When a young boy is found dead and exsanguinated in the old tiny mining town of Deadhart, Alaska, the community assumes it is a “colony killing”—a killing done by one of the vampires living in the colony close to town. When Detective Barbara Atkins, a member of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology department, shows up to investigate what happened, she uncovers the town’s dark past and that this is not the first killing like this that has happened in the small town. But will she be able to learn the truth before the town seeks vengeance on the colony?

This was a really fun vampire lore book. First, the atmosphere was perfect. An old tiny snowy mining town with a history was incredibly atmospheric. It was almost a character itself. The vampire lore, history, and world in this book was also incredibly interesting and created a sort of social justice feel to the book as there were some people who believe that “vampyrs” are an abused minority population that are just as human as everyone else and need to be protected, while others have an extreme prejudice toward them including slurs, servitude, and violence. With all of that in the background, this is also a cool police procedural/who dunnit with a great ending. There were some unforgettable and unique characters in this as well. I would absolutely read another book in this “universe” and really enjoyed the way the existence of vampires is portrayed here. If you are a fan of who dunnits or vampires, I highly recommend this book. The level of gore is also on the more mild end for people who don’t enjoy that as much, or are horror beginners.

C.J. Tudor has really been hitting it out of the park for me. The Burning Girls is one of my favorite thrillers of all time. While vampire centric stories can be hit or miss for me, I was immediately engaged in The Gathering. The vampire angle of this story was very unique and executed perfectly. The Alaska vibes of this story was immaculate (it reminded me of the vibes we got from the newest True Detective season). I was interested in the underlying murder mystery, but that almost became secondary to the dynamics of the whole town and everyone's view of and attitude towards vampires. The resolutions to the mysteries surprised me, I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the setting. Overall, this was a great thriller/mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for the Arc. I LOVED this book, love love love. It was fun to read, and was not the gruesome, bloody mess I thought it would be. I've read a few of Tudor's books before and found them just a little too scary for me, so I assumed this would be another one for my DNF shelf. It definitely was not! If you're not into vampires, you probably wont dig this. I haven't read a vamp book in years, and purposely don't because most are stupid or too bloody. This wasn't super heavy on the grossness of vampires, so don't worry about that, but they do play a large role in the book (duh).

I do want to note, that my review is for the entire book EXCEPT for the last 20 pages. I wish they could have fixed the ending before they released the book, because I feel like many will find the ending unsatisfying and abrupt. I was so mad when I finally finished the book that I had to put off writing a review because I knew it would be a 1* review just based on the ending.

I want to thank NetGalley and Ballentine Books for this e-arc. Without them, this review would not be possible.

Stories involving vampires have never really been my main go-to for horror. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that I loved every book I read by C.J. Tudor. That is why I requested this title for review. That is also why I am glad I did. Let’s dive in!

The Gathering takes place in an alternate reality where vampires and humans coexist. In an excellent location like Alaska and a small town with a population of 876, nearly all the boxes are checked for the foundation of a great horror story.

Our small town, Deadhart, has its fair share of secrets—secrets that will come to the surface as our protagonist, Detective Barbara Atkins, investigates the murder of a young boy named Marcus Andrews. Together with former Sheriff Jenson Tucker, the investigation gets underway, and every time you think you've figured out where the clues are leading, you’re wrong.

The townspeople of Deadhart are convinced the murderer is from a shunned sect of vampires. Are they right? Well, you will have to read the book to find out. This was a thoroughly entertaining read, and I will recommend it to others. It’s a solid five stars.

I should have noticed that this book was about vampires with the giant fangs on the cover but I had no idea until I started the first page. I remember enjoying The Chalk Man but I just couldn't get into this. The way the author kept describing the female main character's weight just rubbed me the wrong way.

