What. A. Book. The Gathering is another terrific Tudor triumph! This is the book for you if you love a scintillating read! It's easy to say you can't put a book down, but it's literally true with The Gathering. Tudor produces a fantastic premise for her latest work. It's a world where humans and vampyrs co-exist. It's not always a peaceful relationship. And, because of that, law enforcement has to utilize vampyr experts like Detective Barbara Atkins . In the hands of a master like Tudor, we see vampyrs in a whole new light. Her use of remote Alaska for the setting of this book is another moment of brilliance from Tudor. It's perfect for this chilling tale. The pacing is pitch perfect. The best part is the hint of a sequel at the very end. I can't wait. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheGathering

This is an intense murder investigation set deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Barbara is a detective brought in for her speciality in investigating vampire killings. The plot has many interesting twists and turns as bodies continue to turn up. The characters are fiery and entertaining as many of them have things to hide. It is a really great story that readers will thoroughly enjoy.

I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to read one of my favorite author's latest novels. I was almost giddy when I started reading and discovered it's about vampires.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is set in the aptly named town of Deadhart, Alaska. "Vampyrs" maintain an uneasy coexistence with humans, living in colonies close to towns. When a young boy is killed in what appears to be a vampyr attack, an attack that bears striking similarities to a killing twenty-five years ago, Detective Barbara Atkins of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, aka the Fang Doc, is dispatched to investigate.

The world that C.J. Tudor builds is both frightening and believable, a solid mix of thriller, horror, paranormal and speculative fiction. With lots of twists and surprises, The Gathering is fantastic. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read The Gathering in a couple sittings - really fast-paced and creepy. There were a few too many characters to keep track of, but overall it was a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eARC of this novel.

The Gathering was the first book I've read from CJ Tudor - I own a couple of others since I have heard great things, but I haven't had the chance to read them yet.

I was extremely excited when I got the approval email for The Gathering, which is about a detective/forensic vampire anthropologist (Barbara) who is called to a small town in Alaska where a brutal murder occurred. In this book, vampires and humans co-exist, only the vampires are shunned and barely have any rights, so they live on the outskirts of town. Because the murder is believed to have been committed by a vampire, the people in the town want permission to kill the entire vampire colony. Barbara needs to figure out who killed the person before the townspeople end up starting a war with the neighboring vampires.

I really enjoyed this story! It was actually very unique, and I really liked how the author blended the genres of horror and thriller. The characters were diverse and interesting, and despite there being a fair number of them, I was actually able to keep all of the characters straight. The vibes of the book reminded me a bit of True Blood (without all the sexual stuff) and a little bit of 30 Days of Night. I liked the vampire lore, and how CJ Tudor made them more realistic than what we traditionally think of when we hear about vampires. The murder mystery was very twisty too. A few things I was able to predict, but there were other things I did not see coming at all. I was a little nervous about how the two separate storylines were going to come together, but that twist at the end was amazing and for me pushed this story to a 5 -star rating. I loved the ending, and hope there is a sequel for this one.

My reviews will be posted to Goodreads, and I will post a review to my social media page closer to the publication day.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor
Pub date: April 9, 2024
Freaking LOVED!

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

Welcome to a chilling world Tudor has created where humans and vampyrs co-exist but it’s a shaky coexistence with mistrust and hatred from both sides. Vamprys live in groups called Colony’s, segregated away from humans and unable to access even the most basic rights such as education and employment.

Detective Barbara Atkins is a detective with the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department. Her job is to determine whether any suspicious death that appears vampiric in nature is, indeed, just that, and if it requires the culling of an entire colony of vampyrs.

Barbara’s latest case is in the small remote Alaskan mining town of Deadhart. She’s investigating the death of a teenage boy who appears to be the victim of a vampyr attack. The more time she spends in Deadhart, though, the more she understands that the towns people don’t share the same ideals that the law does; that vampyrs should be protected and respected while given a fair and impartial investigation despite first impressions.

Stepping into this town and all its eccentricities was fascinating. Most of the residents are tough as nails, born and bred Alaskans – it’s a hard life and they protect their own. Tudor drew out each character’s personality with such finesse, I was completely dedicated to every character’s story arc and how they played a part in events both past and present. I couldn’t help but be drawn into the history of the old mining town, long since closed down, and the dark secrets that followed the families through generations.

I really want to avoid saying too much. I think any fan of Tudors or the genre will find this book an absolute feast of entertainment. The synopsis is vague enough to tantalize without giving away too much and I hope that anyone who picks this up will enjoy it as much as I did. The characters, the plot, the twists, the underlying social messages, the pure horror of vampyr colonies ….

