"The Gathering" by C. J. Tudor is a thrilling ride through the dark secrets of a small Alaska town. From the very start, I was hooked by the gripping storyline and atmospheric setting. As Detective Barbara Atkins delves into a gruesome murder case involving a mysterious Colony of vampyrs, the tension builds, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
The author’s writing is engrossing, and I found myself turning pages at lightning speed to uncover the truth behind the chilling crimes. While some scenes pushed the boundaries of believability, they only added to the allure of this captivating novel.
Overall, "The Gathering" is an engaging and suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of dark mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Very grateful to the publisher for this copy, opinions are my own.

When I saw that C.J. Tudor has a new book I immediately knew that I want to read it. If I knew it was about Vampires, I would have thought twice. I am not a fan of vampires. But I did not know that, so I got the book and of course I read it. What I got is a decent thriller with, well, vampires in it.



Detective Barbara Atkins is a Forensic Vampyr Anthropologist. She is called to a small town in rural Alaska where a murder happened and a young boy is missing. The town is near a Colony of vampyrs and of course everybody in the town is sure the vampyrs are the culprits. They want Barbara to call a cull so they can take matters into their own hands like they used to do the last time someone got killed. For them vampyrs are like animals. You should hunt and kill them. And maybe hang up some trophies above your mantlepiece.



Imaging a story about racism but with vampyrs as the victims. The author kept the balance between showing that vampyrs are outcasts and suffered abuse but they can be also dangerous of course. The story is well crafted but unfortunately not all characters are equally well developed. Barbara, the main character, is refreshingly different to other female MC. She is over fifty, overweight and average looking. Not that kind of twentysomething beautiful heroine we meet most of the time. But she is smart and witty and a good character to connect with. Towards the end I got a bit confused with all the names and had a hard time remember who was who. But the book held my interest. After I got over the fact that I had to read about vampires I enjoyed the story and even was impressed by the idea.

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this, it’s out 11 April!

With a murder in a remote town of Alaska, Barbara Atkins is brought in as a detective with a specific set of skills that might help catch the killer.

There’s flaws in the evidence, a storm approaching and dead bodies keep piling up. A colony of Vampires have returned to the town after years away and are being blamed by the community for the Murder. Tensions are rising, can Barbara solve the case?

Books with vampires in it are not normally my thing but I make exceptions for Tudor as she’s such an excellent writer. In this book she provides an atmospheric thriller indeed! Definite Stephen King vibes and a great story to keep you hooked!

Barbara Atkins is a detective with a specific area of expertise and after a murder in a remote town of Alaska, she is called in. The specific group she is interested in have been quiet for the past 25 years, but this murder opens up old wounds and threatens the implode this small town. With a storm closing in and more bodies showing up, Will she solve it in time and get out herself?

This was an atmospheric read that really got you stuck into the small town dynamics of Deadheart and showed a brilliant cast of characters on all sides.

Detective Barbara Atkins is summoned to Deadhart, Alaska, when the body of a teenage boy is found with his throat ripped out. The case is eerily reminiscent of another murder twenty-five years ago and local residents believe they know who is responsible: a member of the nearby vampyr colony who have recently returned to the area after the previous murder. Barbara soon realises that there are flaws in the evidence and wonders if the colony is, in fact, responsible or whether there is another killer lurking in Deadhart.

While books about vampires are not my novels of choice, I have loved all of C J Tudor’s previous books so decided to give it a go – I was not disappointed! I found that this was not just a typical vampire novel but more a tale of the prejudice exuded by a small town, in this case, Deadhart in Alaska. This is very much a town where everyone knows everyone else and outsiders are not welcomed, whether they be from the colony or an out-of-town detective.

After the murder, I could fully understand why the residents of Deadhart were keen to cull the colony but I was not expecting to feel so much sympathy for the vampires. By explaining the backstory of one of the key characters, C J Tudor managed to elicit compassion towards an otherwise terrifying vampire – something I was not expecting to feel. She has also successfully managed to show how, blood drinking aside, the lives of those in the colony and the townsfolk of Deadhart are not that different.

Although there is the vampire element, there is also a great whodunnit as the detective tries to find out exactly what happened to the murdered boy. The investigation builds slowly until we reach a satisfying and shocking conclusion.

C J Tudor has done it again – another captivating read!

Wonderfully descriptive and tense tale. Adored the interwoven "alternate history". Highly recommend for fans of gentle horror, thriller or police procedural books. Would love to see a follow up!

