All the Colours of the Dark
The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller – ‘a wonderful book’ (Richard Osman)
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4.6 • 134 Ratings
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
AN EPIC LOVE STORY, A SOARING THRILLER, AND A SWEEPING COMING-OF-AGE TALE: A READING EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER...
A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK - and selected for Books of the Year by Amazon, Waterstones, Audible, Apple Books, Google Play, and a GoodReads Choice Award Finalist.
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'Hits like a sledgehammer. An absolutely must-read novel' GILLIAN FLYNN
'A wonderful book' RICHARD OSMAN
'Impeccably crafted, deeply emotional, entirely shattering' BONNIE GARMUS
'A brilliant work of art' JODI PICOULT
'I've never read anything quite like it. This book will stay with you for a very long time' LUCY FOLEY
'Kept me frantically turning the pages' KRISTIN HANNAH
'An epic sweep ... Ambitious, powerful and moving, this is a tour de force.' GUARDIAN
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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...
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'It's as good as everyone says. I have absolutely no doubt it's the book of the year' JENNIE GODFREY
'A book to lose yourself in - a huge achievement' ALEX MICHAELIDES
'A luminous and heartbreaking book - a crime novel, yes, but vaster and more moving than anything I expected.'
OBSERVER
'The best thriller I've ever read ... a multi-layered masterpiece with impeccable plotting.' i NEWS
'The instant classic ... A poignant, powerful and unforgettable love story.' HEAT
'Breathtaking. I was gripped from the first page' RUTH JONES
'Amazing. Haunting. Unforgettable' PATRICIA CORNWELL
'A future modern classic' WOMAN & HOME
'A truly epic crime novel and love story' WILL DEAN
'A cinematic masterpiece' WOMAN'S WEEKLY
'Vast yet intimate, tense yet tender' ERIN KELLY
'One of the most beautiful books I've ever read.' PLATINUM
'Beautiful, wise, heartbreaking and profound' STUART TURTON
'Epic in every sense of the word ... Some of the best characters I've ever passed my time with' ABIGAIL DEAN
'A masterpiece, the sort of book that only comes along once in a decade' ABIR MUKHERJEE
'Achingly beautiful ... A masterpiece' ANDREA MARA
'A masterpiece that drew me in from the first page' PRIMA
'Will capture the hearts of generations to come' M. W. CRAVEN
'A heartbreaking work of genius' IMRAN MAHMOOD
'Truly exceptional' JOHN MARRS
'Vast, yearning, and luminous' VASEEM KHAN
'A once-in-a-generation classic ... Might just be the best book I've ever read' ADAM SIMCOX
'A heartbreaking, life-affirming story of hope and loss' CHARLOTTE PHILBY
'A mystery wrapped in a love story that will break and then mend your heart' HOLLY SEDDON
'One of the best books that I've ever read' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON
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APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
This dark and gripping thriller spans three decades, and follows childhood friends Joseph “Patch” Macauley and Saint Brown. When Patch is abducted while saving a girl from being taken by a serial attacker, Saint won’t give up looking for him and the missing girls thought to have been taken by the same man. Chris Whitaker weaves together a pretty wild ride here—it’s an incredibly vivid tale of friendship, an unshakeable search for truth, family, love and art. Dark in places, but ultimately quite beautiful. We were hooked.
Customer Reviews
Epic, unforgettable, and hauntingly beautiful
I joined Bloody Scotland online this year and watched Chris Whitaker speak about his new book, All the Colours of the Dark. I knew right away that I wanted to read it and purchased a hardback edition that weekend. Later, after reading glowing reviews of the narrator, Edoardo Ballerini, I also picked up the audiobook. Experiencing the story in both formats was the perfect way to fully appreciate this remarkable novel.
Spanning over 25 years, from 1976 to 2001, this is an epic tale of resilience, friendship, and the lasting scars of trauma. It begins with thirteen-year-old Joseph "Patch" Macauley being abducted after stepping in to protect another child. His best friend, Saint Brown, refuses to give up on him, launching a relentless search that underscores the unbreakable bond between them. Their friendship is the heart of the story, a light in the darkness that surrounds them.
Whitaker deftly blends genres - coming-of-age, mystery, police procedural, and literary fiction - crafting a story that feels fresh and unique. While the mystery of Patch’s abduction and his connection to the enigmatic Grace adds tension, the novel is ultimately a character-driven exploration of how people endure and heal from unimaginable challenges.
The writing is beautifully evocative, transporting readers to the Ozarks with vivid descriptions of pine forests, buzzing hives, and the golden sweetness of honey. Edoardo Ballerini’s exceptional narration brought these details to life, seamlessly adapting to each character and heightening the emotional impact of the story. By the final, gripping third of the book, I was so captivated that I followed along with the hardback in hand, fully immersing myself in its intensity and nuance.
The cast of characters is unforgettable. Patch and Saint are flawed yet deeply compelling, and their unwavering friendship is portrayed with authenticity and heart. The supporting characters—including the fierce Misty, the lively Sammy, and the mysterious Grace - add richness and depth, making the small town of Monta Clare feel as real as the people who inhabit it.
This is a novel that made me laugh, cry, and reflect on the resilience of the human spirit. It explores themes of loss, healing, and the enduring power of hope even in the darkest of times. While the pacing occasionally falters, and some moments stretch believability, these are minor issues in a story so layered and moving.
Chris Whitaker has delivered a masterpiece that lingers long after the final page. All the Colours of the Dark is a haunting, unforgettable novel that defies categorisation and touches the soul. Whether you read the book, listen to the audiobook, or do both as I did, you will not be disappointed.
Impossible to put down!
I loved it!
Fabulous.
I finished it, turned to the beginning and started again. That’s how much I loved this book.