Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up watching The X-Files when I was too young to watch it. I was a fan then and I'm still a fan so I was excited to see that the series was continuing in novel form.

I haven't watched Season 11 since it first aired so I was appreciative that there was a quick summary embedded in the text that didn't feel out of place. However, I still think it would be wise to rewatch that season or even find a detailed summary before reading this book.

The plot moved slowly at times and there were pages (or what felt like it) of Mulder and/or Scully ruminating over William not being their son. (Don't get me started on how quickly everyone believed Cigarette Smoking Man when come on! it's Cigarette Smoking Man.) While this tension between them did get discussed at the right time, it felt like there were scenes upon scenes in which that was all they were thinking about.

During the show's heyday, some novels came out of different X-Files or Monsters of the Week. I remember enjoying those as a kid and still think about them from time to time. While this book has its own monster of the week, it does get overshadowed by the mythology portion. I'm still trying to decide if creating a mythology-focused book was the right move since it didn't feel like something that Chris Carter or the other writers would create. This isn't to say Claudia Gray is a terrible writer (I'm a fan), but there were moments where it didn't feel like Mulder and Scully, but two characters from an original Claudia Gray work.

In the end, this book has set itself up for a sequel and I may read it since there are a few plot threads that weren't complete and I need to know how it ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a must read for X-Files fans! I absolutely hated how the series ended, so this was definitely a welcomed “fix it” addition for me.

Claudia Grey did a great job writing Mulder and Scully. It was obvious she understands the characters pretty well, nothing felt disjointed.

I couldn’t get enough of Perihelion, so I definitely recommend it for any fans of the show!

The X-Files: Perihelion
By Claudia Gray


Summary:

Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are still reeling from the death of their son William as they struggle to find purpose away from the X-Files. Though their current relationship is tenuous, they hope to seize their second chance to be a family, despite the many questions surrounding Scully’s pregnancy.

Then the FBI asks for their help on a case that hits all too close to home: a serial killer in the Washington, DC area who targets pregnant women. The killer appears to possess a mysterious, uncanny power over electricity, which is enough for the Bureau to re-open the X-Files—if Mulder and Scully are willing.

They cautiously agree, concerned about the safety of their own unborn child yet committed to finding justice for the killer’s victims. But their return to the FBI sparks the interest of a shadowy cabal, the heirs to the now-dead Syndicate, and Mulder and Scully soon discover that what at first seems to be just another X-File is connected to a worldwide threat on an unprecedented scale . . . one with their own future at its heart.

Review:4 Stars

As a die-hard fan of the X-Files I really enjoyed this story, it felt like an old comfy blanket on a cold day for the most part, but it wasn’t a page-turner, I could set it down and get other things done and come back to it later The overall flow was great, The editing was spot on. If it had been a page-turner which I couldn’t walk away from it would have been a 5-star for sure.

Conclusion:

Would I recommend this book to others YES
Would I read other books by this Author YES

NetGalley

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

I think that what this book really comes down to is being an incredible return to the world of the X-Files. If you like the X-Files, especially the pieces that are focused on relationships and trauma, you will love this book! I personally never got around to finishing the series or watching the renewal, but I was able to fall right back into the world (with a little bit of light Googling). This story has a good dose of the strange and supernatural, but also generally just provides a good look at Mulder and Scully as people and as partners, both romantically and in their work. It seems to pick up right where the renewal left off, and brings back what I think I loved most about the show to begin with.

I think outside of being a great X-Files story, this book is also well-written as a book on its own. I've read some of Claudia Gray's work before, and I think she has developed a very strong writing style that suits itself particularly well to science fiction. She is able to really make her characters feel grounded in the worlds they exist within, while still providing some of the weird and exciting that comes from the concepts she is working with! I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of the X-Files.

I loved this! I suspected I would since I've enjoyed the author's other work and I love the X-Files. The characterizations of Mulder and Scully are spot on and the story is a good mystery. It has set up more books to come.

It's definitely for fans, you would be hard-pressed to follow if you aren't already familiar with the lore.

