The Best Little Motel in Texas

by Lyla Lane

A charming, edgy mystery about a young woman who unexpectedly inherits the best little motel in Texas – replete with a feisty set of golden working girls, a poisoned priest, and a sleepy hometown thrown into chaos.

After a childhood spent combing the dive bars of Sarsaparilla Falls to collect her fun-loving momma, Cordelia West now enjoys a simple, respectable life in Dallas. Then one phone call from the hometown she’s spent years trying to forget throws it into chaos.

Cordelia's great-aunt Penelope has passed away, naming Cordelia the sole heir to the Chickadee Motel. She has no memory of a great-aunt and no interest in hospitality, but the will stipulates that the motel can’t be sold until its residents leave or pass away – so she reluctantly heads back down to Sarsaparilla Falls to figure out who's living in the Chickadee, and how to get them out.

But upon her arrival, Cordelia discovers the Chickadee isn’t a motel—it’s a brothel, housing three women in their sixties known as the Chicks. For decades, Daisy, Arline, and Belinda Sue have entertained the men of Sarsaparilla Falls (with their wives’ blessings)—including the upright Pastor Reed-Smythe, who thunders against the town’s favorite sins when he’s not indulging. Cordelia doesn’t want to be a hotel manager or a madam, but she can’t just sell the only home the Chicks have known—especially not after the pastor is found poisoned in Daisy’s bed.

With the Chicks—and the town—on the verge of a breakdown, Cordelia steps up to mop up the mess. For a small town, there are plenty of could it be the obsessed nurse with access to arsenic? Developers eager to gobble up the land? The righteously angry town librarian? Things are heating up in Sarsaparilla Falls, and with the Pastor’s obnoxiously attractive son Archer—Cordelia’s childhood nemesis—investigating the Chicks and getting close, straightlaced Cordelia may just have to get a little dirty to make a killer come clean.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Contemporary, Cozy, Adult

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Texas cozy mystery is set to come out on March the third of this year! I’m from Texas, so the name of the book caught my attention instantly! I also adore the cover of the book. It is a fast paced mystery about a woman that inherits a motel. It was extremely adventurous reading it and it was a lot of fun! It had lovable characters, who were strongly developed. This is a small town, murder mystery novel that was well written, came with a great premise and a great plot. I really enjoyed the protagonist in this story! It comes with twists that I didn’t see coming and a great ending! With this being under 300 pages long, the author did a fantastic job with this book! It comes with humor and made me feel hopeful and lighthearted. Overall, I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars!

Be sure to read the trigger warnings, don’t let this beautiful cover fool you. This book was definitely unique and gave me, “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman vibes. It’s a quirky book that I think every mystery book lover would enjoy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Lyla Lane and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is set to be published on March 3, 2026!

[Kellye · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Little Motel in Texas is a must-read for anyone who loves amateur detective novels. Lyla Lane has crafted one of the most unique settings of any cozy I’ve ever read and introduces funny and well-crafted characters who will stay with you long after you reach the final, shocking resolution. I loved it and hope we see more of Cordelia and the Chickadees.

[Megan Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cordelia finds an estranged family member has passed and she inherits her place of business. As a tragic cozy mystery is so keen to do, Cordelia has a terrible and traumatic past when it comes to returning to her hometown. Her mom was the local drunk, complete with falling into the town square fountain and being on display for everyone to see. Worried the stress of running an inn will be too much for her 20 year sober mom, Cordelia takes it upon herself to scope out the situation- only to be shocked to find the "place of business" she inherited is an illegal henhouse that doubles as a Texas staple, the "Chicks" being responsible and appreciated by the middle-aged husbands and wives alike. I loved how uniquely the small Texas town looked at this scenario, personally. Cordelia is delightfully anal, so it's fun to see her decide what course of action she will take. Lyla Lane paints a beautiful picture of this delightful town, complete with whimsical descriptions and satisfying character development. My least favorite aspect of the entire book was the romance, so take that however you will. Archer fell flat for me and lacked character development, where the Chicks and our FMC shined and thrived. I hope the series continues, but I kinda hope the romance delivers more on the next one if that's the case. Thanks so much to the author and Harper Perennial And Paperbacks for the chance to read this eARC!

