Madame Burova - Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant is retiring and leaving her booth on the Brighton seafront after fifty years. Tarot and palmistry have always held a fascination for me so I relished a book that celebrated these traditions and their history. Knowing that Ruth spent a great deal of time learning to read tarot gives this book a real sense of authenticity. Her respect and passion for this mystical profession are easy to sense through her writing and the creation of Madame Burova.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.


3.5/5.

I’ve read all of all Ruth Hogan’s previous books and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Told over two timelines and from two characters perspectives, it is a well woven, detailed and beautifully written story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this gentle uplifting read. The story flowed well with the dual timeline, between the 1970’s and now, and was fast paced. The characters are from all walks of life, quirky and likeable.

Perfect light read!

A captivating story, told in two different periods of time, of Billie who finds out she's adopted when her parents die and Imelda Burova, a tarot reader and clairvoyant in Brighton, who is the one who lets Billie know. The two main characters are wonderfully developed, but you also find yourself involved in the lives of the other characters too. The author deftly weaves the stories together, keeping you guessing at the mystery, the identity of Billie's real parents, right until the very end.

I loved this book, the content is so very different to many others I have read recently, and all the better for that. The strength of the characterisation is such that I was immediately drawn into the scene., and then became completely immersed in the lives of Imelda Burova, Cillian, her parents, young Billie, and her friends, Treasure, Clive, Henry and all the others who inhabit the story. Even the dogs have character! And the names are wonderful!
The descriptions of the seaside town, the holiday camp, the fortune teller’s tent, the tearoom, the music, the dialogue, are all spot on, and conjure up such a colourful picture, it is a joy to read.
The story is told in dual time lines, as seems to be the current mode for many authors, though not always successful. Here it is very cleverly done, and so well plotted that it never distracts from the flow of the narrative. The earlier timeline is set in the 1970s, when I was a teenager, so I can attest to the authenticity of the descriptions of how life was back then.
The mystery entwined in the story is so well played out that it holds the reader’s attention throughout, until the reveal. The love story is brief but poignant.
This is escapist reading at it’s best.
My thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title. I will look for more of Ruth Hogan’s work.

What a wonderful book! I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Ruth Hogan has created a delightful leading lady in Madame Burova, and surrounded her with a cast of great characters who each help to keep the story moving along whilst retaining a lightness and pace.

I grew up visiting the seaside for family holidays (Blackpool and Southport rather than the Brighton setting of the book) and felt instantly transported back to the days of holiday camps, knobbly knees competitions, and evenings of light entertainment in the bar lounge! Despite the slightly frothy tone, Hogan deals with issues such as race, identity and sexual harassment. This book was never going to be a call to action, but the themes are handled sensitively and are true to the period in which part of the story is set - the 1970s.

If you’re looking for a gentle read to take you away from the current madness this could be just the book for you!

I had heard reviews of Ruth Hogan's books and was keen to read this.
It was a delightful mystery set in a dual time line. Well written, flowed nicely and well paced book.

The setting was in Brighton, 1970s and present time, colourful, charming and eccletic mix of scenery and characters.
The characters were delightful and intriguing. I enjoyed Madame Burova and Billie.

It was a enjoyable heartfelt read. The writing made you feel part of the story. Easy to follow plot with underlying themes, some more subtle than others.

This was my first book by Ruth Hogan and I will be seeking out other books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful and enchanting story. Honestly it was so heartwarming. The sadness that was woven was that of loss and sorrow, but with an element of a soft light shining on it. Might sound a bit weird but that’s how I saw the characters’ sadness in my head.
Despite the loss that many of them had in their lives, it was still a charming and uplifting book.
All of the characters were likeable (except maybe Vivianne) and all wove together to create the most wonderful tapestry of life!
It dealt with so many issues but so delicately and understatedly that it didn’t take away from the characters personalities and stories.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will treasure the lessons in it.

'Madam Burova' is a bittersweet yet ultimately uplifting story. The characters are full of warmth and life. The novel easily takes place both now and in the seventies and I really enjoyed being able to see how the past and present fitted together. However it is the vivid background of Brighton in the 1970s that will stay with me. It really underlined how different actions and attitudes were back then. A satisfying read that has left me smiling.

