The Gathering by C.J. Tudor – Review

Published: April 11, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Series: N/A

Genre: Horror, Mystery

Pages: 336 (Hardcover)

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Synopsis:
A detective investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caught up in the dark secrets and superstitions of a small town in this riveting novel from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man

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?

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This is my first C.J. Tudor book and I can say it won’t be my last. The Gathering is an excellent blend of mystery, cop thriller, and vampire horror which is perfect for the Halloween season. I’d also highly recommend the audiobook, which really brings the story to life thanks to the excellent narration.

The Gathering is set in a world where vampyrs are known to exist and are a federally protected species, with land allotments and special protections. Universities have programs dedicated to their study, police have special units to investigate vampyr crimes, and humans fear and hate them exactly as much as you might expect. Detective Barbara Atkins is a vampyr specialist and is called from her home in New York City to a small mining town in Alaska called Deadhart to investigate a suspected vampyr killing of a teenage boy. Tensions are high in Deadhart, which is remote, dark, and on the brink of a snow storm and Barbara has to put forth her best investigative skills to determine whether the crime was truly vampyr related and if the town can authorize a cull to kill the vampyrs responsible. The colony near Deadhart is only recently returned after the previous death of a teenage boy and then subsequently several vampyrs several decades prior.

Barbara is a tough character who’s seen a lot in her career as detective and vampyr specialist, beginning when she was just a child herself. As Barbara’s history unfolds it serves to further illustrate the prejudice and fear humans have toward vampyrs and how that can shape a person in a multitude of ways. The other characters in Deadhart have so much baggage that it takes the entirety of the book to unpack it all. Many of the Deadhart residents have their own reasons for wanting a cull except for Tucker, the former police chief and present day suspicious hermit who is now helping Barbara uncover what really happened. This book has so many layers and the characters, no matter how brief their appearances, have such nuance and history that it makes for a brilliant read.

Overall, this is one of the most impressive paranormal mysteries I’ve ever read. I do love a good genre blender and this achieves just the right mixture of detective story and horror without compromising either aspect. I can’t wait to check out C.J. Tudor’s backlist and new releases that may be coming out soon!