The Gathering is truly one of the best horror thrillers I’ve ever read and I can’t recommend this one enough.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for this gifted DRC!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC! This was a very creative storyline, a whodunnit complete with vampyrs! Although it was slow at times, I was engaged throughout and especially enjoyed the big reveal and ending. I’m looking forward to CJ Tudor’s next work!

In an alternate reality, vampyrs are real and have lived in colonies precariously alongside humans for ages. Laws have been passed forbidding humans from killing vampyrs, though in cases where the creatures go rogue and attack humans, a special branch of law enforcement can authorize a cull of the perpetrators, or even an entire colony if it poses a threat to civilization. When a young boy is found dead in a small Alaska town, apparently from vampyr attack, Detective Barbara Atkins is sent in to determine if it was indeed a blood sucker who committed the crime and if a cull is to be authorized. What she finds is much more complicated, involving anti-vampyr hate groups, black market vampyr parts dealing, religious zealotry and a simmering cauldron ready to boil over in a clash between vampyrs and humans. With the help of a disgraced former police chief, Atkins will have to solve the murder before all out war erupts.
This was a bit different of a tale for Tudor, being a mix of murder mystery and urban fantasy horror. A different type of vampyr, having very few of the fabled characteristics besides longevity, blood drinking and enhanced abilities, the vampyrs are nonetheless vicious creatures not to be trifled with. The mystery aspect had a lot of depth and was not easy to figure out before the truth was revealed. There was a big twist at the end, besides the murder itself, which was sprinkled throughout the book, but upon its ultimate reveal felt a bit chintzy and unnecessary. And at the very end was the strongest suggestion this is to be the beginning of a series which, while I really liked Atkins as a protagonist, I'm not entirely sure I want to see a whole series based on vampyrs. But overall I did enjoy the book and never guessed what the motivations were behind the killings.

I definitely enjoyed this one! Tudor has been hit or miss for me, but she nailed it with this one. The setting was ominous and the tension felt within the town was palpable. This was more of a slow burn and I expected it to have a hugely dramatic conclusion, but it doesn’t. It stays true to the atmospheric dread throughout with a few twists here and there.

I do feel like Tudor did was many authors do and her twists on the folklore at times were more for the story’s convenience rather than being sensical.

Overall, this was a well written vampire story. I don’t seek out vampire stories by any stretch, but this is one I would recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley. CJ Tudor is an automatic read for me. I loved everything she has put out there. This was no exception!! The storyline and world building is world class. There were quite a few characters but they were so well done it was easy to keep them straight. The town itself became a character if you will. Highly recommend

Before I start, you must know that I really love C.J. Tudor. I have read everything she has written. With the exception of Sliver of Darkness, however, it’s still on the shelf. She writes light horror, however, this one is a little darker than her previous work.

*** Trigger Warnings- violent scenes, child abuse, and I might be missing some ***

In Alaska, there is a world where humans and vampires (spelled vampyr) coexist. Only, vampyrs have been ostracized and live deep inside the woods, called The Colony. Just picture southern America during the civil war but vampyrs. It’s US or Them. Now, vampyrs have rights. You cannot kill them unless it’s self defense.

This is not a typical vampire story either. Be prepared.

Detective Barbara Atkins has been sent to the town of Deadhart. She specializes is vampyr killings, determining whether they are justified or if it’s a crime. A human teenage boy has been brutally killed and the murder caught on video. It appears he was attacked by one of Satan’s spawn, a vampyr. People are outraged and want justice. The town is in an uproar, ready to attack.

I enjoyed Barbara’s character. She was all about equality. You’ll soon find out there is a reason she is this way, as we are taken back to the past of her childhood. Subjects of sexuality, race, and abuse are mentioned here. One flaw I found was that I felt Barbara was a little dry. Not much emotion to her. I see this a lot with female detectives.

Picture a story about racism only with vampyrs. Pretty cool right? I enjoyed this one quite more than The Drift and flew right through it. If you love strange and are already familiar with her style, I highly recommend it!
Thank you so much Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and C.J. Tudor for this opportunity. Publication April 9, 2024

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I knew when I received this arc, it was going to be my next pick no matter what!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and C.J.Tudor for the arc of The Gathering. This was such a good book, I absolutely loved it! I have read her earlier books and have enjoyed them but this was so unlike her other books. For instance, there was world building in this one which was done so well that I thought I was reading the second or third book in a series and not the first, she did a great job at introducing the reader to the vampire and human concepts. I also think the characters were fleshed out so beautifully as I remembered each one of them even though there were so many! I have always loved her writing but I liked the setting for this story so much, that I was fervently hoping for this to be a series and I am pretty sure it’s going to be because of the ending. I would devour reading the #2 Detective Atkins for sure. There were some pretty horrible gory elements and some abuse trigger warnings here - so beware but they were definitely necessary for the storyline. Would recommend this book to everyone who likes reading detective fiction with heavy supernatural element.

