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?

My year of “more vampires” has continued with this book. When I first read the synopsis of this one, I immediately thought of the movie “30 Days of Night”. I love that movie so much! While the book is not at all like the movie, it was still creepy, and I really enjoyed it. I can see why it has been getting so many rave reviews.

The book is set in a small Alaska town (much like 30 Days of Night). Sunlight isn’t common this time of year, and there is a lot of snow. Oh – and a teenager has been found with his throat ripped out. Everyone in town knows it is the work of a nearby vampire colony (or – excuse me – vampyr as they’re referred to in the book) that lives in the woods at the edge of town. The town wants something to be done – they don’t feel safe – so Detective Barbara Atkins is called in to investigate and determine if a culling is in order.

In this world, vamps and humans co-exist, and it doesn’t feel like a fantasy setting; it feels very modern-day and realistic, which ups the creepiness of the novel. In the book, there are several vampire colonies around the world, and almost all of them exist just outside of human cities. There’s an agreement, though. The vamps don’t hunt and kill humans. They exist only by feeding off of animals. If a colony gets out of control and poses a danger to the humans, then a culling is ordered, and the colony is completely wiped out. Not surprisingly, you have a few humans who have found a way to make money through black market runs of human blood, which has led to organized crime, further stressing the relationships between humans and vampyrs. As one would expect, when vamps get a taste of human blood, some of them want more, and they go for the source rather than buy a blood bag.

The humans in this Alaskan town are afraid of a vampyr uprising, which is why many of them demand a culling. It’s up to Barbara to do her due diligence and determine whether the colony is actually a threat. The more she digs, though, the more secrets she uncovers in this small, isolated town.

Every single character in this book is a standout. I know this is Barabra’s story, but the supporting characters are just as dynamic, and the novel wouldn’t have been as effective without them. I really loved the bond that formed between Barbara and former sheriff Jenson Tucker. The more they dug, the more secrets they unearthed, and I honestly didn’t see the final reveal coming at all.

The writing is strong in this one, and the sense of place is off the charts. I felt the cold darkness of this small town and could feel the dread. It only ramped up the more Barbara dug and the more we learned about not only the vampyrs but also the residents. I listened to the audiobook version and plowed through it in a day. The narrator did a great job and perfectly captured the voices and pacing.

I really enjoyed this one! The pacing was perfect, and the story was very original. This book is way more than your average crime novel. It’s part horror, part mystery, and all thriller; I couldn’t get enough. If you’re a thriller lover, you should add this one to your list. And if you’re not into vampires, or if the paranormal element puts you off, I encourage you to give it a try. It doesn’t feel paranormal at all.