Sincerest thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of “The Gathering” in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars rounded down for “The Gathering” by C.J. Tudor from me! I will admit, I requested this book because I love C.J. Tudor’s previous books and because I saw it listed as a horror novel. I didn’t know it would feature vampires, or vampyrs, as the book calls them. I was quite hesistant about this supernatural element at first. I tend to shy away from supernatural horror books. However, my worries were quickly assuaged as I got sucked into the conservative Alaskan town of Deadhart. Tudor’s writing is atmospheric, crisp, and meticulous. No wishy-washy ramblings, just pure spook. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this grisly small-town whodunnit thriller down.

My qualms with this book could be solved if it had leaned into litfic more than it did classic detective novel. But I think thriller readers, vampire fanatics, and everyone in between will love “The Gathering”. Definitely a recommend from me!

I've read at least one other book by this author so I know I enjoy their writing. This was totally different to what I had read before - yes, a detective lead whodunnit but with the added excitement of the colony of vampyrs that could be responsible made it a compelling read. Don't be put off thinking this is sci-fi and so perhaps not your thing - it's really not! The author handles the characters and cast wonderfully and you really get drawn in to the small town mentality and tension that exists between the humans and vampyrs as the out of town detective tries to unravel what has happened.

There are lots of plot / subplot points which are, for the most part, relevant and realistic. My one gripe is that it all gets quite neatly wrapped up in a short amount of pages, but leaving a few unanswered questions which finally get - conveniently - covered in the epilogue.

However, a great book overall - and I like the hint at the every end that there could be more to come!

I’d enjoyed two books written by this author (The Burning Girls and The Drift), both were mysteries that were somewhat different to those I normally read - but in a good way, they surprised me and challenged me. So when I started reading this one - without first reading the blurb, just relying on my previous experiences with this writer - I quickly realised that there was a fantasy element here. Now, this is something I try to avoid, it’s something that really switches me off. But I pressed on, for a while…

Set in a small town in Alaska, a detective arrives to investigate a murder. But the twist is that a colony of Vampyrs have recently descended on the community and housed themselves nearby, outside of the town. Twenty five years ago there had been a murder attributed to such a colony and the residents of the town had been uneasy about this new group’s arrival, to say the least. This death has all the hallmarks of the previous event. The town residents have already made up their minds and are hell bent ‘culling’ the Vampyr community. The visiting cop, though, isn’t so sure.

The characters introduced in the early part of the story are generally strong. I particularly liked the police officer sent to investigate the latest death, a Vampyr specialist - a doctor, in fact. Others, such as the police chief and ex-police chief are interesting too. But I just couldn’t get past the fact that the book was essentially about Vampyrs and their relationship with humans.

I feel like I’ve cheated the book somewhat as it’s not something I’d have picked up had I read the blurb. So I’m going to award it three stars, even though I usually award only one star for any book I fail to finish. The reason for this is simply that, based on the portion I read, I think for the right audience this story might work well. It’s just not for me.

I received a free copy from NetGalley to review, below is the blurb:

"A small Alaskan town.
A missing boy.
A brutal murder.
A detective brought in from out of state to assist the former sherrif who investigated a similar murder twenty-five years ago.
But are they hunting a twisted psychopath - or something even more terrifying?"

Whenever I see a book to review by this author I put in a request as I like everything that this author writes. I don't think I even read the blurb before I put in my request this time. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a vampire book. This is a difficult book to review, as it is one of my favourite authors but I also have a dislike of vampire books despite loving other books in the horror/supernatural genre. The good points of this book are that it is again a well written plot, with the usual twists and turns with characters who are likeable and believable. I did like the main characters Barbara and Tucker. The down side for me was that I struggled slightly to keep engaged in the story and at times got muddled on some of the other characters and their part in the story, and as I have said the vampire element for me is an instant turn off. Overall, it is worth a read, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's other books but I think this is purely because of my dislike of vampire stories.

"The Gathering" by CJ Tudor, is a vampire murder mystery set in a small Alaskan town blocked in by an ever-thickening snowfall.
What more could you ask for?
A teenage boy is found with his throat ripped out. To assist with the investigation and the one person trying to hold back a slaughter of the local vampire colony, Barbara Atkins from The Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department is sent to Deadhart to investigate.
Throughout the investigation, we learn more about the town's history and the secrets its inhabitants hold. Some secrets are told and some are only hinted at. If this were the first book of a sequence it would not surprise me. Hopefully this it is.
This is a sold thriller that slowly peels back layers to the interweaving history of the vampires and the town inhabitants. It is a book that will keep you guessing up until the end and is well recommended.

Wow what a corker! C.J Tudor never disappoints but The Gathering really pulls out all stops. A completely different stand alone novel based on a small town with a history with a particular colony of vampires. The colony were driven away after a boy was killed 25 years ago. The colony are back and another boy has been killed. The locals want a cull, but Detective Barbara Atkinson is called in to investigate as part of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Dept. The more Barbara discovers about this town and the locals, the more she is convinced the colony were not involved.
A completely compelling read and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved Barbara’s character and her steeliness against all those opposed to her work. The setting and townsfolk are really well described and the background into each character helps with the suspense and intrigue.
5 stars without hesitation.

