The Best Little Motel in Texas: A Novel

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, Romance, Contemporary, Cozy Mystery, Adult, Mystery Thriller

417 pages, Kindle Edition

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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[kippen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Southern Euphemisms! How I miss you!

[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.

[Caroline · 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!

[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. 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!

[Diane Vallere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[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.

[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.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had been sitting on my TBR for about seven months, and honestly by the time I picked it up I had completely forgotten what it was about. That actually made the experience even better because this turned out to be such a fun surprise.

This was a laugh out loud funny cozy mystery. The setup is almost a second chance story for the FMC. Her mother was run out of town years ago because of her drinking, and Cordelia grew up believing she could never go back. But when she unexpectedly inherits the Chickadee Motel, she’s forced to return to the small Texas town she thought had no place for her.

What she finds is… not exactly a motel.

The Chickadee is actually a long running brothel run by three women in their sixties known as the Chicks. Somehow Cordelia ends up becoming their reluctant madam while also trying to solve the small matter of a murdered pastor found in Daisy’s bed.

The mystery itself was hilarious, chaotic, and genuinely fun to follow. I loved getting to know all the characters at the motel as well as the quirky townspeople. The humor was sharp, the pacing kept the story moving, and the romance added just the right touch without taking over the plot.
This very much felt like a setup for another book, or even a full series, and I would absolutely read more set in this world.

[KaseyG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts: Okay, this is one of the quirkiest cozy mysteries I have ever read! Cordelia unexpectedly inherits a motel in small town Texas from an estranged relative, but when she get there she finds out it is actually a brothel where three women in their sixties, known as The Chicks, reside. There’s a murder, lots of drama and scandal, and even a bit of romance. I thought this was well written and paced, and I had a lot of fun reading it!
Read this if you like:
🏩 cozy mystery
🏩 quirky characters
🏩 small town

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel follows Cordelia West, who is dragged back to her hometown after unexpectedly inheriting her great aunt’s “motel” which turns out to be a long running brothel run by three outspoken women in their sixties. When the town’s judgmental pastor is found poisoned in one of their beds, Cordelia is pulled into a messy small town mystery full of colorful suspects and complicated secrets, made worse by the involvement of the pastor’s attractive son. While the premise is fun and the mystery has potential, the book often feels like it is trying too hard. The brothel angle did not appeal to me, and despite some enjoyable moments with Cordelia, the story moves slowly. Overall, an okay read but not a standout. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Melrose's · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun.

The chicks; Belinda Sue, Arline and Daisy reminded me of The Golden Girls, but all of them are Blanche Devereaux with a mind like Sophia Pertillo - sex and a mind for money.

I know this is more of a comedy thriller, but that dash of tension and chemistry between Cordelia and Archer Reed Symthe was definitely something else. Like I was craving for more interaction between them and I have to keep reminding myself that Cordelia has a murder case to solve. Archer really keeps giving that yearning lines, like he's saying that whatever she gives even a little he will willingly take and thank the heavens he received it. The scene in Archer's office where he pull Cordelia closer and nuzzle her neck. Perfection!

I hope there's a sequel since I want to know if Cordelia and Archer will be endgame.

[Chelsea Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up. A romp of a good time. Full review is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVWAZbjDX...

[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

[Terry Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful cozy mystery to read on a rainy day.

[Kelsey Fredericks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best Little Motel in Texas is a cozy, quirky mystery with a little chemistry. This is about Cordelia West, who inherits a motel from her long lost great aunt. She comes to find out that this is not a motel, but the Chickadee is a "cathouse" with three 60+ year old women working it. Just as she is coming to terms with the fact that she is now a madam, the town pastor is found dead in the bed of one of the "chicks", Daisy. Cordelia and the chicks work to find the true killer before Daisy can take the fall for a crime she didn't commit. Archer, the pastor's son and Cordelia's childhood nemesis, is now an FBI agent who is suspicious of the chicks involvement in his father's death.

