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Palace of Tears
Angie loved Mr. Fox's magnificent, absurd hotel. In fact, it was her one true great love. But ... today Angie was so cross, so fed up with everybody and everything, she would probably cheer if a wave of fire swept over the cliff and engulfed the Palace and all its guests.
A sweltering summer's day, January 1914: the charismatic and ruthless Adam Fox throws a lavish birthday party for his son and heir at his elegant clifftop hotel in the Blue Mountains. Everyone is invited except Angie, the girl from the cottage next door. The day will end in tragedy, a punishment for a family's secrets and lies.
In 2013, Fox's granddaughter Lisa, seeks the truth about the past. Who is this Angie her mother speaks of: 'the girl who broke all our hearts'? Why do locals call Fox's hotel the 'palace of tears'? Behind the grandeur and glamour of its famous guests and glittering parties, Lisa discovers a hidden history of passion and revenge, loyalty and love.
A grand piano burns in the night, a seance promises death or forgiveness, a fire rages in a snowstorm, a painter's final masterpiece inspires betrayal, a child is given away. With twist upon twist, this lush, strange mystery withholds its shocking truth to the very end.
A sweltering summer's day, January 1914: the charismatic and ruthless Adam Fox throws a lavish birthday party for his son and heir at his elegant clifftop hotel in the Blue Mountains. Everyone is invited except Angie, the girl from the cottage next door. The day will end in tragedy, a punishment for a family's secrets and lies.
In 2013, Fox's granddaughter Lisa, seeks the truth about the past. Who is this Angie her mother speaks of: 'the girl who broke all our hearts'? Why do locals call Fox's hotel the 'palace of tears'? Behind the grandeur and glamour of its famous guests and glittering parties, Lisa discovers a hidden history of passion and revenge, loyalty and love.
A grand piano burns in the night, a seance promises death or forgiveness, a fire rages in a snowstorm, a painter's final masterpiece inspires betrayal, a child is given away. With twist upon twist, this lush, strange mystery withholds its shocking truth to the very end.
560 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2015
18 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Julian Leatherdale
6 books41 followersJulian Leatherdale’s first love was the theatre. On graduation from a theatre studies degree at the University of NSW, he wrote lyrics for four satirical cabarets and a two-act musical. He discovered a passion for popular history as a staff writer, researcher and photo editor for Time-Life’s Australians At War series. He later researched and co-wrote two Film Australia-ABC documentaries Return to Sandakan and The Forgotten Force shown on the ABC and overseas. He was an image researcher at the State Library of NSW before joining the NSW Cabinet Office writing policy briefs for the Premier. For some years he was the public relations manager for an international hotel school in the Blue Mountains where he lives with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 30, 2015
Opens: The promise of fire was in the air that morning
I have just read my 2015 book of the year; a book that kept me enthralled; a book that I actually deliberately read slowly because I didn’t want it to end; a book that moved me to my very core.
Set in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney in Australia PALACE OF TEARS covers a hundred years, 2 world wars and a family that is stuffed full of secrets and haunted by a tragedy. Told from the point of view of mostly female characters, the story is gradually revealed. The story is not linear, it goes back and forth between the different time periods and narrators, but the story doesn’t once miss a beat.
The main narrators are six of women that are connected to Adam Fox - Angie and her mother Freya; both of Adam's wives, Adelina and Laura; Laura's daughter, Monika who is suffering from early stages Alzheimer’s; and finally in the present day, Lisa, who is Monika's daughter. Adam Fox does relate the odd part – to fill in the bits the women aren’t privy to.
Lisa, the granddaughter of Adam, starts an investigation into her family history when her mother mentions a girl named Angie in a lucid moment. Lisa decides to find out who Angie is, why she broke everyone’s heart, and what became of her. In the process the reader gets to learn lots about Australia’s social history – and at times feel a sense of shame at the actions of civilized people. As I was reading I made the following note:
I have just read a very distressing scene where narrow minded Australians raise their arms against fellow Australians. During WWI innocent Australians born in Australia but descended from Germans, along with German born Australians, were treated with utmost contempt by the 'holier than thou' non-German born/descended Australians. I wept at the scene - and then thought - nothing changes. Just swap the word German for Middle Eastern!"
People of German origin were considered to be the enemy, even if their sons were fighting in the Australian Army. They were bashed, their houses stoned and set fire too, their belongings desecrated, and then, the men at least, were shut up in concentration camps, sorry internment camps, treated as possible German spies. Even in the camps they were kept them in appalling conditions while the rest of Australia jumped up and down at the treatment of Australian prisoners of war, not caring we were doing the same. OK we didn’t kill our internee’s – but we are not on the moral high ground here. Then some 20 odd years later we did the same again – only Japanese people and Italians were thrown into the mix as well. The whole story thread was handled very well all out in the open – a warts and all look at the historical events. The treatment of foreign nationals was unfair, it was unjust, it was created out of ignorance and it was an unsubstantiated fear and author Julian Leatherdale used it in his story brilliantly.
This debut novel of Julian’s melds history and fiction together seamlessly and I was absolutely hooked from the very first page, and devastated when it came to end – no matter how good the ending was. The story is well paced, easy to follow despite the twists and turns and different time periods. Julian Leatherdale has gone onto that small list of mine where I write the names of authors who I would read their shopping list if they published it.
Do yourself a favour and read it.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin and the author for this copy to read and review.
I have just read my 2015 book of the year; a book that kept me enthralled; a book that I actually deliberately read slowly because I didn’t want it to end; a book that moved me to my very core.
Set in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney in Australia PALACE OF TEARS covers a hundred years, 2 world wars and a family that is stuffed full of secrets and haunted by a tragedy. Told from the point of view of mostly female characters, the story is gradually revealed. The story is not linear, it goes back and forth between the different time periods and narrators, but the story doesn’t once miss a beat.
The main narrators are six of women that are connected to Adam Fox - Angie and her mother Freya; both of Adam's wives, Adelina and Laura; Laura's daughter, Monika who is suffering from early stages Alzheimer’s; and finally in the present day, Lisa, who is Monika's daughter. Adam Fox does relate the odd part – to fill in the bits the women aren’t privy to.
Lisa, the granddaughter of Adam, starts an investigation into her family history when her mother mentions a girl named Angie in a lucid moment. Lisa decides to find out who Angie is, why she broke everyone’s heart, and what became of her. In the process the reader gets to learn lots about Australia’s social history – and at times feel a sense of shame at the actions of civilized people. As I was reading I made the following note:
I have just read a very distressing scene where narrow minded Australians raise their arms against fellow Australians. During WWI innocent Australians born in Australia but descended from Germans, along with German born Australians, were treated with utmost contempt by the 'holier than thou' non-German born/descended Australians. I wept at the scene - and then thought - nothing changes. Just swap the word German for Middle Eastern!"
People of German origin were considered to be the enemy, even if their sons were fighting in the Australian Army. They were bashed, their houses stoned and set fire too, their belongings desecrated, and then, the men at least, were shut up in concentration camps, sorry internment camps, treated as possible German spies. Even in the camps they were kept them in appalling conditions while the rest of Australia jumped up and down at the treatment of Australian prisoners of war, not caring we were doing the same. OK we didn’t kill our internee’s – but we are not on the moral high ground here. Then some 20 odd years later we did the same again – only Japanese people and Italians were thrown into the mix as well. The whole story thread was handled very well all out in the open – a warts and all look at the historical events. The treatment of foreign nationals was unfair, it was unjust, it was created out of ignorance and it was an unsubstantiated fear and author Julian Leatherdale used it in his story brilliantly.
