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The Palace of Lost Virtue
By the bestselling author of The War Nurses, this is an unforgettable new novel set in the WA goldrush era inspired by real characters and a shocking true crime.
The bush keeps its secrets and its gold...
In 1898, Marigold Harrington arrives on the goldfields of Western Australia with conviction in her heart. The daughter of a prospector and a proud member of the Christian Women’s Temperance Union, she dreams of rescuing women the gold rush has forgotten, those trapped in the shadows of brothels and bars.
Across town, Pansy Arlington presides over the Palace of Pleasure, a woman who has built her own small empire from ruin. When Marigold arrives at her door, offering God’s forgiveness, she surprises Pansy with unexpected kindness.
Though they come from opposite worlds, the two women spark an unlikely friendship. But, in a rough, lawless town built on greed and desire, their bond will be tested by betrayal, violence and a crime that will echo through the years.
Inspired by true events and the real women of the gold rush, The Palace of Lost Virtue dares to rewrite history books, giving voice to the lives of the formidable women who lived and died in the goldfields.
By the bestselling author of The War Nurses, this is a lively and colourful tale about loyalty, forgiveness and freedom.
The bush keeps its secrets and its gold...
In 1898, Marigold Harrington arrives on the goldfields of Western Australia with conviction in her heart. The daughter of a prospector and a proud member of the Christian Women’s Temperance Union, she dreams of rescuing women the gold rush has forgotten, those trapped in the shadows of brothels and bars.
Across town, Pansy Arlington presides over the Palace of Pleasure, a woman who has built her own small empire from ruin. When Marigold arrives at her door, offering God’s forgiveness, she surprises Pansy with unexpected kindness.
Though they come from opposite worlds, the two women spark an unlikely friendship. But, in a rough, lawless town built on greed and desire, their bond will be tested by betrayal, violence and a crime that will echo through the years.
Inspired by true events and the real women of the gold rush, The Palace of Lost Virtue dares to rewrite history books, giving voice to the lives of the formidable women who lived and died in the goldfields.
By the bestselling author of The War Nurses, this is a lively and colourful tale about loyalty, forgiveness and freedom.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
400 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 2, 2026
After reading and absolutely loving The War Nurses, I was very much looking forward to this one. A completely different approach, The Palace of Lost Virtue by Aussie author Anthea Hodgson looks at lives back in Australia's vast outback, in Kalgoorlie at the gold mines of 1898, with the prostitutes working hard to keep the miners happy; Pansy Arlington ran one particular brothel - The Palace of Pleasure - and with Marigold Harrington and her mother working to help the fallen women, Marigold became well known in the district. She and Pansy became unlikely friends; Marigold's mother left to go back to Melbourne and Marigold took a room at the brothel. But not to be "one of Pansy's girls".
When Marigold married Robert, her life changed remarkably. She wasn't allowed to return to Hay Street at all in the more than twenty years she was married to Robert, but tragedy ripped Marigold's life apart. She stayed strong, as well as loyal; her neighbour Gert was a good friend. What would be the future for Marigold, now in 1926, with lawlessness still an issue in the West?
With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
When Marigold married Robert, her life changed remarkably. She wasn't allowed to return to Hay Street at all in the more than twenty years she was married to Robert, but tragedy ripped Marigold's life apart. She stayed strong, as well as loyal; her neighbour Gert was a good friend. What would be the future for Marigold, now in 1926, with lawlessness still an issue in the West?
With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
May 14, 2026
Thank you Better Reading and Penguin Books Australia for my ARC of The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson. The setting of Kalgoorlie a place I know well as a born and bred West Australian, Anthea portrayed Kalgoorlie and its people in a time setting of 1898 the gold rush, so well! After reading maybe 50 pages I turned back to the beautiful cover realising that both ladies story’s Marigold and Pansy names came from the wonderful flowers on her front cover. Inspired by true events, this historical story comes out of an unlikely friendship, women and survival often not heard about in a story of the gold rush time period. A beautiful tale told by a great writer…Thanks Anthea.
Review of advance copy
Marigold Harrington and Patsy Arlington couldn’t be more different. Marigold and her mother have come to the rough goldfields town of Kalgoorlie in 1898 in a desperate hunt for her father who had left Melbourne to seek his fortune but has disappeared.
Marigold is an avowed Christian, intent on doing good works while Patsy is a prostitute from Kentucky who runs a pleasure palace catering to the hordes of men who have flooded the region in the elusive hunt for gold. When Marigold runs into financial and personal difficulties it is Patsy who comes to her rescue and the two women form an odd but strong friendship.
