The Model Murder

The Tea Ladies #4

by Amanda Hampson

Never underestimate a tea lady.
Sydney, 1968. When a popular local man is murdered, police are quick to pin the blame on his glamorous model fianc�e, who has since disappeared. But Hazel suspects a criminal cover-up and rallies the tea ladies to investigate; a quest that brings danger right to her door.
Meanwhile, Merl's long-buried family secret threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. When she stumbles on evidence that her detective son-in-law is corrupt, she's forced to swallow her pride and reunite with the other tea ladies, enlisting their help to expose him.
Betty becomes immersed in a local theatre group where there is more drama offstage than on it, further complicated by her infatuation with the enigmatic leading man.
Irene aspires to a new career as a debt collector but her first case has more frustrations and obstacles than she bargained for, even with the help of a new weapon.
The highly anticipated new novel in the beloved The Tea Ladies series is available for pre-order now.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Adult, Fiction, Historical

Audible Audio

Published April 21, 2026

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

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

⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The Tea Ladies in The Model Murder by Amanda Hampson are wonderfully quirky senior characters who bring the 1960’s to life, they’re smart and underestimated. This cosy crime is book 4 in the series it’s fun and a fantastic read and I couldn’t get enough of it.

A local Sydney man is shot dead in a seedy city laneway and his glamorous model fiancee has disappeared, the police think she is the murder culprit. The Tea Ladies Hazel, Irene and Merl are suspicious and don’t believe the model did it, they plan to uncover the truth.

Merl has more than a few issues to deal with regarding her family and long buried secrets, Betty tries her hand at theatre and Irene at debt collecting and Hazel is pulled into the murder inquiry. I loved the support these charming women had for one another and their crazy antics.

Fashion houses, theatre groups, nostalgia, family secrets, tea & biscuits and organised crime are just some of the elements in the story. I just loved this, it was witty and the mystery was absolutely intriguing. Highly recommend!

Publication Date 21 April 2026
Publisher Imprint Penguin

Thank you so much @penguinbooksaus for a copy of the book.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Roll back the clock to an era in Sydney where manufacturing was common and tea ladies diligently served employees their cuppa and a biscuit.
Although life was still quite simple and cocooned in a shroud of innocence, the deviants still created criminal chaos.
The acute eye and vigilance of the sleuthing tea ladies ensure no rock is unturned.
The murder of a popular young man in a seedy Sydney alley way draws Hazel and her cohort in.
Placing her in danger and unleashing a chain of events.
Merl returns to join her friends and has to deal with troubles within her own family as a web of crime over shadows.
Her past comes back to haunt her and she discovers some truths that will shatter her.
Betty is immersed in her work at a local theatre company and has drama both on and off the stage.
The friendship, laughs and support the women give each other creates a dynamic that makes the reader smile.
This is the fourth instalment of the tea ladies and is like the rest, very enjoyable.
The 1960s circa is captured beautifully and the depth of backstory is enhancing the adventures the ladies have.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tea ladies strike again! The last book in the series left me slightly underwhelmed. This latest book has made me fall back in love with the tea ladies. The characters are so beautifully formed, and with a focused on Meryl and her family in this has given us, as readers, to give her a second chance after her abrupt departure from the original tea lady group for what seemed such a small issue. I love that the gang is back together again and are showing the support, love and connection to us all.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps giving. I love the quirky characters, the seedy back lanes of 1960s Surry Hills, the feminism, the social history. So good!

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

Our fabulous Zig Zag Lane amateur sleuths are back!

Tea ladies by day, detectives all year round

Hazel, Betty, Irene and Merl are back and more determined than ever

Hazel is staring down the prospect of no job
Their beloved Empire Fashion house is running close to foreclosure

Betty is tapping into acting having joined the local theatre group

Irene is.. Irene! Using her new found detective skills to help a local working girl recoup stollen money

Poor Merl is stuck in a bide as a long standing family secret threatens to become public knowledge and tarnish her reputation

And sadly the local cobbers son has been murdered and his beautiful model fiancé has disappeared. The police believe she is to blame, but Hazel believes there is more to play..

