This was not what I was expecting. Outside of the early creepy scene with the child attacking a car, this book was very light on the scares. It felt very repetitive in the last half with the back and forth about what to do about the cult and read as more of a detective drama than the blurb lets on. Also was not a fan of the incessant fat phobia.

My third book by C.J. Tudor, and she continues to write entertaining novels with a supernatural twist. In this vampire thriller, a specialist in vampires and crime, Barbara Atkins, is sent to a small cold and isolated town in Alaska to investigate a murder that looked to be committed by a vampire. As a vampire colony lives right outside of town, the townspeople are up in arms, and calling for justice by wiping them out. But vampires are protected under the law, unless evidence is found that the colony is a threat.

The book was a little difficult for me to read.and I must admit I DNF. My difficulty did not lie with C.J. Tudor's writing, it was the subject being written about.
I love a good horror novel but I lost my taste for all things vampire when they started to shimmer in the 90s.
I tried to remember my love for stories about them but just never got there.
So while this was not for me or my taste it is well written as are all of Tudor's novels.
If you like vampires then give it a go.
Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Pub Date 09 Apr 2024
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books

I love Tudor’s books. They are always different and yet the writing is always consistently well done. Plus she uses foul language, vampires AND gore?! Sign me up! Lol This is pretty fast paced from the get go. You get the chilly, claustrophobic feeling of the small town of Deadhart (name perfection) and all the weird townsfolk. The battle of Vampire vs. Human was well done and kept me on my toes. I appreciated Barbara’s character and her ability to see between the lines. I loved the underlying message within this one. Yes-its horror and stars some vampires however, it really hits on societal norms and religion. Another great story by Tudor. I hope this becomes a series!

Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy!

Vampyrs have lived alongside Indigenous / First Nations peoples for centuries. Along with the European white man's Manifest Destiny and hunt for resources, both groups were displaced and criminalized. Shocking to compare the two groups, right? But no, the vampyrs have learned to not rely on human blood but are marginalized along with other tribes throughout the continent. In a small town in Alaska, the group was forced to move after the death of a white youth but they are back now. And of course there is another death. While the townsfolk start getting their pitchforks and torches ready, the vampyrs and preparing to stand their ground and protect their innocence. Into this comes a special detective to help investigate. I loved the parallels between the vampyrs, Indigenous peoples, and the outsider coming to a small town. But without going that deep, this is still a solid excavation of a small town and how it protects its own. The ending feels like it might indicate a sequel. While the setting was very attractive to me, I would like to see where the series might go.

So sad but unfortunately this was a DNF right around 25% for me… I wanted to quit around 11%, but stuck it out for another 50 pages because I really do hate to not finish a book when I start it, especially when it’s an ARC!

I obviously did know going into this that it was about vampires, but I wasn’t quite expecting the extent to which that’s true - this is a murder mystery, but the heart of the novel is a sociological/anthropological study of vampires in rural America. I loved the mystery aspects, but a lot of the prejudice against vampires got old really quickly.

My main qualm, and the thing that took me out of this more than anything to do with plot, characters, or pacing, is the extremely stilted and British writing style in a book that takes place in a conservative American town. The author completely rejects the Oxford comma, American spellings, and misuses common phrases/location names so frequently and glaringly that I kept having to put the book down - I truly think I could have finished the book if the writing style and the story had matched at all.

I do hope to read more from CJ Tudor, but this one just did not work for me. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

My third book by C.J. Tudor, and she continues to write entertaining who-done-its with a supernatural twist. In this vampire thriller, a specialist in vampires and crime, Barbara Atkins, is sent to a small cold and isolated town in Alaska to investigate a murder that looked to be committed by a vampire. As a vampire colony lives right outside of town, the townspeople are up in arms, and calling for justice by wiping them out. But vampires are protected under the law, unless evidence is found that the colony is a threat.
This book is dark and a little bit creepy as Barbara tries to solve the murder. The story has several moving parts, and more than one mystery to solve. I was invested in the story, and it was easy for me to pick up and read again and again. The vampire culture, and the humans living side by side is an interesting dynamic for potential future books.
I'm not sure whether or not the author was trying to make some observations of social commentary, but in her defense, in the story, as in real life, there are good and evil in every group, marginalized or not. Of course, the "Christian" townsfolk are depicted as all "fire and brimstone", but fear can be a strong motivator in a horror book, especially when people's throats are getting ripped out.
The ending (and the shear amount of characters) was a little confusing in the end, and I had to stop a few times in my head so I could keep up. If this is the beginning of a series, I would be interested in continuing with investigator Barbara Atkins.

~Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher

I'd give this book maybe 3.5 stars... but definitely not worth more. Tudor's previous book, The Drift, was one of the best horror books I'd ever read. I notice her style seems to be hit or miss. This one was a miss, especially coming on the heels of the Drift.

The book takes place in the small town of Deadhart, AK, a population of mostly folks couching themselves as "Good Christians" and a Colony of vampires outside of town. There have been alterations to US law including adding a department of vampire forensics (I know she spells it vampyr but I think it just looks too weird) and colonies are now protected under the law. Except a mass execution of the colony, called a cull, can be ordered if they are found to pose a threat to mankind. Detective Barbara Atkins, aka "The Fang Doc" is dispatched after a young boy is killed in what looks to be vampiric fashion to see if a cull is in order.

The townspeople do not like this outsider and are convinced that one of the current colony members is guilty and a cull should be ordered. I got very frustrated with the small minded townsfolk and that they couldn't see the forest for the trees without jumping to conclusions. Granted, I am not sure how I'd feel living next to a large group of vampires but knowing they are bound by the same laws as I am, I think I'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

Overall I just found this book to be frustrating. ***As I received an uncorrected proof, I don't know if this will be changed, but it is extremely clear that Tudor is from England and using their vernacular to describe things when Barbara is supposed to be from a small town in the Midwest, is very off putting. That might just be me though.

I was disappointed in this book. I think Tudor had an excellent story premise but the writing was pretty poor and inconsistent. It was good but definitely not a book I'd read again.

My thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up liking this more than I expected. There were so many twists and turns in the plot that it kept me guessing and engaged. Set in a remote Alaska town, a detective is called in to investigate a murder that looks to be done by a vampire and the town wants to do a cull of the local colony. But there is more going on in this little town than meets the eye. And Barbara needs to untangle everything before more people (and vampires) end up dead.

The Gathering" by C.J. Tudor is a riveting blend of mystery, thriller, and fantasy set in the eerie town of Deadhart, Alaska. When a gruesome murder occurs, Detective Barbara Atkins and former sheriff Jenson Tucker are drawn into a complex investigation involving a secluded community of vampyrs known as the Colony. Tudor's skillful storytelling keeps readers hooked as Atkins and Tucker uncover dark secrets while navigating the tension between the town and the Colony. The inclusion of vampyrs adds a unique twist to the classic murder mystery genre. Overall, "The Gathering" is a compelling and atmospheric read, with well-developed characters and a suspenseful plot that will keep readers guessing until the end. Dark, gripping, and with a touch of the supernatural, it's a must-read for fans of mystery and thriller novels, earning a solid 8 out of 10.

I should've read the summary closer before requesting this advanced copy. I typically love CJ Tudor's Nordic Noir vibes. I didn't realize this book involved vampires - just not my cup of tea.

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

I really liked this, but I think I’m not exactly the target demographic for it: it’s a small town murder mystery with vampires, but it’s heavily focused on the police & detective’s POV, which isn’t always a perspective I care to be in. Still, I did really like the main character in this - love that she was a kinda frumpy older gal that didn’t care about being pretty, only about doing her job (and doing it well). The worldbuilding was my favorite part of this, so interesting to think of what our world would be like with vampires being real. The focus on racism within the community was interesting, if a bit heavy handed at times.

