The Cut

DEBUT In Dotson’s supernatural horror debut, Sadie Miles is pregnant, running away from a violent relationship, and taking along her toddler daughter. When she finds a job at a dilapidated historic hotel on the shores of Lake Erie, she hopes that she can start a new life for herself and her children, free from her abusive ex. After experiencing some strange happenings, including disappearing guests, vanishing security cameras, and eerie dripping sounds in the hallway, Sadie is determined to figure out what secrets lurk in the hotel. She’s also intrigued by the power plant next door and wonders if something emanating from there could be infecting Lake Erie and the people near it. While this novel’s lakeside setting works well, the story struggles to find its rhythm between Sadie’s romantic life and the horror-mystery of the hotel, making the book sometimes feel disjointed.