The minute I heard the premise of this book I wanted to read it and I am so glad I did. C J Tudor is an extraordinary writer and this book simply lifts the standard even higher. I thought it was sensational.

The Gathering is a polar-based murder mystery surrounding vampyrs and a forensic vampyr anthropologist detective who is brought into a small town to solve a murder. The setting of this small Alaskan town was perfect, I enjoyed the descriptions of this setting and the people in the town as well. C.J Tudor created the perfect scene for this murder mystery to be solved.
The writing was great for a thriller style story, Well-paced throughout.
The development of characters throughout this story was good, there were a lot of characters to follow however which often made this difficult but not impossible to follow.
My only issue with this story was the lack of vampyrs, I was hoping for more vampyr action than what we got.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐂 𝐉 𝐓𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐫
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒 ⭐️

My second C J Tudor book, I enjoyed this even more than the Drift.

Vampires live among us but in colonies away from civilisation as best as they can, they are decreed a protected species.

This was a great murder suspense/mystery book that had me turning those pages.

Told in different POV, we follow Detective Barbara Atkins who is a Forensic Vampyr Anthropologist, she’s called to the village of Deadhart to investigate a murder, a teenager looks like he was killed by a vampyr but not all is as it seems.

There were definitely lots of red herrings and twists in this book which kept my interest. It gave off ‘Salem’s lot vibes.

I wanted more vampire action really and It’s probably one of the first vampire books I’ve read that isn’t that gory (don’t worry still bloody) but other than that I recommend especially if you like:
- small towns
- Isolated atmosphere
- Unreliable characters
- Murder mysteries.
- Police procedural

Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Random House.

Every now and again a book comes along that leaves you completely satisfied and bereft simultaneously when you finish it. The Gathering does just that.

I’ve been a fan of CJ Tudor since The Chalk Man. I saw a tweet with Stephen Kind recommending it and I haven’t look back since. Her ability to seemingly effortlessly convey everyday darkness in small towns (initially UK and now America) leaves me breathless.

I could not stop reading this book. I found myself picking it up at 3am to squeeze in a few more pages and subsequently have barely slept this week.

The story follows Barbara, an overweight, middle aged with whom I found it very easy to relate with her view of modern times and people’s binary thinking with what’s right and wrong, good and bad and who has the right to hunt whom.

“Oh, here we go” you may think, but here’s the twist. In the land of The Gathering Vampyrs are real and are part of every day life – but not harmoniously. Brittle and uneasy alliances are held, with the gun happy, the religiously entrenched and the bigoted wanting to cull the Vampyes that have existed before they were there and pushing for widesweeping and complete distruction of those they fear..

This is where Barbara comes in. A boy has been murdered in a small town and she has to work out if a rare cull can be sanctioned - but things are not simple.

Essentially a whodunnit, she gradually peels back the layers of the town’s history, the treachery and corruption amongst the humans, battling the strange reverend’s fire and brimstone calls for retribution – all whilst you feel the clock ticking, the pressure to cull increasing and a storm incoming that will cut the town off.

Characters are believable. Back stories are rich and trickle through at the right rate.

It’s a beaut of a book, and I left it’s bookscape feeling as if I had watched a 12 episodes series of True Detective with fangs. If it isn’t adapted for TV it will be a damn shame and I’ve got actors in mind for just about everyone that features in the book (but will keep them to myself).

Absolutely glorious and I seriously cannot recommend it enough. 10/10!

Bravo once again, CJ; and thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the absolute privilege of reading this instant modern classic.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor - Out in the UK 11 April

Deadhart, a small town in Alaska is scene to a brutal murder, similar to a grisly death 25 years before. Cue specialist in vampyr killings, Detective Barbara Atkins, brought in to help the local sherrif. But who, or what, are they hunting?

Dark secrets, superstitions, and a fantastic cast of untrustworthy characters keep you turning the pages as the snow closes in. This is a thriller and a horror set in freezing temperatures… a real chiller!

I really enjoy CJ Tudor's books - there are not many authors working today that can manage her clever blend of detective thriller with horror elements, so when I heard her latest was using vampires as the supernatural protagonist I grabbed it from Netgalley as quickly as I could.
Barbara Atkins is a doctor of vampyr anthropology and a homicide detective, who is flown up to a small alaskan town to assess a murder that appears to have been committed by a vampyr. The locals are hostile, seeing her as a sympathiser with the bloodsuckers in the nearby colony. The townspeople want the entire colony culled. Barbara just wants to find the individual responsible before the townsfolk take things into their own hands.
What follows is a tense, plot-twist-filled thriller that had me tear through this book in a couple of days. There are many skeletons hidden in many closets, and just as it seems that the detective is getting close to the truth, something is uncovered that turns it all on its head.
This is far and away my favourite novel by Tudor so far. It's like True Detective meets True Blood with some nods to 30 Days of Night. A lot of the most monstrous characters aren't the undead, but the townspeople who cling to their old prejudices and commit terrible atrocities in their name. And that is not to say that the vamps are your cuddly neutered twilight variety. Many of them are straight up vicious killers who would love nothing more than to find an excuse to wipe the town of humans off the map
This is out in April and is well worth preordering. Best book I've read so far this year.

