I haven't read a vampire book since the Cullens and the Sookie Stackhouse series, so I wasn't sure how this would go. But it was really good and my favorite C.J. Tudor book to date. This was a dark and creepy page-turner full of twists and turns which kept me reading in anticipation and at the edge of my seat. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

With her latest book, "The Gathering" CJ Tudor again showcases her talent as an incredibly skilled and well rounded author. Is there anything she can't write? I've read 4 other books by her (and have 2 more on the TBR) and each book is creative and unique.

When I read the synopsis for The Gathering, I was surprised to see vampyrs in the mix. I like fantasy, but I am not a fan of vampires. That said, this author earned my trust so I went in open-minded and she didn't let me down.

After reading, I wouldn't classify this as fantasy. The vampyrs in this novel don't sparkle in the sun or turn into bats, and, while they can be killed, it's unlawful under the Vampyr Protection Act. Like any group who isn't white, Christian and male, the vampyrs face severe oppression; they're denied work, can't live in society amongst humans, are hunted for their fangs and other parts which are sold on the black market and their ancestors were killed out of "fear"/hate.

Our main character, Barbara, works for the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department. She is also a detective and it's her job to make sure the laws under the VPA are upheld.

She is sent to Alaska to investigate what appears to be a teenager attacked and killed by a vampyr from a local Colony. If it is found that the killer is from the colony, she can authorize a "cull" which the whole town is urging. But things aren't always what they seem and the evidence isn't adding up. The town has a history with the Colony and Barbara is determined to get the full truth before making a decision.

With a storm coming blocking the route out of town, tensions high from the teen's death, and more bodies dropping, Barbara is stuck in small town mayhem, two steps behind the killer(s), with very few people she can trust. How can she solve a murder when witnesses are dying and the townfolk are keeping secrets?

I absolutely loved this page-turner! It was full of twists and turns, suspense, and a fair amount of blood/gore. I would definitely categorize it as thriller/light horror with a sprinkle of paranormal. Though this book came to a resolution 🫢😯, I would love to see another book with Barbara as the main character!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me an ARC! Review will be posted on Goodreads, Bookstagram, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I don't know if we are going to get a sequel to this but if there is I will definitely be reading it, especially with that ending!
I loved Barbara's determination to work this case her way, without bowing to the pressures of either her superior or the townsfolk. Althlina was a great antagonist, she was protective of her people and did whatever she needed to have the lies of the past come out.
The townsfolk, or at least most of them want nothing more than to cull the entire colony of vampires, some for personal reasons, some for selfish, and others because they are afraid. I really enjoyed that vampires are well known to be real, and even have some government protections, although it's left up to people like Barbara to make sure the laws are followed.
I loved going along with Tucker and Barbra as they put the clues together, and the other POV we get was super intriguing and I was surprised when it was revealed who it was. I immensely enjoyed this from beginning to end and I'm keeping my fingers crossed we get more or Barbara and her vampire smarts.

I have to say, I am not a typical reader of vampire books (of course, I’ve read Twilight and Vampire Academy, but that was a lifetime ago). I didn’t know this was going to be a story about vampires when I went in, but I have to say, vampire tales have come a LONG way!

I really enjoyed this story! The character and world-building were great. I felt like I was in this town in Alaska that is dealing with the possible vampire killing of a young boy.

I loved that the vampires were not ALL this book was about. It’s a big part of it, but there is so much more going on here.

Also, it’s pretty dark! There are some horrifying things that happen to both human and vampire. It’s actually really sad when you think about it.

My hope is that the ending of The Gathering is the beginning of a second book!!

My only issue with the book is that the characters are all from the US, but many things they say are decidedly European (saying “jumper,” instead of sweater, or “CV” instead of resume). It was a little off-putting.

I dont know what it is about creepy books set in Alaska. You automatically get that dark, cold, creepy vibe just from the setting. CJ Tudor is a relatively new to me author but I so enjoyed this one. The mystery was believable and compelling. Kept me on the edge of my seat! Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for approving me to read and review this ARC. I cant wait to read more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A fantastic horror/mystery novel that was engaging throughout. The author never disappoints and the vampire plot was unique and frightening. Definitely will recommend to others!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An excellent horror story that was also a great murder mystery. I love everything I’ve read by this author. An enjoyable yet frightening book (I’m afraid of vampires).

3.5 stars. I was so excited to dive into this book. The genre has been placed on the back burner for awhile. Vampires are slowly coming back and I’m here for it! I could have done with out the religious stuff but still
Enjoyed!

This book was really something else! A teenaged boy is brutally murdered and the blood drained from his body. Is there a murderer in the area or is it someone from the vampire colony? In any case, the book is scary, filled with so many twists and turns it could make you dizzy!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

C.J. Tudor's newest novel, The Gathering, is set in an alternate reality where vampyrs exist, have rights, and follow rules. In the isolated town of Deadhart, Alaska, a teenage boy has been found with his throat ripped out and all his blood drained from his body.