At first I was hesitant about how this book would go, however after I got through the first few chapters it was a blast. Cordelia is and OCD librarian who is thrust into a very much not black and white world of the Chickadee Motel. Her relationship with the chicks and the mess they get themselves into is very entertaining. Honestly, just wish there was more with Archer and Cordelia. Their chemistry and banter were great. This ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I hope that means we will be getting more Sarsaparilla Falls in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend for fans of a quirky cozy mystery! Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Kim Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of this book. I am normally I spicy romance reader, but "The Best Little Motel in Texas" scratched an itch in my brain that I did not know I needed. I wish this book was going to be a 10 part series because I just did not get enough.

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out March 3rd, 2026
“The Best Little Motel in Texas” is a warm slice of small-town charm served with a side of secrets and a dash of sass. Set in a roadside haven that’s seen better wallpaper but never a dull moment, the story unfolds with a cast of characters who feel like they’ve been waiting for you to check in. There’s heartache tucked into the linen closet, laughter echoing down the halls, and a sense of community that’s as stubborn as it is sweet.

The plot hums along with gentle twists and emotional depth, never rushing but always moving. It’s the kind of story where the biggest revelations come not from dramatic confrontations, but from quiet conversations over coffee and confessions made under flickering neon lights. The motel itself is more than a setting—it’s a character, worn and welcoming, with stories in every creaky floorboard and faded postcard.

This novel doesn’t shout—it sings, softly and sincerely. It’s about finding home in unexpected places, healing in shared silences, and love that lingers like the scent of honeysuckle in the Texas heat. You’ll leave with your heart a little fuller and a sudden craving for pie at midnight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this ARC!

[C Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Little Motel in Texas by Lyla Lane
Publication date March 3, 2026

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This author is a first for me. I really enjoyed this book and hope there is a sequel! I could easily picture each of the characters and the small town. It’s a story about a woman who inherits a motel from an aunt she didn’t know she had. She is surprised to find out that it is a brothel and she has stepped in to the role of a madam. It’s a fun story that has a little bit of everything. I highly recommend if you like a cozy mystery!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

This book is definitely not something I would usually pick up, but the storyline really piqued my interest and I’m so glad I was able to read it. The Best Little Motel in Texas is charming, funny, exciting, and suspenseful. We follow Cordelia to south Texas after she inherits a motel from a great aunt, and surprise surprise, it's a brothel and home to three charismatic, sweet, and chaotic seniors who had me laughing for the entire book. Just think Golden Girls, but make it Texan. After one of the clients, who also happens to be the pastor, ends up dead, all of the ladies must play detective to try and save themselves from being blamed. The story is dramatic, enticing, and a testament of friendship and loyalty.
Right off the jump, I really enjoyed all of the details and care the author took into describing the weather, surroundings, and characters. It painted great imagery and really pulls you into the story and I felt at times that I was along the sidewalks of Sarsaparilla Falls. Additionally, I loved that all of the characters we meet were really fleshed out and you could pick up on their quirks and personalities with just a few lines of dialogue. I adored our four leading ladies and how they all shined through their different attitudes, humor, and emotions. There were moments that called for softer conversations and also some that required tons of fire, and I think the author did a fantastic job conveying that through the pages. Cordelia, specifically, came in as a very sheltered and guarded person, but as the story unfolded, she became more comfortable in her own skin and unknowingly ventured on this journey of self discovery. Speaking of our FMC, the banter and tension she had with the pastor’s son, Archer, was top notch. I wish we could’ve gotten more of them, but romance was a very small subplot and I think that was for the best. I’m just saying, I would eat up a book just about the two of them!
I think I might have reviewed this book higher if it weren’t for a few key elements that were a little bit disappointing and took me out of the story. The ending felt very rushed and I wasn’t a fan of the event that it ends with. I’m assuming maybe it’s to set up a future continuation, but it stressed me out more than anything. I felt it wasn’t really necessary considering all the FMCs had already been through. Additionally, it was glaringly obvious the author was not from Texas and hasn’t spent much time in the southern area. After looking up the county mentioned in the book, it turns out its about 1.5 hours south of where I am in San Antonio. Knowing this, it was very hard to focus on some parts because the southern-isms, for lack of a better word, were a bit too much. It played into the very stereotypical southern assumptions about how we talk, but I can almost guarantee that the more south you travel in Texas, the less and less twang you are going to hear in people's voices. This kind of dialogue and mannerisms are usually found in the north/north central areas of the state so it did throw me for a loop. Additionally, HEB is mentioned a few times, however, one small detail about purchasing alcohol there immediately took me out of the story. Fellow readers who are not from Texas, please be aware that you cannot buy hard liquor in grocery stores in this state. A quick google search could have prevented this very minor slip up, but from someone who was born and raised her whole life in Texas, these are the details that can make or break a story.
Overall, this was a fun book that had the right amount of suspense to keep your attention and wishing you could know more. The characters, small and large, were interesting and engaging without overpowering the story as a whole. If you love Golden Girls and a Law & Order marathon, this book is right up your alley.

