Cordelia West lives a pretty simple life. A devoted young Dallas Public librarian, she likes to keep her past just that: in the past. This includes her mother, a former alcoholic, who pretty much wrecked her childhood (they’re now on better terms). But when she receives a letter from great-aunt Penelope—a relative she has never heard of—Cordelia can’t ignore it. She’s been named sole heir to Penelope’s estate back in their hometown of Sarsaparilla Falls, Texas, a place she has assiduously avoided the past few decades. Turns out her inheritance pretty much consists of the Chickadee Motel, which the will stipulates can’t be sold until all residents leave or pass away. So off she goes to Sarsaparilla to see how she can rid herself of these tenants. Cordelia is savvy, and soon after arriving, she figures out the motel is a brothel, with three over-60 sex workers—Daisy, Arline, and Belinda Sue—AKA the Chicks, all eager for Cordelia to sign on as madam. This is the backstory, which is absolutely delightful, but it’s just a launching pad for the rest of the novel, which features extortion, accidental murder, poisoning, blackmail, corrupt developers, a beguiling romantic subplot, and so much more. Lane has created a fascinating world populated with extraordinary characters. Here’s hoping we all meet again.