This is a noir mystery, dark and atmospheric. It is set in Alaska and involves some gruesome killings and a detective determined to solve these vampyr murders. Detective Barbara Atkins enlists the help of the local sheriff of Deadhart, Jenson Turner, and the two set out to catch the perpetrators while also trying to remain alive. This book is scary, creepy and not exactly my regular cup of tea, but it captured my attention and held it as the town is gripped by death and the heroes try to thwart the killer)s) before more die. The plot moves along at a good pace, the characters are uniquely portrayed and the twists are head-spinning and terrifying at times. This is an intense read that I would classify as paranormal horror mixed with murder mystery. It is a compelling read that is a cleverly written page-turner.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A small town in Alaska is shaken by the murder of a young boy and a special detective is sent to determine if a colony of local vampires is to blame or if one of the townspeople is responsible. Vibes are immaculate, like True Detective: Night Country meets True Blood, and the paranormal twist on a traditional mystery was fun.

Yes! When I requested this, it was because I'm a fan of C. J. Tudor, so I didn't really read what exactly this entails. But we have Vampyrs!!!! Yes! And, I loved every second of this!!

There is a brutal murder to be investigated, and Detective Barbara Atkins goes to Deadheart, Alaska, to figure out what is going on. The townspeople blame the nearby group of Vampyrs. They want to cull their colony in retaliation. Barbara has to get to work to stop this while investigating.

All of the characters are so interesting, and the atmosphere gives these very dark, sinister, definitely creepy vibes. And, reading this at night had me scared, like looking at the darkened windows of my living room wondering what's out there kind of scared.

Definitely recommend!

Out April 9, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

I'm temporarily DNFing this because I have a feeling I will enjoy this 10000% on audio. In the 30% I read, I found it very atmospheric and interesting. I just found myself checking out a little bit while I was physically reading it due to the pacing, and feel like that problem would be easily resolved with the audiobook.

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found dead with his throat ripped and drained of blood. Town members blame the colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs.

I love when a plot is contemporary and true to life, except for one little twist to reality. Like True Blood, vampires truly exist and live among, yet on the fringes of, human society. I loved learning about the vampyres; their history and culture. Some parts were a bit slow but we had to get to know all the characters and their history.

“Death had come here, she thought. And it had been hungry. Ravenous. And there was something else too. Anger. Fear. Hatred.”

The Gathering comes out 4/9.

The ending twist on this one was AWESOME. However the entire story building up to it felt kind of slow. I'm still getting into Tudor, and this was my second one. I'd definitely recommend it because it's such an atmospheric vibe!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and CJ Tudor for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Gathering coming out April 9, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by CJ Tudor and I really enjoy the books. They’re usually part thriller and part horror, which works really well for me. I thought the setting of Alaska was really fun and mysterious. However, it took me a while to get into the story. I couldn’t really connect to the characters. It didn’t feel as horror-like to me. I think I was hoping for something a little spookier. I thought it’d be like the movie 30 Days of Night, but it wasn’t quite there for me. I usually love vampire stories.

In *The Gathering*, C.J. Tudor masterfully weaves a tale that transcends typical vampire narratives. Set in the remote town of Deadhart, Alaska, the discovery of a murdered boy thrusts Detective Barbara Atkins into a world of dark secrets and superstitions. The Colony, a community of vampyrs, stands accused. As snow blankets the landscape, Atkins races against time to unravel the truth. Tudor's commitment to character depth and layered plotting elevates this thriller. A fresh take on vampirism, it grips readers not only with bloodlust but also with the fragile lives teetering on destruction's edge.

THE GATHERING By CJ Tudor

You know how there are certain books that read like movies- this was definitely one of them!

Barbara is a detective, but she specializes in crimes involving vampyrs (the book's spelling!) She's called to rural Alaska, where a teen is dead. At first it looks like one of the vampyrs got him, but Barbara finds more evidence that muddies her decision. The town people are out for blood and want a cull- an authorized killing of all vampyrs. She's in a tough spot and the more she learns, the more questions she has about this town and its past.

This book was super atmospheric- Alaska in winter. It would've been a great book to read back in January when I was feeling the cold! It kept me fully engaged because I wanted to know how it ended. It was a small town murder mystery story plus vampyres!! The vampyrs weren't particularly scary, but only because we didn't get a ton from them. Not as scary as I expected!

One neat addition to the story was the "history" of vampyrs, the discrimination, and how they fought for their rights / how they were seen in the eyes of the law. I thought it was an interesting detail!