Sanctuary Motel is the story of a man, Mess, whose heart is far bigger than his desire for money. He runs an old hotel his parents left him, and tends to take in strays.
This is what he does for a woman and her son who are escaping a violent family situation. The mother disappears and it is up to Mess to solve the mystery.

An interesting group of characters in a rather run down place with an engrossing plot.

Sanctuary Motel was an intriguing read!

I really enjoyed seeing the relationships Mess had with his friend Vell, his new charges Nicole and Kevin, and his hotel manager Cesar. I would have like to see a greater storyline develop with Cesar, as I think the author could have expanded on their business relationship/friendship and it would have contributed to the overall story.

This was a quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed with a jaw dropping twist at the end. I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book. The main character was relatable, though sometimes a little one note. A few of the supporting characters were a little underdeveloped, almost puppets, playing the role - such as the sullen teenager, complete with smoking and being addicted to his phone. All in all though, the idea was strong and the plot continued throughout the book.

Sanctuary Motel was a solid read!

It tells the story of a witty gentleman that was left to run a motel by his traveling parents. His compassionate heart overpowers his desire to turn profits on the motel as he takes in people in bad situations and helps them turn their lives around. His entire life turns upside down when a mom and her teenage son show up in need of his help and the situation spirals out of his control leaving him unsure of the right thing to do or who to trust.

I loved the powerful friendship between Mess and Vell, Mama’s sweet and spicy attitude, and the banter between Mess and the motel manager, Cesar.

I think there could have been a little more development and story shared on Nicole and Kevin but overall really enjoyed the book.

I definitely was not expecting the final twist at the end!

Sanctuary Motel
A Mess Hopkins Novel
by Alan Orloff
I very much enjoyed this book. I spent y day buried in this one. It is full of gangsters, mystery, and a great man called Mess,
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, murder, mystery, gangsters, a sort of who done it, great detective work and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Truly perfect for fans of modern thrillers- Orloff manages to narrate an elegantly-woven mystery through the perspective of Mess Hopkins, a magnanimous motel proprietor balancing the approval of his family with the unfortunate (and unintended) penalties of his kindness.

While aiding a mother and son seeking refuge from a dangerous domestic crisis, Mess is thrust into complicated family dynamics and a tangled web of secrecy, and must enlist the help of his closest friends and allies to protect his motel and the family he has sworn to care for.

Sanctuary Motel is a truly compelling novel that keeps the reader hooked with a meticulous balance of action and suspense. Contrary to many mystery novels, it also shows the complexity of several perspectives, and highlights the importance of standing up for the people you care about.

5/5 stars.

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.