The Cut

by C. J. Dotson

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250336569
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/08/2025
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320

About the Author

C.J. DOTSON possesses the statistically average number of body parts for a human being to have. She and her husband, stepson, and children (all of whom also appear human) share a cabin in the woods with more bugs than she would ever like to see. In her limited spare time she enjoys reading, video games, painting, baking and decorating cakes (with…questionable success), and petting her dog and two cats. Visit her at cjdotsonauthor.com or cjdotsonsdreadfuldispatch.substack.com

Editorial Reviews

THE CUT is a chilling, paranoia-inducing thrill-ride of a horror tale! Bizarre twists, great characters, and an ending that will leave you breathless!” -Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Cave 13

"A compelling page-turner full of slithery secrets and scares." - Rachel Harrison, national bestselling author of Black Sheep

“A creepy tale, guaranteed to keep you reading well past midnight. Fantastically paced, filled with wonderfully crafted characters—the twists and turns don’t let up until the very end. Dotson’s debut is a highlight of the year.” —Erin E. Adams, author of Jackal

"An exquisite slow burn horror story that combines the terror of escaping from an abusive relationship with evil that’s reminiscent of Lovecraft. Absolutely devoured this book and can’t wait to read more by Dotson!" —Amina Akhtar, bestselling author of Almost Surely Dead

"Creeping with twisting tight tension. The Cut by C. J. Dotson is heart hammering, breath shuddering, and full of visions of monsters along our periphery. The terrors here will leave you speechless." —Cynthia Pelayo, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Forgotten Sisters

"The Cut made me squirm in my chair! Utterly creepy and engaging. The blend of real world horror with the supernatural is pitch-perfect and absolutely claustrophobic." —S.A. Barnes, author of Dead Silence and Ghost Station

"The Cut combines the throat-clenching tension of a domestic thriller and a soaking wet supernatural spookfest, hybridizing The Shining with Sleeping With the Enemy. I dare you to dip a toe into this one. Go on, give it five pages. You'll plunge right in and never come back up." —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters

From the Publisher