The residents of the town believe that a vampyr from the nearby Colony is responsible. Forensic Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist, is sent to investigate and see if a cull (killing of all the vampyrs) should be authorized. With a snowstorm moving in, Barbara is cut off from outside help and must figure out who the killer is before it's too late.

C.J. Tudor is one of my favorite authors. I don't think I even read the synopsis before I requested this book. But I have to be honest, this doesn't feel like a C.J. Tudor book. It's not a thriller or a horror novel. There's no element of foreboding or feeling creeping dread. There's no gruesome imagery. No one goes through a terrifying ordeal. It's basically a police procedural about a detective investigating a murder, which just happens to involve vampyrs. Most of the book is spent discussing the relationships of the town's residents and how much they all hate the vampyrs and want them gone, one way or another.

I've read all of Tudor's books and this is my least favorite. The characters all felt flat, even though the story was well written and back story for them was provided. I never felt engaged or compelled to read it. The world-building didn't feel consistent.

I know a lot of others have liked this one, so maybe it's just me. Nevertheless, I still love C.J. Tudor and will continue to read and buy whatever she writes.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, C.J. Tudor, and Netgalley for an advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and given voluntarily.

2½ stars rounded up to 3 stars

Recommended for fans of:
Thrillers, Police Procedural, Mysteries, Paranormal, Horror, Detective, General Fiction, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural

This was a good mystery. A lot of twists and turns towards the end. I just recently watched the latest season of True Detective that took place in Alaska so I had to keep reminding myself it was a different story. It ends like there could be a sequel. Interesting. I would be up for that. I liked Barabara

Yes, yes, yes! This one might be C.J. Tudor’s best yet! This was a thrilling story that kept me guessing through out. Great work!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this.

This will teach me not to go into books too blindly. I went into this one with high hopes because I’ve read from this author before, but I was expecting something dark and scary and instead I got a police investigation into a murder. Don’t get me wrong, it was enjoyable, but just not what I wanted to read. I had to really push to get this one done because I just wasn’t connecting with the story or with any of the characters. The concept of the humans and vampires living in the same world and being protected by laws to keep them safe was interesting but I don’t know, I just couldn’t get into this one and I feel kind of bad.

The Gathering is a story about a murder in a small town that is located close to a Colony of vampyrs. The murder looks like a vampyr killing, but Barbara, a detective with the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, believes in investigating without making assumptions. This is not a vampire (vampyr in this book) origin story. Here, they coexist (mostly uneasily) with humans.

There is no doubt that CJ Tudor is an excellent writer. The characters are well drawn. The plot is tight, interesting, and well-paced. The mystery is filled with twists and turns, and it kept me guessing to the end. But the author's disdain for people of faith is painful, and the book is filled with every hot topic out there today: colonialism, homosexuality, sex trafficking, transgender, racism, and more. It's exhausting. This appears to be the first in a series, so I hope future installments will be spared most of this.

I found the story gripping, and you probably will too, if you don't mind slogging through all the agenda items. Recommended for lovers of vampire stories and police procedurals.

Not family friendly due to profanity, violence, and adult themes.

I thought I had burnt myself out on vampire novels already this year but this one gripped my attention from start to finish! “The Gathering” is unlike any thriller I’ve read before and is so original. The characters, especially detective Barbara, are nicely fleshed out, and the setting of a small Alaskan town with a population of 600 really amps up the creepy vibe. This novel delves into some heavier topics such as racism and abuse, but these topics fit in with the overall theme and make you wonder if humans are truly just as grisly as vampires. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!

Even though it took me a minute to read this, it does not reflect on the book. I just did not want to have nightmares so I only read it while having coffee each morning

If you love horror this one's for you. Coming to bookstores April 9th

Deadhart, Alaska 873 Living

Tidbit from the synopsis

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, but I simply couldn’t get into it. It was very descriptive and slow paced. There were many characters with little character development, making it hard to decipher and connect with them. The several different viewpoints made it difficult to keep up with at times. There was religious and political elements, which I wasn’t expecting and I honestly don’t care for. Overall, this one just wasn’t for me.

The Gathering
by C. J. Tudor
Pub Date: 09 Apr 2024

The Gathering read like a paranormal murder mystery in my opinion. The pace is fast with twists and turns throughout making it a gripping page turner. The cover of this book and the Alaskan setting is a perfect fit for this story! I was hooked from the start to the finish of this book, asking myself, "who are the real monsters"?

Synopsis:

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #TheGathering and #RandomHousePublishingGroup for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

This story is a breath of fresh air for vampire stories. I was pulled in from the setting, which is very similar to the setting of 30 Days of Night in a Northern Alaskan town during the longer periods of night. This took that idea and added in vampyres that are not as generic as most genre stories are. C. J. Tudor took the idea of vampires that live lose to humans and then fleshed that idea out in numerous directions. The concepts that are new and fresh to this story made it so much fun to read, and the mystery at the base of it all kept the reader pulled in.

Thanks you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I really didn’t like the main characters. She felt very full of herself and she annoyed me. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of and it was all jumbled for me. I feel like it was a bit preachy about certain things and I just wasn’t clicking with it.

I hope others really love this book!