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,

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

C. J. Tudor is always a must read for me, and The Gathering definitely solidified that. The Gathering is a small town detective novel dealing with vampyrs. What more could you want? This was a really exciting thriller that I couldn’t put down.

I usually like this author and this book is his typical style with a good plot and characters. I don’t care for the vampire storyline i feel the story was as good without this but overall a good book

The Gathering was a thrilling read! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time with every twist and turn through this immersive mystery. Tudor creates a world where good and evil collide, but it’s not always black and white for detective Barbara Atkins, as she sifts through the details of messy town secrets, to stave off a revolt from the Colony and the Deadhart community alike. Detective Barbara, with the help of an unlikely ally, will find the truth about who the monsters really are, in Deadhart, Alaska. I would recommend The Gathering to any horror lover!

Oh how I love a detective novel with a little bit of fantasy in it. This book had me pulled in right from the first page all the way until the last. Loved it.

In the small town of Deadhart, Alaska, a teenager is murdered and vampyr anthropologist Barbara Atkins is brought in to investigate the case. The town has a history of vampyr attacks and although it’s been 25 years since the last cull, it is now in question whether another is due. Detective Atkins joins Police Chief Nicholls and then retired Chief Tucker to get to the bottom of all the murders… past and present. Unsure whether the deaths are vampyr attacks or the deeds of a psychopath, Atkins struggles to solve the mystery and stop more killings before it is too late. I love C.J. Tudor and all of her novels. This wasn’t my favorite but it was still a great read.

Brew yourself some hot coffee.

You’re going to need it as you will FEEL THE CHILL of Deadhart, Alaska. 673 Living. (But dropping quickly)

In this small town, which remains decorated in Christmas lights year round, a boy named Marcus Anderson has been found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body.

The residents of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years, but they are convinced that they know who is responsible-a member of “The Colony” an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the adjacent woods. Despite everything that has been learned about these misunderstood mythical creatures, the town is still filled with hatred and mistrust.

Detective Barbara Atkins, from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, is a specialist in vampyr killings, She has been called in to officially determine if this is a “Colony” killing – because the town wants to hunt down the Vampyrs but they are considered a protected species on the verge of extinction and are protected by the Vampyr Protection Act, passed in 1983.

Unless they have killed an human, that is.

Then all bets are off.

If a Vampyr is responsible then Detective Atkins can authorize “a cull” and the hunting can begin.

And, the blood 🩸 can spill.

The residents are becoming restless and impatient as Barbara investigates, but she isn’t so sure that “the Colony” is to blame. How far might someone take things in their zeal for a CULL to be approved?

Determined to find the TRUTH, she enlists the help of the former Deadhart sheriff, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. He has become a recluse, since then, but he knows the Colony better than anyone.

After not loving “The Drift” or many of the stories in Tudor’s short story collection, “A Sliver of Darkness”, I was hesitant to request this, but I ended up LOVING the originality and creativity.

It is full of surprises-and I am a BIG fan of our unlikely hero, Detective Barbara Atkins. She is admittedly not very physically fit, but she makes up for it with her open mind, her smarts, and her unfailing politeness.

And, from the epilogue, it looks like she will be back with us, on another case soon.

4.5 ⭐️

Do you need to enjoy Vampire stories to read this? Absolutely not. This story could have been written about any group of people who have been persecuted for being who they are.

So mark your calendars for April 9, 2024 and pick up a copy then if you’re intrigued!

Thank You to Ballantine for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.

Wow this book was so good it took me no time to read it. I'm a huge fan of this author and I recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible. I can't wait to read what she comes with next.

I was so thrilled to get an ARC of The Gathering since C.J. Tudor is an auto read for me. This book is a new fantastic twist to vampyr stories.

Deadhart, AK is a small town. Population 673, living that is. Det. Barbara Atkins, from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, is sent to Deadhart to investigate the murder of a boy and determine is he was killed by a member of the Colony, a group of vampyrs living outside of town. She has the power to call for a cull of the Colony if it is determined the vampyrs pose a threat tot he citizens of Deadhart. And a cull is exactly what many in Deadhart want. As she begins to investigate, Barbara realizes that the boy's death could be related to another murder 25 years earlier. Past secrets begin to emerge along with the dreadful history of the town. Barbara must work quickly to find the killer because a Gathering is coming!

I really connected with the characters in this book. I love how Barbara is a strong woman and a by-the-book detective, but the author also shows us her softer side when we learn about her childhood and gives us a glimpse into why she chose her profession. The author does a great job of introducing us to the other characters and lets the reader feel sympathy for them no matter how awful they are. I felt empathy for both the humans and the vamprys. I was shocked several times during the book but the last chapter let my mouth drop. I can possibly see the author revisiting some of these characters in the future and I hope she does!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity.

In a small and remote Alaskan town, a young man is murdered by having his throat torn out. In an isolated area in the woods, is a colony of vampires. Surely one of them is responsible for such a grisly murder. Enter Barbara Atkins, a detective who specializes in vampire murders. On the heels of her arrival, a massive storm, which further isolates the town. As the community pressures Atkins to allow a cull of the vampires, who will assist her in the investigation before further violence ensues?

As a small disclaimer - I don't typically read vampire novels however, the manner in which The Gathering is written, any minority may be substituted for vampires.

The Gathering is well written. Wonderful characters from an older, female detective, to the disgraced former sheriff, and the citizens of The Colony and the community of Deadhart. Plenty of twists and turns - and multiple characters who have the potential to be the murderer.

While the novel is set in Alaska, be prepared for some British-isms : boot, windscreen, etc.

An enjoyable read that is a different take on murder and mayhem.

In this story we are dropped into a world where vampires and humans coexist (to some extent) and fully acknowledge one another. There are laws put in place to protect both species of people to hopefully encourage peaceful coexistence… however they do not exactly get along. To the humans, vampires are seen as satanic and evil.. and in a small rural town in Alaska they seem to be the first thing to blame when anything goes wrong. To balance out this prejudice, a detective from out of town comes in to help solve the murder of a teen boy. To find the truth rather than make assumptions.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book! It was so original and very satisfying to be enveloped in a world with vampires. The Twilight fan in me loved seeing a murder mystery play out in this setting. CJ Tudor does it again!

Four star read for me! This one releases April 9, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House / Ballantine for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Another hit for C. J. Tudor! I absolutely loved this vampiric/human story. I don’t want to give anything away because the less you know going into it, the better. The details to the atmosphere and characters made the reader feel like they’ve been to this small town, Deadhart. I really enjoyed how C. J. Tudor wrote this back story about The Colony. I had a really hard time putting this book down and going to work. Thank you so much C. J. Tudor, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this great digital arc.

This comes down to personal preference, but C. J. Tudor's writing is just not for me. The plot was admittedly interesting enough and I finished the book rather quickly. However, nothing here really stood out to me. An okay read.