The Gathering was exactly the type of book I have been looking for. Very suspenseful, with a great setting, interesting characters and many twists along the way. I was unable put this book down, and can't wait to read more from this author! Definitely recommend.

A murder with facts that don’t point toward the conclusion that those in a small Alaskan town want uncovers something darker and more complicated in The Gathering by C.J. Tudor.
Called to a rural Alaskan town to investigate a murder of a teenage boy, Detective Barbara Atkins must determine if the Colony is responsible for the killing and whether a cull of the vampyrs should be authorized. With the death of the boy drawing eerie comparisons to the last killing like this twenty-five years ago the emotions of those in the small town are running high and the residents aren’t taking too kindly to Barbara, both as an outsider and in her role glibly referred to as a Fang Doc, which they fear makes her sympathetic to the vampyrs; however, Barbara is simply determined to find the truth and hold the perpetrator responsible so when facts and evidence raise more questions she enlists the aid of the former sheriff, Jenson Tucker, who worked on the previous case and has been reclusive since then. As the pair investigate, they uncover the long-kept dark secrets of the town as the vampyrs and humans draw ever closer to each other’s throats seeking to land a killing blow.
Combining perspectives of a variety of characters to provide a fuller view of the situation and version of the world with a vampyr society beside a human one the story’s tension and intrigue is slowly built up as pieces of the mystery’s puzzle are slotted into place and eventually understood in context, after various misdirects. The narrative depicts small town dynamics well, with the distrust of outsiders loudly presented and deep-seated prejudices exemplified through both the actions and words of those in the town toward Otherness, which in this instance is vampyrs. Though this particular case seems to be fairly well wrapped up, there’s a much larger story to be told within this world and through these characters, which was hinted at throughout the narrative with portions of Barbara’s past and that of a trapped vampyr as well as with another inciting event to offer an opening for and tease of what Barbara might encounter next.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW WOW WOW!! I absolutely loved The Drift by Tudor last year; so much so that I knew even though I would like The Gathering (her writing is phenomenal!), I wasn't sure it would be as good. OMG this one blew me away too! What great characters and setting. I could see myself in the town of Deadhart, cold and all. I could feel the tension in my bones in this small Alaskan town. What a ride this was! Suspenseful and thrilling, I could not put this down!! Bravo to C.J. Tudor for another amazing story!!

Detective Barbara Atkins is summoned to investigate a grisly murder in a remote Alaskan town where a boy is discovered with his throat torn out and his body drained of blood. Specializing in vampyr killings, Barbara holds the authority to sanction a cull of the local clan if deemed necessary. However, her findings in Deadhart unsettle her, prompting her to seek the truth despite the town's suspicions. Teaming up with former Sheriff Jenson Tucker, Barbara delves into the town's hidden secrets amidst a raging snowstorm, racing against time to stop further bloodshed. The narrative's exploration of vampirism as a recognized condition facing prejudice, set against the backdrop of Alaska's vast and desolate landscape, adds depth to the story. While the characters and their backgrounds contribute to the atmospheric setting, the excessive focus on Barbara's weight and self-deprecation detracts from her role as a skilled detective. Such characterization, applied to other characters as well, feels like a simplistic approach to portraying flaws. Overall, I appreciated the opportunity to review this ARC provided by NetGalley and Ballantine Books.

Sometimes a book surprises you, leaves your jaw hanging on the floor. This was that book for me. I had initially requested this title having read and enjoyed other works from the same author and because of that beautiful cover. But boy! I was in for a ride.

Following a cast of characters whom you will certainly come to relate with, this book is the perfect horror-thriller that brings vampires into the equation. And as is the classic CJ Tudor style, we are given a wonderful case study of the human psyche and how deeply bloodthirsty we can be.

A perfect five stars. This book is not something that I can recommend for light reading. It will definitely leave its mark and make a reader think about many a things. Truly, I am glad to have enjoyed it as much as I did.

