“The Gathering” by CJ Tudor is a psychological thriller set in the dark, cold winter of Alaska. Detective Atkins has come to the small town of Deadhart to investigate the murder of a teen boy. The locals are blaming the murder on the local vampire colony and she has to get to the bottom of it. While vampire fiction isn’t my usual reading, I do like Tudor’s previous books and was caught up in the story. It was a suspenseful read that I enjoyed though I prefer her regular psychological fiction.

I was over the moon ,when i got my hands on an advance copy -talk about a dream come true 🥹 Big thanks to Netgalley & Ballantine Books Publishing and C.J.Tudor ♥️♥️♥️♥️

I'm a huge fan of C.J. Tudor's work, and her latest book, «The Gathering “ is a real page-turner. She's taken her signature dark and twisty style to a whole new level with this one. It's a world where humans and vampyrs coexist, but not exactly peacefully. Think less sparkly vampires and more gritty realism. Be warned, though - there's some heavy stuff in here, like violence and abuse. But if you're up for it, Detective Barbara Atkins is on the case, investigating a murder that could set off a powder keg of trouble between humans and vampyrs.

Barbara's got a personal stake in the game, and her story's a thought-provoking exploration of prejudice and justice. She's a tough cookie, but the story's got some serious bite. I mean, it's not just about good vs. evil - it's about the gray areas in between. And let me tell you, C.J. Tudor knows how to make those gray areas sing. If you're a fan of her unique style, you'll love this. It's like she's taken all the best parts of her previous books and distilled them into something new and exciting.
Aaaand can i just say,the ending was super intriguing? I’m wondering if this means we will see more of Barbara in the future🤞🏽

Very different from CJ Tudor's usual collection, but it worked beautifully! Vampire lovers, this one will eat your heart out.

Meet Detective Barbara Atkins, called to investigate the murder of a man in the middle of Alaska. The small town hasn't seen such a crime since a group of outcast Vamprys were run out of town. But there's something special about the detective and her investigation. She specializes in crimes committed by Vamprys, and the town is certain there's some connection.

This was such an enjoyable read. Mysterious setting (giving True Detective Season 4, Ennis, Alaska). I highly recommend for anyone who loves the supernatural and vampire vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

“You know what they called the last battle between vampires and humans? The Gathering. A battle for people’s very souls.”

A small Alaskan town. A boy found brutally murdered and his body drained of blood. An old mine that is home to an ostracized vampyr colony. Is the killing the work of a madman or is a member of the colony responsible?

I am not a big fan of vampires, but I am a huge fan of C. J. Tudor and once again she did not disappoint with this creative spin on the vampire story. What I loved about this novel is that it is basically a murder mystery. The addition of a shunned group of vampires as the possible source of the grisly killing added an unexpected element to this well done psychological thriller.

There were so many things I enjoyed about this book. Near the top is the setting. While I don’t love the cold, I do love a thriller set in an isolated wintry landscape. Tudor’s descriptions created an eerieness that I found enormously effective. And while this is set in modern day, the story sometimes had the feel of a classic with its descriptive language and its vampire versus human theme. This book surprised me in a really good way. Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this arc. The Gathering releases April 9th.

Welcome to the town of Deadhart, Alaska! A teen has just been found with his throat ripped out and the residents are calling for a cull of the neighboring Vampyre colony and the Vampyre colony is just itching for another Gathering.

Detective Barbara Atkins has been tasked with determining whether the teens death is the result of the Vampyre colony or a resident trying to blame the colony and incite a cull. With the help of a recluse ex-sheriff that is closer to the Colony than anyone else Atkins sets off on a disturbing, cold, and deadly case where the monsters aren’t only living in the woods.

I loved how this story transported you there. The MCs were strong and the storyline moved at a pretty great pace. Detective Atkins inner monologue had me cracking up throughout the entire book. I also loved the undertones Tudor explored and expertly crafted into a story that made it seem natural and didn’t seem like it was forced.

I didn’t like how there seemed to be bits of irrelevant information and secondary story lines that never came full circle or had anything at all to do with what was actually happening, looking at you, Susan.

The ending wrapped up nicely but with less action than I’d hoped but that very last page had me reeling! Always read the Epilogue! Overall it was a fun read that kept my attention and made me what to find out how it ended!

Thank you to Netgally and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of The Gathering in exchange for an honest review.

