In the Cut by Susanna Moore is a tense, erotic psychological thriller set in the gritty underbelly of 1990s New York City. It follows Frannie Avery, a reserved writing teacher who becomes entangled with a homicide detective investigating a series of brutal murders of women. What begins as a dangerous sexual affair soon unravels into obsession, paranoia, and violence, as Frannie’s fascination with desire and language collides with the threat of death circling her life.
Moore’s prose is sharp and intimate, blurring the line between sensuality and fear. The novel captures the raw, claustrophobic feel of urban isolation, and challenges ideas about power, vulnerability, and the female gaze. It’s both a noir murder mystery and a disturbing study of lust, danger, and the unknowable nature of the people we let close.