Big Ruth Hogan fan over here 🙋🏼‍♀️ and that ain’t stopping any time soon as I really enjoyed Ruth’s new book, MADAME BUROVA.

What did it have...👇

~ quirky and lovable characters ✔️
~ an interesting mystery running through the story ✔️
~ a love story ✔️
~ dual timeline switching from 1970s to present day ✔️

Uh...yes please to all these! 💁🏼‍♀️

The story follows two main characters. Imelda Burova who is a tarot reader on Brighton’s seafront. After a lifetime of keeping other people’s secrets, she wants a rest and to leave her booth behind. And Billie, who is making a fresh start after losing her job and marriage. When her father dies, Billie finds out she is a ‘foundling’ and is now looking for answers which leads her to Madame Burova.

I just loved all the characters in this book as even the secondary ones were fascinating and added so much to the story. 🤩 There are many twists and turns to the book as Billie is determined to find out the identity of her real parents, and I loved discovering more about the magical life of Madame Burova. What a character!!! 😎 The holiday camp and other eccentric entertainers were all so vibrant and fascinating too. And Cillian, the wall of death rider just sounded....🔥🔥😍😍...well he sounded swell. 😁
I liked how the mystery slowly unravelled as it kept me guessing right until the last few chapters. I’m no Poirot folks. 😆

MADAME BUROVA is just great. It’s a book to get lost in and it left me in tears. 😭 Like happy tears but also....😫😫😫.... I’m a sucker for heartfelt story.😅😂

After reading so much praise about Ruth Hogan’s prior novels, I was happy to receive an ARC copy of Madame Burova from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Madame Burova’s premise was intriguing. Imelda, a fortune teller, is the only woman who knows the identity of Billie’s true mother. Billie discovers that she is adopted in adulthood after her father’s premature death and sets out to uncover the secrets of her birth parents. The story switches narrations between Billie’s story and Madame Burova and the reader is left guessing if Billie will uncover her parents’ names, let alone their histories.

I appreciated the characters and setting Ruth Hogan through the varying timelines. I particularly enjoyed the storyline set in the 1970’s on Brighton pier. The whimsy of Madame Burova’s fortune telling trade and her cast of friends was enthralling. The setting coupled with the easygoing plot established a lighthearted tone. There cast truly was the highlight of the story, so this is one to pick up IG you are seeking a character driven novel with a unique group of individuals.

‘Nothing stays secret forever…’

Madame Burova – Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant – is weary. Having spent a lifetime keeping other people’s secrets, she is now ready to retire, to have some well-deserved time for herself.
But there is one secret that has troubled her the most over the years, she has stayed silent, but now it is time to fulfil the promise that she made a long time ago.

Billie’s world as she knew it has just come crashing down around her. She is at a crossroads. We follow Billie on her journey of discovery.

Set between two time periods, spanning over fifty years, this is an uplifting story that contains a little touch of love, and plenty of mystery that kept me wanting to go back for more. I loved returning to the story as it felt so warm and familiar. The characters are (for the most part) really likeable and become to feel like friends. Even the minor characters have a genuine realness about them.
Madame Burova is a lovely, easy read. It is well written and full of warmth.

Favourite character(s): Madame Burova; she felt so genuine and honest. And MI5 Clive, who brought a smile to my face.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Two Roads Books for allowing me to read this lovely book.
#NetGalley #MadameBurova #TwoRoadsBooks

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Imelda Burova, a lady who, up until now has kept other people's secrets, her silence coming at a price. She’s seen everything, lovers, liars, angels and the devils, those that dream of bigger things and fools who think they know it all. The cards told her all and they never lied.

Now, after doing what she’s done for a long time, she’s ready for a rest, and time for herself. But not before she’s fulfilled a promise she made a long time ago. She was given two envelopes a long time ago, which, now the time has come to deliver.

London, Billie, whose lost her job, her marriage and her parents, it’s now her time to make a clean break and her place in the world. But, she then receives something which leaves her questioning her identity. Now, she’s out to find answers, and those questions which could lead her to Madame Burova's door.

