If you loved the X-files then you will 1000% love this book as well.

This book follows Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they continue trying to balance family life with solving crimes. While they are still reeling from the death of their son William, they try to clench at a life that is away from the X-Files.

When there is a case that hits a little too close to home, Mulder and Scully reluctantly agree to take on this case. Something seems a little off though about this case, can they solve it before it ruins their chance at a happy future.

This book has all the romantic tension and alien fighting that you could want. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy.

Such a huge disappoint for me, as a fan of The X-Files. While the characters were well-written, the story and plot were a let-down. I wish it had been a "monster of the week" story, and not an added layer to an already convoluted mythology.

I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley,

Picking up after the end of the 11th series, Mulder and Scully are both devastated by what happened to William/Jackson, and hesitantly excited about Scully's unexpected pregnancy.
But when the FBI needs their help again, this time against two serial killers, one going after pregnant women right in their neighborhood, they find themselves pulled back into the shadowy underworld.

Petition to put Claudia Gray in charge of all media tie-in works!
I've read five of her books over three different IPs and her ability to capture the voices of beloved characters is unparalleled.
And now that I've gotten a taste of her doing X-Files, I now need this to be the beginning of a series!

I was particularly impressed by Gray's portrayal of Scully. She's gone through so much and the author did an excellent job of capturing her sorrow and hope and anger, all in just one book.

It couldn't have been easy, knowing that so many people love and care so deeply about the characters she was writing about, but my goodness, it was like I had Mulder and Scully back on the screen again

So please, if you ever loved X-Files, please read this book so that I can get more books in this series!!

⚠️CW:
Murder of pregnant women, violence against pregnant women, stalking, serial killers

I have to admit that it took me awhile to get through the beginning of this book because while I love The X-Files, I did not like the choices made in the later seasons. I also have to suspend considerable disbelief to accept a pregnancy for Scully at this point. However, I trust Claudia Gray enough that I was willing to give her a chance to address those concerns. Thankfully, she was the perfect person to take hold of Mulder and Scully and fix a lot of what felt wrong about the past several years of canon, as well as offering an atmospheric classic case feel.

Perihelion picks up right after the end of Season 11, following up on Mulder and Scully's relationship and her new pregnancy, as well as all the lingering feelings over William. Claudia Gray obviously understands the history here, and understands these characters and what we want from them. Mulder and Scully feel like real characters who have decades of history together and are trying as hard as possible to move forward. Gray's writing is great as always, and I can't stress enough how much she understood the assignment.

If you are an old time X-Files fan, especially if you've lost some faith after the more recent plot and character decisions, give this a try. Perihelion is as close as I think we'll come to a fitting resolution for Mulder and Scully, as well as an all around good X-Files story.

(also go read her Star Wars and Jane Austen related works. Seriously.)

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for granting my wish and gifting me this arc!

1013 / 5 stars

Y'all. When I tell you this book healed something deep inside me, please know I mean that with every fibre of my being. Anyone who knows me knows that I've been obsessed with this show since I was 12, and that the revival seasons were such a disaster and the "reveals" and twists such a slap in the face I felt as heartbroken and betrayed as Scully did. But this book. THIS BOOK. Claudia Gray you deserve a bonus, a relaxing vacation, and all the nice things. This not only encapsulated Mulder and Scullys personalities perfectly, but it also dealt with the fallout and heartache from season 11 in a real, believable, and in character way that I couldn't help but love this from the first few chapters. I was finally reunited with a Mulder and Scully I know, love, and missed more than I realized. It was this reason that made me draw out reading this book for as long as possible - I didn't want to say goodbye again, but oh the time we had together was so, so sweet. Their reinstatement into the FBI was believable, and the new mysteries that were dealt with and alluded to are so unique and interesting, I would really love more! The Inheritors are quite the sinister organization, picking up where the Syndicate left off, and they are so intriguing I really want to know what else they're up to and where their story will go. I can easily see this becoming a series and I'll happily buy hardcovers of each volume if more will come!! This is more a demand than a request btw. You can't leave these loose ends and not finish them! Please??😂🥹

