Had I read the blurb for this book before picking it up, I likely would have passed—it’s not that I dislike vampires, but they aren’t usually my thing. However, this isn’t really a story about vampires at all. Instead, it serves as a powerful commentary on hatred, racism, and the fear of difference. The book explores a political divide between those who want vampires eradicated and those who believe in protecting marginalized groups—making it a far deeper and more thought-provoking read than I initially expected.

Barbara is the primary narrator, but the story also shifts to the perspectives of Tucker, the former sheriff; Beau, a vengeful human; and a mysterious girl in captivity. Barbara, in particular, stands out as a refreshing protagonist—she’s intelligent, open-minded, and compelling, but unlike many heroines, she’s not conventionally beautiful or thin. In fact, she’s overweight and out of shape, which makes her a unique and relatable lead.

The story itself was gripping, though there were moments where the Britishisms in the dialogue from American characters pulled me out of the narrative. Some of the characters also felt a little underdeveloped, but these are minor flaws in an otherwise riveting plot. The tone is dark, with the plot veering into some unsettling territory, but fortunately, the book avoids excessive gore in its portrayal of the human-vampire conflict.

In the end, the chilling, wintry setting only intensifies the suspense, and amidst the twists, betrayals, and layers of deceit, the story builds to an unexpected, but satisfying, resolution. Despite a few minor distractions, this was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

So, here’s the thing—I’ve got this fear of missing out, or maybe it’s more like this nagging feeling that I’m missing something. You know, when everyone’s raving about an author, and you’re just sitting there like, Am I the problem?! This particular author and I? We don’t vibe. Her writing, her stories—off-putting. But then I keep seeing these glowing reviews, people absolutely gushing about her books, and I’m like, Okay, what am I not getting here?

So, because I can’t resist the FOMO, I decided to give this one a shot. And, well... nope. It confirmed what I already knew. This author is just not for me. Guess I can finally stop trying and accept it’s not a match made in book heaven.

This thriller had me guessing right until the very end. I loved the Alaska setting and the supernatural elements. I recommend this book

4.0 Stars<br><br /><i> Prepare to be transported to the chilling setting of Deadhart, Alaska, where small-town life collides with the secrets of a vampyr colony returning after a twenty-five-year absence in C.J. Tudor's gripping novel, "The Gathering." Join Detective Barbara Atkins as she assists the town's Sheriff, Pete Nicholls, in a thrilling investigation into the brutal murder of Marcus, a 15-year-old teenage boy; navigating the complex dynamics of the small town of Deadheart, their fear and suspicion are palpable and running at an all-time high. Is this murder connected to the original murder that happened all those years ago? Tudor masterfully weaves an atmospheric narrative that will keep you on edge and guessing, blending mystery with supernatural elements, horror and suspense. Atkins emerges as a captivating protagonist, balancing intelligence with humour and empathy. The town's inhabitants' diverse perspectives and personalities add intrigue and depth to the story. Many are hiding secrets they don't want to be revealed and will go to great lengths to bury them. While the mystery unfolds with tantalizing surprises, some may crave a deeper delve into the darkness.

Nevertheless, "The writing is clever, sharp, and descriptive, and the characters are well-developed, intriguing, and driven. The plot unfolds quickly into a taut, suspenseful, action-packed narrative full of twists and turns, betrayal, deception, violence, and supernatural elements. The writing is clever, sharp, and descriptive, and the characters are well-developed, intelligent, and driven. The plot unfolds quickly into a taut, suspenseful, action-packed narrative full of twists and turns, betrayal, deception, violence, and supernatural elements. It's a dark, riveting thrill ride with just the right surprises to keep you thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Lorelei King's narration brings the characters to life. You've got to experience this book and won't be disappointed! It is an engaging read that leaves a lasting sense of unease, perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers. To fully immerse yourself in this gripping tale, I highly recommend pairing your copy with the audio version narrated by the fantastic Lorelei King, who expertly brings the characters to life.<i><br><br /><b>I want to thank Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of The Gathering by C.J. Tudor in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Now available and released on April 9, 2024<b>

WOW! Hands down a 5 star read. My first book by C.J. Tudor and won’t be my last.