There’s a second narrative that takes place in 1926 and features a murder trial with links to the past of both women that provides a stunning final twist.
In spite of its colourful narrative and energetic dialogue, this story has its dark side with observations about how men control women’s lives and the choices they are forced to take. As the forthright Patsy ironically observes: “… God doesn’t care for the suffering of women – it’s men he’s chosen to bless. So we must help each other and leave God to his cigars.”
The infamous history of Hay Street, Kalgoorlie, is well-researched and gives the novel a good foundation but most of the characters are unappealing. There’s a bland predictability about the weak and scheming men. Marigold’s behaviour varies between soft and hard and is often at odds with her espoused Christian values. Pansy is the stereotypical tough bad girl with a good heart. The seedy side of prostitution is camouflaged with banter. The result - a somewhat depressing read.
(Thanks to Better Reading and Penguin for the ARC.)
Marigold is an avowed Christian, intent on doing good works while Patsy is a prostitute from Kentucky who runs a pleasure palace catering to the hordes of men who have flooded the region in the elusive hunt for gold. When Marigold runs into financial and personal difficulties it is Patsy who comes to her rescue and the two women form an odd but strong friendship.
There’s a second narrative that takes place in 1926 and features a murder trial with links to the past of both women that provides a stunning final twist.
In spite of its colourful narrative and energetic dialogue, this story has its dark side with observations about how men control women’s lives and the choices they are forced to take. As the forthright Patsy ironically observes: “… God doesn’t care for the suffering of women – it’s men he’s chosen to bless. So we must help each other and leave God to his cigars.”
The infamous history of Hay Street, Kalgoorlie, is well-researched and gives the novel a good foundation but most of the characters are unappealing. There’s a bland predictability about the weak and scheming men. Marigold’s behaviour varies between soft and hard and is often at odds with her espoused Christian values. Pansy is the stereotypical tough bad girl with a good heart. The seedy side of prostitution is camouflaged with banter. The result - a somewhat depressing read.
(Thanks to Better Reading and Penguin for the ARC.)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
After reading and enjoying The War Nurses by the same author I was looking forward to this ARC. The author gives terrific insight to the plight and lives of the fallen women involved in the brothels of Kalgoorlie, but I felt the Christian viewpoint lacked a similar depth. We are taken into the lives of the madam of The Palace of Pleasure and the found family she has gathered. These characters were alive on the page, but the Christian viewpoint was shown in a somewhat poor light. All of these characters came across as snooty and patronising to the women they claimed to be wanting to help. Marigold, as the other main character was a disappointment. Her convictions and actions lacked depth and were hardly convincing. I think the blurb on the back of the book gave me a false expectation of her motives, so perhaps I was expecting her to have stronger agency.
Hodgson can certainly tell a highly readable tale. I enjoyed this book, in particular the unfolding mystery, though I had anticipated the outcome earlier than I would have liked. I suppose I wanted a better representation of faith, which this sadly lacked.
Hodgson can certainly tell a highly readable tale. I enjoyed this book, in particular the unfolding mystery, though I had anticipated the outcome earlier than I would have liked. I suppose I wanted a better representation of faith, which this sadly lacked.
Review of advance copy
I recently received an ARC copy of The palace of lost virtue by Anthea Hodgson thanks to @betterreadingau #BRPreview and Penguin Random house Australia for an honest review. Another book inspired by true events by the author of War nurse's which I also loved, it's a tale of unlikely friendship in the harsh environment of the Western Australian Goldfields.Pansy a life hardened owner of the brothel The palace of Pleasure and Marigold the innocent and naive member of the Christian women's Temperance union and daughter of a missing prospector are brought together to form the most unlikely friendship from mutual respect and loyalty despite nobody expecting them to have anything in common. They have each other's backs when many around them betray and use violence when blinded by greed. An amazing look into the lives of women in the 1890's Goldfields and their determination not only to survive but thrive. A very emotional and empowering book. I truelly loved it and can't wait to see what Anthea will create next.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Set in Western Australia’s Kalgoorlie during the gold rush era of 1898 and the infamous Hay Street, the red-light district of the time, The Palace of Lost Virtue is about an unlikely friendship between two women. Marigold, a devout Christian who sets out from Melbourne with her mother to find her father who went to seek his fortune, and Pansy, a sharp-tongued brothel madam and prostitute herself from Kentucky.
I loved the vivid, well researched setting, as well as the contrast between the two women’s social divisions and values. Pansy was a breath of fresh air, with no filter, back when women were expected to be demure and compliant. She was looked down upon by society for her trade, when nothing is said of the men, often husbands and figures of authority who frequent the brothels.
I’m not sure if I liked the middle part of Marigold’s life and her decision-making, I couldn’t. It makes me mad that women had to rely on men so much during that era, which makes the novel’s portrayal of their resilience even more powerful.
I loved the vivid, well researched setting, as well as the contrast between the two women’s social divisions and values. Pansy was a breath of fresh air, with no filter, back when women were expected to be demure and compliant. She was looked down upon by society for her trade, when nothing is said of the men, often husbands and figures of authority who frequent the brothels.
I’m not sure if I liked the middle part of Marigold’s life and her decision-making, I couldn’t. It makes me mad that women had to rely on men so much during that era, which makes the novel’s portrayal of their resilience even more powerful.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In 1898, Marigold Harrington and her mother arrive on the goldfields of Kalgoorlie to be reunited with their prospecting father/husband. Marigold and Pansy, who runs the local brothel become friends. Hypocrisy is the norm when ladies try to save the prostitutes from their terrible fate (even there is not other work for them to do) but refuse to lend a book to Pansy. The book alternates between 1898, Marigold and Pansy's view and 1926, when the bodies of two murdered police officers are found. I found the first part of 1926 out of context and only later in the book it becomes clear what this is all about and its relevance. I liked the descriptions of the way people lived in those times, the hardship they faced but I could not warm to Marigold. It is a tale of friendship, betrayal and revenge
Review of advance copy
I received my ARC from Better Reading. This novel is inspired by true events and I think i will have to find out what is truth and what is fiction. It has left me wanting more. Pansy and Marigold could not be more different but find themselves relying on each other for more than friendship. The tribulations of these two women, mainly in 1898, make for very interesting reading. The story also includes the story of Marigold in 1926, which at first I found out of context, but all led to the surprising outcome. Surprising mainly in that I guessed what was happening whilst simultaneously thinking that cant possibly be happening. I happily recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Australian history, mixed with a little mystery.
Review of advance copy
I was grateful to receive an ARC copy of this book.
After reading The War Nurses, & appreciating the detail & research that Anthea Hodgson puts into her historical novels, I knew I’d love this book & I wasn’t disappointed.
The well developed characters that have made their home in Kalgoorlie during the gold rush, & in particular Marigold & Pansy will stay with me for a while.
I’m a West Australian, & loved being reminded of the history of that era (& learning a few new snippets). This book made me at times laugh out loud, & at others shed a few tears.
A brilliant read, highly recommended
After reading The War Nurses, & appreciating the detail & research that Anthea Hodgson puts into her historical novels, I knew I’d love this book & I wasn’t disappointed.
The well developed characters that have made their home in Kalgoorlie during the gold rush, & in particular Marigold & Pansy will stay with me for a while.
I’m a West Australian, & loved being reminded of the history of that era (& learning a few new snippets). This book made me at times laugh out loud, & at others shed a few tears.
A brilliant read, highly recommended
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've read The War Nurses by Anthea Hodgson and absolutely loved it, so I was very excited to see she had a new book coming out.
Anthea has created such wonderful, real characters in Pansy and Marigold. I came to care deeply for these incredible women, laughing and crying along with them through the good times and bad.
The descriptions of the conditions in Kalgoorlie circa 1898, the heat and dust, were so vivid that I could almost feel them.
Another brilliant offering from Anthea and I can't wait to see what she creates for us next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
Anthea has created such wonderful, real characters in Pansy and Marigold. I came to care deeply for these incredible women, laughing and crying along with them through the good times and bad.
The descriptions of the conditions in Kalgoorlie circa 1898, the heat and dust, were so vivid that I could almost feel them.
Another brilliant offering from Anthea and I can't wait to see what she creates for us next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 11, 2026
The Palace of Lost Virtue is a beautiful story about the unlikely friendship that blossoms between Marigold Harrington, a member of the Christian Women's Temperance Union, and Pansy Arlington, the owner of the local brothel, in 1898 Kalgoorlie during the gold rush. These two women who seem so different on the surface, have so much in common, especially how they deal with adversity. I really enjoyed seeing how both women grew and pushed each other.
This was my first Anthea Hodgson novel, but I will definitely be reading her earlier works.
This was my first Anthea Hodgson novel, but I will definitely be reading her earlier works.
Review of advance copy
What a brilliant book - lively, colourful and compelling, with great characters who win your heart. Anthea Hodgson has such a great a way of bringing to life the stories of remarkable Australian women from history, all wrapped up in a rollicking good read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews