All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending and Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the smalltown of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing. When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy—who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake. Chris Whitaker’s thriller is about the darkness of obsession and the blinding light of hope.
- Last updated: October 24, 2025
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Looking for reviews, author bios, and discussion questions to stimulate conversation? We’ve compiled these for you!
Enjoy this discussion between authors Patricia Cornwall and Chris Whitaker as part of the Midday Mystery virtual event.
Author biography from Penguin Random House.
These notes include questions designed to spark conversation about the book.
All the Colors of the Dark has “A grim theme with a compelling and complex plot."
Reviewer Betty Martin provides a concise and thorough review of this book.
Author Chris Whitaker reveals how a dusty book at the library helped him rethink his childhood trauma and the painful roller coaster of his adult life.
This reading guide, which includes plot spoilers, has thought-provoking book club questions. Penguin Random House encourages readers to finish this novel before using this guide to avoid spoilers.
Reviewer Alison Flood calls this book a “luminous tale of abducted teens."
Chris Whitaker's fifth novel is a multi-layered masterpiece with impeccable plotting.