The Deadly Dispute

The Tea Ladies #3

by Amanda Hampson

Murder and Mayhem on the waterfront.
It’s time for the Tea Ladies!

1967: Hazel’s new job at the docks quickly turns perilous when she stumbles into the criminal underworld that lurks beneath the surface. A million in gold coins has vanished from a cargo ship and a dead body washed up. Suddenly, she’s in over her head.

Disillusioned with her life, Betty is led astray by a charismatic new friend and finds herself exposed in more ways than one – until a crisis drags her back to reality.

Living in a high-class brothel, Irene gets wind of a threat that could destroy her livelihood. She takes on the Maltese mafia and becomes involved in a dangerously sticky situation.

When one of the tea ladies disappears, they face their greatest challenge yet, pushing their detective skills to the limit. It will take more than a glass of Hazel’s homemade wine to solve this one.

The delightfully entertaining new novel in The Tea Ladies cosy crime series, with murder and mystery, nostalgia and history, and plenty of tea and biscuits. Available for pre-order now!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Australia, Crime, Audiobook, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Melbourne-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.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back in 1967, Surry Hills and surrounds with The Tea Ladies, super sleuths and again Hazel, Betty and Irene search for answers and do their best to stay safe, what will they uncover in this story?

After eighteen months out of work, thanks to Café-Bar Hazel has got a new job on the docks a very dangerous place to be, she was offered the job by a close friend Rex, who is boss of the unions, there has been a big gold robbery, a couple of dead bodies and a threat to Rex and Hazel is not going to give up until she has answers.

Betty is feeling a bit disappointed with life and when she meets a new worker, young Lucy they become fast friends and soon Betty finds herself in a totally different world and not sure if this is for the best but when her best friend, Hazel needs her she of course is there for her.

Irene, is enjoying her new home in the attic of a top end brothel but when she discovers she might lose her new home she is determined to stop that in its tracks and with the help of Neck they take on the Maltese Mafia, but to Irene they are the Maltesers.

When one of the tea ladies is missing the others band together to ensure she is found and safe, this is another awesome story in this series, there is mystery, mayhem, laughs and fun, yes things are changing for the tea ladies with so called progress but I really hope we see more of them. I loved this one and the series.

I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a good cosy mystery, the series if fabulous.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story featuring The Tea Ladies, as adventurous amateur sleuths. This time in Sydney during the 1960’s.

I adore The Tea Ladies stories by Australian author Amanda Hampson. They offer a cosy mystery, nostalgia for the time and so many laugh-out-loud moments.

4.5 stars (rounded up)

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deadly Dispute by Aussie author Amanda Hampson is the third book in The Tea Ladies series. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, including this one. It is a delightful and entertaining cosy mystery. Recommended.

[Emilie (emiliesbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deadly Dispute was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it absolutely did not disappoint!! I couldn’t put it down.. literally!!

It’s time! Our favourite tea ladies Hazel, Betty, Irene & Merl are back and ready for 1967

Hazel is now working for long time friend Rex on the Sydney docks. While it’s not the workplace she was used to a Empire Fashonwear it has her returning to work after eighteen months and she is very happy to have a routine back

Betty meets younger tea lady Lucy and forms an unlikely friendship. Lucy and her pals are on a mission to bring important topics to the front of the world. For Betty, this new found friendship is encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and see the world and herself in a new way

While the wharfs aren’t the safest of places as they are run mostly by shady underworld figures and ex cons, Hazel is no stranger to a tough crowd and thinks if she keeps her head down trouble will avoid her..

But when a million in rare gold coins goes missing and a mother pleas for her help in finding her missing son, Hazel ends busier than ever!

It was so lovely to be back in the 60s with our tea ladies. Amanda has recreated this fabulous era down to the T. Every time I pick up a tea lady book I am just as excited to learn about the history of that year as Amanda’s research and writing makes your feel you really are back in Sydney in 1967

Hazel and her friends are such fabulous characters, it is so wonderful to read about strong, independent women of all ages who support each other so fiercely.

Just when I think this series can’t get any better! The Deadly Dispute is a fantastic read and will have you glued to the page trying to help Hazel solve the many mysteries the tea ladies are facing

Thank you so much Penguinbooks for my fabulous gift box delivery including a copy of The Deadly Dispute to read and reviiew

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps giving. I love reading about Sydney in the 60s and the lives of working class women. Such a great setting and perfect reading experience. Keep them coming!

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 Stars⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightfully entertaining and fun story set in the swinging 60’s in crime filled Sydney, Australia.