I absolutely love this series and the wonderful tea ladies. Amanda has woven key events of the era so brilliantly, you feel like you are stepping back in time! (And I always feel like I learn so much about our history after every book!)

This is my favourite mystery yet, so many twists. And our fabulous leading ladies just get better and betterer!


Thank you so much Penguin Books for my gifted review copy and gift pack

[Rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1968 Sydney, a popular local man is murdered. Suspecting a corrupt cover-up, tea lady Hazel rallies her colleagues to investigate, plunging them into sudden danger. Meanwhile, Merl discovers her detective son-in-law is corrupt, forcing her to swallow her pride and enlist the tea ladies to expose him before her own family secrets unravel. As the group dives into the underworld, Betty gets tangled in offstage drama at a local theatre, and Irene faces unexpected obstacles in her new sideline as a debt collector. Together, these sharp-witted women prove that the city's best detectives are the ones serving the tea.

How is this already book five? Diving into this story felt just like coming home. I couldn’t wait to see all of these beloved characters again, including Merl! I actually really enjoyed the fact that Merl managed to get her redemption arc in this installment, especially after being mostly absent for the last few books.

Hazel somewhat took a back seat in this one, but I didn’t mind it at all. I was absolutely delighted to follow Betty’s adventure as she tried her hand at an acting career. It was such an interesting fit because Betty is the most innocent of all the tea ladies, yet she’s the one wanting to portray these completely different personalities! I always picture Betty White as Betty in my head, so her scenes played out hilariously in my mind.

I laughed, I got teary, and I loved every minute of it. This was such a wonderful read, and by the end, I found myself wanting so much more for each of the characters. I want to know what happens next with Empire, the continuation of Merl’s family story, the updates on Betty’s new friends from the last book, and, of course, more adventures for Hazel and Dibble. Plus Irene - I can never get enough of reading about her!

I already can’t wait for the next book, and I am crossed-fingers hoping that many of these incredible characters get their own spin-offs!

(Thanks to Penguin Australia for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Davena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Model Murder by Amanda Hampson

The Model Murder is the 4th book in the Tea Ladies series. I've mentioned it before, but I read the first book in this series, The Tea Ladies, while staying in a hotel in Surry Hills that was once a convent. On the wall was a portrait of a famous madam from the area. Which, I felt, set the scene for the book. I did a little self-guided walking tour of the area, which made the series more engaging to me.

Tagline: Never underestimate a tea lady.

This book is also set in Surry Hills, in 1968. Hazel is back working at Empire Fashion, and Betty has joined a local theatre group where she falls for the enigmatic leading man. Irene has suspicions; she is living in a high-class brothel, but thinks she might make a good debt collector. Her first case turns out to be harder than she assumed.

A local man is murdered down one of Surry Hills shady lanes, and police pin the blame on his glamorous model fiancée, who disappeared. Hazel suspects a cover-up and rallies the tea ladies to investigate, but the evidence points to Merl's favourite son-in-law, the detective. Will her long-buried family secret threaten to unravel everything?

A big thumbs up 👍 If you enjoy cosy mysteries or fun, light books with strong characters, then I think this is a series you'll enjoy this series. This is the latest novel in The Tea Ladies series, and it is available now.


Side Note: I didn't have the audiobook, so here's a photo of my cats' toes.

#designnerd #booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf
#TheModelMurder #NetGalley
@penguinbooksaus @penguinrandomhouse @amandahampsonauthor

[Gaby Meares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never underestimate a tea lady! Someone suggests that there’s nothing to fear from a tea lady. Betty’s reply? ‘Don’t be too sure of that.’

How wonderful to be back in the company of the indomitable tea ladies: Betty, Irene, Merl and Hazel.

