Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for allowing me to read an early copy of The Gathering by CJ Tudor in exchange for my honest review.


A teenager is found dead of what looks like a vampire attack. The townspeople feel that a cull of the nearby vampire colony is needed to help keep the town safe. Detective Barbara Atkins is trying to determine if the murder was caused by the colony or someone else. She doesn’t want to authorize a cull if the colony is innocent. Barbara is racing to discover who murdered the boy while trying to keep the town from enacting a cull on their own accord.


This is the first book I’ve read by CJ Tudor and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In this novel, vampires are another group of people who live near but separated from humans. Similar to racial conflict in humans, there are prejudices against vampires.


This book was such an interesting read. It is not a scary book, but it is still exciting. I thought I knew how it would end before it even really got going but I was very wrong. There is a lot of depth to the story and it gives the reader lots to think about. There are a lot of threads going that are woven into this story.


My main negative to this novel is that it relied heavily on the small-town, religious/bigot trope. Some of the characters were cliche about this. The trope is somewhat unavoidable, but it was a bit heavy handed.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new take on a police procedural with a vampire twist.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Gathering. I do really enjoy books written by C. J. Tudor, and this book was written well. I think my only issue with it was that turns out I’m not a huge vampyr fan. The setting was well done, there was good action and keeping the reader on their toes as to what is going to happen next and who the killer(s) is. Overall, well done but I enjoyed The Drift more.

Another great book by C.J. Tudor!!! This story is about a detective named Barbara who was sent on an assignment to Alaska where a teenage boy was found deceased. Her task is to determine if this death was caused murdered by humans or the “vampyrs.” When she arrives the people from the little town are not so friendly with her. As her investigations continues the truth about the teenage boy comes to light and it’s not what the town was expecting.
What I love about this book is that it has a small-town setting which gives both “cozy” feelings as well as a feeling of environmental horror as you read. The characters in the book are likable and I found myself rooting for the townspeople as well as the colony. The author captures their feelings and the ordeals they’ve been through, so it makes you like them in their own way. The ending was really good too! I strongly recommend this book if you like books with a touch of environmental horror. Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine Books. All opinions are my own.

The Gathering by CJ Tudor tells the story of Deadhart small town in Alaska where a young man is murdered. Detective Barbara Atkins is sent to investigate. I have not read this author before nor did I realize it was a book about vampyres. The story was good and I liked the characters. It kept me reading and wanting to see what happened. Thank you to NetGallery and Ballentine for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Synopsis: “In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?”

I loved the atmosphere of this book of a small town in Alaska, and I thought the plot was very original. The story kept me gripped to see who was responsible, but the pacing felt a little off. Took me a bit longer to get into the book. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy! Publishes April 9, 2024

I jumped into this one right after reading The Burning Girls. It kept my interested but I prefer the plot of The burning girls as The Gathering gave me to much of a Twilight vibe. One thing that stuck out to me as well was the inconsistency in being able to tell a Colony member vs human just by looking at them. There were characters that were easily pointed out to be Colony and then others that you go through the entire book without anyone noticing which seemed like a bit of a hole in the story if you ask me. Over all I think those who love the author will enjoy the book but I would not suggest this be your first read if you have never read the authors work before.

I will give C.J. Tudor props for this one. I think she was able to take a relatively straightforward police procedural story and flip it on its hand with this twist in concept. Despite the presence of the supernatural, C.J. Tudor's work will feel familiar, approachable and believable.

The Gathering tells the story of Detective Barbara Atkins, who is called in to investigate a recent killing in a small Alaskan town. Is it the result of a Vampyr Colony killing, or did somebody in the town commit the crime. I'll admit, I am not a big police procedural reader, but this one was pretty engaging, and, in typical C.J. Tudor fashion, is a page-turner. I think I got bogged down in the middle with the investigation. The ending, however is jam-packed with twists. I think people are going to really appreciate this one.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing/Ballentine and NetGalley for providing this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Deadhart is a small town on the edge of civilization in Alaska, the only other settlement nearby being a group of vampyrs who have recently returned to the area after being exiled years ago. A young man is murdered, his throat torn out and his body drained of blood. The town wants revenge but is forced to wait for a noted vampyr expert, Detective Barbara Atkins, to make the final determination of who, or what, took this young man’s life.

