This was a new to me author and I went in not really knowing what to expect. I enjoyed the concept of the 3 seemingly separate storylines during a winter storm. The writing was very atmospheric and dark but the pacing was off and the plot/character development was minimal. Willing to try another from this author but not entirely sold on this particular book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Doubleday Canada) for providing a digital copy in return for an unbiased, honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I raced through this book - done in a day, ignored all life responsibilities just to keep reading. I absolutely loved the alternating chapters from Carter, Hannah, and Meg. I was constantly trying to piece together what was happening. As the book kept going things began to fall into place but man, was it a wild ride. I LOVED every minute of it. very locked-room-ish with a bus, and gondola, and resort.

Wow! This was a super intense and gripping read!

Following three different life or death storyline situations, The Drift by C.J. Tudor kept me wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen next. There were at least 3 times while reading that my jaw literally dropped in surprise at the events on the page.

Parallels could also be drawn to what we have been experiencing with COVID and the disease that was centered in this book - making it all the more captivating to read - could something like what happened in The Drift happen to us as well?

I also liked that it seemed as though an opening was left for another book in the ending...I guess we will see.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC for me to give an untimely review for this book.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada and C.J. Tudor for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

"The Drift" is a gripping and chilling novel that combines elements of a locked-room mystery, a dystopian thriller, and a nail-shredding horror story. With its intense plot and atmospheric setting, this book will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The story unfolds with three separate groups of individuals, each facing their own harrowing predicament. An overturned bus full of students, a stranded cable car with a dead passenger, and an isolated chalet filled with friends who soon become enemies. As a snowstorm rages outside, trapping them all, they must confront not only the threat of a killer within their midst but also the mystery of why no rescue is coming and what they are trying to escape from.

The author skillfully weaves together these interconnected storylines, creating a sense of claustrophobia and mounting tension. The locked-room mystery aspect adds an extra layer of intrigue, as readers are left guessing who among the trapped individuals could be the killer. The dystopian elements further heighten the suspense, as the characters grapple with the unknown forces that have led them to this dire situation.

The nail-shredding horror aspect of the novel adds a chilling and unsettling atmosphere. The presence of the Whistlers, a terrifying unknown entity, adds an additional layer of fear and uncertainty. As the characters struggle to survive both the external threats and the internal conflicts within their groups, readers will find themselves engrossed in the suspenseful and heart-pounding narrative.

One of the strengths of "The Drift" lies in its ability to keep readers guessing and questioning the motives and identities of the characters. The author expertly builds suspense and delivers shocking twists and revelations that will leave readers breathless.

In conclusion, the novel is a gripping and atmospheric that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, dystopia, and horror. With its intense plot, well-drawn characters, and relentless suspense, this book is a must-read for fans of thrilling and chilling storytelling. Prepare to be captivated and terrified as you navigate the treacherous landscape of this gripping tale of survival, betrayal, and the terrifying unknown.

Thoroughly enjoyable "field trip" for the reader but not so good for the students or driver! Not only do the survivors need to rescue themselves but need also to figure out how to survive in harsh conditions. The plot thickens as their rescuers may not be who they hoped...

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Well done CJ Tudor. That as a story that did not disappointed. The pace was right on point and the twists were stunning.

THE DRIFT is Post-Apocalyptic Thriller from the acclaimed author, C.J. Tudor. Having loved “THE CHALK MAN” the psychological suspense debut by author C.J. Tudor, a brilliant piece of fiction, I was anxious to start “The Drift”.

Her Novels Include:
The Chalk Man (2018)
The Hiding Place (2019)
aka The Taking of Annie Thorne
The Other People (2020)
The Burning Girls (2021)
The Drift (2023)
The Gathering (2024)

This is my review of The Drift.

The story centers around three main ordinary characters, who risk everything for a chance at redemption as each of them find themselves in a different catastrophic situation in the middle of a violent snowstorm. It becomes a matter of survival at the end of the world.

HANNAH a medical student from a secluded boarding school, survives a bus crash during a heavy snowstorm, trapping her inside with a handful of survivors, a brewing virus, and no way to call for help. Together they must work together if they want to make it out alive. or they'll be buried alive with the rest of the dead. Hannah’s bus was headed to The Retreat, when the bus careens off the road during a massive snowstorm.

MEG is a former ex-police officer who awakes to find herself on a stopped cable car halfway up a mountain far above a snowstorm surrounded by strangers in the same uniform as her, with no memory of how they got there with no recue in sight. They are heading to a mysterious place known to them only as "The Retreat," but when they discover a dead man among their ranks, Meg realizes that there is something more going on.

CARTER is an employee at The Retreat, at the top of the mountain, where the power keeps cutting off. Here they manufacture vaccines against a deadly virus. But then the power fails for good, and they are down to a bare number of staff and trying to figure things out.

All this is taking place during a viral outbreak.

The story alternates back and forth between the three characters as we learn about their secrets and the dangers they face.

This book is filled with action, and also shades of horror. While I’ve enjoyed other books by Tudor, this one just didn’t do it for me. I recommend it more for fans of horror.

My thanks to the author Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my digital copy.

CJ Tudor is beloved for her craft at weaving thrilling and horror ridden tales, often with a dash of gothic noir. Tudor is a go to author if you want to be both thrilled and chilled to the bone.

The premise centres around a virus ravaged world at the end of times where three main characters are each dealing with their own lived catastrophe. What's more there has been a horrific crash with few survivors - but only if they work together before being buried alive. This premise is intriguing and terrifying and definitely got the better or my anxiety. Perhaps this was just too soon for me after the pandemic. I am sure reading it in a brutal winter storm only amplified things for me!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a copy of the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book!! I couldn’t put it down.
I just loved all the characters. I highly recommend this book.

