I was intrigued by the premise of this one but unfortunately the actual story fell short of my anticipation. I found the characters and subsequent plot to be quite flat and disinteresting. Ultimately I could have finished it but I didn't have much to say about it.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I enjoyed this supernatural thriller but did find that it drug a bit until about 75% and then felt rushed after. As a mom, I didn’t quite connect with Sadie but enjoyed the story, nonetheless.

Thanks again for the early read. I look forward to more ARCs in the future!

This was not it. I had to force myself to get through the first 75% where effectively nothing happened. Then the last 25% was rushed and made no sense. I absolutely despised almost every second that I was reading this.

Trigger warnings: domestic violence

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date of April 8, 2025.

A supernatural horror that brings the creepy, icky and wild feelings that all horror related things should have. Well written and thrilling to the very end

I loved the idea of a supernatural horror setting in a hotel, the concept was executed well and was everything that was promised in this universe. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed how they used the supernatural element in this. C. J. Dotson has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

The Cut follows a pregnant woman and her toddler daughter who arrive to work at a lakeside hotel after fleeing an abusive relationship. Things are not-quite-right and she starts seeing and hearing moist creepy crawlies around the hotel.

It’s an interesting Lovecraftian premise that reads more like a Fear Street book with swear words. The dialogue is stiff, especially the child who is written with an odd speech impediment and reactions that feel like a parody of a toddler. The narrative struggles with what to include to move the plot forward. There’s a lot of repetitive scenes and a need to suspend disbelief on why characters were acting the way they do.

Great cover with a strong idea, but needs a lot more technique TLC.

dnf @ 30%

I tried to give this book a chance and keep reading more to see if I’d like it, but sadly it just fell flat for me.

I got ‘the shining’ vibes from it, with the old creepy hotel that messes with your mind, but I just kept waiting for something to happen and wondering where the plot was going.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

The Cut by C.J. Dotson is a gritty, fast-paced crime thriller that presents an intriguing premise but doesn't live up to its full potential. The story follows a detective caught in the middle of a murder investigation that uncovers dark secrets. Dotson's writing is sharp, and the narrative keeps things moving at an enjoyable pace, which makes for an engaging read.
The premise itself is compelling, and the book delivers a solid blend of suspense and mystery. The characters, particularly the protagonist, show potential but sometimes feel a bit underdeveloped.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

um thank you net galley for the arc. so this was an ok read for me. yes i like the creep factor of the hotel ,but wanted to know more about the tenticle. i also felt bad for sadie at time.

The premise for this book sounds right up my alley, however it didn’t work for me. I struggled with the pacing and I couldn’t really get into the story. I do think readers of the horror genre will enjoy this book, and I may even give it another shot at a later time.

I love a haunted hotel! The base of this story has all the makings of a great horror book. A woman on the run, creepy hotel, a murder mystery, and some supernatural happenings. Unfortunately, some of the puzzle pieces don't fit together well and it leaves what could be an amazing story as just an average one. It's not bad by any means but it didn't live up to its potential at all.

It has a high level of suspense outside of the horror because the main character is worried about her abusive ex appearing. She is pregnant and already has a young child. I didn't think how the character worked through her options to get away felt realistic, and the dialogue was clunky.

I liked some of the lore behind the supernatural happenings, but it left a lot lacking in some ways.

First I just want to thank the publishers for the ARC.

I’d rated this a 2.5 stars (I’ll round up to a 3 since I can’t give 1/2 ratings).

I loved the idea for this book. A newly pregnant mother who already has a toddler trying to make a new life away from her abusive fiancée while working in a long standing hotel that might be harboring something sinister. Sign me up.

The cover really brought me in. Tentacles coming out of drains are definitely pretty creepy. Unfortunately I feel like the suspense that I want with a horror novel just wasn’t there. For me there was never enough built up tension to ever get the chills or feel really nervous. Something a little creepy would happen and then that was that and it would move on. I never had that underlying feel of dread that I look for when I’m reading a horror novel.

I think the idea was really fun it just didn’t have the right pace for me. I didn’t ever feel like I didn’t want to finish the book but I also had no real drive to finish reading it until I was around 75 percent done and that’s why I gave it the rating I did.

