This was such an interesting take on vampires, and I found that the metaphor fit seamlessly into this rugged and wintry crime story. A perfect read for those of us who loved True Detective Night Country

It's my first C.J. Tudor book and now I have to prioritize reading her other books.

The story follows Barbara, a vampire anthropologist and detective who's sent to a backward little town where a young man was murdered and it's believed a vampire is behind it. She has to figure out if that's truly the case and whether or not the vampire colony that recently relocated to the town (after being driven out by white men) poses enough of a danger to justify a cull. While it may seem like an open-and-shut case, Barbara isn't quick to justify extermination without crossing her Ts and dotting her Is. She soon finds there's more to the case than it seems.

I loved the way that vampires in this world are pariahs, they're not affluent as they're usually portrayed and they have no status. They live at the edge of civilization even if they do live longer and have abilities because humans are prejudiced against them and have developed weapons to keep them in line. They don't even have education or technology, and even when they do infiltrate society, they can't work their way around things and get everything they want. It makes for a very interesting setup for the story and it opens so many conversations.

I also loved the writing style and most of the characters. Barbara was such a badass without having to be a fit, young woman. Her brain, her resilience, and the way she handled opposition and insults are what made her so iconic to me. The twists were good and it kept me guessing, which is what I love about thrillers. I gotta say, the ending wasn't as satisfying or shocking as I expected (hence the 4 stars instead of 5), but overall, this was great.

This book ended up just being "ok". I really liked atmosphere, the snowy small town Alaskan vibes were very similar to the movie "30 Days of Night" I also really liked the concept of the vampires and humans living amongst each other. I also thought that the protagonist dealing as a detective that specifically investigates crimes that involve vampires was a really interesting concept and brought about interesting conversations. However, this book felt way too slow for me and the writing just wasn't my favorite. I also didn't love the reveal of the mystery and it just felt a bit blah.

*4.5 stars rounded up*

The Vampyr Protection Act (VPA) of 1983 ensures that the rights of this minority group are protected; that is, as long as they don’t endanger humans…

Detective/Dr. Barbara works homicides for the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department & is sent to Alaska to determine if a grisly murder was committed by a nearby Colony of vampyrs. She’s met with mixed reactions by the citizens of the town of Deadhart, & many of them agree with the local religious zealot who believes killing vampyrs is God’s work (no evidence of a crime necessary). Everyone in town is on edge & most just want Barbara to wrap up her investigation & authorize a cull already; tensions ratchet up even higher when another body drops…

This alternate universe where the world is pretty much as it is now except with the added reality of vampyrs was hard to wrap my mind around in the best possible way - the author clearly thought this worldbuilding through with things like Helsing tattoos & salutes that are eerily reminiscent of Nazi symbols, entire divisions devoted to the study & policing of vampyr/human relations, disgusting trophies taken by vampyr hunters & collectors, & teenagers being interested in becoming vampyrs. I’ve only read one other book from C.J. Tudor & after devouring this one I definitely need to track down more.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It was an ok read. With this author, the books are typically hit or miss with me. I felt the plot lacked depth and there wasn’t enough vampire action. It was a slow read and ultimately didn’t drawl me in

After a boy is brutally slain in a way that implicates a vampire assailant, a specialist on vampires- Detective Barbara Atkins- is called to come into the remote town of Deadhart, Alaska to investigate. With a town deadset on a culling of all the vampires who live outside of town in response to the killing, Barbara must investigate a messy murder while trying to protect both the town and the vampire community on the fringes. If you like Alaskan settings, atmospheric mysteries, or a murder mystery with a supernatural tinge, this is so for you. It definitely reads like a vampire-infused cop procedural, which I thought was really inventive. I had a great time with this, and I liked the main (and timely) message about scapegoating “the other” and the reach hate can have on insular communities.