Maybe I'll give this another try one day, see if after some reflection time I like it more.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like l'm late to the @cjtudorauthor party, having just started reading her books last year, but either way l'm happy to be here!! Her books are so unique and so atmospheric. I fell in love with the cover and synopsis of this book and knew I had to read it! I think 2024 is going to be the year of vampires and I am here for it!! I love being thrown into these dark worlds that are clearly fiction, but I feel like I can envision it all as if it were happening in real life! The characters are so perfectly developed, during what I felt like was a slow start, but also necessary to really thrust the reader into the story. I thought the execution of the story was spot on, building up to the reveal and big twist! At times I wasn't sure who I was rooting for and who I was rooting against! I love when an author makes you question yourself!
While the book centers on vampires, I think it really dives into diversity and how society shuns those who are different and not living within society norms. I took a lot away from this book and was so happy Tudor ventured into this territory! I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

I am such a fan of CJ Tudor’s writing. And a vampire book? Say less. I absolutely adored this book. The premise was solid and set up perfectly for a series. I loved the development of the story and the shocking reveals/ twists throughout. It had the perfect amount of suspense, horror, and drama. One of the best vampire books I’ve ever read.

4.25 stars!

This was...SO good??? CJ Tudor is one of my favorite authors, and I like her even more after this novel because of how she's combining the thriller, horror, and dystopian genres. I thought it was so intriguing to take this isolated town and mix in not only the tension of murder, but the conflict of vampires living adjacent to a small town.

My only letdown was that I didn't really feel like anything was too too surprising. I think Tudor built such an interesting world with really great lore and that's what carried the novel and had me on the edge of my seat, but I wish the mystery portion had been able to do that. That being said, I keep thinking about how great this book is that I might need to reread it again this winter and I need her to keep writing things that blends genres.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I didnt realize I needed a Whoddunit, True Crime-Serial Killer, Vampyr Mash-up!
The banter, inner diagloue and real world themes (prejudices, racism, etc) were executed perfectly and without info dumping.
This was a ridiculously bingeable read.
Time to hit Tudor's backlist!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC!

I love that C.J. Tudor has been switching from straight mystery/thriller into a mix with horror. Her last book, The Drift, had 'whistlers' (zombies) and now we have vampyrs. They're not supernatural creatures but they are super dangerous. Barbara (the detective) is supposed to decide if a Cull to the vampyr Colony is appropriate. She takes her work very seriously and has to keep fending off the cries of 'we want a cull' from all directions - tavern owner, suspicious Reverend, creepy old hunter guys. I would not want to be in her shoes but I definitely enjoyed reading it.

I've read all of Tudor's books and would rank them from most enjoyable as: The Other People, The Gathering, The Drift, The Burning Girls, The Chalk Man, The Hiding Place, and A Sliver of Darkness. I look forward to more.

🧛🏻‍♀️Mini Review🧛🏻‍♀️
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Thank you so much @netgalley @cjtudorauthor and @randomhouse for the advanced copy of one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! Swipe for the synopsis, this one is a supernatural success! An easy 5 star read for me. It was mystery and vampires, what more can you ask for ?! I think this is the perfect book for fans of True Detective Night Country and 30 Days of Night. It’s super atmospheric and creepy, I flew through this one to get to the end! It also desperately makes me want to visit Alaska, even though it was a scary place to go in this book 😂
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QOTD- who is your favorite vampire ?! Mine is always Eric Northman in True Blood 😍
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#thegathering #cjtudornovel #cjtudorbooks #booklover #bookrecommendations #bookreview #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #bookworm #booklover #booksofinsta #bibliophile #bookish #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #horrorbooks #horrorbookstagram

Yooooo a new favorite thriller! Will for sure be recommending this one to friends. I did not guess even ONE of the plot twists. So unique!

The Gathering is the perfect blend of crime thriller and horror! A middle aged detective is sent to rural Alaska to investigate a murder perpetrated by a vampyr. A similar murder took place 25 years ago, but is that enough to order an eradication of the entire vampyr colony? This was so different from any other vampire book I have read, and I loved every second. Full of twists and characters, The Gathering is sure to grip your attention and not let go. I am hoping for future installments from C.J. Tudor on Barbara's future investigations.