The Deadly Dispute: A Tea Ladies Mystery by Amanda Hampson is a cosy crime novel and presents three amateur tea lady sleuths solving crime. The story also features fashion houses and Sydney’s underworld. It also took me down memory lane to the time I remember having a lovely tea lady at work in the late 70’s.

Hazel finds herself a new job at the docks for the Dockside Workers Union which isn’t necessarily the safest environment. But when a body washes up at the docks and a million gold coins go missing, Hazel finds herself in deep water.

I loved these feisty women, Hazel, Bettty and Irene, drinking tea and solving crimes.

Sit down with a cuppa and a biscuit and settle down for a fun ride.

This is the 3rd book in this fabulous cosy mystery series and my first!

Publication Date 01 April 2025
Publisher Imprint Penguin

Thank you to the awesome team at Penguin Books Australia for a copy of the book to read.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
What a joy to have the wonderful tea lady and part time detective back in her third story and what a tale it is.
Turn back time to Sydney in 1967, a period where social and political landscapes were different but forming after a war period.
Hazel is working a new job near the docks.
An environment that seems a little more prickly than what she is use to.
When a body washes up and a million dollars of gold coins has gone missing the true extent of the Sydney underworld shines.
Hazel is in her element.
A disappearance, new but dubious friendship and lots of tea and home made wine allow Hazel and her cohorts to keep busy and indulge in crime solving.
Endearing and entertaining characters and a fabulously detailed snapshot of Sydney in a bygone era set the tone.
The mystery elements executed well as the reader has to be on the same page as Hazel and sleuth with her.
Laugh out loud moments combine with nostalgia as the third in this series does impress.

[Marg · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Read in a single sitting.

rtc

[Amy Hampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in a day. An enjoyable Australian cozy crime. The ending was tied up a little too neatly for me but I also suppose that’s part of its charm.

[Nerelle Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tea ladies are back and life has a few surprises in store for them….

Hazel, Betty and Irene return for the third instalment of the tea ladies mysteries, bringing many favourite characters with them, and meeting new ones along the way. There are serious moments, and these tea ladies are never far from an adventure or two, but they will still have you laughing at their exploits and intrigued at the mysteries that they try to uncover.

I find that as always, Hazel’s story is the heart of the book, but once again Betty and Irene have a few things going on as well, and it was such a fabulous touch to have a storyline for Pixie as well. She was one of my favourites from the last book, and it’s nice to see what is happening in her world.

Hazel has a new job and is adjusting to working in a union office as well as down at the docks. It’s a completely different world to what she is used to and one that may be her downfall as she tries to locate a missing son, save a childhood friend’s life and clear his name, and untangle the secrets that seem to be rife at the docks.

Meanwhile Betty is spreading her wings, taking in new social situations, experiencing new friendships, and seeing how the world is changing for the younger generation. This has a profound effect on Betty but doesn’t always have positive results, putting her into a bit of a crisis.

Irene, as usual, seems to get herself into some sticking situations without even trying, and is back with her very different view of the how things work in the world. She once again gets into a couple of hilarious situations, one of which involves some super glue.

Reading The Deadly Dispute gave me a “coming home” feeling, and I just love how Amanda captures the essence of the era, the feel of the locations and surroundings, as well as the characteristics of the people involved.

This is an easy read that had me laughing along with the funny events, appalled at the injustices, and feeling so many other emotions. A very entertaining story that I hope is not the last of the Tea Ladies as I would love to see what is in store for Hazel, Betty and Irene, and see where Pixie ends up.

You can read The Deadly Dispute as a standalone but believe me, you will get a much better understanding of the characters and the back story to everything if you begin at the start of their story, The Tea Ladies and then jump into The Cryptic Clue. I highly recommend this series of books for some fun, mystery and great friendships.

#thedeadlydispute #atealadiesmystery
#amandahampson
#tealadiesrule
Penguin Books Australia

[Maria Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another outing with my favourite tea ladies. So many elements of these stories remind me of my own experiences as a teenager and young woman living and working in Sydney and the streets of Surry Hills, the docks and the unions, The Peoples Palace, the Vietnam War, the Communist Party, and of course tea ladies. I could just see myself in the mild chaos of Lucy’s household, and those deep philosophical discussions about everything but especially how to remedy the inequalities in social structures. And who could forget cheesecloth skirts and those wonderful bell-bottomed pantsuits. It was an exciting time especially for women, with change in the air, and although this is background to the story itself, I think the author captures some of the sense of it. A couple of the story elements were a little far-fetched, specifically Hazel getting on the boat, but it all came together in the end.

[Maddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting this book, it felt like a warm embrace from a close friend. The familial antics of Hazel, Betty & Irene, wondering what trouble they'd get themselves into this time.
This story follows closely to the second book (Cryptic Clue) mentioning the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the orphanage, & the job losses of tea ladies/the tea ladies guild.

Hazel had found work after loosing her job in the previous book; working as a tea lady, working in the union offices for the docks. A lot of mysteries start to happen & Hazel's on the case, but she may be a bit over her head with what's going on. Thankfully she has Betty & Irene to help her.

I felt this story read fast. I loved the storyline with Betty & her new friend Lucy, & I always love the hilarious antics Irene gets up to.
I would highly recommend this series if you love a cosy mystery & references of Sydney back in the 1960's.

[Dee Blom · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.5 stars***
A well crafted cozy mystery. The latest release in the Tea Ladies series, I always enjoy the characters. It’s always a pleasure to be reintroduced to Hazel and her friends. The beginning of this novel was slow to start. I was anticipating more action early on, and then bam it was all happening. The final 100 pages felt a little rushed. A raft of characters ended up pulling together the final mystery in the end. An easy read, this was not challenging at all. I’d still recommend this series to anyone wanting an interesting but easy read.
This again was chosen by the Cunderdin Bookclub.

[Emma Hellawell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the Tea Ladies books so far! A feel good read with the usual cast of tea ladies and a new set of dubious villains. Definitely worth reading.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story, I want to be friends with Hazel!

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

1967: Hazel’s new job at the docks quickly turns perilous when she stumbles into the criminal underworld that lurks beneath the surface. Betty is led astray by a charismatic new friend and finds herself exposed in more ways than one. Living in a high-class brothel, Irene takes on the Maltese mafia and becomes involved in a dangerously sticky situation. When one of the tea ladies disappears, they face their greatest challenge yet, pushing their detective skills to the limit.

I had the chance to get a pre-launch copy of this book at Clunes Booktown and I jumped at it because I just couldn’t wait. By now, Hazel and Betty had felt like family members to me (Irene too, but more like an aunt who had to be avoided at times 😄).

While I missed Hazel’s interactions with the ins-and-outs of the fashion industry on daily basis, Hazel’s new job at Sydney Harbour made a fun, fresh setting. I also enjoyed hearing Amanda’s behind-the-scene research of the real Sydney in 1967 (basically, very dangerous and not recommended for Hazel).

The mystery in this one was delightfully twisty and kept me guessing. The stakes were high enough, but our main characters were nicely safe enough to make this still cosy. Irene’s antiques again just made me chuckle all the time. There was one scene involving a molotov cocktail that was super brilliant - I was LMAO-ing for ages, and this would be the scene I’d retain in my memory way beyond remembering the plot and plot twists.

The highlight for me was surprisingly Betty’s self-finding journey, proving that there’s no age limit to discovering yourself and what is at the core of your being as a human. Betty got a new friend in this one, whom I’d hope to keep in the next book as I think she added colours to Betty’s world (positively or negatively!).

Sigh, now it’s another year-long wait for the next book (but you should definitely read this one now)!

(Thanks to Penguin Australia for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Gaby Meares · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1967 and Hazel Bate’s new position as a tea lady for the Dockside Workers Union finds her located in the insalubrious Sydney docklands. A million in gold coins has gone missing, and a dead body is washed up. Hazel’s ears are tingling as she investigates and she finds herself in hot water.

Irene Turnbuckle finds herself head to head with the Maltese mafia, catching Molotov cocktails and being driven in a Rolls Royce by a monosyllabic chauffeur to her cleaning job in a high-class brothel.

Betty falls in with a bohemian girl and her friends and becomes disillusioned with her life. Should she burn her bra and become a hippy? She tearfully explains to Hazel I see these young people so full of promise. They talk about waiting for their lives to begin. But the next thing you know, it’s over, the ind is in sight and nothing much happened in between. Where did the time go?

The Tea Ladies series can be seen as a cosy crime, but Hampson is not afraid to highlight the darker aspects of life in a big city. Times are still tough in Surry Hills for many people and Hazel volunteers at a soup kitchen. She is reminded over and over that poverty and homelessness can happen to anyone at any time, and the formerly wealthy are even less equipped to deal with it than those who have suffered poverty all their lives.

The ladies don’t seem as cohesive a group as they did in the previous two books. There are no cosy lunches together in Zig-zag lane. They are all having their own personal issues and it’s not until Hazel goes missing that they pull together and use their combined talents to find her, and maybe the missing gold coins too!