My review will be posted on my Instagram @boozehoundbookclub

This was just on the edge of believable, but no matter I liked it. The first few paragraphs were so well written, so perfect, I was hooked. I kept asking myself if I was really going to keep reading about this out of the way town in Alaska with its colony of vampires. I mean really - Vampires as a protected species with an Official Act declaring it to be the law of the land. I loved the clunky, ever so polite and tenacious forensic Detective Barbara Atkins. Actually, I thought most of the characters were well drawn and explained. The setting and descriptions were “breathtaking stuff” especially “if you like snow, forests, mountains, more snow, more forests, more mountains.”

This is a murder mystery with a great twist and a lingering look at prejudice which is simmering throughout the story. Having read “The Drift” I was not unfamiliar with Tudor’s writing and I was equally impressed with The Gathering. Great writing, great descriptions, great characters and an underlying current that makes you think. Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.

Alaska setting, murder, and vampires? This book was a wonderful ride that I didn't want to end. The dark Alaskan setting mixed with the fear and mystery of the towns tales it was perfect.

I loved this unique take on the vampire mythos. Tudor creates a whole new backstory that feels fresh without completely overturning what we expect from vampires. The blend of mystery and supernatural was handled well and I hope that we see a sequel in time.

i absolutely loved this book from C.J. Tudor!

definitely recommend this book for murder mystery fans that like Midnight Mass and the newest season of True Detective.

i was SHOCKED by the ending....Tudor really knows how to build complex relationships and situations that make the reader engaged with characters and overall story development. our FMC was likeable, but also had her flaws that made you root for her to come out on top.

highly highly recommend this book! will be reading more by C.J. Tudor in the future for sure.

I have been a big fan of C.J. Tudor's writing ever since the first book, The Chalk Man, came out in 2018. When I saw the newest story was a vampire tale, I was so excited to get my hands on this book!!

Then life happened -- crisis at work left me working ridiculous amounts of over time for months -- and I didn't get to this book as quickly as I wanted to. Publication date: April. Reading month: May. ARGH!

I requested my library order this book and they obliged. I was tippy top of the waiting list --numero uno! Picked it up -- lovely, new book smell. And started reading.

I couldn't put the book down once I started to read. I binge read this story over a day and a half, and loved every minute of it.

A grisly murder. Body with its throat shredded and completely drained of blood. Normally this would spark a huge police investigation, but not in Deadhart, Alaska. People there know exactly who did it. A detective who specializes in Vampyr related killings and a former sheriff team up to investigate the crime and bring justice. As their investigation deepens, they uncover darker secrets than they ever imagined. I'm not saying anything else regarding the plot because it's best to read this sort of horror story without any prior knowledge or spoilers.

This book is creepy and scary! I loved it! The setting and the characters were perfect. There were some chilling twists in the plot that I didn't see coming. I couldn't stop reading once I got completely sucked into the story.

Another great read from C.J. Tudor! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!!

This book was very anticlimactic and hard to get into. The only character I liked was Barbara. By the end I wasn’t even sure who half of the characters were

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor was an soooo good! A different take on a world where vampires exist with humans and I was here for it. Creepy, original and cinematic, The Gathering will be one of your favorite horror reads of the year.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

This is the third book I’ve read by Tudor, and at this point I’d read her daily to-do list. I’ll snatch up anything she writes.

Vampires, murders, and small town Alaska – I was immediately intrigued. In this world, vampyrs (who survive on animal blood unless other arrangements are made with willing humans) and humans co-exist, and laws are in place to protect the vamps, but it’s not a stretch to assume that not everyone is happy about that. When a teen boy is found with his throat ripped out, most Deadhart citizens assume a vamp at The Colony is the culprit. Enter Homicide Detective Barbara Atkins, also a forensic vampyr anthropologist, who isn’t convinced anyone at The Colony is responsible. Because of that she doesn’t expect a warm welcome from everyone in Deadhart, and she certainly doesn’t receive one.