As someone who loved Anne Rice back in the day, The Gathering by C.J. Tudor, with its horror theme of vampyrs not being myths but part of society, was right up my street. So yes, fully immerse yourself in the world of The Gathering and get ready for a cracking small-town murder mystery. With added vampyrs.

Meet Detective Barbara Atkins from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department. (Side note: there just aren’t enough characters called Barbara, such a great name.) She is sent on a case to Deadhart, Alaska, where a boy has been murdered and a vampyr seems like the most likely suspect.

A colony of vampyrs returned just over a year ago to live in the forests on the outskirts of Deadhart and the town has been uneasy ever since. There has been a truce in place since 1983, Vampyrs don’t kill humans for blood, but 25-years ago a boy was killed by a vampyr and now it seems it’s happening again…

If Barbara deems the murder was at the hands of a vampyr, she has legal authority to destroy the colony. Obviously the vampyrs will do everything to ensure that doesn’t happen. So who is the real murderer? Vampyr or not? That’s what Barbara must discover.

There is a fantastic cast of characters in The Gathering. All written in such a way that you’re not sure any of them is telling the full truth at any time. This layers up the intrigue so well and gives Barbara a lot of twists and turns to deal with.

From Colleen Grey, the unlikely pastor to Jensen Tucker, the reclusive ex-sheriff who was around for the killings 25-years ago to Athelinda – child vampyr and leader of the colony – who is hundreds of years old and might just hold the key to what’s really been going on, the cast list is varied and wholly exciting.

I thought The Gathering was a fantastic horror story with a great murder-mystery at its heart. It’s been ages since I’ve read in this genre and I love C.J. Tudor’s easy writing style, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Even better, the ending lines up a sequel for Detective Barbara Atkins, so very much looking forward to reading that.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

A small Alaskan town.
A missing boy.
A brutal murder.
A detective brought in from out of state to assist the former sheriff, who investigated a similar murder twenty-five years ago
and a snow storm

whats not to love about this book already.....

its the added bonus of vampyres... they are back after 25 years of wandering they are back in the mountains where they hope to rebuild their lives and settle... but the towns people are nervous and some dont want them back at all.... so when the first murder is thought to be by the vampyres it needs to be investigated, before a cull is called on the vampyre group

added pressure to the detective who feels the towns hostilities towards her and the vampyre group

man oh man this is the stuff of nightmares but what a read....i loved every minute of this book and the surprises never stopped coming

cant wait for the next book from this awesome author

Apologies I haven’t got around to reading this book yet unfortunately life has got in the way. I’m hoping to get to it soon and will leave me review on all relevant book sites.

This is a great crime thriller.
Detective Barbara Atkins is asked to investigate a murder in a remote town as it looks like a vampyr killing, which is her specialty.
On further investigation there’s more to the murder than meets the eye and Barbara has to dig deeper into the history of the town and those that have lived there for many years.
A colony of vampyrs have returned and the locals are blaming them for the murder but Barbara is not so sure.
There’s lots of layers to this story and a few surprises in store.
This is a great crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Gathering was a captive paranormal murder mystery and take place at small city at Alaska. The tight deadline cases almost gave me claustrophobia (in the good way) and nonstop tense until the end. This is my second read from author and I enjoyed this book more than The Chalk Man.

Deadhart, Alaska is an isolated pioneer town with extreme climate, limited facilities, tight community. This place also a alternative version of Alaska we knew, because at this world human expecially at rural area must share life with Vampyres. The Vampyr Colony was poses as minority race, always being hunt and live with animal blood. Government keep both races relationship with special laws and officials. Our MC, Detective Barbara Atkins from The Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Departement is interesting character. She is a detective and a specialist in vampyr killing.

Murder investigation at this place isnt the most easy job. And I enjoyed the investigation plot a and process to find the culprits also penetrated to deeper conflicts between two races since begining. The writing is smooth and the pace perfect to adjust the tension. I never love a multipov stories more than this book. Each voices are alluring, trap me into their stories. It is make me chills, intrigued, heartbroken and wish for continuing each individuals. I am glad choose this story and enjoying each minutes my reading time. I would love recommending this to my fellow PNR reader who love good fushion blends at their story.

