The Cryptic Clue (The Tea Ladies #2)

Author: Amanda Hampson

Publisher: Penguin Australia

Genre: Fiction & Literature, Crime & Mystery, Historical Fiction.

Year of release: 2024

Release Date: 03/04/24

Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book #2 of 3 not required to be read in order.

Synopsis

Look who’s back in hot water!

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.

Review

Sydney, 1965 — The Tea Ladies are back! Hazel, Betty, and Irene are once again donning their detective hats to solve a new mystery involving a murder, a kidnapping, and a case of arson in the heart of Sydney’s rag trade district. When Irene receives a coded message linked to a long-lost bank robbery, the ladies are drawn into a treasure hunt full of surprises. Meanwhile, a meddling busybody threatens Hazel’s cherished role at Empire Fashionwear — and the very institution of Tea Ladies itself. It’s time for the trio to unite before the urn goes cold. Can they save the day — and the tea?

Hazel, Betty, and Irene are back — and I’ve missed them! I couldn’t wait to find out what they’ve been up to since we last met. What keeps me coming back to this series is the strong sense of female friendship, the humorous tone, and the surprisingly heartfelt moments that emerge from the most unlikely scenarios.

If you like your crime fiction served with a dash of humour, endearing characters, and a nostalgic sense of camaraderie, then The Cryptic Clue is for you.

Hazel Bates makes a wonderful heroine. Amanda Hampson has done a brilliant job bringing these characters back for even more super-sleuthing with heart and fun. Thanks to the author’s skilled writing, I was able to reconnect with the trio easily.

Hazel returns with a renewed sense of calm and clarity when it’s most needed, and with a brightness she didn’t seem to have in the last book. I was so pleased to see her self-confidence beginning to shine through — I’d been somewhat worried about her by the end of The Tea Ladies, so this was a welcome development. The Tea Ladies Review

I grew even closer to Irene Turnbuckle in The Cryptic Clue. Of the three, her character undergoes the most obvious development. While she’s still the one who loves to stir the pot, we see another side of her here — someone who clearly has deep emotions and would do anything for her friends. You only need to look beneath that gruff exterior to spot the heart she hides. I genuinely found myself rooting for her to find the answers she was searching for… even if it meant a little B&E on the side! And if Betty or Merl got in her way, well, so be it.

Betty Dewsnap — lovely, excitable, and ever-bubbly — remains the most wonderful best friend to Hazel. I want their friendship when I grow up! Even with her ever-growing list of ailments, it’s hard to find fault in Betty. Her enthusiasm for solving the mystery is infectious, and I honestly believe she’s missed her true calling as a detective. It’s clear she’s done her research this time and takes her amateur sleuthing more seriously than ever. I would’ve liked her to have a bigger role in this book, but her limited page time didn’t dampen my enjoyment one bit.

Merl Perlman, honorary Tea Lady and comic relief, still manages to make me laugh — even when she gets on my nerves! She’s that one character who thinks she’s better than everyone else, even though her son-in-law may be corrupt. She’s a character readers will love to hate. I’m keen to see what becomes of her in future books if she continues in the series — and I’d love a peek inside her baking cookbook; it sounds delicious!

Anyone who’s read a series — especially a second book — likely has the same question in mind: Is my anticipation higher than it should be? I’m happy to say, in this case, my anticipation was exactly where it needed to be.

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. 

 Amanda has done an excellent job maintaining the personalities of the Tea Ladies in a way that feels seamless. I never had to second-guess whether a character was behaving out of step with who they were in the first book.

Even if you were to read the series with a long gap in between, I believe the characters would remain instantly recognisable — which is one of the reasons I find it so easy to connect with them as individuals. They’re not just part of a charming franchise; they each have distinct voices and stories that stand on their own.

If I had to describe The Cryptic Clue, I’d say it’s a cosy mystery wrapped in vintage flair, set against the richly textured backdrop of 1960s Sydney. With its historical setting — from the streets of the rag trade district to the bustling world of Empire Fashionwear — the novel delivers a delightful blend of humour, intrigue, and heart.

It’s a story steeped in nostalgia, yet with themes that still resonate today: friendship, purpose, and standing up for what matters. Expect plenty of gossip, crime-solving, coded messages, and of course — a good cup of tea. This is historical fiction with a mystery twist and a lot of heart, perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with strong, relatable women leading the way.

Subplots and Tropes in The Cryptic Clue:

• 1960s Australia
• Amateur sleuths
• Death
• Everyone’s a suspect
• Female friendship
• Grief
• Secrets
• Historical figures – the building of the Sydney Opera House
• Lightbulb moment
• Lies
• Misjudged death
• Person with vital information is killed
• Political or social upheaval
• Potential new love interest
• Protagonists ahead of their time
• Self-belief
• Self-discovery
• Terrorism plot
• That one religious person
• The big reveal
• The plot twist

The ending of The Cryptic Clue has me ready to dive straight into The Deadly Dispute, the third instalment in the Tea Ladies series. I was genuinely pleased with how this story wrapped up, but I’ll be refraining from sharing any spoilers — current and future readers deserve to experience every twist and surprise for themselves!

Readers who enjoy the works of Gareth and Louise Ward, Margaret Hickey, Sophie Green, or Victoria Purman should absolutely consider adding Amanda Hampson to their bookshelves.

I highly recommend this series — and this author — to a mature audience. It’s ideal for readers who are drawn to character-driven stories, cosy mysteries laced with humour and heart, and tales that are perfect for curling up with in the cooler winter months while we wait for spring to return.

With continued thanks to Penguin Australia and author Amanda Hampson for sending a gifted copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.