[Caroline Reads Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute story idea, but the plot was very slow and the characters were not easy to connect to. A lot of the storyline felt very over the top as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ARC!

[Stephanie (read_with_steph) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When buttoned up Cordelia inherits a pink motel on the outskirts of her hometown from an aunt she never knew existed, she thought she couldn't be any more surprised. But when she discovers that the motel is actually a brothel with geriatric sex workers (Daisy, Arline, and Belinda Sue) and she's their new madame, she about leaves town then and there. That is, until a client drops dead from a seeming heart attack and Cordelia feels compelled to help out her girls in moving the body to a more respectable location. Everything seems fine until they merry band discovers it wasn't a heart attack, but poison, and Daisy is the prime suspect.

This book is so random and unique that you can't help but love it. Out heroine Cordelia is a delight, and the women of the Chickadee motel all have their moments that make you laugh and want to give them a good hug. And Cordelia's love interest, a local FBI agent and her childhood bully (who OF COURSE pulled her pigtails because he had a crush on her) should not be overlooked--the two of them together are just adorable. I'm not sure how this book could be a series, but I would love to see more of these endearing characters.

Thanks to Harper Perennial for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this novel.

This was definitely not what I expected. It's definitely a quirky vibe, and it reminds me a lot of how the writers of "Sweet Magnolias" depicts the south. If you like things like that, you'll enjoy this. Definitely a book that will make you laugh and keep you interested, hands down.

[Stacy Legg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book. Didn’t care for the ending but still I liked it.

[Danielle Shearer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh man, I struggled with this book. I felt like it was a pretty slow plot and I could not connect to the characters. I felt like the plot/character traits felt like trying too hard to grab the readers attention, but then fell flat unfortunately. It was a cute story idea, but the execution just didn’t work for me. Too many themes plugged into one story. I kept having to take a break from this book because I just couldn’t get into it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC.

[Maya Polon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved the Finlay Donovan series this book is for you. It has a touch of romance but is ultimately a story of a young woman finding and accepting herself and the wacky women who have become her adopted family, all wrapped up in a fun murder mystery. I’m grateful to the publisher for the ARC and can’t wait for this book to be published so readers can fall in love with Cordelia, the Chicks, Archer, and the town of Sarsaparilla Falls.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I loved this book. I went in not expecting much and it started with a dedication to Dolly Parton. Hmmm, points, I like it.

A small-town return when a librarian (mmm, points again) inherits a motel and a new job, with and three older ladies who are the permanent residents, and one is modeled after Mrs. Parton, too. (Gah, more points!) I will admit to laughing out loud many, many times, with the situational humor (hard to pull off for many authors) and the funniest southern sayings I've ever heard. The romance, if you can call it that, was delightful, and more than bumbling, it was harmful to the MMC. It's cute enough for me to recommend it to friends immediately, with some interesting talking points about various moral flexibility topics. I will read the heck out of this as a series.

[Matt Chisling (MattyandtheBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming, delightful genre bend of a novel! A little romance, a little mystery... a lot of fun. Lyla Lane's THE BEST LITTLE MOTEL IN TEXAS has a title that harkens back to a beloved movie with a raunchier name -- and that's not by accident! The novel follows a young, straight-edged librarian named Cordelia West, who is summoned back to the hometown that rejected her family to run a certain kind of motel. The motel's three inhabitants are beloved by the men of the town, and even the wives are happy with the services they provide. But when a (ahem) visitor to the motel winds up dead, the already discombobulated Cordelia must partner with her new employees -- The busty blonde Daisy, the passionate Belinda Sue, and the stony Arline -- to figure out whether there's a more nefarious motive behind the death.

This is absolutely an homage to the Dolly Parton film. It's also an homage to bigger-in-Texas culture, Southern Charm, and its buoyed by an enemies-to-lovers trope and all the magic of the best cozy mysteries. This one is frothy and fun, and is a perfect poolside pick.

