At its cold, dark heart, this is a police procedural. A fifteen-year-old boy has been murdered and an out-of-town detective, Barbara Atkins, has been brought in to investigate the case. But the difference is the murder has all the hallmarks of a vampire attack.
In this alternative world, skilfully built by C.J. Tudor, vampires are a protected species forced to live in remote compounds known as colonies. Contrary to popular folklore, these vampires don’t need to feed on humans and live instead on animal blood. Because their physiology is such that they age very slowly, the author cleverly lays out parts of the puzzle going back decades, centuries in fact.
Many of the townsfolk have a long-standing resentment towards the colony and hark back to the days when they and their ancestors were free to hunt and kill vampires. They see the boy’s murder as an excuse to cull the entire colony, whereas Detective Atkins and her reluctant but memorable sidekick Tucker, only want to bring the individual killer to justice.
The story takes place in a small Alaskan town, cut off by the weather and inhabited by characters perfect for a horror novel: striking-looking vampires, lawless reactionaries, disaffected teens, religious maniacs and opportunist criminals. Somehow, amidst the smoke, mirrors, suspense and folklore, I spotted one source of the evil very early on and my suspicions proved right. (Chance of a sequel, perhaps?)
It felt like a long book – longer than the books I usually read – but the tension crackled through every page and kept my interest. The author doesn’t shy away from describing guts and gore, but the horror is controlled and never overdone – although I think I’d struggle not to look away if I saw it in all its gory detail on Paramount +, which is, I’m sure, where this novel will be heading very soon.
The Burning Girls was my favourite read of 2021, but The Gathering is even better. It's C.J. Tudor's best book so far.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

I was drawn in quickly and not spat out until the last page. Absolutely amazing! No one writes like C J Tudor.

Rating: 3.3/5

I am a huge admirer of C.J. Tudor. I loved her debut novel, "The Chalk Man", in 2018 and I have read everything she has had published since then. Comparisons have understandably been drawn between her work and that of Stephen King, who is clearly a significant influence on her writing. In C.J. Tudor's first few novels there were always hints of the supernatural about them. That was less evident in her book immediately prior to this one, "The Drift", which was not only more filmic that her previous output, but was also far more of an out and out mystery thriller. With her latest offering, "The Gathering", the author has once again rung the changes. She has chosen to set the story in the United States (in Alaska) and with the plot revolving around the theme of vampires, this steps more clearly into the horror genre than her previous publications have.

When a small boy is murdered in an Alaskan town, the inhabitants immediately suspect that someone from the nearby vampyr colony is to blame. They want revenge - but more than that ... they want a cull! However, before any lawful cull can be sanctioned, the murder needs to be investigated, so Barbara Atkins is tasked with the job. This is, after all, her area of specialism, because Barbara is not only a homicide detective, but she is also a Doctor of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology. As tensions mount in both the human and vampyr communities, can Barbara keep the peace and get to the bottom of the mystery?

In spite of the inclusion of the vampyr theme, the structure underpinning this novel is essentially that of a police procedural. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch for this story to be reimagined with the vampyr colony being replaced by A.N. Other minority ethnic group, whose heritage and customs do not always sit well with a larger neighbouring community. I frequently found myself wondering whether C.J. Tudor was drawing on the treatment of the indigenous American Indians by the white settlers as her inspiration for the conflict in this story. There is certainly a prevailing sub-theme of prejudice and intolerance that runs throughout the narrative: societal attitudes towards ethnic minorities, interracial relationships and same-sex relationships are all highlighted and questioned at various junctures.

C.J. Tudor is a talented writer and once again succeeds in creating an engaging narrative. I am not really in a position to comment on how effectively she manages to capture and depict the U.S. setting and protagonists. To my British eye it seemed convincing enough, but American readers may feel otherwise. The mystery element is pretty well portrayed and the vampyr angle offers something a little different. There are also some well-handled plot twists along the way. That said, although I enjoyed the reading experience, this is not my favourite example of C.J. Tudor's work. In spite of the fact that it is capably executed and with some original ideas, it is still fundamentally a murder mystery of the police procedural genre and it didn't resonate with me and draw me in as much as her other novels have. Nonetheless, I will still be at the front of the queue for her next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I love C.J. Tudor's book so I was excited to read this and it did not disappoint. Full of tense moments that kept me hooked.

Wow! She’s done it again. This is a unique page turner of a thriller and I was gripped throughout. As always with this excellent author, I find myself torn between wanting to devour in one sitting and making the book last as long as possible. This one I couldn’t stop reading.

The premise is that a detective who is investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caught up in age old secrets and superstitions. It’s got murder, mystery suspicions and vampires and it deals with age old prejudices, secrets and fear and it’s so well written.

The setting is perfectly drawn and I felt the chill of this Alaskan village as I read this fantastic murder mystery. It’s a cracking tale and I loved it.

