OK, so I am definitely not a huge fan of the horror genre, but this book and author may have just turned me around! I was so into this book/plot/characters/setting from page 1 and I just couldn't put it down. My length of reading is only because at one point I had to set it aside and it took me a whole week to be able to get back to it. That being said, it's an unputtdownable book!

Barbara Atkins, MC, goes to Deadhart, Alaska, in the dead of winter to investigate a murder. Not just any ol' murder, mind you, because she is from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, so she is going to investigate the murder because the people of this small town want a cull against the vampyrs, claiming that the murder of a young boy was committed by the nearby colony of vampyrs. Barbara isn't so sure and plans to do a thorough investigation.

What makes the job so difficult is that most, if not all, of the townspeople want the cull, but it's illegal unless criminal activity is proven, but there is conflicting "evidence" and someone (or many) is lying...but who?

I thought this was so well done and written in a way to really build the creep factor. Especially when one girl is quoted in italics (won't say who but you'll know the character if you read it) just really gave me the creeps! And trying to figure out who is a vamp and who isn't...SO good!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

*Note: Book publishes on April 9, 2024. Highly recommend!

I’ll admit that I requested this book based solely on author name. I didn’t read the synopsis at all, so imagine my surprise when I realized this was a vampire (vampyr) novel. It’s unlike any other vampire book I’ve read though.

C.J. Tudor has created a world where vampyrs and humans live side by side. Our main character, Barbara, is a specialist in vampyr killings. She’s called in to investigate what appears to be a vampyr killing in a rural Alaskan town.

This was an interesting read because it’s not the typical vampyr horror. It actually read more like a detective novel set in an alternate world with vampyrs. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I would definitely read more books in this series if it becomes a series.

CJ Tudor does such a great job writing thriller/suspense books. They always capture my attention right away and keep me guessing. This one was a little different as it was based in Vampyre lore, with problems between humans and Vampyres.

I really enjoyed the way this book was written. The were a LOT of suspects and information to cull through. I loved that Barbara was suspicious of everyone, and I liked how the old and new cops tried to work together to solve this case. The side characters were great in this one and it kept my attention. The ending was satisfying BUT that epilogue!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Gathering – C. J. Tudor

Here comes the unpopular review from an outlier. I am a fan of C. J. Tudor, for the most part, and that says a lot since her writing is definitely outside the scope of my general fare. So, if you happen to be a fan of the ghoulish, this title fits in with some of Tudor’s more recent books. I am more of a fan of her Chalk Man, Burning Girls, Other People and some of her short stories. Both this book and The Drift have apocalyptic and horror elements, not really to my taste, although the mystery/whodunnit aspects did keep me reading.

The story takes place in a tiny town in Alaska, where several murders took place over a period of about 20 years. The town people accuse the colony, a marginally protected, possibly indigenous population called Vampyrs. And guess what? The Vampyrs, a population of individuals whose longevity spans hundreds of years, thrive on the blood of humans (and in a pinch, on their own blood). They live in the worst of conditions (I’m not quite sure why or even how it is relevant to the story), and they have a history of being abused by the general population of humans.

A detective is called in who specializes in determining whether human murders are Vampyr related. It is only where the detective determines this to be the case, will the law abide by a mass genocide of the neighboring guilty Vampyr population.

The mystery aspect of the book is very interesting but other than that I felt the story was anemic (no raspberries please).

I find Tudor’s prose, at times, excellent, but not consistently so. This story was not a winner for me but I did devour it in one or two sittings.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, for an ARC of this title. The views are my own and clearly the reader should view my fellow GR Friends reviews, as they were far more enthusiastic than mine. This was a 3-star book for me, bumped up to 3.5 because of the way the mystery played out.

In small town Deadhart, Alaska a teenage boy is found murdered and the suspect is a vampyr from the local colony. In comes Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, to come and investigate whether or not a culling of the colony is warranted. The locals have been waiting for a chance to kill off these monsters as 25 years earlier there was a similar killing. Time is ticking as both sides grow volatile and want retribution for the past. There is a murderer lurking in Deadhart but is it a blood thirsty monster or psychopath?

Even if you are not a vampyr fan don’t discount this book! The setting is chilling and so are the secrets. I love how Tudor keeps you guessing on how individual stories/characters are connected and it just comes together at the end leaving you satisfied.

I’m going to start by saying I don’t normally like books with vampires. This was totally different for me. I was grabbed right from the beginning and it didn’t let up until I finished.
CJ Tudor reminds me of Stephen King in that she is a great storyteller. I’ve liked all of her previous books, some better than others but they all are great stories that kept me turning pages. This is gritty and dark and won’t be every one’s cup of tea but I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest opinion. 5⭐️

As a first read from the author CJ Tudor this was an incredible read. Gripping, informative, vampires, murder mystery, small Alaskan town. Rampant vampire racism causing the towns people to put blame on them for two murders decades apart until our main character, a vampire anthropologist come and busts both cases and the towns hidden secrets open. It had me by my throat (pun intended) and the only reason I put it down is because I had to get some sleep. I couldn’t thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Ballantine for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another fabulous entry into this author's canon! So good that you kinda wish THIS was the source material for True Detective: Night Country! (No shade to the show, there is more than enough room for some artic thrillers!) This novel is one of the only modern examples of Vampyrs done right! Tudor uses the horror framework to explore our species' tribal need to create in and out groups and how our humanity is rooted in our ability to look past the tribal divisions to find empathy and healing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Gathering follows detective Barbara Atkins from the forensic vampyr department as she is called to investigate the killing of a young boy in a rural Alaskan town. The town is on edge as this killing mirrors the death of another young boy years ago - both deaths thought to be due to the vampyr colony living on the outskirts of town. The townspeople are strongly pushing for an authorized cull of the entire colony and it is up to Barbara to investigate the killing, find out who is actually responsible, and then see them brought to justice.

There was a lot I really liked about this novel stating with C.J. Tudor’s writing and ability to bring the numerous citizens of Deadhart to life. Each character stood out and I was interested to follow them to their conclusion. The setting was also wonderfully written and I felt myself chilled to the bone along with the citizens of this Alaskan town.

I did feel the ending was a bit rushed and I was hoping for more horror elements overall. While being about vampires, this book is first and foremost a murder mystery novel. Overall I did enjoy myself and am glad to have read this.

Would recommend to anyone interested in a tense murder mystery!

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for early access to this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I really wish I read the summary before requesting this. i saw the authors name and knew i’d read books by them before and enjoyed them. unfortunately this was just not my cup of tea.

a boy is murdered in a small town in alaska. he is found with his throat ripped out and the blood drained from his body. Detective Barbara Atkins, who specialized in vampyr’s, heads out to investigate. the town is pushing for a cull, or a killing off of the vampyr colony living nearby, and it is Barbara’s job to determine if this is appropriate.

once I got passed the topic of the book, I thought it wasn’t so bad… then they started throwing religion into the mix. then the vampyr stuff got taken to another level and I kind of just wanted the book to be over with. I am not the type to DNF a book, but I kind of wish I was. like I said, not my cup of tea.

thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I love a good isolated and snowy setting in my thriller books, and this one was just that. Isolated setting + murder is definitely my jam, and I loved every minute of this book! The author hooked me in from the very beginning and I read this one in a couple of sittings as it is one of those books you just cannot put down once you start it because you want to know what happens next. This is fast paced, dark, gruesome, with dark secrets, and plenty of twists and turns throughout. I really enjoyed the characters as well, my favorite being Barbara (a vampire anthropologist detective.) Yes, you read that correctly..vampires, but not your typical vampire book. Honestly, I am not really into books about vampires…but this one is different and I loved it! I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Detective Barbara Atkins gets involved with next. This is definitely one worth sinking your teeth into soon!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦An amazing thriller book with a snowy and isolated setting
✦Amazing characters and lead
✦A unique take on a vampire story
✦A great premise and plot with a spooky setting (an island and a psych. hospital=perfection)



𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5/5

The Gathering is so different from C.J. Tudors other books but I still ate this one up! I was hooked from the beginning all the way through to the end!

This mystery follows Barbara Atkins, detective with the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, as she arrives in Deadhart, Alaska. There, a teen boy was found with his throat ripped out and the town is calling for Barbara to authorize a cull of the local vampyr colony. However, Barbara isn't so sure this case is as open and shut as the town believes it to be. With an impending snow storm and tensions in the town growing, Barbara is on limited time to find the truth behind the killings. Enlisting the help of a former sheriff who almost lost his life the last time the vampyrs were accused of killing, the two dig into the town's history and reveal more than they could have ever expected.
This was such a fun read and it wasn't what I was really expecting. I thought this would lean much more on the sort of vampyr hunter trope but I loved how it was pretty much a regular police procedural. We have a full investigation, suspects (both human and vampyr) and a town full of red herrings. We get right into the action and the investigation hooked me from beginning to end. We also get a set up at the end for a potential series which I would love if we got.

I know police procedurals aren't everyone's preferred mystery sub-genre (I really enjoy them). However, I think this has a good mix of the horror and supernatural elements layered in. This had everything I want from my police procedurals - protagonist with a bit of baggage, a seemingly straightforward case that ends up being more than expected, a solid investigation thread, and a satisfying and surprising whodunnit ending reveal. The layers of vampyr lore and the every day horror of living in a remote area really intensified the main mystery elements. I also loved the choice to have Barbara be in her 50s and overweight as opposed to maybe the more typical hot shot newbie female detective.

I was thrilled with how Tudor introduced us to the vampyrs of this world by giving us a few quotes from various publications and legal documents in the opening of this read. While these quotes are obviously fake, they did a great job of setting up the history of the vampyrs in this world in a way that was extremely easy to digest. This meant that the reader goes into page 1 with a basic understanding of what a vampyr is in this setting which was extremely helpful given the vastly different types of fictional vampire types to choose from. This also helps avoid any heavy handed or odd exposition dump by a character or plot device like listening to a radio. As the story progresses, we learn more about vampyr history as well as the vampyrs themselves. If we do get a series, I would love to see the vampyr side of things explored more.

I absolutely loved the theme of outsiders and 'us vs them' which play out beautifully in this remote and isolated setting. I know those are themes for a lot of 'monster' books because it is such an easy line in the sand to draw, but Tudor also gives us some examples of how those lines get blurred, especially over time. I didn't feel like any character were caricatures, but we certainly saw the whole range of responses to the alleged vampyr killing. I also loved the world building around anti-vampyr sentiments. I don't want to go into details because of spoilers but I found these touches of the lore to really help make it feel like the vampyrs were living beside humans for ages, they weren't some creature that came out of the darkness recently. We have that generational trauma and prejudice that comes out in many different ways - some more obvious than others.

Overall, this was a great procedural read with a good sprinkle of fun vampyr on top. I absolutely loved the investigation as well as lore and world building. I hope we do get a series (or at least a sequel) out of this world because there is a lot more I want to see.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. Expected publication date is April 9, 2024.

Wow!!!!! I was able to read this as an ARC and it just blew me away!! Vampires you say???? YES!!! Such a different take on a Vampire story and I absolutely loved it! I really hope there is a sequel to this!! Highly recommend this book! 4.5/5.

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This is the 2nd book I have read by C.J. Tudor and I feel like while coming up with great concepts that The Gathering is just an ok mystery that rarely kept me guessing or enticed

This was my first CJ Tudor book and it will not be my last. I loved the atmosphere, writing style and world of the story. I enjoyed reading about a world where vampires and humans co-exist. This will be for people who like a mystery and horror combined. I felt invested throughout the story and this was a quick read for me. Thank you to Netgalley & Ballantine Books Publishing for a copy ot this e-arc in exchange for my review.
4 star

A special investigator is sent to a small Alaskan town with a dark history to look into to the death of a teenage boy. Oh and yeah, there are vampires. A mash up of True Blood meets True Detective - I could not put this book down. Detective Atkins is sent to Deadhart, Alaska, to determine if the teen was killed by a “vampyr” from the nearby sanctioned vampire colony. Of course, things become a lot more complicated and soon the reader is plunged into small town secrets, corrupt townsfolk, and the politics of labeling vampires as a “protected species” with different rights as humans. Very entertaining! Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

C.J. Tudor is a phenomenally talented author that does not disappoint! Fast paced, suspenseful mystery was a definite nail biter. I absolutely loved all of the characters. The setting was a perfect location. Extreme detail written by Tudor makes the reader feel as if you’re actually there. I cannot wait to read more of C.J. Tudor’s novels. I am sad to have finished this unputdownable book quickly! It left me wanting more.

This author goes automatically to the top of my TBR list. I’ve loved every single one of her previous books. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed with this one. It may be vampire-fatigue (or vampyr, as they are called here), or maybe it has too many details, but I didn’t connect with any one of the characters. It is very well written, and some passages are truly creepy. The plot had surprising twists and a shocking ending, but it didn’t engross me as much as usual. I enjoyed the setting, a small, isolated Alaskan village close to a vampyr settlement called the Colony. A murder that could have been committed by a creature of the night, or maybe a human. A cast of flawed characters who are not all good or evil. The world-building is fantastic, how would our own lives work if vampyrs were real and our neighbors? This will be satisfying for a lot of readers, I just didn’t connect with it as much.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

I really enjoyed this book! I devoured it so quickly and was enthralled from the first chapter. I did go in blind, and I recommend readers do. I expected a crime novel from the cover, but had such a fun supernatural twist and the claustrophobia of the setting really increased the tension of the story.