It’s now 1968 and in Sydney there are demonstrations in the streets: against the war in Vietnam and for women’s rights. In a dark Surry Hills Lane a popular local man is murdered and his glamorous girlfriend has disappeared - the police pegging her as his murderer. But Hazel smells a rat and calls in her fellow tea ladies to help dig to the bottom - and it’s a very murky bottom filled with corrupt policemen, brothels and Russian mobsters.

Aside from solving crimes our ladies have their own fish to fry. Betty has become involved in community theatre, fallen for the leading man, and is quoting Shakespeare any moment she can. Irene is looking for a career change, and has taken up with an unlikely weapon to help her stay safe. And Merl, well Merl has a family secret that could blow her family apart. Hazel finds her advice is much sort after by two young women looking to spread their creative wings. Amongst all this drama, there don’t appear to be many cuppas being poured!

Amanda Hampson does a fabulous job of weaving these many threads through a portrait of the seismic societal changes of the 1960s. I suppose this is what is referred to as ‘cosy crime’ in so far as there is minimal violence and the characters are appealing. But I don’t like using the term as it is so reductive. Let’s just say, if you are looking for an entertaining novel with characters that you will love, then you are in the right place.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was probably a mistake to read this on Anzac Day, when my mind is focused on family contributions to War and the suffering involved for both combatants and those who kept the home fires burning. I look forward to the tea ladies, their adventures, grit and detection. They lived up to expectations. However, for me these are not cosy crime stories. I grew up in the Sydney of these books and I knew this world . It’s close to the bone. I walked these streets daily in 1968, the year of this novel, on my way to my last year of teacher training, my parents and neighbours worked in the factories and canteens of that world and the next year I taught children born in Surry Hills, some of them in brothels. The strength of this series is its realism. Reading them I am back in that world - and in the worst, as well as the best. I was not caught in the webs these women untangled, but I knew of their existence, experienced the undercurrents, and was taught how to stay away. I attended the protest that ends the book - or others very like it. Yes, the spirit. and camaraderie were real and uplifting but so was the danger, the corruption and violence.
The book is brilliant. For me, today, in spite of the tea ladies’ success, it is sad and a little depressing. There is little cosy about the world it evokes.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fourth outing for the intrepid tea ladies feels like catching up with old friends. Hazel and her loyal companions—Betty, Irene, and Merle—return alongside a lively cast of familiar faces. Set in Sydney in 1968, the story opens with the murder of a local cobbler’s son, who also happens to be a bagman for an illegal bookmaker. His fiancée quickly becomes the prime suspect, but she has vanished without a trace.
As the tea ladies begin their sleuthing, more crimes bubble to the surface, and Merle is pulled into the chaos when her detective son in law is exposed as corrupt. There’s never a dull moment as secrets unravel and the plot thickens. Even amid the tension, the book delivers plenty of humour—particularly Irene’s new side hustle as a debt collector, armed with her unconventional weapon of choice: a whip named Winston.
Thoroughly enjoyable, just like the earlier books in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but the experience is richer when you follow the characters’ journeys from the beginning. I’m already looking forward to the next instalment.

Thank you to netgalley & the publishers, for the opportunity to read & review this delightful book.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a treat to read this book, portraying so accurately the invisibility of older women, and the way women of quite different backgrounds interact with each other, finding ways to get along and work together. Let's put women in charge of the world, they'd have to do a better job than the men currently creating mayhem!

The richness of the scene-setting brought back my own memories of Sydney at that time, when I was a young woman. The choice of names for the four tea ladies - Hazel, Merl, Betty and Irene - resonated with me as typical for that era, when I knew older women with those names. Of all the characters in this particular story, I loved the portrayal of down-to-earth Irene, and Merl's story accurately reflected the shame about divorce in the 1960s.

The often witty dialogue in this book was very entertaining, all proving the author is clearly very observant and a great student of character. Well done, Amanda Hampson

[Tammy O'Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth instalment in the beloved Tea Ladies series, Amanda Hampson once again delivers a charming and delightfully clever cosy mystery featuring our favourite tea ladies—Hazel, Betty, Merl and Irene.