Congratulations to the author on another riveting read and many thanks to NetGalley & Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

Amazing! I went to it ie with high hopes having been a fan of the author but even then, I was blwm away by this. Its eerie and creepy and doesn't feel like fantasy or fiction. It's beautifully brought to life in the most haunting way and the settling just adds to the sense of isolation and desolation. It is quite dark in parts but doesn't feel like unnecessary things thrown in for shock factor and fits in well. The characters are well written and brought to life and I just loved every second

I do love Tudor's books and what an incredible, gripping read 'The Gathering' was. I would describe this as a paranormal thriller, set in a small town in Alaska that is home to a vampyre colony. When a teenager is found dead it rings true of a killing from 25 years ago. Will the truth finally out this time?
I can honestly say Tudor had me hooked on this from the beginning. I was instantly drawn into the story and wanted to know more about what would happen in the present, what happened in the past and how it is all connected. There are some very dark scenes in this but it is absolutely necessary for the plot. The Alaskan setting only added to the atmosphere, with the sense of isolation coming across very strong.
Tudor's characters are fantastic too, I enjoyed getting to know all of them and their individual stories. They all came across as realistic and all had an important role to play in the plot.
I already know 'The Gathering' is going to be one of my favourite reads of 2024. This is an electrifying, terrifying thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy.

This is what C J Tudor does best - a haunting mystery. I was sucked into the eerie vampyr element of the story as it felt like it could be real. It kept me guessing to the end, and that ending makes me wish there will be another!?
Definitely one of her best!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I always enjoy a C.J. Tudor book but I have to say The Gathering is definitely my favourite book of hers so far. The story was so creatively written and detailed that I found myself totally immersed in it. I felt that the story was fresh and exciting with a really good main character. The interesting backstory for Barbara added a real depth and insight into her character. This book is full of twists and turns and I flew through it, unable to put it down. Highly recommended, 5 stars.

Another excellent addition to an already impressive back catalogue. C J Tudor cements her position as one of the best writers out there with her novel about about a secluded town which suspects a colony of vampires, living on the outskirts of town, to be responsible for the death of a young boy. The residents of town want payback and it’s up to an outsider to solve the case, before it’s too late.

In Deadhart, Alaska the tension between the colony and the town could be cut with a knife. When a teenage boy is killed, echoing a murder 25 years ago, the town calls for a cull.

Sent to investigate, Barbara Decker finds the case is more complex than it first appears, as is what happened 25 years ago. Meanwhile, a child is secretly kept in captivity.

Can Barbara solve the mystery before the town or the colony take matters into their own hands?

A fantastic novel – a really clever pageturner. I really hope there’s a sequel! Better than Stephen King.

Although I’ve only rated this book 3 stars, I really liked it and it’s definitely on the higher side of 3 stars. C. J. Tudor’s books have always been hit or miss for me, but I’ve really liked the most recent two! I think the thing that disappointed me about this one was the ending - it felt very rushed and anti-climatic. The whole storyline was quite slow, so I feel like the ending could have been a bit more dramatic and not as fast. I liked the characters but I didn’t love them. I really liked the twists, and I definitely didn’t predict what was going to happen! I would recommend this one, and I’m looking forward to reading more from C. J. Tudor in the future!

CJ Tudor has a very distinct style of writing genuinely creepy stories so I happily grabbed this title when I saw it. I was a little disappointed when I looked a bit closer and realised the story had a vampire element - I am very much not interested in stories that centre around vampires, zombies, etc - but thought I'd give it a go as I've really enjoyed her previous titles. And I'm very glad I did!

Barbara Atkins has been sent to a remote town in Alaska as part of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department - a teenager has been murdered in the town, his throat ripped out, and the locals assume the attack has come from a colony of vampires who live nearby. It will be Atkins' job to see if this is true, if there is a danger posed to the townspeople and whether a cull of the colony should be sanctioned. What follows is a series of twists and turns as the truth of the murder comes out, along with a complicated history of the townspeople and their relationship with the vampires.

The atmosphere in this book is fantastic - the town is isolated, cut off by snow, and everyone seems to have a secret or act suspiciously. The vampires are treated as a minority group, forced to live on what is basically a reservation, banned from taking part in normal life, treated with suspicion and hatred but there is the complication that many of them are actually dangerous, their own loathing for the townspeople and their past behaviour making them want to launch the feared attack. Their leader, a 400 year old trapped in a child's body, is a very threatening presence but as her past unravels, we can see why the distrust and loathing has formed. It's not simplistically good vs. bad and I liked that. Barbara Atkins herself is a great character, middle aged and overweight with a history relating to vampires of her own, but she is strong and clever and very believable.

A story that could have been over the top actually underplays the vampire element to some extent - they are part of this world, and the way it is written makes absolute logical sense for how the relationship between vampires and non vampires has developed. There is tension, some gore and violence and horrible details, but everything makes sense. Reference is made to colonies in other areas such as New Orleans and Texas so hopefully Barbara will be called to problems in these areas in the future! 4.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in return for an honest review. I will publish this review on Goodreads now and on outlet sites on publication day.