Barbara has her work cut out for her and is met with roadblocks and unaccommodating people at almost every turn. I loved how, despite their differences, she’s respectful to everyone she comes across whether they deserve it not not. With a long history of town secrets, plenty of suspects, and a tightly knit community, it takes her more than a minute to unravel the mystery. As the setting is in Alaska, it’s a time of year with only a few hours of daylight and heaping mounds of snow. The weather could almost be considered a character. She’s also pressured by the community to call a cull, a situation requiring the entire colony of vampyrs to be exterminated.

I had my suspicions about the murderer, but was proven wrong as the body count rose and more corpses were stored in the local tavern freezer. With no morgue, there’s no other place in town to keep bodies cold enough, so you may want to dine elsewhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to fans of fast-paced, complex mystery/thrillers, secluded, weather-challenged settings, and strong, intelligent MCs.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley, C.J. Tudor, and Ballantine Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have quickly fallen in love with C.J Tudor's books and this one, once again, did NOT disappoint! It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I couldn't "turn" the pages fast enough! If you love vampires, you will LOVE this one! 5 star read for me!

I wanted this to be a five-star read for me so bad. I was so incredibly grateful and thrilled to receive an ARC. I love C.J Tudor. I’ve read several of her books and she’s one of my favorite horror authors. This one though (ugh) it just didn’t… it just wasn’t… I don’t even know. I thought Tudor doing vampires was going to be a sure win, and yet it all fell a little flat for me. But it wasn’t the experience I was hoping and expecting. I liked the main character well enough, but something about the detective perspective just really bogged me down. The investigation was slow, a little repetitive, not very juicy or shocking. The ominous tension just wasn’t quite there, and I never felt totally immersed into the moody atmosphere. I wasn’t really liking the political and religious aspects of the plot. There are other chapters from various perspectives of towns-people that didn’t really flow or connect well and weren’t very interesting. I’m stuck on the cliffhanger at the end - will this end up being a series? I kind of hope not. I’m usually so gripped and invested in her stories, this was a definite miss for me and I hate that, but I have to be honest. Especially after absolutely loving The Drift, I'm so disappointed. It just wasn't good for me.

C.J. Tudor is one of those authors that are an automatic read for me. The Chalk Man is one of my all time favorite books and I have gobbled up all of her other books upon their release. But to be honest, when I read the description for The Gathering I had some doubts. I love a good thriller and dark mystery, but vampires? Not really my thing.

Well, let me tell you... as a reader that doesn't enjoy vampire lit, I loved this book!

Set in a tiny town in Alaska, a detective is sent to investigate a murder. But this isn't just your normal run of the mill murder. It's a suspected "vampyr" killing. In this novel, vampires (referred to as vampyrs) live amongst humans... sort of. Vampyrs live in colonies on the outskirts of human civilization, and the tension between the two groups is about as bad as you'd imagine. Our detective Barbara, a forensic vampyr specialist, must solve the murder before an all-out war breaks out. Who is really more dangerous - vampyr, or man?

I was sucked into the mystery right away, and it was such a dark and creepy read. The world she crafted was so realistic. Which sounds silly for a vampire novel, I know. But if we were to have vampires in modern times, I could see people reacting like the characters in this book. Many of the characters were hateful and cruel towards the vampire communities. It's an interesting take on the theme of prejudice. Why does fear so often turn into hate?

I found the middle of the book to drag a little bit, but I was invested enough at that point to push through. There were some minor characters and events that didn't feel necessary, and I think the pace of the book would have been better without them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Even for my fellow non-vampire readers!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story about hating thigh neighbor.

I feel like this was a cross between True Detective & 30 Days of Night. The mounting dread was palpable & I got more invested with each unnerving event. The world building is expertly done & the author managed to avoid the trap of lengthy exposition via interviewing details throughout the story.

I’m hoping for another book set in the same world!

CJ TUDOR absolutely crushed this book. This is a vampire book unlike any I have ever read. The character descriptions and details in this book kept me up into the early hours of the morning. If you like a good story and are a fan of vampires, you NEED to read this book! Go get it!