This debut novel of Julian’s melds history and fiction together seamlessly and I was absolutely hooked from the very first page, and devastated when it came to end – no matter how good the ending was. The story is well paced, easy to follow despite the twists and turns and different time periods. Julian Leatherdale has gone onto that small list of mine where I write the names of authors who I would read their shopping list if they published it.
Do yourself a favour and read it.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin and the author for this copy to read and review.
January 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐️s
Set in the stunning Blue Mountains, NSW. A place I’ve been to many times as it’s only a 90 minute drive from my place, in other words, just a hop, skip and a jump away. LOL!
The government set up camps around Australia and interned thousands of residents on account of their German descent. Geez, I had no idea of this shocking treatment towards Germans born in Australia during WWI.
Although upsetting to learn of this history it was an intriguing storyline, and filled with drama, scandal, romance, and few good twists.
Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda audio
Read by Ming-Zhu Hii
Duration: 15 hrs, 40 min. 1.25x Speed
Set in the stunning Blue Mountains, NSW. A place I’ve been to many times as it’s only a 90 minute drive from my place, in other words, just a hop, skip and a jump away. LOL!
The government set up camps around Australia and interned thousands of residents on account of their German descent. Geez, I had no idea of this shocking treatment towards Germans born in Australia during WWI.
Although upsetting to learn of this history it was an intriguing storyline, and filled with drama, scandal, romance, and few good twists.
Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda audio
Read by Ming-Zhu Hii
Duration: 15 hrs, 40 min. 1.25x Speed
June 13, 2015
Set in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales Palace of Tears is a generational saga of family, passion, secrets and vengeance from debut author Julian Leatherdale.
The shifting third person narrative unfolds from the perspective of several characters, Angie and her mother Freya; Adam's wives, Adelina and Laura; Laura's daughter, Monika; and in the present day, Lisa, Monika's daughter. Only briefly do we hear from Adam Fox, the owner of the Palace and the man who connects these three generations of women.
Lisa's interest in the past is triggered when, during a visit with her ailing mother, Monika laments the mysterious fate of Angie, the 'girl who broke Adam Fox's heart'. The name is unfamiliar to Lisa and curious she decides to investigate, contacting Palace historian Luke Davis. Over the course of the novel, Leatherdale unravels a family history marred by untimely death, adultery, betrayal, heartbreak and revenge. What became of Angie remains a mystery til the very end with a surprising twist.
Leatherdale firmly grounds his fictional characters in time and place. Adam Fox's Palace is modeled on the Hydro Majestic Hotel, opened in 1904 in the tiny township of Medlow Bath in the upper Blue Mountains and he ably describes the opulence of the hotel and the magnificence of the setting. The author also references several relevant historical events of the first half of the twentieth century from the wartime internment camps, to the deadly influenza outbreak that swept New South Wales, to Arthur Conan Doyle's Antipodean tour, enriching the story with intriguing detail.
The tale is well structured, despite shifting between multiple perspectives and time periods. The story is well paced, with plenty of twists and turns in the plot to maintain interest. Descriptions, particularly of the setting are vivid, and
Melding history and fiction, Palace of Tears is an entertaining novel and an impressive debut from Julian Leatherdale.
"Nothing was achieved without risk and cost. The allure of the mountains had taught Adam that lesson.... The mountains offered up vistas of inspiration, horizons of wonder where the mind dared to leap and the imagination to soar. It enriched the spirit, breathed hope back in to the wounded heart. Yet there was always that reminder of the fall: vertigo's strange seduction that dragged you down the bright waterfall into the shadow of the valley below. Mortality, failure, despair - all these must be acknowledged. Adam realised, over time, that his beloved mountains expressed the inner drama of his own soul."
June 13, 2015
I was born in the Blue Mountains, where most of this novel is set, so there was an immediacy and a kind of intimacy I felt when reading this book. Given that the first part revolves around a young girl growing up in the mountains I could very easily relate to this main character! All that aside this is a wonderful story, darkly brooding in parts, but captivating in its telling of love and betrayal and family secrets coming to light. I was lucky enough to win an uncorrected proof and I did feel that there were some areas which needed editing, some unnecessary description and background which could be tightened a bit, but overall the story held my interest. There is a lushness to the writing which I loved. I knew that there was a twist, but what I thought I had figured out turned out to be wrong and I certainly didn't pick what it was at all! The story is told from a number of different perspectives and across different times. I thought the current day characters were actually the least well-rounded, although still compelling, and I did relate a lot to the mother-daughter relationships described. I think the ending was not as I'd like personally ... but it would make a great movie - I can just hear the gasps from the audience!! The historical aspects were very good, the decadence and fun of the glory days of the hotel was clear in my mind as though I were there, and the history of the internment of German-Australians during WW1 was handled with clarity and compassion. I found myself in shock at this aspect of our history which we are rarely told and I appreciate the skill with which the author has weaved this into the story. There is so much more I could talk about, but suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read and plan on giving a copy to my Mum!
June 21, 2015
I have become quite taken with books set in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales. This has been fortunate, as I have had the pleasure of reading three very good books set in this highly atmospheric part of Australia this year. Palace of Tears, a debut novel by Julian Leatherdale is no exception, in fact, I am happy to claim it is a masterpiece and it is completely worthy of a five star rating.
Place of Tears ticked all the boxes for me. With a gothic theme, rich Australian landscape setting and a mystery revolving around long held family secrets to solve, I was bound to love it. Palace of Tears also goes that one step further, by including a thread around a tragic piece of Australian history I was unaware of until Leatherdale brought my attention to it. I am still reeling from reading the passages in this book, that explain the internment and subsequent deportation of many valued Australian citizens who were removed from our country due to their German roots. Equally distressing was our treatment towards anyone who was German following World War I. This is a sad chapter in Australian history, that I am glad Leatherdale has drawn the reader’s awareness to in his debut work of fiction. There is so much to say about this book, the beauty of the setting was a standout. The opulence of the hotel, compared with the rustic feel from the bush was contrasted beautifully. The characters were rich and complex, Adam Fox, the hotel owner, was unlikeable and likeable in the same instance. I really connected to both the past and present characters, who compliment each other with ease. The narrative itself is structured beautifully, the movement from past to present and the shear span of the book time wise really worked. When talking about the narrative, it is hard not to mention the significant plot twist that was delivered near the end, I definitely did not see it coming. I liked how Leatherdale kept the reader on edge as the mystery of the book, along with the plot twist was delivered very near to the conclusion of the book.
In summary, Palace of Tears is a truly wonderful first novel. I am so looking forward to what Julian Leatherdale delivers next and will be waiting with anticipation to devour his next book.
I wish to thank The Reading Room and Allen & Unwin for an uncorrected proof copy of this book for review.