I also finally got to see something my shipper heart has been waiting for forever - Mulder and Scully in domestic (somewhat) bliss, actually talking about their feelings and trauma together! TALKING ABOUT WILLIAM 😭😭😭😭 I love them so much, and to read this in something that's not fanfic and is therefore now canon is just so lovely 😭

When I finished this I felt just so happy and content, and then I read the acknowledgements. I was absolutely on the same forums and online communities, and Claudia talking about all the friends she made then and since through the online X-Files community really made me just so so happy and nostalgic. This was truly a love letter to the show and fandom, and it showed. And Claudia. Please tell me what fanfic you've written bc I would love to read more of your Mulder and Scully 🥹

When I was a kid, two of my older cousins introduced me to The X-Files during its inaugural season. I instantly fell in love, and it became my favourite show, not to mention a staple of my Friday (and, later, Sunday) nights. I collected the novelizations of the episodes, as well as the tie-in novels, which acted as stand-alone cases. You could say I was obsessed.

Due to family events, I started missing episodes near the end of the show and didn’t see how it ended. As such, I made a point to do a full rewatch on DVD. In fact, my first paycheque went to buying the seasons I didn’t already have, back when the big boxed sets were about $114.99 each.

As a diehard fan, I looked forward to the revival and watched the two additional seasons. I liked them, for the most part, though they could’ve been better and could have provided more of a resolution. I was hoping there’d be more, but we only got the one short season and one longer one, which ended on a pretty large scale.

Enter The X-Files: Perihelion; a recently released novel by author Claudia Gray. It acts as an extension of the show, as opposed to a stand-alone story, and does its best to provide an ending of sorts. However, the result is a book that is a mixed bag, and tries to do far too much.

We return to Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they’re attempting to live together again. They’ve bought a townhouse, but are still sleeping in separate bedrooms. That is, even though Scully is experiencing a surprise, geriatric pregnancy. As such, a lot of the book deals with both characters’ thoughts and fears about their forthcoming baby, including its origins, its potential differences and its safety. The two had another child named William, but he was the product of tampering by the Syndicate and the Cigarette Smoking Man. As a result, he was born with alien DNA, special powers and the revelation that he likely wasn’t Mulder’s biological child, all of which caused them to give him up for adoption.

Unfortunately, William died during the show, and our two main characters are still struggling with that loss, as is to be expected. This has bled into their new pregnancy, and has prevented them from being as happy as they could’ve been. So, too, has the unknown, meaning worry as to whether the government, healthcare professionals or shadowy figures contributed to this happening.

There’s a lot of talk about William, both between the characters and in their heads. Too much, to be honest. It gets very repetitive, and old hat. The author didn’t need to keep bringing him up so much.

At this time, Scully is working at a DNA/RNA/gene research company, while Mulder ponders his future and takes part in podcasts about the unexplained. The two end up being called back to the bureau, though, and not by Assistant Director Walter Skinner, who’s sadly in a comatose state in a special hospital. No, they are tasked with dealing with a new AD, and are unsure whether they can trust her or not. Either way, she reinstates them, and gives them two different cases. Mulder also meets a new informant, named Avatar, who likes pop culture as much as he likes aliens.

The X-Files: Perihelion begins with the murder of a pregnant lady, who’s walking to her car in a hospital’s parking garage. During this crime, a strange electrical event occurs, leading to it becoming an X-File. This acts as one of the two cases found inside this book, and it pertains to a killer known as Bright Eyes, who targets pregnant women, further worrying Mulder about Scully’s pregnancy and safety.

While the Bright Eyes case begins interestingly enough, it never amounts to anything noteworthy and ends in a really lacklustre fashion. It lacks depth and intrigue, and doesn’t compare to most of the monsters of the week found in the show itself. This was rather disappointing. Furthermore, it introduces an odd element to Scully’s character that I didn’t particularly like or feel fit in well.

The second case involves a killer who seems able to turn into smoke and disappear. It also progresses the story of the Syndicate, and what has followed. This plot line also bit off more than the author was able to chew, and almost raised more questions than it answered.

While the two cases were underwhelming, and didn’t do enough to tie up the storyline, Claudia Gray did do a good job of writing Mulder and Scully, themselves. A number of times, I felt like I was reading an actual script from the show, as pertaining to some of their dialogue, Mulder’s quips and things like that. However, too much was internalized, and far too much time was spent repeating the story of William.

