I enjoyed reading this fantasy/mystery. The plot is unusual, featuring vampires living amongst humans but in a sort of reservation arrangement. It’s fast paced and I was hooked all the way through, while trying to work out who was responsible for the murder.

Thanks to the author, to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Perfect for spooky season. A vampire book where I actually felt sorry for the vamps. Please tell me there's a book 2 coming?

Fast paced, lots of twists - loved it and read it in one sitting! I’ve read a few books by C J Tudor and this is my favourite so far.

Great character development and I’ve not read a horror in a while so enjoyed the Vampyr element.

CJ Tudor is a great writer and I really enjoyed The Gathering - a police procedural but as it turns out it’s not your ordinary kind because it involves vampyrs. Great Alaskan setting with an interesting mix of characters, this was a read full of suspense and I look forward to what the author comes up with next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc

CJ Tudor never fails to surprise me, this book has me in suspense and yearning to keep going the whole time. Highly recommendb

A very atmospheric crime mystery set in a wintry Alaskan tow, with the added complication of vampyrs. A fun read that adds something fresh to the often overdone genre. C.J. Tudor never fails to deliver!

A murder mystery set in a remote Alaskan town where the human/vampire population is one step away from all out war? Take my money! Tudor’s The Taking of Annie Thorne and The Chalk Man are two books that have stuck with me years after reading them. Tudor has the ability to create stories that will give you goosebumps and make you want to check under your bed at night. I love when an author can get inside your head like that and Tudor is one of those authors for me.

I was sold the minute I saw the blurb- I am a huge fan of the 30 Days of Night graphic novel and movie, and The Gathering instantly made me think of the scene where the vampires just stand in the streets while the humans hide in terror from them. Just to give you one scene that stuck in my head – an excessive amount of Christmas decorations are used by the residents to illuminate the town in the darkness in some vain attempt to deter the vampires from coming close- the desperation of the residents is palpable. No one wants to be stuck in the dark and ironically living where they are, they can go days and months with very little sunlight. It felt like it was taken right out of a movie scene. Tudor’s story really does feel like it could be adapted to the big screen and that it would work visually.

The claustrophobic and remote setting really helped solidify the isolation of the humans and vampires living in the village of Deadhart and its environs. The sense that there is no escape is palpable when the various characters are running through the woods or stuck in remote cabins. It’s a dark, uninviting and unsettling setting where you are constantly waiting for something or someone to jump out. Perfection!

In terms of the characters, Detective Barbara Atkins, the former sheriff Jenson Tucker and the mysterious captive girl stand out the most for me. As a vampire anthropologist, Barbara is tasked with the difficult duty of solving the murder of the young boy and determining if the vampire colony in the area need to be culled. The prejudices of the humans towards the vampires (and vice versa) is one of the fascinating aspects of this book. Tudor delves into this topic highlighting the inherent racism and prejudice that society has towards the “other”. Barbara’s upbringing and her experiences as a young woman with vampires is another interesting part of this story and shows how deep hatred can run towards others.

Entwined with the main story of the murder are the chapters giving us the point of view of a girl who is being held captive against her will. Who is she? How does she tie in to what’s happening in Deadhart? Her story is just as fascinating and Tudor manages to weave these two elements together in her signature twisty way.

Speaking of twists, there are plenty to keep the reader going and some really shocking ones that completely come out of left field. I love when that happens because you need a few elements that will make you stop and just take a minute to process what’s happening on the page. The pace ramps up midway through this book and it is relentless.

A solid supernatural thriller with gore and terrifying moments that will keep the horror readers happy. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the arc. The Gathering is out now. 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I was pitching this to Hollywood (and I think Ms Tudor should), I would simply say True Blood meets 30 Days of Night. Yes, it's Vampyr time. This is a done to death genre that the author has breathed new life into. But it's also a tense mystery where really you'd think you know who the bad guys are, but you don't.

Once again, C.J. Tudor has delivered a solidly entertaining story. She sits firmly in my top ten of favourite current writers.

Easiest five star read that I have had in a while. Engaging, dark, fast paced and twisty, Everything you could want in a thriller.

Ms Tudor never fails to keep me on the edge, feeling nervoous, and having a lot of fun with her dark, twisty, and brilliant novel.
The mix of horror and thriller works very well in this book, I couldn't help visualizing the place like those in True Detective: Night Country.
The darkness, the sense of isolation, something from the past that you cannot rationalize as it talks to the most ancient part of your brain.
The storytelling is masterful and the story tightly knitted and dark.
Enjoy it, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

“The Gathering” by author CJ Tudor is a horror thriller that left me with mixed feelings. I first cam across this author when I read ‘The Chalk man’ which I was completely absorbed in. Ever since though I have had mixed opinions about her books, finding them either very good or disappointing. I believe the reason is that I am not a big fan of the horror / supernatural side of her writing. There were parts of the story I loved and really enjoyed but other parts that I felt less enthralled by.

Deadhart is a small Alaskan town with a dark past and the story starts with the horrific discovery of a boy with his throat ripped out and his body drained of blood. This is very similar to a killing that occurred twenty-five years ago. The residents focus on a secluded community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins is an expert vampyr killings and is summoned to Deadhart to determine if the murder warrants a cull of the Colony. Unlike the locals Atkins is not so sure that the vampyrs are to blame and is determined to find the truth. She seeks help from Jenson Tucker, a former Deadhart sheriff whose life was nearly claimed by his own inquiry into the past murder.