As Hazel says, We’re tea ladies, and we’re no strangers to danger.

As always, Hampson has written a fast paced page turner, with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Her research into 1960s life in Sydney is obvious, adding substance to the book. Highly recommended!

[Kathryn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best one yet, and I really liked the previous two books in this series so that is intentionally a high compliment! I think it is 4.5-4.75 stars so I am rounding up for the sake of encouraging more people to read it.

In this outing, Hazel, having left her fashion house tea lady job, begins working as a union tea lady, both at Trades Hall and down on the docks. Just as the previous two books delved with freshness, vividness and unexpected depth into the world of Sydney fashion houses in the 1960s, this book takes on the fraught and contested spaces of 60s counter-culture, nascent unionism, and gang-based criminal enterprises, including brothel-keeping wars, in a way that feels utterly authentic but neither grim nor depressing.

The characters from the earlier books are back in full colour, and I was delighted to meet them all again. Irene in particular jumps out of the page again in this adventure, and I absolutely love her, hoary old reprobate that she is. I loved the side quests too and the way that secondary characters from the earlier books are being lovingly shepherded through their own stories - Pixie and Alice's boutique was a wonderful plotline with which I was (and remain) highly invested. But then, I love Pixie and Alice - and of course Hazel (the main protagonist) and Maud and Betty and all the others - too. Actually, Hampson just does character really, really well - she manages to write people who feel real and compelling, all without sacrificing the action.

All in all, an outstanding historical cosy that centres the stories, strengths, concerns and thoughts of working class women in 1960s Sydney, and tells an absolutely cracking story. Warm and unqualified recommend.

[Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deadly Dispute continues the Tea Ladies series with its signature blend of wit, charm, and sharp observation.

Hampson captures the rhythms of community life while threading a mystery that’s engaging without ever feeling heavy. The characters remain the heart of the story—resourceful, funny, and wonderfully imperfect.

Hampson introduces newcomers who add fresh energy without overshadowing the Tea Ladies. The key figures linked to the central dispute bring a mix of tension and intrigue—some are guarded and conflicted, others more abrasive or charming in ways that keep the trio guessing. Each new character has clear motivations and distinct personalities that deepen the mystery rather than overwhelm it. They round out the community, offering fresh suspects, new dynamics, and subtle layers that enrich the story while keeping things cozy and engaging.

Clues unfold at a steady pace, supported by warm humour and lively dialogue. It’s a cozy, clever mystery that balances lighthearted moments with just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages.

Highly Recommend. 5 out of 5 stars from me.

[Aunty Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The legendary Tea Ladies are back, living life in 1967 and solving crimes that baffle the professionals. Hazel, Betty and Irene are right in the thick of the murky side of life in Sydney as Hazel has taken a new job as a tea lady for one of the unions who are active down at the Sydney wharves. The ladies are as sweet and unique as they have been in past instalments of this series, and the tangled mysteries involving stolen gold, murders and kidnapping are fascinating with lots of twists and turns. I really feel the Tea Ladies have grown into themselves as characters and any sense ( maybe in the first book of the series?) that they were caricatures has now evolved and been left behind. I had been looking forward to reading this latest Tea Ladies mystery for a long time and it definitely did not disappoint. Real Australian characters, perfect historical setting and a well told story….who could ask for more?

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1967 in Sydney, and the tea lady sleuths are back in Amanda Hampson’s The Deadly Dispute (2025). After months of volunteering, Hazel gains paid employment as a tea lady for the Workers’ Union on the wharves. Of course, Hazel decides to investigate when a dead body washes up and gold bullion goes missing. But can she rely on her friends when Irene is caught up in her own threat and Betty is busy with a new friend? It's a slow-paced narrative, graphically capturing the time period of the swinging Australian 60s and ending in a dramatic action-based finale. Whilst still a delightful cosy mystery read, it felt somewhat contrived with an unlikely ending for an average three and a half star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly regret discovering the Tea Ladies when the first was released. As a result, I’m having to wait a whole year for each book. Ridiculous. The second I finish one I’m ready for the next (kind of like Irene in a pub). I wish I’d discovered them after about ten had been released ( @amandahampsonauthor - do you hear? You have to write at least another 7)! But here I am, reviewing the third in the series before my time.

Back in the thick of it—again—Hazel is once more (not so) reluctantly dragged into mystery, murder, and mayhem. But this time, has she bitten off more than she can chew? The dockers have a terrible reputation and Hazel is about to find out why.

