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The Tea Ladies #2
The Cryptic Clue
In ZigZag Lane, in the heart of Sydney's rag-trade district, tea ladies Hazel, Betty and Irene find themselves in hot water. Having already solved a murder, kidnapping and arson case, and outwitting an arch criminal, they have proved themselves a useful resource and earned the respect of a local police officer. Now he needs their help to solve a plot that threatens security.
As if that's not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome.
There's also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel's job but the very role of tea lady. It's up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods - before it's too late.
As if that's not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome.
There's also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel's job but the very role of tea lady. It's up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods - before it's too late.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2024
106 people are currently reading
741 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Hampson
12 books213 followersMelbourne-based author, Amanda Hampson has been writing professionally for more than 30 years and is the award-winning author of nine novels: The Olive Sisters, Two for the Road, The French Perfumer, The Yellow Villa, Sixty Summers, Lovebirds, The Tea Ladies, The Cryptic Clue and The Deadly Dispute.
A runaway bestseller, The Tea Ladies won the 2024 Danger Awards for Best Crime Fiction and was Shortlisted for 2024 Davitt Awards Best Adult Crime & 2024 Ned Kelly Awards Best Fiction.
A runaway bestseller, The Tea Ladies won the 2024 Danger Awards for Best Crime Fiction and was Shortlisted for 2024 Davitt Awards Best Adult Crime & 2024 Ned Kelly Awards Best Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
April 11, 2024
The Cryptic Club (The Tea Ladies, #2) by Amanda Hampson
Synopsis /
Welcome back to Zig Zag Lane in the heart of Sydney's rag-trade district, where our intrepid tea ladies, Hazel, Betty, and Irene have their work cut out. Solving a murder, kidnapping, and arson case, and outwitting an arch criminal, earned them the respect of a local police officer. Now he needs their assistance to help solve a plot that threatens national security.
As if that's not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome.
There's also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel's job but the very role of tea lady. It's up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods - before it's too late.
My Thoughts /
Grab your favourite tea cosy out of hiding and give it pride of place on your tea pot. Boil that water and brew your tea. Pull those scones out of the oven and slather with jam and cream (go on, I know you want to!). And be happy(!) for the Tea Ladies of Zig Zag Lane are back, and ready to put their detective skills to work with another mystery to solve!!
All the characters that that made book #1 immensely enjoyable are back - Hazel Bates, Irene Turnbuckle, Betty Dewsnap and Merl Perlman - aka the Tea Ladies. And in book #2 it's not only their livelihoods they're trying to save, but also, a national treasure.
I'm not sure which thread is more unsettling -
At risk of becoming an endangered species, the Tea Ladies are under threat of losing their jobs to modernisation - a machine, called The Café-Bar. The first Café-Bar, the 120, was invented and made in Australia by a company called Machine Made Sales who, in 1963, patented a butterfly valve that released an exact amount of instant coffee, powdered tea, powdered milk or sugar. A further button delivered hot water from its tank. The Café-Bar was launched in 1964 with extensive newspaper advertising, trumpeting “Solve your office tea-making problems! with the new self-serve Café-Bar.”
Then there's the thread about the Sydney Opera House. Which, in this instalment, is currently under construction. There's a plot afoot by terrorists who want to make a political statement by sabotaging the building.
But first, a little bit of trivia. 233 designs were submitted for the Opera House’s international design competition held in 1956. Danish architect Jørn Utzon was announced the winner, receiving 5,000 pounds (a little over $12,000 at the time) for his design.
Executing Utzon’s vision was a huge challenge. Construction, expected to take four years, eventually required 14 years and 10,000 workers to complete. One of the biggest sticking points was how to realize Utzon’s roof, and Utzon and his team trialled parabolic and ellipsoid shapes before settling on spherical geometry—a discovery that would allow the shells to be prefabricated from repetitive forms and permit uniform tiling—a breakthrough in 20th-century architecture. But as Utzon continued to blow through lottery funding, Minister of Works Davis Hughes cut his cash flow, prompting the Dane to abandon the project and return to Denmark. Utzon, who resigned midway, never saw his design completed.
Hampson has created a wonderful cast of endearing characters. Hazel Bates is fortunate; she has a loyal group of friends that support and raise each other up when things get tough. It helps that they all share a passion for solving mysteries, and believe me, their eagle eyes don't miss a thing! They might be getting on in age, but their minds are sharp as a tack.
A cleverly written plot which was ultimately solved by input from the entire team. Interspersed with humour and witty banter, this a wonderful character driven series which I am dead keen on continuing.