This is written in a dual timeline 1970’s to present. In a time when there was a world of holiday camps and seaside entertainers, eccentrics and villains found in that era.

Absolutely Recommend this.

I enjoyed the fresh setting of this story and the pace was good given the story was flowing wasily from past to present.

Madam Burova will take you to a simple world ruled by secrets, live and friendships.

Ruth Hogan has the fantastic ability to turn her characters into your friends, people you can relate to and care about.
The two main characters are Madame Burova, ‘Tarot Reader, Palmist, Clairvoyant', and Billie who has recently found out she is adopted. Their stories inter-twine and give us the chance to meet other well rounded and interesting characters. I loved the fact that the story is set in present day and also goes back to the early 70's and the heyday of holiday camps.
This was an easy to read bittersweet story that also touched on the more serious issues of racism, bullying and sexual harassment. I really liked it and would happily recommend it to anyone as a feel good, put your feet up and enjoy book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for an advance copy.

What a wonderful read, Madame Burova was a well written story. In short, a story about a fortune teller who has held a secret for 40 years, she then tells Billie, the woman who has just found out she was adopted. The story switches between the 70's and the present day seamlessly and concludes more or less as expected. I guessed half of the secret immediately but there was a red herring which kept the story going.
This was not a demanding read, however it was a very well written and enjoyable read. The characters were all well defined and realistic, with their own particular quirks. Definitely a book for a fun read.

Ruth Hogan has proved in her previous novels that she writes with a strong eye for characterisation and personal idiosyncrasies – both strengths that are apparent in her latest novel ‘Madame Burova’.
Imelda Burova is a Brighton-based clairvoyant and Tarot reader, and Billie is a young woman who only discovers she is in fact her foundling when the loving parents who have raised her have passed away. Spanning an arc from the 1970s to present-day Britain through a dual timeline, and introducing a huge cast of other human and canine characters alongside the two female protagonists, this novel is a thought-provoking, entertaining and touching read. Billie’s journey of self-discovery and the descriptions of Imelda’s amazing life experiences often juggle for the reader’s attention but the overall product is another small literary gem with undertones of warm humanity that should appeal to Hogan’s current and future readers. Thank you, John Murray Publishers and NetGalley, for the free ARC I received in exchange for this honest and unbiased book review.

Ruth Hogan's "Madame Burova" reads so authentically that I assumed Hogan's heritage was Romany! The book is a relatively quick read with short chapters to keep the momentum up. I particularly enjoyed that there are starring roles for women of all ages. The story unfolds across dual timelines - early 1970s and present day. The cultural differences are stark and significant, with references to the Windrush scandal plus racial and sexual discrimination in the years before they were legislated against.

I spent my formative years on caravan holidays so, for me, the nostalgia was palpable. I loved the retro '70s feel, especially the gaudy, glitzy decor in the entertainment club at Larkins and the long-forgotten Knobbly Knees contests. Madame Burova's mother, Shunty-Mae, is a delight with her brand of gruff love. Through her, I was reminded of how obsessed I was as a child with the vardo at the Glasgow Museum of Transport. In fact, until I read this book I didn't know that's what a gypsy caravan was called! I loved the cast of quirky characters and thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good, uplifting cosy read.

I love Ruth hogan's books, but it has to be said this is her best yet, the story the charecters, the detail, all of it was brilliant.
It all came together in a heartwarming wonderful read, absolutely loved it, this one will stay with me for a while

Another great read from Ruth Hogan!

I have to admit that in these days of e-readers I find that book titles and author names do not tend to stick in my mind. So I was actually surprised to find out at the end that this was not the first of Ruth’s books that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed The Keeper of Lost Things and found the general ambiance created by Madame Burova to be of a similar ilk.

The two central characters Imelda (Madame Burova) and Billie are linked by past events, links that Imelda is well aware of but Billie is yet to explore. The story is based in Brighton and is told in interweaved timelines around 1973 and the present. After her fathers death Billie was surprised to find out that she was adopted and sets out to discover her biological parents. Almost like a classic whodunit one constantly finds oneself trying to decide which of the many carefully crafted characters are the likely parents.