Genre: Horror
Release Date: April 9th, 2024
Pages: 352
Publisher: Ballantine Books
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“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?”
My Review:
I wanted this to be a five-star read for me so bad. I was so incredibly grateful and thrilled to receive an ARC. I love C.J Tudor. I’ve read several of her books and she’s one of my favorite horror authors.
This one though (ugh) it just didn’t… it just wasn’t… I don’t even know.
I thought Tudor doing vampires was going to be a sure win, and yet it all fell a little flat for me. It wasn’t the experience I was hoping and expecting.
I liked the main character well enough, but something about the detective perspective just really bogged me down.
The investigation was slow, a little repetitive, not very juicy or shocking.
The ominous tension just wasn’t quite there, and I never felt totally immersed into the moody atmosphere.
I wasn’t really liking the political and religious aspects of the plot.
There are other chapters from various perspectives of towns-people that didn’t really flow or connect well and weren’t very interesting.
I’m stuck on the cliffhanger at the end – will this end up being a series? I kind of hope not.
I’m usually so gripped and invested in her stories, this was a definite miss for me and I hate that, but I have to be honest. Especially after absolutely loving The Drift, I’m so disappointed.
It just wasn’t good for me.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I love a good book discussion. 🙂
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