Reading this book also made me feel bad for not remembering what happened during the show’s run as well as I would have liked to. Claudia Gray — who shares that she was an avid fan of the show, and wrote fan fiction as it aired — knows her stuff, and really nailed the lore.

I had a hard time evaluating this book, because a good amount of it was nailed, but the ‘new stuff,’ by way of characters, lore and cases left something to be desired. The author simply introduced far too much into one all too short novel, and failed to provide the depth and development it all required, partially because she spent too much time obsessing about William and Scully’s new pregnancy. Hell, there’s even a story arc about Scully looking into her DNA, and the alterations to global DNA/RNA that resulted from the Syndicate’s interference.

The X-Files: Perihelium is a relatively well written book, which does a good job of bringing two iconic characters back to ‘life,’ but it stumbles with the rest. As a result, it’s merely a decent effort, and not the great continuation (or conclusion) I was hoping it would be.

This review is based on a copy of the book that we were provided. Thank you to NetGalley and its publisher.

The author acknowledges the novel is based on the series created by Chris Carter. In the aftermath of Williams death, Mulder and Skully have moved back into shared quarters. Understanding, compassion and grief dominate their thoughts. Gray has an advantage over the television series, as she can reflect the inner monologues rather than relying on overt character exposition. Gray has an excellent understanding of the characters. It is especially satisfying to see Skully responding as woman and not just a skeptical STEM drone. This is reflected in both characters reactions to her pregnancy.

Continuing with the themes of conspiracy and alien modified DNA, this world is very threatened and very dark. In science, perihelion is an astronomical term meaning the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is closest to the sun. Without clearly committing to a spoiler, I will say the title is very apt. Written more for X-philes (pun intended) other readers of science fiction will enjoy this novel.

Full disclosure I received this ARC from netgalley and 20th Century Television in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

This book was the closure we (loyal X-Philes) deserved.

This fits so seamlessly into the show’s arc that if you’d told me that Darin Morgan or Frank Spotnitz had written it, I’d believe you. This author clearly has an understanding of the show that only a deeply, obsessively nerdy fan can possess and I LOVED it.

Right from the jump, this book nails the vibe. The beginning scene is the perfect pre-credit opening. I could almost hear the cords of the theme start as the scene concluded.

The ability to not only flawlessly write the main characters, but to invent both single characters and whole groups of characters that were clearly meant to be in the Carter-verse is unparalleled. I’ve read an embarrassing amount of fan fiction and x-files books but this one is just brilliant. I cant say enough about the masterful understanding of the characters. So many times while I was reading this I just thought “Damn, that is perfection”. Specifically the very tense scene when Mulder & Scully are speaking with a Doctor and she leaves abruptly and then Mulder makes some comment about the funnel cake she left; I could hear it. The scene concerning the Cigarette Smoking Man? I could hear it. As for the secondary characters, also brilliant. The character called the Avatar, the new informant, is female and unassuming looking which is the total opposite of her predecessors (Deep Throat, Well Manicured Man, ect) and yet it’s SPOT. ON. The characters in the Arizona setting—- definite “Arcadia” vibes. Calling the new version of The Syndicate “The Inheritors”- perfection. It’s just so. Good.

The settings were also in keeping with the original series. I could immediately picture the retreat with the white text location tag as the episode starts. The whole situation with the podcast gave me “Hollywood AD” vibes and I could vividly picture it as the podcast filming ends and the lights come up. The little details were just as perfect. There’s one scene that includes a detail about porcelain Chinese cat waiving at people at the Thai place and it immediately reminded me of the scenes in “All Things” where Scully is taking in the details and time seems to slow.

My favorite thing about this book is difficult to explain without spoilers, but I’ll say that the way both of Scully’s pregnancies were addressed was a crazy impressive go at addressing (and correcting, IMO) the ridiculous explaination for Scully’s pregnancy with William. It did so in a way that was so much more satisfying for fans than what we were given in the reboot *without* changing what was said in series right ignoring it. It confronted a terrible plot twist and saved it in the best possible way. It also addressed the pregnancy at the end of the reboot in a much more realistic way and that, too, is what fans deserved.

