Release date: April 9 2024
Publisher: Michael Joseph Books
Pages: 352
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

Deadhart, Alaska. 873. Living.

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?

Review

C. J. Tudor is back with an icy horror that will have you turning pages long into the night. Set in Deadhart Alaska, the story follows Detective Barbara Atkins who is sent to Deadhart to investigate what is believed to be a vampyr killing. If this turns out to be the work of a vampyr she will have to authorize a cull of the vampyr colony. As Barbara works alongside the local police to uncover the truth behind the murder, she soon finds there are dark secrets in the town of Deadhart and there might be more going on than she ever thought possible.

One thing I absolutely love about C. J. Tudor’s books is that they always have the most unique and intriguing premises and The Gathering is absolutely no exception. I love vampire stories so this hooked me right from the very outset. It was gripping, well paced and had tons of twists I didn’t see coming. I really enjoy Tudor’s writing style – the story is full of atmosphere and there are some scenes that are especially tense and creepy.

Tudor’s characters are also really fascinating and I really liked our main protagonist Barbara. She’s pushed to take the easy way out and just authorise the cull, but she’s determined to do what’s right for both the vampyrs and the humans. I loved the way so many of the townsfolk were suspicious and honestly I was never quite sure who was trustworthy and who wasn’t. I absolutely love when I book keeps you guessing like that and Tudor executed that in a really brilliant way.

The story kept me intrigued and I definitely found myself thinking about this book even when I wasn’t reading it. If you love twisty and compelling horror stories that will without a doubt send a shiver up your spine, you won’t want to miss The Gathering.