Set in Sydney in 1968, this story centres on Merl and her rather questionable detective son-in-law. When a well-liked local man is murdered, suspicion quickly falls on his model fiancée—but something doesn’t quite add up.

Enter the Tea Ladies, whose knack for noticing what others overlook proves, as always, invaluable. With their sharp instincts (and plenty of tea along the way), they begin to unravel a mystery that may not be as straightforward as it first seems.

And keep an eye out for Irene’s newest “weapon”—it’s guaranteed to give you a laugh.

A warm, witty and thoroughly enjoyable addition to a much-loved series—perfect for fans of classic cosy crime.

[Lisa (Insta: serenity.of.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Trouble’s brewing, just add hot water!” My favourite crime solving Tea Ladies are back and not a moment too soon. The Model Murder, the fourth book in Amanda Hampson’s delightful series, feels like catching up with old friends, and I loved slipping back into their world.

Set in the late 60s, this instalment gives each of the ladies plenty to juggle. Hazel is pulled into a murder enquiry that quickly puts her in danger, Betty is tackling her first production with a local theatre company, Irene is trying her hand at debt collecting as a side hustle, and Merl, who hasn’t taken centre stage since Book 1, uncovers long buried family secrets that call for the Tea Ladies’ unique brand of support.

If you enjoy cosy crime or simply want a lighthearted read with charming characters and plenty of personality, this series is such a good one! You could read this as a standalone, but the books are so much fun that I genuinely think it’s worth starting from the beginning.

Huge thanks to @penguin and @amandahampson for the fabulous PR pack in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly delightful read.

If you have read any of the previous three tea ladies' novels, you know exactly what you are opening yourself up to.

Four wonderful older tea ladies who find themselves mixed up in shenanigans.

The tea ladies are loyal to each other and remain steadfast. One tea lady re-joins the crew after a bit of a falling out and she made some decisions in her past that she would prefer not to have revealed (spoiler alert - they get revealed!) and she had some opinions that were not shared by the other tea ladies. When this tea lady realised her mistakes, the other tea ladies were not judgemental and their friendship went on.

Love the social commentary that threads its way through the book - always as a background.

Best character: Winston (if you have read the book, you know!).

Eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

[Emily (the_bookdragons_den) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love reading cozy crime, let me introduce to The Tea Ladies series by Aussie author Amanda. The Model Murder is book four of the series and through fun and humour readers follow Hazel, Betty, Merl and Irene as they investigate a local man’s murder.

🫖 It’s always fun to follow the tea ladies on their adventures. Each is such a unique character with their own quirks and the way the author ties them together as the story unfolds is witty, charming and full of personality.

I enjoyed the main mystery of this story, but also the side quests each of the ladies were involved in. Irene especially cracks me up with her unique ways and brings light and fun to the story at perfect times.

The Model Murder can be read as a standalone, but if you’d love to know the tea ladies backstory then I’d recommend starting with book one.

Thank you to Penguin for the wonderful PR box and a copy to honestly review.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better, with the level of absolute chaos, comedy and drama escalating with each new book - and each new chapter in this particular book! Even the special police are a bit stumped with all the strands of crime trailing everywhere - where to start? Leave it to the Tea Ladies, though, they're on the job. We get to see a lot of Merl's family this time, and Irene, my favourite character, has learnt to crack her new best friend, a whip called Winston (later renamed). Settle down with a nice cup of tea and a Scotch Finger to enjoy this latest episode with Merl, Hazel, Betty and Irene. A welcome and wonderful Mother's Day gift.
P.S. My favourite chapter was #12: Irene Narrowly Avoids Being Spiflicated. Hard to top that.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in Amanda Hampson’s Tea Ladies series. I confess I haven’t read any of the first three, but I do enjoy a cosy mystery so I thought I’d give this one a try. I wasn’t disappointed. It has the elements expected of a cosy mystery, and I didn’t feel particularly lost because I hadn’t read the earlier books. I do think they would round the characters out better for me though, so I will try to catch up with them. I enjoyed that they were set back in the 60s, and all the tea ladies had fun old fashioned names so typical of women in that era. This was an entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Lynne Benton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again the context of the story is interesting; the background of the Vietnam war; women’s protests - ‘Save our Sons’ the empowering for older women to recognise rights for equality, fashion industry .. context of Sydney and particularly Surry Hills area - also reference to building of opera House .. this time the case involves theft, corruption and includes members of family .. the tea ladies continue to battle to stay employed and are again caught in crime investigation … all adds up to good story foundations yet I find the use of the present tense and almost staccato delivery of events and dialogue leave me looking for a bit more depth. Nevertheless an easy read

