Usually, I love this author's books, but this one I'm a bit lukewarm about. I appreciate that Tudor stepped out of her comfort zone and gave her story a paranormal twist, but I wasn't invested in any of the characters or the mystery. There were just more deaths, more unanswered questions, and more bigotry, which got repetitively old.

Some of it was just silly. The government would never let people just go killing vampires in an authorized cull, they'd send the military to do it. Or the bar in such a hateful town playing reggaeton when there wasn't one Spanish-speaking character.

I was excited to read the gathering as I am a fan of Cj tudors previous works! In this latest, a young boy is murdered and detective Barbara Atkins is sent to investigate in the remote Alaskan village. Barbara isn’t a normal describe though as she specializes in vampiric killing and has to determine if it’s the work of humankind or of the neighboring vampyre colony. As Barbara teams up with the former sheriff, she discovers there is more to the towns people than appears on the surface. As she gets closer to the truth, more bodies begin to turn up and it may not be the vampyres who pose the biggest threat.

As with all her previous works, I enjoyed the fresh spin on a well-established horror trope of vampires. While there were supernatural and horror elements, it felt very grounded in present-day reality and it explored themes of isolation and “otherness,”

A fast-paced and fun read well worth your time and a worthy addition to Tudor’s growing catalogue of thrillers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fast paced thriller with a unique vampire twist that I finished in 3 days!

When a teenage boy is found dead from a suspected vampire attack in a small town in Alaska, vampire forensic detective Barbara Atkins is sent to deduce whether the killing was a homicide or death caused by a vampire, a decision that would have dire consequences for the vampire population. She gets to know many in the small town of Deadhart and quickly realizes that not everyone is as they seem. As she digs deeper into the mystery and more people start turning up dead, she realizes she may be dealing with a human serial killer rather than a vampire which could be all the more dangerous to the town. Enlisting the help of former sheriff, Jensen Tucker, she weaves her way through the back stories of the townspeople, desperate to put the puzzle pieces together before another life is lost.

Vampires aren't necessarily something that would draw me to a book, but this book was less about vampires and more about hatred and racism toward a group that could be viewed as an easy scapegoat. I loved the intricacies and depth to all of the characters, especially Barbara Atkins, and I truly didn't see the ending coming until I got to the final pages. While there were some minor horror elements to the story, overall, this was arguably my favorite thriller of 2024 so far and may likely ending up being one of my most favorite books of the year.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine for the book #TheGathering by #CJTudor. This book is scary and brutal and full of vampires. I love a good vampire story and this one is top of the list. A boy is murdered, not just murdered, torn apart starting with his throat. Was it the colony? A human? Or something else? Definitely read this book!

The Gathering won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it. Written by one of my favorite authors, it was one of my most anticipated books of 2024 and I wanted to read it before it is available tomorrow.

The Gathering begins when a young man is found myrdered, presumably by one of the new neighbors-a vampyr from the nearby Colony. The colony was forced to relocate 25 years ago after another murder and they’ve only just come back to live in Deadhart, AK.

Barbara Atkins is a detective from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department sent to investigate and determine if a “cull” is authorized which will wipe out the colony forever.

As she investigates, she discovers many secrets hidden in this small town in Alaska.

What a story! Maybe not as twisty and turny as some of her previous novels but at least one storyline had me guessing right up to the end. This was Northern Exposure meets The Lost Boys. Quirky characters who are also deadly.

Thank you to #netgalley and #ballentinebooks for the advanced e-copy of #thegathering. This book is available tomorrow, 4/9/2024.

I would say that this is my definite favorite C.J. Tudor novel. And I would compare it to Season 4 of True Detective: Night Country. But with vampires!
Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, has been called to Deadhart, Alaska, to determine whether a young murder victim was killed by a human or vampyr. What she gets is a whole lot more than she bargained for with an angry town and an even angrier vampyr Colony. Barbara must make the determination of whether or not to call a cull, but she isn't sure the death is vampyric in nature. But when the bodies start piling up and a blizzard hits Deadhart, Barbara might be out of time.
Best part of this novel is that it seems to be the beginning of a series, maybe, hopefully?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-arc.*

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, CJ Tudor - 5 stars!

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is sent to a small town in the mountains of Alaska to determine the cause of the slaying of a teenager. in town, found with his throat ripped and his blood drained. The townspeople know that it is the work of a member of the Colony, a community of vampires living in an abandoned mine settlement in the woods. If it is proven to be the cause, Detective Atkins can authorize a cull. But she's not convinced. She brings in a former sheriff to help her investigate, since he investigated a similar murder years ago and knows the Colony well. But the pair are in deeper trouble than they anticipated. Who exactly are they hunting?