I spent many years living in Alaska and the setting alone sucked me right in. Once I opened the book, I could not put it done. There were so many twists and turns and some surprises along the way. The characters are well written, and the atmosphere made this book even better. I would highly suggest if you are looking for something different but amazing. Thank you NetGalley.

The Gathering was a compelling dark telling of vampires and humans. Are the vampires the evil ones or could it be the humans? A teenage boy is found dead and the police will have to investigate to find out who’s responsible for this. Things are not what they seem and this story will take several turns before the truth is found out. Well done and worth the read.
4.5⭐️
Thanks Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley.

Wow, this was incredible. Everything from the characters and setting to the intricate web of deceit was so well done. I would die for a sequel based on that epilogue.

The intricacies of the vampyr world were explained in a simple way that flowed well within the story. It never felt like it was being over explained. The pacing was fast, but not too fast where it felt like you were getting whiplash.

CJ Tudor does a great job crafting a horror story that feels real. The Gathering is set in a small Alaskan town where ostracized vampyrs also live. When a boy is found killed with his throat ripped out, the people know that a vampyr is responsible, thus bringing in Detective Barbara Atkins who specializes in vampyr killings. While the townspeople want to call for a cull to kill their nemeses, Barbara cannot authorize it until she finds the truth since there are some inconsistencies in the killing, and there are definitely people keeping secrets.

I loved the dark, chilling setting of the small town. The town is filled with so much hatred and mistrust because you can't necessarily tell for sure who is a vampyr and who is human. This is a novel crafted for people that enjoy thrillers, even if you don't like a good vampire story. Barbara was a great main character, and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a follow up to this book.

4⭐️

After a boy is found with his throat ripped out and his body drained of blood in a small town in Alaska, Detective Barbara Atkins is called in to investigate. As a specialist in vampyr killings, Barbara is the one who can authorize a cull of the local clan should they pose a risk. But what she finds in Deadhart doesn't sit right with her.

Barbara is determined to find the truth, regardless of the towns suspicions of the colony. She asks former Sheriff Jenson Tucker to help in her investigation and the two uncover many dark secrets the town has kept quiet. In the middle of a snow storms, the two officers must find their killer before more citizens of the town die.

This was interesting! I liked that vampirism was a well known affliction that faced it's own prejudices. I liked the isolated locale of a small town in Alaska in the middle of a snow storm. Alaska is such a vast land where it's easy to hid the dead and that really worked with a vampire story. The characters were interesting and their backstories really added to the ambiance.

I did feel like the heavy focus on characters weight to be a a bit off putting. Barbara's weight was the main focus rather than her being a successful detective and Barbara's internal monologue was mostly talking down about herself. And Barbara wasn't the only character that we saw this with. Using the weight of your character to show that that character is flawed or bad just feels like lazy writing to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC to me!

I really enjoyed The Gathering by C.J. Tudor. Dark and atmospheric, with tense situations and characters so complex that you never know what secrets people are hiding. Can't wait for the next one!

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

This is such a chilling vampire tale, both because of the frigid Alaska setting and the poignant social commentary.
In this creepy tale, vampyrs are an endangered species and segregated to a colony on the outskirts of town. But many residents of Deadhart, Alaska are not happy with their presence. Tensions run high and prejudices run deep. When a young boy is found murdered, the townspeople take it as a sign to terminate the vampyrs once and for all. When Detective Barbara Atkins (a specialist in vampyr killings) is sent to investigate, she isn't so sure this is an actual vampyr killing. Is someone in the town trying to frame the vampyrs in order to enact a cull against the colony?

This is such an atmospheric and deeply unsettling novel full of rich characters (many of which you'll come to hate).
With a 30 Days of Night feel, this is both a police procedural and social horror combined into one. This was such a wonderful and unique rendition into vampire lore, and a book I highly recommend for lovers of the genre.