This book is fantastic for X-Files fans. It picks up shortly after the last episode, Mulder and Scully are dealing with a new pregnancy, moving in together, and what is next for them after the FBI. Then there's a new case that asks them to come back temporarily to the X-Files. The case is a killer who disappears into a puff a smoke. On top of that, there's a separate killer targeting pregnant women while electronics go haywire during the crime. With Scully being pregnant, is she next? The author is a diehard fan, as you can tell from call-backs and name drops from the history of the show. A great book, that ties some cliffhangers from the finale to new ones in a riveting book. A quick, fun read from this fan, and I hope this opens up more books in the future.

Thanks to Net Galley and Hyperion Ave Books for the advanced read, appreciate it!

#TheXFilesPerihelion #NetGalley#TheXFilesPerihelion #hyperionavebooks #mulder #scully #xfiles #thetruthisoutthere #iwanttobelieve

The X-Files : Perihelion was a fun read for anybody who misses the old series. It's up to date because Mulder and Scully are together as a couple now and mention of their son William is included. Although the book is well-written, my overall feeling when I finished was that I didn't like reading about the X-Files as much as I liked watching the series.

I thank Net Galley and Claudia Gray for the opportunity to review this book.

A very entertaining return to the world of Mulder and Scully! I liked how the author clearly knows her lore, and weaves many events we remember from the canon of the agents' past experiences into the story she tells here. She really captures the essence of the characters too, both leads and supporting cast (particularly good job on Skinner!) and crafts a plot that feels like you're strapped into a wildly careening vehicle racing through the craziness of their conspiracy-laden world.

If you love the “X-Files” series, or a good thriller, you’ll enjoy “x Files Perihelion”. It’s a real page turner that keeps you up late reading. Based on the TV Series created by Chris Carter, Perihelion picks up the story of Scully & Mulder after the last season of X-Files. A series of strange murders have the FBI calling Mulder & Scully back into action.
Unexplained phenomena is going on as well. The author has created excellent characters and kept the Scully & Mulder personas true to the TV series characters. This is a plot driven book. Thank you for the ARC. I hope the author will write a part 2 for this story.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I LOVED this. As a long time fan of The X Files I felt like Perihelion perfectly captured the vibes of the original show and all the characters we know and love while still being its own unique addition to the universe. I would recommend this to any X-Files fan who always wondered what happened after the series ended.

I was a big fan of "The X-Files" when it was on broadcast television, though definitely preferred the alien conspiracy episodes over the serial-killer-of-the-week episodes that all-too-often dropped into mundane police procedurals. There's a rumored reboot in the works that I'll watch, purely out of nostalgia if nothing else, but the characters Mulder and Scully were done once the show and films wrapped up production. Or were they?

Turns out that enthusiastic fans were writing their own The X-Files episodes and stories all along, known as "fan fiction" or just "fanfic". Author Claudia Gray got her start as one of these fan authors, sharing her own imagined storyline for the two FBI special agents. Years later her much more polished writing delivers the highly entertaining "The X-Files: Perihelion", which I quite enjoyed reading.

However, be warned, it isn't a standalone book. Much of the story consists of flashbacks to things that transpired prior to the narrative and an ending that isn't an ending at all. Nothing is resolved, there's no comeuppance for the antagonists and the one criminal who is captured turns out to be a side story that's quickly forgotten in the impetus of moving the main storyline forward.

As a result, I would categorize this as summer reading, a book that passes the time enjoyably and offers a chance to revisit agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in their now modern life, with all its problems and challenges. It's the written equivalent of your first view being episode 5 of an 8 episode series.

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

This story 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.

X-Files fans rejoice!! The X-Files is back, better and more out there than ever!! Claudia Gray’s writing is absolute perfection. She so fully understands these characters and this universe. It is such a delight to read. It’s like coming home again. Oddly enough I had just finished a full rewatch of the series when this ARC landed in my lap thanks to Netgalley. It was wonderful to finally get continuation of the story after such a crazy cliffhanger ending in season 11. This book picks up from where that season left off and Claudia Gray takes us in a bold new direction while still feeling 100 percent like the X-files you know and love. While it makes me sad that we will never get anymore episodes, after reading this I’m totally fine with giving Claudia Gray the reins and letting her write a hundred new xfiles books!

