Harriet Purcell abandons her stifling, conventional life in 1960s Sydney to seek autonomy and passion within the vibrant, bohemian atmosphere of Kings Cross. Upon moving into a rooming house managed by the enigmatic fortune-teller Mrs. Delvecchio Schwartz, Harriet finds herself drawn into a world of unconventional characters and unexpected maternal bonds. Her primary objective becomes the protection of the landlady's young, mute daughter, Flo, as the two women navigate the social pressures and personal dangers of the era. The narrative unfolds through a character-driven lens, capturing the sensory details of a vanished urban landscape while exploring the lengths to which a woman will go to secure the safety of a child she has come to love as her own.

This novel is characterized by its nostalgic and atmospheric portrayal of a specific time and place in Australian history. The narrative structure relies heavily on the author's personal familiarity with the setting, which provides a grounded sense of authenticity to the bohemian lifestyle depicted. Readers often note the focus on the emotional stakes of the central relationship between Harriet and the young child, Flo. The pacing is deliberate, prioritizing the development of the rooming house environment and the eccentricities of its inhabitants over rapid plot progression. The work serves as a reflection on the social shifts of the 1960s, viewed through the intimate lens of a woman seeking to define her own existence.