The writing was amazing - the perfect mix of mystery, drama, humour, suspense, crime (and in this case, supernatural elements too). I really loved the writing style. The pacing was really good, my interest was locked in the entire way through. A very binge-worthy book. There were many characters yet they were all being utilized in the story, they all had a purpose, which I appreciate. I was invested in all the characters, they had unique backstories.

The ending was a wild ride of different turns that I didn’t see coming. The unidentified narrator POV storyline was not what I was expecting at all - both in the lead up and final wrap up. That POV especially kept me intrigued - I couldn’t wait for more to be revealed with every chapter switch to that POV!

The Epilogue… I mean….. what a BANG! 💥

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, no critiques. Going to be raving about this one for awhile.

For fans who like TV shows such as: The Killing, Van Helsing, True Blood, True Detective (esp. Night Road), V Wars, Hemlock Grove, Criminal Minds - you will likely love this novel!

Any vampire/supernatural book lovers or crime/thriller fans add this to your TBR stat!

It doesn’t list a sequel so far but if there is one I will be reading. I know I will be definitely reading more of the author’s works based on how much I enjoyed their writing and their story execution.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada (Doubleday Canada) and NetGalley for an eARC!

I finished the book via audiobook through the library as the eARC expired on me about 70% of the way through. So I can attest that both the ebook/book and the audiobook are great! 👍🏻

“In fact, there was nothing more dangerous than a child with power . . . and a few centuries’ worth of resentment.”

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

C.J. Tudor has quickly become an author who’s quick read books are something I jump to when I need something I am confident I’ll enjoy.
The Gathering was no different. You think you’re getting a book about vampires, but the message is so so much more than that. I defiantly recommend this one.

SO GOOD. Highly recommend. So imaginative and unique. I will read anything C. J. Tudor comes up with!

Not your typical vampire tale. Lots of character and emotion brought this forth to a nail biter. The ending was typical but overall a blast can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

THE GATHERING is an addictive, small town Alaska mystery and the detective that finds herself caught up in the dark secrets and superstitions of a small town.

I really liked the different take on vampirism in this one, and found the lore to be well crafted. I'm also a fan of character driven crime stories (not so much procedurals) so this was the perfect read for me! A few twists and turns, a little spooky and a lot enjoyable. I continue to be a CJ Tudor #stan and this one just reinforced that.

Thank you to Netgalley for my #arc!

What I liked about this book: setting (small, remote town), interesting characters, suspenseful mystery , well written

What I didn’t like: the vampire aspect, by that’s just a personal preference.

Overall this was a good book, but just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

This was gifted to me as an ARC and I struggled. I even tried the audiobook by buying it in Audible and I since then got a refund. The reviews are amazing but I did not like it at all. I couldn’t get into it.
So sorry I hate giving up but I just cant get through it.

DNF for me on this one

I just finished The Gathering by CJ Tudor and here are my thoughts.

When a boy is found murdered, that is unique enough in a small town that has 673 people in it, but what makes it even more unique is the fact his throat was ripped out and the body… drained of blood. It’s been 25 years since the town has seen anything like this and the vampyr colony was blamed back then. Now the town wants a culling. They want the whole clan destroyed.

It’s up to Detective Barb Atkins, a specialist in Vampyrs, to determine whether it was a vampyr that killed the boy or if something else is going on in the town. The more Barb digs into the town and its history, the more she sees that there is a lot more going on than meets the eye and no one is safe, not human or vampyr.

