"### Some Monsters Are Family in *The Cut* by C.J. Dotson �� 4/4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#### A Haunting Tale with a Fiercely Rooted Heroine

C.J. Dotson masterfully crafts a supernatural horror novel dripping with dread, atmosphere, and heartbreak in *The Cut*. Sadie Miles isn’t just running from the horrors of her past—she’s navigating a present that feels just as sinister within the aging walls of L’Arpin Hotel.

Dotson’s character work is truly where the novel shines. Sadie, a mother with no room for illusions after escaping her abusive ex, is a protagonist worth rooting for, and the eerie hotel itself feels like another living, breathing presence. The unsettling events Sadie uncovers—the strange disappearances, the inexplicable visions, and the ever-present feeling of being watched—build a deliciously creeping tension.

Some monsters are family in this book—an eerie truth that lingers throughout the story. The creatures lurking in L’Arpin aren’t just terrifying; they feel disturbingly tied to Sadie’s personal battles, making the horror all the more potent. And let’s not forget her toddler, whose presence adds an unexpected depth of resilience and eerie charm. The audiobook narration of the child is particularly excellent, bringing their personality to life with just the right balance of mischief and intensity. I was absolutely rooting for the kid to get it first!

The novel blends psychological horror with creature feature elements, ensuring the scares are both cerebral and visceral. Just when you think you’ve figured out what lurks within *The Cut*, Dotson twists the knife again, ensuring readers remain on edge.

#### Final Thoughts

With its razor-sharp pacing, deeply unsettling atmosphere, and a protagonist whose strength bleeds through the pages, *The Cut* is a must-read for horror fans who love stories where survival feels both personal and terrifying. Dotson does a fantastic job with the characters, making every moment feel earned and urgent. If you enjoy eerie hotels, the creeping unknown, and protagonists who refuse to be gaslit, *The Cut* is a perfect addition to your collection.

Happy reading 🐙🦑📚"

"Dotson's writing style is all her own, with glimmers of inspiration from horror greats. from the author's mouth herself, she aims to "make the reader rethink their next comfortable shower"- and she does exactly that. Sadie's strength and determination, and immense love for her child, are palpable. I can completely identify with her overactive imagination! Dotson's imagery is vivid and intense drawing you in quickly and holding you captive to the very end, and leave you wanting more. job very well done on this debut novel from a wonderfully talented author!"

"The Cut
A Novel
by C. J. Dotson
Narrated by Jenn Lee

A tense and disturbing novel set in the historic yet fading L’Arpin Hotel on the shores of Lake Erie.

Sadie and her three-year old daughter Izzy, are on the run from Sadie’s violent fiancé, Sam. Sadie had stumbled into a relationship with Sam after the death of Izzy’s father in a car accident. Sam took advantage Sadie’s grief, her trauma, and her anxiety and used it to manipulate and abuse her. When Sadie learns she’s pregnant with Sam’s child, she RUNS. She gets a job as a housekeeper in the hotel and she and Izzy move in.

I love the way Dotson uses Sadie’s inner voice, her anxious, wounded negative self-talk and her memories of Sam’s abusive words to reveal Sadie’s backstory and motivations. It is painfully effective, helping to expose Sadie, flaws and all, making her feel real to the reader, her plight so stressful, her reactions very fitting to her situation. And her situation is SCARY! Noises, shadows, secrets, smells, missing people, things in the tub�� slimy, glistening, briny horror.

Narrator Jenn Lee is perfection. She captures Sadie’s earnestness and anxiety and Izzy’s three year old angst. Lee’s performance had me completely engaged.

The Cut is a taut thriller, well-paced and emotional with moments of sheer terror. "

"C. J. Dotson has started her promising literary career with an extremely clever and chilling novel that will appeal to fans of both horror and psychological thrillers.

THE CUT quickly gets under your skin and makes you uncomfortable from the first page to the last. It does not make matters any easier as you wonder if the protagonist is a reliable narrator. Sadie Miles has run away with her three-year-old daughter, Izzy, to escape an abusive relationship with Sam, who also happens to be the mayor of their small town in southern Ohio. She never reveals to him, or anyone else for that matter, that she is pregnant.

Sadie heads north to interview for a job as a housekeeper at an old hotel off the banks of Lake Erie. But first, we get to enjoy a prologue where a man thinks he sees his lost dog splashing in the water. When he wades in to reach the figure, he hears his dog barking on the shore behind him. That is the last thing he will ever hear as he is pulled beneath the water by the creature he was approaching, never to resurface.

What sounds like the start of a great B horror movie is elevated to far greater literary heights by Dotson as she slowly reveals piece by piece what is going on at the L’Arpin Hotel, as well as the nearby power plant and small beach area known to locals as The Cut.

Sadie’s interview with Mr. Drye, the hotel manager, goes very well, and she is offered the position. She asks Mr. Drye if she can take a room with Izzy until she has time to search for an apartment in town. Her request is accepted, and she is about to start housekeeping training with Mel, a fellow employee. Sadie knows in her heart that the hotel is just a speed bump in her life as she plans to stay there just long enough to save up money for a far more distant relocation from Sam. She also wants to start a safe household for Izzy and the baby on the way.

Since this is a horror novel, readers will recognize that characters cannot make plans when there are external elements that might have something else in mind for them. It is not long before Sadie begins to believe that she is seeing and hearing things in the hotel. She also swears to have observed a guest by the pool who then disappears from sight. Mr. Drye claims to know nothing about this individual, and Sadie makes it her business to get access to the few security cameras they have so she can see for herself. That she has constant flashbacks to the verbal and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of Sam is enough to make you wonder how believable she is, especially when Sam constantly accuses her of making up stories.

When Mel goes missing from the hotel, Sadie asks Mr. Drye about her, and he insists they have never had an employee by that name. Sadie is now confident that something is up, and that is reinforced when those limited security cameras are suddenly removed. She sees what looks like strange tentacled creatures coming out of the drain in her bathtub but is unable to get anyone into her room to corroborate this. But then she has the opportunity to save a manager from the power plant next door who is being attacked in the parking lot by what looks like a dog if it had wings and tentacled arms.

The strange occurrences ramp up in a big way for the finale. Dotson pulls out all the stops as THE CUT’s memorable and spine-tingling finish had me gasping for breath. The mixture of unreal horror and whatever supernatural power is pulling the strings around this area is first-rate, and Dotson writes with the skill of a seasoned horror master.

Reviewed by Ray Palen"