4.5

Thank you Netgalley and Michael Joseph Publishing from Pinguin Random House for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 11 April 2024

I really enjoyed this book even though horror is not really a genre I normally read. The setting , a small town in Alaska really creates a great atmosphere, it’s remote , the weather is awful and there is a colony of vampires living nearby. Barbara , who is a great character is brought in to help the sheriff investigate a series of killings . The town think it is the vampires and want a cull but Barbara isn’t so sure. What follows is a series of events and we delve into the towns history . Nothing is what it seems and Barbara is determined to solve the case. There’s danger round every corner made worse by the the suffocating weather. There is a great cast of characters in this book . I thought it was exciting and fast paced and I really hope Barbara re appears again in future books.

Wasn’t sure how I felt about the book when I read it contained vampires, but at heart it’s a brilliant murder mystery. Fabulous setting and enthralling characters, I hope there are more books about Barbara on the horizon. I was suitably surprised when it was revealed who the child captive was. I was totally hooked on this from start to finish. A total five star read.

If you’re after a murder mystery with vampires thrown in, then this joins for you. I’ve always enjoyed this authors books and this was no exception. It’s a fast past and will have you hooked from the start as it reaches its dramatic conclusion. Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House and the author for the chance to review.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

"The Gathering" by C.J. Tudor is a remarkable novel that follows Barbara, a vampire anthropologist, who is tasked to investigate the death of a teenager in a small Alaskan town. The townspeople believe that the vampires that once lived there are back and responsible for the death. As Barbara begins her investigation, she uncovers a web of dark secrets and must find out the truth.

This book is a masterpiece, with its well-written and well-paced plot, full of twists that keep you guessing until the end. The eerie and creepy atmosphere, along with the vivid descriptions of the setting, make it easy to visualise the unfolding scenes. The unique and well-executed vampire topic adds a whole new level of intrigue to the story.

The plot unfolds through multiple points of view, with Barbara's being the primary one. The different perspectives work together seamlessly, providing insight into the town's history and the vampires, as well as revealing the current situation.

The characters are well-crafted, with Barbara being my favourite. She is an intelligent, open-minded, and slightly unhealthy woman in her early fifties. Her character is realistic and relatable, making it easy to connect with her.

Although I expected more blood and gore in the story, it doesn't take away from the fact that this is an excellent book.

I have read all of C.J. Tudor's previous works, and this is another winner! If you enjoy murder mysteries and vampires, "The Gathering" is a must-read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph, the publisher, for providing me with a digital review copy (eARC). These are my honest and unbiased thoughts, which I am sharing voluntarily.

I'm not usually a fan of novels about vampires, but this is a 'vampyr' story with a difference. It is a fascinating whodunit that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout as Barbara, the detective brought in to solve the case, is presented with challenges from the local community who are clear on what action they think should be taken and her boss who wants a quick resolution.

https://lynns-books.com/2024/04/04/the-gathering-by-cj-tudor/
4.5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Murder Mystery, Prejudice and Vampyrs

My first thoughts upon finishing The Gathering – I hope there is more yet to come from this world and these characters. What an unusual combination of murder mystery and vampyrs (I’m not spelling it wrong, that’s how it’s spelt in this story). This is no typical immortals story. The setting is dour, there is no glamour here or false romanticism and the vampyrs, well, they’re not movie versions. They are strong and fast, they live longer, although not forever as we witness in this story, they can recover from injuries that a human would not walk away from, they are. naturally, predators, but they’re also survivors and over the years have had to change in order to survive. There are more humans than vampyrs, and they are well armed.

Deadhart, Alaska. 873. Living.

Deadhart is a small Alaskan town. It’s a town of extremes. Cold weather, short days, few prospects and a back history of harsh brutality. This is a former mining town, no stranger to vampyrs, the occupants have had run ins before and have dealt with ‘matters’ themselves. However, in this more enlightened age, vampyrs being almost extinct, they are now protected and so we have a ‘colony’ of vampyrs living cheek by jowl with Deadhart. The situation is one of tension to say the least and so when a local teenager is murdered, and the signs clearly point to a vampyr attack, the gloves are off, the residents demand a culling and a special detective, Barbara Atkins, of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, is sent to investigate. Barbara is no pushover, she’s not going to simply rubber stamp the culling of an entire colony to satisfy some of the town’s more enthusiastic haters. She’s a determined woman and she’s going to investigate this killing thoroughly.

So, what did I love about this book.