[Jennifer Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read, another in a series set in 1960s Sydney with a crew of tea ladies who service the staff in the clothing trade factories.and who dabble in solving murders.
Having read the previous book a while ago I confused the four main characters, Merl, Hazel, Betty and Irene, and found myself writing notes to clarify who was who, but I still enjoyed the gentle pace and the evocative story that took me back in time.
It's an easy read with some twists and turns and a surprise family re union to enjoy

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Hampson returns with her delightfully charming tea ladies, Hazel, Betty, Irene and Merl, the fourth book in this series, and another mystery set in Sydney. It is 1968, a well-liked young man is found murdered, his fiancee is missing and police believe her to be the prime suspect.

The tea ladies however, with their local knowledge and clever observation skills quickly become involved in trying to find the real murderer. As expected, nothing is as it seems and the ladies uncover far more than they had expected.

[Marit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining to read and great to catch up again with The Tea Ladies. Set in Sydney, in 1968, the ladies become involved when a young cobbler is found murdered and his fiancee is treated as the main suspect. It’s always fascinating to read how the author interweaves events and attitudes of that era into her books. Engrossing and well-written I find giving each chapter its own heading a great plot device. Highly recommended.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Loved it! After the let down of the third book, I feel like the characters are back to acting like themselves (maybe except Merl who goes through quite the development).

I liked the added diverse cast.

Half a star subtracted since it’s only available in Australia and I had to get it through alternative methods 😒 why can’t they sell it outside Australia?? What sort of business idea is that? It just limits sales.

[Angelynn23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth instalment of the Tea Ladies and it was entertaining, I so enjoyed reading the mystery adventures of the tea ladies. It was absolutely amazing! Loved following the tea ladies crime stories. With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin Random House Australia for the ARC.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic to be back with the Tea Ladies. As always there is more to each tea lady than is obvious and this story brings out their best. A great puzzle and a justifiable change of perspective for a major character. The way the seemingly separate threads are woven together is very clever.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arguably far better than the previous outing, which made me wonder whether I should keep reading them as they came out. Right up until the big reveal which was... convenient. It dropped a star as a result.

[Mary Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story, Great Read

Amanda Hampson has written yet another wonderful Tea Ladies Mystery. She weaves believable characters with a page turning mystery full of twists and turns. There is suspense right to the end. Brilliant. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much that when it ended I felt so empty inside. I genuinely followed all the characters for the past 4 books and they were all exceptional and carefully curated. I really hope there is a fifth book coming out as this is by far my favourite series.

[Imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series a little bit more with every book. This made me genuinely laugh out loud on multiple occasions.

Read if you like nostalgia and a touch of intrigue all the while knowing it’s all going to be okay.

[Essie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am pleased to say that this one hit the mark, after I felt let down by the previous two Tea Ladies escapades. I loved reading about their lives, friendships, and families. This one threw up lots of surprises, which will certainly lead to more in books in the series.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Lots of different tangents to the story that all tied together in the one case. The characters are as wise as usual. Great to see Betty being more proactive in this sorry. Not such a quiet mouse of a character