Now here’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d ever write. I just read a vampyr novel and I bloody loved it! C.J. Tudor’s The Gathering is a fabulous book. Set in the wilds of Alaska, in the depths of winter, in the ever so aptly named Deadhart, a young boy has been found dead with his throat ripped out; his body bloodless.

The town is up in arms. There may be a law in place that allows Vampyrs to be treated as a protected species, as a result of the 1983 Vampyr Protection Act, but this is a fragile peace and one riddled with suspicion and mistrust. The Vampyr colonies keep away to themselves, so they tend not to mix with others.

Barbara Atkins is a detective with the Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department. She is the detective who attends any suspected vampyr killing. Her job is to pronounce on whether or not the killing is vampyric, therefore justifying a cull of the concerned colony. She is the subject of a lot of hostility. Many folk just don’t see the need for an investigation into what seems so obvious; they just want to destroy the killers in their midst.

C. J. Tudor’s novel is pacy, laced with horror and does an excellent job of chilling world building. Though the story is told in the third person, following Barbara’s investigations, there is also a monologue from an unnamed person, who is being kept in terrible conditions, and who has spent years trying to find a way out of their captivity.

Barbara discovers that Marcus’ murder bears a startling resemblance to the murder of a young man called Ted Danes, 25 years earlier. She investigates Marcus’s murder alongside Sherriff Nicholls and the former Sherriff, Jensen Tucker, for whom most villagers have no time. He was the cop who looked into the Danes killing and the townsfolk were never happy that no-one was identified as the killer and held responsible.

But Barbara is tenacious and she doesn’t arrive in a place just to go through the motions. From the outset there’s something out of place about Marcus’s murder that niggles at her and once she works out what it is, her investigations lead to a terrible conclusion.

It is Athelinda, the leader of the colony by dint of her status as the eldest vampyr, who helps her find her way to the truth.

I loved the dark, claustrophobic atmosphere with its underlying hatred, racism and intolerance. The longstanding grievances of both the townspeople and the vampyrs threaten to overwhelm the situation, which is further inflamed by the local pastor, Colleen Gray, who has set up a chapel in Deadhart and who seems determined to drive out the colony.

I love that C.J. Tudor ignores all the worst vampire tropes and goes for a more plausible version which works far better and brings the colony and its inhabitants to life.

Verdict: This is an excellent police procedural with lashings of chills and a fair helping of horror – the kind that gets in your head as well as your heart. The tension is palpable; the fear is all too real. As the townspeople grapple with the colony’s need for acceptance, they too have to face the sins of the past. Deviously plotted and loaded with atmosphere, it has great characters and many surprises in store for readers. In short, this is a book you can really get your teeth into!

This author's prowess increases by each book. I've loved her previous books (which I find all so different and varied) and this one is right up next to them. An interesting premise, brought to life adroitly to form a taut and enticing book. This was really enjoyable to read and just as importantly for me, really hard to guess the outcomes or the end. The characters are formed and brought to life very well indeed, with multiple sub texts and aspects which are quickly or slowly revealed. The camouflaged complexity of each character is very well played indeed.

There's lots to like and to appreciate about this book. The author's sense of humor is clear to see and her cleverly crafted set pieces are very fun to read and unpack. This author is clearly going from strength to strength and I look forward to see what is next.

I can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!

Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 living humans, and on its outskirts reside the undead (although technically they aren’t as these bloodsuckers are mortal, but you get my drift), a colony of vampyrs (the ancient word for vampires}.

In this version of 2024 (where everything remains the same with the exception of the introduction of vampyrs, who have been around since the beginning of time), vampyrs have been declared a protected species since 1983, although they are not permitted to live, work, or socialise among humans, hence the ‘colonies’ they inhabit, and as a result they are highly feared and prejudiced against by a lot of humans.

So, when a human teenager, 15-year-old Marcus Anderson, is murdered, and the evidence points to a vampyr attack, the town of Deadhart is hellbent on revenge and vigilantism. Enter Dr. Barbara Atkins, a New York based Forensic Vampire Anthopologist, who is called in to investigate, and naturally her arrival is met with hostility, suspicion and anger. It’s up to Barbara to find Marcus’ killer because if a vampyr is responsible then human law dictates that the entire Deadhart colony will need to be ‘culled’ (wiped out).

Did you follow all of that?

An intriguing, original, and compelling premise, don’t you agree? I thought so too, but unfortunately one that didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the fresh take on the vampire myth, and the changes to the lore, and the bigotry and discrimination against the vampyr race had me feeling a spectrum of emotions. But the fact that I sympathised with them and given that our race held all the power (political and technological) prevented the vampyrs from being scary and threatening for me, even when they were intended to be. And, when I think about the vampire fiction that has resonated with me in the past, the fanged monsters depicted were truly terrifying.

There were one or two decent twists, and I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the mystery was predictable, but at the same time the resolution was lacklustre. The characters weren’t bad, I liked Barbara and others well enough, but nor were they particularly memorable. Although I do commend authors like Tudor who, more and more, are using older women (50+) as their main protagonist as going back twenty, thirty years you rarely found a competent, respected female character over 35. Now to the setting – I just never felt that closed-in trepidation and tension. And I never got the impression that Barbara was in any real danger – the characters that tended to be targeted were the unlikeable ones. Overall, the dialogue was Tudor’s usual high standard, with the exception of (and this is going to sound picky, but it really irked me so I’m including it!) Barbara’s constant use of the word ‘Sir’ when addressing male characters – I understand it was meant to placate them, but honesty it was every second sentence and it was distracting. Dare you not to notice it now! Maybe I can’t talk because I’ve used the words ‘human’ and ‘vampyr’ a lot in this review.

Anyway, to sum up, I think I went into this book with too higher expectations following the dizzying heights of last years The Drift (5 stars all the way baby!). And my disappoint is set to continue as it looks like The Gathering is the start of a series for C.J. Tudor, and I just can’t generate enough enthusiasm for a second instalment. Boo-hoo for me, but fantastic for those who loved it – which was the majority of early reviewers.

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House, and C.J. Tudor for the e-ARC.

CJ Tudor is the Queen of Horror. The Gathering is a mix of horror and thriller which deserved being compared to True Blood. As, in this tale, Vampires are real and they live amongst us. And just like in the Sookie Stackhouse series, not everyone is happy about it. I have always enjoyed books about Vampires and The Gathering was enjoyable as the author used a unique setting in Alaska, and kept it original. And with that ending I can only hope for a sequel

"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.