Join us on the 9th April for an afternoon of mystery and crime with acclaimed author Amanda Hampson.
The afternoon will begin with an author talk with Amanda in conversation with BAD Sydney’s Catherine du Peloux Menagé at the SMSA. This will be followed by a crime filled walking tour of Surry Hills with true crime historian Elliot Lindsay.
Note: The afternoon is made up of two separate events. To avoid disappointment, please follow the links to secure your tickets for each individual event that you wish to attend.
Afternoon Schedule:
Amanda Hampson in conversation with Catherine du Peloux Menagé
Free Event
Book tickets here.
Amanda Hampson joins us at the SMSA for a conversation with Catherine du Peloux Menagé from BAD Sydney exploring Amanda’s latest book, The Cryptic Clue: A Tea Ladies Mystery.
About The Cryptic Clue: A Tea Ladies Mystery
Look who’s back in hot water! The highly anticipated new novel in The Tea Ladies cosy crime series, a runaway bestseller of the year. Available for pre-order now!
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.
About Amanda Hampson
Amanda Hampson grew up in rural New Zealand. She has lived in London and Sydney, and now lives in Melbourne. Writing professionally for more than 20 years, she is the author of The Olive Sisters, Two for the Road, The French Perfumer, The Yellow Villa, Sixty Summers, Lovebirds, and the bestselling cosy crime novel The Tea Ladies. Her latest novel in The Tea Ladies series is The Cryptic Clue.
About Catherine du Peloux Menagé
Catherine du Peloux Menagé is the Artistic Director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, the premier writers festival for crime writing in Australia, as well as a facilitator at other writers’ festivals and literary events. She is a lifelong reader of crime fiction and everything in print. Catherine was Director of the Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival at the Women’s Club from 2020-2021, co-founded the St Albans Writers’ Festival in 2015 and was its Artistic Director from 2015 to 2018. She has been a judge for the Ned Kelly awards and is a member of the Advisory Group for the Mark and Evette Moran NIB Literary Award.
There will be an author signing by Amanda following the talk. Our friends at Abbeys Book Shop will be attending for those interested in purchasing a copy of The Crypictic Clue, EFTPOS will be available. SMSA Members will also be able to borrow The Crypictic Clue from the SMSA Library.
Cryptic Clue Walking tour of Surry Hills with Amanda Hampson and Elliot Lindsay
Ticketed Event: $35
Book tickets here
Explore the old garment district with the author of The Cryptic Clue: A Tea Ladies Mystery, and true crime historian, Elliot Lindsay.
On this not-so-typical walking tour, you will meander through alleys and winding lanes, exploring the colourful history of the Surry Hills garment district. Based on the research that inspired the best-selling novel series by Amanda Hampson, The Tea Ladies. You will discover the origins of the garment district, and how it operated. Furthermore, you will also investigate the gangs, criminals and crimes committed in the area when Surry Hills once buzzed with the sound of Singer sewing machines and when the Sydney retail scene was dominated by department stores.
This walk is a separate event run by Murders Most Foul , to attend requires the purchase of a ticket. Information and tickets for the walking tour can be purchased here.
About Elliot Lindsay
Elliot is a historian who specialises in Sydney’s historical underworld and fringe communities. Slums, pubs, larrikins, The Push, Razor Gangs, the East Sydney Red Light District and early LGBT communities.
He founded Murders Most Foul historical tours in 2020 and has since taken thousands of people around the streets of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. Besides hosting walking tours, Elliot also hosts historical crime-themed talks at hotels across New South Wales.
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