I really liked how the author made this vampyr book feel realistic and not like a fantasy novel. The fact it was written as a thriller got my heart racing. It was done beautifully. I am already a massive fan of the author so I had high expectations and they were met in spades. The story is set in the present day and flashbacks to a vampire who is trapped by a human and it covers their story of their captivity.

Barb is great. She really works to make sure that vampyrs do not get blamed for murders they didn’t do as there is an anti-vampyr sentiment that runs deep within humans. There is an undercover anti-vampyr group and all kinds of dark stuff going on in that town and it's tiny! The town is teeny but the dark history is raucous there and just shows you that small towns aren’t always fluffy.

It is so dark and well paced that it held me captivated through until the end. I really enjoyed the flashbacks too. It helped round out the story and it really isn’t clear who the captive is until the very end and then it all makes sense. It was well done. Very well done. I need more thrillers to be like this.

4.5 stars I loved loved loved it!!!

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for my gifted copy

You just never know what you're going to find in a book from C.J. Tudor - other than a great read! I never read the flyleaf of her books - I just know that I'll like it! But have a second look at that cover of the newly released The Gathering to get an idea.

The book is set in the town of Deadhart Alaska. There's also a Colony of vampyrs further out. When a teen boy is found with his throat ripped out, it seem pretty easy to know who is responsible - right? But the law needs to be followed as vampyrs are a protected species.

Detective Barbara Atkins is called in as she is also a specialist in vampyr killings. She is a the perfect protagonist - she's older, heavier and is often discounted by someone's initial assessment of her - which actually works for her. She's intelligent, reads people well and doesn't give up easily.

There's a large cast of supporting characters. The one thing that all have in common is that they all lie
- about the past and the present. Barbara has to deduce who the killer is, and do it before anyone else dies - including the vampyrs. Tudor has created her own set of traits, abilities and more for the vampyrs. (Hint - don't bother buying any garlic.)

The melding of a murder case alongside with the race issues kept me interested from first page to last. There's also a number of pages that are the inner dialogue of an unnamed captive. We have no idea who she is and when this is happening. I really like it when I don't know what's going to happen on the next page and the next chapter etc. I like being kept on the edge of my seat. Kudos to C.J. Tudor - that last page is perfect!

Simply Fantastic! I just finished reading one of my favourite reads of 2024. Easy. Grab this book as soon as you can, and clear your schedule.
C.J Tudor is a great writer, with books that have great storytelling. But hold onto your socks for this one, in my opinion this is her best work yet.
If you are looking for a plot that sucks you right in, this is the book for you.

Desolate town in Alaska with a population less than 700, a murder of a teen boy, a Forensic Vampyr Detective named Barbara Atkins (loved her character ) and a Vampyr Colony. What could possibly go wrong? A lot.
The town is outraged, and immediately assume the teen was killed by one of the vampyrs. At first glance the evidence points that way, but Det Atkins isn’t so sure. The town folk demand a “cull” of the colony. They want to get rid of them once and for all. While the police and Atkins get to the bottom of what happened to Marcus, all the secrets and twists and turns begin to unravel themselves. While the story unfolds, I found myself really caring about some of these characters. Sometimes, things are not what they seem.

This book is a bit horror, a bit thriller, a bit mystery, and an absolute page turner.I flew through this book, the suspense at the end of every chapter had me hooked.
5 humongous stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this fabulous book early.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor  is a horror novel, set in Alaska, about "vampyres".

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Penguin Random House and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Detective Barbara Atkins is a doctor of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology as well as a homicide detective, based out of New York.  She is called to the rural town of Deadhart Alaska to investigate the death of a boy who was found with his throat cut out.  The town, as well as the Chief of Police (Nicholls), are sure it is the responsibility of one of the Colony, a group of vampyres who recently returned to the area.  They want to cull the group.  Barbara is not so sure, and only she can authorize the cull.  Then there is another death.

Barbara enlists the help of the old Sheriff, Jenson Tucker, who almost lost his life 25 years ago when he investigated a similar murder.  Since then, Jenson has favoured a more solitary life.  But he feels guilty, and both sides want him to get involved.

