The Butterfly Women

by Madeleine Cleary

It's 1863, and Melbourne is transitioning from a fledgling colony to a thriving, gold-fuelled metropolis. But behind its shiny new façade, the real Melbourne can be found in the notorious brothels of Little Lon, where rich and poor alike can revel all night.
For poor Irishwoman Johanna Callaghan, a job at the glamorous Papillon brothel could be her ticket to success, but in a time when women's lives are cheap, it also brings great danger.
Meanwhile, for respectable women like journalist Harriet Gardiner, Papillon is strictly off-limits. But when a murderer begins stalking the streets of Little Lon, she becomes determined to visit it and find the truth.
As both women are drawn into the hunt for the killer, a long-hidden side of old Melbourne is revealed. Lush, dark and meticulously researched, The Butterfly Women weaves romance and mystery into an unforgettable tale of Australian history, and the women so often erased from it.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Book Club, Audiobook, Historical, Historical Mystery, Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2025

About the author

Madeleine's debut novel, The Butterfly Women (29 April 2025, Affirm Press), inspired by her family history, was chosen as Dymocks Fiction Book of the Month. Her writing was shortlisted for The Australian Fiction Prize in 2024. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne and an associated honours degree from RMIT University. Oblivious to her history, Madeleine completed her studies a block from her family’s brothel in Juliet Terrace, which inspired her debut novel. Madeleine served as an Australian diplomat in China. Before joining the public service, Madeleine spent five years working in bookshops, where she met her husband. Madeleine is from Naarm/Melbourne and lives at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.

Reviews

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC of this book. It's set in Melbourne, Australia in 1863 and follows 5 women. It's such a good insight into the time frame and the plight of women. Plus it's a unique setting to me. I'm used to reading books set in London during that time period, reading about Melbourne was fascinating!

The story is a bit darker than I like, however I couldn't stop reading as I loved all the women. Here's the endorsement I gave Madeleine:

"Equal parts fascinating, horrifying, and illuminating, The Butterfly Women takes an up close look at five intelligent women who are determined to catch a serial killer despite society's belief that women are only useful as wives and mothers."

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Affirm Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
The calibre of amazing historical fiction women writers in this country is incredible and now with the addition of Madeleine Cleary’s debut masterpiece, it keeps getting bigger.
The Butterfly Women in one word is……..magnificent.
A truly beautiful, unique, inspiring and remarkable read.
It’s 1863 and the town of Melbourne is buzzing.
And down in Little Lon the infamous brothels are popular amongst the rich and poor.
At Papillon, for those that work there and those involved, is four strong women.
Johanna the newest member of the family.
Harriett the journalist on a dangerous mission.
Mary who is policing in her husband’s uniform.
And Catherine, the madam and head honcho.
A serial murderer nicknamed ‘The Butcher’ is on the loose, the dark side of the city is highlighted and the women are united in finding the truth.
I just loved this book.
Something I found fascinating was the information at the back of the novel, where some of the events were inspired by the authors family history and the way it was presented throughout the narrative.
At the heart of this tale is female friendship, I adored the support and unconditional love they had for one another.
It’s stunning, dazzling and meticulously researched.
Don’t forget to take a moment to admire the attractive cover.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The Butterfly Women by Madeleine Cleary is was such an immersive read and an incredible debut, I couldn’t put it down! If you love a serial killer mystery, exceptional characters, heroines and a chilling plot you need this book! How stunning is the cover and the books end pages are delightful with their vivid butterflies.

It’s 1863 in colonial Melbourne and this tale is set among the notorious brothels of Little Lon and its surrounds. The story is mesmerising as it takes us to the dark side of old Melbourne.

A high class brothel named Papillon is where a poor Irish immigrant, Johanna Callaghan lands a job as a kitchen assistant but she has dreams of becoming a ‘dressed girl’.

The story is told through the voices of four women who shine bright. Johanna the Irish woman, Catherine the brothel owner, Mary who patrolsthe streets impersonating a police constable and Harriet a respected journalist. Their lives are connected in various ways and together they unite.

