I'm not a vampire (vampire in this book) fan, but I do like C.J. Tudor, and was happy to get my hands on this ARC, thanks to #netgalley. Especially the first half pulled me right in. Very atmospheric, I loved the setting in the small Alaskan town. The vampyr anthropologist Barbara Atkins is such a refreshing and likable main character. I didn't even care anymore who was responsible for the killings or why. Well written, just didn't like the end all that much.

THE GATHERING was a spooky and atmospheric thriller set in the Alaskan wilderness. I loved the characters and the ending of the novel but wasn’t crazy about the back and forth timelines and the length of the plot. Enjoyed the story but would rather it have been a touch shorter.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the opportunity to read and review THE GATHERING.

A very big thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC!

In one of the most remote settings imaginable, the frigid Alaskan landscape is home to more than just a town of humans in CJ Tudor’s latest novel, The Gathering. In the town of Deadhart, humans share separate real estate with the Colony, a group of vampyrs who inhabit the previously abandoned mine settlement. However, this is not a harmonious existence following the death of a young boy appearing to be at the hands of a vampyr. Barbra Atkins is called in to investigate this crime and determine the best course of justice for the slain child. Deadhart proves to house corruption, secrets, and darkness as Barbra’s investigation unfolds, giving way to evil both human and vampyr alike.

CJ Tudor establishes one of the most creative societies that entails the existence of vampyrs comparable to the creative ingenuity we’ve seen in books such as Liz Kerin’s Night’s Edge universe. In Tudor’s world, specific laws and agencies have been created to ensure the survival of both vampyrs and humans. This is best exemplified through Barbara’s profession as a detective with the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department which requires her to investigate any potential killings committed by a vampyr in order to bring them to justice. The catch? Should a Colony be found responsible as a whole, a cull can be called in which the entire Colony is eradicated. This increases the intensity of the cases Barbara investigates with numerous lives on the line and a multitude of humans seeking justice.

Perhaps the most creative endeavor in Tudor’s unique world-building is the prejudice against vampyrs that exists in the same way issues of race, sexuality, and political affiliation do in our very real world. While The Gathering functions as a small-town, gritty crime thriller, it also excels thanks to this heightened political nature. The hate, animosity, and hostility targeted towards vampyrs seem to have affected all aspects of Deadhart, forging an extremely volatile, unpredictable situation for Barbra to navigate. Learning of the ways in which this society functions on a macro level in addition to the micro level of Deadhart was markedly captivating, raising so many questions regarding a society such as this. The Gathering is a vast exercise in world-building with the potential for numerous stories to be told.

Setting and circumstances aside, Tudor gives us some very memorable characters, particularly in that of Barbara. She’s a middle-aged, intelligent, and tenacious woman who truly wants to find justice in the wake of an unthinkable crime despite the numerous opinions of the townsfolk. She’s someone who takes great pride in her work and refuses to take the easy immediate answer for the correct one, a trait we have all come to know and love in detectives. Especially in this small-town full of secrets and darkness, characters such as Barbara shine with their intelligence and wit. I honestly hope we get to see more of Barbra Atkins in the future, especially with how expansive this existence of humans and vampyrs has proven to be.

The Gathering delivers on many of the tropes readers have come to know and love such as unrelenting searches for the truth, seedy small towns with nefarious secrets, and characters who capture not only your attention but your heart as well. Oh yeah, and the remarkable creativity behind the existence of vampyrs in the modern world. CJ Tudor’s Barbara Atkins is a remarkable character who elevates this grisly “whodunnit” to a spectacle of intrigue. This is a break-neck paced novel leaving you guessing if anyone at all is indeed innocent, combining dark themes of crime procedurals with the supernatural. An unputdownable mystery, The Gathering must be on any crime or horror lover’s radar for this year.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is my latest review book from Net Galley. Like my last book, The Gathering is a mystery but this time with a twist: this story has vampires!

In The Gathering, Barbara Atkins is a forensic specialist in vampire crimes (vampire CSI). She's called to Alaska to investigate a young boy's death. It looks like a vampire killed the kid. She's supposed to find out if thats so and if it is, her duty is to call for a cull: basically a massive killing of the nearby vampire colony. Barbara wants to make sure she knows all the facts before doing that though. She is definitely not ready for how deep this mystery goes...

Yes, thats all I'll tell you about the plot. I don't want to give away the mystery. I will say though that the solution surprised me. The Gathering keeps you guessing for most of the book. You don't really find out who did it until near the end of the book. It does make sense though. whew. Oh wow does it ever.

It should also be noted that the book isn't only told from Barbara's perspective. There are multiple people invovled in the story and we get to see what they are up to. The story never gets confusing though.

Each chapter is laid out well. Sometimes, something shocking will happen and you have to wait a beat to find out whats going to happen next because the story leaps to another perspective. This absolutely will keep you reading. You'll want to know what happens next!