If you think you'd like to give this series a whirl, I recommend you read it in order of publication, as you will get the most out of it that way.
When trouble is brewing, you know it's time for the Tea Ladies.
Synopsis /
Welcome back to Zig Zag Lane in the heart of Sydney's rag-trade district, where our intrepid tea ladies, Hazel, Betty, and Irene have their work cut out. Solving a murder, kidnapping, and arson case, and outwitting an arch criminal, earned them the respect of a local police officer. Now he needs their assistance to help solve a plot that threatens national security.
As if that's not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome.
There's also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel's job but the very role of tea lady. It's up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods - before it's too late.
My Thoughts /
Grab your favourite tea cosy out of hiding and give it pride of place on your tea pot. Boil that water and brew your tea. Pull those scones out of the oven and slather with jam and cream (go on, I know you want to!). And be happy(!) for the Tea Ladies of Zig Zag Lane are back, and ready to put their detective skills to work with another mystery to solve!!
All the characters that that made book #1 immensely enjoyable are back - Hazel Bates, Irene Turnbuckle, Betty Dewsnap and Merl Perlman - aka the Tea Ladies. And in book #2 it's not only their livelihoods they're trying to save, but also, a national treasure.
I'm not sure which thread is more unsettling -
At risk of becoming an endangered species, the Tea Ladies are under threat of losing their jobs to modernisation - a machine, called The Café-Bar. The first Café-Bar, the 120, was invented and made in Australia by a company called Machine Made Sales who, in 1963, patented a butterfly valve that released an exact amount of instant coffee, powdered tea, powdered milk or sugar. A further button delivered hot water from its tank. The Café-Bar was launched in 1964 with extensive newspaper advertising, trumpeting “Solve your office tea-making problems! with the new self-serve Café-Bar.”
Then there's the thread about the Sydney Opera House. Which, in this instalment, is currently under construction. There's a plot afoot by terrorists who want to make a political statement by sabotaging the building.
But first, a little bit of trivia. 233 designs were submitted for the Opera House’s international design competition held in 1956. Danish architect Jørn Utzon was announced the winner, receiving 5,000 pounds (a little over $12,000 at the time) for his design.
Executing Utzon’s vision was a huge challenge. Construction, expected to take four years, eventually required 14 years and 10,000 workers to complete. One of the biggest sticking points was how to realize Utzon’s roof, and Utzon and his team trialled parabolic and ellipsoid shapes before settling on spherical geometry—a discovery that would allow the shells to be prefabricated from repetitive forms and permit uniform tiling—a breakthrough in 20th-century architecture. But as Utzon continued to blow through lottery funding, Minister of Works Davis Hughes cut his cash flow, prompting the Dane to abandon the project and return to Denmark. Utzon, who resigned midway, never saw his design completed.
Hampson has created a wonderful cast of endearing characters. Hazel Bates is fortunate; she has a loyal group of friends that support and raise each other up when things get tough. It helps that they all share a passion for solving mysteries, and believe me, their eagle eyes don't miss a thing! They might be getting on in age, but their minds are sharp as a tack.
A cleverly written plot which was ultimately solved by input from the entire team. Interspersed with humour and witty banter, this a wonderful character driven series which I am dead keen on continuing.
If you think you'd like to give this series a whirl, I recommend you read it in order of publication, as you will get the most out of it that way.
When trouble is brewing, you know it's time for the Tea Ladies.
May 9, 2024
We are back with Hazel, Betty and Irene the intrepid super sleuth tea ladies, back to Surry Hills in Sydney as they come across another mystery or three to solve. It is 1966 and Australia has just converted to decimal currency, The Opera House is being built, there are lots of changes happening and the ladies are in the thick of it.
Nothing gets past these ladies and first off Irene gets a cryptic message that is left to her from her husband and then things are looking bad for Hazel keeping her job as tea lady at Empire Fashion wear with the advent of the Café-Bar and things go really bad when national security is threatened around the Opera House and this looks like it has links to the local Catholic Church, where Hazel’s young neighbor Maude has taken on the role of housekeeper to the Priest after the sudden death of Aunty Vera, danger is growing and the ladies are not giving up.
It is not long before Detective Dibble who they met in their last escapades is there and asking for help to solve a plot against national security, Oscar Sorenson, sound engineer who is working on the acoustics for the Opera House and very good friend to Hazel is there with his expertise as well and the ladies of course throw themselves into solving the mysteries without thought to the danger they put themselves in, will all questions be answered and will they all be safe?