Thanks to Harper Perennial for my gifted copy! THE BEST LITTLE MOTEL IN TEXAS is out now!

[Darkwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

A really weird murder mystery, I must say. I think what I liked the most about this book is its setting and how it's described. The town almost doesn't feel real, like from a weird kids book and the people are equally as weird and quirky.

I think should there be a second book I will also read it.

[kippen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Southern Euphemisms! How I miss you!

[Courtney Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geriatric sex workers, a poisoned pastor, a fun mystery... 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 is just the kind of charming and light-hearted read I needed!

Cordelia left the small town of Sarsaparilla Falls years ago with no intentions to ever go back. When she receives notice that she’s inherited a motel from an estranged recently deceased aunt, she plans a speedy in and out return. However, upon arrival, she finds out that she’s gotten even more than she bargained for when she discovers that the Chickadee Motel comes with a trio of feisty golden age working gals. When the small town pastor turns up dead with one of the gals, Daisy, as the prime suspect, chaos ensues.

I absolutely adored this read from the silly southern euphemisms to the laugh-out-loud ensemble of characters to the sweet budding romance of childhood enemies Cordelia and Archer to the mystery intertwined through it all! With a conclusion that lays the groundwork for a possible continuation, I’ll be ready to pack my bags and check back into the Chickadee Motel with this gang any time Lane sees fit to pen another tale. If you're looking for a fun-filled witty adventure, I highly recommend this one!!

🎙 Reba Buhr is absolutely incredible in a solo narration and gives an entertaining performance. Her intonations and inflections as she shifts between the characters to give each a voice is top notch. It was easy listening and 100% enjoyable; I hope she'll return to the mic for any future installments!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins and Goodreads for a copy of this book.

This story was a refreshing change from what I’m used to reading. Right from the beginning it was so funny! I loved all the main characters especially the sassy senior citizens who worked at the “motel”.

I enjoyed the vocal sparring between Cordelia and Archer. That Archer is one hot man!

This story flowed well and was a good murder mystery with a surprising ending. I did think the story ended too abruptly and I wish there was more interaction between Cordelia and Archer. I’m hoping for a second book. Well worth the read.

[Arieal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy lil mystery

[Sam Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and paperbacks for the opportunity to read The Best Little Motel in Texas by Lyla Lane.

Cordelia inherits the Chickadee Motel, also known as the town’s brothel. Her great-aunt has passed away and deemed Cordelia as the new “Madam”.

This was such a fun book. It takes “cozy” mystery to a different level. I laughed a lot and enjoyed the characters and town vibes. I highly recommend for anyone needed a good laugh.

[Irene Mama Bookshop · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, fun, cozy mystery that reminded me a whole lot of Stephanie Plum series. I found myself cackling at some absurd scene and I will have to read the sequel since it was left at a cliffhanger that I didn't anticipate.

[Liz Humphries · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book!! I listened to it and loved the audio version!!

[Kimberly Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this humorous mystery story and loved all of the characters for their own quirky personalities! such a cute story and fun read!

[Kelli Reiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun mystery....a bit of a goofy story but i actually really really liked it.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve never really been a mystery girl, but this one sounded fun and like it might have a romance subplot I could get behind. Unfortunately, the romance went nowhere (I assume there’ll be another book where something finally happens, but I won’t be reading it), and the story kind of dragged on. Not terrible, just not my cup of tea.

[Emily Chludzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my GODDDDD. This was my first mystery book, and boy was it a hoot and a holler. Dare I say this is the best book I’ve read in 2026 sheesh!

[Jennifer Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a fun read on a rainy day in Texas. This book is definitely a bit silly and a lot quirky. But overall an enjoyable cozy mystery.

[Diane Vallere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and charming mystery with an unusual hook--cozy-adjacent, I'd call it. I love stories where a wrench is thrown into someone's seemingly perfect life, and this wrench comes in the form of an inherited motel (complete with later-in-life "working girls"). The characters were loads of fun and make for the kind of ensemble cast that sets up a good series, and the mystery was satisfying. A breezy read with a feel-good conclusion.

