Book Review: "The Gathering" by C. J. Tudor

 

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.

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? - from Netgalley.com

This ARC was received through Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

Imagine a world where Vampires existed alongside humans, but were in colonies, and seemingly hated by the human race. Through in a murder every 25 years or so, and you get this tale of mystery. I found the story to be mildly entertaining, and the plot twists kept my attention that I was able to read the book in a  couple days. Tudor has a way of making a mystery feel real, even in a fictional setting.

Book Review: "Suburban Moon: The Autobiography of Sam Wyatt" by Joe Huffer

 

Sam Wyatt enjoyed life to its fullest until a trio of tragedies leaves him bitter, angry, and lonely. Sam goes through life seeking solace in a whiskey bottle until his new neighbor decides it is her mission to save him, or does he save her? Is it possible to find true love twice in one lifetime? Spanning five decades, Suburban Moon is a story of love and loss and redemption. - from Goodreads.com

This is a tale told by the main character, Sam Wyatt, that spans nearly fifty years of his life. As the story unfolds through remembrances from his teen and adult years, we also learn of his senior years, and how Life brought him to where he is in the current time of the story. The synopsis of the book pretty much covers the gist of the story, but it what makes this book so much better is the writing style. The Author brings out the tug on the heart-strings when sharing about the loss of loved ones, and the bitterness of grief. He also shares some of the boundless joy so many of us have had when we find our first true loves, and the joys of life in a non-descript family. Placed in central Indiana, a town of Jefferson, the author shows one possibility in the life of the average middle-class man.

This book was definitely too short in length, and I wish there was more to add to it, but there isn't. The story was told in a masterful way that even I was a bit teary-eyed at certain portions. Huffer knows how to explain succinctly the ways of the modern man, and doesn't fill pages with meaningless dialogue or over-explicit love scenes. Though a little heavy on adult language (hey, we all said those words as teenagers and adults) I think anyone would enjoy a touching story. I look forward to possible future works.