The Gathering is a gripping and pretty intense story. There are some gruesome things in this book. The Gathering is mostly a mystery but its definitely also a horror story.

If you're looking for a mystery with vampires, look no further. The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is an excellent mystery and its world of vampires and humans co-existing is intriguing. I hope there's a sequel to this book. It definitely seems like there might be one...

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor releases on April 9th, 2024. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of the book for this review.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor is a so-so procedural set in Alaska where the investigation looks into a murder that may be a vampyre slaying. It is a mystery buried under a lecture.

In Deadhart, Alaska, a fifteen-year-old boy is found murdered. His throat was ripped open and his blood was drained. Residents blame the Colony nearby, a place where vampyres reside and want a cull of the vampyres. However, in 1983, the Vampyr Protection Act was enacted and declared them a protected species. An expert is called in, homicide detective Barbara Atkins, who has her PhD in forensic vampyr anthropology. She will investigate the murder and, if she determines a vampyre is responsible, she can authorize a cull. The residents are angry and want retribution.

Barbara Atkins is an interesting character and the ending makes it clear that a sequel should be expected.

This wasn't a favorite Tudor novel. First, as a British author, perhaps look a little bit closer into the culture, word usage, etc. in the USA. Then, yet again I need to caution an author to keep their personal political/social views on contemporary topics to themselves as it diminishes and dates the novel. Additionally any lecturing in a novel to your readers is also disconcerting. The polarization presented early on in the novel targeted specific religious and political groups was an off-putting distinction that made this an almost DNF. Making different groups you perhaps disagree with the antagonist and stand-in for fear, racism or discrimination between people was unnecessary. Thanks to Penguin Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This book was a very pleasant and likeable surprise read for me! I have read a number of books by this author and have enjoyed all of them. This is the first one I remember having vampyrs in it.

Dr. Barbara Atkins of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department is sent by her boss to the village of Deadhart, Alaska to investigate the death of a 15-year-old boy who was found dead with his throat ripped out which was similar to another boy who died 25 years prior. There are a lot of characters in this book and all are very interesting and some are downright creepy. I was hooked from the start to the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC of this book that I found to be fascinating.

A murder mystery set in Alaska with vampyrs? Say less! I was SO EXCITED when I saw the synopsis for The Gathering and I am happy to report that it lived up to the hype!

The Gathering is a vampyr story unlike any you've read before. True, it is a story of vampyrs and humans. But it is really a story of unbridled hate and violence toward the other. The dangers of prejudices, mob mentality, vigilantes and religious fanaticism. It asks what is justice? Who is or what makes one a monster? And it's a timely story.
CJ Tudor is an excellent storyteller. Ordinarily, many of us praise the fast-paced book that steamrolls us. We hop onto a speeding, relentless train until it stops. And I think The Gathering is a different type of great. It is quieter, but no less enthralling. It is atmospheric and suspenseful. It's the experience of savoring each bite of a delectable feast, of methodically unwrapping a treasured gift. 

The Gathering is a murder mystery with paranormal and macabre elements, replete with secrets and twists. It's not for the faint of heart. But um, if it wasn't already clear, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Add The Gathering to your TBRs now! It will be out 4/9. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Buckle up and hunker down because you're not going to want to stop reading until you're finished. This book is EXCELLENT. I'm a huge fan of C.J. Tudor already, but this may be her best work yet. If you love thrillers, vampires, or horror novels this is right up your alley. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

"In towns like Deadhart, there are generally two kinds of people-- those who never leave and those who never come back."

C.J. Tudor returns with yet another chilly horror set in a icy, remote location. I came into this without reading the abstract or knowing the premise, just hoping for something similar to her last hit, The Drift . This definitely delivers, though with a completely different plot. Less gore, more investigative mystery, same amount of twists, turns, and comedic relief.

Overall, 4.75 stars out of 5 mainly for the (in my opinion, unnecessary) unresolved ending. Defunitely pick this one up if you're in the mood for an unpredictable horror mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review The Gathering by C.J. Tudor.

The world in the book has learned to live alongside vampires for centuries. Well, as long as the vampires stay in their place, called colonies. The setting for this novel is a small town in Alaska. A teen is murdered. The townies think the colony is responsible and they want blood. The colony's blood to be specific. This is called a cull. In order for this to happen a legal official, Barbara Atkins, must come and investigate the crime and determine if a cull is warranted and valid. Due to unfavorable weather the town is cut off and they are running out of time to prevent a possible unwarranted cull as well has find the true perpetrator.

Pros: Lots of action and plot twists. I have read a lot from this author and knew what to expect; good writing and telling a great story. I wasn't disappointed. The characters were all great. The setting added lots of atmosphere to the story.

Cons: My only con was I wanted more.

Without releasing any spoilers, I really hope to have more from this story in the future. Maybe a series with this particular character. The ending I didn't see coming. If interested in picking this one up it will be released on April 9th. Happy reading!

Set within the isolated Alaskan town of Deadhart, the murder of a teenage boy has shattered the already-tenuous relationship between the local human residents and the vampire-or vampyr-inhabitants of the nearby Colony.

Detectice Barbara Atkins is dispatched to determine whether the Colony is responsible for the murder and if a cull that would eliminate the vampyr population in the area is necessary.

The Gathering is a dark and gripping novel that depicts how the insulated nature of a small town where fear, mistrust and religious fervor have allowed bigotry to fester. It’s uncomfortable to read, as the characters that might be otherwise be tolerable clamor for the deaths of members of a species-including children-without hesitation or consideration.

The vampyrs in The Gathering are depicted sympathetically, as their existence is brimming with hardship at every turn: they are denied the possibility of associating with humans, of utilizing modern technology and of finding jobs to stimulate themselves beyond mere existence.

Coupled with the horrific history surrounding Deadhart and its treatment of vampyrs, it’s hardly unexpected that the Colony’s current leader Athelinda is furious regarding the new threat to her existence. Her character is a tragic one, honed by the circumstances surrounding her birth and the painful experiences thereafter into the weary sovereign of her people.

Detective Barbara Atkins is a unique protagonist: a compassionate and pragmatic older woman with a desire to do the right thing rather than what is expected and someone who is also struggling with her own shortcomings and trauma pertaining to vampyrs.

The mystery that propels The Gathering is an engrossing one and as always, I tried to figure things out while the characters did as well. The ending is satisfying and coupled with the epilogue has me intrigued for the potential of further installments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and to C. J. Tudor for providing this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Barbara Atkins is a Forensic Vampyr Anthropologist sent to the small town of Deadhart, Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenage boy. The townsfolk suspect a neighboring colony, a community of vampyrs that live nearby and claim to only drink the blood of animals. In a small town with plenty of secrets, everyone is a suspect.

This book is perfect for someone who wants to incorporate vampires into a small town crime mystery novel that screams “Twin Peaks” with the amount of twists! C.J. Tudor spent time with all of the citizens of this small town individually, giving them all their own unique personalities, motivations, and secrets. It was never an overwhelming amount of information. The small town vibes of this were impeccable and atmospheric. I love a good isolating setting and this book absolutely nailed it.

I loved how fast paced this book was and how perfectly the story unraveled and wrapped up all loose ends by the finish. It was engaging to discover the mystery behind the boy’s death and so satisfying to find the truth of it. There are a lot of themes of prejudice throughout this book that are covered brutally but also appropriately.

I would recommend this book for those that love a mix of unique vampire lore, murder mystery, and small town secrets. If those elements interest you, The Gathering comes out on April 9th.

Going into this pretty blind, I was super intrigued by the circumstances surrounding the mystery! I felt like I hadn’t read something like this in a good long while and it was different from other thrillers I’ve been reading lately that have felt pretty run of the mill.

C.J. Tudor always brings the creepy factor and that was no different in this story. Dark, snowy Alaska, paired with a group living on the fringes of society - who is responsible for the murder of a teenage boy that brings our detective to the scene? I enjoyed the full cast of characters in this novel and interspersed flashback scenes. These didn’t take much from the novel but added another layer of mystery.

Barbara was great and the ending feels like this could be the start of a series?! If so, I am so down because this was a breath of fresh (Alaskan) air!!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The pace is fast throughout with multiple twists and turns, the threat level continues to rise making it a gripping page turner as you try to second guess things and mine get a bit wild! It’s creepy, eerie, macabre in places (well, it is CJT so don’t expect it to be pretty) and oh boy, does it ever ramp up in danger with accompanying hysteria at every turn. The whole thing is written in full technicolor, it’s vivid, it’s believable as I can buy into it and praise the lord, the ending is terrific. This is how you write a horror story and it has a cover that will entice you to pick this one up. It’s another winner for me. I wish it had been longer but that's okay it was still great!

4.25 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Whoa. This book is WILD.

Vampires. Actually vampyrs. They live amongst us in this world. In colonies alongside humans. Of course vampyrs are sort of human. They are not the undead as much as they are not living. Outside the small town of Deadhart, Alaska, is a Colony at the old mining town. Vampyrs lived there for years before they were shoved out by the humans after a human murder, supposedly at the hands of a young vampyr.

Eventually the Colony returned to Deadhead with its leader Athelinda. She’s a vampyr that was turned far too young and still looks like a child. But Athelinda is hundreds of years old. The Colony keeps to themselves, mostly, until another murder occurs. This time a teenage boy is murdered. It appears to have been by a vampyr, but sometimes looks aren’t always what they seem. This murder was recorded on a phone, by the teenager that was killed.

Enter Barbara Atkins, a detective who specializes in vampyr lore and crime. It is up to her to determine if the murder was at the hands of a vampyr and whether a ‘cull’ is in order. Culling is basically wiping out a vampyr colony, so it has to be quite clear that is what is needed.

When the town Sheriff is injured, the previous sheriff comes out of hiding to assist Barbara with her investigation. What the two of them discover along the way might shake the town to its boots.

I could not put this down, even though I had to. What an incredibly creative and vibrant story. Yes, it’s utterly dark, and murder happens, but wow, I was riveted. There are so many backstories to some of the characters, nearly everyone could be a suspect. Tudor does an incredible job of putting together all these storylines to make this novel one to be devoured (pun intended.)

Sometimes the ones you think are the bad ones, in fact, may not be. Read it.

Are you a fan of any of these genres:
Paranormal
Horror
Thriller
I'm a fan of all three and I was in luck, because this author's latest release combines them all!!

It all begins with the tragic death of a teen, Marcus Anderson. How he died and who might be responsible, seems obvious given the state of his neck and a video capturing the killing. But Detective Barbara Atkins isn't so certain that someone is from the vampyrs colony. Given the Vampyr Protection Act, she doesn't want to rush to judgement and order a cull, much to the dismay of the local townsfolk.

I admired Barbara's methodical approach to the case. Given her personal history with vampyrs, is she sympathetic to them? Maybe, but ultimately, she does the right thing by not rushing the case. The only problem is the bodies begin to pile up and each one seems to point to the vampyrs.

As the story progresses, it seems a lot of illegal activities were taking place in Deadhart (the perfect town name for this story), and maybe Marcus' death along with the others, was part of a coverup to those illegal activities.

The book title, The Gathering, relates to a battle between humans and vampyrs, "the victors gathered the souls of the fallen." Is this the end game the vampyrs want? It seems some do, but one, Athelinda, tries to hold back the colony from doing anything rash. Did I trust her? No, but I don't think she was Marcus' killer, as many others suspected.

Ultimately, Barbara's patience pays off. The truth about what went down wasn't what I expected but did make sense once revealed. Overall, another great read from this author!

This was a wild ride that I could not put down. I thoroughly loved the characters and the world and thought it was extremely well done and fast paced. CJ Tudor is quickly becoming a must read for me, I love meeting her characters and spending time in her world.

Whoa!!! I've been a fan of CJ Tudor's books. They often have religious elements and a very dark tone.

The Gathering was a very creepy vampire horror story, something that is way out of my lane. It just wasn't my kind of book, but it is a very cool book and I hope it finds its (horror/vampire) audience.

The Gathering is alt-history,, set in modern-day Alaska in a world where vampires (or vampyres as the book calls them) uneasily co-exist with humans. When the body of a teen boy is discovered and the locals suspect vampires are to blame, they call in a special investigator who is familiar with vamp killings. Her probing takes her places she never expected!

It's to the author's credit that I, an avowed scaredy-cat, actually finished this. It's really well done and if you are up for scary vampires, you will absolutely LOVE it.

Barbara Atkins, a vampyr specialist, has been called in to assist the Sheriff of Deadhart, Alaska, a remote town where vampyrs and humans live alongside each other. A teenage boy’s throat has been ripped out and Barbara must use her expertise to determine if this is a vampyr attack and if so if a cull, or killing of the nearby colony of vampyrs, is necessary. The residents of Deadhart are restless and impatient as Barbara investigates.

CJ Tudor definitely does not disappoint with her newest book. I enjoyed the character of Barbara, who enjoys burgers and beer. I also enjoyed the details of the different characters living in Deadhart. I like how the action built up throughout the book and the ending surprised me. I could definitely see a sequel here and would read it. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys CJ Tudor or stories about vampires! I give it 4/5 stars.

THE GATHERING
By C.J. Tudor
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book to review!

Fantastic author ! Tudor could write about anything and turn it into an exciting novel. After reading all of the author's previous novels I had no doubt that this would be another winner.

Upon starting the book I was a slightly disappointed to discover that the subject of was not a favorite of mine however, by the end of chapter one I was hooked. Character and scene development was pitch perfect.

To give a broad idea, this is a mystery horror novel about vampires which is set in a very old and small community known as Deadhart, Alaska. The story itself reminded me of the most recent True Crime series on HBO which was fabulous.

What it is that makes Tudor's writing so special ? I would have to say the clear and descriptive way she can translate a characters emotions, appearance, thoughts and motivations along with adding a severe sense of tension to the story. In addition, the twists and turns along the way will blind side the reader with something they never saw coming.

Without spoilers there is not much I can specifically write in this review except it met each and all of my very high expectations for a C. J. Tudor novel.

An exceptional author with and intelligent and twisted mind !.

5 Stars!