Where are my X-File lovers at?! If this wasn’t THE quintessential X-Files book of my dreams, I don’t know what is. If you were looking for the nostalgia of The X-Files, I’ll be dam*** if Claudia Gray didn’t hit the nail on the head with this one.

This was such a well written book! This book picks up after the eleventh season and the series ended and I loved how she created this story to add on to the original plot line and development. We are given a new mystery, more conspiracy, and more “alien” information as the plot thickens in this book.

The book I think starts off with a bang in intrigue and while the story does develop nicely with a pace that’s decent, I did find some parts that were a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, my love for how much this books resembles my initial love for the series when it started trumps that. We have familiar and new characters, classic Scully and Mulder interactions but with more emotion, tidbits of Dana Scully’s journal but more modern (like she did in the show), a bat sign cut out for the window as a signal (like he did with the “X” in the show), AND mention of a past case, and the creepiest one as a child for me. I loved it! There’s some new stuff that had me thinking “No way!” AND “I knew it!” There’s a bit of a twist and new development that I think any sci-fi lover will enjoy. Fully recommend if you love and have watched all of The X-Files because there are spoilers if you haven’t watched/ finished the TV series.

Huge thanks to @netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced digital galley!

The X-Files: Perihelion, was written by bestselling author, Claudia Gray.

SUMMARY
Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are back! The FBI has called upon the two seasoned agents, who were previously suspended from the bureau. The duo have been asked to investigate an unusual murder by the hands of a Washington, DC serial killer; with the latest crime scene appearing to have ties to the supernatural. This new X-File case appeals to Scully, as the serial killer's victims are pregnant women; like herself.

Mulder and Scully still mourn the loss of their son, William. Yet, a rekindling of their relationship is sparked by the mysterious pregnancy of Scully. The couple dust off their guns and badges to report back to the FBI headquarters to find new X-Files piled high on their desks.

The Inheritors, a mysterious group lingering in the shadows have intentions of altering the course of humanity! The members are cautions of Mulder and Scully and keep a watchful eye on the duo. As Dana Scully's pregnancy progresses and through her and Mulder's investigation, the massive threat to humanity is revealed.

This novel is a story of self discovery in a world of constant change, violence, and mystery!

OVERALL THOUGHTS
I must clarify, before getting into the review, that my knowledge of all that happens in the X-Files show is limited. I am a new fan of the series and have only watched the first two seasons as of this book review. However, I have read just about all of the X-Files novels. It's exciting to get new material in the world of the X-Files!

This story is a continuation of the X-Files timeline, so if you are not familiar with the material that came before this novel, such as the later seasons of the show, you may be scratching your head many times trying to piece together what all had happened leading up to this novel. I would have appreciated the story more if there was a dedicated chapter or even a prologue that summarized the history that ties into this story. Previous books were simple X-Files adventures that didn't require foreknowledge that linked to the show to understand what was happening or who characters were.

It's easy to see that the author has a genuine attachment to the characters and source material. There are many moments where the story feels like an episode of the show, which is fantastic. However, there are also many moments that feel completely disjointed, as though the material was written by someone else entirely. The mention of William and the emotional state of Dana and Fox regarding him, is repeated so many times it just becomes filler, to expand the word count.

Yet, when it comes to the meat of the story, the investigations and the explorations of the unexplained, Claudia Gray did a fantastic job. Chunks of the book feel like an older episode that really grabbed my attention. I could have done without the unnecessary pop culture references to Star Wars and a few other franchises; it went too far, giving someone the name, Starwarski. Those were the moments that brought in the cheese factor... so cringey at times.

I did enjoy this book overall, but there were many times I questioned the decisions made in the direction of the story. My experience with this book would jump from love it to hate it to like it. I am curious to know how some of the content/writing style could be so great, while some of it seemed to have been scrapped from the bottom of a dumpster. In the end though, there were more pros than cons.

RATING
I will give The X-Files: Perihelion a B.

