The Cut is a supernatural horror novel, written by CJ Dotson, and published by St. Martin Press. A slow burn proposal that follows a woman and her daughter fleeing from abuse and landing in a haunted hotel, with a great set-up that reminds of classical horror movies, playing with the atmosphere and keeping the reader in suspense until the very end.

After finding she's pregnant, Sadie flees from an abusive relationship with her toddler, having to accept a job as housekeeper at the L'Arpin Hotel; but soon she realizes there's something wrong with the hotel and the personal, starting to see water puddles and slimy creatures, even if nobody believes her. The longer she stays at the hotel, the more paranoid Sadie becomes; but she needs this job to maintain afloat her precarious situation, despite the danger that seems to predate her.

Sadie is a well-fleshed main character, one we can empathize with; she's a mother trying to get out of an abusive relationship, and caring for her daughter. The paranoia she feels can be partly linked to the anxiety she feels for being found by her ex; and the whole hotel atmosphere doesn't help to it.
The rest of the hotel characters are quite peculiar, a bit reminiscent of the classics of the genre; all have small details that make you suspect about their real reasons to act, and it ends paying off at the end.

The setting is one of the biggest selling points of this novel: not only we have a decadent hotel where some guests disappear, but also the own natural environment, with the Lake Eire in the background also contributes to the atmosphere. The pacing is a bit slow for my taste, but it is balanced with a great characterisation; and the great finale pays off for this kind of slow-burn.

The Cut is a great cosmic/supernatural horror novel, perfect if you are looking for something with a familiar taste but with some novelty touches; a debut that puts CJ Dotson in the list of authors to follow in the coming years.