This book was just perfection. I so sincerely hope, as I’m sure ANY original series fan reading this will, that this gets picked up as a final installment in the Mulder/Scully saga so that fans get the closure we so desperately wanted. We didn’t need a happily ever after ending, but we needed a hopeful one and this book delivered.

The X-Files: Perihelion brings fans back to Mulder and Scully's world with an engaging mix of emotional depth and gripping paranormal intrigue. In this novel, we see both agents grappling with their shared trauma from the past while being drawn into a mysterious new case involving ritualistic killings and electronic phenomena. The story not only revives their classic partnership but also dives deeper into their personal struggles, especially as Scully faces an unexpected pregnancy, raising questions about its origins.
Gray skillfully balances the iconic "monster of the week" format with an overarching conspiracy, keeping the essence of The X-Files alive while exploring new layers of character development. The novel feels authentic to the original series, making it a compelling read for long-time fans, while also offering a fresh angle on the characters as they confront the unsettling mysteries of their new reality.

The FBI has asked Scully and Mulder to come back to the FBI and work with the X-files again. After thinking about it, they accepted. They had been following a case where pregnant woman were being killed in a very strange way. This among other strange or not so strange to Scully and Mulder. We learn that Scully and Mulder have both had their DNA altered. If you like the show, you'll love the book.

This was not what I expected so while it was a good story, I honestly think it would have been better if different (new) characters were used. I love the characters of Mulder and Scully and I love where the author took their relationship but I think it would have worked better if they were side characters and they introduced new FBI agents joining the X Files unit. That being said, it was a good story but I would not recommend it to die hard fans.

I was a huge, HUGE fan of The X-Files when it premiered in 1993.

I love all things scary and spooky and unexplained and this is still one of the best shows I've ever seen.

I was excited to see what Mulder and Scully was up to after season 11 and pleased my request was approved.

The storyline continues with Mulder and Scully still mourning the loss of their son, William and trying to adapt to a life without him.

As they reconnect and try to make a life together, Scully's new pregnancy offers hope for a second chance to be a family.

When the X-Files is reopened and the duo are tasked to investigate a serial in the DC area who targets pregnant women, their presence ignites the interest of a new cabal emerging from the remains of the Syndicate.

Soon, Mulder and Scully will discover that their case is connected to a worldwide phenomenon. And Scully's pregnancy is just the beginning.

I enjoyed the author's writing, especially the way she described Mulder and Scully's relationship; respectful, loving, and admirable.

After decades of working together, the both of them know how to work together, live together, and love together.

Their loyalty and intelligence has not changed through the years, but only sharpened through personal and shared experiences.

Scully's skepticism remains, though her Catholic faith hasn't diminished; Mulder's mistrust of the government and medical establishment is alive and well, but his ability to believe is as formidable as ever.

The serial killer storyline was meh, but the conspiracy was far more interesting, how people are changing, some infused with supernatural abilities which would mean...the world will soon become one X-File. Scary!

I loved the references to characters and events from past episodes. The nostalgia is real!

This was a good continuation to a seminal, ground-breaking television series I'll always love.

This was so good!
It picks up the threads of that season 11 reveal and just moves forward in such a believable way. Claudia Gray seems to 100 percent know The X-Files and it felt like finding Easter eggs everytime something from previous seasons were mentioned. I loved the callback to Clyde Bruckman and the issue always brought up surrounding Scully in that episode. It was even great to get the mention of Eugene Tooms and the 2023 reference.

I hope we get more of these X-Files with Claudia Gray because she definitely knows how to forge her own path and yet still keep the characters we know and love. Even them deciding on what size fish tank to have in their townhouse was totally a thing Mulder and Scully would do. We get to spend time in each of their heads and not once did I think they were out of character.

There are two serial killers in this book, both of them seemingly with supernatural abilities. One of which goes after pregnant women and of course Scully could be a target. We get new villains and allies and all are characters that will keep you interested in them.