#TheGathering #NetGalley

Another triumph by an author who crosses genres.

"The Gathering" opens with detective Barbara Atkins making her way to a remote town in Alaska, to use her specialist skills to investigate a murder. We soon learn she is a "fang doc" - a member of the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department, for this is a world where not only do vampires exist in the open, they are managed in a way Native Americans were, in colonies. The murder victim has had their throat ripped out in what appears to be a vampire attack and it's Barbara's job to determine if this is the case, while fighting the town's prejudiced views on vampires.

The reader is quickly drawn into a taught story of murder, history, and small-town politics, as well as a twenty year old mystery which could be linked to the present day. It's awash with gorgeous characters including a world-weary Sheriff, a blousy lady Mayor, a dark and mysterious Minister of religion, and a mysterious and reclusive ex-Sheriff. Barbara herself, is a middle-aged, overweight outsider who struggles with her past, and as the mystery unfolds, with her own experiences of vampires. Each character is a delight to observe, as their motives surface, and they take sides in the town's need for justice.

I've been a fan of the author since her first book, "The Chalk Man", but say what you will about CJ Tudor, she doesn't like to repeat herself. Her books to date have crossed several genres, and each is a classic tale of horror, fear and mystery. "The Gathering" is yet another triumph, whichever section of the bookshops it ends up on.

Coming out when it does, this book will inevitably be compared to the latest series of True Detective, and the film "30 Days of Night", but actually it only shares a few common elements. The story is alive with original characters, ideas and commentary on how society treats indigenous peoples. You might view vampires differently by the time you get to the terrific climax.

Heartily recommended for fans of the author, and gothic horror stories.

A police procedural set in the depths of Alaskan winter. The only difference is that this is a world where Vampyres live. There are laws and humans and vampyres may not kill each other. We all know rules get broken constantly.
Thank you C J Tudor and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

4.5* rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House for a digital review copy of "The Gathering" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

The Gathering is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it didn't disappoint. A murder mystery with a horror twist, this is what CJ Tudor does best!

We're introduced to Deadhart in this book, a rural Alaskan town with many many secrets and its very own Vampire Colony. Yes, in this society the Vampyr is real and has established colonies dotted around the US. With a colony comes suspicions, mistrust and hate and discrimination.

This is not fantasy horror, there's no sparkling or other silliness, vampires are part of society, they're a fact and they're convenient scapegoats for everything that may go wrong. Especially in Deadhart where the community are desperate for an authorised cull following the death of a teenage boy which raises tensions and memories of a similar incident 25 years before.

Our lead investigator, Barbara Atkins is brought in as an outsider and a specialist from the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department aka the Fang Doc. She is hoping to seek out the truth, wherever that may lead to ensure that whatever actions are taken are done lawfully and without risk of coming back to literally bite her or the community in the future.

The story twists and turns with secrets revealed and several characters adding to the death count. We have a number of standout supporting cast including Tucker, the disgraced ex-Deputy, Rita the town mayor and the local preacher, Colleen. The action builds rapidly and the book generally whips by as Barbara has to move quickly, in a heated and hostile environment to solve the case before the town takes actions into its own hands and before the storm completely isolates them all.

There's not as much horror as I was hoping for initially but I liked the balance that was reached, and despite the vampire presence this is classic murder mystery thriller overall that is well paced, well plotted and leaves us with a very hopeful sequel to come in the future.

The Gathering is available from April 11th 2024

I don’t usually choose fantasy fiction or vampire stories but I’ve enjoyed previous books by CJ Tudor. To be fair, without the author credit, I would probably have ignored this title. Which would have been a pity because there’s real grit to the take.

It’s basically a police procedural murder mystery set in a small remote town. The key difference here is that vampires or Vampyr are an accepted and despised part of the community. That was a bit of a quantum leap for me, but somehow it works and the writing is so good that I actually bought in to the concept. Their presence was not one which created unadulterated horror and mayhem, but it added to the mystery and oppressive sense of menace that pervades throughout the story.

Tudor has a gift for tension building from forces unknown and that underpins much of this story. The characters are varied and exceptional. Oddball and ordinary and the murder mystery is as good as any. It’s a multilayered plot, well constructed to keep the reader guessing and twists along the way. Don’t turn the lights out! I really enjoyed this.

A murder, an isolated community, a vampire community and lots off hidden secrets. Plenty of twists good murder/mystery. Won't appeal to everyone due to the vampire element but I enjoyed it.

Loved this. Really interesting premise, and a very interesting tale of discrimination and hatred, and VAMPIRES

I read the brief synopsis of this novel but didn't realise there was a strong vampire element to it. It's an interesting detective thriller with lots of menace and atmosphere. However, I am not a person who would normally bother reading anything to do with 'creatures of the night' however good their music was! This novel gave a new twist to the genre so it held a degree of interest but I will score this as a reader sceptical to the whole vampire thing.