“The Gathering” by C. J. Tudor was an unexpected treat. I admit I picked this book because I was looking for a change in genre, one that I never read and so happy I picked this one. The book is a mystery that takes place in a tiny remote town in Alaska where vampyres and humans coexist. The story is about a woman detective who works for the Forensic Vampyr Anthology Department and is assigned this homicide case. She must determine if the killer is human or part of the vampyr colony. The plot is unique, exciting and entertaining and a little scary! I throughly enjoyed this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

C.J. Tudor is one of the most solid authors I read. I am yet to be disappointed by anything she writes and “The Gathering” is no exception. I always go in blind and was excited to see this was about Vampires. Tudor isn’t going to just write any old vampire story, she is able to twist it into something fresh. Vampires were hunted like animals and even taxidermied for fun. Eventually, tensions came to a head and a war between vampires and humans occurred called a gathering. Laws were put in place and special investigators were hired to ensure the safety of all. Detective Barbara Atkins is called to Deadhart, Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenager. As the town prepares to attack and kill the colony of vampires (cull), she has to determine if the evidence supports that claim, or if there is more than meets the eye? Is this truely a vampire on human crime? Is the colony of vampires protecting one of their own? Is there a human in town using this as an excuse to excise the entire colony of vampires? What follows is a bloody good; high tension unraveling of this small Alaskan town.

Calling all Vampire lovers! 🧛🏻‍♂️ I have a new book recommendation for you.

Detective Barbara Atkins is called to investigate the gruesome murder of a young man in the middle of nowhere Alaska. The small town hasn’t seen any crime quite like it for years, not since The Colony was run out of town. The Colony, a group of outcast Vamprys, used to live in the town but weren’t trusted and were forced to leave. They moved deep into the Alaskan forests, never to have contact with the town again.

Barbara Atkins isn’t a normal detective, she specializes in crimes committed by Vamprys. The town is sure that the Vamprys are back and believe the recent murders are caused by them. However Atkins isn’t so sure, and is on a mission to figure out the truth behind all of this before things get out of hand.

I enjoyed this one! It’s a fun horror story and mystery to read in the Winter months with the snowy, dark Alaskan setting. I’m also watching the newest season of True Detective and this book gives off a very similar vibe! I would recommend this if the supernatural and vampires are your thing. Otherwise this probably won’t be for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book will be published April 9th.

Loved this vampire, murder mystery from C.J. Tudor! Such a good winter read. Different from their usual work but in a good way!

I should have looked closer to the reviews. Had no idea this was about vampires . That being said, it was just an ok read, but thought the ending was great. Not for me ... but would recommend it.
Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy

I don’t usually love horror or even vampires, but I will pickup anything CJ Tudor writes and I really enjoyed this murder mystery. The alternate POVs were a nice touch, but I was hoping for more character development for some characters. Overall this was great and I can’t wait to see what comes next from CJ Tudor especially if it includes Detective Barbara Atkins.

I will say it…I will read everything that CJ Tudor puts out. When I saw that I was approved for an ARC of this book I couldn’t wait another second to open this up and jump in. I love the setting being in a small little town in Alaska. This absolutely set the tone for this book. You have a killing happen after the towns deaths have been quiet for over two decades and everyone starts to panic wondering if the vampires have come back out or if it is one of their own.

We have Detective Barbara Atkins called in to determine if this was caused by someone within “The Colony” before anything is done—this species is protected by the Vampyr Protection Act and if they in fact are behind this killing that has occurred they can call ‘a cull’ and they can hunt them down. This book will have your palms sweating and the twists and turns will have your heart racing. I loved the secrets and mystery within this book as well. A must have on the TBR for anytime literally.

I’m a huge fan of C. J. Tudor. With the notable exception of The Drift, all of her books have been five-star reads for me. And this one followed the trend very nicely.
Mind you, I don’t even like vampire fiction. Actually, that alone probably speaks volumes to how good this book is—someone who doesn’t care for vampires loved it. Of course, Tudor does something new and exciting with vampires, setting aside the cobwebbed clichés, and making it all very … real. Wherein vampire fiction always relies on overdone gaudy excess and shabby chic glamour, the vampyrs of Tudor’s imagination are second class citizens, barely surviving on government allotted reservations. You can draw your own sociopolitical parallels there. Tudor might be British, but she’s got America’s number down.
Needless to say, in this reality, vampyrs and people do not get along. There are … situations. Occasionally, those escalate into something a lot more severe. But to call a cull on the entire colony requires a proper investigation. And the man protagonist if the novel does just that when she is requested on the case in the tiny remote Alaskan town. With the assistance of the long-retired-but-dusted-off-and-out-into-action local sheriff, she will navigate the mounting agitation between the two sides of the conflict, trying desperately to avoid the bloodshed.
That’s the basic story, and Tudor did everything right with it. She brought both her characters and her setting to life vividly. The suspense was taut throughout. The murder mystery woven into the plot was clever and threw in some last-minute plot surprises. Barbara, the lead, was compelling and engaging. Ditto for the side characters. This was a book I didn’t want to put down. Be sure to visit the perfectly named Deadhart, Alaska. Great read, oodles of fun. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

This was a fun police procedural with a touch of the supernatural. It’s a very modern take on vampires (or vampyr here but I’m going to spell it normal so my autocorrect stops yelling at me 😂). I thought Barbara was an interesting MC, I liked her backstory, compassion and dedication to the truth. There were some comments made about her weight throughout the book which I didn’t think were necessary. The small town was the perfect setting for this story and it definitely helped set the tone.