Tucker has a deep knowledge of the colony and its history and forms a needed partnership with Atkins albeit reluctantly. Together they unravel dark secrets and the discovery of a second body succeeds in raising the stakes even higher.

I struggled with the supernatural elements which spoilt it for me because there was plenty that I did like about this book. Some good characters and well written but too much horror and supernatural for me personally.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This incredible book kept me hooked from start to finish. I'm confident it will be a standout on my list of the best books of 2024. The story takes place in a small Alaskan town where a colony of vampyrs lives near a human settlement. When a death occurs in the human community, it raises the possibility of a cull to eliminate the vampyrs if they are found responsible.

On the surface, the book is a captivating blend of horror, mystery, supernatural elements, and police procedural drama. However, it goes beyond these genres to explore powerful themes of racism, fundamentalist religion, and the mistreatment of those who are different. The depth of the story lingered with me long after I finished reading, making it not only enjoyable but also thought-provoking.

In addition to being a gripping read, this book persuasively sheds light on the repercussions of treating people who are different from the norm with contempt, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

This was fantastic! I was a huge fan of The Drift so I was so impressed that this is even better.
I loved the Vampire element, it really added another layer to the book.
The pacing was excellent and the characters totally believable.
I love how CJ Tudor often leaves hob wondering how you would react in these situations? Would you make the same choices as the characters?
Excellent, would highly recommend.

I'm fairly new to this author, after reading and loving The Burning Girls.
This was an intriguing opening, and whilst I enjoyed it, it didn't blow me away like The Burning Girls.

This was a really enjoyable and compelling thriller that kept me guessing throughout. I loved the use of vampyrs in the narrative - no ambiguity, just out there living their lives in full view. The use of colonies was a great idea and left me feeling uncomfortable knowing that many such colonies to separate different races have been in use over time. I thought the setting of small town Alaska was great, really adding to the tension with the encroaching weather. I also really enjoyed Barbara as a protagonist and it was a pleasant change to see a middle aged, overweight woman in such a role. Overall, I thought this was super fun and the ending suggests the possibility of more books in this world, which I would definitely read.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first C J Tudor novel I read but certainly wont be the last. It is atmospheric in a similar way to 30 Days of Night and the characters lend themselves incredibly well to the small town feel.

The Colony are somehow a traditional yet unique take on vampirism, which leave the reader wanting more from their world.

The pacing is perfect and the plot twists and red herrings are done well without being overbearing or taking over from the main plot point.

MFC Barbara and her law enforcement companion Tucker are an intriguing duo who work well together in a typical ‘small town police duo’ type of way and the constant subplot of the captive vampire has the reader looking suspiciously at almost every character in Deadhart, and rightly so. Almost every character is hiding a secret of some sort and the narrative moves along as each one is discovered.

This is the perfect horror mystery and a must read for every fan of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC! This was another one of my anticipated 2024 releases and it didn’t disappoint!

This is such a cool concept and unique premise. The blend of thriller, horror and fantasy worker fantastically. I also enjoyed the way the vampyr’s were characterised and the lore surrounding them wasn’t cliche unlike a lot of vampire books. The way they tied into the story meant that they weren’t just a prop to entice readers, they actively contributed to the story. Athelinda is my favourite character, what a queen.

The twists in this were amazing. I didn’t guess the major plot twists and was constantly kept guessing. One minute I was sure it was this person but was then left second guessing myself which I absolutely love when I’m reading a thriller. There are also some pretty gory and horrific scenes in this so check trigger warnings because some really dark subjects are talked about and shown.

I definitely recommend this if you’re a thriller or horror reader looking for something a bit different that’s full of twists. It was released on 11th April so you can read it now!

I love C.J. Tudor, she is one of my auto-buy authors 💘 but I am sad to say I did not love The Gathering! It had its strong points and it was entertaining overall but there was something missing in my opinion.

What this book does have: ALL of the small town vibes with unwelcoming locals, a decades old murder mystery and… vampires. I am all for an author branching out from their ‘normal’ and trying something a bit different, and I know this book has been/will be a hit for so many people but it just didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to. I was intrigued by the mystery and some of the characters were compelling (particularly Barbara the vampyr specialist) but I did struggle to suspend my belief with some of the twists and revelations.

Tudor is a very talented writer and there is absolutely no question that I will continue to read anything that she puts into the universe but sadly The Gathering wasn’t my fave.

Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph & Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Barbara Atkins is a detective from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department. She has been called out to Deadhart a small town in Alaska where a young man has been found in an old hunting cabin with his throat torn out. The residents of the town are quick to demand a cull of The Colony but Barbara refuses to authorise one until she is quite certain that the death really is Vampyr related or has it just been set up to look like that?

I must have missed the Vampyr bit when I read the blurb for this one & was expecting a straight 'whodunnit' . However I'm not adverse to the odd horror read & soon got into this one & was caught up with the characters & the setting of this book. I really enjoyed this one. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.