Detective Barbara Atkinson, a specialist in vampyr killings, goes to Deadhart, Alaska, to investigate a horrific murder of a young boy. She needs to determine if it was a vampyr murder or human, and if she can authorize a cull for the whole colony. She becomes embroiled in the small town and their secrets. She must enlist the help of the town’s former sheriff, Jenson Tucker, to solve this mystery and expose some long buried secrets.

This book is a fantastic mystery with secrets being revealed at every twist and turn. It is told in multiple POV, with Barbara being the main character. There are also POV from Tucker, the former sheriff, Beau, a hateful human, and a mysterious girl being held captive, all sprinkled throughout. Going into it I wasn’t entirely sure about is, as I haven’t read a vampire book in a long time, but it sucked me right in. It isn’t so much about vampyrs as it is about hate and racism towards others who are different. On both sides. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the grisly story it tells.

This is really not what I expected it to be. I was looking for more of a horror/thriller vibe like The Burning Girls, but this was not it. The story was interesting and kept me reading, but it's more of a character study than a thriller. I would have enjoyed more scary parts.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

C. J. Tudor’s latest novel takes us to the freezing town of Deadhart, Alaska.
This is a book about vampires but in reality, it could’ve been about any group that has been persecuted or discriminated for being who they are. It is a really fun novel to read, with an unlikely hero, Detective Barbara Atkins, who I really enjoyed reading about, and after reading the Epilogue it looks like she will return with another case (hopefully soon!).
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

The best book I’ve read this year. Set in a world where vampires live in colonies adjacent to humans in an uneasy truce. This is a murder mystery, with both human and vampire suspects. Barbara, the detective, must walk a fine line as tensions cause both groups to be on the edge of war. This was a fun read, and very interesting. I was never bored.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've read all of CJ Tudor's books so I was delighted to be able to read the ARC from Netgalley. And once again, she did not disappoint!
The Gathering is a creepy story that grabs you immediately, pulls you in, and doesn't let go! I highly recommend it! It's quite a ride!

A paranormal murder mystery in a quiet Alaskan town.

I felt that <u>The Gathering</u> was bogged down by a large array of characters that were hard to keep track of due to their one dimensionality. Otherwise, this was an entertaining enough vampire murder mystery. I've only read three of Tudor's novels but this was definitely my least favorite as it was relatively predictable and the one big reveal (the killer) still wasn't all that shocking to me.

This is a really talented writer which is why I was thrilled to get an ARC to review. The gathering starts with a murder in Alaska but the mode of killing requires the talents of Barbara, vampire anthropologist.

The killing occurs in a very small town full of secrets and sins. They don’t take it well when she comes into town to investigate.

This is a story of the animosity between humans and a colony of vampires. To be honest, I did not think I would enjoy it because this is not my genre. However, it is so well written you just get past that part if that is not your thing. I thought, I am going to give it a chance. I read it in one day anxious to find out what would happen next.


So thank you to Netgalley, Random House Ballantine, and C.J. Tudor for bringing me something new to read and enjoy. I will be waiting for this authors’ next book.

A police procedural mixed with vampires? I'm 100% in. I loved everything about this story; the creepy alaska setting perfect for a thriller, the untrustworthy collection of crooks in this small town where you don't know who's in hiding, and the perfect mix in of vampire horror. This was my first CJ Tudor read and I'll be back for more!

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor takes place in a world where humans and vampyres coexist. The vampyres live in colonies and are protected by law. However if they break the law, then the government can issue an order to cull the colony. The Gathering is a story about Detective Barbara Atkins, from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, who is assigned a homicide case in Alaska. She must determine how the boy died and if it was by vampyr, in order to assess whether a cull should be authorized against the colony of vampyrs that lives there.
I loved this story. The mix of murder mystery, police procedural, and paranormal, made this an unique plot line. The story touched on cultural differences and stereotypes as they showed the reactions of the townspeople towards the the colony and vice versa. The characters were diverse and each were fully developed. The desolation and despair of the town was amply described. I imagined that I was in this dark, cold environment with them. I would be interested in riding along with Barbara again in a future book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

I’m a big fan of the CJ Tudor and I loved her newest book, The Gathering. I wasn’t sure how the whole vampire vs human angle would work, but I loved the story and the mystery. It was a very original concept and I loved how everything came together at the end. I’m also excited the story ended with a possibility of Detective Barbara Atkins coming back with another murder to solve.