This is another fabulous story in this awesome series the setting is fabulous, the characters are the best there are laughs and danger and mysteries to solve and they do it so well all with the thought growing that the tea ladies may be out of a job very soon, strikes are organised to save their jobs, but for Hazel, Betty and Irene perhaps they will always have jobs as super sleuth detectives.
I do highly recommend this one and the series and I am really looking forward to more mysteries to solve with The Tea Ladies.
Nothing gets past these ladies and first off Irene gets a cryptic message that is left to her from her husband and then things are looking bad for Hazel keeping her job as tea lady at Empire Fashion wear with the advent of the Café-Bar and things go really bad when national security is threatened around the Opera House and this looks like it has links to the local Catholic Church, where Hazel’s young neighbor Maude has taken on the role of housekeeper to the Priest after the sudden death of Aunty Vera, danger is growing and the ladies are not giving up.
It is not long before Detective Dibble who they met in their last escapades is there and asking for help to solve a plot against national security, Oscar Sorenson, sound engineer who is working on the acoustics for the Opera House and very good friend to Hazel is there with his expertise as well and the ladies of course throw themselves into solving the mysteries without thought to the danger they put themselves in, will all questions be answered and will they all be safe?
This is another fabulous story in this awesome series the setting is fabulous, the characters are the best there are laughs and danger and mysteries to solve and they do it so well all with the thought growing that the tea ladies may be out of a job very soon, strikes are organised to save their jobs, but for Hazel, Betty and Irene perhaps they will always have jobs as super sleuth detectives.
I do highly recommend this one and the series and I am really looking forward to more mysteries to solve with The Tea Ladies.
September 4, 2025
The second novel in the cosy crime series featuring The Tea Ladies, who become accidental sleuths.
This book is a well plotted tale of intrigue and clever wit, set in Sydney in the 1960’s.
Another fabulously clever and entertaining story from Australian author Amanda Hampson.
This book is a well plotted tale of intrigue and clever wit, set in Sydney in the 1960’s.
Another fabulously clever and entertaining story from Australian author Amanda Hampson.
April 28, 2024
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Sit back and enjoy this cosy murder mystery as our unlikely sleuths do all the work for you in a nostalgic period of Australian history.
The tea ladies are back and their instincts and observations are as sharp as tacks.
Hazel loves her work as a tea lady and prides herself in knowing who has what when tea is served.
She has a loyal group of friends that rally around her and share her passion for solving mysteries.
Hazel is trying to save her job against machines while helping piece together a code that could jeopardise national security.
The Sydney Opera house is under construction in a period that was transforming the city and decimal currency has just been introduced.
Changes are everywhere.
Political unrest and terrorism have always stained history and the motives never justify the violence.
With our eagle eyed and keen amateur detectives on the job we can be assured they won’t miss a beat.
A refreshing story with salt of the earth characters that you can’t help but love.
The era, the social landscape of Sydney and layers of plot make this a refreshing read.
Sit back and enjoy this cosy murder mystery as our unlikely sleuths do all the work for you in a nostalgic period of Australian history.
The tea ladies are back and their instincts and observations are as sharp as tacks.
Hazel loves her work as a tea lady and prides herself in knowing who has what when tea is served.
She has a loyal group of friends that rally around her and share her passion for solving mysteries.
Hazel is trying to save her job against machines while helping piece together a code that could jeopardise national security.
The Sydney Opera house is under construction in a period that was transforming the city and decimal currency has just been introduced.
Changes are everywhere.
Political unrest and terrorism have always stained history and the motives never justify the violence.
With our eagle eyed and keen amateur detectives on the job we can be assured they won’t miss a beat.
A refreshing story with salt of the earth characters that you can’t help but love.
The era, the social landscape of Sydney and layers of plot make this a refreshing read.
June 10, 2025
Review to follow.
September 20, 2024
Returning to 1960s Sydney, Australia, and to our tea ladies who have a habit of finding mysteries to unravel. There are a few mysteries in this book, one which takes them on almost a treasure hunt. I enjoyed how that played out until it concluded - I felt the resolution too sudden and anti-climactic.
Fortunately, I still enjoy the four main characters very much. There are some changes in store for some of them in this book. It makes me wonder on the future of the series. Are some changes too sudden and too large? Time will tell, I guess, but it will be very different to see what will come in the third book of this series.
The difference between this book and the first book is I didn't feel as immersed in the historical setting in this book. I'm aware it's set in the 1960s, but it seemed the book wasn't trying to sell that to the readers this time. And that's a shame because she setting in the first book was great. It seemed to me that the author was more interested in adding more sub-plots that going for setting, and I wonder if some sub-plots would have been better suited in the next book, just to keep the conflicts and the changes not too congested.