[Megan O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and cozy little murder mystery in a small town in Texas, not too deep and not too thrilling, just the right amount of cozy mystery!

When Cordelia West discovers she’s the new owner of a motel in her old hometown, she’s ready to sell but just needs to get the three residents to leave - but it turns out they are town staples and they run their business from the motel and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon! These three aging ladies of the night become pseudo-aunts for Cordelia - and her accomplices when the town pastor drops dead in one of their rooms and they have to move the body to protect him from the shame!

The best part of this boon was the cast of characters in this small town, some we loved (our elder hookers), some we hated (Edna that *****), and some we needed to learn more about (swoony FBI agent Archer)! When the book ends on another murder, you know we’re coming back - and I think I will be! Thanks so much to NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review- thank you to the author, Lyla Lane, and her publisher, Harper Perennial, for the ARC in return of my honest review. Release date March 3rd, 2026.

I give this 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! I thought this was so cute! It was definitely an amateur detective mystery with a touch of romance. I love the small town country Texas feel and charm. Think Golden Girls meets Murder She Wrote! I love how Ms Lane brought out the characteristics of each character, showing you there is more to them than their occupation. It allowed you to connect more with them. Her use of similes was hilarious and often had me laughing out loud. It really brought that country feel to the story also. I love me a good cozy small town mystery. I definitely recommend this book! I have a feeling there may be a second one and I’m definitely here for it!

[Chandler]

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.

Thank you to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.

This charming story brought me unexpected joy. As both a Texan and big fan of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, I was enthralled with the charm and sass Lyla Lane delivered in the setting and characters.

Cordelia thinks she’s moved on from all ties with her hometown of Sarsaparilla Falls. She’s living a nice life in Dallas when she gets a call notifying her that she’s unexpectedly inherited a motel in Sarsaparilla Falls. Upon visiting the Chickadee motel, Cordelia learns it’s actually been run as a brothel for decades and she’s their new madam!The long time…er…residents of the Chickadee motel become potential suspects in a murder and Cordelia finds herself scrambling to identify the killer before the town falls into total upheaval.

This was an excellent cozy mystery complete with a sassy ensemble of characters and Texas sized innuendo. The characters and setting are really where this shines. The Chickadee motel is endearing right out of the gate and the eclectic hens really sold the charm.

The romance angle fell flat for me and I ultimately don’t think it added much value. The events continued to require an increasing suspension of disbelief after the novelty began to wear off. The mystery wasn’t all that compelling but the ride to its conclusion was enjoyable nonetheless.

This was my first work by Lyla Lane and I look forward to reading more. I recommend for fans of cozy mysteries, eclectic characters, and wholesome (adjacent) laughter.

[McKaylee Drake · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Best Little Motel in Texas had all the ingredients for a fun, quirky mystery… and then immediately lost me with the whole brothel plotline. I get what the author was going for, but the “feisty older working girls” angle wasn’t charming to me… it felt weird, dated, and honestly kind of gimmicky. Like she was almost trying to go for like the quirkiness of The Apothecary Diaries (which works so well) but just fell flat.

And the Texas small-town stereotypes? As someone who has actually lived in small Texas towns, the book was doing the absolute most. Every character felt like a caricature, and not in a cute cozy-mystery way. More like “this is what people who’ve never been to Texas think Texas is.”

Cordelia had some good moments, and the mystery itself had sparks of potential, but the tone was so all over the place that I never fully settled into the story. Not the worst thing I’ve read, but definitely not something I’d recommend unless you’re very into eccentric, over-the-top small-town chaos (which… I am not).

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this arc

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

If southern sayings are your thing, then this book just might bless your little heart, because Miss Lyla Lane stuffed it fuller than a scarecrows shirt. There’s a lot of glorifying sexual material in children’s literature and villainizing of church. The plot was subpar and the fake southern culture was gag inducing. It was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!