Place of Tears ticked all the boxes for me. With a gothic theme, rich Australian landscape setting and a mystery revolving around long held family secrets to solve, I was bound to love it. Palace of Tears also goes that one step further, by including a thread around a tragic piece of Australian history I was unaware of until Leatherdale brought my attention to it. I am still reeling from reading the passages in this book, that explain the internment and subsequent deportation of many valued Australian citizens who were removed from our country due to their German roots. Equally distressing was our treatment towards anyone who was German following World War I. This is a sad chapter in Australian history, that I am glad Leatherdale has drawn the reader’s awareness to in his debut work of fiction. There is so much to say about this book, the beauty of the setting was a standout. The opulence of the hotel, compared with the rustic feel from the bush was contrasted beautifully. The characters were rich and complex, Adam Fox, the hotel owner, was unlikeable and likeable in the same instance. I really connected to both the past and present characters, who compliment each other with ease. The narrative itself is structured beautifully, the movement from past to present and the shear span of the book time wise really worked. When talking about the narrative, it is hard not to mention the significant plot twist that was delivered near the end, I definitely did not see it coming. I liked how Leatherdale kept the reader on edge as the mystery of the book, along with the plot twist was delivered very near to the conclusion of the book.
In summary, Palace of Tears is a truly wonderful first novel. I am so looking forward to what Julian Leatherdale delivers next and will be waiting with anticipation to devour his next book.
I wish to thank The Reading Room and Allen & Unwin for an uncorrected proof copy of this book for review.
February 6, 2017
I loved some of the description of this book, however the story itself, while mostly interesting, changed pace quite considerably, with some parts being riveting, and others being a bit too slow for my liking. This, combined with its length, has made me drop my rating a little. If it had been compelling for the whole length, that would have been great, and if it had been a slower read but about 200 pages shorter, then that wouldn’t probably have worried me either, but it did feel like it dragged a bit.
I also resented at times the amount that it chopped and changed periods in the recounting of the story. This is normally a story-telling device I enjoy, but I didn’t feel that it was seamless in this -it seemed a bit overdone and I frequently had to flip back to remember which time period I was in. I also got a bit confused with the different female characters - which is probably not so surprising because they were all revolving around Adam Fox, in various ways and at different times!
However, all that makes it sound as though I didn’t like it, which wasn’t the case at all. I did really enjoy it - and the ending was very clever Perhaps it was disadvantaged by coming after a couple of fast-paced reads, and so I was expecting something similar from this one. But Julian Leatherdale’s description of Australian flora and fauna is fantastic, and the heat haze over the mountains, so all that was beautifully done.
It was also interesting to read information online about the Hydro Majestic Hotel, which is what Julian Leatherdale based Adam Fox’s Palace on. And I was just thinking, since the descriptions were so well done that you almost felt like you were there, and since I’ve never been to the Blue Mountains and don’t know the area at all, it might have been nice to have a little map in the front or the back, with the major locations marked on it so that you could picture everyone moving around even better. 3.5★
I also resented at times the amount that it chopped and changed periods in the recounting of the story. This is normally a story-telling device I enjoy, but I didn’t feel that it was seamless in this -it seemed a bit overdone and I frequently had to flip back to remember which time period I was in. I also got a bit confused with the different female characters - which is probably not so surprising because they were all revolving around Adam Fox, in various ways and at different times!
However, all that makes it sound as though I didn’t like it, which wasn’t the case at all. I did really enjoy it - and the ending was very clever Perhaps it was disadvantaged by coming after a couple of fast-paced reads, and so I was expecting something similar from this one. But Julian Leatherdale’s description of Australian flora and fauna is fantastic, and the heat haze over the mountains, so all that was beautifully done.
It was also interesting to read information online about the Hydro Majestic Hotel, which is what Julian Leatherdale based Adam Fox’s Palace on. And I was just thinking, since the descriptions were so well done that you almost felt like you were there, and since I’ve never been to the Blue Mountains and don’t know the area at all, it might have been nice to have a little map in the front or the back, with the major locations marked on it so that you could picture everyone moving around even better. 3.5★
February 3, 2016
I find myself in the great minority on this book. II not only did not love The Palace of Tears, I disliked it and found fault around every bend. I wanted to like this book and it started out very well. It didn't take long though for my mind to change. First, I have to say that I did not like the characters of Lisa and Luke. I found them beyond predictable. Every other historical fiction book these days uses the modern day person(s) finding clues to the past with the ultimate big reveal. The writer has to find a way to make both stories interesting, unpredictable, moving, and so forth. In this story, the modern day characters were simply a means to an end. The way to facilitate a mystery. There was no story of any merit whatsoever and the characters and their interactions were seriously one dimensional. Yet as the reader you had to get through a lot of these filler chapters to Lisa could set up the 'big reveal', the plot twist on which the entire story rests. My second issue with this story was the writers tendency to over write and over describe. So much of the writing was simply superfluous. Not only the writing but entire segments of the book. There were times where scenes played out for no reason. They didn't propel the story or add to it in a substantial way. It was filler. The real problem with the story was, in fact, the plot twist itself. Was it a surprise? Absolutely. Did it work? No way!!!! It felt as if the writer had the idea for the big plot twist and then wrote everything around it to make it work. Only it didn't. I am so completely surprised that readers are buying it. It's SO unrealistic. On top of that, the deeply cruel Adam Fox who is shamefully vile in the way he uses and abuses women (his lovers, wives, and daughters are all victims of his narcissistic megalomaniacal selfishness), is not only allowed to continually abuse those around him without any repercussions (save for the action at the
start of the book for which the entire book is based), but hose that he was cruelest to make excuses for his actions!! One of the characters he was the cruelest to, goes to great lengths to spare him emotional pain even when her own life is crashing to rubble at her feet. Lastly, this big secret has been kept by the character Monica for almost her entire life and it's turned her into a cold hearted woman and a cold, unloving mother. Yet after she shares the secret she somehow becomes a happier person and a more caring mother. Why? The secret isn't even hers really so why does she keep it to her own detriment. Why doesn't she share it with her adult children or her siblings or anyone? It makes no sense. Not to mention the fact that I cannot fathom why the secret is such that it would ruin her life. Then again I can't figure why Monica is the only one who was told the secret in he first place. That's the problem, no one knows. The writer never explains nor connects for z readers why the characters act the way they do or say the things they say. Two Big Thumbs Down.
start of the book for which the entire book is based), but hose that he was cruelest to make excuses for his actions!! One of the characters he was the cruelest to, goes to great lengths to spare him emotional pain even when her own life is crashing to rubble at her feet. Lastly, this big secret has been kept by the character Monica for almost her entire life and it's turned her into a cold hearted woman and a cold, unloving mother. Yet after she shares the secret she somehow becomes a happier person and a more caring mother. Why? The secret isn't even hers really so why does she keep it to her own detriment. Why doesn't she share it with her adult children or her siblings or anyone? It makes no sense. Not to mention the fact that I cannot fathom why the secret is such that it would ruin her life. Then again I can't figure why Monica is the only one who was told the secret in he first place. That's the problem, no one knows. The writer never explains nor connects for z readers why the characters act the way they do or say the things they say. Two Big Thumbs Down.
May 22, 2015
While I'm not a fan of historical fiction, I appreciate multi-timeframe novels which delve into deep dark past secrets. I've also recently become interested in events in Australia surrounding WWI so was keen to read more about that time from history-lover and researcher Julian Leatherdale in his debut novel Palace of Tears.
There is no doubt that Leatherdale knows his stuff. His references to events of that time and fictional activities surrounding it were astonishing and his passion evident.
Palace of Tears in written in third person but we're in the heads of a range of characters, including Angie and her mother Freda; Adam's wives Adelina and Laura; Laura's daughter (Monika); and granddaughter, Lisa. We visit upon Adam as well but this novel is very much about the impact his actions have on the women in his life. And what magnificent women they are!