Thanks to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for the ARC!

This premise is so unique and the characters are really compelling. There are so many layers of history and clues and little crimes wrapped in bigger ones which made it such a fun and interesting reading experience. Unfortunately, the end seems sort of rushed and didn’t feel totally satisfying— is the epilogue a set-up for a sequel? I definitely feel there was a lot more to say here, for better and for worse.

This was not quite what I expected. Maybe I didn’t read the description properly but I was expecting a colony of human wanna-be vampires, not actual vampires (or vampyrs, as they are called in this story). A bit of a departure from the other CJ Tudor books I have read, which had some supernatural elements but didn’t go whole hog into a race of non-humans. It was an interesting story and the setting made it extra creepy. I would have liked some more world building but it still worked for me.

My sincerest apologies, but I am not able to read this at this time. I am dealing with personal issues and didn’t realize the first page would trigger a lot of feelings I wasn’t ready for.

So sorry, but thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

I love C.J. Tudor's thrillers, but to my surprise, I'm discovering that I love her horror even more. A police procedural mystery that's also a vampire horror story was exactly what I didn't realize I wanted until I began reading The Gathering. Within a few pages, I was feeling that rare excitement of starting a book that feels fresh and compelling even if the basic story idea is somewhat familiar. 


Barbara Atkins, a detective with the Department of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology, is sent to Deadhart, Alaska to investigate the death of a teenage boy and determine if Vampyrs committed the crime. It's her job to determine if Vampyrs are involved and, if so, to authorize a cull of all responsible. The citizens of Deadhart are hostile and resistant to her investigation, the local police chief is only grudgingly cooperating, and there seems to be ties to a 25 year old crime.


I found the alternate version of reality the author created absolutely fascinating.  Vampyrs are known to be real, are a legally protected species, and are living alongside humans in their own communities called colonies. The two groups have reached a tenuous truce, but many in the Vampyr community want more than the limited life they're allowed. Peace  is a fragile thing, and the recent attack has stirred up enough anger and fear to push this small community closer and closer to confrontation. I was fully invested in the tense mystery as well as with the characters, both human and vampyr. Not everyone was likable, but I thought almost every single character was interesting and a shade of gray that prevented them from easily fitting into a good or bad box. 


I must talk about Barbara. This character came off the page and won me over within the first few pages. With her age, politeness, mild manner, and non-threatening ways, it was easy to underestimate and dismiss her as past her prime and a pushover. I loved watching her competency and dedication to the truth catch others off guard.


Yes, this story had vampires, but it was so much more than just a vampire horror story. The Gathering also weaved in discussion about religion, discrimination, and how easily good intentions can be corrupted and lead to dark places. Somehow, the author combined all these different elements and produced a book both entertaining and at times thought-provoking. 


Overall, I loved this book. The story was engrossing with several different mysteries going on to keep me invested and curious and a few unexpected twists along the way. I flat-out adored Barbara, and there were also a few side characters who were very intriguing standouts. The small, isolated Alaskan town with its brief hours of daylight and creepy holiday decorations was a perfect, chilling setting for this story of monsters, both human and vampyr. C.J. Tudor writes exactly the type of clever, restrained horror story I love to read, and I can't wait to see where her next book takes us. 


Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book

Imagine a world where vampyrs (archaic spelling of vampire and used in this book) live in colonies near humans, and those vampyrs are protected by laws. Those laws protect them unless the whole colony is considered a threat, and then a cull can be authorized. There’s tension between the groups, and a fragile peace exists.

The small town of Deadhart, Alaska is clamoring for a cull after a young man is found dead in a cabin, a clear victim of a vampyr, at least to the locals. A specialist, Detective Barbara Atkins, is brought in to investigate and determine if a cull should be authorized.

Oh, what a wonderful character! Barbara is the heart and soul of this story. She’s got a complicated backstory, and eventually, we learn it and why she became a vampyr specialist. She’s committed to doing the right thing in this case and trying to avoid eating any reindeer dishes. She’s stuck in the harsh, cold environment in Alaska with a storm coming, and I got chilled reading about it!