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Perennial for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: March 3, 2026

Lyla Lane’s debut novel, “The Best Little Motel in Texas” is a quirky, Southern mystery about a young woman who inherits a motel, and its inhabitants, and ends up embroiled in a murder mystery.

Cordelia West has spent the majority of her adult life avoiding the little town of Sarsaparilla Falls, Texas, where she grew up. Her life in Dallas is controlled, organized and clean, and that’s the way she likes it. Until she’s contacted by a lawyer who tells her that, after the death of her paternal aunt, she has been left a motel back in her hometown that she can’t sell and she has to take all of the hotel’s current inhabitants as part of the deal. Desperate to deal with this hotel and move on, Cordelia makes the journey back and discovers the motel that she inherited is far more than just a tourist stopover. The Chickadee, and its inhabitants, are infamous in the small town and, against her initial judgment, Cordelia finds herself connecting to the inhabitants, inadvertently helping the small town she couldn’t move away from fast enough.

Cordelia is the buttoned-up, super organized, Type A protagonist who spent most of her childhood caring for her alcoholic single mother. She is pure sass and strength, with every Southern euphemism tucked in her back pocket, Cordelia is likable and funny and I found it easy to connect with her. I thoroughly enjoyed the buoyant, vibrant personalities of the “chicks”, the elderly women residents of the Chickadee motel. Going against conventions, they take no prisoners, and make no excuses, for the lifestyle they lead, and I was in complete awe. These are definitely not the characters you expect to rally behind, but by the end of the novel, I was definitely cheering for them.

The murder mystery was well crafted, especially for a debut, and all of the twists and turns led to an unexpected, but enjoyable, conclusion. There were a few plot points that were explained away too simplistically, where things “just happened” or had a silly reason for occurring, in order to advance the plot, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story line for the most part.

“Texas” is a spunky standout in the murder mystery genre, full of Texas sass. With protagonists you can’t help but like, Lane’s novel is a unique debut that has left the door open for a follow-up, and I look forward to reading more from Cordelia and her crew.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Sadly, this is one of those books where the premise is much better than the execution. I can definitely picture this as a silly movie that you don't question too closely, especially one from the 1980s. But for me, it was missing sparkle and a LOT of heart.

After having left Sarsparilla Falls in her youth due to her mother's excessive drinking disgraces, Cordelia West has lived a quiet and purposefully boring life. When an Aunt she barely remembers leaves her a small motel with permanent guests, Cordelia figures she'll come out, encourage them to move out, and then sell the property. But then a guest dies suddenly and she finds herself assuming a leadership position to save the residents of the hotel from jail.

For me, the entire book was cute and cozy - but also incredibly silly and not in a fun way. With people this stupid or clueless, it really needs to be zany and more over-the-top to really work. But instead, Cordelia was rather boring, her love interest very unrealistic and uninteresting, and the whole book felt heavy-handedly plotted. There wasn't an honest or organic bone anywhere in the book, robbing the story of joy and enfranchisement by the reader. I couldn't help but feel this greatly needed more heart.

