Title: THE GATHERING
Author: C.J. Tudor
ISBN: 9780241486276
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 406
Source: Private Copy
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?
Official Summary
22 August 2025
I fell in love with Tudor’s writing when I read The Chalk Man, and ever since, I grab any copies of her books I come across in bookstores. Unfortunately, like so many authors, her books are not readily available in local bookstores. So, finding The Gathering on a shelf ensured I snatched it up immediately.
The Gathering is an unusual mix of crime thriller and fantasy, which may sound strange, but Tudor brings these elements together beautifully. While I am not much of a fantasy reader, there are pieces in the book that reminded me of the Twilight series. But not to worry, the vampyr in Deadheart is certainly not the Cullan family; this is no romance.
Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is sent to Deadhart, a town in Alaska with a population of 873, after a boy is found with his throat ripped out. The locals are convinced the colony is responsible, after all, most of them have seen this before. This should be a straightforward investigation, and the locals want permission for a cull. However, Barbara quickly uncovers some inconsistencies.
Enlisting the help of a former Deadhart sheriff – Jenson Tucker, Barbara starts digging into the town’s past. A past many would prefer to leave in the past.
This story quickly digs its teeth into you, and before you know what’s happened, you have reached the final page. Tudor keeps you on your toes as she moves between different perspectives and timelines, and it’s full speed ahead; there is not a single moment to catch your breath.
Be warned, there are some creepy moments in this story – The hunting trophies left me visualising how disturbing the sight must have been – I struggle with animal trophies, these are even worse. If you need a reason to dislike hunters, you are guaranteed to find it in this book.
Tudor fans will love every moment of this book. The mix between crime thriller, vampire fantasy and age-old religious beliefs may sound a little crazy, but only Tudor can weave it all into a brilliantly gripping tale that leaves you wondering what if….
Also by C.J. Tudor
THE DRIFT
Hannah awakens to carnage, all mangled metal and shattered glass. During a hasty escape from a secluded boarding school, her coach careened over a hillside road during one of the year’s heaviest snowstorms, trapping her inside with a handful of survivors, a brewing virus, and no way to call for help. If she and the remaining few want to make it out alive, with their sanity–and secrets–intact, they’ll need to work together or they’ll be buried alive with the rest of the dead.
A former detective, Meg, awakens to a gentle rocking. She is in a cable car suspended far above a snowstorm and surrounded by strangers in the same uniform as her, with no memory of how they got there. They are heading to a mysterious place known to them only as “The Retreat,” but when they discover a dead man among their ranks and Meg spies a familiar face, she realizes that there is something far more insidious going on.
Carter is gazing out the window of the abandoned ski chalet that he and his ragtag compatriots call home. Together, they manage a precarious survival, manufacturing vaccines against a deadly virus in exchange for life’s essentials. But as their generator begins to waver, the threat of something lurking in the chalet’s depths looms larger, and their fragile bonds will be tested when the power finally fails–for good.
The imminent dangers faced by Hannah, Meg, and Carter are each one part of the puzzle. Lurking in their shadows is an even greater threat–one that threatens to consume all of humanity.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
C. J. Tudor’s love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert.
Over the years she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, dog walker, voiceover artist, television presenter, copywriter and, now, author.
Her first novel, The Chalk Man, was a Sunday Times bestseller, has sold in over forty countries and will be developed into a six-part drama with BBC Studios Production. Her second novel, The Taking of Annie Thorne, was also a Sunday Times bestseller, as was her third novel The Other People. Her fourth novel, The Burning Girls, was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection and is being adapted for Paramount+ by award-winning screenwriter Hans Rosenfeldt, creator of The Bridge and Marcella.
She lives in Sussex, England with her family.
I must thank my daughter, Tristan, for introducing me to C.J. Tudor’s books – when she told me Tudor was considered the new Stephen King, I was a little annoyed, but she was not wrong. Since reading The Chalk Man, I am hooked and love Tudor’s work. If you are a fan, you will love The Gathering – if you haven’t yet, you must add it to your TBR. Which is your favourite Tudor book? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
