Editorial note: I received a copy of All the Colors of the Dark in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker is a sweeping literary fiction novel that covers so many themes.
There are some books everywhere. On TV, on social media, featured at all the bookstores, you get the picture. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker is that novel of 2024.
While it was promoted somewhat as a thriller, I found it more to be a straight-up literary fiction novel, with elements of suspense. Literary fiction typically serves well with a book club audience as it truly provides an in-depth look at characters. You learn all about their motivations and reasons for why they take the actions they do.
But I know literary fiction can also be polarizing. Some people feel it might be too much description and it tends to lose the focus, or even the plot at times. And literary fiction tends to get the highest ratings and tons of press, and I know some readers feel it can be overrated.
I bring this up because I do feel All the Colors of the Dark suffered from leaning so hard into the literary fiction style that it took away from the central mystery at hand. I found the middle to be somewhat rough, and I started to lose interest. But certain key scenes kept me invested to finish it.
What’s the Story About
The year is 1975 and while the country is experiencing much change, in a small town in Missouri, tragedy continues to strike as girls are going missing.
When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, a local boy named Patch, saves the girl. But it comes at a huge price.
Lives will be changed forever with that one heroic action.
The Narrative
The story starts off quite engaging and chilling. We read about Patch’s heroic act, as he risks his life to save a girl who doesn’t know him. He’s only 13 so still very much a kid and he then experiences absolute horror.
His best friend Saint will do everything to make sure he comes back. Even taking on the investigation herself.
Those sections are great, and I was so invested. But as more gets revealed, it starts to drag and begins to lose the initial hook.
In my opinion, this book needed another edit. I feel like the length is too long and at the same time, it also tried to pack too much into one novel. A thriller, coming-of-age tale, multiple love stories, lots of tragedies, tracking a serial killer, and then it also spans decades so it’s also trying its hand at historical fiction too.
It was a lot. But it’s also too simplified to say that the story overall didn’t work. I think it’s an intriguing read, with an engaging first quarter and last quarter. But I truly feel it lost the plot through the middle.
The Characters
Patch is quite the unique character. He has one eye and his mom instilled a love of pirates in him young (due to their eyepatch) and Patch believes he’s one as well when he’s 13. But after a horrific ordeal, he’s no longer a child who plays make believe.
He’s complicated but yet, I didn’t root for him like I anticipated. There was kind of an annoying plot device where everyone is in love with him—and I really don’t like when authors do that. People are so loyal to him and put him on a pedestal, even when it’s not reciprocated at all. I’m not discounting the trauma he faced, but the blind loyalty to him from almost everyone in the world was a little much.
His best friend Saint, on the other hand, was very interesting. She, to me, should be the star of the show. She eventually works in law enforcement after the experience with Patch and her character arc is solid. But it’s also a let down too at times. I wanted more for her.
Overall, this book promotes hope against all odds, and it does ring true in some ways. But I also felt that aspect came up empty at times too.
Verdict
As you can tell, I had quite mixed feelings on this story. Some parts were great, others not so much at all. I don’t feel it checked each box like the promotion promised. It’s an example of trying to blend genres so much that it loses the original hook.
Still, despite my criticisms, I can see book clubs finding this to be a great one for discussion. There is so much that happens with many surprising turns. So your book club meeting won’t be quiet when discussing the novel.
That said, if you’re looking for literary suspense that stays more true to the genre, I highly recommend The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.
For book clubs, check out my book club questions here.
