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dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abortion, Murder
Minor: Vomit
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This could have been a really great book, but for me, it was merely a decent book. I almost gave up on it at around 55%, but so many people loved it that I pushed on, skimming a bit, to get to the end. Whitaker had a great start, but then it really, really dragged in the middle. All The Colors of the Dark is overly long, at about 600 pages; a good editor could have done wonders for it by cutting it down to a more manageable length.
The two main characters, Patch and Saint, were well-drawn individuals. We don’t really get enough on the third main character, Misty, to say the same about her. There’s also a great side character, Sammy, who owns an art gallery in the small Missouri town where much of the action takes place. (I kept wondering how there could be a viable art gallery in a place that could barely sustain a movie theater, but oh well.) I’m glad I didn’t DNF midway because then I wouldn’t have met Charlotte, a feisty character I loved.
This is not a thriller, although there are a couple of “action scenes” here and there, and there’s definitely a mystery. It’s more of a literary character-driven drama.
Another thing a good editor should have caught was a glaring Britishism, even though the book takes place in the United States. (The author is British/English.) The phrase “fell pregnant” was used a few times; this phrase is not used in the US. We say “I/she got pregnant” or “I am/she is pregnant.” (I checked the published audiobook and these phrases were still there, just as in my review copy of the book).
There is a lot of talk of religion in this book, specifically certain Christian religious beliefs. That’s something I don’t care for in my reading, but other people may not have the same issue. It overlays a lot of the story.
The audiobook, which I thank my public library for, is narrated by the wonderful Eduardo Ballerini, but even he couldn’t save this one. It was just too long and meandering.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol
Hated this at first - didn’t understand the pacing, didn’t understand the frustrations, and connected too hard with a character that always felt second-best.
But boy, does the last 40% of the book get you.
But boy, does the last 40% of the book get you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book did a thing that stressed me out! Their points at several parts of the book where stories seem resolved, and the book could end, but you look at the pages and realize that there are far too many chapters left. Although this book is a compelling read, and I could barely put it down, on reflection I wonder how much of, this story could have been removed and you would’ve had a tighter evenly paced read. There were some elements that I figured out pretty early on and this hardly feels like a story that should have gone on for three decades. I still like the concept and the way that the investigation unfolded however this is dark. The way time is noted is by marking days or years with tragedies and terrible events in the past nobody ever recovers. Everyone is sad everyone’s hurt, though there are moments of levity no one in this book is happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Kidnapping
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War and much change in America a small town in Missouri is fighting a different battle: its girls are disappearing without a trace. When a young boy named Patch stops a kidnapping in progress a girl is saved but his life is changed irrevocably. As time progresses you begin to see the ripple effects of his actions that day throughout the lives of so many people.
All the Colors of the Dark is a beautifully written slow-burn suspense novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat with tears streaming down your face. While this is a serial killer thriller, the true highlight of this story are the beautiful characters at the center. You will fall in love with Patch & Saint and the community that rises up to support them over many years of difficulty. This epic story told over decades will take you on the winding and unpredictable journeys of the flawed characters as they attempt to move on from the trauma they experienced in their younger years. All the Colors of the Dark is a book I know I will return to again.
This book is very dark, so readers should be aware of the following content warnings: child abuse, death of a parent, incest, rape, abortion, murder, kidnapping, alcohol abuse, domestic violence.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Incest, Rape
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Blood, Kidnapping, Abortion, Classism