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

I really enjoyed this book and, after reading The Drift last year, C.J. Tudor has become an author I really enjoy. That said, I think I preferred The Drift to this one. That said that said, I did think The Drift was a 5 star, so this being not as good is still pretty good. The story was centered around trying to solve a mystery, but the twist was that in this world. vampyrs exist and coexist with humans. I love seeing "normal" life with a twist that makes this alternate world so realistic and C.J. Tudor gives us that world here. A highly enjoyable book and I didn't guess any of the twists. Can't wait to read the next book by this author

I am a big fan of C. J. Tudor. She tends to dance close to the line between the natural and supernatural--sometimes slipping right over that line--and she has the best sense of voice. I enjoy reading her characters no matter what the storyline turns out to be (and the narratives tend to be compelling and creepy, which I love). So when I saw a new novel by Tudor, it was an automatic read for me. I had no idea what I was getting into.

This book deviates a bit from the others I've read (though, in hindsight, maybe The Drift was a bit of a heads up for the direction Tudor might be heading). Honestly, had I only read the synopsis, I might have been hesitant to rush for this one--but I'm glad I hadn't read that synopsis and launched into this one. The Gathering is set in an alternate world where vampires exist. They have bad a tumultuous relationship with humans, and now an unsteady truce exists in most communities, one that can be quickly broken if the vampires (or, ala John Polidori, the vampyres) strike out against humans. Detective Barbara Atkins, a detective in the Department of Vampyre Anthropology who also holds a PhD in the field, is called to a remote Alaskan village where a teen has been killed--seemingly by a vampire. And she discovers that this isn't the first such tragedy to befall this community.

The cold, dark Alaskan setting is perfect for this book. Not surprisingly, I felt Tudor wrote a really likable and readable protagonist. The narrative was a little uneven at places, but the mystery started to take over the storyline and, soon, I forgot I was reading about an alternate, fantasy world and found myself drawn into the cat and mouse thriller. I suspect, too, that we might see Detective Atkins again in the future.

Overall, a fun read. If this doesn't sound like your cup of tea, know that I didn't think it was mine either but ended up really enjoying it. If you like Tudor, you will probably enjoy this one!

Although I’m a fan of C J Tudor this book was not up to par with her other works. I was hoping for more of a “are vampires real?” instead we got a world where vampires are real. Just wasn’t for me.

I’ll literally read anything by CJ Tudor.

This book has a perfect freezing, dark and isolated setting and I really liked how the supernatural was blended with the normal world and now vampyrs were just a part of life.

I guessed one twist but for most of the book I had no idea where it was going so I stayed in constant suspense.

Again, the atmosphere and vibes of this book were so good. I loved the tiny Alaskan town setting so much (even if all the people are shady and not that great lol).


Lowkey hoping for a spin off book.

3.5 stars. I really love C.J Tudor, I was just slightly confused at the end. I didn’t understand the whole Nathan thing which left some loose ends for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Ramdom House Pub for an ARC of The Gathering by C.J. Tudor

I’ve liked and really enjoyed previous C.J. Tudor books unfortunately this was not one of them. I really struggled to get through this book. I just think the theme of vampyrs just wasn’t for me. Also the whole whodunnit didn’t really hold my interest.

The Gathering by C.J. Turdor follows Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings. Barbara is assigned to a remote town Deadhart to investigate a teen murdered by a vampyr. The Colony is adiment that they were not repsonsable for the killing of the teen. Barabra must follows the clues to solve this murder before the town call for a cull, an authorize killing of the vampyr colony. Barabra enliists the help of the former sheriff Jensen Tiucker when the current sheriff gets injured on the job. He has history with town as well as a simliar killing 25 years ago that ultimently caused hiim to step down as the sheriff. This is a great book that had so many twists and turns that I couldn't believe the ending. Barabra and Tucker were characters that I loved form the begining. They were so sarcastic that it made me laugh at the comments that were made. This is the first book from C.J. Tudor that I have read and I really enjoyed it.