Well, firstly, this isn’t a traditional vampyr story at all. The vampyrs here are more an analogy of minority groups and the abuse and prejudice they suffer. There’s a good degree of small mindedness and unwillingness to change. Something bad happens in Deadhart and the first reaction is to break out the torches and pitchforks and, well, questions can be asked later. There is plenty of bad blood between the town’s occupants and the vampyrs, they have a long history, that has not been forgotten, and to be honest, this is mostly one-sided, the town people hunting, killing and tormenting the vampyrs whenever they see fit.

As you may imagine, Barbara isn’t exactly welcomed with open arms and her work is not made easy by some but she is determined to uncover the truth. Barbara is a fantastic character. I really liked her. Her own story slowly unfolds and gives you a welcome insight about why she is so relentless in pursuit of the truth. She is eventually joined by a retired, former sheriff known as Tucker, who reluctantly returns to the role. They make a great team in more ways than one.

Tudor has totally nailed the small town feel of fear, prejudice, ignorance and tension. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife and you’re reading with this ever increasing fear that you know what is going to hit the fan and it’s going to be nasty.

I really liked the mystery aspects to the story. Barbara is a great investigator and her and Tucker make a good team, bouncing ideas off each other. His own story and knowledge of Deadhart are invaluable and Barbara is both clever and trustful of her own natural instincts. She immediately feels like something is ‘off’ about this killing and starts to dig deeper, eventually uncovering not only a horrific black market in vampyr artefacts, a brutal history concerning an establishment known as the ‘bone house’ but also a potential serial killer. There is some dark material here for sure but at the same time there’s almost a toned down delivery of the story that prevents it from becoming too bloody or unpalatable Like I said, this isn’t your typical vampyr story and the murder investigation is the main focus.

In conclusion, well this is another fantasy murder mystery that I couldn’t get enough of. I was glued to the page and gobbled this up in literally two sittings, staying up well into the night to read ‘just one more chapter’.

A really good start to what I hope will become something more. Fingers crossed that Barbara will grace the pages of another story where her investigative skills are put to good use.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Vampire books aren't really my thing and if I had read the blurb for this one I wouldn't have read it but as it's a C.J Tudor book it's an automatic read and I'm glad I read it as it was really good I liked all the dark secrets that unfolded throughout the book and I may just look out for some more vampire books

Unfortunately not for me. Vampire books are just not my cup of tea and I learned that through Stephen King's Salem's Lot and Needful Things. I love C.J. Tudor's books and would most definitely request/review her books without hesitation but this one was not my cup of tea I'm sad to say, purely because of the subject matter.

I am not a fan of vampire books. But I am a big fan of CJ Tudor books... Dilemma...? No, a no brainer. If anyone can get me to read a vampire book willingly, CJ Tudor can... and I did... AND I blooming well loved it... TBH it's not just a vampire book. It's so much more than that. But, my point is, even if you don't do vampire books, you might want to do this one...
So... We begin in Deadhart, Alaska. A small town. And a boy is found with his throat cut out in a scene reminiscent of something that happened way back when. The last time it happened, after some shenanigans, the Colony, a community of vampyrs moved away. This fresh killing has occurred not long after their return. Coincidence... or otherwise...?
Enter Det Barbara Atkins to investigate. She is a vampyr specialist and has been called in to determine what exactly happened and whether that is enough to call a cull on the Colony. She is under pressure by many of the town's inhabitants but is determined to do her job without cutting any corners. Pressure or no pressure. Circumstances determine that she pairs up with the former sheriff, Jenson Tucker, who investigated the original incident of 25 years ago. But as the two of them start investigating, they throw up more questions than answers as they uncover deep dark secrets...
I loved this book. It was all things creepy and wonderful and not at all what I was expecting from, and yes I'll say it again, the last time, a vampire book! It is so much more than that. It actually also highlights persecution and ostracism just cos of who you are - typical racist attitudes, directed towards the vampyrs. It also - and there are those who will hate this - re-writes the rule books about vampires. Me, I love all that maverick stuff!
And then when you also throw in am overzealous Reverend - all good books should have one of these - and you have got yourself a doozy of a cracking read. And it was, and I loved it.
Pacing is perfect and matches the narrative throughout. Twists and turns guide the reader through a multifaceted storyline which ebbed and flowed as it culminated in a rather shocking, but wholly satisfying ending. It is also a bit brutal and not for the faint hearted as the author pulls no punches.
All in all, another winner from a now well established and respected author, with a rather impressive back catalogue, Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.