But like the first book, the main mystery was not my favourite part of this story. I enjoyed the sub-plots more and the characters more. Hazel and Betty are brilliant in this book. And who knows what's in store in book three after a surprise for Betty in this book?
Fortunately, I still enjoy the four main characters very much. There are some changes in store for some of them in this book. It makes me wonder on the future of the series. Are some changes too sudden and too large? Time will tell, I guess, but it will be very different to see what will come in the third book of this series.
The difference between this book and the first book is I didn't feel as immersed in the historical setting in this book. I'm aware it's set in the 1960s, but it seemed the book wasn't trying to sell that to the readers this time. And that's a shame because she setting in the first book was great. It seemed to me that the author was more interested in adding more sub-plots that going for setting, and I wonder if some sub-plots would have been better suited in the next book, just to keep the conflicts and the changes not too congested.
But like the first book, the main mystery was not my favourite part of this story. I enjoyed the sub-plots more and the characters more. Hazel and Betty are brilliant in this book. And who knows what's in store in book three after a surprise for Betty in this book?
May 13, 2025
Great content. Perfect hospital read. Can’t wait for book 3.
February 26, 2025
It was a pleasure to have another visit with the tea ladies, their stories are a delight. This one is set around the construction of the Sydney Opera House, which adds another aspect to the story. Long may there be more books in this series! :-)
April 6, 2024
The fabulous Tea Ladies are back!
Hazel, Betty & Irene are putting their detective hats back on and are on the case trying to stop a threat against national security.
Just when you think they have enough on their plate, their very livelihood as tea ladies is under threat, with Australian businesses starting to introduce the Cafebar - a self serving tea and coffee making machine into their workplaces. Is this the end of the Tea Ladies era?
I loved returning to ZigZag lane, this time set in 1966. This series just gets better and better! Amanda brings the timely events of that era into the story so cleverly. The delightful story becomes a mini history lesson at the same time. Hazel is a wonderful leading lady, and so enjoyable to read, you have her back in every step she takes, but for me, Irene absolutely stole the show! I loved following her antics and watching her stir up Betty & Merl
A fantastic page turning cosy crime, who dunnit mystery that had me laughing out loud and that kept me guessing throughout.
And must not forget the heart of the book is the amazing community of Tea Ladies, and the lengths they will go to for each other and others in their neighbourhoods - they must never be underestimated
This was one of my highly anticipated releases for this year and did not disappoint!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to @penguinbooksaus & @amandahampsonauthor for sending me an early copy to review 🧡
I can not wait for the third book to be released!
Hazel, Betty & Irene are putting their detective hats back on and are on the case trying to stop a threat against national security.
Just when you think they have enough on their plate, their very livelihood as tea ladies is under threat, with Australian businesses starting to introduce the Cafebar - a self serving tea and coffee making machine into their workplaces. Is this the end of the Tea Ladies era?
I loved returning to ZigZag lane, this time set in 1966. This series just gets better and better! Amanda brings the timely events of that era into the story so cleverly. The delightful story becomes a mini history lesson at the same time. Hazel is a wonderful leading lady, and so enjoyable to read, you have her back in every step she takes, but for me, Irene absolutely stole the show! I loved following her antics and watching her stir up Betty & Merl
A fantastic page turning cosy crime, who dunnit mystery that had me laughing out loud and that kept me guessing throughout.
And must not forget the heart of the book is the amazing community of Tea Ladies, and the lengths they will go to for each other and others in their neighbourhoods - they must never be underestimated
This was one of my highly anticipated releases for this year and did not disappoint!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to @penguinbooksaus & @amandahampsonauthor for sending me an early copy to review 🧡
I can not wait for the third book to be released!
June 24, 2025
Returning to Empire Fashionwear and catching up on all the latest gossip was a joy. Amanda Hampson has crafted a story that strikes a fine balance — it’s fresh and exciting, yet still familiar. She’s managed to evolve the story and the Tea Ladies without losing what made the first book so charming. The result is a plot that doesn’t feel predictable — it feels like home with a twist.
Read my full review over on hundredacreofbooks.com
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
April 29, 2024
Delightful, diverting, entertaining and captivating, this story takes place in Sydney in 1966 as the weather heats up. There are various subplots, some of a serious nature, which I won’t divulge so as to not take away the unexpected surprises of the unfolding events. Hazel and Betty are caught up in deciphering a clue given to Irene, regarding possible treasure left behind by Irene’s criminal husband as well as events at the local priests’ home. The tea ladies are also in danger of losing their livelihoods as the new automated Cafe-Bar is slowly being installed in businesses. Humour, banter and laugh out loud moments abound as do the Australian vernacular and local culture. Absolute pleasure to read.
