered tale that will linger with you long after the final page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder