First line: It would be wrong to say that life had passed Beau Grainger by.

Summary: In the small Alaskan town of Deadhart, a teenage boy has been found with his throat torn out and all of his blood drained from his body. It appears to the anxious townspeople that the local vampyr community is to blame but before a cull can be initiated an investigation is ordered. Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr attacks, has been called in to discover who the killer is. As tensions rise between the human and vampyr communities Barbara enlists the help of former police chief, Jenson Tucker. However, when another death is discovered Barbara pushed to dig deeper into the town’s history and what she finds may lead her to answers but also more questions. Who is doing the killing? And is it really a vampyr or is a serial killer on the loose in Deadhart?

My Thoughts: When I started reading this I realized that I had not read the description of the story. I saw C.J. Tudor as the author and immediately requested it. When I realized it was a vampire story I was shocked because it was different than their other books but at the end I was not disappointed.

The atmosphere and setting is perfect for a story of vampires. Set in the remote parts of Alaska during the cold, dark winter days there is a vampire stalking the isolated town. However, in this world vampires are a known and protected community. They have some rights as long as they do not harm humans. It is different than many stories about these creatures. But they are still feared by many and hunted by those who fear them.

I found this to be a darkly fun thriller, perfect for a cold winter night. At times I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see how the next scene would unfold. For those who love an atmospheric paranormal story then this is right up your alley. I wish it was coming out in the short days of winter but maybe just turn up the AC, turn down the lights and imagine being stuck in Alaska with vampires stalking through the trees around you. Enjoy!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Mystery Thriller + Horror

The story of this book is set in a small Alaskan town called Deadhart. A boy who went missing some time ago has his body discovered with his throat ripped out and his blood wholly drained. Barbra Atkins, a detective, is sent to this town to cooperate with the town’s local authorities and investigate this murder case.

I will not go into further detail about the story because I believe that it is best left up to the reader to discover on their own. However, I will give you a few keywords to ignite your interest if the small synopsis still doesn’t sound appealing to you. You have a small town, a murder case, a cold, icy climate, and vampires!

I have read several C.J. Tudor books by now, and fortunately, they are all entertaining to a varying degree. The Gathering is not my favorite, but it is quite a fun story due to multiple factors. The first is the atmospheric setting, one constant strength I find in the author’s books, which makes me return to her stories.

Another element that I really like is the supernatural element of her stories. It is strongly present in this one, too. This blend of the horror and mystery thriller genres made this premise more interesting. The two aspects of the story that I wish were stronger are the pacing, which I think was slow in the first half. And the other thing is the ambiguous ending. Sometimes, I’m OK with such endings, but in this case, I really would’ve liked answers to some of the questions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I'm not really sure what to think of this novel. On the one hand, it was very original, the setting was pitch-perfect, and I was incredibly drawn in by the police procedural style. On the other hand, I felt that Tudor tried too hard to make this a Deep Book by including a lot of social justice undertones that, at least in my opinion, really kept jarring me out of the story and felt incredibly clunky and forced. Without this, I feel like The Gathering would have been an easy 5-star read for me. There's so much this book gets right. I absolutely loved the vampire lore. It was very different from other vampire books I've read, while still keeping some of the basics. The setting, rural Alaska, was perfect for a creepy small-town mystery. The characters were fascinating. I felt that the author really left the door wide open if she decides to write any sequels in the future. There's no doubt in my mind that C. J. Tudor is an incredibly talented and versatile author, and I'm very eager to read her entire backlog now!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy!
I’ve read several C.J. Tudor books before, and was looking forward to a horror book. I was thrilled when I found out it was a vampire (or vampyr in this telling) book!
I’ve always found the thought of a vampyr mythology in a northerly area, where daylight is in such short supply especially intriguing, and this book did not disappoint. Here is a world where humans and vampyrs are trying to coexist, with varying degrees of success. The hate and distrust they face harkens back to several marginalized groups and cultures, and as is often the case it’s much harder to determine who the monsters are than you’d suspect.

I recieved an eARC of this book, which comes out in April, from the publisher via NetGalley and at their request will hold a full review until closer to the release date. I will say that this is the first C.J. Tudor book I’ve read and it made me want to pick up more of her books and that readers who enjoy unique horror/mystery stories will like this!

I just realized I finished The Gathering a month ago but never wrote a review for it...which was definitely an oversight because I actually really liked it! A detective is sent on an assignment up in Alaska to investigate a murder that possibly (probably) is vampire-related. In the world of this story, vampires are a part of society...which doesn't mean that humans like them or accept them, but they are there to stay. And, of course, this causes a lot of tension. If you enjoyed this latest season four of True Detective, I imagine you will like the frozen isolation of this small-town supernatural murder mystery.

This was a murder mystery that also had vampires. !!! LIKE WHAT my favorite things!!! hehe the Atmosphere is amazing!!!!! when I think of a thriller this is exactly what I am thinking of ,this is what I long for ! Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampire killings, this was the first C.J Tudor book I have read and i looooved every second!

The pace of the story is relentless and guaranteed to keep you reading on the edge of your seat with baited breath. I love this book with a great lead character, well thought out plot and excellently paced.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

I'm not usually a fan of vampire-based books, so I approached this one with some trepidation. However, it pleasantly surprised me. With excellent character development and unexpected twists in the story, it proved to be a highly entertaining read. I'm eagerly hoping for a sequel!

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This one was so good! The small-town Alaska setting was the perfect atmospheric backdrop. The town is rife with history (none of it too positive, of course) around how they humans have treated vampyrs in the past. Some of that history gets pretty dark, so do check trigger warnings if you have topics that you prefer to avoid. This history is layered over the usual small-town drama and while I'd find that to be too much drama for me, Tudor has worked the vampyric drama and history seamlessly into the small-town life.

The thriller elements were great. I didn't even come close to guessing all the twists. The world-building was also incredibly well done with a lot of showing not telling and minimal info dumps.

I'm crossing my fingers that the ending means we might get a book 2, which would be incredible.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Detective Barbara Atkins is sent to a remote Alaskan town to investigate a gruesome murder. As she begins her investigation she uncovers secrets that reach far into the past. There were a few twists and turns throughout the storyline but no real surprises. I typically enjoy detective and futuristic books, but this book failed to hold my interest. I didn’t realize it was about vampires and it seemed to be slow moving to me. #netgalley #TheGathering

Manu thanks to @randomhouse and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 4/9/24.

I am not a huge vampire fan, but THE GATHERING is an exception. This was so chilling that I literally got goosebumps. There are many different characters in this book, so make sure you are paying close attention. Book 2??? I'M IN!!!!

***Note to the Publisher, I plan to post the following review on Goodreads and a mini review on my Bookstagram in accordance with the request to post on or after the publish date of April 9th 2024. Both page links will be provided. If you approve of this review and want it available earlier than previously asked please notify me. Thank you!***


Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine books for my eARC copy of one of my most highly anticipated books.
I became a fan of CJ Tudor last year when I first read The Burning Girls on a bookstore employee's recommendation. Then I picked up the newest of last year The Drift and enjoyed it as well.
If C.J Tudor wants to keep on her writing kick of Supernatural Mystery Thrillers, I am all for it!
This book was her take on if Vampyres were a part of this modern world and what that would mean for mysterious murder cases.
The book does follow many POV's, but our main person is Barbara, a detective who specializes in cases of vampire attacks. Her job is to find the murderer, but also to prevent a “culling” of a vampyre clan that may or may not be innocent. This particular town in Alaska has had issues with this clan before and is a little bit trigger happy when it comes to taking out vampyres.
Tudor has the usual vampyre folklore but also creates her own within this modern world, both negating some of the “stereotypes” and also adding fictional historical aspects of how and why laws were placed to protect both humans and vampires from each other.
This book was very easy to binge, each chapter was “bite-sized” and short. There was some minor political commentary and very radical thinking characters and it irked me a little at first because I want escape when I read, but by the end I remembered that CJ Tudor makes all her characters flawed in one way or another.
I did not see how this book wrapped up in the end at all. I sort of had an inkling for one thing, but otherwise it was a wild, very chilling ride. This book made me want to cozy up with hot cocoa even though its already Spring.

"The Gathering", by C.J. Tudor was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Being a vampire fan already, I loved how this book incorporated vampires in the real world living amongst the rest of the mortal world. This book also had great symbolism in describing the discrimination seen between both groups that can sometimes lead to biased reactions and unfair treatment. In addition, the true crime/thriller element made it come alive even more.

3.5 ⭐️'s. The Gathering is an enjoyable read that held my attention. It has an open ending, so perhaps a series starter? I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for a non-traditional take on a human-vampire (or vampyr as spelled throughout the book) dynamic: no Twilight-esque star-crossed lovers and no terrifying cloaked figures stealing the innocent at night. Instead, the narrative shows a relationship between vampyrs and humans similar to any other predators co-existing in the same ecosystem. Show respect, and leave well enough alone - don't hurt us, and we won't hurt you. I really enjoyed this perspective, and it created a unique dynamic among the characters in the book. I sympathized with the vampyrs and wished I had seen more of their story.

The Gathering follows a fairly typical detective procedural, except that the main murder suspect is a vampyr. This book is not scary or even horror-adjacent. I confidently classify it as a suspense mystery. Vampyrs are a species protected under the law and live on the outskirts of human towns. So, in the context of the book, there is no supernatural element either.

Admittedly, I wanted more action. The murder(s) are fairly gruesome, but readers discover everything with the detective, so there isn't much in-the-moment suspense.

Vampyr vs. vampire? I did a quick Google search. There was a lot of information, most of it conflicting. Some sources state vampyr is simply an archaic term. Others claim vampyrs are a less sinister version of vampires who use blood (often from animals) to sustain themselves and do not threaten humans. And then there was a tidbit about vampires being mythical and vampyrs being a "truer" form. I really wish there was a note explaining this at the end of the book!

Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC

I had a good time with this one. The idea of vampires and humans trying to coexist in the same world was interesting. The exploration of the different conflicts between characters was well done. There were some pretty brutal moments , but it felt like a realistic depiction of what happens when one group truly hates another. There is a strong message about the dangers of bigotry and hatred throughout the story.

My only issue was that it was fairly slow for the first half. It took me a while to really get invested.

When you get offered an ARC for CJ Tudor’s newest novel, you say yes immediately!

Or maybe that’s just me.

This is maybe her most ambitious novel to date, setting up an entire world where vampyrs are very really, living in colonies and about as welcome in the average town as you could probably expect.

When a teenage boy is killed in a remote Alaskan mining town, seemingly the work of a vampyr, it’s up to Detective Atkins to determine whose at fault, and if there’s enough evidence to authorize wiping an entire colony out of existence.

This book has everything you could want from a CJ Tudor novel! Enticing characters? ✅ A tense, engaging mystery? ✅ Eerie setting? ✅✅✅ And now there’s an added bonus of supernatural creatures, with a mythology that actually feels really realistic, all things considered.

And in a note just for @cjtudorauthor, if we don’t get another novel featuring Detective Atkins, I might have a full breakdown. 😂😭

A murder mystery with Vampires 🧛… tell me more!! I absolutely love CJ Tudor books and The Gathering was just fabulous. I stayed up late into the night to finish it and it was worth every second of lost sleep. I don’t read many books with paranormal themes, but this worked so well for me. It was dark, gory and emotional. There was so much to love about this book ❤️

Set in a small town in Alaska in the middle of winter, in a world where humans and Vampyrs coexist. A teenage boy is found murdered, this throat ripped out. The townspeople want the Colony to be be culled, wiped out. Enter vampyre expert Barbara Atkins. She is not convinced that this is a colony attack and investigates more. She find herself up against the majority of the town who just want revenge. But there is more than meets the eye here and she is going to find the truth.

I really could not get enough of this story. There were some very unlikeable humans and vampires. The setting with the snow and the isolation just added to the atmosphere, it was tense and uncomfortable. As always with this author, we had many plot twists that I did not see coming and I was all in.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books for my advanced copy to read. Published on April 9th.

As a huge fan of all things '30 Days of Night' I could not say yes to reviewing this book fast enough. C.J. Tudor is also a favorite author of mine. The setting, the mysterious colonists and eerie atmosphere all set this vampire tale apart from other new releases. I love that the main characters in 'The Gathering' are adults, by that I mean forties or older. It is a refreshing take on the vampire genre. I recently just finished watching True Detective Night Country and reading book 2 of Brenda Novak's Evelyn Talbot Chronicles so I was primed for more Alaskan mysteries.

The pacing is slow but beautifully written with a certain dawning horror to it as the plot unfolds. 'The Gathering' is a complex social commentary on prejudice and a vampire murder mystery mashed together. As is sometimes CJ Tudor's style there are multiple narrators but a group of core main characters. As compared to 'The Drift', this was a much easier book to read where the point of view changes are concerned. Funny enough though, after finishing both books 'The Drift' was the better.

Of the main characters, Athelinda is compelling and vividly fully fleshed. Barbara Atkins has a mature Clarice Starling vibe to her that I enjoyed. The plodding creeping pace stalls a bit in the middle of the book. I'll admit to losing some interest. However what I know of CJ Tudor's books are that the endings aren't to be missed, so I pressed on. Unfortunately it felt a little silly to me. It wasn't scary or thrilling all but if you're a fan of mysteries you might enjoy it. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad book, I liked it but didn't LOVE it. Is it library or buy-worthy? I'd say get it through your local library.

Allow me to introduce you all to my favorite horror novel of the year so far!

This is THE most unique and creative detective and vampire storyline. It perfectly blends the genres of crime thriller with horror as it takes place in reality but with the exception that society recognizes Vampires as real. They live as "Vampyrs" in colonies on the outskirts of towns forced to be treated as sub human and faced with hate and prejudice.

When a teenaged boy turns up dead in a rural Alaskan town, a vampyr expert and detective is sent out to decide if the murder can be proven to have been performed by a vampyr or if the reality is more twisted than that.

Interesting how humans so often tend to be worse than the monsters they chase. Also, the story ends in a perfect set up for a sequel! 👏🏻

I loved this from start to finish and recommend it for anyone looking for a fresh take on crime investigation and vampire stories. I want to read everything this author writes now.