Graeme Reynolds- Author of The High Moor Trilogy

The Gathering is really good. A murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Lots of clues but putting the pieces together proves almost impossible for Barbara Atkins, homocide detective and vampyre anthropologist, sent to Deadhart in Alaska to investigate the death of a teenage boy. Bodies pile up, secrets are revealed and some people are not who they seem to be. I kept thinking I'd figured it out but, nope, I was wrong every time! Fast paced and well written. A really good thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is set in a world where vampyrs are protected and permitted to live peacefully in their own colonies, as long as they leave humans alone and live on animal blood. One such colony exists near the small town of Deadhart in Alaska. Twenty five years ago a teenage boy was found dead with his throat torn out and vampyrs were hunted and killed. But then a year ago the vampyrs returned to resettle in a disused mining camp andnow another teenage boy has been found dead with his throat ripped out and the townsfolk are screaming for the police to allow a legal cull of the whole colony.

Detective Barbara Atkins from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department has been sent to Deadhart to collect evidence and determine if the boy was in fact killed by a vampyr. Chief Pete Nicholls is the only police officer in Deadhart and is convinced that the evidence clearly shows that the boy was attacked by a vampyr but Barbara is puzzled by some anomalies in what he shows her and needs to collect more convincing evidence before she will recommend a legal cull. The more she learns the more she wonders if the killer is not from the colony but in fact a monster living amongst the humans with their own reason for killing the boy. Needless to say this does not sit well with the townsfolk who are itching to grab their crossbows and UV guns and head off on a killing spree to hunt down the vampyrs.

This is very different from C.J Tudor’s previous horror infused thrillers and is also different than most vampire themed novels I’ve read in that there are no gory scenes of helpless victims being stalked being horrifically attacked by vampires. However, there is plenty of suspense and enough creepiness and horrific twists to keep the reader turning the pages. It’s a riveting read, well written and well paced with a range of complex and conflicted characters worthy of any remote small town, not only Atkins and Nicholls but also ex Chief Jenson Tucker, a shady doctor and a religious zealot. All in all it’s a terrific modern take on the vampire trope and best news yet – it looks there will be a sequel!

I’m struggling with my thoughts a bit with this book to be honest. On one hand I love this author and The drift by her was my second favourite book last year (out of 125 books read!) but in the other hand, this just felt like it lacked any originality. There were quite a few characters, most of which I didn’t like and the plotline was sadly quite basic. I do feel like it’s been left wide open for a second book but wish more has gone into this one!

Deadhart, Alaska. Barbara Atkins is an out of state detective from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department who is assisting a murder investigation. A teen has been brutally slayed; his throat slashed and body drained of blood in what appears to be a copycat killing from 25 years earlier. The townsfolk believe the local vampyr colony are responsible and want them destroyed in a mass cull. But Barbara isn't so sure. As tension mounts, a fierce storm threatens to cut the town off from outside help. Can Barbara solve the case or will she be too late?

C. J. Tudor is an incredibly talented writer whose stories are diverse and immersive. The Gathering was another excellent read. I thought the plot with humans and vampyrs co-existing in a melting pot of high tension and conflict was eerie and suspenseful. Vampyr leader Athelinda, centuries-old yet still a 9-year-old girl, was menacingly scary. The freezing, isolated town added hugely to the foreboding atmosphere and elevated my unease. It was another superb read from this gifted author. I'll be at the front of the queue for her next book and I can't wait!

I’ve loved all of CJ Tudors books so far and The Gathering was no exception! Tudor has created a completely believable world in which vampires and humans coexist..begrudgingly. I really liked the main character Barbara and hope there will be a sequel (especially as I was a little confused by the ending but that’s probably just me!). A creepy page turner with plenty of twists, don’t read before bed!

Thank you Netgalley, CJ Tudor and the publishers for this ARC.

Love this book. It is amazing. Highly recommended this. Characters are great. The plot twist was amazing. Loved it.

I knew I’d love this. I’ve been a huge fan of Tudor since I discovered The Chalk Man, and The Gathering is just as brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Couldn’t be more pleased.

Vampires are forever going to be exciting, and put them in the hands of Tudor, and make it doubly so.
I love the idea of them sort of living amongst us (but thankfully not sparkling), and a silent war of hate being waged between us.
Tudor always writes well, she hits the nail perfectly on the head with her creepy head of the collective, and her down to earth detective.
Plenty of twists along the way, that just made this a very solid read.
Possibly my best Tudor yet.