The Gathering
4/5 Stars
Kindle
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 9

I love C.J. Tudor’s novels and was so thrilled to receive the ARC for The Gathering, her latest book! The vibes and setting of this book are top tier. A murder mystery set in small-town Alaska that starts after the murder of a teenage boy. Now, here is the twist, in this book humans and vampires exist together (well semi-together). This is not your typical vampire novel though so if you don't usually read books with supernatural creatures PLEASE do not let that turn you off this book.

Barbara is the primary narrator, as a vampire anthropologist, she heads to Alaska to investigate the murder. The humans in the town are dying for revenge on the vampires and tensions continue to rise. While this book features vampires and humans, it is really about a divide between different types of people (commentary of racism, classism, and political division). This is a dark read but it all fits so well to the story and the suspense is top notch.

Barbara is a great character. She is so normal - out of shape, open-minded, intelligent, and overweight (a nice break when every FMC is written as stunning). The other characters needed some more development but overall I really loved this book. IF YOU ENJOY SUSPENSE, THRILLERS, MYSTERIES - READ THIS (even if vampires aren’t your thing)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this book.

This was a really great vampyr thriller. I loved the storyline although there were some things I didn’t care for. The ending felt a little rushed but was still very good.

Loved, loved, loved this book!! Who can resist a good mystery mixed with a side of vampires? Definitely not me!!
For me, the personalization of the vampires really added to the story. Seeing them through a different lens and understanding their persecution.
Definitely will purchase a copy to have as my own!

I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own!

A detective investigating a grisly murder in a remote Alaskan town finds herself in the midst of a war between a vampyr colony and a human town calling for a cull. When a teenage boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body the town of Deadhart finds the murder oddly similar to one from twenty-five years ago that found a vampyr responsible. Detective Atkins walks a fine line with needing find the suspect responsible while keeping both the colony and the town at bay. Secrets, superstitions, and ghastly crimes lurk in every chapter. CJ Tudor gets better with every book and this one blew me away. Each page drips with chilling suspense.
The Gathering ~ C.J. Tudor - release date April 9th
get your hands on this book, you won't want to put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great murder mystery with major 30 Days of Night vibes!
I adored the main detective; a lesbian with a degree in vampyre anthropology! And I liked the fact the story read like an alternate history of the US with vampires just existing ...in their own Colonies alongside humans.

If you like murder mysteries, strong female detectives and scary vampires this book is for you. The only reason it wasn't a full five star read for me was because there were too many characters to keep track of and the end was a bit of a cliffhanger.

This was an interesting murder mystery with a paranormal flair.
*
Detective Barbara Atkins is called to investigate a murder in a small, isolated town in Alaska, and it looks like a vampire might have been responsible. If so, the townspeople have the right to cull the vampires. However, if the vampires fight back, it could turn into a "Gathering", or a war to wipe out either humans or vampires. 
*
This was good -- it was fast, some interesting twists, and not particularly gory for a horror.
*
My reasons for pause: I did think there were too many characters, it took a long time to keep them straight, and it had a few too many horror tropes that I don't love (storm comes in to trap them, bad guy doesn't stay dead)
*
But I still enjoyed reading it, and if you like vampires (the murder-y kind, not the sexy kind) then you'll probably enjoy this!

I was looking forward to reading this book. Mainly because I had read the previous one and really liked it.
I wasn’t a fan of this book. I thought it was just too long and moved too slow. It is an interesting take on vampires tho.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy.

Psychological thriller? Vampires? Small town with cultish vibes? Major cliff hanger? Lesbian detective?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

I loved this book. While not my first C.J. Tudor book, I do think this will become one of my favorites very quickly. I really hope there is a book 2. I loved the inner glimpse on how prejudices form and how easy it is to other. Now, granted, I get humans being afraid of vampires, but it also shows just how truly awful humanity can be. And I mean, aren't vampires just those with really long lives?

There are mentions of child SA, general SA, gore, homophobia, and child abuse so read at your own risk.

This house has always been a vampire house and I’m so happy it’s coming back. The Gathering by @cjtudorauthor was heart-stoppingly tense. The creation of this world was done with intricate detail and depth. I could easily see this become a series because I know I would love to read more about Barbara Atkins and Athelinda. Some of the themes are very prevalent to our world today and Tudor showed how ugly some humans can be. This was an escapist read but so much more than that. I will be thinking about this town for a while.

4.5 rounded down

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of Tudor's newest. I am firm believer that Tudor gets better and better with each book. Each time, I read a book by her, I swear it is my favorite.

Set in Alaska, where it is common in the world for vampyr colonies live not far from human colonies. When a teen human is killed, people are livid and are demanding for a full colony cull. Barbara is a Detective and Vampyr Anthropologist.

Barbara is being pressured from the community to order the cull, but she refuses to not investigate fully. This leads us into a deep dive of a small community, which of course has its secrets. The plot was intriguing, though slow at times, but overall this is a solid novel. Tudor tells a story with enough pieces that need to be connected, but not so many you feel lost.

HIghly recommend.

Barbara Atkins, a Forensic Vampyr Anthropologist and Homicide Detective, has arrived in Alaska’s small town of Deadhart to investigate the death of a young boy. The boy was found murdered with his throat ripped out, but the lack of blood at the crime scene becomes suspicious.

In Alaska, the Vampyr’s have the same right as the humans, but they don’t attack unless provoked. The last Vamp attack in Deadhart was twenty-five years ago and the mystery was never solved.

While Detective Atkins investigates the boys murder, more people are being killed. Were they killed as a cover up or to expose what’s really going on in Deadhart?

I didn’t think I would like a book about Vampires, but the queen of thrill and horror, C.J. Tudor, did an excellent job of keeping me engaged with the eerie setting of this book. I don’t know if it was the Alaskan snowstorm, the fear rising from this book, or the fact that I finished it around 2am but I felt goosebumps prickle my skin. I was so focused on figuring out the characters and how vamps had been living alongside humans that I didn’t see any of the twists coming! I can’t stop thinking about the ending and how all the clues were there, but the pieces never clicked into place which made the book so much more gripping.

Barbara Atkins, detective and member of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, is sent to Deadhart, Alaska to investigate the gruesome murder of a teenage boy. The townspeople are certain he was killed by the colony that has recently returned to the outskirts of town as details of the boys wounds spread. This is the first murder in 25 years for the town and they're calling for a cull to happen. In order for that to happen, Barbara has to investigate and prove the death is vampyr related and determine which vampyr is the guilty party. During her investigation she has to deal with many mysterious characters, surroundings, and more deaths.

I have a soft spot for vampyr stories, they have always been some of my favourite and there's only a few times they are done right. This...this is one of those times. The setting, the surroundings, humans, vampyr...C.J. Tudor really hit the stake to the heart (bahdumtss). This story immediately pulled me in and kept me there needing to know what was going to happen next. There's so many twists and turns, you think you know, but you don't. Highly recommend this one!!!

Thank you so much for the ARC Copy of The Gathering. This book was a wild ride. I really enjoyed reading this one and was a very interesting and suspenseful read. I will say that I wish parts of the story would have been told sooner rather then the end. I felt that many parts could have been left out. The one part of this book that involved the person that was held captive in the basement really caught my attention and I really wanted more of that in this book. I was super intrigued by it and I had to know what was going to happen and who it could be. My mind was blanking on who it was. I Couldn't figure it out and we really did get no answers for it until the end.
The whole vampire story was really good though. All of the characters were interesting to read about which there were plenty!! CJ Today did a great job at writing such great details in this book.
Definitely curious to know if there will be a second book or not based of how it ended!
Overall great read. Could of been shorter though.

I have read and loved C.J. Tudor’s books before and I was extremely excited to read the newest! Alaskan small town, crime, vampyres and an alternative world norm. I couldn’t really ask for much more in a thriller but I was disappointed.
The pacing was not always consistent, the characters all felt flat and I didn’t care about any of them, the author tried to work in TOO many political views that felt over described and an ambiguous ending?

I did enjoy the atmosphere and the Vampyres and of course that’s what we got the least about. Maybe the ending was left open for a second installment. Overall I enjoyed the read but it wasn’t my favorite.

This one grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go. While there are many stories out there that use monsters or ghouls as a metaphor for those in our society that are outcast or shunned, I don’t know that I’ve seen it used in such an effective and scary way before. The Gathering had everything I love in a great horror novel and combine some elements from my other favorite genre, the police procedural mystery.
If Michael Connelly wrote horror, I think he’d write something very similar to this. Absolutely loved it.

A truly unique story from Tudor!

Imagine a world where Vampyr's exist and are known, but definitely feared and even hated by many people. This isn't your True Blood type of vampyr, though.

Detective and vampyr anthropologist Barbara Atkins is sent to Deadhart, Alaska to investigate a murder to determine if it was a vampyr killing and if the colony of vampyrs in that town should be culled. The townspeople are pushing for a cull and are relentless in their determination. But, Barbara doesn't take this lightly and is dogged in her investigation to make sure that the real murderer is brought to justice.

The past and the present mix and develop a compelling story that really engaged me! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

MORE BARBARA. I DEMAND MORE BARBARA.

I'm a fan of C.J. Tudor. The Chalk Man, The Drift, the Burning Girls, A Sliver of Darkness? YES. So when I got the ARC, I was psyched but apprehensive. I sometimes really love their books, but some I don't like as much. What would it be with this one? I liked it, and I am REALLY hoping they turn this into a series. They left it open for that, so fingers crossed.