The Cut by C.J. Dotson is a gritty, fast-paced crime thriller that presents an intriguing premise but doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. The story follows a detective caught in the midst of a tense murder investigation that uncovers dark secrets and personal stakes. Dotson’s writing is sharp, and the narrative keeps things moving at a brisk pace, which makes for an easy, engaging read.

The premise itself is compelling, and the book offers a solid blend of suspense and mystery. The central investigation is intriguing, with plenty of twists to keep readers guessing. The characters, particularly the protagonist, show potential but sometimes feel a bit underdeveloped. The personal motivations and emotional depth of the characters could have been explored further to give the story more emotional resonance.

While The Cut does deliver some tense moments and a decent amount of suspense, there were times when the pacing felt uneven, and the plot became somewhat predictable. The final resolution, while satisfying to some extent, didn't have the dramatic punch I expected, leaving the story feeling slightly anticlimactic.

Overall, The Cut is a solid 3-star read. It’s enjoyable, especially for fans of fast-paced crime thrillers, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of depth or delivering an unforgettable conclusion. It’s a good choice for a quick, suspenseful read but lacks the complexity and character development that would elevate it to a higher level. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

The Cut was an interesting horror with a creepy hotel, and ex-fiancé abuser, and mother (Sadie) trying to overcome it all. I did get vibes of "The Overlook" hotel from this book. Sadie, the FMC has a toddler and a baby on the way. She left her ex-fiancé to start a new life at a hotel as a housekeeper where there are strange things happening, and Sadie tries to solve the ongoings of the hotel. I enjoyed the unease of the happenings in the hotel, but I wish there was more of a backstory, explanation. The atmosphere of the hotel is creepy, and the pace unfolds well. Definitely a great horror with thriller vibes.

If you love horror books with a creepy setting, then this is the book for you. The Cut is the story of a young woman working at a hotel where things are not quite as they seem. In CJ Dotson's debut novel, her writing keeps you on the edge of your seat and the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. I was simultaneously uneasy and thrilled and didn't see the twists coming. The build up to the climax worked well - by the end of the book I found myself wishing there was a sequel in the works!

I am really torn on my feelings for this book so I am going to try and explain why. The premise- creepy and incredible. I thought worms freaked me out the most but it may just be tentacles. I love water-adjacent horror so this was right up my alley. the added real life horror of Sam really added substance to the story. The ending- perfect. However, something about how this story was written just didn’t vibe well with the story. It felt like it was written as a drama/suspense with little horror bits thrown in for decoration? Idk. Maybe I am being too critical and I can’t explain myself well but the amazing premise was watered down (for me, personally) by the writing.

It's a fast-paced, easy to get through paranormal thriller that hooks you right to the end. This book started off really strong and I was into it—but about halfway through, I felt like I was still waiting for something to happen. I just needed the same energy through the whole book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

This book brings creepy and psychological together in a spellbinding story. While reading this book the hotel definitely gave a nod to the infamous “Overlook Hotel”. It definitely gave the reader a thrill.
This book is about a woman named “Sadie” who along with her three year old daughter affectionately known as “Izzy”, are leaving their old life behind and embracing a new. Sometimes the new comes in the form of something old. She takes on a job as a housekeeper at a hotel that is past its prime. This is where the adventure begins and sanity is being questioned.
I did enjoy the character development although I do wish there was a bit more of a backstory into Sadie. I’m always a sucker for a woman battling against the odds and makes her own way, waves included. Definitely read this book if you’re a fan of horror , psychological themes and a creepy hotel with hidden secrets.

Thank you to C.J. Dotson and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an Arc! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Nothing special- the cover and storyline seemed interesting but however, the plot did not live up to my expectations.

The premise sounded interesting, but I really struggled with it. The pace was too slow for the genre, and I was never able to stay fully engaged with the storyline or characters. There's definitely a creepy factor to it. However, there were just too many inconsistencies throughout the storyline, and the dialogue is stilted. Character development was lacking, which is likely why I was never able to care about what happened to them.