Title: The Gathering
Author: C. J. Tudor
Publisher: Ballantine
Publication date: April 9, 2024
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Horror
Source: Library
Rating:
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?
In the world of The Gathering, vampyrs are a protected species, living in small, isolated communities called Colonies, with certain rights but also many restrictions — such as being forbidden to mix with human or to hold jobs. Alaska is a natural choice for a vampyr settlement, given the long hours of darkness and the remote landscape.
When the town of Deadhart reports a vampyr killing — the first it’s experienced in 25 years — the Department of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology sends veteran detective Barbara Atkins to investigate. If her investigation confirms that vampyrs are responsible, she’ll be authorized to call for a cull — a government-sanctioned hunt to kill the vampyrs of the nearby Colony in order to remove a deadly threat to the humans in the area.
Deadhart residents are ready to start the hunt immediately, but Barbara senses that there’s more to the story, and very quickly finds inconsistencies related to the murder that lead her to dig deeper. Through her investigation, she discovers new facts related to the previous vampyr killing in Deadhart, including highly unsavory information about the town’s sordid treatment of vampyrs decades earlier. The pressure is on — if Barbara doesn’t sanction a cull quickly, the townspeople may just take matters into their own hands. But the more she uncovers, the more Barbara believes that the culprit may not be a member of the Colony after all — and as the bodies pile up, her own safety is on the line as she makes fresh enemies among the humans of Deadheart.
The Gathering has a terrific premise — the existence of vampyrs, the protections around them, but also the laws allowing them to be hunted and destroyed if warranted. It’s a fascinating dynamic, especially once we’re introduced to members of the Colony and see inside their settlement.
The claustrophobic nature of winter in Deadhart is vividly portrayed. The town is isolated, cut off by unpredictable weather, and very insular. Its residents go back generations, and there are countless old rivalries and grudges to unpack. Barbara makes an excellent viewpoint character, arriving as an outsider into a community already on edge, seeking to carry out her work despite the mounting tensions and lack of cooperation from the townspeople.
I was intrigued by the history of the town and the Colony. Likewise, I found the descriptions of the supporting cast of characters endlessly interesting, with trouble-prone teens, a rabble-rousing preacher, old-timers who remember the bad old days, and people just trying to get by. Still, the characters themselves are perhaps my one small area of complaint — there are so many named characters that keeping them and their backstories straight can be challenging at times.
Overall, though, I loved reading The Gathering. The Alaska setting and the unique status of vampyrs combine to provide a truly fresh take on a vampire story. There’s gore, but it’s not overwhelming — I’d consider this book something of a horror/mystery mashup. Both genres are well-represented, and blend together seamlessly for an absorbing read.
The epilogue ends on a note that leaves the door open for another story set in this world. I’d love to read a sequel! Meanwhile, this was my first book by C. J. Tudor, and now I’m eager to explore more of her books. If you have recommendations, please let me know!
Purchase links: Amazon – Audible audiobook – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
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