There are a lot of characters and the POV jumping around made me forget who they were if they hadn’t been mentioned in a while. I was very happy to have this on kindle so I could search names to remember who was who. I was also hoping for a bit more of a vampire focus, I never got a strong feeling for the Colony and found it confusing how some vampires were easily identified and others were not noticed at all. On the plus side to that, the story is easily translated to our real world issues and could fit any persecuted group of people. I just had hoped for something a bit darker and more terrifying with a vampire story. I wouldn’t classify this as a horror story, or even a thriller. It’s more police procedural/mystery with a supernatural component. The epilogue made it seem as though there will be a sequel and I’d definitely be interested in reading it!

This was an ARC so this might be edited before publication, but there were a lot of British terms used by American characters which took me out of the story. Surgery (doctors office) Bonnet of truck (hood) jumper (sweater) trainers (tennis shoes), windscreen (windshield) were the ones I noticed. There were also some repetitive words and phrases, lots of coffee talk and the MC used the word “sir” for too often for me.

While this wasn’t my favorite by the author, I did really enjoy it and will continue to look forward to reading anything she writes! Thanks Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the DRC!

I will read anything C.J. Tudor writes and even though I'm not a fan of vampire stories, this one is appealing for many reasons. Barbara is a forensic detective who travels to Alaska after several deaths attributed to the Vampyr community leaves the community scared and dumbfounded. There are several plot lines going on: Athelinda, the leader of The Colony mingles among others, there's a Captor who tortures the young captive in a dark cell, and the townspeople are in a frenzy as the dead bodies are piling up! It's a crazy, mind-blowing plot that may keep you awake at night, but it's worth every sleepless second!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Genre: Horror/ Paranormal
Pub Date: April 9, 2024

I LOVE anything by C.J. Tudor. She meshes paranormal and horror perfectly, leaving you feeling eerie.

This was a dark and twisty read that will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what is happening in the small town of Deadhart, Alaska.

From the beginning, tension is high as a teen is found with his throat ripped out from what looks like a Vampyr attack. Barbara Atkins, a Forensic Vampyr Anthropologist has to complete an investigation to show cause for a “cull” of the colony believed to be responsible. Too bad the rest of the town doesn’t seem to be willing to wait to strike back, as history seems to be repeating itself. Barbara’s investigations quickly becomes bigger than what she thought she signed up for.


This was a very atmospheric story and the narrative explores many different themes. The fear of the unknown during a winter storm that leaves the town stranded. The longstanding animosities between the vampyr colony and the town threatening to explode. One thing after another will have you wondering where the boiling point is and if a resolution is even possible.

I admit, I judged this book by the cover (I loved it!) and went into this without even reading the blurb. And I couldn’t have been more thrilled that I did so!

This is so unlike any other vampire book I’ve read before. With an isolated Alaskan town as its backdrop, the feel of the story had a stark, cold undertone to it. Throughout the story I felt myself pulled back and forth between my suspicions of the who, what and why. While there were times that it all seemed so apparent, this author quickly twisted things around to make me question my beliefs. By the time I reached the end I felt limp and exhausted but deeply satisfied by this incredibly wild journey.

This book really sank its teeth into me (get it) from the first chapter. A vampire colony, death, gore, ice cold setting, small town secrecy … what else can you ask for? Bravo to C.J. because captivating me enough to binge read a book that I can’t stop thinking about it is pretty difficult to do

This was a good book. I felt less engaged than I did with Tudor's The Drift, but that book was truly exceptional. This was a good one, and while I didn't necessarily feel like all of the storylines were tied together satisfyingly, they perhaps didn't need to be - especially if Tudor plans to continue it as a series. I would definitely continue if she did.

I like to write reviews right when I finish a book to try and remember my thoughts, and that is true with this book. This book is well-written, and while in the beginning there was a lot of description, and it seemed to take a while to get to the meat of the story, I was eventually quite drawn into the story. I didn’t really get to know Barbara as well as I would have liked, but the writing and the suspense are excellent. I didn’t figure out what was going on until it was revealed and there was one plot twist I really didn’t see coming. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, I was blown away by the ending, and it really makes me eager to read how everything led up to this act. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.