Grey haired trolley pushing crime busters

The Tea Ladies

Amanda Hampson

384 pages, Penguin Books first published 2023 

The Tea Ladies is set in Sydney, NSW in 1965 and centres on a group of women who see all, hear all and are pretty much ignored by most. 

Hazel Bates on her way to work, briefly sees a young woman in distress peering out the window of an abandoned building, which later burns down. For Hazel, along with Irene and Betty decide to try and solve the mystery but things take a turn for the worse when they discover a dead body and the danger levels increase. What follows is the Tea Ladies using their contacts and nous to solve a crime the police cannot. 

Hampson has crafted a world which rings true, with characters that are quite believable and come fully formed. They have detailed back histories that is slowly revealed through the story. 

Hazel who the central character is complex and apparent from solving a crime has to deal with personal issues that just may derail everything. Hazel, is not perfect but there is little that phases her. Her partners, Betty and Irene, also have their own idiosyncrasies and flaws and are well developed on the page. 

While you have the main crime narrative, Hampson has layered in some wonder subplots that really do work and are not a distraction. 

There is a lot to like in this book, it is a quick, engaging read. 

For more on Amanda Hampson head over to the website.