Sanctuary Motel by Alan Orloff

Description

Mess Hopkins, proprietor of the seen-better-days Fairfax Manor Inn, never met a person in need who couldn’t use a helping hand—his helping hand. So he’s thrown open the doors of the motel to the homeless, victims of abuse, or anyone else who could benefit from a comfy bed with clean sheets and a roof overhead. This rankles his parents and uncle, who technically still own the place and are more concerned with profits than philanthropy.

When a mother and her teenage boy seek refuge from an abusive husband, Mess takes them in until they can get back on their feet. Shortly after arriving, the mom goes missing and some very bad people come sniffing around, searching for some money they claim belongs to them. Mess tries to pump the boy for helpful information, but he’s in full uncooperative teen mode—grunts, shrugs, and monosyllabic answers. From what he does learn, Mess can tell he’s not getting the straight scoop. It’s not long before the boy vanishes too. Abducted? Run away? Something worse? And who took the missing money? Mess, along with his friend Vell Jackson and local news reporter Lia Katsaros, take to the streets to locate the missing mother and son—and the elusive, abusive husband—before the kneecapping loansharks find them first. 

My Thoughts

If you like your mysteries somewhere between cozy and and intense, this one could be for you. Orloff has delivered a solid contemporary mystery featuring a charismatic protagonist, Mess, who sort-of runs a hotel where he provides affordable space for people who are in trouble and need a hand getting back on their feet. This often means that Mess finds himself in the middle of some dangerous situations, such as the one that erupts after he provides a room for Nicole & Kevin, who are running from a bad marriage. At least that is what Mess initially understands. The story really kicks in when Nicole disappears and Mess finds himself with a smart-aleck teen who is endlessly hungry and feeling abandoned.

Mess, his friend Vell and new love interest Lia take on the job of trying to find Nicole, and find themselves in a much bigger, deeper, and uglier mess than an abusive husband.

Orloff writes with an easy elegance, pairing witty dialog with likable (or detestable) characters and good descriptive narrative. The setting in the motel reminded me a little of a recent book that I loved – KILLING ME by Michelle Gagnon – but Orloff’s “sanctuary motel” is much more. I got a little bit of an Elvis Cole vibe as well, which is always a good thing. Fans of gritty, contemporary, cool mysteries will thoroughly enjoy this one.

Publication Date: October 24, 29023
Published By: Level Best Books
Thanks to the Author and Netgalley for the review copy