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The Cryptic Clue

A Tea Ladies Mystery

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The Cryptic Clue

By: Amanda Hampson
Narrated by: Zoe Carides
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About this listen

 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.

Praise for The Tea Ladies by Amanda Hampson:

'A total joy!' Joanna Nell

'Sheer delight.' Country Style

'The Thursday Murder Club wish they had Hazel.' GOODREADS

'This hilariously dark crime novel about a group of tea ladies who accidentally become sleuths will have you enthralled!' Woman's Day

'The Tea Ladies is a delightfully intriguing romp, full of twists, turns, shocking discoveries. and scones.' Better Reading

'Crime, comedy and fashion, it's a layer cake of which any tea lady would be proud.' The Age

'A satisfying mystery, a trio of intrepid older women discovering their own strengths, and a window into a vanished past. I give it five TimTams.' Readings Books Amateur Sleuths Cosy Detective Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Crime
All stars
Most relevant
great story that I could relate to, in as much as the locations, I love, love, love Zoe Carides narrations.

Zoe Carides narration

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Zoe Carides is a fabulous narrator, she brings the characters to life with amazing voices and accents. The plot and the characters are great, can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Love the Tea Ladies series

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I loved all the voices done by one person it was like there were many different people reading this book.
Entertaining story and great listen while driving to work.

Great entertaining story

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I think l loved this even more than the first instalment, if possible! I never imagine l could have such affection for a character like IreneTurnbuckle, but l can’t get enough, she is so horrendous . The magnificent Hazel and her companions are so beautifully created, and Zoe Carides is just brilliant bringing them to life.

So beautiful and funny

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Possibly even better than the first book which I also loved. It was an entertaining story and it gave a wonderful glimpse into the changing time it was set in.

Great story

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i've not come across this uthor or narrator before. Such a great story and beautifully narrated.

Loved it!

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I loved this and the first one so I hope there is another book. I feel like the Tea Ladies are dear friends that I miss when I don't have them solving mysteries.

great story and wonderful characters.

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Such an interesting story with the development of the Harbour Bridge as the backdrop. Really enjoying hearing about the tea ladies again in this lovely second book!

Love these ladies

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development of the lovely ladies characters, intermingled with key historical events in Sydney's past - realistic conclusion

wonderful

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The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson

The Cryptic Clue is the second book in the Tea Ladies series. The third book, The Deadly Dispute, will be released in April 2025.

A few years back, I read the first book in the series, The Tea Ladies, while I was staying in a hotel in Surry Hills, Sydney, which just happened to be where the book was set. I saw some of the locations and did a little self-guided walking tour, which was fun.

The Cryptic Clue is also mainly set in Surry Hills in 1966, but it has one of Sydney’s biggest tourist attractions, the Sydney Opera House, as a secondary location due to the introduction of a new character in the series (and love interest for Hazel), Oscar, a sound engineer working on the acoustics during the construction of the Opera House.

In addition to Hazel and Oscar’s relationship, The Cryptic Clue has a lot of different story arcs; the tea ladies’ jobs are under threat, Irene gets a coded message from her imprisoned husband, something weird is happening at the Catholic Church where Maude has taken a job, and Hazel is getting reading lessons. I was worried it wouldn’t all come together, but everything is neatly and expertly tied up in a satisfying bow at the end.

A big thumbs up 👍

Go read a book!

Body count: 2, all in the background, confirming The Cryptic Clue to be a satisfying cosy mystery.

A satisfying cosy mystery

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