There are deep forces and superstition at work in Deadhart, and just as Barbara figures one thing out, there’s another complication. Another body turns up as she’s trying to get a handle on things. Could this be related to another similar killing 25 years ago?

She’s forced to team up with the former sheriff, Jenson Tucker. He’s got a history with the case from 25 years ago when things went horribly wrong, and the Colony left. They made a great pair, and I rooted for them to figure out what was happening.

I am rooting for a sequel to this one with Barbara! I was a bit surprised to see that this is my seventh book by this author! She clearly works for me.

Interesting concept, about what you'd get if you crossed a Sookie Stackhouse book with 30 Days of Night as a dark murder mystery. Many twists and turns. A little slow at times but a good story. I've read this author before and will again.

First and foremost, if you cringe at books involving vampires (vampyrs is the spelling used in this story), walk away. The basis of this book involves vampires living peacefully (somewhat) with humans. Years before, a treaty was reached, and vampires are now protected from mass killings. Our protagonist, Barbara Atkins, works for the enforcement group responsible for monitoring one-on-one cases of vampire-human conflict. And she takes her job very seriously.
She’s called to the town of Deadhart Alaska, where a human has been killed by a vampyr. If she agrees with that ruling, then a cull, or mass killing, of the nearby vampyr colony is authorized. But Barbara is suspicious; she smells a bat, err, rat. We run alongside Barbara for the next few hectic days trying to solve who did what before the small town and the colony of vampyrs end up killing one another.
The personalities of the people and the vampyrs involved make this an interesting and fast-paced story. The history behind the town and its earlier occupants shed a sad light on the situation Barbara finds herself in.
This entire format may sound uninteresting to you, but please give it a try. I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read a book about something I would normally scoff at. Tudor’s writing style adds so much more to this story and its difficult ending.
Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is April 9, 2024.

THE GATHERING, by C.J. Tudor, is what I would call a mystery/thriller with strong horror overtones. In the remote town of Deadhart, Alaska (population 673 . . .living), a boy is found brutally murdered--his throat torn out. The town believes it's the work of a Vampyr--the likes of which haven't been seen since a similar murder 25 years prior.

Enter Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in determining Vampyr killings, and able to give the call as to whether or not a cull is needed to eradicate all Vampyrs in a colony.

I loved the fact that this world shows Vampyrs and Humans living side by side--albeit with the humans in charge of everything. Although laws had been passed that the two sides were not allowed to kill each other (exception being a cull), the Vampyr Colonies and human towns are as separate as they could possibly be. After all, a law doesn't change the hatred towards another group.

The cold, isolated atmosphere was a perfect setting for a mystery of this sort. Barbara enlists the help of the former police chief, Jensen Tucker, who almost died after the first murder while trying to see justice done. In a town that harbors bigotry and mistrust against the Colony, it's almost impossible to enforce laws meant to protect both sides. When the new murder shows signs inconsistent to that which the town believes, Barbara decides to delve into the mystery and determine exactly what happened.

Prejudices, long standing grudges, and secrets uncovered around every corner made this a captivating read, difficult to put down. There were so many revelations and and twists, that I never predicted where it was all going. A book that can hold me in the moment like this is one that I'll remember for a long while!

Recommended.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC I received for review. All opinions are completely my own.*

I loved this! I've really enjoyed C.J. Tudor's works before, but the Drift was not one I liked. I was nervous picking up The Gathering, but I was hooked. I like how you are just dropped into the world. There is no info dumping, and you learn whats going on as it progresses. I was immediately hooked and read in one sitting. Highly recommend!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book! Set in a remote town in Alaska, Det. Barbara Atkins is sent to investigate a vampyr killing. Barbara specializes in Vampyr Forensics. 25 years ago, the town suffered a similar fate back when another teenage boy was killed and the Colony left. Now the Colony has moved back home, but another teenage boy was killed in what appears to be a Colony killing. The town wants a cull, in which the vampyr's will be vanquished, but Barbara is the only one authorized to request a cull. As the investigation continues, we find out everyone has their secrets and the killer is who you least expect it. Through twists, The Gathering for sure kept me on my toes and I thoroughly enjoyed it,