I received a DRC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Little to hard to get into. Did not feel it was as good as other books by this author. Would recommend for supernatural, scary ghost readers. 2 stars

Thank you Netgally,C.J. Tudor and Ballentine books for the ARC of The Gathering.

Another home run book from C.J. Tudor. This was a bit darker than previous books I have read from this author but I loved it. I will be happy if there are more books featuring the main character Barbara and vampires. The ending eluded to that possibility.

I will continue to read anything the author writes as I have not been disappointed. Do yourself a favor and read this book if you love dark, mysterious and vampires!

When Random House sent me an email containing the widget for The Gathering, I knew I needed to read this book. Why? First, the cover. It was (and still is) striking and having finished the book, it suits it. Secondly, I have a slight, tiny, eeny vampire obsession. I usually don’t review anything with vampires (and, of course, this book and the book I just finished will cast me as a liar). Those books are for my pleasure (no reviews/reading challenges). Thirdly, I can count on one hand the times I read a book set in Alaska during the winter. So, all of those reasons made me accept the widget.

The main storyline of The Gathering follows Barbara as she travels to Deadhart to investigate the murder of a teenage boy by a vampyr from the neighboring Colony. But, once she gets to Deadhart, the townspeople and her boss pressure Barbara to authorize a cull of the Colony. Not wanting to jump the gun, Barbara continues with her investigation, and what she finds surprises her. Not only did the Colony not kill the boy, but there is a vampyr hate group active in town. She also sees similarities to a murder committed over twenty years previously. With tensions in the town and the Colony rising daily, Barbara must find out who the murderer is and the reasons behind it before the vampyres and townspeople clash.

I found the storyline fascinating and nerve-racking. The book takes place in the dark because the sun never rises in Alaska during that part of the year. And, I will tell you, it made the horror parts much creepier, mainly because you can’t see who or what is coming for you in the dark.

The storyline is broken into three parts. The first part follows Barbara and her investigation. In the beginning, it was a little boring, but that didn’t last long at all. As Barbara enters town, things start happening and get creepy fast. There are flashbacks to Barbara’s past and her friendship with a vampyr named Mercy. I was also in awe over how calm Barbara was with people. Some of the things said and done to her were awful. But, again, her childhood and friendship with Mercy were a massive factor in how she was able to keep calm.

The second storyline follows Athelinda, the Colony, and the connection to the town. There was a minute where I was convinced that maybe one of her people had something to do with the death, but that was quickly put to rest. Everything Athelinda does in this book is for the good of her people, regardless of how it plays out. Her past also damaged Athelinda. The things she was forced to do were horrendous, and the implications made me gag. I won’t get into it because of spoilers, but I was sick when I read those paragraphs. But I also gained a better insight into Athelinda’s dealing with humans, and you know what? I don’t blame her for the things she did.

The third storyline was also the most mysterious one. There is no date or location, but it is centered on a teenage girl kept captive in a basement by her Captor. At first, I wondered why this girl was kept down there, but that was explained quickly. Then I wondered where this basement was and who the Captor was. I did have a suspect, but I was wrong about that. When the author revealed who it was, my mouth dropped open. It was the last person I expected.

The book also goes into the murder of another teenage boy, twenty-five years previously. But, unlike this murder, it was pretty cut and dry. But the fallout was felt years later. I couldn’t understand why Beau kept the heads and didn’t give them back to Athelinda. It is explained, but it was so wrong. Also, the more that was revealed about the night the teenage vampyr was killed (along with his father and uncle), the more I disliked Beau. But it also made me love Tucker (he tried to do the right thing and paid for it dearly).