Irene, of course, is in fine form. She’s ruffling the feathers of some mafia folk and catching Molotov cocktails as though she’s done it her whole life. The woman’s audacity is only matched by her complete disregard for personal boundaries—and I love her for it. I’m liking the Neck as her offsider.

And then there’s Betty. Our sweet, slightly scandalised Betty. She’s discovered the swinging sixties… and I’m not entirely sure she should be swinging this freely in her sixties. But I’m here for her era of self-discovery.

Pixie, the shift-dress-selling daughter of shifty parents is stepping out on her own and I love the addition of her POV. Her new venture into the world of fashion and business is every bit as gripping as the mystery. (I love her much more than Merl.)

The Deadly Dispute delivers more of everything we love: laughs, sharp social commentary, glorious friendship, and a good old-fashioned whodunnit.

5 stars for Irene’s chaos, Pixie’s glow-up (grow-up), Betty’s liberation, and Hazel’s (barely held-together) patience.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the Tea Ladies series and these ladies get better with age. It's now 1967 in Sydney. Irene is still my fave and makes me laugh out loud. That she's now living in a brothel fits. Hazel definitely gets into more trouble this time around. They are all facing big issues in crime-filled Sydney. Although Betty's issue is more personal and inductive of the uninhibited era.

As always, Amanda steers the trolley deftly, with a ton of humour and lots of heart. It never gets sappy, though. I love these feisty tea ladies!

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney 1967 clearly had it moments, especially down on the docks... Tea lady Hazel gets embroiled in another dangerous crime, and the other tea ladies are on hand to help, but are also busy doing their own thing. I think this book has a little less unity than the first two in the series, maybe because the tea ladies don't get together as much in the back lane to have tea... But it's still a fun book to read, and tea lady Irene is as outrageous as usual, giving me the most laughs. Wonderful cosy crime.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author. The background research for time and place was good. I wasn’t impressed with the names of some of the characters. Dibble for the policeman? Took me back to Officer Dibble in Top Cat cartoon. I found it took too long to amp up the action and all the reveals in the last 40 or so pages seems to follow a standard recipe for current murder / mystery fiction. I wanted to enjoy the book and perhaps read a few others in the series but I doubt I will be doing that now if others in the series are as predictable.

[Anthea Makings · Rating 3 out of 5]

After losing her job in the previous The Tea Ladies outing, Hazel has been keeping herself busy volunteering at a women’s shelter. Alongside this role she is offered a tea lady position with the Workers Union at the docks of Sydney Harbour. Soon however, Hazel finds herself at the center of another mystery, of missing gold and washed up dead bodies, the wharves might not be the safest place for her. Other shenanigans surround her friends, tea ladies Betty and Irene, where they find themselves desperately using their detectives skills to help Hazel survive this mystery she’s caught in.

It’s been such a joy to revisit the world of the tea ladies, Hazel, Betty and Irene. Starting a couple of years after the previous novel, in 1967, the history of the times is enjoyable to follow. It’s a super cosy mystery filled with tea and biscuits. Only wish we had more of Pixie’s story throughout, her growth and strength has been lovely to follow, even though it’s not a major plot point.

[Marit · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third instalment in the Tea Ladies mystery series is again set in Sydney, this time in 1967. The docks and wharves of Sydney Harbour, trade unions, criminal gangs and their turf wars, murder and intimidation and of course tea and biscuits feature heavily. With touches of humour and the Australian way of life back in the 60s, politics and the fashion industry this story is as engaging and entertaining as the others.

[Essie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two in this series. I think I missed the camaraderie of the group and the rag trade they are connected to previously. The characters were well depicted and growing in leaps and bounds, so much so that Hazel is now a competent escape artist! Some other plot points seemed silly and at times outlandish! The resolution was wrapped up quickly and, for me, not very satisfactorily. I wonder whether another Tea Ladies is in the works?

[Glenys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel gets a job in the union offices, Betty and Irene are still working for their usual bosses.
Between turf wars in the brothel industry, and missing Kruggerands down the wharf there is a lot to investigate including finding a ladies missing son, and raising money for an orphanage. Then there is Betty who has found a new friend and realises she has missed out on a lot and Pixie opening a boutique.... a good page turner.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

with a 1/2
1967 Surry Hills.....know it well : my family had factories there and my school was up the road !
This is the third in this light humourous series and happy to say this book wqas much better than # 2 in the series.
References to places I know so well like Coluzzi in Darlinghurst to the seedy streets on Kings X make this series just that little more appealing.
Was Top Cat the inspiration for Det Dibble???}