The Tea Ladies
Amanda Hampson
Reviewed by Helen
This is a fun and fabulous cosy mystery, set in 1965 in Surrey Hills, Sydney and we meet the tea ladies who all work in one of the many fashion houses on Zig Zag lane ensuring the staff get their cuppas and their bickies for morning tea and afternoon tea, and cake on special days, never did they ever think that they would become sleuths, investigating kidnapping, arson and murder in the criminal world.
Hazel works at Empire Fashionwear and times are changing, the mini-skirt has just landed in Australia and Empire are not ready for the change and Hazel wonderful tea lady she is steps in and helps to sooth and settle the troubles, but she also has a few things to get to the bottom of as well like the woman she saw locked up in the old bond store, she calls on Betty and Irene to help and when the bond store burns to the ground and the bookkeeper at Empire is found dead the same night the tea ladies are on the case. There is also a personal investigation going on at the time which adds to the story, a story not to be missed.
Getting to know Hazel, Betty and Irene was a joy they all have such different personalities but work well together Hazel always the understanding one who knows how to calm everyone, Betty the worrier and so good at taking notes and Irene what can I say about Irene and her holy slippers and rough and ready ways, they make a team and will never give up till the crooks are caught and I was cheering them on.
I loved this book so much from start to finish, so many twists and so many laughs along the way, I do remember tea ladies and I always loved them and the setting was fabulous I remember that area a little after that time, this is one that I would highly recommend, don’t miss out on some laughs and seeing how these tea ladies get themselves out of hot water
Hazel works at Empire Fashionwear and times are changing, the mini-skirt has just landed in Australia and Empire are not ready for the change and Hazel wonderful tea lady she is steps in and helps to sooth and settle the troubles, but she also has a few things to get to the bottom of as well like the woman she saw locked up in the old bond store, she calls on Betty and Irene to help and when the bond store burns to the ground and the bookkeeper at Empire is found dead the same night the tea ladies are on the case. There is also a personal investigation going on at the time which adds to the story, a story not to be missed.
Getting to know Hazel, Betty and Irene was a joy they all have such different personalities but work well together Hazel always the understanding one who knows how to calm everyone, Betty the worrier and so good at taking notes and Irene what can I say about Irene and her holy slippers and rough and ready ways, they make a team and will never give up till the crooks are caught and I was cheering them on.
I loved this book so much from start to finish, so many twists and so many laughs along the way, I do remember tea ladies and I always loved them and the setting was fabulous I remember that area a little after that time, this is one that I would highly recommend, don’t miss out on some laughs and seeing how these tea ladies get themselves out of hot water
5 stars
April 12, 2023 by Penguin Random House