The Butterfly Women is inspired by the author’s discovery of her family connection with the brothels and sex workers of nineteenth century Melbourne.

I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

Publication Date 29 April 2025
Publisher Affirm Press

Thank you so much Affirm Press for a copy of the book to read and the beautiful way it was wrapped

[Sebastien Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd love to meet this author, She can really write.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madeleine's debut novel, The Butterfly Women is a sure-fire winner - I loved it. Melbourne in 1863 is growing exponentially thanks to the discovery of gold, however, all that glitters is not gold. This shiny new façade conceals the real Melbourne where the notorious red-light district of Little Lon is found. Brothels are attended by rich and poor alike and the most glamorous among them is Papillon, home to the most alluring women in the city. A murderer is stalking the streets of Little Lon, including the Butterfly women, and it must be stopped.

‘We may resemble pretty little butterflies, Captain, but we have been in more fights and know these streets better than your men.’

Reading about the Melbourne of this era was absolutely fascinating. Combine that with memorable women and a page turning murder mystery and I couldn’t put it down. The story is told through the voices of four women: Johanna an Irish ‘dressed’ woman, Catherine the brothel owner, Mary who police patrols the streets in her husband's uniform and Harriet a respected journalist. All these women’s lives interconnect as together they work towards trying to get by in a man’s world. It was so engrossing to read about my city from a time long past. A stunning debut filled with twists and turns told through a feminist lens.

‘For while John and many of the town’s men failed to find their fortunes on the goldfields, Catherine and the women they’d left behind found theirs in the boarding houses and brothels of this dusty town.’

[T. Stranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bloody" stunning. Be prepared to laugh and cry.

[Nicola Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binged this over a weekend.
An intriguing tale set in 1863 Melbourne, exposing the city's underbelly, set in notorious brothels.
The characters bring this story to life, particularly Johanna and Harriet.
Loved it!

[Wendy Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read of historical fiction set in the fledgling Melbourne. The plot is interesting and the author effectively captures the time. The language is vividly descriptive of place and events. My only criticism is that, in some places the pacing is slow.

[Beth Spikin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who lives in Melbourne, I was instantly drawn to this book- a Historical Fiction novel set in my own city during the 1800s. It’s not every day you come across a book that brings the streets you know to life in a completely different era, and Madeleine does it with such vivid detail, I could see how well researched this setting was, AND it’s based on a true story about Madeleines ancestors! Say no more, I knew I’d be reading it. That alone was enough to pique my interest, BUT (!!) when I discovered it was also a murder mystery? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! SOLD. IMMEDIATELY.

I’m a self-proclaimed detective when it comes to books and TV. I nit pick every single detail, every single slightly off phrase said by each character and begin building them all a case individually in my head from beginning to end — so this was definitely the book for me! This story had me doing exactly that from the very first chapter. While the mystery in this story isn’t a generally predictable one, once I put on my metaphorical trench coat and did my sleuthing, I had a hunch early on—and let’s just say, my inner detective was buzzing (and right 👀) It was gripping, clever, and I absolutely did not want to put this book down! I’m now thinking of quitting my day job and becoming a real-life detective 🕵️‍♀️

I fell in love with all 4 main characters (the ones with POVs) and made such an emotional connection with all of them, that this book was so emotionally impactful! Had me tearing up at times, as I felt like I was right there with them, and my heart was breaking for these women!

The pacing was fast, the stakes high, and my nails were well and truly bitten! I was turning pages eagerly, needing to know what happened next while simultaneously never wanting it to end. The blend of historical fiction, mystery and drama (with a sprinkle. of romance) was done perfectly 😍

The attention to historical detail, character depth, and character development was done brilliantly! If you’re a fan of immersive settings, multilayered characters, and suspenseful plots, do me a favour and read this book (but on the condition that you must absolutely message me the whole way through AND when you finish— I’ll need your thoughts!)

So with that being said, PLEASE go pick up a copy of this book! You will not regret it! I genuinely believe that everyone could enjoy this book! 🦋🕵️‍♀️

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning debut by Madeleine Cleary. A must read for lovers of historical fiction, mystery and good stories.

At its heart, it’s a story of women’s friendship and agency. Doing what they must to survive and thrive in a man’s world.

Pick it up - you won’t be able to put it down.

[CatherineB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down. Loved being immersed into the slums of Melbourne in the 1860’s and taken down cobblestone alleys and into brothels. Drawn into the mystery and suspense of the midnight murders. Loved this book.

[Angus McGregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on extensive archival research, Madeleine Cleary joins a growing number of Australian authors who are drawing on their family histories to restore dignity to groups of people largely overlooked in school curricula and public monuments.

The novel is strongest in its representation of sex work. Cleary uncovers Melbourne’s uncomfortable dependence on prostitution. The newspaper editors and magistrates who condemn women to social ruin and jail in the morning lie beside them in the evening. The stereotype of the fallen Irish vagrant with no means of support falls apart, yet Cleary is cautious not to glamorize prostitution either. Selling your body was sometimes a choice and other times forced, but it always necessitated sacrifice.

In a city addicted to gold and rum, growing too fast for the state to keep up, it was often women who filled in the gaps. They told stories, protected each other on the street, and seized opportunities to make a profit.

The Victorian romances ripped straight from Jane Austin and the simplistic mystery plot based on Jack the Ripper let the book down a bit. It felt like the author had a wonderful point to make and needed to fill in the gaps to create a novel.

Sorry to my wonderful editor Mehnaaz for how late the full Honi review is!! Please keep giving me free books!!

[Jessica Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Melbournian born and bred, it was so epic to dip into the world of the gold rush era through the eyes of such amazing women! If you love romance, mystery and history you’ll love this stunning read!

[Caitlin Caruana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and it's a rare and wonderful treat to read about my own city. What a stunning debut. This was such a page turner with thrilling twists and turns - and all from a feminist lens. I highly recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction/Melbourne/female driven stories.

[CarolinaBookBliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I loved loved this book.
What a wonderfully written novel capturing the Butterfly Women of historical Melbourne.
The writing was exceptional and the research is evident throughout.
It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel.
I can not recommend this enough.

[Ryan Cosier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice for Brigette and Harriet

[TaylorJade · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This story imagines a world in which a Jack the Ripper-esque serial killer stalks the streets of 1860s Melbourne, Australia, taking the lives of the night walkers and dressed ladies alike. Through the eyes of three different women we follow this investigation with a focus on immigrants, colonists and most importantly night workers of the 19th century. I was fascinated by this world with its gritty violence and seedy underbelly. With a clear feminist flare, I loved the perspectives of these fascinating women and their desire for more, plus the unexpectedly beautiful queer storyline had my heart swooning. The killer’s identity felt obvious (twice) but their eventual identity made me question the “clues” the author did or in my opinion didn’t give except for one early on. I like a novel that surprises me not confounds me, but this could also be debut novel bugs. Similarly, the pacing did slow a little in the middle then speed at the end and there were definitely some plot holes that had me perplexed in a bad way, but again impressive for a debut novel. Didn’t expect to enjoy this historical fiction as much as I did and so cool that it’s based in the author’s own ancestral history. My mum’s recommendation did good this time. Well worth the read.

[sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, even though historical fiction is not usually my forte. I'm really glad that I decided to pick this up after hearing the author give a talk because I had fun from start to finish.

I really liked the fact that the story was split up into multiple point-of-views, and I think the character voices were all distinct and well-crafted, so there was never really a point where I had to ask 'wait who's chapter is it' haha

I really thought I had the twist figured out but the way I gasped in the last couple chapters- definitely a surprise! I'm not sure I found the final reveal entirely convincing, hence the four stars, but it was a really great read regardless!

[Sue Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a blind date with a book. one of the descriptive words didn't really suit. I enjoyed the book and it kept me guessing.