To be fair, the "chickadees" were cute in a very hyperstylized Golden Girls way (and that's saying a LOT!). But the cat fights from 1980s Dallas TV show rejected characters were trite and lacking zing, the murder mystery ridiculous, both lead characters (male and female) door knob stupid and lacking any common sense and the pacing could get really slow. There was nothing snappy, original, or intriguing.

So while not a horrible read, it was just too ludicrously illogical and the main characters way too uninteresting to really hold my attention. One can only suspend absolute disbelief for so long before it just becomes an exercise in disappointment. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Best Little Motel in Texas
Author: Lyda Lane
Publisher: Harper Audio Adult/ Harper Perennial
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Reba Buhr
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date: March 3, 2026
My Rating: 4.5. Stars Rounded up to 5 Fun Stars
Pages; 288

Story starts when Cordelia gets a phone call from an estate lawyer telling her that her great-aunt Penelope has passed away, naming Cordelia the sole heir to the Chickadee Motel. Cordelia has no memory of a great-aunt and was informed she was her dad’s aunt - dad left her and her mother when she was eight months old.
She isn’t interesting in going back to Sarsaparilla Falls nor has an interest in running a motel. However, the will stipulates that the motel can’t be sold until its residents leave or pass away. .
She reluctantly heads to Sarsaparilla Falls to figure out who is living in the Chickadee, and how to get them out so she can sell.

When she arrives, Cordelia discovers the Chickadee isn’t a motel—it’s a brothel, and there are three women Daisy, Arline, and Belinda Sue who are in their sixties known as the Chicks who live there. They have entertained the men of Sarsaparilla Falls for years- (with their wives’ blessings).
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 Reed-Smythe, is found dead in Daisy’s bed.

Okay a dead body isn’t good! Our chicks decided they need to get the Pastor’s body out of the Chickadee. They decided to move him to his office at the church and take a few items to make it look like a break-in.

When they find out he was poisoned and the Pastor’s son Archer an FBI agent wants to search Daisy’s room. As he knows, about his father’s Friday night visit to Daisy. The Chicks plus Cordelia are able to discourage him and they immediate search the room for anything that might have contained the poison. Story is such fun- plus totally love the laugh out loud Texas analogies.

Searching for Whodunit got far more involved than I expensed.

Want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult/Harper Perennial for this fun early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 3, 2026.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texas Gets Wild

Cordelia West’s quiet life as a Dallas librarian explodes into chaos the moment she inherits the rundown Chickadee Motel, a place that turns out to be less business, more rowdy retirement home for a group of spirited older sex workers who call themselves the Chicks. Cordelia plans to sell, but the Chicks have other ideas, and things only get messier when a local pastor ends up dead. What follows is a madcap swirl of small-town secrets, stubborn friendships, and murder, all set against the dusty backdrop of rural Texas.

The Chicks, with their big personalities and bigger hearts, steal every scene. Cordelia is the classic outsider, unsure whether to run or stay, but her slow transformation brings plenty of laughs (and a few tears). The novel crackles with energy as it tackles themes of found family, aging, and the strange comfort of messy community. There’s a fierce sense of female camaraderie and a defiance of what anyone expects from women of a certain age.

Lyla Lane’s writing is light on its feet; fast, funny, and packed with sharp dialogue. The jokes land, the pacing never drags, and even in the silliest moments, there’s a warmth that grounds the story. It’s easy to see Lane’s rom-com roots in the banter, but here she mixes in a genuine mystery and a touch of real heart.

Where the book really shines is its cast: the Chicks are outrageous and lovable, making the motel feel like the last place you’d expect to find yourself, and the one you never want to leave. The Texas setting is as vivid as its gossip, and the sense of community is both hilarious and touching. At times, the plot veers into the improbable, and occasionally Cordelia herself gets lost among her larger-than-life companions. Some scenes race by too quickly, and the relentless zaniness sometimes overshadows deeper emotion.

Still, most readers will end up charmed. It’s a cozy mystery that refuses to play by the rules; riotous, heartfelt, and perfect for anyone who wants their whodunits served with a wink and a side of sass. The Best Little Motel in Texas knows how to keep things light without losing its heart, and reminds us that family isn’t always what you expect.