The Cut by CJ Dotson

The Cut by CJ DotsonThe Cut by C.J. Dotson
Published by St. Martin's Press on April 8, 2025
Genres: Horror
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
Purchase on: Amazon// Barnes & Noble// BookBub
Add to: Goodreads // StoryGraph


In this chilling supernatural horror novel set in a mysterious hotel, a woman fleeing her abusive ex finds herself running from more than just her past.

A historic hotel long past its prime and huddled along The Cut, a questionable Lake Erie beach, isn’t Sadie Miles’ ideal place to raise a toddler while also navigating her second pregnancy. After finally fleeing her abusive ex-fiancé, though, Sadie’s new housekeeping position and free room at L’Arpin Hotel are the best she can manage.

On her first night, Sadie runs to help a guest struggling in the hotel’s pool only to find the water calm and empty when she gets there, leaving her with a lingering unease. When a guest then goes missing and her manager insists they simply left without checking out, Sadie suspects he’s covering up darker goings-on in the hotel.

After her ex, Sadie won't let anyone convince her that what she’s experiencing isn’t real again. So, she keeps digging, quickly uncovering suspicious interactions with the staff, mysteriously vanishing security cameras, more missing guests, and things that go bump in the night...and drip in the walls, slither in the tub, and squirm in the halls. Everything isn't as it seems within the dim hallways of L’Arpin. Sadie has nowhere to go and nowhere to hide; she'll need to keep her wits about her to survive and keep her toddler and unborn child safe from whatever lurks nearby.

two-stars

review

I was really looking forward to The Cut by CJ Dotson. The cover gave me the creeps and I love horror stories that involve pregnancy/motherhood, domestic relations, etc. This, instead, was such a letdown and bore. It started really strong with a great opening, but then I quickly lost interest. For me, without a connection to our main character, I’m fairly indifferent.

Here, I should have had a connection. I should have cared. We have the elements needed – pregnant single mother, escaping a DV situation with her 3 year old daughter. Instead, Sadie just doesn’t fit right. She is alone with a three-year-old and newly pregnant. She’s broke and working as a hotel housekeeper. So why is Sadie looking for 3 bedroom homes to move into? Logically, she’d be looking for a studio or 1 bedroom. Knowing it’s dangerous (if only because of her ex at the beginning,) common sense would dictate she stay put, keep her head down, and do as much as she can until she is able to leave. Instead, she does the complete opposite. So much of her just doesn’t make sense and it threw me off.

The stakes never really felt there for me to make The Cut by CJ Dotson an engaging horror. A lot felt avoidable from the beginning and the creep factor took too long to build up only to feel 80s sci-fi horror.

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