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.