I fell down a couple of rabbit holes looking up places in Melbourne from that era.

[Kerri Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous book brimming with local Melbourne history, well-researched by the author who has historical family ties with this story.

[betweenthecoverswithdanielle Danielle Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Madeleine Cleary’s debut novel, with heart, history, and ambition — a beautifully researched window into a corner of nineteenth-century Melbourne most history books politely skip. Her inspiration is personal: her discovery of an ancestor who lived and worked in Little Lon, the city’s infamous red-light district, led her to imagine the lives of women like her — the poor, the invisible, the misrepresented.

The result is a dual-narrative historical novel centred on two women whose paths cross amid danger and hypocrisy. Johanna Callaghan, an Irish immigrant desperate for survival, accepts a position at the Papillon — a high-class brothel promising escape from poverty but delivering its own captivity. Harriett Gardiner, a respectable journalist, investigates a series of murders in the same district and finds herself confronting the gap between propriety and truth.

Cleary evokes colonial Melbourne with meticulous care: the gaslight and gin, the damp laneways, the restless murmur of a city trying to civilise itself. Her research is impressive — the detail of brothel economics, the texture of Irish migration, the moral hierarchies of a gold-rush society all feel authentic. The novel’s atmosphere is its greatest strength.

Where it falters is in emotional depth. The characters, though vivid on the surface, rarely surprise. Johanna’s resilience is admirable but static; Harriett’s curiosity feels more symbolic than lived. The title suggests transformation, yet few of the story’s women truly metamorphose. The narrative flutters around the idea of change rather than inhabiting it.

The pacing, too, is uneven. Cleary’s devotion to accuracy sometimes slows the story’s pulse — a parade of fascinating historical minutiae that occasionally overwhelms character and tension. The murder plot, while serviceable, never quite ignites; it feels more like scaffolding than spine.

Still, there’s an integrity to what Cleary is doing. She treats her subjects with respect rather than pity, avoids the trap of moralising, and writes with a quiet empathy for women whose choices were constrained by class and circumstance. Her prose is elegant and restrained, occasionally luminous: “The sky bruised itself into morning” is a line that lingers.

As historical fiction, The Butterfly Women sits comfortably alongside works by Kate Grenville or Karen Brooks — novels that reconstruct the female experience of colonial Australia. But where those authors often find visceral emotional resonance, Cleary’s debut feels more academic, more curated. Admirable, yes. Immersive, not always.

Three stars, then, for a promising first flight — a novel that remembers the forgotten, even if its wings don’t yet fully unfurl.

[Taylor (areadingsailor) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“For the women who are nowhere, but everywhere”

Set in 1850s Melbourne, we follow the lives of the women that supported its history and making in the shadows. The novel is centred around a fictional serial killer called ‘The Butcher’ and his obsession with sex workers, and told in the POVs of four women.

There’s something about a well-written and researched hisfic that gives the women of the past voices, and gives us a glimpse into what their lives and thoughts and dreams might have been.

“I will always desire more. I shall not leave this world the way I entered, with nothing to my name.”

I loooooove undertones of feminine rage and power. Although second class citizens to their male counterparts, I am always in awe of the women that found ways to break free of their cages and expected roles in society.

Cleary does a great job at showcasing this with a brothel madame and a sex worker as two of her main characters. She shows how this line of work for women, although freeing in a way they could make decent wages and live without a husband, was also caging—as many women did this line of work due to lack of choice.

“You are still a romantic. In the river of mists, you will always dream of dancing in Paris.”

From a more critical standpoint, the book felt like a hot mess at times. At the 40% mark, it was equal parts romance and murder mystery and the two different genres didn’t mesh together all too well. To me, they clashed terribly. The romance aspect of Johanna’s tale felt unnecessary, as did Harriett’s.

The murder mystery itself was well developed, and unravelled in a way that left me in suspense. I’m pretty sure I changed my suspect at least 5 times before the story’s end. It did, however, felt a bit too long and drawn out the last half.

“We may resemble pretty little butterflies, Captain, but we have been in more fights and know these streets better than your men.”

Although written about a time nearly 200 years ago, it feels like a mirror to current day issues of women being told to be less in order to avoid harm, of lacking protection from protective forces, and not being truly listened to by the masses.

“Remember you’re a wolf, Johanna Callaghan, and don’t forget it.”

This is a great read! I loved getting a glimpse at life 200 years ago in Melbourne, as a Canadian who’s only been living in Australia for a short time I know next to nothing about this country and its history.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m exceptionally biased, but this is a genuinely very excellent book. 🦋❤️

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody beautiful. I absolutely loved my time in little Lon. This is a novel that is part thriller/ loads historical/ womens story/ almost entrepreneurial inspo….and I could not put it down! I loved getting acquainted with our four points of view- Johanna- the newest employee of Papillon, Harriett- a female journalist chasing the Butcher story, Catherine- the madame of the glamorous brothel and Mary who patrols Lilttle Lon dressed in her husband’s police uniform….there is so much to love in this meticulously researched novel and I am recommending it to absolutely everyone!!!!!

[SJ Goldie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love supporting new female authors, even more so when they are Australian.

This book exceeded every expectation I had. The character development, the layers of complex society and unspoken rules was amazingly written throughout. I also really appreciated how well the author captured the historical accuracies of the era whilst ensuring to maintain a respectful narrative when speaking of first nationals communities.

The author should be extremely proud of their work which clearly demonstrated the significant amount of research conducted about the era mixed with a great bit of fiction.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It was delightful to get swept up in the world and characters, such a pleasant read...despite the moments I was jumping up in shock! Very well thought out plotlines with twists and turns to keep you hooked the entire time. The characters were really well written and I loved them all, each one was so interesting.

[Kelly Both · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story so beautifully written. The women of Little Lon will stay with me forever. A gripping Australian historical novel with stellar female characters. I'm aching for a prequel, a spin-off, a short series. This was fantastic. Praise for Madeleine Cleary! What an amazing author ❤️

[Jennie O'bryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So melodramatic. First 1/2 was enjoyable but second 1/2 so drawn out and predictable. Sorry, not for me.

[Jackie McMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not normally a historical fiction reader, so sex work was the sell for me to pick up a copy of The Butterfly Women. It's written by a non-sex worker, Madeleine Cleary, whose loose connection to the industry is relatives "who likely worked in a brothel in Romeo Lane (current day Crossley Street) near Bilking Square." You'll see her distance from sex workers in items like the reader questions buried at the end: "Can sex work ever be empowering or is it naturally exploitative?" It's also obvious in the trite little sections any time a worker is murdered that try to fill in what was lost in actual character development. I found these sections patronising. They seem to suggest that sex workers have motivations for acting that are not able understood by ordinary people. Yet aren't we all driven by doing what we need to do to survive, both as individuals and as mothers?

So a warning for sex workers, and people who love them, that the early part of this book spends a lot of time in demeaning and derogatory language: "You hated your body and what you did to survive." The author buys into the hierarchy between different types of sex work: "They are dressed girls, not streetwalkers. The men who visit Papillon are respectable not dangerous." It perpetuates myths about bodies wearing out: "But in the future, when your beauty fades and your body tires, do you still think men like Garrott will dress you in silk and pour you Champagne?"

Eventually you get to the point where the author finally realises sex workers "lived remarkably independent lives for the time" through the character of Johanna, but I don't think it quite sinks in that it could be a choice, a deliberate sacrificing of reputation for freedom. I mean, I'd much rather be Johanna than Harriett, even though Harriett has a better than most life as a journalist...

I think the book owes a big debt to Sarah Waters lifting women cross dressing for access to freedom and writing about Melbourne's laneways in Little Lon as being a local answer to St. Giles. It felt like a Melbourne version of something I'd read before, and telegraphed the murderer though harping upon unaccounted time over and over again...

With thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for sending me a copy to read.