If this is now considered canon then I’m totally okay with it. I was surprised and delighted just to be in this world again. And since the basement is now overflowing with even more X-Files I hope these books continue and we see even more of Mulder and Scully.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

I was a huge sucker for the X-Files for most of the original seasons and then ended up going back and watching what I'd missed when they put out the big boxed set of DVDs. I had shirts, and hats, comics and the tie-in novels and stayed in on Friday nights. This last run of the television show didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations and I had to wonder if was time to put the series to rest (at least this incarnation). Claudia Gray has given me a lot of hope that Mulder and Scully can continue on the page as long as she is writing them. The X-Files: Perihelion was an amazing read chock full of deep cuts and most importantly, I could see the actors saying the dialogue and was able to read much of it as a "classic" voiceover. I've read quite a few tie-in novels, but this is among the best. And I truly hope it's only the beginning.

Special Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

There could never be enough x-files in my life so I was beyond excited to grab this NetGalley arc!! The story picks off pretty much where the “eleventh” season released in 2018 ends. In the book we get to see Scully and Mulder picking up where they left off, solving cases and resuming work on the x-files, and we also get to see them have a little slice of happiness long overdue!

The book felt authentic, and if I didn’t know better I’d say it was written by the shows screenwriters. It was well done! But that being said the writing style was unique and sometimes a bit tough to stay engaging for me. It felt too much like I was watching something (rather than reading), and was just a unique style that I struggled a little with. There were so many POVs and quick scene changes within the same chapter, I was also confused a few times and had to re-read.

But overall, it was a ton of fun, and if you love the x-files, you really do need to grab a copy!! Definitely recommend.

Thanks so much NetGalley, Hyperion and Claudia Grey for the arc.

I was surprised by how much I didn't hate this, especially considering how much I hate Chris Carter for destroying his own legacy with that second season of the revival. Cheers to Claudia Gray for un-ruining it and crafting an extremely readable thriller that also felt very true to the characters I've loved for decades!

This is a great book for X-Files fans. Mulder and Scully are back with the bureau and the X-Files department has been reinstated. Their first cases truly can’t be explained easily. Mulder is definitely suspicious of their new boss as well as a new CI. Scully is trying to do her share of the investigation, but her need to insure her pregnancy is healthy and isn’t the product of extraterrestrial experiments is definitely her top priority. The he investigations seem to blend together and get personal at some point. Can the twosome protect their unborn, keep the X-files operating, and solve an unsolved mystery?

If you are a fan of the X-Files you will absolutely love this book. It takes place right after season 11 and while reading it, I felt like I had just watched another episode of this much loved show. I really hope this series continues in book form like this. I can't wait for the next!

I’m a huge X-Files fan (I have parrots named Scully and Mulder) and have read and enjoyed several books by Claudia Gray, so I was eager to read Perihelion. It’s…fine. It’s competently written and very readable.

Reading the author note was helpful because Gray was an early shipper of Scully and Mulder, and I would have preferred they stay close coworkers. That ship has sailed however (ha), so I knew going in the book would be about their romantic relationship. I also preferred the monster of the week episodes vastly to the conspiracy episodes, and this book is a continuation of the conspiracies. The Cigarette Smoking Man may be dead (or is he?), but he casts a huge shadow over Perihelion. My biggest complaint, however, is the lack of humor. The best X-Files episodes in my opinion are the funny ones – Clyde Bruckerman’s Final Repose, Bad Blood, War of the Coprophages. Perihelion is best described as grim and determined.

Gray does prove her X-Files credentials with many references to things from the TV show. She did a good job of capturing their personalities aside from the lack of humor. Also, Scully and Mulder joke about the one job that’s not self-serving being that of librarian, so that’s a plus. Let’s bring Gray back for a rollicking monster of the week title.

I read an advance reader copy of X-Files: Perihelion from Netgalley.

I definitely have a soft spot for The X-Files. It was my first real fandom as a young teenager in the late '90s. It was my entry into fan fiction and 'shipping and all that fun stuff. My interest in the show has faded over the years, but it always picks up when I come across new content.

This was my first time reading an original novel about the show (not a novelization). It was fun to revisit the Mulder and Scully this way. And they were Mulder and Scully. They were the way I remember them but older.

I thought the plot in this book was just okay. It would've been an average episode in my mind. The plot didn't really matter though. It was just good to see the characters again.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.