Interestingly I found Lisa—our main storyteller—less engaging than her descendants, but then again... she had fewer secrets.
This is a well-written book with a great sense of place. The hotel and the surrounds were well-drawn and events of the time exquisitely detailed.
This is a great debut novel from Julian Leatherdale which achieves a good balance between educating and entertaining readers.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5-4 stars
There is no doubt that Leatherdale knows his stuff. His references to events of that time and fictional activities surrounding it were astonishing and his passion evident.
Palace of Tears in written in third person but we're in the heads of a range of characters, including Angie and her mother Freda; Adam's wives Adelina and Laura; Laura's daughter (Monika); and granddaughter, Lisa. We visit upon Adam as well but this novel is very much about the impact his actions have on the women in his life. And what magnificent women they are!
Interestingly I found Lisa—our main storyteller—less engaging than her descendants, but then again... she had fewer secrets.
This is a well-written book with a great sense of place. The hotel and the surrounds were well-drawn and events of the time exquisitely detailed.
This is a great debut novel from Julian Leatherdale which achieves a good balance between educating and entertaining readers.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5-4 stars
June 12, 2015
I love a book where the story is written between a number of time periods as I love the twists, turns and mysteries a story like that can give. Julian Leatherdale's first novel, Palace of Tears is such a story. Loved it! The cast of wonderful characters, the blending of real Australian history with fiction and the magical setting of The Blue Mountains all of which gave me a journey that was happy, sad, frightening and with a mystery that, though I guessed it part way through the book, kept me interested and fascinated from beginning to end. A really great read!
September 17, 2015
Probably more of a 2.5 star - not quite a 3. An enjoyably read. Having been to some of the places set in the novel I found the historical references added to the story - I was particularly interested to learn about Australian history with respect to migrants and internment camps. However, when the "secret" was exposed it just felt a little bit creepy - really??? - don't know how you could justify THAT relationship.
July 7, 2015
This ambitious long book spans three generations and more than a century.
The plot weaves around Adam Fox, the original owner of the Palace, a Blue Mountains hotel/resort of the title, his loves, and his children.
Adam’s granddaughter, Lisa, a photographer, is invited to help out a historian who is researching the details of the Palace. She starts to uncover secrets and mysteries, and she realises there is so much she doesn’t know about her mother, the beloved Australian children’s book author Monica Fox, and her family. Monica has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, meaning Lisa is running out of time to gain her mother’s help to piece together the Fox jigsaw before Monica’s illness completely takes over.
With a little google research of my own I found that Julian Leatherdale is not only a writer but a photographer and researcher who has worked on such projects as the Australians at War series (Julian, you need to update your Goodreads profile, mate). But does an extensive knowledge of history make you a good fiction writer? Well, yes and no.
My ‘yes’ vote goes to:
The way the actual historical details are used in the novel. Obviously they’ve all been meticulously researched, and they are all completely fascinating. Quite a few are depressing, and it’s very sad to see that we have learnt little and continue to make the same basic mistakes still today. I appreciated the way the historical aspects were included seamlessly. There were no huge information dumps/history lessons, and everything was relevant to the characters and/or plot.
Real life figures, including Dame Nellie Melba and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, were used well and again, in a way that fit into the plot. They were so well interspersed with the fictional characters, in fact, I sometimes wondered who was real and who wasn’t.
The setting is gorgeous -- the Blue Mountains, Leura, Katoomba. Its beauty, and the danger that goes along with that, is again used perfectly in harmony with the plot.
The twist near the end. I will readily admit I had no idea and didn’t see it coming at all. So many books I read, the climactic twist is obvious, but this one caught me completely by surprise and I quite enjoyed it.
Which leads me to my ‘no’ factors:
The twist, although there, had not enough build up. I was struggling at one stage to work out how the book was going to end because there seemed to be no resolution I needed to reach, no burning question I had that made me want to rush to the end. As I said at the top of my review, this is a rather long ambitious book, with many characters, and at about the 3/4 mark I started to struggle with this lack of a page turning tension.
The romance. There are several in the book, and I’m not sure if the writer won me over with any of them. They spring up and he tells me the characters are in love, but I didn’t get a feel for any of them. Fortunately, the book is more of a family saga than a romance so it wasn’t vitally important, but I do think Leatherdale needs to swot on some romances before his next novel.
The three parts. I didn’t understand them at all. There are, as I said, several characters, all related in some way, and all equally important to the novel. We get individually marked chapters with the name of the main character for that chapter, and the year, and it does chop and change regularly. Characters have flashbacks, find letters in attics, etc etc. Each part is not solely about the character that appears in the title of each part. I just didn’t see the point.
Fortunately, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book despite these minor ‘no’ gripes. It should be read simply to expand your knowledge of Australian history, which I thought I had a good grasp on before reading this, and yet I learnt some very interesting details.
A firm 4/5
The plot weaves around Adam Fox, the original owner of the Palace, a Blue Mountains hotel/resort of the title, his loves, and his children.
Adam’s granddaughter, Lisa, a photographer, is invited to help out a historian who is researching the details of the Palace. She starts to uncover secrets and mysteries, and she realises there is so much she doesn’t know about her mother, the beloved Australian children’s book author Monica Fox, and her family. Monica has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, meaning Lisa is running out of time to gain her mother’s help to piece together the Fox jigsaw before Monica’s illness completely takes over.
With a little google research of my own I found that Julian Leatherdale is not only a writer but a photographer and researcher who has worked on such projects as the Australians at War series (Julian, you need to update your Goodreads profile, mate). But does an extensive knowledge of history make you a good fiction writer? Well, yes and no.
My ‘yes’ vote goes to:
The way the actual historical details are used in the novel. Obviously they’ve all been meticulously researched, and they are all completely fascinating. Quite a few are depressing, and it’s very sad to see that we have learnt little and continue to make the same basic mistakes still today. I appreciated the way the historical aspects were included seamlessly. There were no huge information dumps/history lessons, and everything was relevant to the characters and/or plot.
Real life figures, including Dame Nellie Melba and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, were used well and again, in a way that fit into the plot. They were so well interspersed with the fictional characters, in fact, I sometimes wondered who was real and who wasn’t.
The setting is gorgeous -- the Blue Mountains, Leura, Katoomba. Its beauty, and the danger that goes along with that, is again used perfectly in harmony with the plot.
The twist near the end. I will readily admit I had no idea and didn’t see it coming at all. So many books I read, the climactic twist is obvious, but this one caught me completely by surprise and I quite enjoyed it.
Which leads me to my ‘no’ factors:
The twist, although there, had not enough build up. I was struggling at one stage to work out how the book was going to end because there seemed to be no resolution I needed to reach, no burning question I had that made me want to rush to the end. As I said at the top of my review, this is a rather long ambitious book, with many characters, and at about the 3/4 mark I started to struggle with this lack of a page turning tension.
The romance. There are several in the book, and I’m not sure if the writer won me over with any of them. They spring up and he tells me the characters are in love, but I didn’t get a feel for any of them. Fortunately, the book is more of a family saga than a romance so it wasn’t vitally important, but I do think Leatherdale needs to swot on some romances before his next novel.
The three parts. I didn’t understand them at all. There are, as I said, several characters, all related in some way, and all equally important to the novel. We get individually marked chapters with the name of the main character for that chapter, and the year, and it does chop and change regularly. Characters have flashbacks, find letters in attics, etc etc. Each part is not solely about the character that appears in the title of each part. I just didn’t see the point.
Fortunately, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book despite these minor ‘no’ gripes. It should be read simply to expand your knowledge of Australian history, which I thought I had a good grasp on before reading this, and yet I learnt some very interesting details.
A firm 4/5
July 4, 2024
Fascinating storyline . Also enjoyed learning some Australian war history
June 17, 2015
‘Palace of Tears’ was aptly named. It was a place where people lost their lives, where lives were ruined by ignorance and blame, where the loyal were abandoned and where friend turned against friend and to add to all that, it was also a place of heartbreak and betrayal. Occasionally, it was a place of great joy and where forgiveness had to be learned.
This book follows the lives of the Fox family, travelling down the ages from 1907 to 2013 in and follows the story of several well-fleshed-out characters. But, before I talk about the characters, there was a time period that touched me in a way that I never expected.
Once again, this book opened my eyes to the innocent that time forgot. Only a book called 'The Book Thief' by Marcus Zusak has ever been able to do that to me. Even though the next paragraph may be a bit of a spoiler, I have to mention my feelings on some of what happened in this novel and the impact it had on me.
I was appalled by what happened to the people of German ethnicity who lived in other countries during the time of the World Wars - this book is based in Australia, near the Blue mountains. Anyway, these people had left Germany, often years before, and had been naturalised, yet, with the event of the war they were treated like criminals and interned in what was nothing more than a concentration camp. I felt a shocking similarity between what the Germans were doing to Jews and what we were doing to innocent Germans. Maybe not en mass and as terrible as Hitler and his cronies did (I would never want to take anything away from that atrocity), but it was bad enough. Hadn’t we caged people all because of their ethnicity? All because of paranoia and fear? And, how many innocent people died during that time – all because they had the misfortune of being born a different nationality than the one they were living in?
Judged and found guilty with no probable cause. My soul screamed out with the injustice of it all, even though it happened years ago. The internment camp mentioned in this book was real. I could go on and on about this section, but I won’t because the book was more than that, but it did play a central role in this book’s plot.
So, now onto the characters:-
The main character that was the central figure during this book was Adam Fox. He was a deeply flawed man, obsession being the main one. He was obsessed with his hotel and he affected so many lives because of his decisions. Even though he would be a very easy man to hate, I liked him, well, mostly. He was a character who made decisions on his needs, not caring how it may ruin people’s lives. He was a family man and he loved his second wife with a passion, even though he had jealous streaks. The thing I loved about him the most was that he was a real, believable character.
Angela ‘Angie’ Wood was the second central figure and I adored her. She went through so many difficult things in her life, but she was a strong woman who ended up thriving in spite of what happened to her. I don’t want to say too much about her because I really think she is the ‘star’ of this book and a little mystery never hurt anyone.
Lisa Fox was the granddaughter of Adam Fox and it was her search for herself through her family’s history that started it all and starts to uncover the family’s skeletons from their closets. She’s a softer character, but she’s strong in her own ways.
'Palace of Tears’ is written in third voice and has multiple perspectives. I was glad it did, because it gave me a chance to understand all of the characters. I felt like I was there and I got to know them and their thought processes. I was immersed in their world and I felt their struggle. I love it when books can do that to me.
There’s so much more I could tell you about this book and about its clever plot twist. I would love to go into detail about all that happens and what parts of history this book covers and just how masterfully I think this book is written.
But, I won’t.
To appreciate the characters and the plot, ‘Palace of Tears’ needs to be read. It’s fast-paced, addicting and enthralling. I loved this book so much and would recommend it to anyone.
This book follows the lives of the Fox family, travelling down the ages from 1907 to 2013 in and follows the story of several well-fleshed-out characters. But, before I talk about the characters, there was a time period that touched me in a way that I never expected.
Once again, this book opened my eyes to the innocent that time forgot. Only a book called 'The Book Thief' by Marcus Zusak has ever been able to do that to me. Even though the next paragraph may be a bit of a spoiler, I have to mention my feelings on some of what happened in this novel and the impact it had on me.
I was appalled by what happened to the people of German ethnicity who lived in other countries during the time of the World Wars - this book is based in Australia, near the Blue mountains. Anyway, these people had left Germany, often years before, and had been naturalised, yet, with the event of the war they were treated like criminals and interned in what was nothing more than a concentration camp. I felt a shocking similarity between what the Germans were doing to Jews and what we were doing to innocent Germans. Maybe not en mass and as terrible as Hitler and his cronies did (I would never want to take anything away from that atrocity), but it was bad enough. Hadn’t we caged people all because of their ethnicity? All because of paranoia and fear? And, how many innocent people died during that time – all because they had the misfortune of being born a different nationality than the one they were living in?
Judged and found guilty with no probable cause. My soul screamed out with the injustice of it all, even though it happened years ago. The internment camp mentioned in this book was real. I could go on and on about this section, but I won’t because the book was more than that, but it did play a central role in this book’s plot.
So, now onto the characters:-
The main character that was the central figure during this book was Adam Fox. He was a deeply flawed man, obsession being the main one. He was obsessed with his hotel and he affected so many lives because of his decisions. Even though he would be a very easy man to hate, I liked him, well, mostly. He was a character who made decisions on his needs, not caring how it may ruin people’s lives. He was a family man and he loved his second wife with a passion, even though he had jealous streaks. The thing I loved about him the most was that he was a real, believable character.
Angela ‘Angie’ Wood was the second central figure and I adored her. She went through so many difficult things in her life, but she was a strong woman who ended up thriving in spite of what happened to her. I don’t want to say too much about her because I really think she is the ‘star’ of this book and a little mystery never hurt anyone.
Lisa Fox was the granddaughter of Adam Fox and it was her search for herself through her family’s history that started it all and starts to uncover the family’s skeletons from their closets. She’s a softer character, but she’s strong in her own ways.
'Palace of Tears’ is written in third voice and has multiple perspectives. I was glad it did, because it gave me a chance to understand all of the characters. I felt like I was there and I got to know them and their thought processes. I was immersed in their world and I felt their struggle. I love it when books can do that to me.
There’s so much more I could tell you about this book and about its clever plot twist. I would love to go into detail about all that happens and what parts of history this book covers and just how masterfully I think this book is written.
But, I won’t.
To appreciate the characters and the plot, ‘Palace of Tears’ needs to be read. It’s fast-paced, addicting and enthralling. I loved this book so much and would recommend it to anyone.
June 5, 2015
The Palace of Tears is an extraordinary story, full of mystery…so much mystery and incorporates part of Australian history that I had never known about – the deportation of Germans in our country during the war and the cruelty of our fellow Australians towards those Germans, the horrific treatment of unwed, single pregnant women in the hospital and the like. I’m sure somewhere along the lines I would’ve heard something but I may have been rather ignorant or reluctant to listen. It was a real eye opener.
And with all those little facts a fiction novel was created around the Foxes and the Woods and the intricate relationship between them both. The ending isn’t quite what I expected. I had been literally thrown for a loop when a major discovery was made and that’s when I decided that I really liked the story.
At times it had seemed a bit too in-depth with its description and overuse of words and I tended to run over those paragraphs rather quickly. But that wasn’t very often and didn’t ruin the whole story. It still flowed and captured my attention (when my attention was able to be caught). And every time I put the book down and picked it back up again I never forgot what had happened. It was like waiting for another episode of a favourite tv show to come out – you just never forget.
The mystery surrounding the whole book was the clincher. What did happen to little Angie? The one who broke all their hearts. That is the true mystery behind the story and one that you don’t discover the answer to until the second last chapter. That was how good this story was – the mystery wasn’t solved until the very end – unless you’re some sort of genius and figured it out a long time ago. I for a fact didn’t see it coming.
If you enjoy watching shows like Downton Abbey or like a bit of mystery in the books you read, then I recommend that you pick this one up – especially if you also want to learn a little of the hidden history of Australia during the war. It was a fantastic read that’ll have you making your assumptions about the mystery of the Foxes and the Woods, and enjoying the ride through Family Ancestry that might also convince you to look into your own.
A wonderful first novel. And I hope Julian Leatherdale continues with a career as an author as he does know how to spin a tale and how to finish it off.
And with all those little facts a fiction novel was created around the Foxes and the Woods and the intricate relationship between them both. The ending isn’t quite what I expected. I had been literally thrown for a loop when a major discovery was made and that’s when I decided that I really liked the story.
At times it had seemed a bit too in-depth with its description and overuse of words and I tended to run over those paragraphs rather quickly. But that wasn’t very often and didn’t ruin the whole story. It still flowed and captured my attention (when my attention was able to be caught). And every time I put the book down and picked it back up again I never forgot what had happened. It was like waiting for another episode of a favourite tv show to come out – you just never forget.
The mystery surrounding the whole book was the clincher. What did happen to little Angie? The one who broke all their hearts. That is the true mystery behind the story and one that you don’t discover the answer to until the second last chapter. That was how good this story was – the mystery wasn’t solved until the very end – unless you’re some sort of genius and figured it out a long time ago. I for a fact didn’t see it coming.
If you enjoy watching shows like Downton Abbey or like a bit of mystery in the books you read, then I recommend that you pick this one up – especially if you also want to learn a little of the hidden history of Australia during the war. It was a fantastic read that’ll have you making your assumptions about the mystery of the Foxes and the Woods, and enjoying the ride through Family Ancestry that might also convince you to look into your own.
A wonderful first novel. And I hope Julian Leatherdale continues with a career as an author as he does know how to spin a tale and how to finish it off.
February 4, 2017
What a saga !! The setting is amazing ..the Blue Mountains in NSW. It was historically enlightening. The treatment & internment of Australian Germans during WWI was an aspect of our history I knew very little of. Drama , romance twists & turns. Listened to this one. Hours or entertainment whilst traveling to & from work.
November 11, 2019
Fantastic book (listened to Audio) with lots of twists, romance, history, scandal, drama and learnt a lot about how innocent people were treated during the war unjustly! I was horrified of the camps and racism in Australia. Great descriptions and character development
March 12, 2016
Not for me.
June 19, 2017
A wonderful read set in the Upper Blue Mountains with familiar places! Shocking happenings here in Australia during the war that I didn't know about and what a twist at the end!
July 4, 2020
Maybe it was the timing in the line of books that I have read, but I loved this book. The story of a hotel and a cottage in the Blue Mountains, with the links between two families. I had been misled by a couple of the story lines, I think cleverly, and the reveals had me breathless as how cleverly they happened.
A great holiday read, and I recommend this book.
A great holiday read, and I recommend this book.
August 3, 2015
I love historical fiction! I’m one of those people who likes history wrapped in a good story and freely admit that much of my historical knowledge is gleaned from within the pages of novels such as Palace of Tears by Julian Leatherdale. The novel being set in the magnificent Blue Mountains of New South Wales only added to its promise.
The Palace Hotel of the book is based on the Hydro Majestic Hotel and Spa in Katoomba. The author clearly knows this building well and uses it as a character. I so enjoyed walking through the Palace and seeing in my mind the original I know. I could share the amazement of the characters in their surroundings because I remember being absolutely agape the first time I saw both the interior and exterior of the building. Although, in my time, the Hydro Majestic was a little “lady in reduced circumstances” it was clear her history was grand. The cottage to one side of the building, which features so strongly in the story, has a parallel in the buildings on the property.
Many of the people who visited the Palace/Hydro Majestic in its heyday are also featured in the novel, Dame Nellie Melba, Clara Butt and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle being the best known. These people are incorporated into the novel seamlessly with no hint of "Star spotting".
The time, and place, of the novel is so strongly established, I had to remind myself the people were fictional characters, not the people who built, owned and/or operated the Hydro Majestic. Julian cheekily uses similarities in name to great advantage, such as the fictional Meadow Springs for the real Medlow Bath, and Monika Fox for the name of the children’s book writer in the novel.
Palace of Tears is huge in scale; it covers over 100 years and three generations of the Fox family. During renovations of the Palace, historian Luke Evans is preparing a history of the grand building and the people who lived, worked and played there. Lisa is slowly losing her mother to the scourge of Alzheimer’s, but when Monika blurts out that Angie “broke Adam Fox’s heart”, Lisa longs to learn more about her family before their history is irrevocably locked inside her mother’s mind.
Through shifts in time, we learn the Fox history through the eyes and voices of the women who love, and are loved by Adam Fox, Adeline, Laura, Monika, Freya and Angie. Each of these women is important in different ways; individually and as a group, they are wonderful. The author draws an excellent word portrait of each one and of their place in Adam's life.
One piece of history which wasn't pleasant to read was the treatment of naturalised Australians, who happened to be of German birth, or family heritage, during World War 1. I knew of internment camps for “enemy aliens” but I did not know of their fate after the war. The inclusion of this history may not reflect the way Australians like to see ourselves, but it adds depth to the story. We may not like it hearing it, but it did happen and sometimes we need reminding that there were some inglorious moments our history.
There are multiple twists in this family history, and the lush, strange, mystery persists until the end. The final denouement isn't broadcast to the reader - as many scenarios as I imagined, I was not close!
Author Julian Leatherdale’s first love was theatre. On graduation, he wrote lyrics for four satirical cabarets and a two-act musical. He discovered a passion for popular history as a staff writer, researcher and photo editor for Time-Life's Australians At War series. He later researched and co-wrote two Film Australia-ABC documentaries Return to Sandakan and The Forgotten Force and was an image researcher at the State Library of New South Wales. He was the public relations manager for a hotel school in the Blue Mountains, where he lives with his wife and two children. He uses these experiences to great advantage in writing Palace of Tears.
I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good read with substance. Thank you to Allen and Unwin for my ARC. A first novel by a new writer and what a novel it is!
This review is published on Starts at 60 http://bit.ly/1E4lfSY.
The Palace Hotel of the book is based on the Hydro Majestic Hotel and Spa in Katoomba. The author clearly knows this building well and uses it as a character. I so enjoyed walking through the Palace and seeing in my mind the original I know. I could share the amazement of the characters in their surroundings because I remember being absolutely agape the first time I saw both the interior and exterior of the building. Although, in my time, the Hydro Majestic was a little “lady in reduced circumstances” it was clear her history was grand. The cottage to one side of the building, which features so strongly in the story, has a parallel in the buildings on the property.
Many of the people who visited the Palace/Hydro Majestic in its heyday are also featured in the novel, Dame Nellie Melba, Clara Butt and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle being the best known. These people are incorporated into the novel seamlessly with no hint of "Star spotting".
The time, and place, of the novel is so strongly established, I had to remind myself the people were fictional characters, not the people who built, owned and/or operated the Hydro Majestic. Julian cheekily uses similarities in name to great advantage, such as the fictional Meadow Springs for the real Medlow Bath, and Monika Fox for the name of the children’s book writer in the novel.
Palace of Tears is huge in scale; it covers over 100 years and three generations of the Fox family. During renovations of the Palace, historian Luke Evans is preparing a history of the grand building and the people who lived, worked and played there. Lisa is slowly losing her mother to the scourge of Alzheimer’s, but when Monika blurts out that Angie “broke Adam Fox’s heart”, Lisa longs to learn more about her family before their history is irrevocably locked inside her mother’s mind.
Through shifts in time, we learn the Fox history through the eyes and voices of the women who love, and are loved by Adam Fox, Adeline, Laura, Monika, Freya and Angie. Each of these women is important in different ways; individually and as a group, they are wonderful. The author draws an excellent word portrait of each one and of their place in Adam's life.
One piece of history which wasn't pleasant to read was the treatment of naturalised Australians, who happened to be of German birth, or family heritage, during World War 1. I knew of internment camps for “enemy aliens” but I did not know of their fate after the war. The inclusion of this history may not reflect the way Australians like to see ourselves, but it adds depth to the story. We may not like it hearing it, but it did happen and sometimes we need reminding that there were some inglorious moments our history.
There are multiple twists in this family history, and the lush, strange, mystery persists until the end. The final denouement isn't broadcast to the reader - as many scenarios as I imagined, I was not close!
Author Julian Leatherdale’s first love was theatre. On graduation, he wrote lyrics for four satirical cabarets and a two-act musical. He discovered a passion for popular history as a staff writer, researcher and photo editor for Time-Life's Australians At War series. He later researched and co-wrote two Film Australia-ABC documentaries Return to Sandakan and The Forgotten Force and was an image researcher at the State Library of New South Wales. He was the public relations manager for a hotel school in the Blue Mountains, where he lives with his wife and two children. He uses these experiences to great advantage in writing Palace of Tears.
I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good read with substance. Thank you to Allen and Unwin for my ARC. A first novel by a new writer and what a novel it is!
This review is published on Starts at 60 http://bit.ly/1E4lfSY.
September 20, 2025
You need to concentrate, take notes, read carefully, listen acutely… the whole time. Otherwise this plot can become so boring!
It builds up slowly with an occasional bit of excitement along the way & not until near the end, does it gain momentum when the truth is exposed. But the fireworks aren’t exhilarating by then.
Lifeless, overwritten, too long, padded & became a chore to listen to: monotonous narrator who mostly read for the bulk of the plot, rather than charmed & became the characters! Of which there were too many. I did not feel attached to any. Lack of depth was evident.
Having said that, the social-historical plot line was a good idea, also the Blue Mountains setting & timeframe (1904-2013). Plus the alternating narration of females & male, though it added intrigue, there are too many & it became a tad confusing. You can lose interest easily.
Depth of character was lost in the obvious, well researched, social historical element of the plot. It didn’t gel enough for me. Perhaps I’ve read/watched too much of our own history.
However, the writing style of the environment etc was quite poetic & atmospheric. But it lacked that something as there was a tendency to plump it out which only served to extend the long-winded plot.
Yes the secrets etc were intriguing as were the anti-German sentiments/internment camps etc which were also well researched, reflecting cultural norms/social peer pressure in wartime, and after. As we still see in our contemporary world today.
There was an on-off fascination which kept me listening, only just! POV’s for one but they weren’t strong enough. Nor intriguing. And there were too many: Women:Freya/Angie/Adelina/Laura/Monika/Lisa with an occasional POV by the wealthy, hotel owner, Adam Fox. There were inconsistent character descriptions particularly of this man. It served to confuse.
In fact, the third person narration may have something to do with this. It wasn’t personalised enough.
The finale holds the twist, the big secret. Yet it came too late. I was over it by then. It was only a revelation to Lisa really, and in 2013, wasn’t exactly a shock. And then, thankfully, it ended.
Though something else erases the last shred of this early 20th century secret! In a few words, it’s over at last.
After an extremely detailed plot there are twists & more twists, even within twists, & hence quite a few subplots along the way to concentrate on. Not to mention the characters & events, pummelled from 1904 through to 2013.
It’s a head-spinner if you aren’t focussing. Even if you are, as I thought I was doing, I could not recall which female character was speaking (but was it the dull reader/narrator? Or did she get bored too!?).
Further editing was needed: culling, sorting, sifting, reducing!
It builds up slowly with an occasional bit of excitement along the way & not until near the end, does it gain momentum when the truth is exposed. But the fireworks aren’t exhilarating by then.
Lifeless, overwritten, too long, padded & became a chore to listen to: monotonous narrator who mostly read for the bulk of the plot, rather than charmed & became the characters! Of which there were too many. I did not feel attached to any. Lack of depth was evident.
Having said that, the social-historical plot line was a good idea, also the Blue Mountains setting & timeframe (1904-2013). Plus the alternating narration of females & male, though it added intrigue, there are too many & it became a tad confusing. You can lose interest easily.
Depth of character was lost in the obvious, well researched, social historical element of the plot. It didn’t gel enough for me. Perhaps I’ve read/watched too much of our own history.
However, the writing style of the environment etc was quite poetic & atmospheric. But it lacked that something as there was a tendency to plump it out which only served to extend the long-winded plot.
Yes the secrets etc were intriguing as were the anti-German sentiments/internment camps etc which were also well researched, reflecting cultural norms/social peer pressure in wartime, and after. As we still see in our contemporary world today.
There was an on-off fascination which kept me listening, only just! POV’s for one but they weren’t strong enough. Nor intriguing. And there were too many: Women:Freya/Angie/Adelina/Laura/Monika/Lisa with an occasional POV by the wealthy, hotel owner, Adam Fox. There were inconsistent character descriptions particularly of this man. It served to confuse.
In fact, the third person narration may have something to do with this. It wasn’t personalised enough.
The finale holds the twist, the big secret. Yet it came too late. I was over it by then. It was only a revelation to Lisa really, and in 2013, wasn’t exactly a shock. And then, thankfully, it ended.
Though something else erases the last shred of this early 20th century secret! In a few words, it’s over at last.
After an extremely detailed plot there are twists & more twists, even within twists, & hence quite a few subplots along the way to concentrate on. Not to mention the characters & events, pummelled from 1904 through to 2013.
It’s a head-spinner if you aren’t focussing. Even if you are, as I thought I was doing, I could not recall which female character was speaking (but was it the dull reader/narrator? Or did she get bored too!?).
Further editing was needed: culling, sorting, sifting, reducing!
June 24, 2015
Leatherdale carries readers from decade to decade, slipping us in and out of the Foxes' lives as easily as he describes the 'sublime and savage' beauty of the Blue Mountains. And this was a recurring theme throughout the book - the complexity behind each story, the twin natures of people: Angie - both loving and vengeful - and the people she was surrounded by, with ugly natures and yet capable of great affection. There is duality in nature too, in the terror of bushfires which swallow up homes, in isolation in the Australian bush, yet there is such wonder in the valleys and bloom that inspired Von Gettner, in the lush surrounds that brought the Foxes both happiness and sadness. It was an especially lovely read for the lush descriptions of Australian flora, for the rich imagery of opulence and artistry in the Palace.