(YouTube Video of this review to follow)

Picking up where The X Files Season 11 left off, Perihelion is a novel with a huge task: resolve and make sense of the alien DNA myth-arc from the end of the series on both the large scale (world-wide events) and individual level (for Mulder & Scully). We find them together but still working out exactly what kind of relationship they will have moving forward while also re-re-opening the X Files amid a boom of newly evolved mutants. There are mentions of old favorites like AD Walter Skinner and CSM plus a range of interesting and well-written new characters who could easily pop up in future novels should the story continue.

The two X File cases in the novel keep Mulder & Scully busy while also moving them through their transition back into the FBI. The more disturbing and graphic “monster of the week” case quickly becomes secondary and serves to reveal some new information about one of our heroes. The larger myth-arc story leans heavily into alien DNA mutations from previous X Files episodes where humans (and non-humans) have evolved special powers. The new developments leave much less room for interpretation or the sense of wonder and mystery inherent in the original X Files stories, perhaps taking the story too far into the sci-fi world of X Men and making it hard to imagine *this* version of Mulder & Scully on our big screens, unless of course Mulder, Scully, and their new friends successfully find a way to reverse the mutations.

However, Claudia Grey does a beautiful job capturing Mulder and Scully as characters we know and love. Grey has done her research with mentions of many plot points from previous episodes, and both characters get the much needed opportunity to confront and work through their individual feelings about William/Jackson, their impending parenthood, and each other. The story’s strongest moments center their individual journeys through their past traumas and experiences that brought them to this point in their stories, and in the end their partnership is at the heart of the story, as it should be.

The X-Files: Perihelion was absolutely amazing! Being a die hard fan of the original X-Files I was incredibly delighted to see this book and read it with great anticipation and enthusiasm. I have to say it was as excellent and enjoyable as I had hoped it definitely exceeded my expectations. I truly hope to see a continuation of this as a series and I will eagerly be watching for another book. Scully and Mulder helped define science fiction and motivate lovers of the show and true believers everywhere creating a huge nearly unparalleled universe and fandom. I still can’t help but think of the X-Files every time I hear “The Truth is Out There”. If you are a fan of the the X-Files I highly recommend it and I know you will love it as much as I did and to that end I may now have to binge the tv series again.

So great to return to two of my most favorite characters!!! So well done. Get the book and always remember that you can use the Bat signal if you need help. Hahahaha the humor and the ability to bring to life dude characters in this book was awesome and so fun.

The X-Files: Perihelion
by Claudia Gray
Pub Date: July 30, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

#1 New York Times best-selling author Claudia Gray extends the story of The X-Files beyond its eleventh season into thrilling new territory!
Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are still reeling from the death of their son William, but cautiously joyous about Scully’s unexpected pregnancy. Determined to raise this child together, Mulder and Scully struggle to find meaning away from the X-Files as they navigate the uncertain waters of their relationship. Then the FBI asks for their help tracking down two mysterious serial killers: one who seems to be able to control electricity, and another who disappears from the scene of the crime in what witnesses describe as a puff of smoke. It’s enough for the Bureau to re-open the X-Files—if Mulder and Scully are willing.
Great book!

The X-Files: Perihelion ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

I loved diving back into the world of Scully, Mulder, and the X-Files, especially the way Gray wrote it. The plot had all the elements of what made the X-Files such a compelling watch - it was emotional, funny, intriguing, and a little dangerous. The stakes are high this time around, putting Scully and Mulder right back in their element. I loved that the novel tackled both the serial crime-solving aspect we’ve come to know and love from two of the FBI’s most unwanted, and weaved in a greater conspiracy plot line, making it fit right into the classic X-Files canon recipe.

It was a nostalgic read, having callbacks and easter eggs for any longtime fan to smile at, while not feeling too formulaic or unoriginal.

I, like many other fans of the show, was dismayed with how the series ended, and I really appreciate the direction in which Gray took what we were left with and turned it into something better. I would keep reading more installments if Gray decides to continue the story in the future.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this book. Long time a fan (still have the Grand Rapids Press clipping announcing local actress Gillian Anderson was starring in a UFO show) but the first time I've read any X-Files book. Claudia Gray did a great job and you can tell she's a fan of the show. My memory of some of the plot from so long ago episodes didn't hinder me in any way, though.