- Published: 25 March 2025
- ISBN: 9781761349683
- Imprint: Penguin
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 336
- RRP: $22.99
The Cryptic Clue
A Tea Ladies Mystery
Amazon
Dymocks
QBD
Readings
Your Bookstore
Abbeys
Boomerang
Collins
Find local retailers
Fishpond
Gleebooks
Harry Hartog
Kinokuniya
Robinsons
The Nile
Mighty Ape
- Published: 25 March 2025
- ISBN: 9781761349683
- Imprint: Penguin
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 336
- RRP: $22.99
The Tea Ladies are back! I have been reading cosy mysteries for years and have probably read about 100 of them. I can honestly say this is one of the best cosy series around today. The tea ladies are quirky, clever and hysterical. The mystery is extremely well crafted but it’s the dynamic between the characters that’s gold here. Additionally, the challenges of the times (1966) are so thoughtfully examined. It’s not often that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this one did. I hope we get many more in the series. Thank you for sending me one of my most anticipated books of the year. It lived up to my expectations!
bookwormdownunder
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 and Hazel is a wonderful leading lady ... A fantastic page-turning cosy crime, whodunnit mystery that had me laughing out loud and they kept me guessing throughout. This was one of my highly anticipated releases of the year and it was worth the wait!
emiliesbookshelf
I loved everything about this book. It’s even better than the first!
brooke michie
The Cryptic Clue is an easy, entertaining read. It goes beyond the usual cosy conventions to ignite a yearning for an intangible golden age where people knew their neighbours, most of life’s problems could be solved with good chat over a warm cup of tea and there was comfort in believing that in the end, everything would turn out just fine
Sydney Arts Guide
Learn about two exciting Penguin Random House author showcases this August!
Read by example this Mother’s Day with these book duos, perfect for mums and their children.
Read More: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-cryptic-clue-9781761341021 Look who’s back in hot water! The highly anticipated new novel in The Tea Ladies mystery series, a runaway bestseller of the year. Ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Bonnie Garmus. 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.
The second book in The Tea Ladies series is a fun mystery to read with your book club.
Meet the tea ladies from Amanda Hampson’s Tea Ladies series.
PRE-ORDER NOW: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-cryptic-clue-9781761341021 Look who’s back in hot water! The highly anticipated new novel in The Tea Ladies mystery series, a runaway bestseller of the year. Ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Bonnie Garmus. 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.
From authors including Rachael Johns, Amor Towles, Leigh Bardugo and so many others!