This is a story within a story, one of those books that keeps you guessing from the beginning. There is an abundance of characters, some likeable, some not, that play a part in defining the population of Deadhart and their hunger for revenge. Some have been through a scenario like this before and taken things into their own hands. Some are willing to let the vampyr expert conduct her investigation before they act. Tension is running high and the town is snowed in…

I really enjoyed this book, the writing is excellent, the suspension runs high at times, and there is nothing in the story that gives away the ending before you get there. The only thing I could fault, although it could just be me, is the huge cast of characters. I totally lost track and found myself going back to try to figure out how some of the characters fit into the story.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and especially C. J. Tudor, for an advance copy of the book. This is my honest review.

After a young boy is murdered—similar to a murder from 25 years ago—Barbara Atkins, doctor of forensic vampyr anthropology and homicide detective, heads to the small, remote town of Deadhart, Alaska to investigate. Many of the folks in Deadhart believe it was the doing of a vampire (spelled vampyr). Vampyrs are a protected species living just on the outskirts of town but not everyone agrees that they should be allowed that privilege. Since <I>the Colony</i> moved back a year ago, many townsfolk have been on edge and, now, they are calling for a cull.

Tudor is the queen of creating a creepy, foreboding atmosphere that leaves you feeling uneasy. I loved the religious undertones and how each character stood out as a person of their own. Even though there were many characters to keep track of, I found it quite simple because they were written so well. I had no earthly idea who was guilty, who was innocent, or how this book was going to play out which, of course, added to the excitement. I found it to be a very interesting take on a vampire story; I could see this being an incredibly addicting short series for television.

My only complaint (and it's a small one): I found the epilogue unnecessary. The ending was perfect without it and I don't feel like it added anything to the story.

This story, about vampyrs (aka vampires) vs. humans, has the vibe of a 19th century novel, but is set in modern times.

Vampyrs, who have been declared a protected species in the United States, reside in small colonies in remote areas. By now, most vampyrs live on animal blood and don't bother humans. However, IF a vampyr colony proves dangerous to people, a cull may be authorized by the government. This can only happen after the danger is assessed by a detective from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department (FVAD).

In any case, vampyrs have very restricted lives, since they're not permitted to go to regular schools or to get jobs. As one vampire leader observes, "They had so many years to live and yet so little of substance to fill their long lives."

Thus vampyrs resent humans and most humans hate and fear vampyrs.

*****

As the book opens, Detective Barbara Atkins from the FVAD is on her way to Deadhart, Alaska, a small town close to a vampyr habitat called the Colony. Atkins is being sent to investigate the murder of a 15-year-old human boy named Marcus Anderson, whose blood has been drained and whose ravaged throat is a mess of torn skin and gristle.

Marcus's death, which looks like a vampyr killing, is reminiscent of an incident that occurred in Deadhart 25 years ago. At that time, the murder of a boy called Todd Danes was blamed on a vampyr, and a cull was authorized. Long after the cull - about a year ago - a group of vampyrs returned to the area, and now lives in the Colony.

When Detective Atkins arrives in Deadhart, she meets Mayor Rita and Police Chief Pete Nicholls, who jokingly call her the 'Fang Doc.' The mayor and police chief - as well as most other Deadhart residents - seem to expect Atkins to just 'check the boxes' and authorize wiping out the Colony. However, after examining the evidence, Atkins isn't so sure a vampyr killed Marcus.

As things play out, Atkins investigate's Marcus's murder with the help of Police Chief Nicholls and former Police Chief Jensen Tucker. Tucker is the cop who looked into the Danes killing a quarter century ago.....which led to wiping out the local vampyrs. Tucker was injured at the time and is reluctant to get back in the saddle. Nevertheless, due to unexpected circumstances, Tucker agrees to lend a hand.

Atkins and her collaborators examine the crime scene and interview the boys who hung out with Marcus on the night he was killed. The investigators also speak to the boys' parents; interview the town's doctor; talk to the boys' high school teacher; interview the anti-vampyr pastor; and more. The detectives also speak to vampyrs from the Colony, who insist on their innocence.

Meanwhile, more deaths occur, and the townsfolk become more and more fearful and agitated, even threatening to take justice into their own hands.

Scenes from Deadhart are interspersed with chapters about a girl who's imprisoned in a basement by a captor, allegedly for the girl's own good. I'll admit I had a hard time guessing who this girl is.