I love Tudor's books but I think this is my favorite - and do I dare hope that this might be a series featuring Detective Atkins? This was such a tense, chilling, atmospheric read but really never delved into too much gore, which is perfect in my book. It was a small town atmosphere, with mob mentality - while this book focused on vampyres, the lessons are easily adaptable to any group persecuted for any reason. Atkins' character was so realistic - she was a bit overweight, not quite fit, yet her sharp mind made for a smart police procedural. The ending was perfect - highly recommended!

Wow, what a book! I found this book to be so descriptive and detailed so I felt like I was there in Deadhart, Alaska with Barbara Atikins. The author did a fantastic job of including the history of humans with vampyrs without it being an information dump, and it weaved into the story perfectly. I loved the whodunit of the mystery, and appreciated how little crumbs were left through various parts of the book to help us figure out who killed Marcus. The writing kept me coming back for more, and the slight horror elements made it difficult to put down because I just had to know more about the vampyr colony. The story was absolutely gripping! how It's clear that this is the beginning book of a series too, and I am excited to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

C.J. Tudor sure knows how to write atmospherically creepy books! In The Gathering we are served up a colony of Vampyrs (yes, I did look up the etymology of this particular spelling), murder, and hostilities in a small Alaskan town aptly named Deadhart (population 673).

A teen has been killed, apparently by a Vampyr, but Detective Barbara Atkins, Doctor of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology, is not convinced. It is her job to determine if this death is grounds to authorize a culling of the recently returned Vampyr colony. The town is largely in favor of this, and Barbara’s insistence on a thorough investigation is making more enemies than friends in this insular community. The town of Deadhart serves up a cast of expected, but still memorable, characters including a gruff and reclusive ex-Sheriff, a charismatic female preacher, bigoted townsfolk, and impassioned teens.

Aside from being deliciously creepy and mysterious, I felt there was an underlying message about racism, exclusion, prejudices, and the condemnation of an entire group for the transgression of one, or a few. The citizens of Deadhart – a name chosen I suspect to reflect both the Vampyrs and the townspeople themselves – are closed minded and very set in their waves. This dovetails so well, in my opinion, with the cold that was so pervasive throughout the novel. The Alaskan town was cold and dark, the woods were snowy, and a walk in freezer features in the story.

Buy this one now, and save it to read on a cold winter night when the snow is pelting against your window. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this early peak!

3.75 Stars, rounded to 4.
This book is clearly written by my girl, CJ Tudor. It very much reads like her first 4 books in my opinion. While the subject matter is pretty different from her other works, it still had the CJ Tudor feel that I love. I also loved that it takes place in Alaska. I absolutely love that setting. I really love that she dives into characters and their backgrounds, which are always very intriguing and I usually love that there are so many characters that you can't easily guess who is the culprit. However, in this book, I felt there were too many characters to keep track of. It was not difficult but it was a little bit overwhelming. But having so many characters means CJ Tudor can weave a very intricate and complex resolution/ending, which she was able to do again. I did not love this as much as I loved her first 4 books but I do think it was well done. I will continue to pick up CJ Tudor in the future. I feel like she is trying new things and while most of it is not hitting the mark for me, I still find them enjoyable.

Vampire books are back in a big way this year, and this one is going to show readers what we've been missing. Atmospheric remote Alaska setting, chilling storylines, and a plot that keeps moving though the very end. Loved this one.

Vampires? Humans? Who are the real monsters?

Unravel the truth with Barbara Atkins, a homicide detective as well as a Vampyr Anthropologist while she investigates a brutal murder of a young man in the small chilling town of Deadhart Alaska.

"Well sometimes life gives you lemons. Sometimes a crock of shit."

WHOA! OKAY, after going in completely blind this book took me by complete surprise. I wasn't ready.

Tudor really puts you through it as Barbara investigates her way to a shocking and completely unexpected revelation. Jam packed full of twists, turns, a plethora of suspects, and no way to escape.

I had the best time indulging in this plot. It really stuck its fangs in. Ba dum cha.Not funny? Eh, Well I tried.

I will admit the atmospheric descriptions were my absolute favorite. They really suck you in and make you feel like your actually stuck in this chilly small Alaskan town.

And while the townspeople point blame at the Vampyrs and the Vampyrs fight to prove a point. You become torn and really have the hardest time pinpointing who you can trust. I mean a town full of somewhat corrupt humans who will do anything to be rid of the Vampyr race. And a group of big bad vampires fighting to keep their home. Who would you believe?

Guess you gotta read it to find out!!

"You gotta make sure you're the hunter, not the prey."

Read if you like:
•Vampires
•Small town horror
•Sleuthing
•Isolation

Extending a huge thank you to C.J. Tudor, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the advanced invitation to tag along with Barbara as she sleuths her way around Deadhart. I had an absolute blast! 🖤

Wow, this was so good!

I loved the blend of police procedural in a small town with a sort of True Blood (vampires are real and known) situation… I felt immersed in this world that was like ours and yet not.

Barbara was an outsider in a small Alaskan town trying to help determine whether a boy’s murder was caused by a vampyr. If so, she could call for a cull, which was a sanctioned attack against vampyrs. The locals treated her like a vampyr sympathizer, as they didn’t view them as people who should be protected by law.

Like any small town murder mystery, town secrets spilled over and what seemed like a straightforward case ended up being anything but.

I highly recommend this. It was well written, immersive, and had a complex cast of characters. Perfect for fans of thrillers and horror!

I'm a C J Tudor fan but The Gathering has taken it to another level - I just adored this book. It has everything I could want in a horror thriller and was the perfect blend of murder mystery, police procedural, vampires and horror. It's certainly the most readable book I've read this year, it flowed so perfectly and was one of those books I just didn't want to put down. What I found really unexpected was the idea that it wasn't a case of vampires suddenly appearing in the town, but that this was set in a world where colonies of vampires were already living alongside humans. This allowed for topics such as racism and herd mentality to be explored using humans v. vampires.

There's something about the darkness in Alaska, that claustrophobic and isolating atmosphere that was the perfect choice for this story. Barbara was the most amazing character to carry the story through and I am REALLY hoping that there might be a follow up story one day!

This was a wild ride and one that had a promising premise. I enjoyed the story, but overall had a difficult time with all the characters. Maybe it was a timing thing for me, but this one didn’t hit the way other books by this author have for me. Still I enjoyed it. One I would recommend.

C. J. Tudor does it again bringing us The Gathering!
This book is so cleverly written.
An atmospheric, engrossing and riveting story that was so hard to get away from.
The writing flows so well and I was pulled into this one quick.
The compelling atmosphere and unease made for an engaging and gripping story.
Tudor is a great writer who has a very unique perspective and brings her characters to life.
The writing, characters and interactions between characters were so bold, rich, vivid and full of life that you could have believed that these characters and events were real.
Another phenomenal read and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to read and review another title by this amazing author!

Thank You NetGalley and Random House & Ballantine Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Stunning cover ✅
Chilling atmospheric writing ✅
Characters to love ✅
Different storyline✅
Twisty mystery ✅

Barbara the Vampyr expert was probably my favorite character. Loved the way she came into this small Alaskan town and did her very best to investigate the murders happening quicker than she could solve. She worked well with Tucker, torn outcast who gets called into help when the other police officer gets injured. Athelinda is described perfectly and for a Vampyr sounds so elegant with a big side of gothic chill.

Story kept me guessing and wanting to know what was happening. Didn’t really have me thinking about the story when I wasn’t reading. Second book by this author for me and noticing she likes to include I’m guessing a personal issue with God, numerous derogatory references to anyone of faith and their beliefs—-definitely could have left that out and made the story better. Such a turn off. Will leave a major spoiler that also pertains to faith out.

Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Gathering by CJ Tudor is crime fiction and vampyrs…sign me up

"In the small, remote town of Deadhart, Alaska a boy is found with throat ripped out and drained of blood. Residents have not seen a death like this in 25 years. But they know who's responsible - a member of the Colony, a community of vampyrs that have moved back to an old, abandoned mine settlement.
Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialists in vampyr killings, is sent in to determine if this was a Colony killing and authorize a cull. She's convinced that something more is going on in Deadhart. With the pressure coming from her boss and the manic fear of the townspeople, she's not sure she has the time to find answers. Because there are deeper secrets at play..."

I love the premise of this book from Tudor. The idea that vampires exist in a group and need to be protected by law. There are no Medieval castles here. It's wintertime in the aptly named, Deadhart, Alaska.
Det. Atkins has her own family history that drives her. She's willing to get things right no matter how much pressure she's under.
There are clues to the ending along the way. Much of it will surprise you. There are a couple of wild twists.

A great story from Tudor.

C.J. Tudor is back this time with a vampyr book. Set in Deadhart, Alaska, Detective Barbara Atkins specializes in vampyrs. A teenage boy has been killed, and the local vampyr colony is to blame, or are they? This book vampyrs are a protected species but the people of the Alaskan town want to see the entire colony culled. But Barbara Thinks there may be more to this killing than just a hungry vampyr.

This book is very different from others from C. J. Tudor. I like vampire books in general, and I like things that in Alaska. I was just hoping for a little bit more, maybe more background about the vampires, more flushing out of the detective.

Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine Books, for providing me a copy to read and review.

Vampyrs? Not my thing. However, this book is so much more; it draws readers into real-life issues such as hate, racism and difference. This book is very engaging, the pace is fast with multiple twists, it kept me wanting to know more. The last several chapters had me on the edge of my seat, trying to calm my racing heart. It’s a well-written story with likable characters. My only dislike is there are a lot of characters to keep up with, and a lot of the characters’ backgrounds aren’t revealed until further into the book, it became slightly distracting because of all the tidbits of info to try and remember. The ending was a little convoluted and left me somewhat confused. I would still recommend this book. The writing style creates such an atmospheric feel that sucks the reader in from start to finish!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the advanced copy of an ebook!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186872450

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