First, we have Barbara Atkins, a vampyr specialist. (Yes, there are vampires in this book, but not like sparkly vampires, these are dead ass serious vampires, it is not sexy). Barbara is my favorite character in a book in a long time. She is 50 something, she is overweight, she is plain, and she is brilliant and hardworking and fantastic. This is not a romance novel and I love that. Sometimes, you just don't need that nonsense when there is important business to get to.

Barbara has been sent to Deadhart, Alaska, which has a population of under 900. It's cold af, and people are not friendly. There is a dead kid, and they want the vampires dead. The group of vampires is called a colony, and the inhabitants of the town want Barbara to authorize a cull, meaning all the vampires would be killed because one of them has basically gone feral. The vampires are allowed to live in society, though they cannot hold a job, and they drink animal blood and cannot kill people. If they kill people, per the law, they can be killed. It's an extremely shaky alliance between vampires and humans, and you can see the parallels between vampires and other marginalized communities in our current society - they're just trying to live as best they can on the fringes of society, knowing they are hated, and while some of them hate the humans for how they're forced to live, some of them want to be like the humans, and some do - they file down their teeth and pass as human.

Unfortunately for Barbara, people in the town are especially hostile because 25 years ago, a child was killed by a vampire, and a vampire was arrested but later let go by the former sheriff. The colony left. Then they came back to live in the abandoned mines, and people were mad, and then another child is killed, and now they're on the precipice of extreme violence. There are other characters in the town who become important - a teenage girl who works in the one restaurant in town and can't wait to get out; the old, bitter man who thinks all vampires should be killed; the former sheriff who is mysterious and lives off the grid; the mysterious preacher who blew into town with her equally mysterious assistant and started a church. You can really feel yourself in this town, with Barbara, freezing your ass off, both from the endless cold and the chilly reception she receives, but she keeps plodding along, determined to do what's right.

The only reason I gave it four out of five stars is because I felt the ending was too complicated and came too quickly. There had been some buildup to it, so it didn't come out of nowhere, but it was hard to keep everyone straight. This is a small town, but it leaps from character to character, so I'm not being sarcastic when I suggest annotating the book or keeping track of who does what and who is friends with who. If I had done that, I think I would have enjoyed the ending more, because when things are revealed, I wanted to gasp but instead I had to think "wait, what? who was that? what happened?" But overall, a great read. I loved hearing about the vampires, the stories of the the vampires in the older days was absolutely heartbreaking (I legitimately cried, it was so horrible to read - the depravity of humans is something you never get over), and Barbara is fantastic.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor a horror book review by Jim Mcleod

It has been a long time since I last read a vampire. Very few have flown across my radar in recent years. And those that have all sounded like they were either retreading old ground or happy to remain stagnant in the graves, unwilling to push the boundaries of such an old and overused creature.

And I must admit that C.J. Tudor is an author I haven’t read before. We have favourably reviewed previous books from the author on GNoH from other review team members, but until now, I had never taken the plunge. This puts a lot of pressure on this book. A new author walking the graveyard spaces of one of my favourite monsters, does The Gathering by C.J. Tudor unlive up to my expectations?

Vampires, locals and an isolated town in the Alaskan wilderness might sound like 30 Days of Night. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth; that is where the similarities end. The Gathering by C.J. Tudor isn’t a gorefest novel where we witness the brutal slayings of humans by an unstoppable force of vampire monsters.

This may upset a few of you expecting a lazy rehash of a genre classic, but stay with me as I show that The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is a horror novel worthy of your attention.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is a powerful novel with much to say about serious issues. Told using a tight, grippy cinematic tone of writing, Tudor manages to squeeze every last drop of the sense of a never-ending, crushing sense of isolation out of the pages of this novel.

From the opening chapter, which sees Detective Barbara Atkins’s journey to the aptly named town of Deadhart, to the final paragraph of the novel, Tudor paints a vivid picture of the setting to such a point that your brain almost creates a movie of the novel in your head as you read it. The meticulous attention to detail in describing the setting creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind, drawing them deeper into the story.

Narratively, this is a dark and gritty novel, reading much like a noir novel. Atkin’s journey of discovering the truth of the murder plays out like the best detective fiction. It’s hard not to compare The Gathering to the recent series of True Detective, as both feature strong yet flawed female protagonists going up against the reluctant local community members, uncovering brutal truths. And, of course, both are set in an isolated Arctic community; even if you weren’t the biggest fan of True Detective (like me), The Gathering is infinitely more rewarding and enjoyable. Tudor’s execution of the plot and the conclusion is a lot more satisfying. I found my mind wandering during True Detective, but The Gatherings completely gripped me, thoughtful and intelligent handling of the powerful these explored within the story.