August 29, 2024
Book two in this cosy crime series centering around a group of mystery/murder solving tea ladies. Set in 1960s Sydney the scene setting was perhaps the highlight.
I quite enjoyed book one in this series however, this second instalment just felt like to much of the same and I had to suspend belief a little more than I was comfortable with.
I quite enjoyed book one in this series however, this second instalment just felt like to much of the same and I had to suspend belief a little more than I was comfortable with.
September 22, 2024
If you’re in the market for a senior citizen mystery/crime solving series here’s another.
If you only have the time/ inclination for one of these series I’d go for the Thursday murder club but this was an okay offering, just not super my thing.
If you only have the time/ inclination for one of these series I’d go for the Thursday murder club but this was an okay offering, just not super my thing.
September 30, 2024
An amusing read, bit far-fetched at times.
May 24, 2025
Seemed to go nowhere
June 9, 2024
A great cosy crime story. I remember those horrid Cafebars, make tea up there with the ghastly tea now made in cafes and with coffee machines. Ending was silly and although I like the characters, I think this will be my last Tea Ladies book. If not a tea lady, can you be in a tea ladies book? Anyway, suspension of disbelief can only go so far. Shame, as I really like Hazel.
February 24, 2025
3.5
I enjoyed it, just not quite as much as I enjoyed The Tea Ladies. I liked getting to know a few of the characters a bit more, especially Irene. I loved the historical fiction elements - the Opera House, Sydney in the 1960s, unions, etc. and the backdrop of a profession that seems now so otherworldly. I felt the climax was a little rushed and unrealistic. A fun read nevertheless!
I enjoyed it, just not quite as much as I enjoyed The Tea Ladies. I liked getting to know a few of the characters a bit more, especially Irene. I loved the historical fiction elements - the Opera House, Sydney in the 1960s, unions, etc. and the backdrop of a profession that seems now so otherworldly. I felt the climax was a little rushed and unrealistic. A fun read nevertheless!
May 30, 2025
A less successful cousin to The Thursday Murder Club series. I can see how the nostalgia of tea lady's in the 1960s might appeal but, even though I grew up in this era, I didn't warm to the characters. Frankly the incident of Irene, the toaster and the hat almost made me give up. It's like drinking lukewarm tea - only if really thirsty.
September 9, 2024
I had so much fun with the tea ladies! I adore the series; I being in 1960s Surry Hills, I love hanging out with Hazel, Betty, Irene and even Pixie..I was right alongside the ladies. It’s completely true, the Thursday Murder Club wishes they had Hazel!!!!!
I can’t wait for more!!!!!
I can’t wait for more!!!!!
July 21, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this Australian set book set in the 1960s. Love this group of tea ladies. I can easily visualise each of the ladies along with their personalities. Yes, it is a murder mystery but it also has just enough ‘lightness’ woven through the novel to make it easy and enjoyable to read.
February 1, 2024
This should be on everyone’s cosy crime reading list! Absolutely loved it.
July 2, 2024
i flew through this. such a cute and heartwarming book with a wide array of interesting characters. a good insight into 1960s australia
July 14, 2024
I love the tea ladies, they're so funny, but very shrewd!
November 27, 2024
Sadly I did not buy into the premise of this story and from the start I could not believe any of the storylines.
April 17, 2025
l like the tea ladies especially Hazel. l liked this book. No spoilers from me.
December 14, 2024
Good story, neat pace, likeable characters, good setting. Love Hazel and Irene with her blue teeth.
Read
January 22, 2025Picked this up in Australia. A very cozy mystery that fell by the wayside while I was reading several other books. Didn’t get very far into it. Now waiting on my bookshelf.
March 22, 2025
Enjoyable tea lady action. Some proper tea and some death. Enjoyable characters. Not action packed but light-hearted fun and murder.
November 24, 2025
I absolutely zoomed through this book! The interwoven plots and stories came together seamlessly. The characters are quirky and loveable and excited to see where they go next.
January 22, 2025
The Cryptic Clue is the sequel to the Tea Ladies. Set in Sydney in the 60s, Hazel and her fellow tea ladies always seem to be in the right place at the right time. There are loads of shady characters, and the building of the Opera House acts as the backdrop to this story. I enjoyed this book as much as the original. Both were delightful reads and made me laugh throughout. The Irene character is a cracker. Would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews