The Tea Ladies, by Amanda Hampson

Set in Sydney’s garment district in the 1960s, this ‘cosy crime’ novel features four tea ladies solving a murder ahead of the corrupt local police, with a side of bigamy. Head tea lady Hazel is an interesting character with hidden depths, if a little too good to be true. Kidnapping, arson and Russian gangsters keep the action moving in a society on the cusp of great change, particulalry with regard to the role of women, but in the end it’s all a bit twee.

Hacks, season 3

Deborah and Ava seem to have rubbed off each other’s acerbic edges in this rather kinder and gentler third season of Hacks. Her bare-all special has put Deborah back on top of the comedy heap, while Ava has scored a writing gig at the kind of political comedy show that can change the world - apparently. The unlikely pair is reunited by a last gasp chance for Deborah at Late Night. Can she make herstory? It’s fun finding out and the knives are back out in a finale that opens the gate to another season.

The Death of Dora Black, by Lainie Anderson

Based on the real life of pioneering Adelaide woman police officer Kate Cocks, this murder mystery attempts to educate as well as entertain. The balance is not quite right at the start, as there is too much description and the author’s undoubtedly excellent research takes over the plot. This improves as the tale progresses, but it’s a slow road, with too many mentions of Miss Cocks's five-foot stick. It's fun to have Adelaide in WWI the centre of the action and Kate Cocks is a fascinating, larger than life character, with her fictional offsider providing a more progressive, if somewhat unrealistic counterpoint.

We Solve Murders, by Richard Osman

A private close protection officer has been set up for a series of murders linked to her work and she brings in her ex-cop father-in-law to help protect her reputation and life, along with that of her latest client – a famous writer. It’s all pretty far-fetched, with a new set of characters, but a similar tone to the Thursday Murder gang. When you’re on a good thing…

River of Salt, by Dave Warner

A young mob hitman escapes his dark past in Philadelphia to start a new life on the north coast of New South Wales. A murder disrupts his surf bar serenity and brings his old skills to bear in assisting the local corrupt cop to solve the case. Set in 1961, red herrings abound along with several glaring anachronisms. It's all rather bloddy. but love and music find a way.

Juliet, Naked (2018), directed by Jesse Peretz

Promising musician Tucker Crow disappeared from the public eye after a devastating breakup, leaving his small cadre of dedicated fans desperate for more. Living in an unsatisfactory relationship with one of those superfans, Annie accidentally connects with Tucker online and sparks big changes in both their lives. This low key romcom, based on a Nick Hornby novel, is notable for its lead actors; Rose Byrne’s brand of competent appeal works well for Annie; Chris O’Dowd brings his usual daffiness as the fan; and Ethan Hawke hits the spot as the ageing never-was rock star.

Orbital, by Samantha Harvey

At 136 pages this is barely a novella but the prose is so dense it’s a slow read. Poetic, philosophical and colourfully geographic, it delves into the minds and hearts of six astronauts on the International Space Station. Gently profound on climate change and the folly of humankind, the story celebrates the blue planet and laments its inevitable demise. This year’s Booker winner is narrow, deep and most unusual.