As for the mystery, I found it truly unpredictable - I am one of those people who try to guess their way to the conclusion, but Monika's secrets and the shadow of the past concealed the final reveal until the very end. Palace of Tears was a huge surprise, as I usually find that faithful recounts of historical fact and fiction are rarely done well - but Palace remains both historically faithful (down to 1920s dinner menus) and exciting to a modern audience.
The story is told from alternating points of view across a life time, coupled with letters and diary entries, but you never get lost in the time stream. It was filled with recognisable personalities, but they could not overwhelm the drama and tragedy of the Fox family - which, if not for the tension of family secrets, might have been a little over the top- and it was easy to connect with the 'cursed' Fox women despite the secrecy, making for an engaging read. I think the constant emphasis on the past, on history 'having its place' were well explored and certainly its lessons on love and on fear, especially of the 'other' echo the present, both within the novel and in reality. 4.6 stars.
I received my copy courtesy of Goodreads First Reads and Allen & Unwin. All opinions are my own.
You can read about his inspiration here:
Bookd Out - Guest Post by Julian Leatherdale
As for the mystery, I found it truly unpredictable - I am one of those people who try to guess their way to the conclusion, but Monika's secrets and the shadow of the past concealed the final reveal until the very end. Palace of Tears was a huge surprise, as I usually find that faithful recounts of historical fact and fiction are rarely done well - but Palace remains both historically faithful (down to 1920s dinner menus) and exciting to a modern audience.
The story is told from alternating points of view across a life time, coupled with letters and diary entries, but you never get lost in the time stream. It was filled with recognisable personalities, but they could not overwhelm the drama and tragedy of the Fox family - which, if not for the tension of family secrets, might have been a little over the top- and it was easy to connect with the 'cursed' Fox women despite the secrecy, making for an engaging read. I think the constant emphasis on the past, on history 'having its place' were well explored and certainly its lessons on love and on fear, especially of the 'other' echo the present, both within the novel and in reality. 4.6 stars.
I received my copy courtesy of Goodreads First Reads and Allen & Unwin. All opinions are my own.
You can read about his inspiration here:
Bookd Out - Guest Post by Julian Leatherdale
July 21, 2025
Wow. What a ride. The central question at the heart of the story is "Whatever happened to poor Angie?" The story unfolds with the prepubescent Angi Wood watching the preparations for the 13th birthday of the Fox's son and heir, Robbie. He was once her best friend and now he barely even speaks to her from inside the lavish hotel, The Palace.
Flash forward to 2013 (nearly a century later) and Lisa (granddaughter to entrepreneur Adam Fox) is invited by the current owners of The Palace to bear witness to its rejuvenation as the place to see and be seen in NSW's Blue Mountains. Of course, Lisa finds a lot of historical information concerning her family and dredges up secrets that most would prefer lay dormant.
As a rule, these kinds of books are my favourite. The way the plot spans through generations of the one family, bring hidden pasts to light and quite often changing revealing hidden bloodlines along the way. I'm desperately hoping that Julian Leatherdale gets busy with the writing as I have little doubt that I'll read anything else he has to offer. The way his words create the perfect mood is easy to get lost in. Surprisingly, I also learnt many things regarding the history of Australia. Most of them unpleasant. The only slight downside to the story is that the war elements intruded a little more into the plot than I was always interested to read, but not enough to really spoil anything. Just a wonderful writer with a beautiful story to tell.
Flash forward to 2013 (nearly a century later) and Lisa (granddaughter to entrepreneur Adam Fox) is invited by the current owners of The Palace to bear witness to its rejuvenation as the place to see and be seen in NSW's Blue Mountains. Of course, Lisa finds a lot of historical information concerning her family and dredges up secrets that most would prefer lay dormant.
As a rule, these kinds of books are my favourite. The way the plot spans through generations of the one family, bring hidden pasts to light and quite often changing revealing hidden bloodlines along the way. I'm desperately hoping that Julian Leatherdale gets busy with the writing as I have little doubt that I'll read anything else he has to offer. The way his words create the perfect mood is easy to get lost in. Surprisingly, I also learnt many things regarding the history of Australia. Most of them unpleasant. The only slight downside to the story is that the war elements intruded a little more into the plot than I was always interested to read, but not enough to really spoil anything. Just a wonderful writer with a beautiful story to tell.
August 4, 2022
Seems I’m in a real reading slump right now.
Apart from the beautiful descriptions of the Blue Mountains and a bit of history, this book doesn’t offer much apart from long winded, boring nothing-ness and a ridiculous ending as far as I’m concerned when it comes to Laura and Angie.
Disappointed reading. And I wish it had finished at around the 300 page mark!!
Apart from the beautiful descriptions of the Blue Mountains and a bit of history, this book doesn’t offer much apart from long winded, boring nothing-ness and a ridiculous ending as far as I’m concerned when it comes to Laura and Angie.
Disappointed reading. And I wish it had finished at around the 300 page mark!!
May 24, 2018
A thin layer of fiction is laid over the story of Mark Foy's Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath, NSW in the upper Blue Mountains. In this story, Adam Fox's Palace Hotel in Meadow Springs, NSW is the setting for Edwardian and Jazz Age glamour and a family history filled with secrets. I live in Katoomba, the next village down from Medlow Bath, and it was really fun to read a story set in my neck of the woods and to be able to place the locations and to know exactly what the landscape looks and sounds like. Really great descriptive language, well-researched history, an engaging story. I am going to send this out to my clients in the Home Library Service...I think they will really enjoy it.
February 16, 2022
This rambling Australian saga follows the life and loves of the man behind the “Palace of Tears”—loosely based on the historic Hydro Majestic hotel in the Blue Mountains.
Set in the roaring twenties, two world wars and contemporary times, it’s a lavish tale of passion, betrayal, tragedy and redemption, published by Allen and Unwin in 2016.
I was so sorry to discover that this talented storyteller died in 2020. Five stars for historical detail, evocative landscape descriptions and memorable characters.
Set in the roaring twenties, two world wars and contemporary times, it’s a lavish tale of passion, betrayal, tragedy and redemption, published by Allen and Unwin in 2016.
I was so sorry to discover that this talented storyteller died in 2020. Five stars for historical detail, evocative landscape descriptions and memorable characters.
March 14, 2016
Alas, Julian Leatherdale's Palace of Tears reveals him as more researcher than natural story-teller. His penchant for laboured back-grounding combined with a fondness for incorporating superfluous details proved highly irritating. Lots of filler here, as someone else said. I live in the Blue Mountains and the evocation of familiar surrounds was just about the only thing that kept me reading.
February 11, 2018
It was okay, but too long and too cuetsy ending. I think I have gone off these family historical dramas. so it was not my preference. That being said I got sick of the authors referring to all the native birds and was on nearly every two pages (repetive). Still I wanted to finish the book and glad I hung in there.
March 15, 2018
I love it when an author really knows their history as Leatherdale does and incorporates real life events in with fiction. This is a very engaging story about the Fox family who own a hotel, really the Hydro Majestic, but named the Palace.
I especially enjoyed the present intermingled with the past and watching it come to a climactic end, which I never would have guessed.
Wonderful book.
I especially enjoyed the present intermingled with the past and watching it come to a climactic end, which I never would have guessed.
Wonderful book.
October 22, 2019
Took a trip to Jenolan Caves & stopped in at the Hydro Majestic on the way. This booked popped out at me as I wondered through the gift shop there. We stayed a night in Caves House & I started reading the book that night. I wasn’t able to put it down. I loved the mix of mystery & history of the area. I’d thoroughly recommend it!
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