I've enjoyed all the books I've read by author C.J. Tudor, who seems to specialize in spooky supernatural themes. I like this novel as well, and recommend it to fans of chilling suspense literature.

As an aside, I want to say I would deplore this kind of bigotry against vampyrs, not letting them get an education or get jobs. What kind of life it that? If vampyrs were really living amongst us, there should be anti-discrimination laws. A constitutional amendment for women's rights and vampyr rights seems appropirate. 😀

Thanks to Negtgalley, C.J. Tudor, and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the book.

I have a love-hate relationship with C.J. Tudor's books – they always have such great premises but often fall a little flat in execution for me. When I saw The Gathering, however, I knew I had to read it. I mean, a book that combines two of my favorite genres (police procedurals and horror)? Yes, please!

And, well, I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed this one. It takes the traditional police procedural and turns it on its head with the addition of vampires (or "vampyrs," as they're called in this book). It's a dark read filled with lots of hateful characters (almost an entire town of them, really) and it's sometimes difficult to read, but the writing is top-notch and keeps you coming back for more.

This storyline of this novel strikes me as particularly relevant in today's world. The townsfolk of Deadhart despise the vampires because they're different and are intent on punishing the entire colony because of the actions of one of its members. Basically, this book is about bigotry but against vampires instead of [insert a minority group here]. There's even a KKK-like anti-vampire organization (appropriately named Helsing). Detective Atkins, however, is all about fairness and following the letter of the law, which the residents of Deadhart aren't exactly happy about.

And speaking of Detective Barbara Atkins, can I say how happy I am that she's a “normal” fat and dumpy woman? So often women main characters are described as gorgeous, with red hair and green eyes and a stunning figure, so it's kind of refreshing to have the opposite. And there's no romance! I thought for sure that Atkins was going to find herself in bed with one of the male cops, but there's not even a hint of anything flirtatious. As someone who despises unnecessary romance in novels, thank you, C.J. Tudor!

The mystery itself was intriguing and well-written. Who killed Marcus Anderson and why? And is his murder connected to one that happened twenty-five years previously? The townspeople are certain that the killer is a vampyr but Detective Atkins isn't so sure. I went back and forth on who I thought it might be, but in the end I was 100% wrong. I did not see that twist coming! My one small complaint is that I really didn't feel as if the killer's motives were explained particularly well. I would have appreciated a bit more of a backstory as to why they did what they did, but it just seemed kind of glossed over instead.

Speaking of the ending, however, it sounds like <i>The Gathering</i> might be the start of a series, so … yay! Well, kind of. I already have way too many series started that I'm never going to finish, but this is one I'll definitely have to continue.

My overall rating: 4.05 stars, rounded down. If you enjoy police procedurals and/or books about vampires, this one might be right up your alley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

I loved this book! First off I would put C.J. Tudor in my top 10 list of authors. Every book is unique and interesting and keeps me highly engrossed waiting for the little extra "gotcha" to happen. This book is a break from their normal style but just as fascinating. I truly hope this continues as a series (which I think it is going to be). I loved the main detective; she is not the normal superhuman female cop that is all skinny and muscular and can do no wrong. Barbara is overweight and older and does not exercise and loves cheeseburgers. But she is brilliantly smart as a detective. The other main characters were fantastic too and I loved the small setting in Alaska that was both creepy and had an old atmosphere. The vampires were also complex characters and not just falling in love with humans or attacking them brutally all the time. I cannot iterate enough how much I hope this turns into a series because there is so much to work with and so much about Barbara I still want to know about.

4.25 ✨✨✨✨✨The Gathering" by CJ Tudor is a captivating exploration into the supernatural, skillfully weaving a tale of dark secrets, superstitions, and a grisly crime in the remote town of Deadhart, Alaska. Tudor's writing prowess shines through, making this novel a compelling read.

This was my first foray into a vampire-themed book, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Tudor's narrative prowess takes center stage as Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, delves into the mysterious death of a young boy with his throat ripped out in Deadhart. The eerie atmosphere of the small town and the secrets lurking in its history add layers of suspense and intrigue.

The collaboration between Detective Atkins and former sheriff Jenson Tucker brings a dynamic element to the story. As they navigate through the town's dark past, the tension builds, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. Tudor masterfully explores the fine line between a bloodthirsty monster and a twisted psychopath, leaving us to question the true nature of the killer stalking Deadhart.

The snow-thickened landscape and the lengthening nights provide an atmospheric backdrop to the unfolding mystery. "The Gathering" skillfully merges the detective thriller genre with elements of the supernatural, creating a unique and enthralling reading experience. Tudor's ability to craft a well-written narrative while introducing readers to a fresh take on vampire lore makes this novel a standout addition to the genre.

In conclusion, "The Gathering" is a compelling read that seamlessly blends crime, supernatural elements, and an intricate plot. CJ Tudor's storytelling prowess shines, making this novel a must-read for fans of mystery, suspense, and those open to a surprising twist on vampire lore.

I like CJ Tudor. She writes solid, serviceable thrillers that can be easily digested in a couple of sittings. Tudor does some interesting world-building here where humans live alongside vampyrs with a Y. There is no glamor to these vampires, they live as outcasts in squalid "colonies" feeding on animals. The government offers them little more protection than it does to other wild animals and inexplicably does not take advantage of their strength, historical knowledge, or longevity. When a teenage boy appears to be killed by a vampyr in the unsubtly named town of Deadhart, Detective Barbara, a "forensic vampyr anthropologist" is sent to investigate. From here the story follows a formulaic who-done-it (with a twist of vampyric supernatural elements) in the howling Alaska wilderness. Cold, icy, and isolated seems to be the trope de jour in thrillers, and a similar setting is employed in Tudor's last book, "The Drift". The ending is ripe for a sequel, which I would happily welcome on a cold winter night.

Wow! I didn't realize I needed a police detective story with vampires. I have read several of C.J. Tudor's books, but this one is my favorite so far, I really do hope this becomes a series.
This story has it all, vampires, the detective, the not so friendly sherif, the bored kids, grouchy old man and the odd priest
We follow Barbara into Alaska to solve a mystery of a murdered boy . You can feel the tension in the small town when the outsider comes into town.
The chapters are short enough to keep you wanting more, yet long enough to give you details. I was never bored with this book. I loved that I didn't know who the murderer was till it was revealed in the story.
This is the perfect book if you love mystery, horror and a little paranormal.

Truth be told, I did not read the synopsis before I requested this book. CJ Tudor is an auto author, so I went in blind. I was thrown off by the vampyr plot, but I really grew to love it, especially when character stories intertwined. I love a small town story and I feel like stories in Alaska are having a moment, which I’m also really enjoying. The setting, the atmosphere and the darkness really added to the mysterious, ominous vibe suited for this story. In a small town, there were a lot of players, so it was hard to remember them all, so I didn’t relate as much to them, but overall, a really quick read that captivated my attention, with a twisty ending that satisfied.

Honestly not my cup of tea. I hate to say it because the book was an arc yet it didn't give me what I wanted in this type of story.

Refreshingly Unique. A little bit horror, a little bit crime, and a whole lot of mystery is happening in this vampire-themed story set in the small town of Deadhart Alaska. Barbara Atkins, a vampyr expert is called in to evaluate the unfortunate demise of a youngster. Tensions run high between the angry townsfolk and the resentful inhabitants that reside in a protected vampyr colony nearby. Barbara’s job is to determine the exact cause of death and whether or not to permit an authorized cull to remove any further threat to human life. Finding the true culprit, human or Vampr,  is imperative. Her ultimate decision could place a whole community in imminent danger. It can be hard to know which of the local hunters have colder blood . . . some are just looking for sustenance, some for trophies, and some are out for revenge.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Gathering for my unbiased evaluation.  4 stars

Detective Barbara Atkins from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department is sent to Deadhart, AK, after a teenager is killed in a suspected vampire attack. In The Gathering, vampires are a protected species, but the town wants revenge for the killing. But was it really a vampire who killed the boy?
This is essentially a police procedural with vampires. I wanted to like it, but it took me forever to read because I didn't find it that engaging. There were A LOT of characters to keep track of.
Also, I believe Tudor is British and, while this book takes place in the US, there are a lot of British words used instead of American words, such as windscreen, jumpers, trainers. It's very distracting.
Not my favorite Tudor book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Gathering by C.J. Tudor.

Even though Twilight took from us, I have to admit, vampire stories are still pretty fun, or in this case, should I say vampyre. Add a frigid mysterious Alaska town, with even more mysterious and grizzled characters, and you have yourself quite the chilly adventure going. It sets itself up quite nicely for a sequel too, I'll I'll be ready when that comes out!