Do you like detective stories? How about vampires? I was eager to enjoy the combination of those two things! I'm a longtime CJ Tudor fan, so I was excited for her latest book. The world building was detailed and complex when it came to the vampire lore. Taking place in a remote Alaskan town, isolation and secret come into play. I would have liked a bit more information about our main character detective, but the door is left open for future installments and I hope I get the chance to read more stories of her travels.

This book lived up to the hype! It's hard to write a vampire story that doesn't dip into corny tropes, but The Gathering steers clear.of that, allowing the reader to explore the idea of what a world with vampires might be like.
If you're looking for a unique, fantasy-crime novel, this is a great one!

Every time I start a C.J. Tudor book I'm hoping it's finally going to be the one that I LOVE. Unfortunately, this wasn't The One but it came close! I really enjoyed this world where vampires exsist and are more or less seen as "normal" and I loved the setting. My biggest issues with this book was honestly the hatred some of the characters had towards people that are "different" and not just the vampires. It does make sense considering it's set in rural Alaska but it always brings my enjoyment down if it's not done in the right way. I don't plan on giving up on this author yet, I think she has the potential to write a favorite book for me!

I'd describe this as a small town murder mystery that is a police procedural with strong horror elements. I think if you go into this expecting straight up horror, you may be disappointed, but if you are cool with it being a strong flavor in what is otherwise a detective story, this would be a great one to pick up. Aside from some pacing issues early on, this was super fun and entertaining - a very "me" book. I'm not sure I'm interested in continuing with what seems to be a series set up in the epilogue but I enjoyed this quite a bit.

I loved, loved loved C.J. Tudor's previous novels, but the last couple have gone in a bit of a different direction. I'm still trying to adjust, but am finding I really like them as well. She is such a fantastic writer and very vivid descriptions of horror. I so look forward to reading more of her future novels!

I am so sad to say that I am having to DNF this book.
I honestly tried reading it a few times and just can't get into it.
It makes me sad bc the blurb about it sounded good but it was just not my thing.

There is a vampire revival in media right now, but Tudor’s The Gathering truly stands out in a sea of fangs. The Gathering is set in a world where vampires aren’t a supernatural secret but are a known entity, complete with human laws to govern them. Detective Barbara Atkins is tasked with investigating the death of a boy in small town Deadhart, Alaska to determine if the local vampire community is to blame. What follows is a harrowing unraveling of family secrets, closely held beliefs, and the true meaning of what it is to be a monster.

I loved this unique take on a vampire murder mystery, and I encourage anyone in the mood for a supernatural thriller to dig their fangs in.

Grab your garlic necklace and head into Deadheart, Alaska where a vampire is on a killing spree!

C.J. Tudor’s books are on auto-request for me, so I jumped at the opportunity to read her latest! While her horror novels are always dark and disturbing, Tudor has an ability to turn readers onto topics they ordinarily wouldn’t enjoy. Do I read books about zombies? No, but I loved The Drift. A new book about gay vampires? Sure, why not?!

Tudor uses themes of revenge, racism, and fear of “the other” in a plot about vampires as a commentary on the depravities of human society. This atmospheric horror story packs a punch without punching the reader in the face with gore.

Barbara Atkins (the vampire anthropologist) is an intelligent, likable, and relatable character. I really enjoyed getting to know her and hope that a sequel is in the works to complete her story.

While the plot is quite complicated, Barbara’s master sleuthing skills will impress this small town, as well as the reader.

4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of The Gathering in exchange for an honest review.

After I first read "The Chalk Man," I made sure to get my hands on Tudor's new releases each year. While none of them has particularly lived up to the excellence of "The Chalk Man," "The Gathering" comes the closest. At first, I honestly wasn't entirely sure I was going to be solidly along for the ride, because I have very particular parameters that determine my reading when it comes to supernatural territory, but after about thirty pages, I was definitely engaged. The characters are vivid, the setting is totally atmospheric - and the general vibe? Man, the tension. The anxiety. The "what else could possibly be lurking in the shadows in this creepy Alaskan town to wreak havoc on its citizens?" Last year's "The Drift" was underwhelming, and I did sort of question whether or not I wanted to tackle "The Gathering" in light of that; I'm glad I took the chance on it through NetGalley, and Tudor will remain on my list of authors I look forward to!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣.

I’ve read two books by this author before and wasn’t the biggest fan, however, the premise of this book had me so intrigued and invested… so I decided to pick it up - cause why not?!

This book had so much potential and while I liked certain aspects of it, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’ve seen pretty mixed reviews on this one, so I would definitely still recommend it to certain readers.

I really enjoyed the chilly atmosphere, it was done so well to the point where it gave literal chills. I loved the take on vampires (in this case ‘vampyrs’). The murder mystery element of the story also had me invested.

I did have trouble remembering who was who with a bunch of random characters being introduced left and right. I also feel like our MC (who happens to be a detective) lacked character depth.

This was definitely a fun story - at least for what it is. I just never really connected to the story as much as I wanted to. It’s still a solid supernatural-esque thriller!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

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.