Some of the Colony want to be attacked, which gives them the legal right to fight back.  Needless to say, the humans have more to lose.

As anger rises, Barbara and Tucker are both wondering if the deaths are really the responsibility of someone in the Colony, or do they just have a human psychopath on their hands.

But the town of Deadhart has a history, and some never forget.

 
My Opinions:
CJ Tudor has another blockbuster on her hands!  This was really good.  Part murder mystery, part horror novel, the book was filled with both gore and intrigue!

I loved the characters.  Both sides had their good and bad  (maybe a few more bad on the human side of things). Tudor's imagination shone through as she created a rather different vampyr scenario, where there are some who will tolerate their existence.

The overall plot was really good, and the dialogue was spot on.

It looks like their may be another book in this series....and will be first in line to read it!

✨E-Arc Book Review✨
The Gathering - C.J. Tudor

HAPPY PUB DAY to The Gathering 🖤

I will read anything C.J. Tudor writes, I’ve read I think 5 of their books now and have had a great time with all of them.

When I saw this available on NetGalley I requested it immediately and was so happy to find out I got an advanced copy to read! Thank you to @penguinrandomca for the copy in exchange for my review.

This was such a unique thriller concept, it involves vampyrs who exist in colonies near humans and the vampyrs and humans have a long history of hatred between the groups. When the murder of a young boy occurs in a small remote Alaskan town, a forensic vampyr anthropologist detective is brought into town to investigate and finds things really aren’t what they seem. I personally was skeptical about the vampire element but honestly thought it was quite clever and fun to read in a thriller. This was a wild, creepy and bloody ride!

If you are someone who likes supernatural elements in their thrillers/horror then I highly recommend this one to you!

3.5/5⭐️ I loved some of C.J. Tudor’s other books more but I still really liked this one and I’m very intrigued to see what comes from their mind next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this read. It was okay and hit the best for ME! I am not a fan of. Twilight which I tried to read many times when I was young and only failed. This has some of that feel and I was not for it but if you are or want to read something like that as an adult this is for you. It was not written bad or anything. Her boos are good most of the time for me but this was not for me because of the comparison.

Okay, this was a fantastic story! Are there vampires? YES! Yes, there are! Should it be categorized as horror, though? Absolutely not. So, with that being said, if you enjoy a good mystery crime novel with a vampire twist, then this is the book for you. It turns out that I do enjoy a good mystery crime vampire tale. The story was gripping, full of interesting characters, (you'll dislike a lot of them), and has a mystery that I wasn't able to figure out ahead of time. My only criticism is the fact that I felt like I was reading a sequel, because it read like we should already know there are such things as vampire colonies living alongside humans (I looked it up, it's not a sequel. But someone please tell me if I'm wrong!) I would have loved some history on how this came to be. That would be fascinating!! Maybe a prequel, perhaps?
This was my first book by C.J. Tudor, and even though I was a tad disappointed that it wasn't really what I think of as a horror, it definitely won't be my last!
Highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the ebook! It comes out tomorrow, April 9th, 2024. A book that I will definitely be adding to my physical library!

This was like a very dark version of Twilight, minus the love. I'm not a huge fan of books with a lot of characters, and unfortunately this one did. The story was just a bit too slow, and I guessed what was going to happen about a third of the way in. Ultimately, not for me.

Thank you NetGalley, CJ Tudor and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy in exchange for a honest review.

Each book by CJ Tudor I think is just getting better writing wise. I love the Vamprys in this. It’s kind of a mix of 30 days of night since the story is in Alaska crossed with a detective story crossed with that one Lisa jewel book (invisible girl I think). It’s a good mix of horror and thriller. I think this is just a fun read that you can’t put down. If you like CJ Tudor’s other works you’ll love this. I think if you enjoyed Salam’s lot you’d like this too.