Detective Barbara Atkins is a vampyr specialist. She goes to Deadhart, Alaska to investigate the murder of teen Marcus Anderson. Many think it was the work of the Colony but Barbara isn’t so sure. Lots of strife exists between the town people and the Colony.
This was another excellent read by CJ Tudor. Totally different from her previous books. I was hooked from start to finish.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this eARC that will be released April 9, 2024!

I really loved the effortless inclusion of the notion of Vampyres into normal end everyday life. Everything aside from the Vampyres ring true to life today.

Wow! I’ve been a fan of C.J. Tudor since The Chalk Man and I’ve enjoyed every novel she’s written. The Gathering may be her best yet. The story hooked me from the first page and the characters are so interesting and well developed. I loved Barbara immediately and the villains were very “villainy.” If you’re looking to get scared or creeped out, this is definitely the ticket.

Small town Alaska, vampire colonies, C.J. Tudor’s wonderfully wicked sense of humor, great plot twists, and plenty of horror. It’s all here! The Gathering is simply outstanding. I’ll be getting a hard cover for my library and I’m planning to listen to the audiobook which is narrated by Lorelei King when it’s releases in April.

Thank you to @ballantinebooks @netgalley and @cjtudorauthor for an advance digital copy of The Gathering.

This book this book THIS BOOK!
A snow setting and vampires, what more could a girl ask for really?

I really enjoyed this one. The atmosphere was fantastic and I loved all the vampire lore. The part about “the girl” was my favorite part.

I will say this book was pretty predictable for me at points. Other than that this book was pretty good. The end of this book had my Jaw on the floor tbh! The last letter from the girl was the best twist in the entire book. C. J. Tudor will always be an auto buy author of mine.
3.5/5 Stars

I absolutely loved this new novel From C J Tudor! I have read all of her previous work, and was eager to discover how she was going to handle the vampire mythology. I initially thought that this all seemed a bit familiar, but the author quickly distinguished her vampires from the crowd and placed them square at the center of a tantalizing murder mystery. Barb Atkins is an incredible crime solving lead, and I so enjoyed getting to know her. The storytelling is top notch, the characters are well imagined and rich, and the setting is simply perfect. A vampire story in the Alaskan wilderness! Simply perfect and I am so glad I received the opportunity to get a sneak peek at this great new book from one of my favorite authors.

** I will note that Barb's use of a few Briticisms was rather off. She referenced windscreens, where most Americans would say windshields, meters instead of feet, and power cuts instead of power outages. There were times that this American story just didn't sound all that American. Still I loved it thoroughly and will enjoy recommending it.

I have loved some of CJ Tudors books in the past. I was excited to pick this up and read it. I loved the creepy small town vibe. CJ does a great job of creating atmosphere. This book is going to great for people that love sci fiction. I had no idea vampires were involved in the plot. I did feel that the storyline was a little difficult to follow because there were a lot of characters introduced and little character development. Sometimes it was hard to keep all the names straight.

I have loved every single CJ Tudor book. Every single one is so different and so very good!! This one definitely lived up to my expectations.

I have to say, I had my doubts about how much I would enjoy this one as I'm very picky about books with vampires. However, this one drew me in from the very first page, and I was gone hook, line, and sinker for the day and a half it took me to read it.

This book was so well written and had so many twists and turns that I could not figure it out, which I was very thrilled about!

I really loved the whole Vampyre colonies and how racism against them played such a huge role in the story. I quite enjoyed all the characters and the backstory on many of them.

I really could not put this one down.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review

Deadhart, AK is a small town on the verge of dispute. In a world where humans and vampyrs coexist, but not with equal rights, some members of Deadhart are ready to kill each other off. When a teenage boy is found dead, neck savagely ripped apart, townspeople are quick to assume a vampyr is to blame. The local law enforcement calls in help, enter Barbara. Barbara has studied vampyrs and has been given the authority to find justice for the boy even if it means extinguishing the whole vampyr colony in Deadhart. Quickly the human citizens call for a cull, and end to the demon kind. Barbara isn't so quick to agree though, what if something more human is at play? When more humans wind up dead, the fury takes hold. How will Barbara make a choice with all the pressure to do the right thing?

This book was very well written. A cast of characters that all seem untrustworthy and slightly insane. The setting brings a life of its own. Not for the faint of heart, there are some pretty brutal, graphic scenes. CJ Tudor created a realistic world with a tad of fantasy. Huge fan. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance copy. Worth adding to your TBR.