The mystery angles of The Gathering were terrific. The author was able to keep me from figuring out who the killer was until Barbara and Tucker figured it out. That was twist number one. The second twist was who killed the town doctor and high school teacher and why. The reason for the town doctor’s murder was apparent, but the teacher, not so much. That leads to the third and most shocking twist. It involves the murder of the teacher and the girl in the basement. As I said above, I was shocked. It was the last person I would have thought. But, looking back, it did make sense, and the author dropped some tiny hints.

The end of The Gathering was interesting. The author wrapped everything up and explained every death in the book. Then the epilogue happened, and again, I was shocked. I was also hoping that this meant there would be a book 2. What was written was a heck of a cliffhanger.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and C.J. Tudor for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Gathering. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Oh CJ Tudor! How I love you! This is my 4th CJ Tudor book and I just am never disappointed! If someone asked me to describe CJ Tudor's books - here are some things I would say.
Crime Thrillers/Police Procedurals PLUS!!
Hypnotic, intriguing, and unique premises
Vivid settings that jump off the page
Well-developed characters that you can invest in
Just freaking awesome!

After reading The Chalk Man (LOVE!) then Other People and absolutely loving and devouring The Drift last year, I was SO excited when I heard that the next CJ Tudor book would involve vampyres! But these aren't your typical movie vampires. CJ Tudor has taken the world we live in and tweaked it to be a world where humans and vampyres coexist - and the vampyres live in colonies that are protected by laws. As long as they don't mess with humans - and stick to drinking animal blood -humans won't mess with them - that's the law. But then... in the small Alaskan town of Deadheart a teenager is found with his throat slashed and blood drained from his body and the town wants to invoke a cull since obviously it is the work of a vampyre...but when the absolutely amazing Detective Barbra Atkins - a vampyre specialist - comes into town she discovers there is a lot more going on in this small town than meets the eye.

Oh I loved it! I loved the main character and her strange sidekick Tucker so much and was so invested in what was going to happen. The mystery of the town, the townspeople, and the vampyre colony was so interesting, eery, entertaining, and propulsive. I did not want to put this one down.

If you loved the most recent season of True Detective with Jodie Foster and are a fan of True Blood - then this is a must read! I need to go see what CJ Tudor books I haven't read yet and immediately dive into them because I MUST be a CJ Tudor completist before the next book comes out!

While I haven't read every book this author has written, this seemed like a big change from her previous work.

Normally, after growing up with Twilight books, I don't seek out vampire books. But, I went in blind with this one because I'm a fan of her writing, and I knew I'd want to read it no matter its subject. I'm glad I went in blind because it was a nice change up in storytelling, and I really enjoyed it.

I liked the setting, the characters, the mystery and suspense, and the briefly chilling moments. The end did sum up everything at once, which was a lot to take in, but it also left most questions answered.

If I were to nit pick at this, the only thing that bothered me was about the main character, a detective named Barbara. We know she is a plus sized lady, and we know she enjoys her burgers and bagels. That's fine. But all of this is stressed several times, kind of making these descriptions and statements about herself a bit too disparaging and verging on being fat shaming/making fun of her eating habits and size. One character even told her she'd slow him down cause she's overweight, which then made her once again have self-hating thoughts about her carbs obsession. So, it was a bit much and unnecessary to keep bringing up her weight and eating habits in a negative manner. That all being said, this was a very small part of the whole book, even if it did have an impact on me.

Still, with this cancel culture,I do not want this to stop you from reading this book or enjoying this author's work. Because I will most definitely continue to read her books, and I really enjoyed this one.

I found this to be a very unique vampire story with topics such as discrimination, family dysfunction, lgbtq+ romance and discovery, and much more.
I gave this 4 solid ⭐️

As always, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Omg I loved this book. I am a huge fan of vampire books and I love C.J Tudor. I will buy anything she writes. Thank you netgalley.

I’ve read C. J Tudor’s thrillers and I loved them and this book was no exception. This was a thriller mixed with vampires and I couldn’t get enough. Once I started reading this book I just flew through it.

I definitely look forward to more books from this author and I also need to read some of her previous novels.