I need to escape the pandemic!

Whenever I see a thriller or mystery I am always ready to pick it up and "The Drift" was no exception, especially because the author is CJ Tudor. However, right off the bat I don't think I was in the right mind set to read this book and I will definitely have to pick it up again, and only because I am a big fan of the author.

So there are 3 storylines to follow, each with 3 different narrators and all of them are going through a pandemic.
The 3 narrators are Meg who is a former homicide cop, Hannah, a boarding school evacuee and Carter a researcher. All of them are going through their own current traumas and honestly it was a lot.

Definitely a book worth picking up at a later time.

Thank You to C.J. Tudor and Penguin Random House Canada, for the digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Oh my goodness!!! This book had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down I had to know what was going to happen.

I liked how dark, and unmotivating the book was. How horrible the whole world was, I was in a dark place so this book fit me well.

Those last 50 pages though, oh my how incredible. What a wild ride!!

SUSPENSEFUL & SCARY
The terror doesn't let up in these pages. There were twists I didn't see coming. Characters were well defined. The 3 plot lines were exhilarating and frightening, whilst remaining distinct. The setting was a monstrous entity of it's own and vividly depicted. I still feel cold.
Thank you for the ride!

"The Drift" was tension-filled and held my interest. In the end, I enjoyed finding out how the main characters were connected even if it took a little too long to get there.

Overall though, there's a big part of me that wishes I had never read this novel. The world the author depicts is beyond bleak, hopeless, and violent. Pretty early on, I came to expect that most of the characters would either deceive, kill, or die (or all three), and I could not connect with that.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three story lines that don't converge until the last 50 pages and when they do, a reader can't help but think 'wtf'?

It is supposedly a 'locked room' thriller so by its nature it should be filled with tension and atmosphere. Not this one! Boring, boring, boring. The three storylines are pretty much carbon copies of each other and you know they have to finally come together but it takes so long ... I mean, sooo looong to get to that point. In the meantime the stories themselves are about nothing, filled with undistinguishable characters that get killed off one by one but no one cares, non-events, and occasionally the author herself popping up showing her own 'philosophical head'.

The author did not think of leaving a trail of cookie crumbs nor any clues throughout to keep the reader invested and guessing. When the reveal finally happens within the last 15% there is a realization that the only reason this even is a reveal is because the author withheld major information till that point. WHAT A LOUSY WAY TO STRUCTURE A STORY!

I've read books that I did not enjoy but they were clearly written with commitment and love. This one feels like a collection of random junk that was just thrown into the same bag, shaken and the contents just spilled out without the author having any emotional attachment to any of it.

This book is a sad but accurate reflection of our current society when a pandemic was in full swing. People are , sadly, selfish and shortsighted, rather than being concerned for each other and the long-term good and survival. Three different stories are described and then intertwined to show how one scientist tried to learn from the disease but by experimenting on people. The desire to live and the resilience and resourcefulness of several individuals demonstrated how good wins over evil yet one more time. It is a sad and upsetting book, especially coming out in the aftermath of the COVID but it is well worth a close read. Well written.

I have to admit I went into this book so incredibly excited, CJ Tudor is one of my favourite authors. I wasn’t in the right mind frame though to read, I was busy with household things, only fitting a chapter in here and there and the days passed. So I put my foot down lol and dedicated a day to the book and finished it and I’m glad I did because it a really, really good book.

CJ Tudor has always been the no fail author, I love every book she’s written. She is a superstar in the thriller/suspense genre imo.

For The Drift there are 3 storylines, all different characters for each. Each storyline is narrated by a character –Meg, Hannah & Carter.

This is a pandemic novel, really three pandemic novels that come together brilliantly in the end. But you won’t see that ending coming, it’s damn impossible to figure out before hand.

Here’s the gist of the 3 storylines.

Hannah, a boarding school evacuee, who is on a bus with several other students when the bus goes off the road and crashes into a snowbank. About half on board are dead. Locked in the bus the remaining students have to find a way to survive in the desolate cold with barely any supplies.

Meg, a former homicide cop, is stranded with 5 other strangers dangling in a cable car that has come to a halt. Again it excruciatingly cold and those in the cable car all have secrets to hide.

Lastly theres Carter, he lives at The Retreat, a secluded research facility funded by a man named Professor Grant who is trying to find a cure for the deadly virus. The Retreat keeps losing power, supplies are dwindling and those living there are questioning one another, and life takes some bizarre turns as truths are revealed.

This is a really fast paced book and if you like the unexpected I highly recommend you add this one to your tbr.

When accidents seen to happen all too often, and the people left behind are wild with worry and horror, nasty things keep happening and no one is coming to the rescue!
It's the end of the world as they know it and only a few will survive. The world is a strange place with snow storms, wild weather, sickness that turns people into monsters and a trio of survivors in three separate incidents that must find a way out!

This book had me reeling with the mind set of those confined within their own "dramas of life and death". Who will ultimately survive or are they all doomed to die?

You will have to read this book to find out! It was a page turner for sure.

The Drift was terrifying and I loved it! It follows 3 paths, all scary situations, in a world hit by a plague that can't be controlled. A busload of students stuck in a snow drift. A group of strangers wake up in a cable car on it's way up a mountain. Workers are in a large resort, isolated and running out of time. This is an excellent dystopian thriller and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Net Gallet, Penguin Random House Canada, and Doubleday Canada for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I DNF this book. It wasn’t for me. I thought it would be more mystery/thriller and it ended up being too gorey and horror for my taste. I’m sure this would be an excellent fit for someone with a stronger stomach who loves pandemic books (not me, sorry).