As stated above, I am a huge fan of vampire novels, particularly those that dare to do something different with them; The Gathering takes the vampire genre by the throat and gives it a fabulous shake. I haven’t read such a fascinating take, filled with intelligent world-building and thoughtful twists on the tired tropes of vampires, since the heady days of Brian Lumley’s Necroscope series. Where The Necroscope books were massive flights of fantasy, The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is grounded firmly in “reality” for want of a better word. Gone are the weakness of garlic; they can walk in daylight, even though that one hurts me whenever it is used. Tudor is respectful to the tropes of old while at the same time ensuring The Gathering doesn’t feel like a hundred other books.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor, over and above the horror of the vampires, is a story about persecution, the small-town mentality and the lengths people will go to keep those they deem different down and out. It is a powerful and disturbing allegory to the world we live in right now, and Tudor handles this aspect of the novel extremely well; there is no heavy-handed tub-thumping on show here, but rather a thoughtful and well-constructed description of intolerance and fear.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is a major accomplishment. It works as both a gripping horror novel and an insightful look at the world today. More importantly, it gives the vampire story a real set of fangs, something that has been severely lacking in recent years. So grab your cape and take a massive bite into the neck of this exemplary book.

This book took my breath away. Tudor crafted a horrifyingly gory and equally as insightful and reflective story in The Gathering.
If you like novels that weave themes of discourse on discrimination, racism, etc., seamlessly into the plot, this is the one for you!
Discussion on vampyrism and otherness on similarities of segregation and hate-based violence, this novel had me feeling angry, sad, it made me laugh and learn, and it had its funny moments too.
The end of this books hints that there may be another story taking place with the surviving characters, and I will be rooting for that to come to publishing as soon as possible.
4.5/5 stars

The easiest 5-star rating I have given thus far in 2024. I adored every moment of reading this story. C.J. Tudor has explored new territory here. I can't wait for more. It's so good, and C.J., if you happen upon this review, this book was everything...

I basically fell in love with this book the very first time I set eyes on this eerie snow-covered cover. Added to that, the publisher created a fascinating Horror Mystery synopsis. They had my attention. It was giving me heavy [book:Bone White|32920015] ((one of my favorites ever)) vibes and I was all over it!

In this story, we follow Detective Barbara Atkins, an experienced specialist in vampyr killings. She gets sent to the very small and remote town of Deadhart, Alaska, to investigate the brutal murder of a teen boy. Deadhart has a Colony of vampyrs living on their periphery with which they have an unsettling history. This most recent murder is the literal match to the wick. The townspeople are fired up and calling for a cull.

Barbara is tasked with determining whether or not a vampyr was responsible for the brutal slaying of the teen, and if so, does that solitary act necessitate a cull. Needless to say, some of the townspeople don't warm to Barbara's presence. They're a small, tight-knit community and don't feel they need outsiders dictating how they handle their town and it's adjacent Colony.

As the Reader, you go along with Barbara as she inserts herself into this town and really digs into this specific case, as well as anything else that may help her make her determination in regards to this Colony. I was immediately intrigued with this set-up. I enjoyed how it's essentially our world, with one major difference, vampyrs are real and they live openly amongst humans. They may live in their own Colonies, but everyone knows they exist. It's an interesting set-up to imagine.

I think Tudor did a great job of developing this. We learn slowly the details of the relationship between humans and vampyrs, historically, so it doesn't weigh you down with major descriptors right off the bat. It's strictly a need to know basis and I liked that. I never felt like I needed more information. I had exactly what I needed to feel completely enraptured by this world.

I also loved the way the setting of Deadhart is portrayed. The atmosphere is so rich. It's dark, uninviting and feels dangerous. I was shivering and wasn't sure if it is from the cold coming off the pages, or the fear. Tudor created a real sense of dread; my love language.

We do get some other perspectives, so you aren't locked in with Barbara the whole time. The back and forth kept the story going at a nice clip and I felt each perspective added a lot to the build-up. One of my favorite aspects of this was Barbara's relationship with the local law enforcement, particularly a former deputy, Tucker. They made a great team. Their relationship felt very natural and I enjoyed their coworker energy.

As you get past the mid-point, the pace really kicks up. You can feel the tension rising in the whole town. You can just tell that everything is going to come to a head. I was nervous. You do start to care about some of the characters and the dangers were everywhere. I was so concerned for everyone that I cared about. I wanted everyone to make it out unscathed.

Overall, this was just so fun. It was well constructed and super gripping. I honestly hope this sets a new trend for vampire stories. It was unsettling realistic.

Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine Books, for providing me a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to pick up a hard copy for my shelves!!!